Some old photos from Laguna.... for the blurb book

Remember when I talked about Mila's wedgie in Del Mar?

Well this wasn't it. This is the swim suit that FITS. You should have seen it.

My sister Mel's house

(Hope you don't mind, Mel. Maybe I should have asked first.)

Last time I was down at my sister's, I snapped a few photos of her home. I wish I'd gotten some of her bedroom too... everything she does, and chooses, and arranges is just SOOOO lovely to me. I come home from her house a little depressed every time because I want all of it! ... but also inspired. Just thought I'd share.

Labor Day with the Smiths!

We were lucky enough to be invited by our good friends Kodi and Ryan (who moved away from the desert several months ago) to their family-house in Del Mar. I love it when fun plans fall in your lap so you don't just end up spending a holiday cleaning out the garage or something.

They've got Kail who's almost 7, Mia who's almost 5, and Laney who's just three months.... the PERFECT ages to entertain my girls. Plus my girls MISS the older ones, so there was so much happy reuniting to do before they could get sick of each other. Kail took the morning shift, getting Mila her milk and putting on a movie downstairs so that everyone was happy while the parents slept in.

Where do I sign myself up for a 7-year-old?

I swear Mila was there at the beach too.... but she complains so much at the beach, she wasn't inspiring me to take her picture. Even though she did have the cutest wedgie EVER-- the whole time. She insisted on her too-small polka dot swim suit, you see.

Sunday we checked out the updated Mormon Battalion in Old Town--- it's SO cool. They've catered it toward the kids and made it so interesting....

After learning about how the battalion panned for gold... they got to do the same...

And one straggler from Ross's iphone of the girls at Wahoo's.

I wish we'd taken a photo together, Kodi. Because this is where I say "we miss the Smiths! See! See how much fun we had together!" But I have no proof we were even all there.

But we do, and we did, and we were. Thanks so much for letting us crash your family vacation.

It feels like she has awaited this day forEVER

And yet I can remember kissing her lips the first time I saw her newborn face, like it was yesterday. Really.

My friend Robyn, from church, does an awesome at-home preschool a couple of days a week that I was SOOOO excited to be squeezed into. Most of the kids are at least a year older, so I wasn't sure she'd take Mila. But sure enough, she gets to go to preschool with lots of friends from church inCLUDING..... SAWYER! (who's blurry profile is seen above...). Robyn was kind enough to put their seats right across from each other, and when I came to pick up, she said he was her protector all day. I love him.

She has begged to go to school for months now, so I knew she wouldn't have a hard time with me leaving today or anything... but I was surprised at how quiet she was while I hovered for a few minutes. She kissed me goodbye and I almost thought she was going to tell me not to go, but instead she said "I'm not gonna cry, mom. I'm a big girl."

Her eyes were darting around, taking it all in.... a little like... "I DO.... want this.....right?" But a couple of hours later, I was back, and she was happy as pie. Ready to pick up her sister from kindergarten, and head home for a gooood nap.

I went through her backpack at home and saw that she'd traced her hand like nobody's business. And I am a proud momma.

Dreaming up baby rooms...

I've never REALLY done a nursery that I love. Sophia's was just so long ago, my tastes changed so quickly, and then Mila was born right before a move, so we didn't do much and she shared the guest room. Then there was just too much new house, too little money--- I was sworn to frugality. So we went super basic in this house too. I REALLY want to do something super cute for "the boy."

If only my taste didn't change so fast and I'd bought a crib I LOVED the first time around! Sophia's crib was dark, and I really wanted white for Mila, so I bought her that cheap ikea crib... which I've been thinking I would reuse. Until I thought about it for two seconds one day and realized it's totally curvy and feminine. Shoot. So I'll need aNOTHER crib!?

And as much as I'd love this crib, or something like it..... I'll probably be getting this crib. Since it's like 99 bucks. It seems SO silly to buy two cheap ikea cribs two babies in a row..... any suggestions? I can't get away with those curves for a boy can I? Am I already pushing it with all of the peaceful tones?

Are you into this stuff? If so, here's some links.

- fabric for bumper

-The place on etsy where you can pay someone who KNOWS how to sew, to make one for you.

- print of boy walking lion

- rocker

- basket-- but they have a cute one at Target right now for 39 that would get the job done.

- pouf (the one thing I LOVE but might not be able to justify, since it's NOT cheap. But there are some cheaper options like this one, or this one, or this one.)

- coral rug

- dresser

- light fixture

- bamboo shade-- I know they have ones I like at Target.

- round mirror

- pillow

- I am a child of God print

Oh and my painted on "knobs" on the dresser are because I got these cute bamboo-colored drawer knobs on sale at anthropologie. Did I mention one just opened here in the desert?!

5 years ago today

I had to seriously swallow my pride with most of the scenes of myself in this....YIKES!!! And my decorating. But memories are memories, and I LOVE recorded memories. Magic.

Ross put this together when I was out of town a while back and he was experimenting with imovie. My girls could watch it every day... It's 5 minutes of newborn Sophia. 5 minutes is long if it's something you're not into.... not for the casual onlooker.

But you might want to watch it just to see my double chin.

Kindergarten

The first day came and went. I thought I'd document every moment of the morning... that I'd make it so special and that I'd FEEL the weight of this new milestone in her life. That we both would. I thought there'd be lots of tears.

But honestly? :/

Last week was so crazy getting ready for her party and preparing a talk I had to give on Sunday, that Sunday night came and I thought.... ahhh man.... I think she's supposed to have new clothes! I scoured her closet for something she might think was sort of new (which really just meant it was something I don't love and don't usually put her in.. defeating the purpose I guess). Luckily her backpack arrived in the mail Saturday- in the knick of time, and her converse from like two years ago still fit, since close-toe shoes are NOT something we invest in often.

We did have a special daddy-prayer. And I think she liked that more than she would have noticed new shoes.

I pulled myself out of bed as early as I THOUGHT I needed to, but we still ended up racing through sandwich-making and scarfing down a bowl of cereal (which isn't usually our breakfast of choice, so not only did I not go special, I went BELOW average.... :( )... we were, per usual, running late.

Another failed mommy-stone. (mommy milestone-- -get it?)

But we raced out the door, found street parking for one of our cars but not both, so Ross stayed with his car while the three of us girls bolted for class. She rolled her backpack (because she loves that feature) but then flung it up and on to her back when she felt slowed down by it in our scurry.

And then we got there, we signed her in.... Ross showed up in time to kiss her goodbye. We hung up her backpack and she bolted for class where they were already sitting and singing while the teacher played "Wheels on the Bus" on her guitar---

"WAIT!"--- I had to ask for my kiss goodbye, which she ran back to oblige, then quickly took off to find a seat. She wedged herself in the middle of the group but then saw Kate in front, and got up and squeezed herself into the front row. And started singing. I got a couple of pictures. Barely.

She used to say she was shy. She is not shy.

She doesn't know all of her letters, she isn't always interested in practicing them with me, and she's a little young, since she turns 5 TODAY. But she LOVES people, and activities, and a busy schedule. She loves making those around her happy and pleasing her teachers and helping kids who seem sad. She loves to do the right thing. She loves to defend ANYONE who needs defending. She is quick to apologize when she's done something wrong. Socially and emotionally, I think she's beyond ready. But I know I'm her momma.

It doesn't occur to her to be apprehensive, or anything BUT excited about it. The hours are a lot like preschool... 8:30-12:15 instead of 9-12 like last year.... she still has Kate in her class which means we have our same great carpool set up, and she's a lot closer to home. So while the teeniest part of me wanted her to miss me and cling to me and LONG for me. I know the adjustment is little or nonexistent. And she is happy as pie. Right where she should be.

And Mila and I have time to get out of the house at our speed in the morning, do the gym, and an errand or two, and then pick the girls up for an afternoon of play.

1st grade, all day long, with all of those big kids around.... now THAT is already making me nervous for next year. But for now, we are both happy as pie.

And ok I cried a little... but I'm pregnant, it's like breathing right now.

(A few of the morning)

It's ironic to me that she looks like a baby to me in this picture... looking on at her new kindergarten class.

Her first seat...

Then after creeping forward...

(This was taken on day two--- a much smoother morning.... thank goodness for a morning-carpool buddy... )