Sweet Dreams at the park

Tucking Jackson in tonight, he told me, "I'll see you at the park in my dreams." So I asked him what we were going to do, and he said, "I don't know. We'll just wait and see!"

Twirling

Before Addison's party started, I showed her how much fun it is to twirl in a dress. She thought this was fantastic...and twirled and twirled!!! I used to love spinning around and around, especially in a dress that I could get to billow. This was the perfect dress. I think we all should spin in our dresses. It's an automatic mood lifter and enhancer.

Addison's "Fairy Princess" Party

When we started talking about what kind of party Addie wanted, she always responded "a princess party." Now words won't do this justice because it was always said with a hip move and usually a hand out to the side. I know...not the same. So a princess party it was. Somewhere along the line, it morphed into a "fairy princess party." Fine. She loves her dresses (it's all I can get her in these days), so this wasn't too much of a surprise. When the jumper people were setting up Jackson's, there was a picture of a castle and she promptly told Dave, "that's the one I want for my princess party." So we had the jumper picked out. I found a cake...but what else do you do at a princess party?? That was the dilemma. Erica had the brilliant idea to make play dough with kool-aid, so that's what we did. The day was perfect, except a little cold.

The "Princess Fairy" cake...it's hard to find generic fairies! It worked out though because Tinkerbell is definitely a favorite.

Addison is concentrating very hard to work with her play dough. Erica made the play dough (easy, and much better than the stuff you can buy) in purple and pink. The kids got to use the cookie cutters to make all kinds of shapes. Perfect.

Jackson on the swing. He was a good prince at the party!

Addison jumping her heart out. She was bouncing towards me.

This is right before Addie opened her gifts...she was singing, "Happy Birthday to myself."

Figuring out the microphone...if I can figure it out, I'll post the video later...hilarious, and we are in SOO much trouble!

Cake time. 

Addie was so excited...I love this picture. We had just finished singing happy birthday to her.

In the jumper at the end of the party.

After the party...two tired out kiddos!

Addison went through 5 different outfits throughout the party. Her dress, her butterfly costume, and three dress up outfits. Definitely par for the course lately...I can't wait until she can do her own laundry!! It was an awesome birthday, but I'm definitely grateful they only come once a year!

Happy 3rd Birthday Addison!!

Dearest Addison,

You turned 3 today!!! It feels like we have been celebrating your birthday since Sunday (today is a Wednesday). It all started off with your birthday party (more on that to come) on Sunday, followed by birthday dinner and presents with Grandma and Grandpa B on Tuesday night, cupcakes at preschool on Wednesday night and many phone calls tonight.

Addison, you are such a gift. Your smile and twinkle in your eyes captures the heart of everyone you meet. You have this joy about you that is infectious. These days, you love center stage. Addie, you can't wait to start dance class. Laurissa gave you her old tap shoes, and you LOVE your dancing shoes! In fact, you will change many times after we get home from school to put on your dancing clothes. You can rest assured that if we have people over, you are ready!

You are a smart, creative and persistent big girl. You love to color, paint and play with play dough. You see a canvas where ever and when ever. That has amounted to color on the wall, glitter on you, and various other mediums all over the place. You see something and want to try it, especially if your big brother can do it. He helps "teach" you your colors when you guys are taking baths. You both play well together, and you fight well also.

You love stories and your babies. Your most recent favorite baby is "Baby Parker," who was named in October after your cousin, Parker, was born. It is so fun to watch you take care of them. I find them tucked in all over the house. In baskets, on tables...all under blankets. If there is one tucked in where we are sitting, you usually ask us to "shhh...they are sleeping."

You love fruit, especially strawberries...and chocolate. Addison, you know what you want, and you go after it. I hope and pray that you always keep that sense, but that we can tame it just a bit so that you include mom and dad in your decisions. As you grow older, hold tight to your sense of self, your smile and your pizzaz! You are my sweetheart, and every time you tell me, "I'm not Addison, I'm sweetheart," it makes me melt. I love you sweetheart and I love watching you grow and learn every day!!!

Love,
Mommy

Our backyard puddle

This past weekend was full of fun! Shaun, Erica and their little girl Zoe came out to see Jackson play in his last game of the season, and also to go to Addison's birthday party. Jackson's game never happened...it started raining about 7pm Friday night, and didn't stop until about 10am Saturday morning. The park where the kids play soccer was flooded...which was perfectly fine with me. So what do you do when your backyard has a huge puddle (and really, puddle doesn't do it justice)? You bundle up the kiddos, grab your camera and follow the kids out the door.

One of the first splashes of the morning. It was a great one!

Second splash...complete with a jump from the slide contraption on the left.

Addison liked to taste the rain.

Not only did she jump...she sat!

It was in the low 50's out...plus the rain. I thought they were crazy!

Baby Zoe (who really isn't a baby anymore) wasn't too sure about the crazy kids running in the rain!

Catching the rain.

Jackson made himself a little fort...the climber on the right is the one he was jumping off of.

Zoe finally made her way out to the "puddle."

It seriously doesn't get much better than this!

Zoe thinks this is pretty cool now!

Ok mom. I'm ALL done!

Jackson had to get in one more splash!

We don't get rain all that often...in fact, we mostly have hot or cold. I have one memory of running in the rain on Sagebrush Drive in Reno when I was little. It was pouring out, and the neighbor right across the street from us was the perfect run. We ran back and forth from his patio to ours. I've decided that we will always try to take full advantage of whatever weather Mother Nature decides to bless us with. The kiddos even got to go out in the jeep in the afternoon with Shaun and daddy. I didn't see pictures, but I'm sure there were lots of circles made in the mud!

Last weekend...

Lately, Addison starts her stories with, "last weekend" no matter if that's when things happened or not. She would be right this post. Last weekend, we had a great visit from Grandma and Grandpa H, and Aunt Tara, Uncle Ed and Baby Parker. They all came down to see Jackson play soccer, and just have a good time! Baby Parker was the hit of the weekend! Jackson and Addison LOVE him! They loved to hug and hold, and even shared (which is not always an easy feat). They are good cousins!!! 

Baby Parker in the jumper-oo for the first time.

 Addison, Parker and Jackson

We made it out the door to Jackson's game almost on time. Even though I leave the house earlier during the week, I am finding that no matter how much planning and starting early I do...we're never quite out the door when we should. Have to get better at that! Jackson's team played well, he even got in there and found the ball a few times. I think he had more fun sitting on the sidelines this time though. He and Laurissa were waiting for their turn to play at the same time.

 Jackson and Laurissa waiting for their turn to play.

 As long as he keeps smiling, we'll keep playing!

 Everyone watching the game...although I think Baby Parker stole the show!

 Brother and sister

 Baby Parker and his mommy

We spent the afternoon hanging out and playing! Everyone (except me) got a nap, but that's ok because I got a "Parker nap." Those were my absolute favorite naps when my kiddos were his age. There is nothing like relaxing with a sleeping baby on you! Their smell and sounds! Thanks Parker for the nap!!! It was the highlight of my weekend! Tara and I went for a run, and I learned that I can not keep up with her! I've got a long way to go if I'm ever going to run a race with her! We ended our day with a spectacular sunset....and started Sunday with a gorgeous sunrise! 

 Sunset

 Sunrise

We had "8-minute waffles" for breakfast, and while I was making breakfast, miss Addison was up to her usual...it should be no surprise, right? She had gotten some lipgloss for Christmas that I kept up for her. She decided she needed some. Not only on her lips...but all over her face and hair. In case you were wondering, it takes 3 shampoos to get most of the gloss out so that the hair is not sticky anymore. Later that night, I discovered that she had also gotten globs of it in her ears. We are still trying to get it all out of her ears. I've learned that getting mad doesn't help much...so I took pictures and sent her to her room! 

 The sparkly hair

 Her pout

Two hands is easier for application.

We had an awesome "last weekend" and can't wait for our next one when baby Parker is baptized!!!

Born to dance!!

Little Miss Addison is a performer!! She loves to dance, sing, tell stories...anything related to having an audience. She insists that as she is dancing, you pay full attention. In her mind, that means there is no talking, reading, even typing this blog. Her dances apparently have a rule that requires her to change her clothes into her "dancing clothes." That may be a dress, a tutu or her dress up clothes. Her facial expressions during her dances and shows are priceless. She is the most animated almost 3 year old that I know. The other night at dinner, she got on the chair and proceeded to tell us all about , "last weekend, and Christmas and the big bear that went grrrr." She went on for 5 minutes and had us all in stitches! One of these days, I'll tape the whole show...for now, here are a few pics from her show on the stairs in the backyard!

Rockin' Ride

A few weekends ago, we went out on the Jeep for a ride. It was a gorgeous day to go!!! We have found most of the "treasures" around our house, so we took off about 30 miles away. Kiddos didn't particularly like the ride over there (we usually just take the jeep from our house), but they were super excited to get there! It was beautiful there. We were down in a wash, so Dave had a little trouble keeping the treasure map loaded and updated with our location...but it worked out! We found the treasure, had a picnic, and went for a little more of a ride. We tried to go for a short hike, but we didn't realize how many cactus needles were around. Both kids, at the same time, started complaining. And both had spikes going through their jeans. We picked them out, and hightailed it back to the jeep with both kids in arms! Poor Jackson, we were still trying to pick a few out of his legs at bath time that night. Going out on the jeep has given me a whole new appreciation for the desert. It's really, truly beautiful!!! And the sunsets we get are awesome!

 Walking with daddy.

 Dave found an intact snake skin. That's totally a treasure!

 The wall of the wash we were in,

 Underneath an awesome tree!!! I tried to get pics of the kids in there...didn't work out quite as I hoped.

 Dave and the kids sitting with the treasure (it's in the small rock pile over to the right).

 Addison poking through the hole in the wall,

 Jackson poking through the hole!

Our desert sunset!!!