Running in Circles: July 2014

This last week my parents came to visit us in Dallas before they left for an international vacation!

Being empty-nesters doesn't sound bad at all ;)

We spent our days swimming, going on walks, playing at the splashpad, and showing them around our little part of Dallas.

They even took us to a Texas Rangers game on Friday evening.

Brice and I aren't huge fans of major league baseball but it sure was fun to be in a stadium and enjoy a little bit of America's favorite pastime. Hazel absolutely LOVED being at the game...jumping around empty seats,eating french fries, dancing and cheering, and clapping for either team any chance she could.

Thanks Mom & Dad for visiting us and treating us to a fun few days! Hazel sure loved showing off for ya!

I wanted to share one of our favorite and most used toys-

a wooden alphabet puzzle!

Hazel has been learning her letters pretty quickly and loves finding the letters we ask her to find.

We've found it really useful to use word associations with each letter. For example "A" is for apple, "D" is for Daddy, "K" is for Kajsa, etc... (Seriously Crystal, Hazel still asks for Kajsa daily). She knows about half of her letters but can find almost all of them by using a word association. I think our next step is to get to actually say the name of each letter.

It's been so fun for us to see her learning and so fun to have a non-musical toy that Brice and I like to lay on the floor and play with :)

Our next big learning curves are a big girl bed and potty training- any tips? Let's hear em!

Today I watched my little girl turn into a toddler.

Okay, sure it hasn't happened all in one day, but I noticed it all today more than ever. I watched as she picked out her own clothes and almost put on her shorts entirely by herself. I watched as she asked for "flip-flops" and a hat. She loves to accessorize for our exciting days around the house. I watched as she threw all the pillows from the couch to the floor and then enthusiastically jumped straight onto the pile below. Again? again! She says.

I watched and listened as she told me what she wanted for lunch and snacks. Mostly requesting bananas, carrots and dip (RANCH), bread (Sandwich), and a big piece of cheese. I'm amazed how she's putting sentences together already- not perfectly but three or four words. This girl of mine knows what she wants and asks for it. I'm in awe as I watch her pull out the kitchen chair for herself, sit down, and say please mama.

I watch her build houses, towers, animals, one Duplo block after another. I listen as she giggles and uses her hands to cover her mouth. I watch as she cocks her head back from laughing and then immediately looks at me straight on and rolls her eyes. I watch her as she carries around the baby doll that I swaddled for her, patting its back and saying "shh- shh" and forcing the eyes closed so she can lay her down on the bed (or in our case an empty Aldi box with another blanket in it.)

I could go on and on about her learning colors, and recognizing half of the letters of the alphabet. Or learning to sing along with mom and dad to her favorite songs, and learning the differences between boy & girl, fast & slow, floor & ceiling... or the part how she recognizes pictures of family members and friends and knows their names. And even recognizing pictures of the temple-- which also includes the Eiffel Tower which is sacred and beautiful in its own way ;) -- and of Jesus Christ and sitting still for scripture reading each night. Everyday she learns more and more and I catch myself watching in awe as she takes it all in.

I feel like I'm watching her more and more and doing less and less for her. My day still revolves around her needs and demands but I think this is the part that they're talking about when they say being a parent is hard but so worth it.

written 7/15/2014

We spent our Fourth of July weekend visiting friends in Houston, Texas.

We were so happy to visit with Weston & Kelsi Kunz and meet their sweet baby Ellie AND visit with Chris, Rosanne, Ariana, and McKenna Bick! It felt like a mini Provo reunion and just what i needed!

We spent the weekend swimming, BBQ-ing, celebrating Chris' Birthday, more swimming at night, a ward breakfast (which included potato sack races and hot potato), neighborhood walks, a game night, Cafe Rio pork salads, and too many cookies! The drive to and from went smoothly and we really loved seeing friends.

Thanks so much to the Kunz's and Bicks for hosting us- you're welcome in Dallas anytime :)

Monday: 8 miles in 60 minutes + Insanity

Tuesday: 10 miles in 1:14

Wednesday: 7 easy miles and 30 minutes of pilates

Thursday: 13 miles plus TOO MANY lunges/squats

Friday: 6 easy miles

Saturday: 10 miles around White Rock Lake in 1:16

Sunday: rest day= naptime!

Weekly Miles: 54

Miles run in 2014: 1360

Hazel recently discovered the wonders of watching "Mickey-Mouse Clubhouse" on the Disney junior channel. She calls it the hot-dog show though because of a little song.

Here's her take on the song!

enjoy!

1. Daves Killer Seed Bread- we usually just buy the cheapest whole grain bread, so this loaf is a treat but it is by far my favorite bread ever!

2. The cutest floral sneakers I've ever seen- I actually ordered them today for Hazel!

3. This Hat- I love this lady, her blog, and her style. I've been searching for some casual hats that aren't baseball caps.

4. TeePee- I've been going back and forth, but I think I'm going to sew Hazel a teepee. Were thinking of switching her over to a big bed by the end of the summer and i think a teepee will be the perfect addition to her big girl room.

5. I've been looking at all sorts of banners or garlands to add some color to our bedroom- but i think this colorful one is my favorite!

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