Happy Holidays!

Does this count as a Christmas card?  Why not?  I have no plans to take any official family pictures or to send out any card, so this will have to do.

I'm really excited for Christmas this year.  June knows that baby Jesus is the little ceramic baby in the nativity, but other than that  I don't think she cares about Santa or why we have a tree with lights and ornaments (on the top half).  And little does she know, all those wrapped up boxes she's used to stand on to reach the ornaments actually have toys hidden inside.  Despite her limited understanding of the festivities,  I'm excited to starts some traditions and to remember how special Christmas is for a little kid- making it more special to me.

We have seen some lights at a few places and June just stares, points, smiles and says "wow!"  June helped me put up all the decorations and even some lights our on the balcony.   The one big thing left to do is see Santa.  We haven't done that yet and I'm not sure what she'll think.  I guess next year will probably be even more fun when we can play out the nativity, write letters to Santa and make everything more meaningful.

I hope you all have a beautiful Christmas Day, full of love and joy.

Kisses for Papa Ken and some cuteness.

Before we ended our video chat, I told June to give Papa kisses. So, she did.

Lov'n the music.

Snow day.

Tick-or-treat.

Mmmm, nanas.

Happy Halloween

Grease Lightning!

Fall fun.

No more swimming, so now what? I'm loving that it was still nice enough to play outside, I just wish I'd get out more with June. I'm horrible, it's a little hard to get out- only because I'd have to change out of my p.j.'s and June's a little more effort on the playground. She isn't afraid of anything, is pretty independent, and doesn't understand the limits of her abilities (for now). So I'm always right behind her on the playground- if she's not wondering off looking for neighboring dogs. The hardest part is that she doesn't want to listen when she's so set on something else. As for the days we don't get out, she doesn't stop moving from one venture to another. Not pictured bellow- June dances to every note or rhythm she hears. She loves to get into the cabinets in the kitchen and climb right in. The bath tub is our new pool and June loves to splash water out of the tub- maybe it's my frustration that motivates her.

June LOVES the Babies documentary. I have to hide my phone from her because if she sees it, she'll immediately start asking for it. "Babies!? Babies!?" I really try to limit the time she watches any TV, but it is my one resort when I really need to get something done. Usually we just let her watch on our phones, but then she pushes the buttons and we're restarting the thing over and over. I turn on Babies on the computer for those really special times when I want to get her to sit still- like when I was trying to scrub the floor in the bathroom (triple threat- wet floor to play in, she can now open the toilet or climb into the tub.)

Hide your purses! June knows, where there's a purse, there are treats, wrappers, lip gloss and more to find. My purse was empty and I couldn't figure out what she wanted, so I took her for a ride.

June's feeding the baby. After stirring in the bowl, she makes a really cute smacking sound as she's pretending the baby is eating off the spoon. She also loves to push her stroller around, with or with out baby. Some times the highchair gets taken for a spin around the house too.

When I'm trying to get ready, June heads for 2 different things, sitting in the laundry basket or emptying out the vanity drawers. Guess which one she chose this time- Sorry June, concealer isn't the same as chap stick.

At the playground. June really can get up and slide alone, but it's when she wants to slide down the climbing ramp with raised pegs that really looks like a slide but isn't at all (who's idea was that?) or when she wants to climb up the ladder that she needs some support.

Night with Nanna and Pappa

While Mike and I went out, June had a blast with her grandparents. I had no idea that we'd show up to drop June off and then be rushed out the door so their date with June could begin. I'm sure June loved it.

Mmmmm Coconut-lime.

I was completely sold by the coconut and lime possibilities of this banana bread recipe. It was great, but the lime glaze on top left me longing for more. Maybe next time I'll add a little zest into the batter or just soak the muffins in the glaze. Still though, a very lovely treat.

I'm finding myself cooking (not necessarily dinner) and trying new recipes now that I'm at home. I've started a "to be made by scratch" list of things I've never made 100% on my own. For example, I've never made any sort of bread until my parents gave me an awesome bread maker for Christmas. So, maybe I'll post them as I do them. Can you tell with the projects and cooking that I'm trying to show you June is not the sole purpose for my existence? Or maybe I'm just tying to convince myself.

Project-ruffle waist skirt.

This skirts is a simple rectangle-cut piece of fabric that is hemmed and cinched at the waste with a riffle on the top. It's really as simple as that. There are a lot of tutorials out there with measurement instructions, like the one found here.

I didn't make any special measurements, just compared it to one of June's existing skirts to estimate the allowance for the seems, hems and waistband. Instead of the elastic right at the top of the waist, I put in a seem to lower the elastic and create the ruffle.

IMPROVEMENTS for next time: The hem is too thick and heavy for how little her skirts is, therefor it feels a little stiff. Also allow a little extra space for the elastic between seems. Make the skirts a little smaller, but she will grow into it!

Oahu!

We just got back from a amazing trip to Oahu with some of our friends (we wish it could have been all our friends and family, too.) The first day of driving around Oahu was by far the best. We determined though that is was because everything had such a wow factor, that nothing else could compare. The guys, minus Mike, went skydiving. Looking for a lost set, instead we found a gorgeous beach with tons of turtles swimming at our feet. Dinner was at a local joint followed by a gorgeous sunset over Sharks Cove. To add to it, the rest of the week involved several more beaches, hikes, boating, scenic drives and look-outs, and good fun with friends.

June was a perfect angel the whole trip. She may have fussed a couple times, but she was entitled to it. She could have played in the sand and water all day with out wanting to eat or sleep. She did squeezed in naps while driving or riding in the stroller, but if we were ever at a beach, she wouldn't sleep long and was ready to play again. And, of course, all our friends were great with her.

Thank you Katie for all the great pictures. I didn't even bother putting any of the ones we took on here since yours are amazing.

Papailoa Beach

Waimea Beach

Sharks Cove sunset

Moana Falls. Just before we started the hike, we wondered through the Gardens up the road. I'm all about showing June a close look at animals. She seems to love animals, but it a little heasitant once a real one is staring her in the face. I'm hoping the exposure will help her be more comfortable later on in life.

Moan Falls hike. Wet, muddy, slick and long- and a letdown. Hawaii had a bit of a drought so the falls were pretty wimpy. Still fun and beautifully lush.

Laie Temple

Mariners Ridge. The clouds took away from the view, BUT being overcast, it made the hike so much cooler, easier and more enjoyable than if we had done it in the sun.

Pali lookout

This is the view from the top of the Makapu'u Lighthouse trail. We didn't take the time to neture over to see IF we could even get into the lighthouse, but it was a fun view.

Braydn's family was amazing. We played on the ocean, then spent the remainder of the evening relaxing in the hot tub, eating an amazing home-made Hawaiian dinner and spending time with great people. They just embraced us all with such kindness.

My-side Family trip to St. George, July 21-25

Sort of a repeat of our Mike's family trip, we planned the same trip with my family. Usually we just visit Vegas or try to squeeze everyone into my condo, but this summer I insisted that we get away and not have any distractions.

Birthday fun with June.

Zions. We played and picnicked on the river for a bit before half of the family went up the narrows. June was in heaven. Dirt and water, her two favorite things.

After the trip I went to my family's for a week. Being there while they went through the day-to-day things made me really wish I could be a part of that. I'm the only sibling that doesn't live within 2 miles of home base, so I feel out of the loop sometimes.

My mom had a little work done on fixing her insides (the main reason I came for the extra visit). It was her first time going under and she was so nervous. That morning before surgery she sent out a text, "I love you. Remember to read and pray." I laughed since it sounded a bit like last words, knowing how very terrified she was of the anesthesia, but I think we we asked her about it she brushed it off and joked about making sure we read that night.-Her joking was done slowly, less obvious but all the more amusing as she was loving that morphine.

I went to the dentist while Dad and DJ were at the hospital with Mom, so Dane was in charge. I came home to this, so precious. He looked like he was about to fall off the bed but he didn't want to move to wake up June. For a few hours after this, he was still complaining of a sore arm.

Mike's-side Family Trip to St. George, June 24-27.

We spent a few days in St. George and a day up at Zions with Mike's family. We spent a lot of time at the pool, eating yummy food and treats, saw Toy Story and played hard. After the trip, Amy and her boys came up to Highland for a week and we made a trip up to the zoo with them.