Spring break beach trip

It is very rare to have good weather during Spring Break in Oregon. As Oregonians we just know that if we want sun for Spring Break we have to hop on a plane. However, this year was actually pretty decent, at least for one day. And not only was it nice in the valley, the coast had sunshine!!

The girls and I piled in Lark's car with Cooper and Penny and we met the Buell's there. 

 I rarely think to bring the girls' swimsuits, especially in March, but I should know better. They don't let the frigid, ice cold water stop them from getting wet. Crazy kids!

 It was very enjoyable and relaxing and the kids played and played. Reese played so hard she came and took a nap on my lap...

The mamas and a sleeping Reese

Penny Jo loves the camera!

Dusty livin' the life

Zzzzzz

Digging a big hole

We let the kids play for quite awhile and then when they started getting hungry we headed to dinner.

 Waiting for a table took awhile, fortunately teacher Dusty kept the kids entertained with stories:

 His story telling inspired Bria and Cooper to tell stories the whole way home, it was adorable. But before heading home we had to get ice cream, because we had promised it :)

Group shot! 

Love my girls

We didn't leave until almost 8 pm! It was such a fun day and made me so excited for summer to come so we can do more beach trips.

More randoms

Still playing catch up...here are some more pictures from my phone. 

Walking home from Bria's bus stop requires pictures...at their request

St. Patrick's day outfit

We had a Leprechaun delivery! AKA, my incredible friend Amanda who rocks at all things friendship and kids

 Reese is still in gymnastics and loves running around...

 ...I love putting her in cute gymnastics outfits and doing her hair. So it's a win win :)

 Also, I loved gymnastics as a kid so I'm hopeful one of my girls will follow in my footsteps!

It's no secret we like to hop in the car on the weekends and drive down to see family. But sometimes the girls drive us nuts in the car. We love our girls, but car rides + 2 kids can = annoying! Don't worry, we figured out a way to survive...

'Dis how we roll

 Once we arrive in Albany we get to love on babies and toddlers and spend much needed family time together.

I put Ames to sleep on the exercise ball...and I was in heaven.

Oh hi there angel baby. Aunt Lulu never wants to put you down

Wait, did you just get cuter? Ugh, you kill me Mr. Ames Wilde!!

We switched insurance stuff this year and I found us new Doctors and Dentists. All of which required many new patient appointments. Fortunately I love both our dentist and doctor so the process wasn't too terrible...well maybe Bria's dentist appointment left something to be desired.

She has always done pretty well at the dentist, but has a very strong gag reflex. This mixed with being super sensitive to texture is difficult. She did okay for the first 5 minutes (I decided not to go back at first, hoping she would be braver without me there) and then they asked me to come back since she was requesting me. She only let them do one xray and then refused the polishing stuff. When the hygienist tried to rinse it off and have her use the sucker thing, Bria refused and spit all over herself. So basically they brushed her teeth and we left. I was not happy, but tried to be sensitive and understanding with my oldest. 

A week later we took Reese. She rocked it and sat so still the whole time, I had to text Aunt Jenny because I knew she would be so proud of her little niece being such a good patient.

 And afterwards Bria said, "Wow, Reese did so well! I'm going to be brave at my next appointment because I know what to expect."
Score.

 And a few more random pictures to end the post...

A walk in our old neighborhood led to so many fun bridges and trails

Braids are totally in

I LOVE doing my girls' hair. They don't always love it, but I don't let that stop me. And because I started doing it when they were just wee ones, they have gotten somewhat use to it and know it's just how life is: Mom does our hair and sometimes it hurts.
But it's worth it. Because I say it is :)

 Reese has such different hair than Bria.
Although both were pretty bald for awhile, once Bria's hair started growing in, it grew fast and hasn't stopped. It's super thick, has a small wave to it, and is a dark blonde. Reese on the other hand, has taken forever to get hair, it's thin, and seems to break easily. I try not to do ponytails too much because that tends to cause lots of breakage. But it's hard because those ponytails and piggytails look positively ridiculously adorable on her.
Braids tend to reduce the breakage, plus they are also adorable.

Here is Reese at 3 1/2 years old

 And this is Bria at 2 1/2 years old, 1 year younger than Reese:

Hi 2 1/2 year old Bria, you are stinkin' adorable!!!!

My little Anna (from Disney's Frozen)

Best principal ever

I adore Bria's school. It has been such a wonderful experience and I'm so grateful for her teacher and all the amazing staff there.

Back from the first day of school, she has already grown so much!

There are so many parents who spend countless hours and days volunteering to ensure our kids get the best education. And to top it off, the principal is without a doubt the best Principal out there. I knew I liked him when I would see him out at recess with the kids, when he could call almost all students by name, and when I noticed he comes out everyday after school to say goodbye to the kids and see them on the bus. He is dedicated to improving the lives of those kids and I have never met someone who is so genuine.

So when we got word that the owner of our rental was selling, I was determined to find another rental in the same school district.

Well...the market up in Portland is ridiculous. And I didn't have the luxury of being so picky. We moved 2 miles away and guess what? She is in a different school district. I was crushed. Fortunately they said she could absolutely finish the year there.

But my worry was about next year too. Our plan is to buy in a year or two (once we can save the massive down payment needed to live in this incredibly expensive area, seriously Portland...why do you think old houses that need renovations are worth $450,000?!) and I don't want to move her yet again. So I filled out the required paperwork and then decided to email Mr. C (the principal) and let him know our story. I am on the PTC and volunteer so my hope was that my presence would count for something. Guess what?

The very next day he called me. He didn't ignore my email, he didn't email back, he CALLED me on the phone. I was blown away. He said he would love to have our family and Bria back next year and although he couldn't guarantee it right away (overcrowding and numbers are a big issue) he was pretty positive Bria would stay next year.

I wanted to cry I was so happy! 

I wish I could think of a way to thank him, not only for being so considerate to us, but for everything he does for the school and students. 

In addition to the awesome staff, they have really cool after school programs that I love to take advantage of. Bria did jump rope club after school for awhile and then a Mad Science program that she loved. Good stuff for sure.
 

Jump ropin'!

We are alive, I promise!

Between moving and lack of internet and time, blogging took a back seat. When we finally got internet I was so overwhelmed with how the hell to catch up that I kept pushing it off for another day.
I decided today is that day and although I'm not sure I will be able to completely catch up, at least it's a start.
The best way for me to do this is to upload photos from my phone, so I started with some pictures right after our Disneyland adventure. So here are some incredible normal, everyday photos of us just doing what we do...it's going to be random and sporadic but at least I'm doing it right?

The girls don't always allow Brian to go to work in the mornings, so sometimes they swoon him with their cuteness and he stays just a little longer...

Love this one, captures the unending love between all of them. 

Picking up Bria from an after school program:

Park morning with my girls...and Starbucks :)

There is a park a ways away that has fun trails to hike on, the girls are obsessed and ask almost daily to go there...

Daddy is proud of his hiking girls

Bria has grown a lot this year and it's so fun to see her be the big sister to both Reese and Penny Jo :) Penny adores her Bria. 

 Took my girls to see Cinderella on opening day, we loved it.

 Reese is our little fashionista, she is constantly changing her clothes, wearing my shoes and jewelry and just being fabulous. One evening she decided she wanted to wear dress up shoes to bed. Not just any dress up shoes, our Merida ones (from the Disney movie Brave). These are tall, velcro type shoes, not really something you want to cozy up with. But beauty is pain I guess.

 I took them off before I went to bed and at 6 am a sleepy Reese came in my room holding these shoes and insisting I put them back on her. So I did, and she turned around and went back to sleep. Her hilarity knows no bounds.
I spent a morning with my oldest and she requested Starbucks and pedicures. Talk about a perfect morning!

 She got the cutest flower and gem so I got one to match :)

Alright, I feel slightly less behind so I 'll leave it at that for awhile...I will return shortly with more catching up and details on the move and new place!