Love these girls

Some recent pics of the girls, enjoying apples after a day at the beach.  Growing so very quickly.

So rarely does she smile for the camera... I've given up trying.  She sure has her share of facial expressions though.  You can tell exactly how she is feeling and what she is thinking just by the look she gives you.

This is Maya's new smile for the camera - lips closed tight, squinty eyes.  I can't believe she is approaching four.  She is turning into quite the young lady.

Kauai

Last week we headed to Kauai with the Jones family and man, do I wish we were back there.  The girls LOVED the beach, which is where we spent most of our time.  Especially Laurel... we would have to drag her away from the water and sand.  We rented a beautiful house which allowed for a lot of room for the kids to play both indoors and outdoors.  We explored the island, snorkeled, built sand castles, watched seals on the beach, enjoyed a date night and had an overall great vacation.

Our view from the house.

The girls fishing in the pond with Uncle Brent.

Our daily trek to the beach looked a little something like this... kids come with a lot of gear!

We rented a boogie board with a window on it so the kids could ride and watch the fish below.  They all loved it. 

We found a couple beaches that had rock walls blocking off the big waves.  This created a shallow, protected area for the kids to play in.  They were quite the little fish by the end of the week.

And we were able to relax a bit while they waded and played.

Surfing!

Watching sea turtles ride on the waves and exploring the tide pools.

The kids played and played and played in the sand.  We made castles with moats, dug giant holes and looked for buried treasure.  Each and every one of them loved it. 

Surfing on our sightseeing drive around the island.

Cousin love.

Movie time before bed on the very last night.  I think we successfully wore them out.

Beautiful Kauai shoreline - can't wait to go back.



A Road Trip

This post is late, but I am finally finding some time to catch up.  Lots of traveling the last few weeks and someone in the family keeps getting horribly sick (me, ugh).

In February we headed to Sun River for a long weekend with the family.  We were a bit nervous about the 7 hour car ride, but for the most part the girls did great.  We had a fantastic weekend... the kids played in the snow, swam in the pool, played games and just enjoyed each others company.  Thanks to Grandma, who was brave enough to watch all six little ones for a day, us grown ups even got in a full day of skiing.

Off we go!  We started in the rain...

but hit the sun on the other side of Mt. Hood!

Lots of snow time

And fun at the park

Followed by a soak in the hot tub 

 We were finally able to find ski boots small enough for Maya and took her up with us the first day.  Unfortunately, this spot is as far as she got, we never actually made it up a hill.  I think she was a bit disappointed she couldn't ski with Bennett and Maeve and as soon as she realized it was just me and her she was over it.  Next year!

Sledding

Per Bennett's request, we headed up to the mountain for some sledding to celebrate his birthday.  Such a fun adventure!

Laurel - LOVED it.  "More, more whee!  More, more whee!"  We started out on the little hill and it didn't take long for her to graduate to the big hill with Rey.  She couldn't get enough and she was pretty upset when it was time for a break.  Only with the promise of food were we able to convince her to get off the sled.  She wore herself out so much that she asked to go night-night and spent an hour sleeping in the car while everyone else played, sledded and sang happy birthday.

Maya - not as big a fan.  In fact, she had no interest in actually getting on a sled.  Which was fine, she completely enjoyed herself digging in the snow, pushing others on their sleds and partaking in the birthday treats.

Up and down the hill we went.

Pulling her back to the top.

Down the big hill with Daddy.

I love this picture - Laurel is the only one smiling and that so rarely happens.

Digging and making snow castles.



Happy birthday hats and lollipops - what more do you need?

A complex palate

Laurel has never been as picky about her food as Maya is, for which I am grateful.  Yet sometimes her choices completely baffle me.

- This week she chose to eat a good portion of my spinach, egg and feta scramble for breakfast instead of the pancakes Rey made. And she enjoyed all of it... including the spinach.

- Today at lunch she refused the peanut butter sandwich and instead ate strawberry jam right out of the packet.  We were afraid that was all she would eat until I finally convinced her to try my turkey and cranberry sandwich, which she loved.

- Tonight she passed up hot dogs and cheese (usual favorites) for a plate full of broccoli with lemon juice.

I don't get it... but I am going to run with it. The key at the moment seems to be that she wants whatever is on my plate.  Let's see what else I can get her to eat before she realizes the food she is picking is actually good for you! 

 

The only way to eat jam - with your fingers

A conversation

We were all listening to music this evening and a song about a daughter growing was playing (My Life - Kenny Chesney). Maya seems to understand what the song is about and we had the following conversation:

Maya: I will be sad when I grow up.
Me: Why? I will still be your Mommy.
Maya: Oh. Well, when I grow up I want to be a teacher and I will have my own house.
Me: That sounds like a good plan.
Maya: And I will tell the construction to build my house right next to yours.

How can I make her stay three and a half???

DQ

I don't think either of the girls have ever had ice cream cones before - ice cream, sure, just not in cone form.  We made a DQ stop (or maybe I should say the car took control and forced us to stop at DQ) the other night.  They certainly enjoyed it!

Yum!

She was pretty hesitant at first, didn't quite know what to do...

But once she figured it out there was no turning back!

Double Yum!