The 4th

We went to our wards 4th of July breakfast and bike parade first thing in the morning well....8:30. It was the BEST breakfast that I have ever been to. My friend is an amazing cook. After the breakfast we headed out to Grandma and Grandpa Calderwoods house for family fun on the lake!

 I love how my girls both adore their Grandpa Calderwood. June thought it was hilarious to sit on Grandpa's shoulders and pull his hair.  Grandma made homemade ice cream Popsicles for the kids, and as you can tell Kelsi LOVED it.

 After a BBQ lunch we headed down to the dock to enjoy the water and beautiful weather.

 The kids enjoyed many paddle boat rides, and so did Val and Dave's dog Eddie.

 I love seeing the cousins play together. It was LOUD, but so much fun.

 Aren't these too cute? Hailey and Kelsi are the same height...tall genes run in both sides of the family!

 Cousins Macee, Katie, Haylie and Kelsi!

 June loved to roam around the dock. I did my best to not pay attention since Daddy was on duty. Someone put a life jacket on that baby!

 Eddie is getting ready to dive in!

 Kelsi was EVERYWHERE in the water....until some seaweed found her...

 Then she ended up way out there. She kept swimming farther and farther away because she was afraid of the seaweed. We couldn't get her back so we sent the paddle boat after her. Crazy kid.

 June enjoyed the bobbing and swaying movements of the water.

 We are so thankful that Val and Dave were able to come out for the week. Kelsi has been in heaven!

High adventure

Last month John and I had the opportunity to take the Laurels of the Hayden Lake Stake to Schweitzer on a "high adventure". We ended up getting rained out of half of our planned activities, but we had a great bonding time. We roughed it by staying at my friends condo right by the lodge. The girls that came really were the cream of the crop of our stake. John and I kept saying how amazing these girls were.

 The next morning after breakfast we headed out on a hike. The weather started out sunny and HOT and then became overcast and HUMID and ended with a downpour. Luckily, we made it to the base when the downpour began.

 I had the best hiking buddy there. Jealous?

 I have come into contact with some amazing youth throughout our stake as I've been involved in Youth Sports, but these faces below have become my favorite. It was an experience I'll never forget!

The year I don't remember

My beautiful miracle turned "1" last weekend. I still cannot believe a whole year has passed since she arrived into the world. When I put her down to sleep the night of her birthday, I couldn't help but remember that night a year ago when I first held her in my arms. Screaming, experiencing this cold world for the first time. One year later, she is calm, peaceful in my arms clutching her blanket and staring at me.

My first few weeks with her were not the easiest, as it isn't with any new mom. Physically, I was feeling much better than I did after I had Kelsi, but emotionally, mentally and spiritually I was falling apart. Honestly, it was the loneliest, darkest, scariest place that I had ever been. I remember every day just wanting to take June and run away...where? I don't know...I just wanted to leave. As the weeks and months moved on, I tried to get back into my "normal" life. Exercising, time with my husband, my new family, my girl time, callings at church. I felt like I was putting on the best show of my life. I can't explain it in words, but I felt as if I was always having an out of body experience. Physically there with my friends, smiling and laughing at the right times - but something was wrong. I became a mother to my oldest that I am ashamed of. I reached out a time or two to a few close friends nearby, but I would never dare to confess to them where I was or where I felt I was heading. Until, one night I talked to a friend and realized I really needed help. I swallowed my pride and got help and I wish that I would have done that 6 months prior. I started to feel normal again, at least my "new normal". I shed the past and moved on to embrace the present. I can really only remember in detail things that happened 5 months ago to present. I do remember my baby growing way too fast. And now here she is...a year old and not stopping!

I am so thankful for her sweet cheeks, constant chatter, chubby legs, crazy hair, crooked smile and those little dimples. She reminds me of my purpose in life, of how selfish I have been, but how far I have come. I am thankful for her constant reminder to slow down and enjoy the present. I love you little June Bug!

Father's Day

We spaced it and didn't take any pictures on Father's Day. I just wanted to take a moment to say how blessed I am to have married a man that is such a good father. Our daughters love their daddy to pieces. No one can make them laugh harder than he can. Kelsi was very excited about Father's Day and made sure SHE got to sit by Daddy at church and help him eat his birthday trifle (which she helped to make). Nothing makes me fall in love more with John than when I see him playing, cuddling, reading to (etc) our girls.

June also took her first steps on Father's Day. A total of 6. Only a week later, we can't count how many steps she takes because she is all over the place. It was a great gift for her Daddy.

I wish that I could spend Father's Day with my Dad one of these days. I only wish the people that I know now could understand what an awesome man he is. He is a solid rock in my mind of someone who has a firm knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He is selfless in her service to others, he works hard to provide and he loves my mom. I know that he is always there for me with a very long answer to any question I have.(ha!) He also always seems to answer questions that I didn't even know I had. I am aware of how blessed I am.

School is out for the summer. Kelsi had a wonderful year of preschool. Her teacher sent some additional pictures throughout the year, so I thought I would share.

 Kelsi leading the pledge of allegience.

 Her class helped hatch a bunch of baby chicks. Most of them were black, with only a couple yellow.

 Kelsi is very creative. She loved doing art work in school.

 Her class went on several field trips during the school year and had a great time.

 This picture makes me sad. This was the first day of school. I can't believe how old Kelsi looks now compared to this picture. Time has FLOWN.

One of the things that I have noticed about Kelsi is that she is loved by others where ever she goes. Any time I would go to the school, or volunteer on the field trip, SO many kids would want to come say "Hi" to her. She seemed to know everyone and I am so glad that she makes friends so easily.

Mom's Day

At the end of every day, I am physically and emotionally drained by being a mom. But these beautiful faces keep me waking up each morning. Some of the reasons I love being a mom are:

1. Hugs. They are the BEST.

2. I can heal any "owie" with a kiss and an assurance it will be ok.

3. The spark in my baby girls eyes when she sees me walk into a room. I'm her best friend.

4. Watching my heart walk around in mini-body versions of my husband.

5. The daily lessons of patience, kindness and humility

6. I get to watch cute TV shows and movies

7. I get to snuggle anytime I want

8. I can buy Cheez-its

9.I can sing lullabies to my children and watch them drift off to dream land

10.It makes me feel complete.

I am so thankful for my own mother and for all the love she gave to us growing up. She has always been an example of a righteous mother. I love her and try to emulate her whenever possible.

Losing teeth left and right!

Kelsi lost both of her bottom middle teeth last week. She has been SO excited, wiggling it all the time. With a little help from Daddy, the first one came out.  A few days later she was outside riding her bike and fell down. I went outside to comfort her and noticed her other tooth was missing. I said, "HEY! Where is your other tooth?" Through her tears, she started smiling and said, "It fell out at school!" She is really growing up. It makes me very sad to see my little girl inch further and further away from me, but I am so proud of the girl she is!

Let the summer begin!

We had a hot streak the first two weeks of May! We loved the sunshine and the the 80's temps that we have had. We bought season passes to Silverwood this year, so we went up on opening weekend. Kelsi loved every ride she went on. John and I took turns going on the bigger rides that she couldn't go on by herself.

 This butterfly swing picture is my favorite. She looks like she is going to have a heart attack, but she loved it.

Kelsi and I took a turn on the Twirl-a-whirl ride and we laughed SO hard. I laughed even harder because of how happy Kelsi was. She is hilarious. We were both VERY dizzy afterwards.

This cutie just hung out in her stroller and people watched. She was an angel.

This was Kelsi's favorite ride. I was glad it was Daddy's turn.

Don't let this face fool you. She LOVED her first taste of ice cream. She kept grunting and clapping for more.

We look forward to many, many more days at Silverwood this summer.

10 months

Last month was not my favorite, and I am sure it wasn't Junes! She got another two teeth, totaling 8 now and is now cutting a molar. My poor sweet girl. It has got better over the last week, so it looks like she is catching a break.

She crawls everywhere, has started to pull herself up on things and gets very frustrated when she tries to do something and can't (hmmm...sounds familiar). She discovered the stairs and pulls herself up on them yet, but hasn't figured out how to climb and I am NOT showing her how to. Her favorite food is: String cheese, she says "uh-oh" sometimes which cracks me up and signs "more"...but you better be paying attention or she will start grunting loudly for more food. She LOVES being outside...just don't sit her on the grass.

She is our crazy haired, droopy cheek, mama lovin' angel.

Easter and 9 months

June turned 9 months and just gets bigger every day! No shots at the doctor appt made for a happy June and happy mommy. She is growing well!

Head: Still huge 95%

Length: 28.5 78% (this is official, but her head was bent and when I straightened her head it said 29...which would put her off the charts again...but whatever...she's just tall)

Weight: 20lbs 1oz. 75%

She really is Kelsi's twin. Same stats, same face, same milestone timetable. I only have two kids, but everyone told me how different every kid is....I don't get it. Mine are two peas in a pod. It will be interesting to watch June as she grows and develops her own personality. She is so happy. Claps for herself 80% of her wake time. Spins herself in circles, goes from tummy to sitting and vice versa and I am enjoying my last 1.5 weeks (assuming she is still on Kelsi's timetable) of not crawling before I start losing my mind. She is very happy. Still sleeps great. She is tolerating baby food a little more, but really just wants to eat what we are eating. She is a mama's girl which is a lot of fun, but tiring at the same time.

We had a great Easter. Kelsi enjoyed THREE Easter Egg hunts this year. Her favorite was a nighttime glow in the dark egg hunt. I followed her as best I could in the dark as she darted grabbing tons of eggs! She was in heaven. The next day we went to a friends house who holds a hunt every year, AND THEN the Easter Bunny hid some MORE eggs at our house today for Easter!  She really made a great candy haul.  On a serious note, I was very proud of her as she told me the story of Jesus' death and resurrection today.

We are so blessed to have such beautiful daughters. We hope everyone enjoyed their Easter with family and were able to reflect on the atoning sacrifice that our Savior and Brother, Jesus Christ made for us. He died that we might live.

"I know that my Redeemer Lives, what comfort this sweet sentence gives. He lives, he lives who once was dead. He lives my every living Head."