V-Day

Happy Valentine's Day, Daddy!

Ami and I had our hair cut together last Friday and were very pleased with the results. She loves the look and easy maintenace of short hair. We found a fabulous hair dresser in Camas with a salon at her home. Calvin will be visiting very soon. I found several pairs of sweet stick-on jewel earings that Amidala wore proudly for her Dad and is excited to wear more for primary on Sunday. We are starting to establish more routine to our week, visiting the new (totally freakin' awesome for young kids) library not far from us and also going to the (equally awesome) pool. The kids enjoy playing monster chase and house together. They have started communicating better since Calvin's language skills have improved so much lately.

Blogiversary!

I'm really proud of myself for sticking with this blogging thing for a whole year. Not because I can't commit to something, but because I have trouble finding things I am truly passionate about and enjoy. Then I became a wife and mother and everything changed.

Suddenly, I wanted to live everyday to the fullest and not miss a moment with my new little family. My children bring me so much joy that I had to share their antics and adorableness with others; thus the blog was born.

My blogging sistas also had just as much to do with its inception. Not a fan of fake, ahem...facebook, with all its ads, drama and general uniform drabness; I really appreciate all the time, effort and personality my fellow bloggers put into theirs. I love learning more about your sweet happy life, adventures in the burrow, why you're jolly, and even what you wore today. And my sil Christine for taking the time to show me how to get this all started on that Superbowl Sunday one year ago. How fortunate we were they came back again this year. Although the enormous TV and slightly ghetto antennae hook up may have had something to do with it. Half the space but just as much fun.

Happy blogging, y'all!

Princess of Power

What's better than snuggling your sweet daughter? Snuggling her while watching the most awesome heroine ever!

The '80's were such a simple, magical time. My sisters and I loved this show and always eagerly awaited those hi-yah kicks for a chance to shout, "Look, I see She-Ra's panties!"



I may restrict all my children's TV viewing to 80's retro cartoons. Next year: Thundercats, hooooooooooo!

Calvin's Birthday

Calvin turned two years old on Thursday and we celebrated with a birthday playdate at Kids Club. It was so nice to only drive 10 minutes to get there as opposed to 45.




My adorable friend Jenamarie attended with her equally adorable children.


My sil Christine also brought her youngest son and he played so sweetly with my tiny man.


Later that evening, Jason, Christine and their boys (who are also loving residing in The Couve) came to celebrate with cake and icecream.



I remember the first time I saw him after he was sliced from me...


I was so worried he was going to be ugly because it appeared he had no chin (weak chins are from my side of the family).


But he's really cutened up since then, snotty nose and all!



Calvin is a shining example of a child wanting to be just like his parents (and sister). He mimics everything we do; the other day I found him trying to put on Husband's deodorant. He refuses to leave the house without his hat on and always wants to help. His plastic tools are by far his favorite toys, always trying to 'fix' things.

Thank you for helping celebrate us Calvin's birthday!!!

Friday Happenings

One of the sisters in my new ward is a certified Zumba instructor and offers a class on Friday mornings. The women take up most of the gym but there's just enough room for the all the toddlers and the nursery toys. Ami looked so cute in her little exercise clothes dancing around with me. She was a little disappointed when she had to go to primary instead of nursery that first Sunday, but with group exercise classes 2x a week, she's getting plenty of opportunities to "play with toys and friends at church".

Later this afternoon, Husband's parents came to visit while they were in town for other business. I always appreciate it when family comes to our home to see us. The kids were, of course, overjoyed to see Grandma and Grandpa Davis.

From the voices in my head...

My children's sibling relationship has improved exponentially since living in these cramped quarters.

Husband and I feel so much more positive about our future but I miss Grammy Norma and Lynell terribly.

One of Husbands foot bones is still cracked and he has to wear the boot for a couple more weeks, but he got the OK to go back to work (light duty).

I love bright tights! They hide even the hairiest of legs.

Calvin will be two in a week and he still doesn't sleep through the night.

I have a serious case baby fever that I cannot get over. If only Lynell was still my neighbor and I could borrow Stevie to relieve my symptoms.

We said goodbye to our costly cable and hello to an $11 digital antenna.

My kids are so spoiled and there's no end in sight.

Amidala never gets bored. I don't know if it's because she doesn't know that word or if she's just too young with a very active imagination. Either way, I hope it lasts.

Movin' on up (literally, we're on the 2nd floor)

Hello from beautiful Vancouver! Where you're greeted by lovely mountain views and thriving businesses instead of a stinky landfill and even stinkier paper mills. We moved on New Year's Day and it went fairly smoothly. There were a few casualties: a dresser, fan and laundry hamper, but we appreciated all of the help from our family, friends and ward. Our apartment is cozy and just the perfect size for our little family.

Husband is still taking classes at LCC through the spring, but is planning on attending Clark College in the fall, seeking a degree in Radiology. This relocation has been a goal of ours for almost a year now so it feels good, no make that great, to have taken the first steps to establishing a more stable livelihood for our family.

I've moved many, many times in the past decade. This is the first time I've felt extremely saddened leaving behind some close friends and family. I know we're separated by less than 50 miles but they are so much a part of my daily life, I feel a bit discombobulated by the distance.