Pioneer day

To celebrate pioneer day* June and I went with my friend Alicia to the mountains to trek.... like pioneers. Right? We also brought our dog, Abe, and he loved it. We also stopped by the river and threw rocks and Abe into the water.

That evening Buck and I decided to join the masses and light some fireworks to further the festivities.

June liked them at first and then decided that they were scary. One year she'll love them. :)

I actually think about the pioneers on a daily basis. Maybe that is weird, but hey, those are my ancestors and their example and lives change me everyday. I probably should have celebrated the day by doing family history work... but maybe I should just do that all year. 

*Pioneer day is a holiday here in Utah and people get work of and everything (well, not everyone, like Buck) but there are parades and fireworks and it's kind of like the 4th of July all over again. Kind of crazy. I heard this year that people who are not originally from here call it "Pie and Beer day." hmmm

Sail Away

After a series of canceled dates due to bad weather, Buck and I were finally able to go on one!

We got to go sailing and so I dressed June appropriately even though she wouldn't be joining us. This was as good of a photo as I could get of her. ;)

We went on Utah lake. This was actually a gift certificate we were using that Buck got for his Father's day gift. The night was perfect. Buck wanted to learn and so he got to help out a lot.

you like that rope going across me?

The sun set was a real treat. The last two photos here are not photoshopped at all! (well, none of these photos really are)

Right?! It was crazy!! What a gift from God. 

The whole way home all Buck could talk about was how we could start saving to get a sail boat. Don't mind if we do...

As always, dates are the best. We get to relax and have fun together. It's an added bonus to get to experience new things together at the same time. Cheers to date night! And cheers to my cousins who are always helping out and babysitting! We are so blessed to have you!

June's Happy Day

When June woke up we came into her room with ten balloons. She was so excited about that. I mean, it was the most festive diaper change of her life, and what better companions to watch a birthday morning cartoon with than balloons?

Then she got the traditional birthday morning coffee cake. This tradition comes from Buck's family.

After all that and June got to play with her new doll house she proclaimed "Happy Jue!" (because who needs an "N" in your name anyways?"

We got ready and then took her to ride a pony because her party was farm themed, so we decided to take her to a farm, right?

She's a natural and loved it.

After that we got the coveted ice cream cone. Or, an "I dee doe" as June (Jue) for some bizarre reason calls it.

She took a nice long nap and we got her party ready. As I mentioned, I chose to do a girly farm theme. I'm not sure why, other than she loves animals. I kept her party simple. In the end I liked the ideas I had and used but I felt like I kind of just threw things on the only table we had and called it good. But, hey, she's two, it was allll about the frosting, not the presentation, right?

The cake was nothing fancy but I feel that my spray painted farm animals paraded across it nicely.

We had milk. Because June loves it.

And mini cupcakes that I put in "vintage" egg crates.

And there was ice cream. In a cup or cone.

And cute wooden utensils and heart straws. 

I got the non-sticky and ever so cute kind of suckers and some mini (spray painted) animals for party favors.

Opening presents was a savage moment. We were like "Hey JUNE! There are a bunch of new toys in these bags and stufffffff.... come SEEEE!! COME ON!!" and she was like "NOOOOOO!!! no no no no no no no no! SANDBOX." 

But June was excited for a sucker she got on a present (thanks mom) and didn't even try to blow out her candles. Good thing about three other kids did it for her. (hahahaha)

 We were so grateful that everyone came who was invited. The love and suppose means the world to us and to June. It was a HOT day and the kids were running rampant while all the adults sat quietly in shaded spots, trying not to die of heat. I probably should have had some music playing or something...

But I'd like to think it was fun enough. We got to be together. I had some farm coloring books out and the kids liked that. Some kids went on the swings. They all piled into her play house. And they threw sand in their hair while playing in June's new birthday sand box.

I'm a mean mom. Buck was on his way to pick June up and comfort her and I said "WAIT!" I need to get a picture.

I mean hey, it's her birthday and she'll cry if she wants to.

And anyway, it was a good day. June was thoroughly spoiled.

She even got a bomb sunset.

After everyone left we started a new tradition.

We went to the baseball field near our house. I wanted to start this last year but forgot! I want to set off sky lanterns for how ever many years old our kids are that birthday.  With each lantern each year I want it to be a thing of gratitude from the year just lived. So for each lantern we will name that many number of things grateful for from that year.  I hope this tradition can work and live through the years! Granted, our kids will get old and soon that will be a lot of sky lanterns so we’ll have to think of a year that the lanterns will stop. I was thinking 18 years old would be the last year... but is that still too many lanterns? 

Anyway, we went with two lanterns and only ended up setting off one because it was windy and we got nervous. But the sky was perfectly colored as we set June's gratitude into the air. Since she is so little I got to decide what blessing the lantern would stand for: that June got to see two oceans again this year. :)

WE LOVE YOU JUNE BUG! I know you may not have memories of the first couple years of your life when you're older, but that's why I photograph so much. And I believe that in heaven one day you will get all these moments back into your wonderful mind. If nothing else, you are happy these days and that is worth it. You are our everything. I could never never never regret having you two years ago. THESE are the "good old days" aren't they? Happy to be in them with you. <3

Happy Birthday June Bug!

Happy Birthday June Bug!

 Today you turn TWO years old!

I don't know about you, but this second year has been even better than the first.

I always knew I would have you. Before I was even married. I knew I wanted a girl and that her name would be June. A couple years before you came, I started collecting things that had your name on it, like a firework box that said "June Bug" and things like that. I just always knew you would be mine.

You love to look at the sky. Often, while you're in your swing outside under our big tree, you just throw your head back and stare into the blue and white or the orange and pink or the pale yellow endlessness that God paints for us. I will never forget your first time seeing the stars a few months ago. We were in the middle of nowhere on a road trip and you wouldn't sleep so we stopped on the side of the road. You seemed breathless and just kept looking up at the glitter through the rolled down window saying "oh wow!" I hope you will always feel connected to the sky. For you, I hope it is your mirror.

And you're a goof ball. And full of imagination and WANTS and needs. So many opinions in such a little girl! You are becoming rather attached to your stuffed animals and I couldn't be more proud. (I had gobs and gobs of them growing up.) You are usually a pretty good sharer and you love a good tea party.

I posted this poem once before but I wanted to do it again. This year it means something different than it did in your first year. (the is author unknown to me)

"You are the trip I did not take

You are the pearls I cannot buy

You are my blue Italian Lake

You are my piece of foreign sky"

And how could you not be? I didn't know how I would give up some of the dreams I had- until I had you. It was never a hard thing to do. A dream is one thing to hold onto, but it's nothing like holding you. ;)  Sometimes sacrifice feels natural, and as always, we get back more than we ever give. And YOU, Ivory June, are much, much more than anything I could give up.

At TWO,  June:

Is 23 pounds and 35 inches!
This means, according to myth, that she will be 5'10 for her full grown height! So tall! I guess we'll see if it's true or not (the myth is that whatever height you are at 2, you will double exactly for your grown-up height)

Has much more hair than she did a year ago. I think it has gone more blonde than anything but sometimes in certain light, I still can see the red tint (like in these photos!)

Still needs four teeth, but they're all about the break through at the same time (so fun...)

June's 2nd year has been good to her. Some highlights are:

Been to some new states: Virginia, Maryland, Oregon, South Carolina, & Wyoming. State count up to 9!

Touched the Pacific and the Atlantic again this year

Flown on 10 airplanes

Sings

Counts to 12! Usually only to 10, but has gone to 12 on her own.

Knows all the letters, but doesn't sing the whole song or anything, but she will identify them from the symbols. 

Favorite shows- Blue's Clues, Curious George, Magic School bus, and Elmo, (but only Elmo, she makes me fast forward to him.)

Loves to pretend to be a "shish" in the water

Adores our pets and spends her days hugging and playing with Abe, our dog.

Ridden on a pony a few times

Some words are hard to understand and she can't seem to use a "k" or a "g" so that makes for some interesting words. 

Also, she keeps saying the S word. Usually when she is trying to say "shirt" and Share" I think...? So all day I hear "mommy! Sh*t!" All. Day. 

She is saying all sorts of words and sentences. We notice something new everyday! It's a fun age.

But she also continues to speak her little June language. She will go on and on telling stories. There will be words and little sentences something to pick out but mostly it's in her "native tongue." (while it's fun for her to be saying so many real things now, I will still love the babble the most. It is me favorite thing and I will miss it when it's gone!)

She's a picky eater! Doesn't eat meat, not even chicken nuggets. She wont even try pizza or cake. What the...?

Most consistent favorite foods are: granola cereal, fresh homemade juice, cottage cheese, most fruit, sweet potatoes (with a littttttle brown sugar) spaghetti squash, pasta, and of course, mac and cheese and hot dogs.

Been to a couple weddings and two funerals

Loves hiking, unless there are fire ants

LOVES to go to aquarium 

(and Zoo, but we don't go there often)

June is awesome at puzzles, and has been for a while now. (I know most kids at this age are) but she has a special attention span for them and can figure out some complicated ones! We've been surprised at some of the things she can do!

She loves to help clean and do laundry and cook. For now... why can't the helpful stage last forever..?

She loves babies. She got to help feed one with a bottle the other day and she was elated.

She loves to pretend and seems to be pretty creative. Anything can be a pretend "nummy" and tea parties are a common event in this house.

I suppose I could list things all day, so I should probably stop and keep the (even) longer list in my personal journal. :) 

Thanks to all of you who care about and love June. We can feel it and so can she. She is a trusting, loving, and confident little girl because of it.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY IVORY JUNE!