Harry Potter Mood Board

On another web platform I participate in I was tagged to create a mood board for my Hogwarts house. As I am a Gryffindor, I created this set of pictures. I liked it so much I figured I'd share here too.

Juliet is FOUR {Patsy Ann!}

I am so behind with blogging, and I'm feeling so guilty. There is so many fun things to share (our little vacation away for the kids' birthdays, fun family activities, and snow! Tons of snow!)

Today I want to share all the good amazing wonderful things about this girl that is now FOUR.

So, Juliet at four, where oh where do I begin?!

• She is shy at school, doesn't speak much and follows all the rules to a T. 
• Is nervous to say goodbye at school drop off but is all happy smiles when I pick her up. 
• Her favorite toys include her tiger, her tea set and her Darth Vader bear. She also plays with Calico Critters and Legos almost every day. 
• Her best friend is her brother, and more often than not they play extremely well together. 
• Her speech and understanding is amazing, but some things we just can't correct. She calls scuba divers "diva-divers" and our kitty Mabel "yea-bel"
• Her favorite color is "red for evil" 
• She adores Star Wars and talks about Darth Vader way too often. 
• She still loves taking walks with me, James grew out of walks recently (sob!) but she is always more than happy to take a walk. 
• She is silly and sweet and hilarious. She makes us laugh every day. 
• Meal time is still a struggle. She's picky and just won't eat much. We beg her to take three bites, and thats often all she'll eat. 
• She hasn't napped for two years but plays really well during quiet time. 
• She loves playing outside, biking, riding her scooter, and her Mickey Mouse "bike"
• She absolutely loves fruit, and will raid the fridge while I'm not around. She'll often eat an entire case of strawberries before I figure out what she's up to. 
• She still let's me dress her (hallelujah!) and I dress her in dresses and cute combos every single day. 
• We still call her a snuggle bunny and she aways says "I'm not a bunny! I'm a human!"
• Her favorite tv show is Wild Krats and she loves animals.
• She still talks about Hawaii almost every day. She wants to go back so badly!
• She loves working on art projects and her little potato people are getting cuter by the day. 

She's amazing and wonderful and seriously the best little girl I could ever hope for. I am absolutely wild for this strong headed love.

Letter to Juliet, year four

Juliet,
You are four. Yesterday, for the last time I said "goodbye threes, you were hellish!" Ha! Not that you were hellish, but being three makes you very opinionated and a touch unreasonable. But four is magic, and we are so excited about four.

Happiest birthday my sweet darling. I love you so much that sometimes I can't comprehend the feeling.

You're birthday is a little bit of a sad day for me, did you know that? Not because I'm sad that you're with us, quite the opposite! I am reminded, on your birthday, again, how very precious you are to me. And we almost lost you, twice, when you were not even two years old. You'll not remember being rushed to the hospital in New York, or again after slipping through a bridge at Sugarhouse Park, but for me, I'll never ever forget.

So on your birthday I look at you. I look and look. I try to memorize your freckles, see if I can truly remember your voice, and lovingly get you dressed. And I think to myself "thank God you are still here; I am oh so very thankful."

I love you my sweet bunny. You don't like us calling you bunny anymore. You say "I'm not a bunny! I'm a human!" You are a human, the best little human I know, and someone I am so proud to call you mine.

xo
Mama

I love this outfit, so wanted to give details:
Dress and boots: Next Direct
Sweater and tights: Gymboree
(Next and Gymboree are where I get almost all my kid's clothes. Winter shoes always from Next. They are fantastic.)

Lava Hot Springs {aka WAY too many pictures of us soaking!}

My dad's new annual tradition is instead of a Christmas gift, he gives us a mini vacation and time with the people we love most. It's beyond fab. Having time to actually enjoy my siblings, my dad, my almost step-mom, and her kids really is the best gift we could ask for.

My dad pays for everyone to stay a single night in a local motel and gives everyone a gift bag upon arriving that includes treats, cheeses, and wine! What a lovely thing indeed!

This bunny loves her swim cap. She looked so old fashioned and sweet. And her cheeks were so rosy the entire time.

All my little flyaway got misted and then froze! The air was that cold. And those beautiful trees behind me? Coated in frozen steam.

So many people! All my sibs (with significant others), all Traci's kids, my cousin Lauren, Traci's sister and husband and four grandkids. Seriously so much fun.

We all had to stay hydrated. Lots and lots of water bottles.

So much soaking and chatting. Everyone gets along so well. Lots of laughing and teasing and relaxing.

Londyn and James play so well together and never were separated.

SO STEAMY!

And the water is crystal clear. The pebble floor just feels so good under your feet.

Just gorgeous.

The town of Lava Hot Springs is just so charming and tiny.

It was cold while we were there. The daytime highs were 4 degrees, so everyone bundled up and there were plenty of icicles to play with.

Frozen trees and blue skies. There is nothing better.

Both days we spend a couple of hours at the hot springs, so lots of time to soak.

I warned you about how many soaking pictures there were, a lot. L to R: Lauren, Melissa, Witt, Londyn, Craig, Chandler, Brooke, James, Jess, Brandon.

See ya next year Lava!

Last year's Lava post can be found here. 

Christmas Dinner

For the third year in a row, we've smoked turkeys and hosted a huge family gathering on Christmas Day. It is stressful to host a big family party when it looked like a bomb went off in our living room, but it is quite nice to not have to travel and let everyone come to us.

We try for open house style, where people can come and go as they wish, but apparently we host a great party, because nearly everyone was there for the entire thing.

This kid's forced smile is my fave. It's so... ummm? It's just so him!

I have a few tricks to almost always get a real smile from her. She always smiles when telling me about certain things. ;)

This was only about half the party!

Love this one of James and Nana.

Lots of blurry happiness.

E's brother and his wife, my brother and his girl friend.

SUCH a fun party.

And as always, E's smoked turkey stole the show. It was AMAZING!

Christmas Eve!

Christmas Eve was windy and dark, with the promise of lots of snow to come!

We arrived at my mom's house late in the day and started opening presents. My mom does all her Christmas presents the day before, to try to help ease some of the Christmas madness. It's brilliant actually, and so fun to space out the opening madness.

My mom doesn't pull any punches and found this incredible wooden dollhouse at a second hand store, along with all the furniture and accessories! James, Juliet and Auntie Melissa spent over twenty minutes setting it all up.

So many things to set up. And can I just say how much I LOVE this doll house? It's solid wood and gender neutral. No pink at all!

Soon we trickled into the back room to start opening more presents! Everyone was there, all four siblings, their significant others, grandparents, and my kids.

 Lots and lots to open!

 James ALWAYS needs to be sitting next to Jess (my brother's girl friend). They adore each other.

This adorable bunny was on her best behavior the entire night. She did not want to leave and even ate some dinner! Woot!

James wore the same outfit as last year for Christmas Eve, and Juliet wore a vintage dress I purchased on Instagram.

Last year, just for the fun of it!