Spring Break, Sienna's 8!, Breje's Prom, Easter

My little Roo-She's growing so fast.

Here she is after learning to make eggs for the first time.

She really enjoyed herself!

Spring weather has come, gone, come again, and gone again..

but when it's here we are really loving being able to run or ride bikes to see Trav's grave.

I am so grateful for such a lovely cemetery so close by.

The grounds are taken care of so beautifully.

Our spring break was very non eventful, considering we went on vacation

just before then.

We did make a trip to the zoo though, and it was just a lovely day!

The animals were enjoying the weather and were very active.

On the way home we took a detour to my Grandpas house, downtown in SLC.

I can't even handle how adorable they are.

we made it 6 months without Travis.

Some days it feels like much longer,

and some days it feels like yesterday.

We still miss him so deeply.

That day my lovely friends gave me this painting.

I am so in love with it.

And so grateful for my dear, dear friends.

Roo started spring soccer.  She scored the first 10 minutes of her first game...

we were incredibly excited! What a fun start!

Spring also has brought allergies galore!

Poor Ads looks like this quite often.

Roo got her baptism pics done...more to come.

Isn't she lovely!?

We found this hard plastic balloon to add to our Trav trees. 

It's the little things!

Easter this year was so bittersweet.

We tried to add a lot of fun into it this year,

and really tried to focus on the real meaning...

but that doesn't mean we aren't adding some eggs and candy into the mix!

I surprised the girls with these for lunch...

it was such a fun surprise.

Oh, here they are...

Roo's pics.

Eileen does it again!

Isn't she just the sweetest?

I adore this kid.

Easter Sunday we dressed in our best and headed to church.

Afterwords we headed to the Kidmans for our fun annual egg hunt,

and then to the Johnsons for egg dying and dinner.

It was really harder then I expected it to be...but we survived.

Another first checked off the list.

We took some Eggs to Dad's grave to top off the evening.

We miss him.

And Roo's bday week began!

We started by taking a friend for crepes...

her favorite.

Adyson, my little sweet girl,

asked for a crepe filled with bacon and sausage.

How wrong is that?

Then the bday party day came!

Roo chose an art party this year and it was a blast to plan.

We made self portraits (using doilies as frames).

The girls began the party by doodling on the table cloth and answering the questions

that were written all over it.  It was a fun ice breaker.

We did shaving cream painting and they turned out so cute.

But never. ever. again.

It was difficult to keep everyone under control. 

We decorated canvas bags with fabric markers.

It was lovely to have a place to stash all their works of art once they were done.

This was my favorite activity and I don't have the finish product to show!

We made "picasso pops" by melting down hard candies and adding a sucker stick.

They were so beautiful when they were done...they almost looked like stained glass.

The girls loved this one.

(I made sure to be super organized with this one so it wouldn't be too complicated.

They each had a spot labeled on foil, they did it one at a time, and I had the tags, with names all ready 

for when they were done.) 

Not sure why this is upside down...

but when they left these "thank you for helping make my party a masterpiece" tags were attached to their bags.  I love me a good cheesy pun.

One of my dearest friends,

and really a second mother to Roo,

always offers to make her cake.

She didn't disappoint this year!

It was so darling!

Courtney,

You are just amazing!

The darlings.

Sienna got this sweet book from her class at school with B-day wishes for her.

This one.

I just cry when I read it.

What a sweet kid.

We finished bday week by heading to Heathers for the weekend.

These 2.

BFFs always.

It doesn't make sense!

We were so excited to be their for Breje's first prom.

I was able to do her makeup and hair,

and am still in awe of how lovely she is.

Inside and out!

Heather made her a bday c

And after the long drive home-she got a basketball and hoop!

She was thrilled!

I'm so proud to be her mom.

It's been a very joyful 8 years.

She brings joy-love- and sunshine everywhere she goes.

I couldn't possibly love her anymore then I do.

Catching Up

Here's a little catch up since my last post.

A lot has been going on!

I was able to go to the last Aggie Home Game,

and also my first since Travis passed away.

I will tell you this,

the spectrum was one of Trav's favorite places to be.

I was nervous to go without him,

but it was a great time.

(Not to mention our front row seats were kinda awesome.)

I wish he could have been with me!

I miss getting the daily updates on all his favorite teams.

I didn't even get to fill out a March Madness bracket.

These things still hurt a bit. 

My Sweet Adyson rocked the halls.

She has really flourished in 4th grade.

It's been a very good year school wise.

I'm proud to be her mom!

The ladies and I gave Trav some lovely spring decor.

It's joyful, orange, and beautiful!

Adyson baked her first pan of brownies.

It ended up all over her face,

but tasted great!

Candace and I went to bunco in complete matchy outfits.

This just makes me laugh!

About a week before Adyson's bday,

we through her a swimming party.

This was-by far- thea easiest party I've thrown!

Cupcakes.

Thank you's

Sack dinners.

A happy almost 10 year old.

Towel picnic-cute friends.

And a pool.

She's growing up so fast.

I loved that she got adorable clothes from her friends for her bday...but it's a sure sign that she's getting older!

We had one more ski day.

I love spending these days with my ladies!

I've been incredibly blessed with some great friends.

Lots and lots of really great friends.

A few of them suggested a much needed vacation,

basically to make sure I got a break and smiled for a bit.

I am incredibly blessed with wonderful people in my life.

Off we were to California.

Day 1: We shopped. And ate. And basked in the sun.

Day 2:

Disneyland.

With no kids!

(Except we did dance, skip, sing, and laugh really hard...so maybe we acted like kids?)

Day 3: People watching in Venice.

Lunch in Santa Monica.

Beach in Malibu.

Farmers Market and Grove in LA.

Day 4:

Sonic.

Laguna Beach.

Shakes in Newport.

Dinner in Newport.

Newport Temple.

Heaven.

And then two days later, at home,

my girl went and turned 10.

I love this girl,

so incredibly much.

It was pretty hard having her b-day without Travis.

Just another reminder that he isn't here to help her grow.

I miss him.

They miss him.

And I hope I can do them justice.

My better half is gone....

Anyhow,

we surprised her by waking her up early for breakfast at kneaders and a new outfit.

Isn't she beautiful?

And after school I threw her a family surprise party at Fredricos.

I told her we couldn't celebrate till Sunday.

She was trying really hard to be happy, but I could tell she was pretty sad that 

just the 3 of us were going to dinner.
She was thrilled to see the family there with cake and presents!

What a fun surprise.

I adore her.

Can't wait to see where life takes her.

Roo stayed home sick.

I kinda loved it.

Does this make me a bad mom?

Because I could snuggle her all day long.

This weekend was a special one.

Heather and her kids came up and we took my beautiful niece Breje shopping for her first prom dress,

and my sweet Roo got to pick out her baptism dress.

It was just such a lovely, fun-girly day!

So glad they shared it together.

Spring break started today with a blizzard...

I am racking my brain trying to come up with ways to celebrate the week off.

I hope we can make some lovely memories!

{Adyson's Blanket: Another Lovely memory of T}

 

I will never forget a few things in my life.

This is really saying something because, as I've mentioned before,

my memory is pretty terrible and I have forgotten most of my childhood,

high school, and even good chunks of my marriage.

 (This breaks my heart...I try not to dwell on it.)

But I will never, ever, ever forget deciding to start having babies.

One day, children weren't even close to being on my mind,

and then I woke up the next morning and I just felt like it was time.

Looking back on this,

I see God's hand in my life more then ever.

We would never have been able to have both of our kids if we

didn't start when we did.

It is another beautiful miracle in our life.

I woke up-looked at Trav and said,

"I think we should try to have a baby."

He looked at me like I was crazy...

and then agreed.

9 months later,

really,

9 months later,

Adyson joined us and made me a mother,

and made T a daddy.

He was many things.

 A provider,

a husband,

a computer nerd,

an avid board game winner,

a golfer,

but his absolute favorite title-was,

and I'm sure still is,

Daddy.

So yes,

having a baby was my idea.

But I'm not gonna lie,

I wasn't prepared for it one bit.

And I'm telling you this,

I wasn't good at it,

or comfortable with it.

I loved her right away,

I mean, I was smitten and would have done anything for her,

but the "mommy stuff", well...

Trav was better at it.

He could expertly change a diaper,

and while I was so scared to bathe her for fear she'd

slip right through my hands,

he would revel in it.

He would wake up to feed her in the middle of the night,

and honestly,

many-many times I'd offer,

and he would say "No, I got it.  I miss her when I'm at work."

He'd sing to her, rock her to sleep,

and somehow keep her asleep as he laid her down.

(Adyson fought sleep. Hard. And she still does.

She just hates missing anything!)

He was just always so good at it,

and always adoring and selfless.

My girls,

Oh how I pray they remember how incredibly loved they were. And are.

Anyhow.

One night when Adyson was probably about 5 months old,

Trav kissed me goodnight while

I was doing dishes and went to bed.

Adyson had been asleep an hour or two.

He crawled into bed and heard-very clearly,

a voice telling him to

"Go check on Adyson."

He instantly got up,

and when into her room to check on her.

She was in her crib, and when we put her down,

we must not have noticed the fringe blanket in her bed with her.

She had taken a piece of the fringe and sucked it in her mouth.

Travis pulled it out,

and she gasped for air.

He picked up the blanket,

made sure she was ok,

and went to bed.

He didn't even tell me about it until the next morning.

When I instantly had a heart attack and felt like the worst mom

on the planet....but I wont go into that, because the story isn't about

my unfit parenting skills. ;)

I married someone who listened when a prompting came his way.

And I truly believe he saved my sweet baby's life that day.

This is something I never want to forget,

and never want my kids to forget.

Marry someone who listens, and uses his gifts the way God intends him to.  I hope they remember that their Daddy never stopped doing that.  I am so proud that he's my husband. So grateful for the

father he was, and is.

Adyson turns 10 tomorrow.

My heart is breaking that she is growing another year older,

and Travis can't be here to celebrate with us.

He can't be here to tell her how amazing she is,

and to lead her by his example.

These days feel very hard to me,

and they just make my heart ache.

I know he is watching her,

I know he's proud of her.

I have no doubt that he is still doing his best

to make sure she is taking the right path for her life.

But man,

I sure wish he was right here holding my hand while I do this alone.

Also:

These pics.

I mean.

Oh man.

I miss him.

And us.

 

That is all.