Life Lately

Life has felt a little hectic lately.  I feel like it's always "hurry-up-and-go!" right now.  Hurry up and get Lyla to school!  Hurry up and pick her up!  Hurry up and get lunch in bellies and kids down for naps.  Hurry up and make dinner!  Hurry up and EAT YOUR DINNER.  Hurry up and baths and bed and sit down for maybe just a second of quiet...until someone gets out of bed and needs something.

We have 3 year old drama and 5 year old drama, and learning how to respond to all the sibling fighting is a whole new parental curveball.  There's also been at least a little bit of pregnant lady drama.  I've had a couple of my own total meltdowns, and more nights have ended with tears than I'd like to admit. 

This stage is so, so wonderful, but it is also so hard.  I want so badly to be able to soak it all in and enjoy these little people while they're still little, but sometimes they just make themselves a little hard to enjoy.  And sometimes I want to run screaming.  But I sit here and look back at my pictures and all I see are smiles and a heck of a lot of love, and all I can think is that life is so good.  There are plenty of difficult moments, but there are so many more good ones.

This weekend happened to have a lot of those good moments.  We were as busy as ever, but we had so much as a family.  We had an early morning donut date in our jammies, a date night (!!!), a birthday party and an impromptu family night at Chuck E. Cheese. 

Love these people so much.  None of us are perfect, but we're so perfect for each other.

- K

A Visit From Great Grandma!

Last week my grandma traveled all the way out to Minnesota to visit us!  Ryan had to go to Vegas for work (poor guy), so it was perfect timing.  We had a lot of fun, and I have to say I was quite impressed by her ability to keep up with my little wild things.

We crammed as much as we could into our few days with her.  We took her to our favorite donut shop before school one day, showed her around the fun kids area at the library, and Evie's gymnastics class.  Lyla got to order crab (her favorite) at Red Lobster, and both girls got their own cake slices at The Cheesecake Factory (oreo cheesecake for Evie and the biggest chocolate layer cake known to mankind for Lyla), and we even got to do some fancy dress shopping for the girls.  We finally did our obligatory sight seeing on the last morning, stopping by Minnehaha Falls for the first time for all of us. 

It was such a great trip!  We were all glad Great Grandma got to visit us out here in the Midwest.  Now we've just gotta get her back out here in the summer when it's warm and green!  ;)

- K

Donuts!  And not a single complaint from her teachers after school.  ;)

Checking out the lobsters at Red Lobster.

Coloring with Great Grandma.

Cutest gymnastics girl.

Cheesecake Factory!

After dinner at Cheesecake Factory we stayed out late to go dress shopping for the girls.  They were pretty excited to get in them first thing the next morning!

It was the first time we've ever done proper dress shopping where we actually tried several on to find the best option.  Lyla had so much fun posing in front of the mirror and said "it feels like I'm at the beauty shop!"  :)  (Gotta love that bed head.)

Last stop before the airport!  Minnehaha Falls.  The falls were pretty cool, but we didn't get to stay long and explore.  Next visit!

The Big Birthday!

The second birthday was a huge success!  We had a small family celebration the morning of her actual birthday, complete with don dons and gigantic balloons.  On Saturday we had a big party with some of her little friends.  Ryan's family was in town, and even his sister surprised us and flew out for the weekend.  I wouldn't have been able to pull off this party without them, they were so much help.  I'm a little surprised they continue to come visit with all the work we make them do.

Like most parties are, it was a bit of a whirlwind but I really tried to focus on L and what she was doing.  Last year at her party I ended up feeling like I barely saw her, the way she was passed from one family member to another.  This year I tried to take it all in a little better, and what I can tell you is the girl had some fun.

We had a little craft time and had the kiddos make their own treat bags that I filled with goodies before they went home, and I don't think Lyla's ever taken anything more seriously.  Between that, the presents and all the sugar she was definitely in two year old heaven.  We all had so much fun - thanks to all the friends and family that were there to help celebrate our girl!

Here's some pics from the day!

- K

Pumpkin Patch

This weekend was the best.  Friday was our 5th anniversary, but unfortunately I was too busy stuffing my face to take any pictures.  There really is something magical about anniversaries, isn't there?  It just takes you right back to that big day and leaves you feeling a little gushy all day long.  I love it.

Saturday Ryan didn't have a rugby game so we went to a local pumpkin patch.  Ryan told me that it was "warm" and "you'll only need a light jacket".  I'm not sure if he lied or if there was a sudden arctic cold front, but by the time we got there it was damn freezing.  And raining.  Luckily I'm always prepared for Lyla...not so much for myself.  But we grinned and beared it, and Lyla loved every second.  As soon as I set her down she was on the move, and kept at it the entire time.  Her favorite part was the fresh  cinnamon sugar

donuts, or as she refers to them "don dons".  I'm pretty sure don dons are her favorite food group.

We found a perfect minion pumpkin, and minions are L's second favorite thing to donuts, so I can't wait to get it painted and surprise her!

- K