Sunday Afternoon Hike

     Last Sunday afternoon we decided to go on a hike with our friends who are staying with us for the summer. As we were leaving Zach's mom and brother showed up (they ended their backpacking trip a day early). Brennan decided to join us on our hike, and it was a good thing too since we forgot our hiking backpack in the excitement of the moment.  Haley's buddy Ryann was a champion hiker, backpack and all. Haley did pretty well on her own two feet, but was really slow and easily distracted (I have no idea where she got THAT from), so her dad and uncle took turns carrying her up to the summit. 

Th girls paused for some hugs at the halfway point.  

Haley was not feeling it. 

First family of four hike photo!

Liam rode up the mountain in the moby wrap. I was glad to have an excuse not to carry the squirmy, quickly growing, toddler. 

All the hiking really wore him out. 

After a short fight involving some large sticks the girls were happy to say sorry and give hugs. 

Haley had a delicious snack after it smashed open in the diaper bag and spilled all over the camera. 

Brennan was a bit nervous holding Liam over the jagged rocks. 

I got the girls to stop for a minute so they could stand in this fun hollowed out tree that I love.

The perfect hiding spot.

     Even though I am crazily out of shape it was a lot of fun to hit the trails with the kids. In the 4 years I have lived in the mountains I have not spent a lot of time outside. I am hoping that this summer will be a new beginning of hiking and playing outdoors. I hope to instill in Haley and Liam a love for the mountains and an appreciation for God's creation.

     As a kid I loved Pipi Longstocking. One of my favorite lines describing her was that the mountains please her more than toys do. I hope that this will be true of my kids, that they will find as much or more joy in bugs, flowers, rock walls, and sunsets as they do in blocks, dolls, cars, and TV shows. 

12 Dates for 2011

For Christmas I made cards with 12 dates for Zach and 12 Dates for Haley. This is Haley getting ready for and going on her first date, with Daddy. They went to get breadsticks and then to get ice cream.

Haley got all dressed up, she even wore her wings.

She likes to feel pretty. She was brushing her hair and dancing around before they left.

When she came home, she had a balloon. I think she liked her date.

These are some of Haley's date cards. They have pictures to describe what she gets to go do. For example, on the one with the trains we will go to the mall and play at the play place then go to Barnes & Noble and play with the trains.

The blue cards are Daddy dates and the pink cards are Mommy Dates. Then in December we will take her on a special date together. I think that especially when her brother is born she will like the one on one time a lot.

Theses are the cards I made for Zach. The idea is that we already have a plan and now we have to go on a date each month. They are mostly cheap and certainly not fancy. But I am in charge of getting a babysitter and making the date happen. Having a plan makes it much easier to stick to.

My cards did not turn out as cute as I had imagined but they could easily be spiced up with some scrap booking supplies or computer graphics. These would also make a great Valentines day or birthday gift. I think we might start doing them as a new years tradition.

Haley's first swim! and other little adventures

Since Zach and I just got a new job, we also got a jump in our income. So in addition to finally putting money back into savings, we are now able to afford a gym membership. I have been using guest passes and going with some friends on Sunday afternoons to work out and swim laps. I have also gone to a few classes.

I realize now how good I had it in college, when the classes and facilities were available to students at no additional charge. Why did I not take advantage of that gym more often.

It also made me realize how much more I push myself when I go workout in a class with friends. there's no pausing, and I have to push myself to keep up. I may be just a little bit competitive. ;) Also, lasses are fun, so they motivate me to go.

So, Zach went to check out the equipment and decided we would get a family membership. Then yesterday we dropped Haley off at the gym's childcare center, where she had a blast, and went to work out.

Tonight there was a family swim. We dressed Haley up in her little swimmers and headed to the pool. She had so much fun splashing around and flailing her arms and legs. But her favorite part was trying to eat the railing. I think we will definitely be frequenting the gym pool until the outdoor pool in town opens up for summer.

Haley's grandpa came with us too and he got a few great pictures of out little slippery fish. She kept sticking her face in the water and coming up stunned. It was adorable.

Today also had some other highlights.

We went to visit Haley's uncle Brennan who is through hiking the AT.

Haley had fun playing with Brennan and her Grandpa

But she loved Brennan's alarm clock most of all.

Since Haley has learned to stand herself up we had to lower her crib to it's lowest setting earlier this week. No more worrying about her toppling out.

She also rode in her old car seat for the last time today. Those little toes are really hanging over the edge. And the sun shade hits her in the head (although it probably doesn't help that it's broken). It's too bad that the limit for rear facing is one year, and not a certain height. According to the high chart at Target Haley is half way through the 12 month range.

Haley switched into her new convertible car seat. The Safety 1st Alpha Omega Elite; or more affectionately known as the "Thorne Throne" (from 5 -100 pounds, can't go wrong with that. )

After installing the car seat we took the box up to the house, emptied her new balls, and let her go to town in her personal ball pit. She loved it!

as you can see her first Thorne Throne experience was pretty traumatic... she was pretty exhausted from such a long and exciting day.

Play Dates

Haley went on her first "play date" on January 20th. She went to the library's story time with a buddy who is 6 weeks younger than her.

Lately I have also done some babysitting so Haley has got to spend time with some of her other favorite friends. She is becoming quite the social butterfly.

I love watching the little one's interact. They have a tendency to play rough with each other, but their learning, and I try to stop it if they are being too aggressive. It is a joy to watch them observe and explore each other.

The older girls are already incredibly maternal. They love to take care of the baby, bring her blankets, and giving her a pacifier. It's amazing to see their instincts played out.

Rest your head baby...

and when you wake up the world will be covered in a blanket of white!

Checking out the snow, with her pajamas to match.

When Haley went down for her nap on Friday afternoon the flurries were just beginning to fall, and by the time she woke up the Snow had transformed our little mountain town.

We got a fresh 6 inches of snow, perfect for visiting our neighbors and for a first sledding adventure.

Getting Ready to go down the hill

Success... Haley was completely unfazed

"Mom, It's cold... May I go inside now!"