February 2014

We had lots of events and activities to keep us busy in February.  Never a dull moment here thats for sure, just the way we like it!

Utah Gymnastics meet with our friend Sarah.  We even got to visit our Jaymi's buddy Mia Cox and my friend Kecia.

Sheri Dew and Sister Wendy Nelson came and did a fireside in our stake and it was lovely.  Just what I needed to hear to help boost my spirit and be reminded of what is really important in life.

We got to attend the first birthday party of one of my best friend Amy's little guy.  The girls had a great time watching him eat his cake and open his presents.

One night while we were watching the Olympics we decided to break out my Russian souvenir coat.  It was a little big but the girls had to wear it too. 

Kaelyn had the best seat in the house.  Silly girl!

Jaymi's beautiful hair is getting so long.  Its fun trying out new hair styles and she loves showing them off to everyone.

The little girls and I get to hangout in Jaymi's classroom  for an hour or so every thursday.  Since Valentines was on Thursday we got to help with the party.  Bryn loves going to school with Jaymi and gets to do everything the kids do.  She loves it and does so well following directions.  I have decided to put her in preschool next year even though she misses the deadline to start school in two years.  She is going to go to the preschool Kaelyn has attended for the last two years and be a peer model for the children with special needs, but really its just pre-school and she will have a great time being the leader.  She is so excited!

After the party Jaymi had to get her first cavity filled but she was so brave and didn't even cry.  The ice cream I promised her after sure helped.  She will do anything for ice cream.  Like mother, like daughter.

These two love their dress-ups.

The top two are from Valentines 2013 at the airport when Jaymi came home from Russia.  The bottom two are Valentines 2014, one year later.  I love the picture of their first hug.

A theatre near our house showed The Little Mermaid for a few days so we took the girls to it.  They love going to the movie and chowing down on popcorn of course.

My friend taught me how to make homemade wheat bread and I've started making it on my own.  I grind the wheat in my blendtec.  It tastes great and is much healthier.  The girls love it too and even Wayne approves.

Enjoying the early spring sunshine with a front lawn picnic.

And swinging of course.

Jaymi helping me get things ready for her birthday party.

Jaymi is still loving her special needs gymnastics class every Wednesday.

Dear Kaelyn Ruth

Dear Kaelyn Ruth,

Precious precious little girl. Have I told you how lucky I am to be your mommy?  You are the easiest going little girl. As long as you have your milk, your music toys and your signing time you are as happy as they come. I can't believe my tiny little girl will turn five this year and start kindergarten next year!  You are still wearing 18-24 month clothing.

You are a speedy little lady. I'm pretty sure you could beat anyone in a bear crawl race. You are so close to walking, able to stand on your own. You have taken a few steps here and there, but in true kaelyn fashion you are waiting until you are good and ready. I'm okay with that. If you have taught me anything it's to let you do things on your own time, because I really have no other choice.

I love how you are able to communicate your wants and needs to us, even though you aren't saying any words. Although once in a while you shout "mom" when you want me attention. That sure makes my heart smile. When you want a bath you stand up by the tub and start smacking on it. When you want to be held you crawl up to us and hold your arms out wide. When you are hungry you stop playing, come find me and sign milk like your life depends on it. When you want me to turn on a toy you push it across the house to me and grab my hand and put it on it. Last but not least, when you want to watch signing time on the iPad you hunt it down and push it to me and whine/growl until I meet your demands. I love that you are noticing other kids more and wanting to play and interact with them. This is huge for your social development. I love how your sisters look out for you in social situations and make sure you are included and treated kindly.

Thanks for all the pure joy and happiness you bring into our home and family. You teach us all how to enjoy the little things in life and remember how good we have it.

Love Always,

Mommy

Dear Bryn Lois

Dear Bryn Lois,

I'm starting a new tradition this year of writing you and your sisters love letters on Valentines day. I decided to do them on the blog so we could print them in our books every year.  When I think of you little lady I can't help but wonder where my little baby girl has gone?  You have grown and changed so much over the past year, it just seems like you learn something new everyday.  We have been spoiled with your sister Kaelyn in that we get to enjoy each stage a lot longer, but you my dear need to slow down.  I have to tell you all the time to stop growing up and just stay little.

You are the family clown, always doing something sill to make us all laugh.  No one gets Jaymi laughing like you do.  We always joke that you are 2 going on 16 and some days that really seems true.  You are a very determined and independent little girl these days.  Your favorite sentence right now is, "No, Bryn do it".  As much as it tries my patience, I know its necessary for me to step back and let you learn to do things on your own.  I can already tell your determination and persistence will serve you well as you get older.  I hope you always carry with you the desire to choose for yourself and not be persuaded to make decisions you don't feel right doing.

Your favorite activity these days is your little mom and me toddler gymnastics class.  You are a strong little girl and love being part of the action.  You also love going swimming with your family.  Your favorite part of the whole experience is taking the warm shower afterwards.  You love playing on the iPad and iPhone and have figured out to use them all on your own.  You even figured out how to make an emergency call on the disconnected iPhone the other day.

You love to do anything that makes you feel like a big girl.  You especially love going to Jaymi's class every Thursday and get to participate with the other kids.  You do a pretty good job of listening to the teacher, following the rules and even get to answer questions here and there.  When the time comes will you love going to school.  First we have to get you potty trained, I'm just waiting until you figure it out on your own.  I love our special time before bed where we listen to a song, cuddle, give loves and say prayers.  I love soaking in that quiet time with you and feeling how much love I have for you.

Love Always,

Mommy

One Year - Dear Jaymi

Dear Jaymi Viktoria,

Yesterday we celebrated your one year anniversary as a member of our family.  Its crazy how it seems like just yesterday I rode that airport escalator with you to greet our loved ones.  I will always remember the pure joy and excitement and you finally got to meet your little sisters.  Your grandmas and grandpas.  Your cousins and friends.  You were so thrilled.  I am still amazed at how you entered this new life like you had been waiting for it all along.  You didn't question it.  You didn't mourn the life you left behind in Russia.  You were just so excited to start anew.  So excited to take everything this new life had to offer you.  You really and truly, never looked back.  Everyday you life with such excitement wondering what the day will have to offer you.  Friends? Family? School? Church?  You love it all.

I would be lying if I said this year and all the changes it brought to me as a mother were easy.  I envied how easily you seemed to adjust.  How easily you loved me, even when it didn't seem like I deserved it.  You have been such an example to us.  You are so forgiving, so loving, so ready and eager to learn.  So patient with us all as we have learned and grown over the past year.  Being a parent to an older child was so much harder than your dad and I expected, and will little sister Bryn moving up the ranks in age, we had quite the learning to do.  Thank you for being patient with us and we figured this all out.  Our task as parents seemed overwhelming at times and without the help of our family and friends, we could not have done it.  We continue to learn daily about how to best be your parents, thank you for showing us the way.

Your little sisters just adore you and look up to you so much.  Bryn wants to be just like you and Kaelyn loves when you take time to get down and play with her.  I love when we come to your class on Thursday's and how you watch out for them.  You make sure Bryn gets everything everyone else does and that she follows the classroom rules.  The other day someone took a toy from Kaelyn during recess and you promptly took it back and made sure they knew not to pick on her.  You are so sweet and tender with Kaelyn, it makes my heart so happy.  You are so patient and forgiving with Bryn as she learns how to be nice.  She gets so excited to play with you when you get home from school.  I love when I hear you both giggling together.  No one makes you laugh harder than your silly sister Bryn and visa versa.  I love that Kaelyn and Bryn were so young when you joined our family, that they will never remember life without you here.

You are such a great example of being kind and making friends everywhere you go.  Every time we come to your school we see kids in other classes that know you by name and are excited to see you.  You make everyone feel good with your happy hello's and genuine hugs and high fives.  The kids are so kind to you in church and you are such a great example to them by how much you love primary.  You get so excited when you get to go in front and help with music or sharing time.

Today we celebrated by playing with friends, going swimming with cousins and eating pizza.  Swimming is one of your favorite activities so it was very fitting that one year later, thats what we were doing as a family.