gold confetti

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Colorado Camping

Got lots to do and so little time!  We are prepping for a move in a few weeks so tonight I'm gonna summarize by quickly posting pictures and telling everyone that we simply went camping over the Holiday weekend. Camping is camping, and there aren't many details to note....It was a good 2 days with our best friends.  The Gilleys, the Pentecosts, the Rohlings, and the Weldons all drove down to Blue Mountain and spent some quality time in the great outdoors- no phones, no electricity, no "social-media," no hot water, just fun times (and delicious food!).  There were 8 adults and 10 kids, ages 4 and under!  It was chaotic and crazy and awesome!  I am SO thankful we were able to go and forget our troubles for a bit.  I'm really going to miss this gang of ours.  We've been through a lot together in just a few short years! We truly love them. 
This is the greeting Lucy got when we arrived at the campground



These two girls are the best of friends!

It's not a successful trip if you don't get dirty :)

Exploring the great outdoors!
The guys attempting to catch us some dinner!

My best friend in the whole entire world.  I don't know what I would do without her!
Loving the River.  It was COLD but beautiful!

In love with these sisters!
Only a kid can make dirt look cute!
Mr. Coop and P
The "4 Babies" are getting so big!
I hope they can still get married one day ;-)

The group at our campsite this morning.



Ready to go home!
Love all these cute kiddos!
Adeline, Wilder, Oliver, Cooper, Sawyer, Olivia, Cambrie, Dylan, Lucy and Piper
 
If you noticed that maybe I wasn't too "cheery" in this post (as in posts past) it's because I'm not feeling very cheerful lately.  I know I still have a LOT to be thankful for and I have really good people in my life offering to help out our family during our time of crisis, so I'm extremely appreciative of that.  This camping trip was important to Shawn and I because we wanted one last "hurrah" with our besties before our family dives into another unknown.  We wanted time outdoors to forget the bills and stress at home.  I am sad and nervous for what's to come, but praying that this makes us stronger.  We will get through it.  I love you all and am thankful for your words of encouragement and love.

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Happy Birthday to You, LuLu Girl


It came and went....My baby girl turned 2.  TWO!  I have a 2 year old? How in the world did that happen?!? It seriously feels like I was just holding a fresh bundle of heaven in my arms last month as she made her much-anticipated debut into this world.  Has it really been 2 whole years since the day my heart opened up to a brand-new sweet smelling Angel?  I so miss her newborn-ness and everything that comes with a brand-new baby (Piper is officially 5 months old now so she has lost all the fresh-from-heaven-newborn qualities that my heart already aches for!).  Most days, all I can think about are the terrible twos already pounding at our door and it makes my head rattle just thinking about it.....yikes!
 
This little spunky child of mine is blossoming into a "kid" more and more each day!  I can't keep up with her!  She is repeating everything Shawn and I say, mimicking our actions (which is fun for me!  I let her help me "clean" throughout out the day and she LOVES it!) and growing into her personality even more than I thought possible.  She was BORN with attitude, so you can imagine how big it is these days....
 She is a big fan of the words "NO" "STOP IT" "DON'T" "UGH!" etc., and she even growls at us when she's mad! "Little Miss" is in charge of the whole world it seems.  I dare you to cross her un-armed.
 
Miss Attitude LOVES her sunglasses and accessorizing with purses, makeup, hats, shoes, and jewelry too!
As ornery as she is, she is also just as lovable.  She still gives oodles of hugs and kisses whenever asked and even when you don't ask.  My favorite times of the day are when I'm surprised by Lucy's arms around my legs while I'm standing or around my neck while sitting and when I'm graced with kisses unexpectedly.  It's even sweeter when she adds an "I love you, Mama."  It melts me into the palm of her hand....I'm pretty sure she knows it!  I just love this little light of mine!
 
Lucy is talking up a STORM these days, but is still at the point where 50% of the time, only Shawn and I can understand her because we live with her and knows what she's saying. I can't wait until her speech develops even more into words the "public" can understand.  Because her personality and humor is super funny and contagious and she will keep people laughing once they understand what she's trying to say :)  She loves to tease people and plays jokes on us already!  She's also started calling me Mommy or Mama half the time, instead of "Britt" full time.  Now I have all 3 names assigned to me.
 
Lucy and P adore each other and it's seriously heart-warming to watch their interactions day-to-day.  Lu sits on P, kisses her allllll over, hugs her, tickles her, pushes her in her swing, reads to her, says good morning to her every single day, shows real concern when Piper cries "oh no! P!" lays by her during floor time, loves to put lotion on her, calls her "Popper" and really loves to swim with her.  I know I can't capture it all on camera, but I try to get some of those tender moments recorded so that years from now I can always remember how happy my heart felt at these moments when my two angels are becoming best friends.  It brings me to tears some days!  It never ceases to amaze me how much LOVE Heavenly Father allows a Mother to feel.  Just when I think my heart can't possibly get any fuller, it almost bursts at the seams once more because of the unconditional love coursing through my veins.
The 2 pictures below show Lucy opening up a "bobby" from P (aka Barbie) and then thanking her for it :)
Piper (who can almost-but-not-quite can sit without me supporting her) smiles through almost everything Lucy puts her through, and I can tell that someday she is going to idolize her big sis.  I just hope Lucy chooses the right path in life so that her sister will follow. 
I "hope" for many things for my two sweethearts.  I hope they always know they are SO loved. I hope they feel beautiful with no make-up on. I hope they learn that life is full of highs and lows, but just because you fail at something, you are NOT worthless. I hope they stay innocent for many years to come. I hope they laugh a lot. I hope they recognize right from wrong. I hope they stand up for themselves. I hope they defend each other. I hope they love their Mom and Dad in public when they're teenagers. I hope they follow their hearts and know that I will root for them every step of the way in life, because I love them with every single part of me.  They have truly captured my whole heart mind, body, and soul.
 
I hope Lucy had a fun birthday yesterday.  I know she swam her little heart out in her new Hello Kitty raft.  I know she loved waking up to a new easel waiting for her! I know she enjoyed her birthday cake even though I broke one of the layers after baking it....  I know she had fun playing with her sister and friends.  I know she loved her gifts because all day she carted them around.  I know she felt happiness yesterday because it radiated through her smile and was infectious!  I know she felt carefree.  And I know she feels that her Daddy and I love her to pieces and will every single day for the rest of time.
 
Happy Birthday my Princess Lucy.  You were Mommy's first born, and even though you and your sister are both precious to me, YOU are the one who made me a Mom; YOU are the one who taught my heart how to feel a new and wonderful kind of love. 
I love you more than all the leaves on all the trees.

Lucy LOVES to play dress up!


Thank you for ALL my presents EVERYONE! I LOVED them all!!! I'm a big 2 year old now- hooray!
XOXOXOXOXO