Vegas- week 1

Sometimes I really miss Vegas. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love living in Portland, but when March comes around, and it's snowing, I wonder what the heck I'm thinking. The girls and I flew down to Las Vegas on Sunday the 18th to catch a little sun and occupy ourselves while Jade did a 2.5 week business trip. Have I mentioned we missed our flight? It was such a bummer. We checked in an hour early and everything. Security took forever, and I just spaced checking the time. By the time we got through security and I changed Piper and took Peyton to the bathroom, we walked up to our gate and were told that they had given our seats to standby fliers because we didn't make it 10 minutes before departure time. I couldn't believe it. I started bawling. The next flight out wasn't for 3.5 hours. After a substantial amount of tears, I found the girls and I a cozy little spot in front of some huge windows, and we camped out. The flight ended up being decent. On the way onto the plane, the flight attendant and pilot fell in love with Peyton, and they invited her into the cockpit. She was able to sit in the Captain's chair, push some buttons, and hold the steering wheel (or whatever that thing is called). That was so cool! I especially loved the flight attendant because she told me I looked too young to have 2 kids, and I said I feel old, and she said, "You look like you're about 17!" That almost made the missed-flight stress go away completely. There were 3 extra seats on the flight, so Piper was able to have her own seat to lay on (though let's be honest- she wanted to be held the whole time). Peyton was only just okay on the flight, but after the hour drive to the airport, plus 4.5 hours total at the airport, I couldn't blame her. It was so wonderful to get to my mom's house. Monday my mom went to Arizona to visit her friend for his birthday, so the girls and I just stayed home and relaxed. They both had a rough day since their Sunday was so messed up. Tuesday we went into full party-mode for my sister's surprise sweet-16 party! Jade drove in town Wednesday night, and my mom watched Peyton while Jade, Piper and I stayed at the Venetian, where we had a room from New York Life for a conference Jade went to. Thursday morning Jade had meetings and Piper and I slept in, then we went to my mom's house and spent the afternoon doing party stuff. Jade had some meetings Friday morning, then he cashed in on his Christmas present from my mom: a 3-hour time slot "playing" with an excavator at a place in Las Vegas called "Dig This", which is like Tonka Trucks, for big boys. My mom and I got everything ready for family pictures Saturday morning, Jade and the boys golfed, and we hung out with Chaz, who got in town from Mississippi early that morning. Saturday we had our family pictures taken, then went to a nice big brunch and home for a nap and the boys golfed again, then we sent Cheyanne off to the Young Women's General Broadcast while we frantically got everything ready for the party. It was a huge success. Cheyanne was totally shocked. In fact, she actually started fighting with my mom about not going to the Broadcast with her, and not letting her go out to dinner after the Broadcast was over, so we know she had no idea about the party. All her best friends were there, including her best friend from Kindergarten that now lives in Utah. She was a happy girl. I was a happy girl, too because surprise parties stress me out a little. My favorite part of the night was when Jade and I were taking a picture in the photo booth, and we kissed, and one of the boys that was there said, "Woah- are they going out or something?" Cheyanne said, "They're married! That's my older sister." The boy didn't realize I am an old woman. That made me feel awesome. Sunday we went to my mom's early church (and boy did it feel early after our late night), and then after a nice long nap for everyone, my mom and her friend made us a Thanksgiving dinner, complete with a smoked turkey (yum!). The only bad part of the night was Jade leaving for the rest of his work road-trip.

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That's Jade behind the wheel!

 Peyton the Pilot

Peyton fell asleep apparently mid-play on the couch in the girls' room.

Surprise!! We had all the kids throw holi colors on her when she came in.

 Jade and Tink, living the good life.

 Piper is so tubby and rolly-poly! I know she's not big compared to other babies, but compared to Peyton, she seems huge! I absolutely LOVE all her rolls and dimples and wrinkles. I could eat them up!

These are pictures from Jade and Tink's drive down to Vegas.

Pictures from the photo booth at the party:

Pre-Vegas Happenings

The girls and I spent the last week getting all ready for a month long trip to Vegas [more on that later], but there were some eventful things that happened. Piper started solid food! I was going to wait another month, until she was 6 months old, but she seemed ready, so I figured I would try it out. I was right; she was definitely ready. I gave her avocado, and from the very first bite, she loved it. She didn't spit it out at the beginning, or reject it at all. In fact, after a few spoonfuls, she started lunging forward toward my hand, and grabbing my hand and guiding it to her mouth. Peyton also had her last day of the term of ballet and gymnastics. They invited all the parents in to watch, and Peyton was very excited to show off. She's also very excited because next term, she starts tap! Saturday was St. Patrick's Day, and now that Peyton is old enough to "get" the more obscure holidays, I've been trying to make them super fun and memorable. When she woke up from nap on Saturday, she went to the bathroom and realized that a tricky leprechaun had used the potty! I guess the little guy felt bad about making a mess, because he left some gold at the scene of the crime. Peyton thought it was SO COOL. Jade and I went to a fun St. Patty's Day party with some friends and family members that night, so the whole family was able to celebrate!

 This is a random picture, but while I was packing, Peyton decided to put some of my clothes on, and I thought it was cute, so I wanted to take a picture. This is what I got:

We also took Peyton to Krispy Kreme for the first time for her friend Annika's birthday. She was in Heaven, of course.

Patiently awaiting Spring

My mom surprised me last week with a 5 day visit! It was awesome. I came home from Zumba on Monday night and Jade was making dinner, which was weird because before Zumba, I had told him that I had something planned. Right away I started nursing Piper, and Jade sent Peyton up to her room to get something. Peyton came down talking, but I couldn't understand what she was saying, and then all of a sudden I saw my mom! I was pretty much in shock; speechless, which is rare for me. While she was here, we didn't do anything too exciting, but I took her to all my classes at the gym, and every morning she let me sleep in with Piper (bad habit to get into, I know, but it was so fantastic!) We cooked and watched reality TV and she helped me with some Pinterest [obsessed] projects. She got to watch Peyton's ballet and gymnastics classes, and we celebrated her birthday with her. It was such a treat to have her here.

Peyton takes after me in lots of ways (nature or nurture?), but she also takes after Jade quite a bit, too. One of the most evident ways is that she is "early to bed, early to rise", falls asleep very easily, and wakes up super happy. She has recently started beginning her days around 6am. That's about one hour earlier than I will accept, so she has to stay in her room and read quietly or try to go back to sleep. She always, without exception, ends up reading (which is something she gets from me). Piper, on the other hand, is my girl through and through. She is a horrible napper, but would sleep in until lunch if I would let her (or if I were laying by her). She loves to be cuddled up next to me. I just know she wishes I was an attachment-style parent.

On the other hand, Peyton definitely got my coordination; or rather my lack of coordination. My mom says that from the back, just the way she moves and her body look identical to me when I was her age. I have no delusions of genius in my children. Peyton reached all her milestones at the average time. Piper, however, is STRONG. She rolled over (front to back) at 6.5 weeks, and my pediatrician didn't even really believe me until he saw it with his own eyes at her 8 week checkup. At 4 months she began to roll back to front, and not too many days after that, she began rolling and scooting to get where she wants to go. She can already sit unsupported (at 5 months), and can hold herself up in a standing position (though not for too long, so we're always nearby to catch her, and she doesn't "pull-up"). We think Piper might actually be an athletic child. At least that's what Jade is hoping.

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Piper is my cuddle-bug!! Peyton has never been too cuddly, so I love that Piper loves to be held.

Noni brought Peyton's Christmas present from Aunt Jamie and Uncle Chaz: a purse filled with makeup!! To say it was a hit would be an understatement. She was in heaven. She did her own [purple] eyeshadow in this picture.

Sleeping Beauty. This was her after I nursed her one morning. She did not want to get up. If only she slept so well during naps!

My mom did a little photo shoot with the girls before dance class. She put Piper in her tutu, legwarmers and ballet slippers [booties], just like Peyton

We took my mom out to dinner for her birthday, then Peyton and I had a tea party for her, with red velvet sugar cookies. Peyton even got her a candle to blow out.

Piper loves her big sister- she's the only other person besides me who elicits an instant-smile out of Piper, and she is definitely Piper's favorite person (besides the food-source).