Our Ride On A Train

This past weekend, 

thanks to a friend with connections, 

we got to ride the Thunder Mountain Line as a family up to Banks

where we could each pick a pumpkin

and then bring them home! 

Aftyn was very excited and seemed to enjoy the whole trip. 

Here are some pictures documenting it all:

On the train tracks, before we boarded the train! So excited!!

This is where we sat, on an outside car.  It was nice and sunny outside, not cold like we thought it would be.

Snack time aka pumpkin time!

We had so much fun and even had plenty of time

to catch up with our friends who came along too!

Aftyn was Here

Bubbles On My Mind

Today I experienced one of the most perfect 10 minutes of my life.

First of all, I had Christmas music playing on our cd player.

(Christmas season starts early at our house.  Always.)

Then, I spotted our gargantuan sized bottle of bubbles which were leftovers 

from  some generous person at my parents house.  

I've had the intention to go outside and blow bubbles with Aftyn 

since we got them and not until today did I ever do it.  

I got Aftyn on board with the idea quite easily and so we went outside.  

(Bronwyn was sleeping.)

Once we were outside, I noticed the wind was blowing! 

Not so much that it was too cold  but just enough that all I had to do 

was a little arm waving with the bubble wand and the wind blew all the bubbles 

that Aftyn could have wanted in 10 minutes.  

There were bubbles flying in the wind, over the house, and stuck 

on lots and lots of grass in our backyard.  

I wish I'd had my camera to capture Aftyn out there completely enraptured 

with this "bubble land" she had to play in.  

She was giggling and chasing and pretending that we had to catch them 

as she systematically stomped and popped as many as she wanted. 

Nothing more sweet and innocent. 

I certainly wish there were more moments in life like that that remind me

to look at life's little joys and appreciate them, just as a child would.

* This perfect experience only lasted 10 minutes because I noticed that Aftyn was barefoot and her little feet were red from cold.

And when I suggested we go inside because her feet were cold she didn't try to tell me they weren't and went inside quite readily.

Further Ado About Bronwyn

Some of the things I have grown to love about our Bronwyn would have to include:

snuggly, as in likes to snuggle

smiley, that's an understatement

adores Aftyn

has become a great little nurser

silly

goes to sleep by herself'

makes me laugh -out loud- daily

loves to be played with

CHUBBY cheeks

she is all eyes when Aftyn is around, and if Aftyn chances to look her way,

which is happening A LOT more often, she squeals which makes Aftyn smile

and laugh, and then Aftyn will usually tell me with a big smile on her face,
"she likes me"! 

-And oh how that makes my heart sing with joy
when I see them playing and smiling together -

She seems to get a lot of comments when we're out and about, and they either include:

"oh, what a little doll", meaning she looks like a doll       OR       "she's so small!"

Aftyn and Bronwyn have a game they play, it goes like this:

Aftyn squeals, Bronwyn squeals back,  Aftyn squeals again,

Bronwyn squeals back.

And on and on until Aftyn or Bronwyn get bored

I feel so blessed to have Bronwyn in our family.  

I can't imagine life without her.

 And I've found I tend to get sappier when the kids are sleeping and no one is currently "needing" me. :)

image via here

Miss Independent

I don't know what exactly my theme is with this post.

Bronwyn is changing.  

Funny how with Aftyn, I couldn't wait to see her changing and growing 

and trying new things.  

With Bronwyn, I feel like I'm still trying to hang onto the baby-ness of her

a little longer.  

I want her to be content being swaddled a little longer,

laying on the floor passively watching Aftyn play 

instead of wanting to get in on the action herself. 

I want to freeze time

Babies really do only stay small for such a short short time

Who's Responsible?

What can you do when your mailman breaks your mailbox?

Thanks, Kamber for your comment, which made me realize

maybe a little background information is due here.  :)

One day, after seeing the mail truck drive by the house, I went out to the mailbox to get the mail.

Only to notice our mailbox door hanging askew, like this:

I was all kinds of mad. After getting the mail out, I could see that the pin that usually kept

the broken side of the door hinged to the mailbox had just fallen out,

but was nowhere to be seen on the ground.

I had no idea what to do.  I asked Reed about it later, thinking maybe he had noticed it earlier or

had possibly done it without telling me.  He too seemed surprised when I told him the mailbox door

was broken.  So, now I knew it was the mailman.  Here now a week and a half-ish later,

I still have no idea what to do.  Which is why I'm presenting this question for all the world to see.

Who is responsible for this problem? I want to fix it before the whole door breaks off because of 

the alternate mailman who seems to care less about our broken door and always leaves it just

hanging there after putting our mail in the box whereas the guilty mailman always takes the time to

put the door back in place.  Any ideas who should be responsible for this problem?

Pictures That Prove Yesterday Turned Out Okay After All

The Sitting Up Early Prodigy

Even better when Aftyn volunarily sits next to her!

Such a cute view of both girlies. 

Pictures From Our Weekend

Aftyn and Daddy, spending some quality time outside. 
Also notice our lush green grass that Reed has worked so hard at all summer.

Bronwyn and I had a fun birthday party to go to
and in the end decided we would all go!

Aftyn used to do the same thing in this swing. 
Those fishies must be irresistible.

Not The Kind of Thing I Normally Blog

I just read the greatest blog post by someone I don't even know.  Know what the title was?

"I Am Flawed".

Awesome.

Where do I sign up because today has definitely been

that kind of a day so far.

Reed had to go to work WAY too early, and while

preparing for his early day

managed to wake up a cranky baby who woke up

the cranky mommy

who then had to listen to said baby cry for 2 hours.

(Off and on.  Just when I thought I'd gotten her settled down,

she'd start up again.  Ugh.)

Until that mommy stuck that baby

right where she needed to go all along.  Into the baby swing. 

And then both cranky

baby and mommy slept for an additional 3 hours.

Yes friends, I am flawed.  I am not that perfect mommy/wife/sister/friend

that I would like to be

but the question is, are any of us?  :) 

On days like today when even my best doesn't seem

like its enough, its nice to remember that other people are

as imperfect and maybe even cranky

as I have been this morning.  Even better to remember that your

little 2 year old who has had

to deal with your crankiness will forgive you as soon as you ask

AND as long as you give

her a hug, a smoochie and read her a few books.  :)

*EDITED TO ADD* After telling Aftyn I was sorry, I said "Can I have a hug?" to
which she added "And a smoochie too?".  Love this little girl so much.

Oh Well

The other night just as I was falling asleep,

I came up with a funny topic to blog about!

But in the morning, I had no idea what it was. 

And now a few days later, I still can't remember what it was I felt was so funny.  

Oh well. 

Here are some pictures instead.  :)

Crazy Hair         Crazy Eyes

What is really going on in this picture that you can't see?  

Aftyn is edging away from Bronwyn's grabby hands.  

Even to take this picture I had to tell Aftyn to stop pulling away from Bronwyn 

and to just lay still. 

A picture just because

What a big baby she is now! I love that she is goo-ing in the picture. 

Oh Ha Ni Look-Alike? Not Quite.

I know this post is totally random, 

but it's mostly intended for my older sister.

Clearly after comparing the two,

I realize I need to loosen up her braid A LOT! 

Except then I'm not sure it would stay in. 

Oh well. 

Oh Ha Ni's ever-changing hairstyles have given me 

some fun ideas to try on Aftyn's hair. :)

(Oh Ha Ni is from a Korean soap opera I just finished watching last week, recommended by an older sister of mine.
You really don't want to know about it because it takes 16 hrs to get through the whole thing,
it's quite captivating and addicting and seriously?!
3 -4 days out of your life?!
You can thank me later for not divulging its name.  :)  )