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. 

Two.Five Years Old

 2.5 Years Old

• It has been our March Madness  over here with all the birthdays. You were able to get dressed up all fancy for Millie's Princess Tea Party, you stayed home for a girls' movie night while Sam had his dodge ball party, you you finished off the leftover cupcakes at Maggie's Cupcake War party. You had to sit through each of them opening up gifts. After each birthday, you would ask me where your presents where. You handled it all really well. 
• You are really liking the Seek and Find books. We have a few that are easier so you can find the items on your own. Reading books has not been your go to activity like the other kids, but you are slowly getting there. I like any book with a princess or ballerina in it. 
• We set up the trampoline the other day because the weather is warming up. You were so excited to be the first with Sam to try it out. You have loved the warmer weather and has asked to go outside a lot. Often, you will get your shoes on by yourself and just go out and play without even asking. The other day, you and Millie were outside with me such it was so nice. It was 50 degrees and sunny. Both  of you changed into swimsuits and asked for the sprinkler under the trampoline. Not quite that warm yet girlies.
• You have really liked playing with your doll, Juney. I will find you with a hair brush, just brushing out her hair. You ask to sleep with her. It is nice because Millie will play dolls with you. Other favorite toys are barbies and the tea set. I love seeing you girls set up a tea party and get all dressed up.
• Getting you dressed has been a challenge lately because you are so opinionated. You love wearing a dress every day, the fancier the better. But it is still cold enough to need pants.I try to get you to wear pants under your dress but your refuse. Sometimes I can trick you and call them tight pants because you love wearing tights to church. Most of the time, you insist on wearing a skirt under your dress. That gets tricky because then you blow through your dresses and skirts sooner. By the end of the week, it is a real struggle getting you dressed because you don't want to wear the remaining pants and shirts. You change five times a day, often pulling out dress up dresses or Millie's dresses. Maggie and Millie just add to the craziness byletting you wear their skirts on the weekend. 

Two.Four Years

 2.4 Years

• Post Christmas is usually quieter. I have been trying harder to have meaningful activities for you. Some of your activities are play dough, tea parties, and barbies. I did this forced perspective photo of you and Millie using legos. It looked like you were sitting in the lego castle. When I showed you the photo, you were cracking up. When Millie is at preschool, I try to bring up one of the bins of toys for you to do up here. You play a lot better when there isn't a lot of options and you can see me the whole time. I also will start the play and then after ten minutes, I can leave you to continue while I work on my list. 
• The big kids and I have been getting into puzzles lately. You have wanted to join, but just can't do the big puzzles yet. Even though the wooden puzzles have always been in the closet, it is like you have discovered for the first time as actual puzzles and not just a mess maker. I love seeing you bend over them, concentrating so hard. 
• You can getting very opinionated. Before, you would rate your food and say "I like it" even when you didn't really like it. Now, you have learned to say, "No, I don't like it". You will say anything that you don't like is spicy. We gave you a lime with your dinner the other night. It was so funny watching you pucker your face and say it's spicy. But since everyone laughed at you, you would do it again and again. So in addition of being opinionated, you also love to get people to laugh. 
• Funny comment: Sam was having a hard time in the van ride home from church, so he had to walk part of the way home. For the next few days after the, you would say, "Sam walk home". 
• You are finally starting to sit still for books. You love Pinkalicious books, Five Little Monkeys, and I Ain't Gonna Paint No More. There will be still times when you ask to cuddle and read books, but once we get settled, you grab the book from me and say that you are going to read the book. I am then stuck there watching you look at pictures. 
• Dress up is THE thing right now. I can't keep your clothes on you. Every time I do get you dress, you just turn around and take it off to get dress in some fancy dress. For a while, you kept raiding Millie's closet. I have now directed you towards the dress up bin. Your favorites are Elsa, Cinderella, and ballerina outfits with toes. 

Two.Three Years

 2.3 Years

• Christmas came! Dad was on call, so we had to work around his schedule. For Christmas Eve, I let you kids pick out the dinner. We had a shrimp platter, homemade ciabatta bread, cheese plate, and artichokes. It was awesome. We acted out the Nativity (silly style) and found new slippers under the star for We Three Kings, though you got new plaid PJs because you out grew yours and I wanted you to keep matching us. Dad went back to work while we watched a movie. We set up ground rules so no one was going to wake up at 5am. I blocked the stairs and had you call me at 7am at the earliest. Joke on us because Dad couldn't get back from work until 9:00am. I snuck downstairs and played games, read books, watched some shows. I brought a box of cereal down to keep our tummies at bay (which lead to lots of cereal all over the floor). We finally got to go up. Santa brought you a mini crib with baby, playdough,  and funny trinkets in your stocking. Dad and I got you your very own doll, two dresses (one matches Millie's), and an Eric Carle book where you can push all the buttons to make the animal sounds. All three kids pooled their money together and got you this giant fish stuffed animal. You were so excited to open all the gifts and gave such good reactions. You kept saying that Santa brought me this and Santa brought me that. The candy was a big hit and I had to stash not only your candy away, but everyone else had to put their stocking stuff up high right away because you were eating any chocolate that you could get your hands on. 
• After the break, you have been not taking naps and just playing in your crib. Not cool. Finally, I tried setting the pack-n-play up in the storage room since it is super dark down there and would make it so you couldn't see to sleep. It works about 90% of the time so I am excited about that. 
• The big kids have been trying to get you to use the potty. They brought out the old froggy potty and were bribing you with jelly beans. What you got out of it was that if you sat on the potty, you got a jelly bean. So you were pretty disappointed when that didn't happen. 
• You are talking so much more. When I read you a book, you and Millie like to point to the different characters in the picture and pick that one to be you. Well you like to say, "they all my girls" and not let Millie pick any of them. Your favorite color is still very much pink and insist on always having the pink cup and plate. You are trying to figure out the colors and love to ask me which color is this. You are pretty good with pink, purple, blue, and yellow. 
• Since getting those dresses for you for Christmas, that is all you wasn't to wear. And the funny part is that when you do wear a dress, you are very stubborned about wearing a skirt underneath it. Your favorite pjs are your "ballerini" pjs and will often dig them out of the dirty basket to wear them again. It is so funny watching you be very strong in opinion on what you wear.

Two.Two years

 2.2 Years

We went to Oregon for 8 days over Thanksgiving. We were suppose to stay with Grandma for the first half, but they ended up with COVID, so we stayed with Aunt Janecce and Uncle Dusty for the whole time. You loved the idea of Jessie and would get so excited to talk about her, but you two are still young to play with each other. We got there Saturday night, just in time for dinner and the BYU game. Sunday, we went to church with them and watch the kids in their primary program. We went to Champoeg State park for a nice nature walk that ended up being five miles. Annie and Joe's family came over for a birthday celebration that night. On Monday, I took you with the older girls to paint ceramics and eat sushi. You liked the rice part. We took you to Annie's that night with you got to play video games (well you watched) and watch a movie while we went out to eat as adults. Tuesday, Hailey came over to Janecce's and babysat you while Dad and I went to the temple and Janecce had her workout session. Tuesday night, Josh's family joined the group and the party began. Wednesday, we went to the high school and played dodgeball and soccer. I just wanted to be the center of attention and would run for person to person asking them to hold you. Josh was a favorite for the day. You cousins had a movie night. Thursday, we went to the park and played while the boys played football. We went to the movies that afternoon and saw Encanto (which you liked!). We pushed Thanksgiving dinner back to Friday so Grandma and Papa could join us (just finished their 10 days). Beforehand, we went to the church and played floor hockey and chair soccer. You and the little girls tried playing at the beginning, but ended up playing family in the nursery room. Dinner was great and it was so good to have everyone. Saturday, we met Grandma, Papa, Josh's, and Annie's family to go to a Christmas tree farm and get a tree. It was fun to have Papa's old truck for you all to ride in the back of. Uncle Joe brought donuts and we were finished before the rain started. We did get to spend that night at Grandma's, which was good because you girls got to do crafts and help decorate her tree. We left the next morning. It was a great vacation.

• We have had a lot of fun with all the different Christmas tradition. Dad and Sam came home from the store with a gingerbread house kit. We each got to decorate one of the walls. We have four different advent day calendars going, so we have you all rotate which ones you pick. We have a Harry Potter Lego one, the tree with a piece of chocolate in each slot, the hanging of the nativity piece and then the activity board. Some of the activities that we have done are write a letter to Ben on his mission, have a Christmas dance party, open a present with a new Christmas book, and of course leave your shoes out for the elves. Connor, our elf that comes each year, even left a letter for you all. For red ribbon dinner, instead of individually gifts, we opened just one for the whole family. It was exploding kittens, a game that the big kids all feel in loved with over Thanksgiving at Dusty and Janecce's. 
• We went to Utah before Christmas this year. We made it just in time to watch the Nut Cracker ballet with the girl cousins. Saturday, you spent the day at Grandma's being watched while the older girls went off to watch The Nutcracker and the boys went off to watch BYU basketball. You love all her toys and Grandpa's jellybeans. On Sunday, we got to meet up with all the family for the big party. This year, you had Calvin for the gift exchange. I helped you pick out little bath toys for him. Bonnie had you and gave you a stuff doggy. Grandma and Papa of course gave you a baby pack-n-play. It was a great trip overall.
• Funny comments: When we sit down for dinner, you have started giving it the thumb rating system and saying, "I like it!" Your thumb is never up all the way, but you tend to wiggle side to side in the middle.
• You are starting to warm up to the idea of Santa. We saw "Santa" at Millie's dance concert and you gave him the stink eye. But when we read a book or see his picture, then you like him. But you definitely remember presents from your birthday, so you are excited about that. So much that we are having to keep all the presents in our room because you will ripe them open if I am not looking.