CO trip + a dance recital.

Friday, May 20

We left a sick and tonsillectomy-healing Mar Mar and flew to CO so we could see our people there and attend Evie's dance recital. (I may or may not have been up much of the night before with Mar as she felt sick to her stomach and was super stressed about throwing up with her highly sensitive throat situation.) We had an early morning flight (Bill had to work), so we headed out with only a couple hours of sleep, praying that Mar would get by (with a little help from her friends boyfriend).

I got to spend the day playing with these cute girls.

They are so fun and I had the best day with them.

Saturday, May 21

The day started with an early game of Pretty Pretty Princess. Little Billy is a pro at that game.

Then we all got ready to go to Evie's dance recital.

That girl has pois-on-al-ity. 

(to be said Crutchie-style from Newsies).

It was so fun to see V shine. She did a fantastic job!

Sunday, May 22

More fun with these girls.

Monday, May 23

A snuggle with NJ before we head home.

Lots had gone on back at home, which made this trip have some emotional hiccups, but I always love my time with Tay, Nae, and these adorable and fun grannydaughters. For whatever reason, Nae seems to be around for my {extra} emotional moments, and she is such a sweetheart for lending a sympathetic ear, warm hug, and sugar hit (she knows my love language haha).

I miss them already.

Nora Jane's big toe.

 Saturday, January 29 - NJ was in the kitchen of her home. By herself. Tay and Nae were in the other room, and were alerted to the situation by the screams of NJ. They ran to her and gave her cuddles as they assessed the damage. They couldn't really see anything terribly wrong until they noticed drops of blood on the floor that were coming from one of NJ's feet. She had black socks on, so they carefully removed the one from her injured foot to discover that the tip of her toe was nearly severed. They aren't quite sure how it happened, other than they have a tile floor, somewhat heavy barstools, and one of the barstools had toppled over with Nora Jane. They took her to the ER to have her toe checked out.

Tuesday, February 1

NJ would need surgery, but until then, her toe was wrapped and her foot splinted.

Gigi and Li'l Bill sent her a doctor kit to {hopefully} help ease her anxiousness around doctors and hospitals.

Wednesday, February 2

Surgery Day.

NJ handled it all like a champ.

Friday, February 4

A pink cast, some fairy dress ups, and the best big sissy can make any girl smile.

Saturday, Feb 5

Boss Baby Back in Action

Nae called these pics "A Series of Nora's Emotions."

Tuesday, February 22

Still hanging in there... one day more.

Wednesday, February 23

The cast comes off.

Again, NJ handled it like a champ. I'm super impressed with this girl's resilience.

Saturday, February 26

Doing just dandy {as long as she has her shoes or boots on}.

(with her "hoppies")

Nae said, "She's doing GREAT! The surgeon was an absolute perfectionist and her toe looks perfectly normal, minus the missing toe nail. It's incredible. It doesn't seem to bother her at all! Hallelujah! She's still a little ginger on her left leg but we think it's more from her minding the stiffness in her ankle from it being completely immobilized for the past 3 weeks."

The first time you experience a child's big injury as a parent is tough, too! Tay and Nae handled it all so well. I'm so glad they kept us in the loop and informed so we could keep them all in our prayers and their names on the temple prayer roll. I'm also grateful for good doctors, and for all those who watch after these precious little people.

Independence Day celebrations + final pedi.

Sunday, July 4

We celebrated with Tay, Nae & fam. We made the best Independence Day spread we could without a BBQ grill - our air fryer came in clutch haha. It was a lovely coincidence that our landlords were out of town, so we had free reign of the yard and fire pit.

We used up the last of our easy-fill water balloons from last summer.

The girls loved the pop-its. I go all out for these occasions haha.

We made s'mores over the fire pit.

**a quick selfie of myself to prove that I actually was a participant in the celebrating**

V had to take a turn or two on the rope ladder.

NJ enjoyed an ice cream cone.

Then we headed over to our old neighborhood to set up a spot to watch Castle Rock's fireworks display.

Monday, July 5

This was the observed Independence Day (= no work), so we kept the celebration going over at Tay and Nae's. I had sent Little Billy to a fireworks stand to grab a few things we could light up. For whatever reason (call it legal reasons haha) Costco and other grocery stores in CO don't sell the firework bundles I see all over UT. Bill had gone to the nearest pop-up stand and spent upwards of $60 for a few little fireworks. They were very underwhelming over all, but V seemed to enjoy them, which was our purpose in the first place, right?

Yep, that was it ;-)

We ended the evening with a sunset bike ride with V.

Tuesday, July 6

Mother's Day pedicures, take 3.

Nae brought V along for her first pedi.

We selected our colors, and then waited a very long time. We were finally taken to our chairs, but only one tech was available initially. Eventually another one came in, and finally V had her tech start working on her. I had made appointments for all three of us, and we had to shuffle our schedules to accommodate the day and time they had available, so I was not very happy about waiting nearly an hour to even be seated. Not the amazingly relaxing experience for all of us I had hoped for. Nae is always so kind, positive and calming, which helped keep my frustration in check.

Finished at last.

This was such a fun way to celebrate some of our favorite mommas this year.♥