Hawaiian Holiday

                            

The last week of June we headed off to Kauai for an adults only vacation and it was unbelievable. We had been talking about doing a trip like this for a long time and it had been a sure thing for a year... but no amount of preparation time would have made it easy for me. I had a ton of anxiety over leaving the girls, especially Gwena and agonized over whether I should bring her along with us or not. I felt really guilty about quitting nursing but knew it wouldn't be a true vacation trying to entertain a baby all day at the beach. Plus in order to get there cheaper we were driving all night to Vegas and I was dreading the travel days with my little pip.  I thought for awhile I'd take my pump along with me and try to keep up my supply but within a couple weeks of us leaving, Gwena started being less and less interested in nursing and they stopped being the sweet, quiet sessions I had been loving. So that definitely helped me make my decision to leave her and it was the right one. 

We had such an awesome time and were completely relaxed. We missed the girls but they did amazingly well and were in phenomenal hands. My awesome friend Lindsay watched them and took them to do all kinds of fun things everyday, kept them all completely happy and on a schedule, built them fabulous A-frame tents, and kept us updated on everything that was going on. We missed our girls far more than they missed us. It made us a little sad to not have them with us to play in the sand and splash in the waves. But it was a much needed break and so liberating to be able to be away and not feeling guilty or rushing back home or worried that they weren't on their best behavior. As soon as we were on the plane, I didn't worry about a thing. I regret that I spent an entire six months racked with anxiety over leaving the girls and laying awake at night writing instructions in my head to Lindsay for ridiculous things like "how to make a cheese roll-up". Everything went perfectly and it was good for all of us. I also wish I had been a little more laid back as far as spending money once we were there and let Ben eat to his hearts content. He deserved a week of complete freedom. Oh well...maybe next time. :)

Ben and I took a long lay over in Oahu on the way to Kauai and toured Pearl Harbor which was awesome and walked Waikiki beach. Once we were all together with my family we spent the week laying at the beach, reading, swimming in the ocean and pool, paddle boarding, and late night hot tubbing. We went on runs and walks on the golf course and went on a long and very muddy hike to Secret Beach on the Napali Coast where my mom almost died. We went to church and toured their awesome community garden, saw The Fault in Our Stars, watched World Cup games, and shopped around spouting horn. We ate a lot of meals at Dukes, enjoyed Puka dogs, and many orders of delicious malasadas (fried dough). 

It was so nice to just be myself and to enjoy Ben and my siblings and parents, especially my little brother and Rachel who had flown over from Texas. No nursing, no nap and bed times to keep or meals to plan or snacks to pack or anyone to take care of besides myself...in such a gorgeous setting.  It was truly blissful. 

Birthday Girls

Our beautiful Rosie and Evie turned 4 in June. We surprised them when they woke up with new bikes and a giant barbie castle with new barbies that I scored for super cheap on KSL. We had a fun party with family and friends that evening with a bounce house and kiddie pool and pizza and cake. Darling Nathan and Tami came and did balloon animals for the kids and that was a hit. The girls had an awesome time. 

They are suddenly so grown up and so different from the little babies I keep imagining them as. They will talk to you all day long and have such fun ideas and great imaginations. They play so well together and get so involved in their games that they often get mad at me when I say it's time to leave the house. They had a blast at swim lessons this summer and are now loving soccer. They absolutely adore their preschool and get to go on MWFs from 9-12pm. They still take a nap most days from 3-5pm and if they don't sleep they are very good about staying in their room and playing quietly. They are the perfect big sisters to Gwena, the perfect best friend to each other, and the perfect daughters to Ben and I. We are very, very lucky to have these two hilarious little ladies at our house. 

Rosie is our little performer. She loves to dance and sing for an audience. She LOVES to draw and color and is always making projects for other people, especially her Grandparents. She loves to draw a picture, roll it up, put an elastic around it and then put it in a plastic baggie. Lately she has also gotten into the Christmas wrapping paper to wrap up her projects for gifting. She is very hard working and focused at school. Rosie can be extremely goofy and also very dramatic. She throws big fits and makes big statements like "I will NEVER be your sister AGAIN!!!" Rosie is still a pleaser and has a big heart and wants to make people happy. She is very sensitive to other peoples feelings and hates it when people are mad or disappointed in her...which is almost never.

Favorite Color: yellow and pink
Favorite food: Cheese roll-up, strawberries
Favorite thing to do at home: make art projects for people
Favorite Place to go: to the library or the fair or the zoo
Favorite Book: Curious George
Favorite Show: Doc McStuffins
Favorite Movie: Chipmunk Adventure
Favorite animal: Bunny rabbits and unicorns
Favortie thing to do at school: Story time and art
Least favorite thing: long car rides
When Rosie grows up she wants to be: A movie star or drive an ice cream truck

Latest cute story: On the way to visit our friend Elizabeth in the hospital after having her baby boy, Rosie asked if I would come visit her when she had a baby and I said "absolutely!". I asked her if she was going to have a girl baby or a boy baby and she said: "I guess whatever Jesus decides to send me." I asked her what the babies name was going to be and she said:" mmmm....maybe Twinkle if it's a girl and if it's a boy...how about Baseball?!"

Evelyn Irene

Evie is my special girl and has been especially sweet and obedient lately. She also loves to sing and dance but never wants to do it in front of other people. Evie can be shy with other adults but if she is comfortable she will talk your ear off and is also very social with other kids. She is a princess through and through and loves to play dress up every single day and always wants someone else (Rosie) to be her prince when she's a princess, her Anna when she's Elsa, or her evil Mother Gothel when she's Rapunzel. If she can't get a playmate, she plays very well all on her own and makes up very elaborate games.  Evie can be very sneaky and a little bossy and stubborn. No one is a better snuggler than Evie girl.

Favorite color: purple and orange
Favorite food: chocolate and spaghetti
Favorite thing to do at home: watch shows and play dress up
Favorite place to go: To Grandmas house
Favorite book: Curious George
Favorite show: Sophia the First
Favorite Movie: Frozen
Favorite animal: giraffe or puppy
Favorite thing to do at school: play outside and eat snack
Least Favorite thing: getting my hair done
When Evie grows up she wants to be: A Princess

Latest cute story: On the way to Grandma's house the girls often like to count how many American flags they can find. We were looking out the window and Evie said " Ok everyone keep their eyes peeled!.... Like an orange....or even a banana. " :)

MAY

I got asked by about ten people if the two little girls on the front of the May Ensign were Rosie and Evie. They are not but the resemblance is definitely there.

This month started welcoming tiny baby Max into the family. We were sad to not be in Colorado and can't wait to meet him. We also celebrated Ava's 4th birthday at a Frozen party that was a total hit.

                                                 

We celebrated Mothers Day. Rosie wrote some lovely things about me at preschool and Evie helped her dad make me a some delicious french toast. 

My two gorgeous little girls completed their first year of preschool and the program was so darling. We ate pink sugar cookies on the grass to celebrate after. The last day of preschool they put on a circus and had a carnival that was adorable. I am amazed by this preschool teacher and wish school could go on like this forever. Thank goodness for summer camp.

                                               

                                             
                                               

Let summer begin with trips to the park, pool, and up the canyon! We got Seven Peaks pass of all passes and plan on frequenting the water park, Trafalga, the aviary, and wherever else it gets you into.