confidence braided

I have never been very good at hairstyling. And I have never really been interested in it. I remember trying to learn to french braid a few times in my youth. I was frustrated and just couldn't get the hang of it. "Ah, who needs it?" I thought. After all, my mom and sisters could and did whip my hair into tight braids whenever I asked.

But things are different now. I am a mom. I have a daughter with very long, beautiful hair. It is time to learn.

I was inspired to try my hand at this art when I saw that my little sister Lili french braided her one-year-old's hair. Well, if "tinsey baby Penny" (as Julia calls her cousin) has braids, then so should Julia! And I set about to do it this very morning.

I failed completely at braiding a single plait. I was saying things like, "Oh man, this is so hard. I can't even do this." Julia was cheering me on, while she patiently let me pull and tug at her golden locks. "Mom, don't worry. You can to it! You are doing a great job." With that, I couldn't give up. So I parted it and tried for two, which turned out to be more manageable. Several minutes later, Julia's and my first french braids were born.

Now listen, I know this post may seem silly. And I know the overly-celebrated braids are quite loose and a little rag-tag. But the braids are not the main point here. The big deal is that I buckled down and did something at which I had previously failed and given up as intimidating and impossible. I tend to shy away from things that are unfamiliar and seemingly complicated. So this was a total confidence builder. I can do it! And if I practice, I can get better. (Especially with Julia's cheer leading. And next time I will try to keep Gabe busy with something else so the brush, comb, squirt bottles, and elastic bands don't keep disappearing.) This seems trivial, but it really made my day to see Julia in braids like the ones my mom used to do for me - even if they were disheveled by noon.

Her white-blond original baby curls at the tips are some of my favorite things in this world.

Julia isn't saying "hi" here, she is giggling and telling me to stop with the pictures already. Yeah, okay.

P.S. By no means will I be braiding Julia's hair every day, or even every week. Her curly hair is a blessing in my life in that it pretty much takes care of itself. But I will take the time to practice every now and then, and have some fun experimenting with some other styles. Most days I'm sure we'll stick with a ponytail, simple topsy-tails, or a messy bun. Which I love just as well as any fancy up-do.

shh, don't tell the kids...

...but last week Jonny and I took off to California without them. And, yes, we had a wonderful time lounging on the beach, walking around unencumbered by a stroller, carrying a purse free of diapers and sippy cups, eating at restaurants without even glancing at a kids menu, actually reading during the flight, waking up in the morning at our leisure, soaking in the hot tub late at night, eating ice cream at least once a day, and even playing at Disneyland and California Adventure.

But before we had been gone even 24 hours, something I really hadn't expected happened. I missed Julia and Gabe dreadfully. I knew I'd miss them, sure, they're my babies. But I really missed them. We both did. Maybe it's because we knew we wouldn't see them for two and a half more days. Maybe it's because we felt a little guilty being on such a great vacation without them. Or maybe it's because we were surrounded by thousands of other darling kids at "the happiest place on earth."

Whatever the cause, luckily we managed to have an incredible time that day and the remainder of the trip. (The next day it wasn't so bad, I knew I'd see them after one more night.) I knew Julia and Gabe were having the time of their lives staying with grandma and cousins. (Thanks again Mom, Cami, and Amber!) And I truly was having the time of my life on what felt like a second honeymoon. It was quite blissful.

Anyway, I learned something on our little get-a-way. Alone time is very important for Jonny and me. I always look forward to our evenings after the kids are in bed and date nights on the weekend. A little extended time away from the kids is luxurious, but to be taken in small doses for us! As it turns out, we need these little friends of ours just as much as they need us. (Maybe even more, judging by how upset Julia was when we tried to bring her home from her cousins' house! Gabe, on the other hand, was hugging and kissing me like crazy.) Sure, they fuss and cry and fight and throw tantrums. (They welcomed me home with a couple of those this morning while Jonny was at an early meeting.) But they also make me laugh and smile countless times every single day. I marvel at their growing minds and understanding. I cry bitter-sweet tears when I realize that they really won't be my babies for very much longer. And I love it. I love being their mommy. It's the most exciting and difficult thing I've ever done. And I'm only four years into it! So here's to many more, with perhaps a few occasional escapades for Jonny and me to catch our breath and remember that we're still young too. Then straight back home to our peeps, because, as Julia often says, "We are a flamily."

Of course I can't leave this post without putting a few photo highlights of our weekend in sunny California. Because we really did have a blast. Just don't show these pictures to Julia...

 Jonny took me on a little tour of the sketchy neighborhood where we spent the night on our honeymoon before our cruise ship sailed. We remember buying fruit and water at El Super. And eating fried chicken in the parking lot.

We tried kissing during the picture of the Tower of Terror drop. It was tricky!

 Jonny makes fun that I have the same face on most rides. And he thinks it is crazy that I scream.

I can't help it, honestly.

 

"Hey look! It's dork and dork jr!"

(Sorry, Jonny, I couldn't resist a movie quote.) 

 

Jonny daintily eating a salad: 

Me ravenously eating a corn dog: 

 Matt, Cortnie, and Jack were in D-land a few days before us. They left a note and pirate garb for us in a secret spot. It was so exciting to find it where they left it! (It was hidden in a decorative treasure chest on a high window ledge in an obscure corner of a gift shop. Sneaky.)

 Jonny did put the arrow back in the correct direction, after we toyed with the idea of setting the loose arrow another way. We just didn't have the heart, I guess. (Those of you who were involved in the stealing of a loose ski lift sign with me in earlier days can see that I have changed my tune. Hey, where is that infamous sign anyway?)

 

Again, don't tell Julia:

Here I am, excited to ride California Screamin' for the third time. (I wonder if I will grow up to be one of those moms who doesn't ride roller coasters. ???) But my favorite, of course, is Soarin' Over California. That is the closet I've ever felt to flying. We'll just have to go sky diving and change that, huh Jonny?

I could have stayed at Newport Beach all evening. But it was pretty chilly. Some clam chowder in a local restaurant warmed me up, but I was sad to leave the ocean view.

 We spent our last hour at a lovely park near the airport, watching birds and turtles in a pond. Within a few hours we were back in gloomy Utah. Blah. But I was happy to be back home in our mountain state. I do love it.

 

P.S. This was by no means the first time we've left the kids. I've been to MD a couple times without them, as well as Girls Camp. But those times Jonny has been home. We did, however, both leave them for five days while we went on a youth pioneer trek last summer. Maybe this was harder because we were partying the whole time. But then, like I said, so were they. Julia has been telling us all about her incredible weekend with cousins and Nana. Surely she'll be begging us to go on another "shrip" very soon.

escape artist

In the past week Gabe has learned to:

1. Climb out of his pack-n-play

2. Climb out of his crib

3. Open doors

So until the crib tent I ordered arrives, this 21.5-month-old will successfully be avoiding naps. (Still not sure what to do about nap time when I teach preschool twice a week, which used to happen in the pack-n-play.) And of course this is the week Jonny and I will be leaving on our California get-a-way. My sincerest apologies to my mom and sisters who will be taking on our newest little escape artist. Best wishes and good luck.

As for the doorknob thing, until Gabe thinks to move a chair over to the front door in order to reach the top lock, we may be able to keep him safely indoors. I give him two days.

P.S. Julia didn't climb out of the pack-n-play until she was two. (And I believe it was the very last day of preschool that year!) She never climbed out of her crib, and slept there happily until we gave her a big bed for the third birthday. I had a feeling the Gabe monster would surpass his sister in such matters.

No pressure, Jonny

Jonny began working on our unfinished basement last month. It's a big job that will take several months, but it'll be so nice to have a designated playroom when it is done. (We may or may not finish the three bedrooms and bathroom at this point. But he is planning to frame it all.) With all the hammering, sawing, and construction-talk going on around here, Julia has taken especial notice to how our home compares with her friends' houses.

A few weeks ago a concerned Julia said to me,"Naomi has an upstairs, Lassyn (Allyson) has an upstairs, but we don't have one. Mom, can we go to the store and buy an upstairs? Please!?"

And last week, after playing at the Chamberlain's home in their newly-finished basement, she said, "Ums (this is how she says them, or thems in this case, meaning their) basement is all built. Ums dad built it as fast as he could. Ours daddy is not building ours basement as fast as he can."

But in Jonny's defense, he is doing the best he can! He is down in the basement for an hour or two after work on most weekdays and spends free Saturdays down there as well. (He'd work into the evening hours, but all the noise would keep the kids awake.) And, mind you, this is his first time doing such a project. The deck was a big one. But this is an even greater endeavor. You can do it, Jonny. I have no doubt whatsoever.

  Julia is crazy about helping whenever she possibly can.

 Okay, okay, I don't help out all that much with the hard labor. But on this day we did all carry in some wood. 

And Gabe mostly gets scooped up and out of the way. 

And of course I kiss him when I scoop him up.

awaiting your return...

Julia is in the habit of leaving the pictures she draws or paints for Jonny on the mat by the door so he'll see them first thing when he walks in from work. (One picture from a few days ago has his dusty footprint on it!) Well, he is out of town this week from Wednesday until Saturday. I found this in the laundry room this morning:

In other words, we miss you, Daddy! When you come home this and surely other masterpieces will be waiting. And so will we. With open arms. Love you.

P.S. Please DO hurry home. Gabe has not had a decent teeth-brushing since you left. Why he will calmly let you brush his teeth while he fights and screams every time I try is beyond me. And you know my bedtime stories for Julia are nothing to yours. Yeah, we miss you pretty badly.

Julia's dream garden

I finally got around to making a recipe my talented friend Jessica Crapo created - pumpkin cinnamon rolls. They were completely delicious. But you don't have to take it from me. Here is what Julia had to say:

She and Jonny had been talking earlier in the day about what we should grow in the garden this spring. As we were eating the warm rolls, Julia said, "Mmmm. I want to grow these in the garden too!" I still don't know if she was joking or thought it was actually a possibility, them being pumpkin cinnamon rolls and all. I wouldn't mind putting in a row of rolls between the spinach and cucumbers. Then if we could just find some key lime pie seeds... Hey, some girls can dream, can't they?

Skiing

Melody and I went skiing for just the 2nd time in 6 years. Although it is a sport that both of us participated in much as teenagers, the cost and time has really made it difficult to get out and enjoy the slopes.

After debating whether or not to go and where to go, we decided on a half day up at Sundance. Neither of us have ever been to Sundance to ski before and it was a great little mountain. The conditions weren't excellent with no new snow in the previous week and frequent icy patches, but the weather was great, the crowds were the small, and we had a blast.
Anyway, here are some pictures and a video.