Firsts

When their little lives are filled with so many firsts, I feel honored as their mom to be a part of it all. It's like seeing the world for the first time all over again. It just one of the best things!

Like when Liam had his first play date with the kids in his new preschool class. As I mentioned in his back to school post, his preschool is on a farm. Surrounded by the most gorgeous cornfields and one of the biggest backyard gardens I've ever seen. Liam adores playing out there ...

Lyla's first time talking to Siri. haha I about died from laughing so hard! She figured out how the button worked to get her to talk back and then she'd just start jabbering away and Siri would follow with, "I'm sorry, I couldn't quite hear that." She'd cut her off mid sentence and launch back in with another series of "bewbewbewdadadas". haha

Liam's first sport and first time on a team ... we signed up for soccer season! He's loving it! It's fun, sometimes painful, and always entertaining to watch! We've loved the program we signed him up with so far ... he plays all of his games at the park closest to us and it's only Saturday mornings for an hour. 15 minutes of practice and a 45 minute game. I'm slowly figure out the soccer mom life. How much to encourage and push him vs. how much to recognize there is a lot of potentially hurt feelings and dandelion picking throughout. I'll always be his biggest cheerleader though! Proud of your bravery and perseverance number 2!

First cavity ... wah wah wah. I took both kids in to see a new dentist last week and found out Liam has his first cavity on a molar that he'll keep until he is 11 or 12. Which means I had to schedule him to get his first filling next week. Crossing all of my fingers and toes it goes well because .......... dang it, not a fun thing to experience as an adult let alone a child. Also freaking out that the child who is so great about being diligent with brushing morning and night has a cavity when the other one (shall not be named) refuses to let us stick a toothbrush in her mouth for more than 2 seconds. The hygienist gave a great recommendation though to let her try brushing and flossing our teeth while we do hers and it is working a little better so far. She still gets to be the one who announces "DONE!" whenever she wants. ;)

My favorite first of all ... I painted Lyla's nails for the first time on her birthday weekend!! She held still for .2 seconds ... exactly how long I expected her to, so most of them ended up smudged. But seeing the look on her face and hearing her say "pwity" over and over again was the best! The sweetest little pink fingers and toes I've ever seen!

Boise Aquarium

Hi you guys! I've been organizing and purging like a mad woman today, ya ya is sick with a cold (so sad, poor girlfriend), and I just sat down for the first time for a few minutes and I may not ever get back up again. haha I'm thankful that tomorrow is Friday and am very much looking forward to the weekend with my people. Speaking of weekends ...

We wanted to make last weekend special for Lyla's birthday. With it being on a Sunday this year, we knew we'd have church and kept it to a family party so Saturday we went on an adventure to the Boise Aquarium! It was our first time there and after hearing not the best reviews, I didn't have my hopes too high but knew Lyla would love seeing the fishies no matter what. 

It turned out to be so great!! It may not be the Seattle Aquarium or even the one in Salt Lake that we've been to but it was so much better than other people have described to me. The best part was, Liam and Lyla LOVED it!

The biggest hit were the 4 different touch pools! One was more of a tide pool that had hermit crabs, shells, anemone that when you touch them they shrink down, and sand to play in. You were allowed to touch anything as long as you kept it in the water.  

There were two tide pools with different fish too. If you held your hand still enough they would come up to it and open and close their lips against it. They were all different beautiful colors and textures and neither one of our kids were afraid of touching them which happily surprised me. 

Then there was the string ray touch pool! They'd swim laps around the outside flapping their fins up high enough that you could feel their slimy backs. The kids would giggle and quickly pull their hand away every time it slide over their fins. 

I could not believe the size of that fish in the tank below ...

Literally the only thing that wasn't great about the experience was the building they have it in. It is basically a warehouse with very little windows and light. The dark space made it seem small and closed in and there wasn't a ton of circulation so it got pretty stinky. That's to be expected though with tons of sea life!

Liam loved the little crocodile exhibit! Can you spot him?! His head was the only thing peeking out through the yellow leaves ...

We will definitely be going back for another visit!

Liam's First Day of Pre-K

My handsome boy had his first day of Pre-K last week! We had the best summer together but were all ready for him to go back to school and get a little bit of structure and routine back into our lives. He switched schools this year to one that is closer to our home and is LOVING it! Makes me so happy that he counts down the days until he gets to go back again and is eager to tell me all about "the mystery letter" of the day that a fluffy pink piggy named Poppy shares with him. ;) His preschool is on a farm so their class pet is a cow named Betsy who is having a baby in November! They also have chickens and dogs and the only part Liam doesn't love are the constant stream of flies swirling around because of the animals. haha

In case you couldn't tell, his favorite color is blue and he wants to be a mechanic (engineer) to build his own Iron Man suit in an a lab when he grows up! Just when I think I couldn't love this cute boy any more ...

He was a little sad on his first day that he wouldn't be with his best friend, Everett, this year who is in Kindergarten but I know my social butterfly will make new friends in no time and has already had a play date with Everett in the afternoons! 

I can hardly believe this is his last year of preschool and that I'll have a Kindergartener next year!

Lyla's Baby Doll Party

Lyla turned TWO yesterday! There were so many moments throughout the day when I couldn't even believe it but also, I can hardly remember life without sweet and spunky spirit in it. This girl is SO loved and the way she smiled and giggled as we sang 'Happy Birthday' to her, I knew she felt it. 

Balloons and donuts for breakfast for the birthday girl!

Her party wasn't until the afternoon so we let her open a couple presents in the morning ... bottles for her babies and the cutest new outfit!

The weather was really cloudy and rainy so it made it difficult to get bright pictures but I was so thankful I planned for an indoor party this year so I didn't have to worry about it aside from that! Lyla LOVES her baby dolls so I knew it would be the perfect birthday theme ... 

The cutest baby doll balloon!

I kept her cake a simple white buttercream and added a baby bottle to the top with "spilled milk" (coconut down the side). We also had sugar cookies that spelled 'baby doll' and a white chocolate bark/snack mix with pretzels, chex, berry cherrioes, and m&m's that was to die for!

The party game prizes or gifts for her guests were chapsticks and these pacifier dip candies.

I had everything set out but still covered up for the party and I caught the birthday girl red handed stealing a cookie from the cookie jar ... ;) her face! haha

We had a photo booth that mimicked the box of a popular baby doll from the store called the "Wee Baby Stella"! Our not-so-wee baby Lyla ...

We kept the party small and invited cousins! We missed Abby because she was sick. 

The kids had the best time playing pin the binky on the baby and doing a ring toss around a baby bottle! Everyone put their binky in the exact same place so I'm pretty sure there were holes in that blindfold. ;)

So proud of herself!

Lyla loved celebrating with her cousins!

After games we sang 'Happy Birthday' and had cake!

The cutest dolly at the party! 

She wanted to blow out her candles from the moment they were lit ... 

Her sweet cousin, Ava, wanting to help feed her bites of cake. haha

She was so fun to watch as she opened her presents ... every single one she'd gasp, "A box a box a box!" haha Our baby doll loving girl got plenty more baby dolls and a new stroller to push them all around in. My very own mini momma!

She also got the cutest unicorn backpack that she loves packing around!

The last 24 hours have looked something like this ... taking her babies for loops around the kitchen ...

I love her I love her I love her!

As siblings do, Liam had a bit of a rough time with her birthday. He wanted her balloons to be his, her cake to be his cake, and you can guess how present opening went. Luckily his birthday is a month away because his countdown is on! He has the most tender heart and it was sweet seeing how cute he was with her baby dolls. This was another one of mine from when I was little. I've passed one of mine on to her for each birthday now.

After the party they finally calmed down from their sugar high and were feeding their babies. ;)

Lyla you bring so much light, joy, and character to our family! We are so glad you're ours forever. We hope you feel so loved and so special every single day! We love you so much! Happy Birthday beautiful girl!! XO

P A R T Y   S O U R C E S

Balloons - Target & Zurchers

Cake Stand - Target

Napkins & Sparkler "2" Candle - Shop Sweet Lulu

Streamers Backdrop (made by me) - Target & Zurchers 

Baby Bottles - Zurchers