Saturday, May 30, 2009

summer is coming!

I just thought I would share a little bit of what we've been doing lately...

It's really been heating up here in Sac Town already so we've spent a lot of time at the pool. Our neighborhood has a community clubhouse with three pools...it's a really great place to expend energy and pass the day. Ryland loves to go with friends (Colby is pictured here) but will easily make new friends when none are available to go. Sometimes, we'll even grab a cheap dinner or lunch at the cabana. Selah is not loving the water but seems to enjoy observing from the side...


Just this morning, Ryland and I participated in our first 5k together. He did so great! I would guess that he walked/ran at least 75% of it! It was a fundraiser to support Janelle's MOPS group so it was low key and a great first "race"!





Ry has really enjoyed experimenting with pictures. He took this great shot before our walk this morning...

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Selah's 1st Birthday Party

This was on taken on her actual birthday - the 14th. We had just opened her gift from Auntie Cookie. The Little People playhouse. She loves it!



We had a small get together on the 16th to celebrate her birthday. What a nice time it was!

Selah and Nana



Nana lovin' on Selah


Popi and Selah


Popi and Selah were really cute. He kept playing with her and making her smile and she loved it when he messed up her hair.


Sad to say...this was NOT her first cake, sweet, or dessert.

But she liked it just the same! More than anything, she seemed to enjoy the feel of the frosting between her fingers. :)


The older kiddos got cone-cupcakes



Mandy and Paige Heilner. Paige is about 9 months older than Selah and is already a great partner in crime - showing Selah the ropes, and keeping track of her paci.

Way in the background (walking), is Callie, a few months older than Selah. Then sitting, is Octavia, one month older, and on the ground is Sammy, a few months younger.
Also in attendance was cousin Jared, 5 months younger...how fun to have so many great friends already made!


Daddies got to sit outside in the heat and keep a loose eye on the kids who wanted to brave the heat.


Selah couldn't make it all the way through the party without a nap. When she woke up, most everyone was gone except for Nana and Popi. So we opened their gift. I love this picture - she really did take the card and look at it as though she was reading it. It was so cute!

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Selah is one today!


Wow. This past year has really zoomed by! One year ago today, Selah came into our lives by cesarean. She has really lived up to her name "to pause and reflect". Her demeanor is calm and observant. When she smiles and laughs, we cannot help but smile and laugh with her. She can really light up! She is such a joy to watch and to love. People ask me all the time whether she is different to raise (being a girl and not a boy), and it is too hard to tell if it's different because she is a girl, or if it is because she is a different person, or if I am different. But I have a sneaking suspicion that it is a bit of all three.

Ryland and her have really taken to each other. Just last night he was running by her and running circles around her while she just sat and watched and laughed. It was adorable.

I am a bit nostalgic for this day but happy and eager to see what the coming years will bring us!

Here is a look back at a few photos of her first year...



First few weeks at home.

First beach trip, Santa Cruz



First Christmas
(I started the blog in January, so you are all caught up!)

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

AWANA Awards Night

Ry is part of a kid's program called AWANA, run through a local church. Tonight was the awards night. He joined half way through and so he didn't get an award (he did get a certificate). I love how this picture captures how he felt about that. :)


I have to say though, he is so cute! :)


Mother's Day 2009

Mother's Day this year started on the Friday before. Ry's preschool had a special afternoon planned for us. Here is the video from it.




Me and my baby...




On Sunday, we got in the car and drove to our favorite beach. We try to go to Drake's Beach every year for Mother's Day - we missed last year because I was so pregnant with Selah....she turns one this week!
We turned her car seat around for the first time on this trip. She was lovin' it!



Selah Bear only took one 45 minute nap the whole day! She is usually such a sleeper but was in a good mood edxcept for when we were trying to get her to sleep! :)




Cousin Brodie


That's our kite!



Nana and Selah


Happy Mother's Day Mama!



Jon and Jenn joined us too (Jenn is due on the 17th!)



Ryland played "sports" all day and begged anyone to play with him up until the minute we left...no nap, and even stayed awake for most of the drive home.
We capped off the day with dinner at Taco Bell...Brad summed it up with "The beach trip wouldn't be the same without ending it at Taco Bell!"
It was such a GREAT Mother's Day...

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Day Off

The other day on the way home from preschool, Ryland says, "Hey mom, how about you take a day off and we go to the beach?" A day off from what, I am not sure, but I sure like his thinking about the beach!