Flasher

So, the backstory on this picture: I left Makaia (fully clothed) and went in the kitchen for no more than 5 minutes to start dinner. She kept saying, "I want to go swimming, Mommy. I want to go swimming, Mommy." I came out to tell her that we couldn't go right then and I found her like this. She had taken off her clothes and shoes then tried to put my swimsuit on.

Vacation

At the end of July, we spent a week with my parents in Fresno then they took all of us to Tahoe for a week. It was so nice to get away and relax (and have lots of extra hands to entertain Makaia!) One of our favorite things was going to Clovis Lakes water park. Sorry, didn't take the camera with us. Next time I will! I hadn't been there since high school so it was fun to take John and Makaia couldn't get enough of the water slides and kiddie area. We overheard some people talking about how cute that tiny little girl was riding the slides. That made us laugh. Tahoe was gorgeous and so relaxing!

Playing paddle ball with Uncle Kyle

Hiking with Mama and Daddy

My parents took us to an awesome dinner at Sunnyside restaurant

With Gamma and Papa

John, Sabrina, Makaia

Stopping to play some catch with the boys

The "fish" leaning over to touch the water...again!

I want to touch water Mama!

With Gamma and Papa in the river. Stopped our raft for a swim.

After 2 solid weeks of being around family, Makaia was pretty bummed the week we returned home. No Uncle Kyle to teach us silly words and funny faces, no Aunt Heidi to cook with, no Pushover-Papa (that's Grandpa's new name) to play with, no Gamma to hug, no doggies to tease, and Daddy is back at work. "I'm stuck with Mom." "Makaia, someday, you will miss the days when it was just me and you kiddo. Until we see them all again, we will just watch all the videos we took and it will feel like we are on vacation all over again."

Heidi, Sabrina, and our Mom

The river was FREEZING but guess who didn't care!

Grandpa helping us lean over the raft

Rafting down the river was easily everyone's favorite activity of the week!

Having a chocolate ice cream cone with Great Grandma

Helping Grandma and Grandpa drive the boat.

Once upon a time this was Mama's baby. Until Makaia entered the world and Hana began to hate our house. Do you think Hana will ever want to come back and live with us again? Hmmm...probably not. I think she likes Grandma best now, and I also think Grandma won't give her up.

Catching up

Makaia's 1st haircut

We love bubbles!

Blowing bubbles at the park with Nana

Makaia's face everytime she gets into a swing.

Nana and Paul took us to lunch. We had so much fun with them. Makaia even sat for over an hour like a good little girl, napkin in her lap, at the restaurant! Miracles do happen :)

Devouring an ice cream on a hot day

My friend Holly and her family came to SD for a visit:)

Makaia and Julia

Makaia loves playing in the sand. We hit the beach as a family every weekend.

Our "treat" after naptime. Cuddled up with some chocolate milk and a video.

With Mommy at the waterpark

Makaia at the waterpark with friends, Diana and Marissa

Has it really been 2+ months since I've posted on the blog? Lots going on here! I've been trying to make the most of our summer and doing fun things with Makaia everyday, which has left me with a feeling that I should toss the computer, TV, and maybe the cellphone in the trash. I'm realizing how fast she is growing up and want to soak up every moment with her before we gear up to having more kids. We are also in the middle of buying our first house in SD. It's a new build so there is lots of extra stuff involved. Makaia is doing great though, so I wanted to catch you up on the latest.

Potty training is (almost) a complete success. We run errands now without diapers (I'm getting brave!), and in my tired state I have twice forgotten to put a diaper on for naptime. Thank God she held it! She even gets out of the pool and tells me she needs to go! So proud off her. Ooopsy accidents happen every so often, the latest on an errand with Daddy last night. Is it bad that I'm secretly happy that it happened to him? Sorry honey, I love you, welcome to my everyday world!

We are not certain how it happened, because we have purposely kept the concept out of the house, but the word "Princess" and it's entire world has found its way into our home. Don't get me wrong, Princesses are great, but we wanted her to find her own way and decide which things she enjoys. Now that the enchanted world is here, it has been pretty amusing for John and I to see her whole world being shaped by the princess theme. So, being the dutiful parents we are, we broke down and bought the one video she wanted. Barbie and the 12 Dancing Princesses is now an everyday fixture on our post-nap routine. She loves princess dresses, princess dolls, princess everything. Just today, I went to put her hair in pigtails and she pulled them out saying she wanted the "princess hair." After some fast thinking, I realized that it translated into a ponytail and a bow.

Luckily, she is still well-rounded and continues to play with other toys that don't involve a princess. She loves matchbox cars, trains, coloring, painting, and reading. I have been taking a lot of home movies because she loves to watch herself, but I haven't figured out how to transfer those to the computer.

Her personality has shifted over slightly (just since my last post) to the "terrible 2's." I am now realizing why there is such a term and that it must have come from very experienced parents. For the most part, she is still well behaved compared to most kids. She just saves her neurotic moments for her Mother and Father. Patience is a virtue and it has been running thin in our house! With me being home, I can stay on top of her behavior, but she still tests me often. She likes to tell me "You in tuble" (trouble) and "You in time-out, Mommy" Oh really? I did get a peaceful 5 minutes to myself last month, putting away laundry in my "time-out." I was sad that my time-out was over so quickly.

She also says "I don't like kisses Mommy" and when I give them to her she needs a towel so she can wipe it off. She is very determined and will not quit until something is done just how she wants it.

September will start a very busy fall for us. Makaia has no fear around water and absolutely loves to swim so she is starting lessons twice a week. We also start a ballet/tap class and a music class. If you are counting, that is 4 days a week that we have an activity. Whew! Her days gets lighter just in time for us to move to the new house, which is scheduled for Thanksgiving week.

Video of Makaia on the water slides with her best girls.