Gabba

I always have a list of things I want to post and little things the girls are doing that I want to memorialize, but then real chores or just bed wins out and I have other things that happen - holidays and events and visitors - that end up taking the priority.  Suddenly, months later those things are sadly not even close to current anymore.  While I have a million pictures to post from our recent visit with Grandma and Pop, I just couldn't let this Sis current event escape me, it's just my favorite right now.

Sis has always been a good little communicator and mimicker.  Ever since she started talking more she's had a few words that she throws in the mix that aren't really words at all.  It used to be "guhda" and "dogga", and has recently morphed into "gabba".  Gabba may not be a real word to us, but to Everly it is everything.  It's every word and no word.  It's a good word and a bad word.  It's everything she wants to say, but can't. 

Many of our daily conversations go just like this:

Sis: "Mama?"
Me: "Yes?"
Sis: "Ummm, gabba."
Me: "Gabba?"
Sis: "Uh huh."
Me: "Ok."
Sis: Walks away.

Sometimes it's a little more heartfelt.  Like tonight, after giving her and her sister baths I was busy lotioning her sister.  She marched up to me, grabbed my face with both hands, stuck her little face in mine, tilted it to the right and solemnly whispered "Gabba."  Like, you feel me, mom?  Gabba.  And I'm just like I feel you, girl.  Gabba for sure. 

I can't get enough of this stage and the constant evolution into her own little person.  Oh Sis, I just love the gabba outta you!  :)

- K

Valentine's Day

I've always loved Valentine's Day, and I think I have my mom to thank for that.  Whether I had a boyfriend or not I could always look forward to a celebration at home and the candy and the little gifts.  It's such a fun holiday, and now getting to celebrate with my own girls makes it that much better. 

We kept it pretty casual with heart pancakes for breakfast, church and brunch.  There's not much the girls love more than brunch after church.  :)  It was a fun day celebrating love with the cutest love bugs around.

Here's some photos from a little Valentine's Day photo shoot.  For the record - these chicks are not very cooperative with me and my camera.  To put it politely.  ;)

- K

Aunties and Birthdays and...Go Broncos!!!

Between aunties and cousins visiting, a birthday celebration and the Broncos winning the Super Bowl, we've had lots to celebrate over the last couple of weeks!  My sister, Savannah, and her son, Bane, came out to visit the day after my official retirement.  It was fun to have the little cousins playing together.  We went to the Mall of America for Toddler Tuesday and even rode some kiddie rides, which was a huge hit!  Then we drove home for 2 hours in the biggest snowstorm of the year (a drive that should have taken 25 minutes.)  But we got to play in the snow the next day, and I made snow ice cream with Lyla - a childhood tradition I remember loving.  L was not impressed by the flavor and ended up adding salt and pepper.  She was going for savory and sweet, I guess.

The morning of Lyla's birthday and party Auntie Alycia and her daughter, Brailyn, came into town.  Savannah and Bane didn't leave until that evening, so we had lots of family in town to celebrate!  The party was at a local indoor park, and the kids had a blast.  I tried talking Lyla into some "sensible" clothes, but she could not be deterred from her fancy party dress.  :) 

We surprised Lyla with an Elsa cake at the party.  All she saw before the party was the frosted cake, which she found to be totally anticlimactic.  She'd lost her Elsa doll when we went ice skating in December, so when the new doll showed up at the party she was so excited.  :)  Thanks to all our friends that came to celebrate!

The next day was the best day of Ryan's life, I'm pretty sure.  I mean, forget the whole wedding and baby thing, the Broncos won the SUPER BOWL!!!  We had a little get together, naturally.  Two parties in one weekend?  No big deal.  But we kept it low key, and then woke up the entire neighborhood when Ryan and Lyla ran screaming through the streets with our Broncos flag.  In shorts.

Here are some photos of all the fun!  :)

- K

 

 

toddler tuesday

 

ridin' rides

we happened upon Blue - who is one of sis' favorites.  :)

 

helpers making birthday cakes

4th birthday!

cupcakes for breakfast :)

both girls were thrilled to see Goan!

this is when Evie spotted Goan.  :)

I made a measuring stick to start recording the girls' heights on their birthdays :)

Brailyn trying on L's new Rapunzel wig.  I think she's feelin' it.  :)

getting ready for the big game!

family selfie...minus L

I'm honestly shocked there were no holes in the walls after this happened...