More Sunshine!

Hooray for ANOTHER beautiful day!

I know these perfect sunny days aren't going to last too long (or it will be blistering hot... ugh) so we are squeezing in as much outside time as we can get!

We started our day with a very long walk (have I mentioned how much Mikenna likes to walk?)

Her response to most questions now is an "I don-o" with her arms in the air and shoulders shrugged...

Then she actually answers the question.

Proud that I captured that one on camera!

It was pretty warm today so when we came home I put out a big bowl of water, some cups, and pourer's for Kenna to play with on the patio.

 She has always been a water baby and is very happy to be able to play in it again!

Note to self: next purchase for the backyard: sensory table.

What a goofball... gotta love her!

Hello Sunshine!

Spring has sprung!

Yes, I am very much a winter girl...

But the warmth of the first spring sunshine is also one of my favorite things.

Mikenna and I spent the entire day outside today (minus nap time).

We played and had a picnic at one of the nearby parks.

We were there for almost 3 hours soaking up the sunshine.

As usual we had to take a walk, well, more of a jog.

We walk/jog outside everyday, and Mikenna never wants to come stop walking. Maybe she will be a long distance runner?

By the way, the tongue thing is new. She has rediscovered her tongue and constantly has it sticking out of her mouth. Silly girl.

"No time for pictures mom, must keep walking."

We stopped at the pond to watch a family of ducks. Mikenna pointed out the "Da-y," "Maymi," and "Anenna" ducks... everything is now a little family of 3, super cute.

 After saying "bye bye" to the "ucks" we played a little hide and seek...

Ha... found ya!

I love, love, love these days.

It's so nice to spend the day in the fresh air with my favorite little boo!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

March 18th, the day after St. Patty's Day, is Ryan's birthday!

Happy Birthday my love!

Ryan took the whole day off to spend with us and we loved having him home!

I made him a yummy breakfast:

Then we spent most of the day at home hanging out since it was pouring rain.

Kenna and I made a homemade ice cream cake for Daddy.

It was AMAZING.

Definitely worth the mess to make it.

Check out the recipe here.

*Don't judge the cake decorating, icing a slowly melting ice cream cake with a toddler climbing up your leg is not easy.*

I finally got to give Ry his gift that I have been so excited to give him. I kept it a secret until his b-day... go me!

Kings/Lakers tickets for the last game at Arco Arena! Fun... but a little sad.
Great seats though, we can't wait to have a fun date!
Hope you had an amazing birthday babe!

Thanks for being such an amazing husband, an even more amazing daddy, and my best friend!

Green Day!

Yep, this is oober late... (thank goodness for back dating)

But, I have some ridiculously cute pictures so I'm bloggin it late.

Like these ones... of my cute little girl in green:

My job as a parent is to brag about how cute she is, right?

Ahhh! Love her...

Anyway, we spent our St. Patty's Day doing fun green stuff!

We made green eggs for breakfast:

It totally grossed daddy out, but Kenna loved 'em!

Yum yum!!

We did some green painting with green glitter,

Which I should have taken pictures of, but I always forget when we're doing art. 

Kenna did a little grocery shopping for me as well...

She shops several times a day now... thanks kiddo!

We made a green lunch as well...

Chicken enchiladas with verde sauce, kiwi, and some veggies:

Yum!

The bonus for the day? 

Mikenna knows the color green now! It's the first color she picks out.

Thank, St. Patrick, for teaching my child a new color!

Happy green day!

Thankful Thursday

Thankful isn't a big enough word to describe my gratitude for my beautiful, healthy daughter.

I love her more than any words could ever explain.

I love everything from those curly blonde locks to those cute little painted toes.

I know all parents (I hope) feel this way about their child,

but in remembrance of Maddie and the Staats family I am writing it all down today.

I absolutely cannot imagine going through what they are currently dealing with...

I do however thank them for making me hug my baby a little tighter and appreciate everyday I have with her. 

I am thankful for you miss Mikenna Faith.

In your short 16 months here you have taught me so many things.

You have taught me to laugh everyday. Even during the hardest times you can always make me laugh.

You have taught me to notice and appreciate the little things... puddles, rocks, birds...

You have taught me that sometimes laundry and dishes can wait until after a story or a tea party.

You have taught me how much I am capable of loving one little person, so much more than I ever thought possible.

Thank you for being my ray of sunshine every day princess, I can't imagine my life without you.

Mommy loves you!

Grandma's House and Dress-up

Winter is coming to an end (sadness for me, I LOVE winter).

Kenna, Jalapeno and I went up to my mama's house in Nevada City to enjoy the last bit of snow she had left.

Kenna loved it. 

She loved the sound of her feet crunching in the snow.

She liked to pick up snowballs and throw them into the water on the street. 

Cold mama!

It's really funny to watch her do things, I always wonder what she's thinking. She does everything so systematically, she plans out every move she makes. It makes me laugh.

It's so fun to take her places and watch her mind work.

I love spending my days with that cute little face!

Even better Kenna got to spend some time with her "gaga" and "ganpa".

I LOVE me some baby and grandma lovin!

Presh, right? My favorite from the day. 

It's so fun watching Mikenna with all of our family members, she has a cute and very different little bond with every one of them.

On another note it has been raining which means winter isn't quite done yet. (yay!)

We got some new dress-up clothes thanks to Brenda and Mikenna loves them!

She even dressed her baby up in her elmo outfit and went for a walk (around the house).

I know what you're thinking, Snow White should have been blonde, right?

I love my little (snow) princess!

Craft time! (I LOVE naptime!)

Lately my little one has become VERY interested in the potty.

Like, literally, she will sit on it and talk to me for 30 minutes at a time.

I have been wanting to paint her step stools for both upstairs and downstairs bathrooms, but I've put it off.

This newfound interest in the potty finally got me started on my project.

I started with these, from Michael's- my most favoritest store in the world:

I wanted to paint one pink and girly for the upstairs bathroom,

and one with browns, turquoise, teal, and greens to match our decor downstairs.

I love doing stuff like this at naptime, it clears my head.

This week however, I didn't have to do it all at naptime because Mikenna was entertaining herself doing this:

She painted and colored right beside me most of the time... love her!

Anyway, both step stools turned out completely different, and I LOVE them both!

This is the stool for the bathroom upstairs:

And this one is for the bathroom downstairs:

Super different and oh so fun!

Hmm.... what project next?