House Updates

With our downstairs hotel being so busy and successful this summer, we've decided to move on with our House Wish List.  These wood blinds were falling apart.  The far left window's didn't open and the big front window was missing the turning wand so we had to spin it open at the very top by hand.  And they made the house really dark.

 So we bought and installed these new white faux wood blinds. They're cordless too, which is pretty neat. I feel like it makes our room a lot brighter!  I did have to slim the bigger blinds down, saw off the edges which took a lot of stamina I must say.  They turned out great! Best of all they work!

Next on our wish list was these broken old storm doors.  The front door handle required to much thumb pressure for Scarlett to open. The pressure brake part had broken off so it just flew open and shut and made a very loud creaking sound.

 The back door was really heavy and it slammed shut loudly when our guests would come in and out. It was nice that the girls could open it because it didn't ever lock shut.

  I couldn't leave out this cute lipstick face.

Here are the new doors.  I also spray-painted that aluminum bar by the door to match our numbers and door.  And I got a cute new rug from Target.  Target decor is my favorite. I can't decided if I love or hate the  bright blue paint on the foundation of the house and the stairs. I've thought about painting it a different color, but the idea just now makes me tired.  I wish Mona had left more bright blue paint

downstairs so I could at least fill it in where its chipping, but for now I'm trying to embrace the color.

 We also replaced this little lamp in the back because the old one didn't work. We are starting to become well versed in DIYs.

Alice's 2nd Birthday

Alice didn't have a big party, or even a cake for that matter...whoops!  We were all pretty much caked out lately, so I made this raspberry jello salad.  In later years we'll probably just combine their birthdays, since they're not even a month apart. They'll love that, right?

Brian caught the hilarious sequence on his phone.  Scarlett "helped" her with those difficult candles.

 Alice loves all things that are "pittee". She loves to have her hair done, wear dresses and spin, find bows and have me put them all in her hair.  She knows what she wants to eat and often finds her breakfast or lunch before I've had a chance to prepare it.  She loves to climb and bike and swim and wants to do everything Scarlett does.  Anytime we ask if they want to watch a movie, she says, "MANA!" (Moana).  She loves to be outside, and loves to say, "Bye dad. See ya later. I love you."  when dad leaves in the morning.  She's the sweetest.

Alice is also  incredibly independent and stubborn!  She is FINALLY sleeping well at night.  It took two years for to quit consistently waking up and often needing a lot of help and coaxing to get back to sleep. I'm SO grateful that she has started to enjoy sleeping. We were prescribed a children's allergy medication because her lungs were always raspy and she often woke up coughing. It seemed like her colds lasted forever.  The meds really changed things around.  Hallelujah.

The next day Scarlett rode her bike to the park while I ran with Alice in the stroller.  Scarlett didn't like when I would run because she felt like she was losing the race and kept whining that she was "soo tiired."  It was pretty comical.  Then we took Alice out for a doughnut date.  She seemed to be pretty into it.

And just look at this sweet video Google made for me.  I hadn't even recalled taking some of these photos. So precious. 

Scarlett's birthday

We have a 4 year old!  We had a really low key potluck and invited some of her friends and their families the Sunday after her birthday on April 30th.  She is obsessed with birthday parties and always talks about her next one.  

 She requested a "rainbow cake" . This was the easiest cake I've ever prepared. Cheesecake from Costco with Skittles.  It's not a bad combination.

After singing we played with long balloons animals that we only knew how to make into swords without popping and watched Moana.  I'm not a very exciting birthday party planner, but the food was good.

A few days(maybe even weeks) before Scarlett's birthday we found a great bike for her on Craigslist. I've never been good at waiting and hiding presents. We started riding right away.
 I was a little concerned that it didn't come with training wheels, but she picked it up her second day of riding. She's quite impressive!

Alice picked up the balance bike like she'd been riding it forever. She still hasn't worked out how to drag her feet to brake it.  All of Scarlett shoes are scuffed on the front from doing that.

Cruisin'.

Her Grandparents spoiled her and sent us packages full of cute presents from Utah.  Grandmas are the best.