Summer Photos

At the end of March we met the wonderful Kirstin Roper out at the Great Salt Lake to have some family photos taken.  It is amazing what this woman can do with a field, some dried weeds and a family - she is an exceptional photographer and we love being with her and love the results.  Here are a few of our favorites, at always it was so hard picking a few to share here.

Phil and I also had a few of just us taken.  We haven't had photos taken since our engagement photos and I have to say we like these even more.

Update...through photos

A lot has happened in the past few months, in addition to the other updates, here are a few photo updates:

Philip had his first ear infection.  Happened during the child care crisis

Amazing what some drugs and numbing ear drops do for an uncomfortable boy, within a few hours of taking his first dose he was about 83% better.  No wonder the doctor and pharmacist stressed the importance of him finishing all the medicine, and not stopping when he felt better. 

Phil bought Natalie a Play-Doh cake making station

She loves it and loves making cakes for everyone

I found this idea somewhere, not sure where.  I took big slices of watermelon and let 

Natalie cut it up with cookie cutters.  She went through at least 4 slices in this sitting. 

Natalie & Philip had a 4th of July parade at school - which basically meant that they walked down the hallway way too fast for me to get proper photos.  This is the only one that looked okay

Natalie had ballet photos taken at dance class - this side head pose comes out when she wears that tutu

A few days after her class photos they had their year-end recital 

(see the side head pose? She wouldn't take her photo any other way)

She loved being on the stage - this is after the show, she insisted on 

going back up on stage to dance again, this time solo

We took down the crib, no more babies here.  Philip is officially in a big boy bed and has been doing pretty good.  He is still not a great sleeper, but at least he is in his own room.

These are from our recent trip to St George, Natalie was very impressed because she caught her own lizard this time. Every night she let the new pet go, and every morning she would catch another one.  

They were all named Hoatio

Tea Party on the patio in George

Auntie let Natalie try another face mask - which she LOVES

Change, Change, Change

Back when we were in Disneyland, we found out that our nanny would be leaving us a mere 2 weeks later.  It was heartbreaking!  She had been with us for over two years and was the only care taker that Natalie remembered and Philip had ever known.  Once we returned from Disney, Phil and I debated finding another nanny, but we didn't feel we would have enough time to properly search for and interview then hire with less than two weeks to go.  Also, to complicate matters, I would be leaving for a week trip that would last for 3 days of our last week with the current nanny. To say this was a stressful time would be a huge understatement.  I think the fact that I'm only able to write about the experience is because I'm still traumatized!

I did a few searches online for a nanny, sent a desperate-sounding email out to every contact in my email contacts list asking for any referrals for care takers, then I decided to call the Montessori school we had toured two years prior when we were in a very similar situation.  My some miracle, they had opened up an 18-24 month class within in the last year and had one opening and on top of that, they had a kid who had just moved out of state, opening up a spot in the 3-4 year classroom.  It was decided that we would snatch up these two spots, having Natalie start the Monday after our nanny left and Philip would start a month later. We were able to find a temporary sitter for Philip for the 4 weeks between our old nanny leaving and his first day of school.  To top off our luck, all my work trips were put on hold due to a travel ban - which was a real miracle, because there were a few planned and it would have left Phil home with the kids during this tumultuous time.

So, change is hard, hard on mommy especially!  It has been painful leaving the kids at school.  I was so accustomed to having them home, and even though I work full time, it was always nice to be able to check on them throughout the day - sort of the best of both worlds.  Natalie hasn't loved every minute of school, there have been some very hard drop offs and long days.  There is a schedule they follow in their classes and  by the second day of class Natalie had it figured out and what that meant was she didn't want to go out to recess, because after recess there was lunch and she for sure wasn't going to eat her lunch because that meant she would have to take a nap and she wasn't going to do that!  She had some long days of no eating, very rough naps and tears.  She also figured out very quickly the route we would drive to get to school and would ask us not to turn here or get on that road because she knew they led to school.  It was rough.  She is gradually coming around, not all drop offs are hard, she is having more fun, she started eating her lunch (most days) and doesn't beg us not to drive her to school.  Although, she LOVES Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday because it means NO school.

Philip has adjusted a little better.  He hasn't had as many rough drop offs, loves his teacher and she loves him.  He is also becoming more of a little man, he loves feeding himself, sitting up to the table, telling us what to do and when to do it.  Changes in our child care situation means changes in our kids.  

Disneyland

As a special treat for Natalie, her Godfather promised her a trip to Disneyland.  We arranged to go for two nights and three days at the beginning of May and it was so much fun!

We left early on a Sunday morning.  It was a small plane, and I had already been upgraded to first, with Phil on the list.  He got the upgrade too and talked the agent into upgrading Natalie so she could sit with us - what a treat!

Natalie enjoying her first class accommodations 

We got to California, then the hotel by 11:00 and were inside the park and in line at the Ariel ride by noon.  We were tired and hungry, so grabbed a hot dog at a stand on our way to the next ride.

Outside the Ariel ride

We were pretty lucky and didn't have too many lines to wait in.  After moving around the California Adventure park and riding almost all the rides we could we decided to get a fast pass ticket for Tower of Terror and in the time we had to wait, we went back to the hotel and figured we would take a nap.  Now, there are two issues with this, first would be, if we fall asleep are we really going to wake up and go back and two, if we do wake up and go back is this the best ride to take a 3 year old on.

We did fall asleep and we did happen to wake up with what we hoped would be enough time to quickly walk back to the line.  However, no one realized that this ride might actually be scary.  Scary for older riders, but especially for a 3 year old.  We got into the park and only had to run half the way to the line, but once we were waiting to board the ride the guy who was sitting behind Natalie, Phil and I says to me, "You will want to hold onto her, because she is so light she will come out of her seat."  Great!  So when they say you need to be 40" tall, they don't tell you that you should weigh more.  So I held on to her tight, which was a good thing, because she did come out of her seat.  The ride takes up up several stories while you are sitting in an elevator shaft, then drops you unexpectedly, then you rise up, then fall again and over and over - all while there is thunder and lightning sounds happening all around you. Now, the rising and falling wasn't as scary for Natalie as the thunder.  She hated the thunder, but never cried or screamed - which can't be said for the guy who was sitting behind us who screamed at the top of his lungs the entire time!  We got off and she proceeded to make us promise to never make her go on that ride again, because it was scary.  I ever said, "That was CRAZY" and she said "no mama, it was scary."

After that we went on the Ariel ride again, then into Downtown Disney for dinner.  We ate at a Paris inspired bistro, then went into Disneyland to watch the 10 pm fireworks show.  It was pretty impressive and perched atop my shoulders, Natalie was able to see Tinker Bell, Dumbo and a lot of pretty lights in the sky. We dragged ourselves back to the hotel, had drinks in our room then fell asleep soundly until morning.

We decided that Monday we would use our "early day" ticket and get into Disneyland an hour before it opened.  The tickets make it seem like you can get into rides before everyone, but really very few rides are open, so you can get into the park, but can't get on a lot of rides, or even in line.  However, it allowed us to grab some breakfast and we were close to the entrance of the area with the Indiana Jones ride, the Pirates of the Caribbean, and the Tarzan rides to get a jump on the line.  We went to the Pirates ride first, were in the first boat and Natalie really enjoyed it.  Next Godfather, Auntie and Phil went to the Indiana Jones ride while Natalie and I walked through the Tarzan tree house.  She loved it!  We were done with that around the same time as the others, so we went off in search of other rides.  This was a perfect day, the lines were super short, which meant we were able to get on every ride we wanted to within the day - Disney in a day? It is the best way to do it!

Playing in Toon Town

Side Note: This is a jail with wobbly bars and Godfather & Auntie were pretending to be locked in and Natalie moves two bars apart and goes through and says "We aren't stuck".  Always the realist.

Monday was the day we had reserved our Princess Lunch spot, so we headed back to California Adventure park, went on the Ariel ride twice, then got in line to meet Ariel and have lunch.  It was the BEST part of the trip.  The look on Natalie's face when she got to meet Ariel was so sweet.  We all decided that we could leave right then and say it was the best trip.  She loves Ariel, hence the multiple rides on the Ariel ride, and the lunch at Ariel's Grotto.  To get to meet her meant so much to Natalie, she is still talking about it.  In addition to meeting Ariel, during lunch all the other princesses came around to the table and Natalie got to have a photo with each one and get a hug too.

Meeting Ariel for the first time.  This was seriously the sweetest moment, 

Natalie couldn't have been more excited!

While eating, the princess parade started.  First up was Aurora from Sleeping Beauty.  She was by far the best of the princesses at lunch.  She was super sweet with Natalie and even told her that she looked like her friend Tinkerbell.  Natalie was in awe - star struck

Next was Cinderella

Then Belle

Finally Snow White

After lunch, we went on the Ariel one more time for good measure, hit up the hang glider ride and then went back over to Disney.  At this point we rented a stroller in the hopes Natalie would take a nap - or at least that we could stop carrying her, which our shoulders and arms thanked us for.  We went on the Star Wars ride, a bunch of kid rides, the log ride, the thunder mountain railroad ride, and a few others, and then while waiting in line for the Finding Nemo scuba ride, Natalie fell asleep in my arms and took a nap while we waited and slept through the submarine ride and only woke up when I put her back in the stroller. We did a few more rides and around 7:00 went back to Downtown Disney to have dinner.  We ate at a pizza place, splitting a large pizza and two side salads, which was all very good!  There was a lady making balloon animals and items so Natalie got her very own balloon Ariel doll.  It was another highlight.

After dinner we went back to the hotel to sleep.  Godfather and Auntie were leaving early the next morning, so Tuesday was a day for Natalie, Phil and I to explore.  As we were leaving the hotel, I realized that Godfather and Auntie had left with one of our tickets - mine!  So when we got to the park the attendant told us to wait in line and get another pass.  I sent Phil and Natalie in ahead of me and waited in the 45 minute long line. The lady at the window had to get her supervisor to help, but they found our record and were able to print another ticket for me.  I made inside the park and to Phil and Natalie, who were waiting in the line for Peter Pan.  I cut in line and we rode the ride together, then hit a bunch of other rides in the kid-ish area, made our way back to the Nemo submarine ride, grabbed some lunch, hit a few other rides and then decided to take a cab to the airport and try and get on the earlier flight home, but not before riding the Ariel ride two more times...thank goodness there wasn't a line to wait in.

Natalie in front of the castle

Meeting Goofy

Meeting Pluto 

This is how Natalie saw most of Disney - atop someone's shoulders

Natalie fell asleep about a block from the hotel and slept while we waited for the cab, for the cab ride and finally woke up when we had to walk through security.  We decided to pay the extra money to get on the earlier flight home; grabbed some McDonald's for Natalie and boarded the flight.  It is funny, we were all in first class on the flight to Disney, and on this flight home, we were in the very last row on the plane.

Philip was very happy to have us home and after the long day we were glad to be there!

Dentist

Natalie had her first official visit to the dentist on May 1. She was so excited to go and the fact that she got a special no cavities sticker, a present (she chose a cell phone shaped lip gloss) and a bag with new tooth-brushing paraphernalia was icing on the cake.

We go again in 6 months and she can hardly wait.

First Steps

The last Sunday of March (the 25th) was my mom's birthday, but it was also the day Philip took his first steps!

wow, that was a long time ago....

First Haircut

When we got home  from our trip down south, we decided to give Philip his first haircut.  He was pretty well behaved while I cut it, but could probably use a professional cut to even things out.  He went from looking like a baby to a little boy, shocking to see how a little haircut can make such a huge change.

Most of March

The March Update!
March started out with both Phil and I being home for the first week; but both being out of town the second week, followed by a family trip down south.
Phil was out of town for a work trip to Vegas.  The hardship...He left on a Monday returned on a Thursday evening.  My work trip took me back to Minnesota, from Monday to Wednesday.  I'm not sure what happened on Phil's trip, but I spent way too many hours in an office on mine.  By the time I arrived on Monday and made it to the office, it was 2:00; and I didn't leave until 8:00 - for a short dinner and stop at OfficeMax, then back to the office until 10:40!  I missed my exit for my hotel (too tired to drive I think), so wasn't in my room until a little after 11:00.  I was exhausted and fell asleep quickly, but was up early the next morning to head back to the office.  Tuesday was spent teaching, followed by a group dinner and another late night.  Wednesday morning was a very early morning, left my hotel at 6:30! After a day at the office, I caught the 5:20 flight home and was home for family (sans Phil) dinner by 8:00.   By almost 9:30 everyone was gone, Philip was crying in his crib and I was trying to get Natalie to bed.  I got her settled and tried to get Philip to bed, no luck.  Back to Natalie, got her to sleep by 10:00 and then walked Philip around until he finally fell asleep.  I put him in our bed and we got a few hours until Natalie joined us, which woke Philip up, which meant I was awake to walk him around.  Around 5:00 I put him in the stroller and took him on a stroller ride in his bedroom until he went to sleep.  I parked the stroller next to my side of the bed and slept in between pushing him when he stirred.  It was a long night!

Natalie riding a trike at my parents house

The next day, Thursday, I worked and started packing for the trip south.  We also had a friend of Natalie's over for dinner and play time.  Phil got home that night just in time to put Philip to bed and help me finish packing.  The next morning, we planned to leave the house by 8:00 am for the 4+ hour journey.  We got out of the house by 8:30 which was great and went off on our adventure.  Philip did really well on the trip down, only cried a little and we only had to make one stop on the side of the road for a pee break.  We got to my parents house in just in time for a Phil to go golfing and everyone else to eat lunch.  That night we had people over for dinner, followed by an okay night of sleep.  Saturday we left for Vegas, where my brother was playing in his tribute band.  We decided to spend the night in Vegas, and after a HORRIBLE night of very LITTLE sleep we decided we won't be making that decision again anytime soon.  The next day we drove back to my parents house and spent another two nights there before heading home.

The reason we went to Vegas.  Natalie couldn't get into the bar where the band was playing and she was NOT happy about it.  She keeps talking about the mean man who wouldn't let her into see her godfather

We decided to let Phil and Philip stay in our room, so Natalie and I slept on the pull out sofa.  Here we are getting ready for bed