This week

We started a little preschool co-op in our ward with about five kids. The number is fluctuating because a new person just moved into the ward and we might be moving out of the ward. Today there were four kids, though, and it was a handful! It's really basic since most of the kids are still two, mainly learning to sit still occasionally :). We're doing a letter and number each week and a monthly color. The three little girls were okay, the boy was a tornado! He ran inside and immediately pulled the window treatments completely off the back sliding door. While Ryan was reattaching them, he started kicking the back door repeatedly. As soon as they were able to play outside, he beelined for the shed where the lawnmower is kept and figured out how to open it. He was a magnet for destruction and a bit exhausting! His mom does work with him a lot, though, so he was pretty obedient when you directed his energies.

First day of school picture with Willa and Bridgett. Willa had a little struggle since I was the teacher and since other kids were playing with her toys, but overall she did well.

 Photo of June sitting up in her favorite couch corner. She's not quite strong enough to sit on her own, but this corner is a little more comfortable than the bumbo and she can play with her favorite toy: an almost empty container of wipes!

We took out the new stroller for a Sunday stroll. I love Babyjogger! It rides like a dream and hardly feels like you're pushing anything, much lesson nearly 100 lbs of baby/toddler/stroller weight. We are so grateful for Rebecca and all her connections. She was able to get this stroller for us hot off the presses! I love Babyjogger so much. I ran with the single stroller with Willa basically every day for two years straight. It still looks and works just like new. I was a little nervous to switch the the double wide behemoth that you see, but really it is so agile that I don't think running is going to be a problem. It fits onto sidewalks and through doorways.

The girls were super comfy and hopefully the novelty of the stroller will keep Willa happy for at least 40 minutes for the first few mornings. I haven't had to use it for actual running yet since Ryan has been home, but he has a project starting tomorrow so it looks like we'll be back in a routine. I'm very happy for him to work but I'm also dreading it a little. He will be gone a lot so it will be an adjustment doing everything by myself. I've definitely gotten spoiled the past few months.

Who's Who

I realized that June now fits into an outfit that I posed Willa in in an attempt to recreate this classic photo of me. You don't have to look at the photos if you don't want to. I just wanted to document the same age/outfit/pose so I can compare the babies. Sometimes they look nothing alike to me, but other times they are definitely sisters. People either say to me, "Wow, June looks completely different." Or, "Wow, she looks exactly like Willa." I just smile because to me both statements are true at times.

Me

 Willa

 June-bear! - I forgot to wet and style June's hair to match the other photos, but it really is quite curly when it's wet.

On Being Thankful

I've been thinking about this for a while and wanted to share a few experiences we have had lately. Two weeks ago we were having a grand old time with Ryan's family for a few days. I had made an appointment for Ryan to get his teeth cleaned at the dentist and the only time available was during this family reunion. Neither of us had had our teeth cleaned in about four years (gross, I know). After working at the dental school and seeing firsthand the questionable ethics of many of the students, a bad dental experience in Los Angeles, and then no money for dental insurance since we've been in Texas, the teeth cleanings have been on the back burner.

Anyway, I was in Utah and figured my dad could hook me up with a good ethical dentist who would charge reasonable rates or perhaps give a discount by trading some work with my dad. I got my teeth cleaned, hooray it was awesome! Now it was Ryan's turn since he had finally gotten into town. It was annoying that he had to leave the family reunion for a few hours but we figured that it wasn't too bad.

Ryan got his teeth cleaned in the morning and they wanted to fill a teensy tiny cavity. They didn't have time right then, but scheduled it for about an hour later. He ran some errands and then headed back to the office for round two. As Ryan was turning into the parking lot at the dentist's office the steering suddenly gave out on the car. The engine and everything was running fine, but he couldn't steer at all. The car had been in an accident two weeks earlier, but was supposedly repaired. Ryan called me, I called my dad who was at the cabin, and he called the garage where the car had been fixed.


It was decided that Ryan would go finish his dental appointment. After he was through, he needed to call AAA and they would tow him back to the garage in Bountiful. Then, our neighbor would pick him up and take him to the car rental place where he needed to show his ID in order to be placed on the insurance for the rental car. Finally, she would drive him back to our house in Centerville where he would pick up the rental car that was there and the drive back to his family reunion in Pleasant Grove.

Meanwhile, I started to get really annoyed. Why did this have to happen? Ryan was losing a whole day of hanging out with us and it was such an annoying trip for him to get the car back, etc. I was pretty negative. Then I started thinking about the positive. The steering went out in the car. That could have been so dangerous if he had been on the freeway or just on a regular street. Thankfully, he had just barely turned into the parking lot when it had happened. This was also the first time he had driven the car without the girls and me with him. Think how much more nightmarish if we had been in the car and been in a bad accident. 

Finally, my parents had given Ryan a AAA membership for his last birthday. How nice that he had it so calling a tow truck was so easy. The mechanic shop had just had the car in so it was very easy to connect with them again when he dropped the car off there. And, since the car had so recently been repaired, my parents had left to the cabin without being able to return the rental car so it was sitting at our house ready to be used when we needed it.

This car problem could have been really bad. Instead, a mildly annoying thing was dealt with as smoothly as possible. It's been a good lesson to me to really think more about being grateful to Heavenly Father for our lives and the little things in them.

Yesterday we were just finishing dinner and Ryan and I were talking at the table. I was holding June and Willa had gotten up and was riding around the kitchen on her little trike with a doll saying, "Green light, go." It was just so pleasant. I felt so blessed for our little family. We're going through a bit of vacation depression as we struggle to get back in the swing of everything, but little moments like last night are so peaceful and special to me. Even unemployment has it's upside. I would never wish it on anyone, but it is so great to have Ryan home with me to help. It's going to be hard when he starts working again.

There's no real moral here except that I needed to acknowledge the blessings that we have been receiving lately. There are so many more, but these were notable ones recently.

We're back from our long and lovely vacation! I mainly had my mom take pictures with her Iphone and then I forgot to have her send them to me. Here are a few cute ones that I managed to take with my dinosaur camera.

At the last minute, we decided to take Willa with us down the river this year. You might remember two years ago when I took her at 10 months at it proved to be a big mistake. This year she was helping us load up the kayaks and got so excited about the "boats with sticks" (paddles) that we decided to bring her along. She thought she was very, very cool with her own little paddle, life jacket, and sunglasses. She actually did very well and only got nervous for a few of the rapids. She told me, "Mommy, I no like the crazy water."

On our very last day of our second trip to the cabin, Ryan finally got her on a waverunner (another "boat" to her). She was fearful at first and then loved it. Note how green the water is, the levels were getting lower each day leading to a huge accumulation of algae that loved to collect on our swimsuits, yum.

Finally, here is a picture of June-bear on one of our last Utah days. She had just rolled over for the second time and is in the middle of crying :(. Of course, I had to get a picture before I picked her up and administered comfort. She's got the back-to-tummy down now, but still can't figure out how to get from tummy to back.

Rolling Over

We are flying back to Texas tomorrow so I will probably start blogging more once we get back. I wanted to write a quick post because June finally rolled over for the first time today! She has been very close for a while. For the past week she could roll over but was getting stuck on her arm. Today, she mastered the skill and found herself in quite a state of shock on her tummy.
The first time she was playing on the floor and suddenly started crying. My mom went to look at her and found her crying on her tummy. The second time was very similar with lots of crying. The third time, not so much crying! I think it scared her a little because she didn't know what was happening. She usually isn't so vocal about hating tummy time. Cute little June-bug, she was just scared of the unknown - kind of like her parents :).

June turned five months on August 5th so she's a late roller just like Willa. I think it's because they both have such sweet and easy personalities as babies. "Why roll over when there are plenty of toys right here to keep me busy?" I can't believe she is so old, I feel like she shouldn't be anywhere near rolling over yet. It's hard to believe that the six month birthday mark is looming. She is still the sweetest, prettiest baby that you will ever meet and she has more than enough smiles to go around to everyone.

We have had a lot of fun here with my family and LOVED being able to spend a few days with the entire Daniels family. We love our families so much and are happiest when we can spend time with them. Willa keeps asking for her cousins so I'm expecting some vacation depression for all of us when we return. The knowledge that Bridgett is on the other side of this plane ride back to Houston is probably going to be our saving grace.