Sweet times and sad times

Hi girls, it's been so amazing as you grow and play together and you bring me so much joy. I love being with you both and you are both amazing in your own special ways. Giselle you are 6 and have lost 8!teeth and this is a big deal because Most kids in your class have lost one. You are almost a foot taller then your class too. You are a leader and you like to play w the boys and want to invite them all to your birthday especially Kyle. Of course I remind you your girlfriends will be around forever so it's important to create those friendships. You spoke in front of the whole school and the moms at a moms day brunch saying we honor Mary and our mothers and you honor me because I take you to school. Which is funny because daddy takes you quite a bit but I do get you all the time. You like to play and are game to do anything. You love softball, swim, golf, playing outside w the neighbor kids/ watching full house which Grammy started when we went on a trip to the carribean- we missed you but happy to have a break. But Grammy passed out and hit her head when we left you guys thank goodness she is ok and you guys were ok. You like to eat only specific things and not open to trying new foods- to the point you cry at dinner if it is any bit different then you want. You like turkey but not when you know there is cauliflower mixed in- oh you get upset. you like doing the monkey bars and fell pretty bad on your back and tailbone- scared me. You can ski and read now, and you also like to watch YouTube videos. It's a struggle keeping you off them. You challenge me and question most things I say bit someday I hope you see why I tell you things to help you, not hurt you. Like brush your teeth. But you are strong willed and so observant. You asked me if all bosses were males the other day- good question and no- and I hope you change that with your own dream. Moynowns her own photography business and women can do anything they want to. You live Sunday's donut day w daddy. You made me some beautiful art for Mother's Day and you were so excited to give it to me- it was very sweet of you. But you are also very emotional and had quite an emotional day so I get like it was your day somewhat becaus you did not want to do pictures and cried about it and you cried when we went to frisbee golf and then cried cause you wanted to go to toys r us at 9 at night so I try to help you but you get quite emotional. You get mad if Makena calls you Diselle but I think it's cute. You still love was and Anna and you are so creative in you play. You play house a lot w Makena and you guys make up different things going on- you like t set the table and you like to have dance parties under the strobe light in the kitchen. You like eating your cereal after we carry you to the living room to watch cartoons. You are still my baby and you like to be babied a lot too. I am sad that you are growing up so fast. You live daddy and can't get enough of his attention. You are so beautiful with your big blue eyes and i remind you that your beauty is starting from the inside. You like to dress yourself and pretty particular on your outfits you like to wear. You've been big in to braids and pony tails this year and you always want to wear makeup. I have a makeup kit and you and Makena always do makeovers but I only let you play not wear for real. You are my sweetie and I love you. Makena you are precious. You are so empathetic to all around you and it's almost like you can feel their pain. You are so giving and share and want everyone to be happy. You wake up happy early and go to sleep on your own when you're tired early. You told me on Mother's Day you love me every day. We spend a lot of time together and since omi has gotten sick you come w me and spend time in Longview. You just did your first ballet w Ali on stGe and you did so good and so brave. We loved watching you. You like to color and you like me coloring w you. If I'm not you pretty much keep asking til I will. We ride your bike and go for walks to the park and play w your friend Nora and Lilly. You get along w everyone and so easy going. If you are doing something wrong it's hard to get too mad at you because you get pretty upset at yourself already. And you are also on this don't laugh at me kick- when we are thinking your funny. I hope you grow to realize you are making us ligh and that's a good thing to do. Not to be embarrassed by. If you are doing something bad it's so easy to ask you to stop- you say ok and move on. You start swim lessons this week and you live prentending to swim but not so much getting you eyes wet or have any feel for actually swimming so this will be interesting. I'm hoping it will work without me in the water. We have spent most weeks down at omis for the last 9'mknths since she got sick w cancer . I wish you to see how important family is and taking care of your loved ones when they are not well is important. I also wish you never to smoke ever. Ever. I have seen how painful and suffering it has caused my mom and all of us and sadly her bring with us will be shorter because she is so sick. She loves you much and has a special relationship w both of you and I can't explain how beautiful it is and I just hope she sticks around for you to remember how she makes you feel and that is pretty special. She plays w you and laughs w you and shares little tokens w you and thinks of you all the time. She is so worried about your well being all the time- never let you cry always caring for you. I hope you know that. Papa too. You're pretty lucky. Daddy and mommy are still veryuch in love and so happy with our life wecreated with you two. Can't imagine anything more blessed than what we have except wanting omis health to be better. I love you both.

4 years old Makena

Happy 4th Birthday to our "sugar plum"- thats what omi calls you. You are just a dream. I can't even tell you how easy going you are..and you are sick right now, your eyes all crusted over, nose running, and you still have a smile on your face, and say "I'm ok." I love spending my days with you. Weve been down with omi a lot since she is sick. You enjoy being there, and Omi and Papa spoil you. You have been a sport going back in forth in the car to longview every week. You had a fun birthday with Hunter at a karate place. You have a batgirl shirt that you wear and love, and you wore that to the party. You wanted a chimpumks cake, but there were no chipmunks anywhere. You love simon, and you sing all the songs they sing. and you sound like a chipmunk right now with your voice. You like to play with Giselle, and you think of her all the time. At the doctors office you insisted on getting her a sticker too. And for christmas you wanted to get grandpa a bike because you knew he had his stolen from the garage, so you brought it up out of the blue. You are very thoughtful, and compassionate. We took giselle skiing last week, and you wanted nothing to do with the cold, or putting on your coat, or sledding, nothing! Of course we all love the mountain, but you were content sitting in the lobby all day. you did fall asleep on me, and I enjoyed that as much as skiing, but I'm hoping you will enjoy skiing too. giselle, you are doing so good at skiing this year. I took you down the first run, and you fell, and I thought you would cry, but you would laugh and get right up and keep going, and going pretty fast at that. I am so proud of you! you had quite a year of firsts, learning a little golf, paddleboarding and the skiing. You started kindergarten with mrs. crockett and you are doing great. I didn't think you would ever get used to getting up early as your our night owl, but you have managed to get up...albeit, its still a struggle. you are doing great in school, and the only thing is disrupts class, and you like to tattle on whos doing things wrong, but I am not worried. I am worried about the boys though.. you already said you want to play with jake but he only plays with you if you do what he wants..and your fine with it. of course, I try to teach you that real friends do what both of you like. and you like to play with kyle a lot too, and his birthday party is coming up this weekend. I think having hunter as a boy cousin you are really comfortable playing with the boys. you are learning to read already, and you have a great class of kids. you are so good with makena, and make up lots of creative games and fun to play with her. you are passionate about things, and sometimes overwhelmingly so, but I think its an amazing quality, but sometimes were tired, and you are quite insistent on doing, being, having, whatever it is at the moment that you want or need it. I think this quality will take you far in following your dreams and making them happen. I wish you both to have a beautiful life, and to have that you must create a peace within yourself. I think creating a simple life and being content and grateful for what you have are the beginning. Creating quality relationships with good friends and family that have good hearts, to create health with healthy lifestyle and food, and create mental wellness with exercising your mind, and body, and faith and peace with yoga, nature, and grounding yourself in the beautiful world right in front of you and paying attention to the miracles in everything. to realize that beauty is found inside you and others, and realizing material things do not create a beautiful life. follow your passions, follow your heart, follow your goals. serve others, and find ways to make a difference in the world, even if its with one person, it makes a difference.

Happy 3rd birthday Makena

Makena Kathleen. You little sweetheart you. You turned three and continue to be the most darling thing. I surprised you with decorations and cupcakes and a few gifts and you said "thank you for my party" a few times and it was just cute to hear you say that so young. We ride bikes on your birthday and you are so I g pretty good , Giselle was helping you when you would get stuck- I would go to help you and she would say no I've got it. I stopped breastfeeding you a few days before and that was a hard transition, because you spent every day waking up, napping and using it for comfort. I will miss it too, loved having you lay on me for long moments of time, just relaxing. You just came over and asked for milky- it's been like 5 days. But we've moved you on to a dippy and you like your chocolate milk. You have movie and popcorn nights a lot and you guys love it. Giselle likes to spend time tickling over and over and she is so gassy she ends up tooting all night/ and we laugh and laugh. You are both in live w everything frozen right now. We just got back from 3 weeks in maui and had a fun time w Omi and papa and hunter and Ali and auntie Maria and Jason. We went and saw the sunrise on too of the mountain, many sunsets, lots of pool and sand time. We made candles at Trendwest and you had a hula lesson where it was about an hour long- cannot believe you both payed attn and looked so adorable with your hula dance. Most precious thing I have seen. Giselle you still fight sleep like no other, you don't want to miss a thing, to the point of making yourself miserable but you will fight it and fight. So I guess you live every moment and have a passion for life. You have tons of energy, you are brave and try anything, and you are so silly and want to laugh all the time. You are very intense and intelligent. You think freely and constantly tell us what you are Thinkjng. Today was about how a car could drive to Hawaii because it's an island. Could not I mean. Yu are learning something new everyday and love to be active. Now you can go to the. It tom of the pool and pick up rings and you can ride your bike up and down hills and for a while. Makena you like to so everything g does, and you just want to be a part of it. You recently started going to awana w g becaus your three now. You went one day and learned "god loves us and sent his son" and say it all the time. You went to a little ballet class, and you want to do more. You like to play w hunter and even dressed up as a superwoman because of hunter. Somewhat of a Tom girl but very girly too.

silly

giselle you asked me if I could bring the toilet to you so you could keep watching your show.. makena when you come up in the morning to wake me up, you always say surprise. or you will open my eye. about 3 months ago you would do all the things you saw on frozen, and prevend you were anna and try and wake me up..wake up elsa wake up and lift my eye and then put your head on my and ask me if I want to build a snowman, just like on the movie. giselle, you were going to be a tooth fairy for halloween then you decided on elsa. your first tooth fell out last month and you were soooo excited! it was loose and you were so excited about what the tooth fairy would leave you. you also want to know what the tooth fairy does with all the teeth. not quite sure. you also remember a lot of the history facts I tell you and are curious..like what are the wright brothers first names...orville and wilbur, then you remember. you can do a lot of math and subtraction and are learning to read. you can spell out a few words. and you write a lot on your own. always asking me how to spell whole notes to people. and makena you follow right along and ask me how to spell my name..and then you scribble. you both sing a lot of the songs you learn at school, and I asked you what it meant and you told makena were not telling mom right makena, and she said yeah...so this language thing might backfire on me. makena you were "america" for halloween, a super girl, with a cape. giselle says you like to play with the boys at recess, and you said you like to play with hunter. you both play so well together now, and it's so fun to watch you love on each other, and play mommy with each other..lots of make-believe, and then you will yell at each other, you did the meanest thing ever! I am never going to play with you again!! then you love each other again. giselle, you go to awana and last week you brought makena home a dog that you won. that was very loving of you. makena still calls you izelle and when you are sleeping in the morning she will lean over and kiss you. daddy said last week makena was half asleep, saw you, gave you a kiss and went back to sleep. so sweet my girls.

fall again

hi girls, we are cozy in bed reading cinderella, makena you are breastfeeding, and watching paw patrol with lucy on the bed too. dad is in spokane. he went to atlanta last week and then in two weeks he goes to vegas for work. I may go too, but it'll be the first time we leave you both, which makes me nervous, but I feel like you are both getting old enough that you could survive and enjoy it..hopefully. we celebrated gg's 90th birthday this last weekend in portland w/all your cousins. makena you spent a little time looking at pictures with gg and asking her who everyone was. and you also slept on her a little bit, and she said you were really heavy. giselle, you would give a hug but for the most part you were off running with your cousins. we had to stop you to listen to gg cause you have a way of blocking out everything and continuing doing whatever you are doing. you really liked playing with brady and even wrote him a note that said you liked his room the best..it had lights on the bed and a piano, but you were too embarrassed to tell him what the note said..you wrote a lot of letters and giselle and brady on it. when you were in the car w/piper, she asked you to be quiet and makena said you be nice to her she's my sister! it was pretty cute! we stayed w grammy and grampy and you liked to play with rusty. yesterday makena wrote w pen on the couch, and turned the breakers and I had no clue what to do. you also peed on the floor. giselle you created an art wall and surprised me with it, and you also created a picnic in your room..you just get an idea and go with it. you also created mail for all your friends and put it in envelopes, but you closed them before you remembered who they were for so you needed all new envelopes.

Happy 5th Birthday Giselle!

So you've been asking for about 6 months now how many days until your birthday. You are so excited and you want to have it in the backyard. You want your neighbors, parker, jeffrey, lucy and your cousins there. you asked for a butterfly party. I can't believe how fast time has gone..my little baby is almost 5! I saw a quote, she is quick and curious and playful and strong. and you are inquisitive..you want to know everything! you are so in to time right now, and want to know days, and hours and minutes and you need to know the answer..how long are you gone mommy..well how many minutes? is that long? how many hours? how many days til jeffrey gets here? so, you have a calendar, and we go through the months which you know and you are starting to understand minutes and time..but you are so intense about it. and you are so curious about what mommy and daddy talk about, and if we try to give you a shortened version..you ask questions very sternly until you get the right answers..no, who are you talking about, no, how old are they, and what happened? and you do get so upset if we don't tell you right away. and even if we don't know the answer (like how long something will take, we tell you 2 hrs or an answer because you want to know...). you are just so smart, and you remember everything. I ream

hi girls

oh, I love spending every day with you both. this is such a special time and I know it. Giselle, you pick flowers for me all the time, and I think that is so thoughtful of you. and you wanted to have a yogurt stand (w honey and berries on cones), so you could give the money to daddy. and makena you are so sweet and happy and silly all the time. I took you both to get your toes done and you both sat there so good and were so polite to the guy who asked if you wanted candy. you said thank you. and giselle you get so shy, you said no, and sat there shyly til he gave you the candy, then you were too shy to say thank you. but you loved it, cause you smile big and your eyes shrink up. makena, you are very easy going and so relaxed about everything, and giselle, you are very intense with emotions, and so full of questions, and so smart. but very happy or very mad or sad. it's a lot, but I love it. I want you to express your emotions and whatever you are feeling. but you need a lot of attention and needs. it's constant on with you, and I almost feel like I am not challenging you enough because I can't keep up with your questions, and wants. love you both so much. we planted a vegetable garden, and you giselle you like to go down the slide in to the pool. and makena you are playing on the big swing now and going to the bathroom pretty regularly without us asking you. we haven't even tried potty training you, and you want to do it on your own. you love lucy too. makena you love daniel tiger and hate care bears and giselle you love watching care bears..so the morning cartoons are always challenging. you both will eat because you want to grow bigger and giselle if you see makena eating my breakfast, you will eat it just so she won't outgrow you. makena you love hunter so much. and giselle you like to carry baby ali around and give her kisses. you have been playing t ball and daddy is your coach. it's pretty funny watching you turn around out there and not pay any attention to the ball. but you hit really good and you run fast, and hunter and chance are on your team, and neither of them pay any attn. mostly chance stays with his mom and hunter likes to roll around and put his mitt on his face. it's funny. makena you like to be a part of it too, and have been practicing hitting. we went to lake chelan, tennesseee, palm springs, disneyland, celebrated omi and papas 42nd wedding anniversary, went to anacortes for annals 40th 80s party, and this weekend heading to whidbey island, then off to road trip to banff canada. it's been a crazy few months but very fun. even though I am exhausted. we were going to leave you and go to banff, but I don't think you guys are ready, even though daddy says I am the one who isn't ready. so, we'll enjoy a nice road trip together. ok. love you so much!!!

Goofball makena- you take off your shoes wherever you are- even in the airport, it doesn't Matter you want to run barefoot And you like to take your diaper off too which isn't good. You are singing all the songs to frozen and you were singing that Giselle is the best sister ever and you'll be best friends forever , that is in between you both telling me that the other is not sharing. Giselle you are so ambitious and willing to try anything . You want to skateboard and ski Anh you get so upset if you don't get to do whT you want. You are playing t ball w daddy as yor coach. You do really good at hitting the ball even without a tee. The last game you were sitting down in the field - it's a long game and you wanted a donut like makena

surprise

makena, it's so cute, whenever we see you, you coming running with your hands in the air and say surprise!! as you are our gift and we've been spending the whole time we are away from you looking for you..and it's so true...at least I have spent the whole time thinking about you. I love you and I love my surprise!

Makena's two!

Happy Birthday baby girl. You are growing up so fast! I just took you to school with Giselle for the first time all day, and you said "I'm excited mama!" I am so happy you are happy to go. It's nice you have Giselle and Hunter there to help you. I don't know how I feel about you leaving mama for four hours, but you have been crying when you have to leave with me, so we're going to see how this goes. So on your birthday you said I'm two, and Giselle said "now that your two you can stop drinking mama's milk (because she stopped at a year and a half), and you said, I'm not two. You love your milkie. I love having you lay with me and I get to hold you and put my hands through your hair and kiss your head. I cherish it. We had a breakfast celebration at the bowling alley and planned to bowl but it was league..so we came home and watched the seahawks win to go to the super bowl, and then we had pizza and cupcakes..we sang to you and you loved it...you get pretty shy about it though. And then omi and papa came up yesterday and we celebrated again :). You are so sweet..you try to keep up with the big kids. Giselle had her Christmas concert and they were singing, and you stood up there too, and swayed a little and just watched them, but you wanted to stand up there. You love frosty the snowman, and we went to a disney show and one of the characters reminded you of frosty, so you kept pointing him out. you tell me you love me a lot and give me kisses. you get upset if things don't go your way, but are easily calmed down, and you listen really well. you are talking all the time, but it's so funny that you are understanding and you like to repeat exactly what we say and say it back..then you smile and laugh, like you said it for the first time and it worked, and you understand it. you say you funny mamma, and you like to say daddy said "yes" or whatever he just said, and zell hit me mamma, or my belly hurt me, or my sun at me mamma, and you like to run around without clothes on..you don't like covers at night, you run pretty warm. I wanna sleep w/you mamma. I just can't get enough of your little sweetness. you are just a love bug. you love your papa so much and omi. giselle you got a new big girl bed with a slide and a fort, and you love sleeping in it, and making your own bed. you get upset if the kids go on the slide and mess up your bed. we are so happy you are independent, but already miss sleeping with you. we keep saying we are going to grab you and have you sleep with us, but we know you would be mad if you woke up in our bed. you say you want to live in your own house ,and I say don't you want to live w/me forever, then you say ok I will..if you live with your parents. you have it all figured out. you always ask really good questions, about why kids in cartoons don't have their parents w/them outside and why can't you go outside by yourself. you love having hunter stay over, and you spend time w/neigbor genevieve who you also do ballet with. you two play really well together but last time you both played the I don't want to play with her card...I think because you are both cancers born a day a part. and trying to figure out how to be friends. I can't squeeze and hold you enough. you are growing up way to fast for me, and I love you so much. I love you! '

almost christmas

well, this week, we pretty much stayed in, and it was really nice. parker and gg came to play, and we got the christmas tree up, and relaxed...you went to school one day, but you didn't feel up for it the next day. this last weekend grammy and grumpy came up and we went to warm beach together, and it was 17 degrees outside, but we still did it! we had thanksgiving at our place this year, and enjoyed having everyone over. but I got a cold right after, and feel still blah. but, I am getting excited for christmas with you both. we are going to celebrate here the weekend before and then go visit all omi and papa and all your cousins. giselle, you wrote a letter and mailed it in our mailbox to santa and you wrote very clearly that you want a barbie house.. so fun shopping for you this year, I know you will love all the fun puzzles, and books, and the doll house we got you! we have been searching for a school for you, and trying to find where you would love the most and blossom. you fell on your cousins trampoline and hurt your knee..we took you to the dr, and it wasn't broken thankfully, but you were hurt pretty bad and limped for almost a week. but, all is better now, and you are ready to trampoline again...although we don't think so. you ask about god a lot and we started going to all souls church here and you like the preschool. you always ask what god eats, and how old he is, and if he is awake all the time, and if he can hear you..I try to answer but I don't even know. but, I am glad you are interested. you are very ambitious and smart, and you are trying to read words, and you remember a lot. you have been going to a dance class, and you love it so much, I tell you the teacher says you need to take a nap, so you do...which is usually impossible. you and makena love playing together and mostly get along, but both of you like to hit each other..but I make you hug and makeup. giselle, when you are tired you get very lippy, I am just trying to make sure you get enough sleep since then you are as sweet as can be. makena, you crack me up...if giselle gets lippy to me, you try to protect me, you hug me and tell giselle no. and if you think I am sad, you give me a kiss. today the crackers spilled and you ran and grabbed the big broom and tried cleaning it up, then you rode it like a horsey horsey. you love the idea of santa, but you get close and then start crying..we got one picture of it. you like to run in the room and yell "wake up mommy wake up!" and you also ask to hold me mama in the morning. you helped decorate the tree and even knew how to put the ornaments on. some of your sayings..if we ask if you went potty... "me no poopoo mommy" or "the sun at me mamma!" meaning the suns in your eyes. or "I did it!" and right now you are saying ho ho ho merry christmas. you try to sign twinkle twinkle little star, it's very cute, every time I ask you a color you say green, and your age you have said 2 forever and recently 3 and a half...( I am sure you heard hunter say it), and you say " hey!" when something goes wrong and "ohhhh" if you are sad..and I love you mamma...I just love this talking stage. and zelle hit me. Im happy mamma! or I sad. you eat so well, and out eat giselle many times..you try everything and like most. giselle, you are really picky with food, but you did eat pizza, but without the olives, and dad gave you a slice and you said no, you want to get your own.so independent. makena, I am still feeding you, and I love how close we are, I hold you and put my head on yours and it's just a special time for you to settle down and let me cuddle you. giselle, you still love having your back scratched and rubbed, and you have been sleeping with me, but you don't like when I am too close or you can't breeve. love you both so much.. I am so grateful to share everyday with you.

Talking

Makena- you are adorable talking now- this morning we were making pancakes and Lucy wanted outside and I told her to wait and you said patience Lucy. Just a minute ok? It was cute- It's usually what you here what we say to Giselle. The other day I thought you were asking where's kitty go and you were trying to get cookie dough- for breakfast too. You can count a little and you always say green when I ask you a color. You are so easy going- you whine a little about something and I say well yes Or no and why and you say otay in the cutest little voice , you love talk on the phone hello daddy. Hello daddy. And you get sassy right after Giselle repeating what se says or saying ya momma! Hand in hip and pout. Sassy pants , then you laugh and today you put her face on your shoulder and smile and said in Excited or when we come home you say I crying mama. And you both fight over your daddy or mamma. Giselle you are in the when you grow up can I be a bakery or mailman or I wish I could do that- when can I fly a rocket? And you still ask a lot about god and you remnered the story you learned in church. You like to play house but everything is your way or you get frustrated. Trying to teach you to share and be nice to sissy. But you are starting to compete a lot w her and don't understand. But other times you love and hug her And pick her up and tell her how much you love her. It's the sweetest thing to see.

fall already

well, time is flying here.and you girls are growing so fast it's hard to believe! Giselle, you are in school right now and makena, you are holding a baby and trying to put her in a little shoot car and yo are mad she won't fit. life has been crazy, as we had mac, kristi and parker move out (you guys miss parker, especially makena), we went to europe, and now we've all been a little bit sick and snotty seems like ever since we got back... miki is still living with us til she leaves for school next month. you guys love playing with her, she really likes to tickle you, and really plays hard, and you guys love it. since you won't remember europe, I will tell you now how cool it was. hopefully you'll get a glimpse from the photos..we spent so much time together and so much time at the beaches, you guys loved it! we only spent like 3 days in each spot though, so it was kind of like backpacking w/you guys, and that was a big adventure! miki was with us too, and it was pretty smooth except of the train. we thought we went straight from one destination to the next, but had 3 stops and get on other trains in between.. and w/all our luggage, and you kids, and not speaking the language or knowing where to get off or on quickly, it was an exhausting zoo...at one stop daddy was off w/giselle and we got trapped on, and the door wouldn't open, and we didn't have a phone, someone had to pull the emergency release for us to get off..we were exhausted, but the train slowed at one point and we watched a black head/fluffy white body lamb give birth..we happened to be sitting in the right spot at the right time..it happened right out our window. giselle, you also found the most beautiful shell. we were walking back from dinner on the beach in pitch black about 3 miles and you picked up a shell, and held it till you got to the hotel, and in the light, we saw it had a beautiful heart in it! it was so unbelievable..you could have dropped it anywhere on the walk, and the fact that you picked that shell in the night, was amazing. the whole trip was awesome..we went to sitges, barcelone, quarantine france, the french riviera, the italian riviera, switzerland and germany. makena, you got sick in the middle of the night we had to fly home...you started throwing up all over ilona's house, and she doesn't have a dryer and we didn't even have time if she did to wash all the sheets! and we were worried about getting on the plane because you were throwing up all the time...so we made it, and you actually slept a lot, so it was ok, but I was worried. makena, you love your hunter...when we go to preschool to drop giselle, you cry when we leave for "my hunter". giselle, you two are still best friends, and you love baby ali and always want to hold her. makena, you have still been feeding through the night and using me as a pacifier, but these last two days I have been sick so daddy took you downstairs, and he said you woke up twice the first night and cried for me and the second night you said hi daddy and went back to sleep. for me... you literally are using me as a paci from 5 am on..and so restless, so I think this is a good move, since every day I am exhausted. but of course I want to baby you as long as I can, and I still do :) it's almost halloween, and this year you are peacock, and giselle you are a fairy..so cute you two are:). makena, you talk all the time now, and when you get frustrated at me you say "hey..mama" just a little off on timing, and its cute. you copy everything your sister says, I think you two are like max and ruby now, ruby talks and then max repeats, and you do the same, and makena. if I tell giselle she needs to come inside, she will say we want to stay outside..and makena you will throw in a "outside mama" you always say milk pls mama, you love to dance with your arms in the air, and you love to eat..you love avocados, and eggs..you out ate giselle the other morning. giselle, you are our emotional little girl..so happy, so sad, and so much drama..I am wondering if its just girls, or what? you had another night terror the other night where you just scream, and we can't do anything to console you...you push us away..I think it was the sugar from the west seattle trick or treating. you are so smart, and ask so many questions, and then repeat what you learn. you are very interested in jesus and we went to church and you loved preschool there too. you ask so many questions that I don't have the answers too. does jesus eat? sleep? on and on and on you both love to laugh and play and it melts my heart all the time. giselle you told makena you love her this morning and she said you too. it's precious. love you

oh makena

and when your breastfeeding, I ask you questions and you shake your head yes or no..do you love dada up and down, do you want to do whatever..you shake no no. and you are pretty shy except for your family, you love mama holding you. you can sit pretty good for periods of time..you watched part of despicable me, and you don't sit in a highchair but I can keep you contained in the booth at restaurants for longer than giselle. and you don't like the stroller much either, you'd rather I carry you. you love your mama!

Makena 19 Mos Giselle 4

Hi girls, you have been my sunshine! I just want time to freeze as this is going by so quickly! Makena, you change so much every day! You are so smart and sweet and funny. You will say dad in the car and he turns around and you do a funny face..and then you laugh. and I presented that baby allessandra was my baby and you said no no..and wanted me to hold you and you said mama..and pointed to andrea and tried to hand her allesandra. you understand everything I say and you will do it, and you are talking so much now..you say otay which I think is so cute. I will say something for you to stop doing and instead of fighting me on it, you say otay. and smile. it's precious. you know everyones names and you love your hunter so much and parker. you really like to play with them. running around and yelling with them. you really want to go to giselles school. when we go in you go and sit on the chair too and you color or whatever they are doing. then when we leave you cry and say hunter! and you say hi and bye and good morning to everyone. and alright. and today you said awesome! pretty much anything giselle says you try to repeat. you can count a few numbers after I say one. and when I ask how old are you, you say two. (auntie taught you that for coming up use). you like buckles and you love shoes..trying on everyones..and you love that silly car at the park that you get in and out of and shut the door. you and giselle fight over a few things but you are also very loving to each other. you love to give hugs and kisses. you like to eat berries, and you pretty much try anything avocado, beans, but you like to take your own bites..you like the whole thing, which freaks me out since you and giselle like to choke..and you cry and cry if I don't give you the whole hot dog. and today you insisted I give you the stick in the cheese and crackers..which is a choking hazard. giselle, you just told me you like my face. that was sweet. you are pretty funny and cute. you have a sweet side, today at the gym the teacher said you went right over to makena when she woke up and consoled her. so loving.but you also like to tease her, and think it's funny sometimes when she cries. and you don't like to share very much with her, so she doesn't share back. you are very smart and ask so many big questions already. and you are really particular on things..wanting certain clothes or certain things on or off, and you only eat certain foods unless I tell you that you need to eat healthy to grow big. then you say alright alright..and then you fight on how many bites. you love to play with hunter and your cousins. you are quite the leader and they let you lead. your big in to how old people are right now.. you told auntie andrea you think she's 70 and I am 75. but you want to be older.., and you love princesses and super why and agent oso. we went to a princess party and you met snow white. and you wore your princess outfit out the other day all day, with clothes under it because it's too scratchy. you love going to omi and papas house. you really get excited and you pack your own bag and you also get dressed and shoes on by yourself and brush your teeth. you really want to learn to tie shoes, and you are really interested in your little work books to draw letters. you like to swim, and you can doggie paddle across the pool, but god forbid water get in your eyes. maybe later. this summer has been busy and fun! we went to lake entiat w/grammy and all the cousins, and we did a trip w/hunter and the friends there too, did a family reunion where you played and sang happy97th birthday to uncle nick, grammy and piper stayed with us for a week, and lucy and jeffrey came up too, we did a lot of the pool, and the boat, and the fox hollow farm, and rem linger farm, you both love all the animals. you have an amazing memory. you remember from last year and a half ago random things and weird details of where we've been and what you did. you remember lucy and jeffs visit last year and them sleeping with you in our bed. and you also had your first seleepover w/out us! over at hunters house..you had a campout on the roof deck, and watched movies on the tv and ate popcorn. we were sure you would cry for us in the middle of the night, but you loved it, and told me you wanted to stay for fifteen days. but sometimes you are so bashful its cute. you will open your mouth and hide behind my leg, and other times you go right up to people and start asking questions. you are usually really cranky in the morning and it takes you awhile to be happy, unless you are well rested. you want treats right when you wake up, and we have the same conversation every time that you need to eat healthy first and you usually start crying, and then you have oatmeal. you want to go camping still this summer and we haven't scheduled anything yet, but we want to take you..you are so much fun! you enjoy a lot of things and have a good time doing them..you always want to know why you can't do certain things yet..like riding a horse, or diving off the diving board, or wake boarding. so you are really interested in trying things. you liked to go on the tube at the lake with daddy. I love you so much, and am sad you are just getting so big! we took you to despicable me last week and you enjoyed it! makena came too, but kept saying hi to the people sitting in front of us, and she liked it and would clap and say yeah but at the quiet moments, so we had to leave. you eat healthy too, you like apples and carrots and tonight ate green beens, you just don't like a lot of variety. I love you guys! hugs my girls! tomorrow you both go to the dr, and I am worried it's shot time!

4th of July and Giselle is about to be 4

hi sweeties, mama loves you. we had a fun 4th at omi and papas house. I always will love the small town 4th for all the fun times! we do the parade, the races, food and festivities, backyard bbq, egg toss, sack races, and just walk to everything..and watch the fireworks at the lake. I truly appreciate it, and hope someday you do too. you always have a lot of fun. grammy, grampy, the young's, and brandi matt brendan all came. it was busy busy, but fun. giselle, you are almost 4 and you can't wait, you always want to be older..you want to be five, you want to go to kindergarten..on and on. I try to tell you to appreciate right now. you want attention all the time, and are starting to pick up on every conversation..so I have to watch what I say :). but you still believe in everything and you are so creative. you like to play dolls and make believe, you love to go across the monkey bars and always want to do it by yourself. you can swim across the pool and you always want to do that by yourself. you like to tease makena whenever you can. and without fail, you both want the same thing. same color balloon, same sucker, even same booster seat..doesn't matter if there are two, you want the same one. its crazy. giselle you always say you love makena's cheeks and say they're so cute and kiss them. you love omi and papas house and you didn't want to leave today. you can swim in the lake with your lifejacket on and you get right in, doesnt matter how cold it is. but you then want right out of you swimsuit in warm clothes. you are very particular about things..no i don't want your towel, no not that one it's too small. that one is just right. I need a wet clothe right now my hands are sticky. I want to watch tv in that room, no not that show. no not that episode...very very specific. wondering if it's just a stage or part of you. makena you are talking up a storm. its so cute...you still call lucy oof woof, and you repeat everything. milk, bye bye, and this weekend you said love you. ove you...it's so sweet. you are so happy. you smile and put your head on your shoulder so sweetly. you love your mama. you understand anything I tell you. and you say huh humm all the time. and instead of yes you say hum. hummm. but you love to say no. and mine. you love all the animals and the cats at omis house. you love to ride the bike,a nd you say helmet..and oh no. oh no. and you have a cute bottom lip pout. love you both to the moon and back. we are having a fun summer and I just love being with you. we go to the beach, the pool, the farm, omis, and hunters..and the boat too. hugs my babies.

hi

hi liebshens. we had a fun week since the sun has been out. today you went to the beach 3 times! yes..breakfast with dad at christos, then we went to the alki beach festival, and met hunter for dinner and play in the sand. makena..you are answering no in different tones in conversation and it's funny..do you want to go outside. no. do you want to give your sister the sucker. no. do you want to change your diaper. no. it's pretty cute. and you love to talk and repeat everything now..whatever word it is. and once you say it you laugh like you figured it out, so we laugh together and its so cute hearing you say things for the first time. blueberry. thank you. hot tub, hot dog. stinky stinky. hi hiee. bye-bye. this is such a fun time. you even say ali for baby allessandra. you love books. you mostly love to turn the pages and flips yourself, but you love them. you are really good at putting the straw in your drink, and taking it out and putting back in your juice box. you always whisper pa pa. it's cute. papa papa. you love watching toy story in the car. it's surprising, as giselle didn't watch tv forever. and you love ranch and ketchup and stick your finger in it and lick it off, and giselle still doesn't eat it. you love doing whatever giselle does..climbing on the swing set, running after her, you want to ride her bike and you pout like no other if you don't get to do what you want. you run away and pout, til I come grab you and love on you. giselle, I asked you what I love you means and you said when you are happy and you love someones cute cheeks. you have a routine at night of cartoons and always try and negotiate more cartoons. lately you've been brushing your teeth and cleaning your room before bed. you woke up this morning and told me I could stay asleep and get more energy. you just told dad that you have energy so he told you to do burpees and you went and did them with the clap and everything. makena you like to scream mine..since that what giselle says every time you try and take something from her. makena you like to help mommy make coffee and push buttons on the coffee machine. giselle you got your first cavity but we don't have the heart to tell you, so hopefully the filling won't be too painful for you. we are sorry as we give in to all your treats you want, and the brushing is inconsistent (until now!). ughh. bad parents. we went to the zoo and you wanted to see the bats and crocodiles from the map you saw, I thought that was an interesting choice, but they were very cool to see. well, I love you both with all my heart. til tomorrow.night my loves.

hi girls, it's a nice day out- think we'll go to the park soon. dad and I have volleyball every wednesday, so kendra is coming over to watch you. Giselle, you love the song this girl is on fire-you sing along and it's really cute. you also love your sister-you say her cheeks are so cute. makena, you are talking up a storm- adorable..love this stage..you say no..no and shake your head. you say bubble, backpack, siss..for sissy, up, bahby, for baby, wa wa, and you throw the cutest lil tantrums..stomp your feet up and down and run and throw yourself on the ground. it's cute now of course...:). you just get frustrated easily, you want to hold food by yourself, or do things by yourself, and of course, I am just trying to save your life so you don't choke..but you don't understand. you are climbing everything now, and thats another challenge. we just got back from visiting gg, your great grandma in arizona. you two were the talk of the nursing home, everyone loved you both and were so nice to you. you got lots of chocolate, and some lady gave you things out of her purse. gg loved watching you too. giselle, you shared your cheese and crackers with her, and got her a bouquet of red flowers you picked out. makena, I would try and have her hold you but you just wanted to go go go. you both loved playing on the elevator there, and running around. gg always says are you my baby? are you my baby, and we got "you hungy" from her too. she is so sweet and gentle and loving to you. we stayed at grandpa's and you guys would play with your balloons, and in the pool. grandpa and nancy were very nice to you. they had a nice park by their house too. we went and watched grandpa play baseball too, and there was a guy with the last name mckenna, so we introduced baby makena. gisell, you want to know how old everyone is, and you know most of your letters, anything around you read the letters to. you were at burger king today and you would ask if the kids wanted to be your best friend. it was cute. makena, you tried to put a qtip in your ear today. you like to get up way too early, and you say hmmm to everything we ask. or no.

We just left ocean shores Went to the property with grandpa- he brought marshmallows To roast. Lucy jumped in the water- and we not Burger King on the way out- Giselle you could t stop asking if Different animals have bad breath- do squirrels have bad breath, what about hippos, do gorillas? On and on and on. Makena, we just got our food at Burger King and you came over for The play area With a big piece of poo in your hand. I think your diapers was loose, and it rolled down your leg- thank god you didn't eat it! But no one has ever brought me poop before! Ok night night!

you kids never stop running

wow. another dinner out with daddy's coworker over in bremerton, and I swear I just chased you guys back and forth from the fish tank. I don't expect you to sit still on the ferry over, and the car and then for dinner for two hours...so I just try to keep you seated and then walk back and forth. then on the ferry ride home you guys were just go go go. makena, you finally crashed and giselle, you are watching max and ruby again! we had fun, and I think, someday you both will sit still, until then I will enjoy this age and stage and just try and make it so you are not annoying people, but most people enjoy watching you guys. I think you two are so cute together. giselle, you always pick her up and try and walk with her, and it's just cute. and now you hold hands. and giselle you try to help her when she falls and you say it's ok, but she usually screams for me. we went to grammy and granppys and stayed the night. after a terrible scream fit from waking in the car, all was ok. we went to granpys park the next day and ran silly. granpy and granny sure are sweet to you. they get a kick out of you guys and ask you lots of questions, and always spoil you. they are really sweet to you. we saw all of your cousins too, and your aunties and uncle brent. so much fun. you both were shy until you warmed up. g you are always saying come on bailey or come on jared..and they are all so sweet to you they do exactly what you ask. makena, you were not so sure..you wanted to stay with mommy or you cried. you did let auntie becky hold you with food on a plate in front of you. takes you a lil while. makena, so much personality. you shake your head no, and smile so big. and you run with your arms out and a big smile and run to me. and big kisses and you say mwah. mwah. and you love doggies and kitties, you get so excited. and you still raaah back at fatty..like you are having a conversation with her..except she is usually hiding from you. but fatty totally raaaahs. giselle you love to have chocolate milk at night and you always want your vitamins too. you love sweets and you like to negotiate your dinner..3 bites or 2..we will say 3 then you say how bout 4...obviously, you haven't quite figured out which is more yet. you love playing with hunter..you get so excited for him to come over. you love talking to your sister like she completely understands you. no makena, I told you not to touch my baby. makena, you can't come in my room. let me hold you makena. makena, see the sign says this.., now she is over one,she is starting to understand everything you are saying. makena, you still cry every time I take you to the gym, you grab on to me so tight and you know it's coming that I have to go. but I now hand you over and now you stop crying really quickly after- like you finally accept that I will be back soon. giselle, you said you fixed your baby and put a band aid over your babies mouth, cause she hurt her lip. you love to pretend play mommy, and you carry your babies around, and have me take care of them if you have to run downstairs. you like to knock on the door to the room and pretend you are coming over. you sleep crazy..sometimes screaming or crying and throwing your body around- one night you had a full night terror. I think it lasted like an hour..of you complete screaming at the top of your lungs and we couldn't calm you down. we didn't know what was going on. then we read about it on the internet. we had never heard of it and it freaked us out, and you had no recollection in the morning. it was quite traumatic for us to deal with because it was extreme screaming. hope that doesn't happen again. baby allesandra is here and you were so excited to hold her. you see her and you keep wanting to hold her. and makena, you are so interested too. you also say bah bah. for baby. makena you take a baby and carry her and you rock her back and forth and sing. it's so sweet and unreal. I just love watching you. melts me all the time. I don't want you cuties to grow up. so in love with you both. always have always will.