December

December was crazy busy! We spent lots of time together and with family. Here are some of our favorite memories :)

Harrison took the girls to the library. The girls were excited to play in the front while they waited for the doors to open

 Costco trip! I love Ginnie's face in this picture

We had a lot of baking days in December. Christmas sugar cookies was one of our favorites

 Aubrey and Serena came over to bake shortbread cookies. These girls have so much fun together!

 Bath time! Ginnie killin me with her faces again

 Lydia fell asleep at church on Harrison, which was super abnormal for her. She insisted on putting her hand in his pocket. 

 Jungle Jim's with our Kentucky cousins. I loved spending time with siblings this day!

 Lydia picked her own outfit and sat quietly playing for a while. Silly girl

 "patiently" waiting to leave for church on Christmas Eve

 Christmas morning Lydia woke up at 6:00, which she never does, turned the lights on in her room and woke Ginnie up. We finished presents and breakfast by 8:15 hahaha

 The girls were thrilled about their presents this year! We tried really hard to keep it simple. 

 Lydia had been asking for a "pink bike" for Christmas since July. She was thrilled!

 We finished the month with a quick visit from some of our best friends as they headed back to Colorado. 

Thoughts on Parenting

Being a parent is the craziest roller coaster life experience I've ever had. Maybe it's because I'm such an emotional person? I tend to focus on emotions with other people, including my kids. It is seriously mind blowing for me to watch my girls go up and down from happy to sad throughout the day. -It can be hard to keep up with! Harrison and I will stop and look at each other as we suddenly switch gears to manage what ever new thing is happening and just laugh. (or cry a little, depending on the day haha)

But I have been on a parenting high the last couple weeks. Every day has it's ups and downs, of course, but overall I'm feeling so much JOY being a mom. I think finding joy in parenting has so much to do with being intentional about our attitudes. For example, Lydia has been asking me to carry her down the stairs for the last few weeks. I don't mind doing it, but sometimes my hands are full and I remind her that she can walk. Today she asked me to carry her down again and I thought to myself, "I wonder why she's been doing this lately. Could this be some kind of regression because of Ginnie or something?" Almost immediately a thought came to me, "She wont ask you to do this forever." I have had so many of those moments the last few weeks. Impressions to stop and look
-really look- at my children. To be present. To play with them. To smother them with affection. To read that extra book. Sing one more song. Say yes. Leave the mess. Put her in the wrap. 
Both of my girls are at ages I just want to bottle them up and hold on. Seriously time seems to be flying by and I want it to SLOW DOWN. I'm so grateful for these two little people. 

November

November has been a great start to our holiday season! Our work schedules are crazy, so it's been good to go back and look at pictures and see how much time we were able to spend together. Here are some of my favorite moments

Lydia is getting more and more independent. I love this picture because it shows her hand picked outfit and hairdo. I'm lucky if she lets me put a bow in it anymore! -Harrison calls that karma because I gave my mom a hard time about hair when I was little.

Twinner snuggles on the couch

Lydia LOVES to walk on rocks wherever we are. We always take a couple extra minutes in the parking lot to let her explore. 

Lydia was upset that Harrison had to go to work this particular morning. They played dress up with his work coat and she wore her "work shirt" to work in "Ohio." haha She ran after Harrison on his way out the door and said "Don't go to work! I'm mad at you...because...I don't want you to go to work" Saddest and sweetest thing ever. 

Happy Birthday Harrison! Harrison's birthday was on Sunday this year so we celebrated with our traditional Kneaders breakfast on Saturday, went to Scheels, did a little shopping, and had hamburgers for dinner. 

Date night -We went to article circle on the way home and my worst fear was confirmed when I got the nerve up to ask an employee. They switched the brownie bits. I'm going to have to find a new favorite dessert :( Harrison also made me ask for a new ice cream and I embarrassed us both of us with my awkward. 

Harrison took the girls to the library for story time. Best dad :)

Lydia saw her first snow of the season. It turns out we're at 5000 ft elevation! We had NO idea we were at a higher elevation than my parents. We got a couple inches of snow and the rest of the valley didn't get anything! 

Hanging out "tucked in" in Mom and Dad's bed

Grizzly game for date night

We had a play date with Liz and Asher. Asher was a good sport and played dress ups with Lydia. He thought it was so silly! 

Ginnie has loved to be flipped upside-down this month. I am her new jungle jim!

I love this picture. Lydia made a bed with my yoga mat and asked Harrison to come take a nap with her. She loves him :)

Sister tubby time. Ginnie is officially big enough to sit up on her own this month!

We had a super warm weekend after thanksgiving so we spent Friday at the Zoo! Lydia got Nana and Grandpa all to herself. She was tickled pink! 

Lydia loves to take pictures with this seal and the old navy dog haha

End of the night selfie

We made a Christmas train Saturday night! Lydia was there too, she just wouldn't smile. 

Well, She tried haha

Ginnie went to primary with Dad on Sunday and loved it!

Family Fun in October

Here's a sampling of things we did in October!

Lunch date at chick-fil-a

Lydia plays with Ginnie haha (Harrison ran upstairs to get something and found them like this when he came back down.)

Matching outfits

Ginnie helps Mom clean the house (Baby wearing is the best mom hack when they don't want to be set down)

Lydia reads to Maggie

Harrison took the girls to a pumpkin patch with Gram, Grandpa, and cousins 

Lydia was so brave and rode a pony. She LOVED it

Dad and Ginnie at church

Mom took the girls to gardner village 

Nap time selfies

Lydia practices breastfeeding

Lydia had a "late night" watching movies with Mom and Dad

Grocery shopping in the big kid cart. This lasted about 30 seconds before Ginnie slammed her head into the steering wheel. Oops! 

Lydia got really into giving "haircuts" to everyone this month. She clamps and pulls a couple hairs. OUCH. My mom is a good sport!

We braved the crowds and went to cornbellys this year. Lydia still doesn't like big crowds so it was a little overwhelming for her. But we had fun walking around, visiting princess corner, and trying new things. 

Lydia has been obsessed with tractors and excavators since we got home from Iowa this summer

We did lots of story time at the library this month. Lydia is doing great learning to play "with" (by) other kids during toddler time. She loves playing with blocks and building towers. 

In and out lunch date with Dad

One of Lydia's favorite special outings is going to target and getting popcorn to eat while we walk around

At our ward party. Lydia put this wig on and thought it was hilarious!

This year for halloween the plan was to have a Cinderella theme. But when Lydia saw Ginnie's mouse costume she wanted to be one, too. So we ended up with two mice and no Cinderella! 

We went trick or treating with all my siblings and their kids this year in Aubrey and Tim's neighborhood. It was a blast! Lydia loved getting treats at all the houses.