Lucy’s Blog

This weekend we started a new tradition-going out and finding our Christmas tree in the forest.  My sister and brother-in-law have done this for years and I knew that when we moved here that I wanted to get in on the tradition.

We drove up to McCall on Friday (it’s about a 2 hour drive) and then woke up on Saturday to go find our tree!  We bought our permit, rented our snow shoes, and set out to find the perfect tree.

It didn’t start off so well…

But it quickly turned around:

We hiked down hills with saws:

Staked out the perfect trees:

Got one! (We were on the lookout for four):

Got two! (Look at that stud):

Got three!

We still hadn’t found OUR perfect tree.  We went on the hunt and saw one on our way back, WAY down the hill.  Shaun got on the sled to get down to it and proclaimed that it was THE PERFECT tree.  He cut it down and got it back up the hill (with the help of my brother-in-law).

We were a happy family:

It’s the tree standing up behind us.  We stuck it in the snow and we’re below it.  It was still 10 feet and when we got it home we had to trim it down a bit.

Here she is on top of the car:

And outside our house:

That’s one beautiful tree!  Pretty trees that are under 12 feet are hard to find out in the forest.  They are few and far between.  We totally lucked out.

When we got home, we put the tree in the house (you should smell it in here!) and decorated with Christmas music going.  Lu LOVED it.  It was the first year that she’s really understood Christmas and got into it.  We had such a nice night. 

Shaun just came upstairs and proclaimed, “I love our tree.  This is the best Christmas yet!”

I think I need some more ornaments since I’ve never had a big tree before. My old tree topper also won’t work because it’s too skinny to fit on top of the tree.  Expect to see some improvements .

I agree with Shaun though, this IS the best Christmas yet!

It has been COLD and snowy here in Boise.  The coldest I’ve seen is 1* on our outdoor thermometer and we’ve had snow on the ground since Monday. We woke up today to more snow!  There was a Christmas parade and the Farmer’s Market in Downtown Boise this morning so we bundled up and went!  Call us crazy

Lu in the car, ready to go!

Don’t the girls look happy?

Wouldn’t you be ecstatic if your Mom dragged you out to watch a line of Minis?

No? How about a snowman! On a Harley!

Really?  Are you having fun yet? Maybe not:

(I think my dear daughter is thinking “EFF YOU MOM.  This SUCKS!”)

The marching band that made both my sister and I start crying-they always do-WTF is up with that?!?!?!

Dancers…sort of dancing…

Isn’t this fun? Well at least there are candy canes!

(“Really Mom?  Really?  Even this candy cane can’t make me smile.”)

Cool old car:

These people said “EFF IT!” and put up there hard top.  How awesome is this car?!?

This float was so sad.  The characters were all falling over because of the snow

Horse-in a a blizzard! (not really)

We ended up going to a Vietnamese place for Pho and watching the rest of the parade from the window.  We saw Santa, sorta…The girls said they had fun or something like that…

  While we were doing that.  Daddy was out mountain biking.  No really!

He had a blast!  So did we-no really we did!

I’m loving the seasons here.  We’ll see if I say that in January or February or March….

On our way to Cabo, Shaun captured this gem:

We joked that this is them at 90 and they were on their way to the slots. Ha!

Wednesday was Shaun’s birthday (Happy Birthday Daddy!) and he wanted to go to a kid friendly place to eat so that Lu could come with us.  We went to Chili’s and on the way there all we could hear about from Lu was “cheese pissa!”

While trying to get that on camera, she surprised us with this:

Later that night she managed to ruin her brand new pink shirt, in the best way possible.

Even when she does something she isn’t supposed to it’s cute.

On Thursday Lucy didn’t take a nap at daycare.  On Friday, she was at Lissa’s house with our sitter in the morning.  I went to pick her up for naptime and the sitter said that she was REALLY tired (not surprising).  I brought her home and she DID NOT want to nap.  I rocked her for 10 minutes and she was still wide awake.  I put her to bed and she babbled for 40 minutes.  I went into her room and told her it was time to go to sleep (in my sternest voice) and rubbed her back. That seemed to help but as soon as I left the room she started babbling again.  Finally at 3 (I put her down at 1:30) there was silence and I thought, “Success!” 

I was working away when about 25 minutes later I hear light knocking.  I ignored it thinking it was just my house making noises.  About 2 minutes later I hear more knocking.  I get up to go answer the front door and as I pass by Lu’s room I hear the knocking coming from HER room.  I open the door and there stands my 2 year old on her stepstool in front of the door.  Apparently she had been trying to get the door open.  That silence?  Well that was her getting out of bed (which she has never done before without either Shaun or me in the room), taking her stepstool and using it to get her blankets and books off of her shelves and then to try and open the door. Oh yes, and to get into the Vaseline.

I didn’t notice at first that she was covered in clear goo.  I brought her upstairs to Shaun (who was home sick) and asked him to watch her for a little bit longer so that I could finish up work.  I came back upstairs and notice that she’s VERY shiny.  I asked, “what’s on her?” and Shaun said, “I think it’s spit.”  I go to wipe it off and know IMMEDIATELY that she had gotten into the Vaseline.  The picture above is after I tried to get it out.  Lovely, huh?  And she’s so dang proud of herself too!  Luckily she only got it in one place in her room (on her rocker) and after a good bath her hair is mostly back to normal, albeit a little greasy.

This weekend, Lucy has decided that big girl undies are way cooler than diapers.  One problem-she’s only ever gone potty once at home (2 weeks ago she poo’d-it was a big deal).  She tries and tries but nothing comes out.  Yesterday she wore undies all day (except for nap) and had one accident that really only got her undies damp.  Today, she insisted on the undies and sat on the potty numerous times with no success.  She wanted to go again and I was doing the dishes.  I was just getting my hands dried when she had a “BIG PEE” and then she got really upset and has been in diapers ever since.  I told her that that was what pee felt like and the next time she feels that way, she can always sit on her little potty (she likes sitting on the big potty).  I told her that she’s learning and that it’s okay.  I hope my little perfectionist isn’t beating herself up too much over the “BIG PEE” . We’re not pushing it and figure that when she’s ready she’ll let us know.  Truthfully, diapers are very convenient.  That being said, I’m not going to discourage any potty training!

Today she has been a bit of a grump.  She looked at me and said, “Mama, Soosie cutting a tooth." Wha?!?! I don’t think I’ve ever said "cutting a tooth". I confirmed that that is what she said and she nodded her head and pointed to where her 2 year old molars are coming in. Seriously?!?!

And, yesterday she told me, “Mama, behave!”

It’s a good reminder

My brother got married this weekend in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.  I always hesitate to post when I’m going to be out of town because I worry that someone will break into my house or cyber hack me.  Is that weird?

We had a really great time.  Such a great time that I forgot to really take pictures.  I guess I was too busy enjoying myself   I didn’t even get pictures of Lucy and Tessa as flower girls-oops!  There are plenty of those from other people though and I’ll just have to wait until they are posted to share them with you.

My Mom and Dad, Aunt and Uncle, my sister and her family, and my family all shared a villa.  It was gorgeous and so much fun to just hang out with everyone.

Tessa enjoying breakfast:

The guys went fishing on Friday and caught a TON of tuna.  Here’s about 1/100th of it:

That is by far the freshest sashimi I have ever had!

These next few are blurry but oh so cute.  My Mom got the girls crowns for the rehearsal dinner.  They loved them!

Lucy helping Mimi decorate for the rehearsal dinner that we hosted at our villa:

The awesome Marichis that my brother hired-SO FUN!

Single for one more night!

I love this picture of them:

There was lots of diaper time!

Lots!

No really.

Did you know that they only make Cheetos, Fritos, and sugary cereals in Mexico?  No?  That’s what the girls think.

There was beach time. We went twice but I only got one picture?!?!

And, the only picture I took at the wedding?

That’s the father-of-the-bride’s dessert plate.

Perhaps it was all the killer Aunt Marci margaritas?

Wow! What a weekend! Lu got to wear her costume at least 5 times this weekend.  She loved it!  We’ve washed it and I’m sure it’ll be making an appearance again!

The first event? Playgroup where they practiced with their costumes, “bobbed for apples” (scooped crab apples) and “trick or treated” (they knocked on doors and Moms would open them and give them a block in their bucket-it was cute!

“Bobbing for apples”:

Lucy (the Giraffe) and Tessa (the Zebra) on their way to The Y Party:

There were too many people there for Lu’s taste but Tessa LOVED it:

On Saturday we went to the Boise Philharmonic Philharmonsters, first there was activities-an instrument petting zoo where Lu tried to play a violin but REALLY liked the xylophone.  Lu wanted her face painted but couldn’t get the nerve up to let the lady do it.  Mommy, Auntie Lala, and Tessa all got hearts but Lu wasn’t so sure.  After the activities, the different sections of the Philharmonic (strings, wind, horns) played spooky music. We were running into lunch and naptime and the girls lasted about 30 minutes.  It was really neat.  Here we are before going in:

Shaun got an ear infection this weekend and while he slept it off and after Lu’s nap, I went grocery shopping and Lucy hung out with Auntie Lala and Tessa.  Auntie Lala figured out how to get Lucy to wear her giraffe hood-wings!

It’s a fairy giraffe!

On Halloween, we took the girls in the wagon down to Harrison Street. 

On our way there we saw a beautiful double rainbow. What does it mean?!?!

Harrison Street is CRAZY on Halloween.  We just went to check it out and visit our friends that live there. They stop when they hit 1,000 trick or treaters!!! This was at 5:15-I can’t imagine it at 7 or 8!

Look at these pumpkins!

Trick or Treating was a success!

Next up? Unkie Jake and Aunt Amy’s wedding!

I have time to catch up!  Don’t miss the post below about our fun trip to the pumpkin patch!

We had a big and momentous milestone this weekend-Lucy moved into her big girl bed!  It’s really just her crib with the front part off and a bed rail on.  She can get in and out on her own though.  We decided it was time to make the move when she started standing on top of her front rail and yelling “HANDS! HANDS!” so that we’d give her our hands and she wouldn’t fall.  We thought it might be a good time to switch over before she actually fell.

Here’s Lucy, very seriously sitting on the edge:

I you look closely, you’ll notice Tessa is in the bed too.  That’s because they were doing this:

They jumped in the “Big Girl Bed” for about 30 minutes before dinner tonight.

They are so cute together.

Lu slept great in her bed the first night –over 12 hours.  She took a 3 hour nap today and then easily went down tonight.  Let’s hope this continues!

Lucy also took her first bubble bath this weekend!

Her skin is very sensitive so finding bubble bath that would work has proven to be challenging.  Auntie ‘Laina and Uncle Richard managed to find some for her birthday.  She had a great time!

As you know, Lucy has become quite the chatter box.  On Thursday she was in the car with Auntie Lala (my sister, Lissa) and she started saying “Boise, Idaho!”  So now when you ask her where she’s from, she’ll tell you. We think she got this from school?  Who knows!

She also LOVES Lady Gaga.  We have dance parties and anytime there is music on she asks for Lady Gaga.

As I mentioned above Lucy is going to “school”.  This week she starts going to daycare 3 days a week.  The other 2 days she’ll be with Tessa and their sitter Farida.  I only had care for 24 hours a week and it was proving to be too difficult with my full time job.  I found an AMAZING daycare here (after leaving several in tears) and Lucy LOVES it.  She gets very excited about school and tells us all about it when she gets home.  She went one day a week the last two weeks but this week starts her new schedule.  They have a class pet, a Guinea Pig named Lenny, they have music class on Wednesday, they have a learning statement everyday and learn a new ASL sign everyday.  Lu now knows “tree” and “leaf” in sign language.

Here she is on her first day:

They LOVE her at school and asked if she’s always so well behaved.  I told them that she is a good girl but she’s also 2 and as soon as she’s comfortable, I’m SURE they’ll see some of that come out.

What else?

She’s become OBSESSED with dolls lately.  Her two favorite she has named “Mo” and “Bow”.  Yes really.

She’s also OBSESSED with the necklace that her Gram and Pop sent her for her birthday.  She puts in on everyday and only takes it off to go to bed.  It has a special place in her bedroom so that she doesn’t lose it.  This girl can accessorize!

I picked out the clothes and she picked out the hat, bows, necklace, “bracelet” (an old rattle that is now a bracelet), purse, and boots.  I think I need to take a lesson from her!

In other news, she’s a counting super star.  She can now get up to 9 on her own.  Sometimes she goes out of order but most of the time she can go right up to 9.  Her sentences and story telling are getting more complex but she difficult to understand.  *I* can understand her, as can most of the people that see her everyday, but most people probably think she’s talking in gibberish. 

Her memory is also amazing.  She remembers stuff that is just crazy.  Farida is constantly commenting on how she can’t believe her memory.  If you tell her that she gets to do something after nap? She remembers.  If you tell her steps of what you’re doing, she remembers.  On Mondays, I have soccer and Shaun bikes to work. I’m supposed to drive Shaun’s car so that we can take his bike home in the car.  Last Monday, we went out and I got in my car and Lu said, “No Mama, Daddy’s car!”  I thought she was just being bossy, nope, she was right.  Shaun had to ride home in the dark that night. Crazy I tell ya!

We love our little Lu and can’t believe how fast she is growing (I think I say that every time I post).

We went to a pumpkin patch last weekend!  First the tractor came and go us:

We all got on and rode out to the patch!

They took us out to a real pumpkin field with pumpkins still attached to the vine. Lu and Daddy looked:

Uncle Willy and Tessa looked:

The girls looked:

Lucy found one!

And tried to pick it up.

“It’s STUCK Mama! IT’S STUCK!”

Tessa got one of a more manageable size.

While they got weighed, the girls played.

And afterwards we had really great Mexican food in Kuna! I got the Camarones Borrachos in a Molcajetes. YOM!

Lu liked it!

Our pumpkins are now safe and sound at home.

I have a bit of a pumpkin obsession and I’m only allowed to buy 1 pumpkin for each member of the family (pets don’t count) and I have to be able to carry them myself. (Shaun is SO MEAN-a girl wins one 125 pound pumpkin 6 years ago and never lives it down…) I’m happy with my purchase.  The 2 non-traditional looking pumpkins can be baked and eaten and are quite delicious. SCORE!

I also got some amazing local, raw, honey.  I can’t wait to break into that stuff! Have I mentioned lately that I love it here?!?!?!

Lucy’s 2nd birthday party was a success!

It’s party time people!

Follow the arrows!

Butterfly flag:

Butterfly mat:

Lucy is 2! (Papa did all the chalk work-isn’t he awesome?)

Fruit salad in a whale watermelon courtesy of Mimi:

I made Cilantro Jalepeno Hummus, Artichoke Hummus and then there was FISHIES (Lu’s favorite), pita chips, and fresh veggies.

Lucy has attitude!

Tessa!  In a dress!

Ollie, being all boy:

That’s better!

Daddy with Miller High Life-CLASSY!

Cupcakes! Auntie Lala outdid herself with the cupcakes:

Even though we sang Happy Birthday twice so that Lu could blow out the candle twice, I don’t have a picture of that on my camera?  I know Papa and Auntie Lala DO have a picture though.

The kids LOVED the cupcakes and ice cream:

Then it was time for PRESENTS!

All the kids had to help!

Bracelets!

Clues of what’s to come:

OHH!

What is it?

A Papa made kitchen!!!! Ollie knows what it is!

Lucy is figuring it out…

Pure love!

Lucy loves the kitchen so much that she doesn’t want to stop to eat!  She puts “water” in her glass, she opens the oven and says “Fareful! HOT!” She pulls things in and out.  She’s in absolute L-O-V-E.  Thanks Mimi and Papa!

Thank you everyone who made her birthday awesome.  We had SO.MUCH.FUN!

Well, it’s official, she’s 2!  It was a very emotional day for me today which I wasn’t expecting.  I re-read her birth story this morning and was crying like a baby when Shaun woke up.  His comment?  “Women are so weird sometimes.”  Lu’s birth seems like yesterday AND like a lifetime ago.  I didn’t think it was possible but I love my little munchkin more today than I did 2 years ago. 

Lucy,

You are the light of my life.  You and your Daddy make me complete.  Everyday with you is more and more fun.  You are such a smart girl.  You can already count to 5 on your own and 10 with help.  You can draw circles and identify all sorts of different colors.  You claim that PINK is your favorite color when asked. And your favorite person is TESSA!  Every morning it’s one of the first things I hear and you talk about your cousin All.The.Time. You’re talking in 4 and 5 word sentences.  You’re calling food “Delicious”.  You’re using “I”, “My”, and “Mine” but I still get to hear you say things like “Lucy fix it.” and “Lucy buckle it.”  You’ve started to tell me stories about things that happened in the past.  You still like to tell the story of how you got 2 owies in Washington, DC.  “Mama, I fell.  Outside.  Big OWIE.”  You know the difference between big and little.  Today I told you that we’d take a shower for a “little longer” and you told me “BIG longer Mama.  BIG longer.”  You’re a total Virgo and I wouldn’t have you any other way!  We’re working on the bossy britches and you’re ability to strategize is already staggering.  I think I’m in some big trouble!  You used 2 chopsticks today to feed yourself and you climbed up to the big slide all by yourself.  You’re a thinker and a planner but you still giggle and have fun.  You are such a girlie girl and we don’t know where you get it!  You love jewelry, shoes, purses, bows, and pretty clothes.  Who knew that I’d have a kid who likes all these things?  It makes both your Mimi and your Gram VERY happy.  You’re a beautiful little girl whose smile lights up the room.  I love you so much and I can’t wait to see what the next year (and all the rest) has in store.  You make Mommy a better person.  Thank you.

You look 2 today!:

Playing at the park with your Cousin Tessa:

Going down the big girl slide all by yourself!

Tessa wonders where you went!

To the swings!

Seeing your presents!

Opening presents! And Tessa’s Belly!

Riding in your big present!

Opening your favorite thing:

Your very own purse!

You love your purse so much that you wore it until bedtime and were very sad when you couldn’t take it to bed.  Don’t worry Mommy promised you could have it as soon as you got up in the morning and she WILL follow through! 🙂

Seeing your cake for the first time:

Pure joy:

Blowing out the candle:

I love you little one!

Love,

Mommy