Darn you, Wyoming

Almost four years ago we moved to the middle of nowhere Wyoming. To say I was not excited about the move was a huge understatement. Sure, Wyoming was beautiful but the town was tiny and I thought that the people were maybe just a little weird. And there was no Target or decent coffee for miles and miles and miles. I went from being a working mama in Oregon to a stay at home mama in Wyoming and the change was a struggle.

Now it's four years later and it's almost impossible to leave this tiny town for the land of coffee and Targets. I've started this post quite a few times over the past few weeks and cried every time I really thought about leaving this place. I once told Jake that I bet people who drive through our  town probably think "Who in the world would want to live here!" So Wyoming, I'm not sure how you did it, but you weaseled yourself right into our hearts! It's always hard to leave a place where you have so many memories, but change brings growth and new adventures, so off we go! Thank you for loving us and for helping us raise our babies! Like seriously thank you, but if the children turn out to be delinquents, I will blame their Wyoming beginnings.

2012 before our first Sunday at a teeny tiny church. Oh we do not miss that house!

 Henry was just a big headed bald baby when we rolled into town!

Our little Wyoming babe.

2016 before out last Sunday at church that isn't so teeny tiny anymore. Oh we will miss this house..especially the sweet green stucco. :)

Sissy at 2...According to Henry

For the last few years, I have interviewed Henry on his birthday. I wanted to start this tradition with Sis, but her current communication is pretty limited to animal sounds, "I'm hungry" and "I want to dance" so Henry took the lead in answering the questions for her.

How old are you: 2
What is your favorite color: Pink
Who is your best friend: Henry
What is your favorite snack: Appies, peach and nannies.

What do you want to be when you grow up:  She wants to be just like her mama.
What's your favorite song: 5 Little Ducks
What is your favorite show: Elmy
What are your favorite things to do: Tickle monster, ride bike and play at the park
What's your favorite book: The Napping House
What's your favorite breakfast: mac and cheese with eggs, waffles and pancakes.

What's your favorite thing to do with Henry: tackle and wrestle and play on the trampoline.
What's your favorite toy: Babies
What are you afraid of: When mommy leaves and when Daddy tackles me.
What's your favorite thing to do with Daddy: Ride bikes
What's your favorite thing to do with Mommy: Go to the store.
What's your favorite drink: milk

We are so in love with this baby and love watching her and Henry's relationship grow. Her language has finally started taking off...we are hearing less and less screaming and pointing and more actual words. :) She measured in at 34.5 inches and 25 pounds which is THREE inches shorter than Henry at this age!  She is a daredevil and will climb and jump off of anything. She is striding around on her balance bike and I'm sure will be going off jumps and ramps too. She has recently started running to her room and throwing herself on her bed sobbing when we tell her "no." It will probably be in our best interest to start stockpiling wine for her teenage years.

The Day I Became A Human Toilet

I think every parent looks forward to potty training. It's a time of happiness. A time of bunnies. A time of great glory. Except for it's not really any of that at all. Sis all on her own decided to potty train.  I was really planning on waiting until summer came around and then I'd take off for a week and let Jake train her. I took one for the team with Henry. But alas, potty training started and dang it, this little 20 month old darling took right to it. Or so we thought. Three days of no accidents almost from the beginning. She was a champ. She was a winner. The golden child for potty training. Then today happened. And while the early days had been accident free, the girl may have been only peeing and apparently saving everything else for ME!

Now I think most people can agree which picture doesn't belong. Except  for maybe my brother who it seems probably would come up with some way to call me a toilet..

Most parents have probably been peed on or pooped on before. It happens, Whatever you move on. You have a drink. Life is fine.

Well...have you ever been sitting criss cross on the floor watching Elmo's Potty Time when your child mistakes you for the actual toilet? Yep, that's right Miss Evelyn Janell sat her little hiney down on my lap and proceeded to leave me a great big present in the "hole" my legs had made for her..ya know the human toilet bowl I had unknowingly created. If that doesn't make one ready for the weekend, I really don't know what will!

Sure, she looks all cute and innocent...

See this little sweet thang?

 Take her to a park and she will sit on your lap. She will smile sweetly and cuddle in your lap. You will think she is the best thing on earth. Take her on a flight and she will twist and contort her body making it near impossible to hold her. She will attempt crawl under your seat. She will scream. You will think she was sent straight from the devil himself. You will take the free alcohol they offer you...no matter the time. Then you will  chug it because your sweet girl turned beast will think it is for her.

Ghosts of Christmas Card Pasts

Jake and I have never really sent out a typical Christmas card. In fact for the last two years we didn't send any out because we couldn't quite get my vision of our family sitting on a buffalo to work out. It would have been epic. Here's a look back at a few of our favorites.

Well this was normal, I suppose. Sweaty and un-showered for a few days always makes for a great photo op.

And then there was the Jane Fonda inspired workout Christmas card.

Had to follow up the next year with our fancy clothes..and add in our freaked out cat. Yes, let's throw him in the air! Good idea.

Back to backpacking. Three weeks in Canada going to the bathroom amongst the bears. Definitely Christmas card worthy. And please note how close to the edge I am...

Henry came along and we thought maybe we shouldn't throw him in the air. It was our first year in Wyoming so we had to wear cowboy hats. It was 7 degrees and Jake complained how cold he was.

This year,we did take a picture. Jake came up with it at all and it might just be my favorite one yet.

A mere 1,460 days

Somehow four years has passed since I had this man-child. He entered the world much smaller than anyone would have ever imagined and of course full of noise. He hasn't stopped making noise since, but he sure didn't stay small. I'm scared to measure how tall he is; he'll probably be taller than me by age 7 and that is quite a feat.

2 days old

Every chance I got in the last couple of months, I referred to Henry has my three year old. Partly because I liked seeing people's reactions to his age. Aside from his size, he has quite the vocabulary and has always seemed much older than he is. And partly because four just seems so much older. Three seems like a baby. Four might as well be graduating high school. That thought right there makes me sweat.

One year!

This man child of ours loves anything active. Dancing, basketball, hiking- it doesn't matter, if it involves moving his body he is all in! He spends his days playing cars, going on pretend picnics, building, and causing chaos. When asked what his favorite thing to do with daddy was, he responded with "pee together!" Ha, this kid keeps us on our toes.

Two years!

Henry has never met a stranger, and has most certainly has never met a family that he didn't try to claim as his own. Your grandma is his grandma and he would like very much to go on vacation with you too.

Three Years!

Henry James, you sure are loved! We hope you have a great birthday and enjoy those light up character shoes- your mama had to put her pride aside to buy those ugly things. ;)

4 years!

Evie at 18 months

I still think my name is Sissy. I am not sure who this Evelyn girl is.

I will try and do anything Henry does. This has resulted in two bloody lips in the past week. I will probably be the first in our family to break a bone.

Unlike Henry who has never met a stranger and would willingly go with just about anybody, I have one focus when I am out in public: Do not go more than 1 cm away from my mama. And if at all possible, I will attempt to make my mother not only carry me, but my blankie and three or four baby dolls. I will smile and wave at you, but do not even think about looking at me for more than five seconds. I want to say hi to you and then promptly want you out of my space. :)

I cry when Daddy tells me no. I am training him to always give me what I want, but he doesn't know that yet.

I am going to attempt to nurse for at least another decade.

I love  dolls, trains, books, chewing on crayons, and going outside. I also love to bug Henry and scream if I don't get two turns in a row.

I would like to be fed within .7 seconds of waking up. Do not try and go to bathroom before you have made me breakfast or I will wake the whole house up. And do not try and give me cold cereal for breakfast either. It must be something warm and it must come with a side of fruit-preferably blueberries. Oh, and there must also be a large sippy of milk.  I would also like your banana that you just finished peeling. One banana in addition to my two full size waffles simply was not enough. Hand it over.

If there is a cup with a straw in it, it is mine. Don't try to negotiate.

Kissing noises are fun to make. Kisses are fun to give, but if you come in for a kiss and I didn't initiate I will duck my head down and you will be forced to kiss the top of my head instead. I think this is a riot.

Music makes me happy. I don't care where I am or what I was doing- if a song comes on I must dance. Please don't let me know that strangers are watching me when I do this. I will get shy and cry and then I have to cry and dance at the same time. That is almost too much work.

Evie, we love love love love love you! Sorry you are getting the poor second child treatment with no blog posts anymore! xoxo