Two.Ten Years

 2.10 Years

• Maggie left with our cousins for Utah for two weeks. You would ask "Where's Maggie?" at least five times a day for the first week. You definitely missed her and loved when she would call and FaceTime us. You would scream, "I want to talk to Maggie!" After I hand you the phone, we would say hi and that's it. You wouldn't give up the phone to anyone us. It just made you happy to hold it and hear her voice.
• We didn't sit around and do nothing while Maggie was gone. We went camping up the mountains and hiked into the lower gospel lake to go fly fishing. I carried you on my back, and boy are you getting too big for that. You would shift your weight from one side to the other, pinch my elbow thinking it was funny looking, and smack me bear grass. We watched the Minions movie in the drive in. We sat next to Trinley's family, and you shared your popcorn with your friend. We went to music in the park, got ice cream cones from Cash-n-carry, and swam more times than I can count.
• We went up to Spokane for a weekend to take Sam to the airport and pick up Maggie from the airport. We stayed with our Friends, the Potters. You were so happy to see Maggie. You ran and gave her a big hug and wouldn't let go of her. Now starts the week long of "where's Sam?" In Spokane, we went up to this private lake of the Potter's friend. They had a lily pad (giant foam mat that you all ran around on top of the water), kayaks, inner tubes, and sand toys. It was really fun for all of us. I wasn't there at the beginning (getting Maggie) and you were being a stinker towards dad. You didn't want dad to help you, but you let Robert help you. When I got there, you would not leave me. We snuggled in an inner tube together, which was really relaxing. 
• We tried to do girly things when Sam was gone, which consisted of watching princess movies and more artsy activities. 
• We caught up with Sam in Oregon after a week. It was fun to be in Oregon for a long time. We went to the beach, went to the Iverson pond where you and Jessie played in the sand and the inner tubes, visited the Gilbert house (all every minute of it!), went on the Beverly Cleary tour in Portland, bought a book from Powells (pinkalicous book), had a sleep over at Lainey's, played with Jessie, and had a great time at Grandma's house. You loved picking black berries with me in the mornings. and having all the popsicles on the bottom shelf of the freezer so you could grab one whenever you wanted. 
• You can be such a sassy girl. You often tell me that you like me but you don't like dad. 
• While Maggie was gone, we switched your rooms. You are now downstairs with Millie. You were bawling the first two days, telling me you wanted you room back. But you have actually really liked being downstairs and you have done well. You didn't want the twin bed, so you set your crib down there. I imagine you will be in the crib for a while. I have to laugh because the second night you two were together, Milli had just went to a birthday party and brought home a bag of candy. I told her to hide it in her room, but you found it and ate some of the candy. Millie would do that all the time to Maggie, was I laughed when Millie got it from you. 

Two.Nine Years

 2.9 Years

• We are trying to fit in some of our summer bucket list with going hiking with the Strasser and Willis families, riding bikes to Creme Cafe, and playing down by the river.
• Silverwood!!!! We made it to Silverwood. We decided to go on a Saturday, a little nervous about the crowds, but we timed everything just right. We left super early and got there earlier enough to be able to go into the park and wait right by the rides until they open the park. Dad and Sam rushed to the blue roller coaster, while I took the you girls to the wooden one. There was no line, so we were able to get all the roller coasters finished within the first hour. We were able to do the Ferris wheel (there is always a huge line). You were excited in line, but once we were sitting down, you were starting to freak out. I was able to distract you enough to take off and after that, you loved it. As long as we weren't rocking the seat. We next hit up all the kiddie rides. It was fun to have you join us this year on half of them. You really loved the airplane one and the doggie one that played music. For the second half of the day, we went to Boulder Beach. That was awesome! Well, not for you so much. I didn't want to do any of the little slides, and the wave pool scared you to death once the waved started. You mostly sat of the edge of the water and splashed, which you were fine with. The lazy river was a hit though. Since getting back, you keep asking when we are going to go back.
• Fourth of July was always a hit. Dad had to work a lot, but we were able to tag along with friends. On Saturday, we watched the parade and walked through all the stand in the park. Monday was our big day. We got there bright and early for the foot races and egg toss (you and Maggie were buddies, which lasted all of two throws). We bought lunch at the food vendors (the bubble watermelon tea was a hit), decorated bikes for the kids bike parade, ran wild around town on your bikes until the parade, got even more candy, came home to rest, and ended the night watching fireworks at the high school. 
• Dad took all of your girls on the daddy/daughter trip this year. You guys got to go rafting down in Boise area with all the Price girl cousins and the dads/grandpa. You loved being with Jessie. The water was mostly calmer, but I heard you had to hold onto someone's hand the whole time, which ended up being Brooklyn mostly. You slept in a tent with dad and did great. The whole time, you complained that you missed me and you didn't like daddy. Can you say momma's girl. On the way back, the trailer broke, so it took you guys a long time to get home. We have since got a new trailer, but even today, you were asking me if our trailer is broken. Funny how small things really stick with you (like the cat stuck in the attic).
• We have since gone on a couple more rafting trips, each time you get more and more comfortable with it. Now you love it and will stand up along the edge when we hit bumps. We have gone with friends (you got to sit with Nora), Grandma and Papa Price (they came for a few days), the Willis family, your cousins Caleb and Owen with Auntie Rachel, and then just the other night with the McKnights. 

Two.Eight Years

 2.8 Years

• We are wrapping up the end of the school year with the big kids and the weather is getting warmer so it is feeling like summer is almost here. You have been playing outside in the sandbox more and jumping on the trampoline. It is nice that this year, you are big enough to jump with the older kids for the most part so you can join in on their fun. We got to go to Maggie and Sam's music concert and Millie's preschool graduation. You are a good trooper about sitting through thee event for the most part. 
• Uncle Dusty and Auntie Janecce came with all the kids for a weekend. We hunted for mushrooms (the little girls won the prize for most found and bought everyone popsicles with their price money), had a Harry Potter dinner, put on a piano concert, went swimming at the hotel, took turns singing karaoke, wrestled, swam in the pond (well just Sam and Phillip), and finished with a night at Jungle Gyms playing the arcade games. You really have become great friends with Jessie. She introduced you to cocomelon video clips. You both loved dressing up and every time you came up the stairs, you had on a different ballet dress or tutu on. You keep asking when Jessis can come back or when you get to go to Jessie's house. 
• The big kids are finished with school!! You are so excited to have them back home all day with you. We celebrated the first day of summer by making our summer bucket list and getting slurpies. 
• The pond is coming along. I was so nervous about having it there and having you kids wonder out over there, but with the thistles and rocky shore, you have never wanted to walk down there by yourself. You like going in the water if I am swimming with you. You enjoy throwing rocks in. You do not enjoy going on the kayak at all. When I try to sit on it with you, it is too tipsy so you get afraid. When I just have you just on the kayak and push you around, you beg to get off. 
• Summer adventures: With the weather being cooler, we have gone on a few hikes. We have hiked the white bird battle field as a family and the Johns Creek trail twice, once just me and you kids and another time with friends. I have to say that you are getting heavy to carry. You are starting to want to hike on your own, so this may be the last summer that we really carry you.
• The circus came into town. We probably shouldn't have gone because you were sick, but I had already bought the tickets and I really wanted to take you guys. You enjoyed the first half, but then got really tired the second half. Dad bought you guys a bag of peanuts, so it really felt like the real deal. 
• You are Nora are such good friends. With the big kids going to swim practice in the morning and then us going back to the park at lunch time for the library reading program, we have been picking her up to play a bit more. Both of you love to dress up and it's hard to keep your clothes on. Nora got an Elsa dress for her birthday, so now both of you girls can be Elsa together. 

Two.Seven Years

 2.7 Years

• We made a quick trip out to Oregon so Grandma and I could see Hamilton. We got there late Friday night, just in time to get a snack and glass of chocolate milk before bed. Saturday, we went down to Lainey's school for a pancake breakfast. It was a pancake and sausage bar. You had been playing outside  on the play structure when all of a sudden you threw up. It was right were everyone was walking. I quickly ran to the bathroom to clean it up. I was nervous that you were sick and it was going to change our plans. Maggie came up to me and told me that you were on the merry go round. after some water, your tummy settled down and you were fine. We left you kids with Auntie Annie while Dad and I went to the temple with Grandma and Grandpa. I guess you fell asleep snuggling up to Annie. She loved it so much and just chilled on the couch with you for the whole nap. That night, the dads had you all over at Grandpa's house, playing, putting on a play, eating Costa Rican food, and watching a movie. Sunday, we had an Easter part with all the cousins. Grandma does a big egg hunt full of coupon ad prizes. You were excited to pick out the play dough. It was a blast. I know the trip was way too short, but we love making it down there every time we do.
• You love Nora. She is your friend. I was watching her on the day that Sam had a field trip. We took her with us and you girls had a blast running around outside, jumping in puddles, and climbing all over the rocks at Tolo Lake. 
• The weather is getting warmer so we have been outside more. We went on our first hike of the season as a family. There was still a ton of snow on the ground. It was long going with you kids eating the snow and having snow ball fights. On one of Dad's day off, we headed out to the garden and worked on the berries. I had packed a lunch box lunch for you and Millie (you love eating out of a lunch box) and had a picnic in the hay. We also went camping at Winchester. It was raining a lot of the time, but we were still able to roast s'mores, ride bikes around, and fish for a bit in the morning. You got too big to sleep in the bath tub, so you and Sam shared a bed. I was nervous on how it was going to go, but you slept well. 
• Mother's Day was this month. It was nice to have a slower morning with you kids, going to church, and then having a picnic at Lions Park where we got to kayak at "Lion's Lake". The park had flooded big time with all the rain, so it made a mini lake that the whole city had been playing on. 
• Your latest favorite with now is the soundtrack to the movie Annie. You love singing the song "Tomorrow". I often find you by yourself playing barbies singing, "tomorrow, tomorrow, I love you tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow, I love you tomorrow. . . " That is about as much of it as you know right now. 

Two.Six Years

 2.6 Years

• Sam got baptized this month so we were able to have both sets of Grandparents out for that. You really love your grandpas and ran and gave both of them a big hug. You loved the next cuddles and attention from having more adults around. The weather is warming up for the first time, so it was just so nice having a picnic lunch outside with Grandparents while you and Millie played on the tramp (big kid had school). Grandpa Price was feeling well on this visit, so he had energy to wrestle on the tramp. You loved when he would push up on the tramp underneath with his feet. We hang out at the river once day and came back to pizza and a movie night. It was a fun weekend. 
• Spring break came, which meant the big kids were home all day. The weather wasn't super great, but we tried to get out when we could. I set the the trampoline, so that was a happy day. We spent a day in Lewiston, going to Gymnastic 360, the library, and trying a new frozen yogurt place. You just love having the bog kids around to play with. 
• We celebrated Dad's birthday with cake and presents. You love birthdays and will pretend it is your birthday afterward by getting a gift bag from the closet and filling it with random toys from the playroom.
• We couldn't take our spring break trip over spring break because of Dad's work schedule, but in April, we were able to visit San Diego with Grandma and Grandpa Price. We took off after dinner on Thursday and drove to a hotel in Spokane. Each of the older kids asked separately if I had booked a hotel beforehand because you didn't want to get stuck sleeping in the car again. The next morning, we caught an early flight to CA. It was so hot when we got there. We met up with the grandparents at the harbor, where we did a one hour boat cruise around the harbor, seeing all the different battle ships. We ate street tacos for lunch and then spent the rest of the day at the beach. Grandma borrowed her friend's boogey boards, so we were all able to go. To be honest though, you love the sand but are so afraid of the waves. It turned into a game between Grandma and I to see if we could get you to stand in the waves for a bit. On Saturday, we spent the day at Sea World. They had some big rides (you would watch on the side with Grandma because she was too scared to go) and great shows. We even stayed in the splash zone for the Orca show, which Grandpa and Dad didn't love, but all you kids were screaming out of delight when you got soaked. We stayed until the end, which made for a long, and cold day at the end. Sunday, we caught a local sacrament meeting, visited Dog Beach and tide pools, and ended the night with Mormon Battalion and Mexican food in Old Town for dinner. Monday, we go to go to the Zoo. It was so well done. The landscape was tropical. There was a bus tour at the beginning where we could see all the animals. The park itself was enormous, so even though there were tons of people, it hardly felt crowded. We even took the sky tramp over the whole park at the end. While we were taking the bus tour, you were climbing back and forth over the seats. Once time, your shoe fell off and landed on the road that only employees could go on. After the tour, a security guard drove around those road s with me to look for you shoe, but we ever found it. You kept taking about losing your shoe at the zoo. Since we got home earlier, we went to the beach again, but it was a lot colder so we didn't last long. We bundled up in whatever towels we had to stay warm. Tuesday was at Legoland. The rides were smaller there, so Millie could go on everything. What I loved about Legoland was all the areas that you could just build with lego bricks and all the cool play structures they have. The awesome part was when you were throwing a fit on the water boat ride. You wouldn't stand straight for the employee to measure you and was just crying that you couldn't go on the ride. The employee felt bad and gave us one fast pass that we could all use for the Emmett ride. Yay!!! That ride was 2 hour long and I did not want to wait that at all. We were not only able to walk up, but they struggled with loading the next group behind us so you and Maggie were able to go again. Grandma Matthews gave you some money to spend, and you chose an ice cream treat. Wednesday was our last day. We headed down for the beach one last time, which ended up being a beautiful day. We checked out of the Airbnb with no minutes to spare, and spent 5 hours at the USS Midway. It felt long to get home. Our flight didn't leave until 7pm, so by the time we flew in, got off the plane, got to our car, and drove home in the snow (that wasn't a fun welcome home), we finally got home at 2am.
• We came back to celebrate Easter. You loved looking for eggs and eating the candy. You got a Pinkalicious book. 
• You have been into dressing up a lot lately. So many outfit changes. I have to laugh that you found Maggie's mermaid tail for the pool. You like to slip in all the way so it looks like a strapless dress and pretend you are a mermaid. 
• The other day while driving in the car you were insistent on going to Grandma's house, as if it was just another stop on our errand list. It was so funny having you tell me to go to Grandma's house instead of the grocery store.