Stowe, Vermont Nix family vacation

We go on a family vacation every summer with the Nix family. It is always fun and always special. Stowe was no exception. It was so beautiful that many of our pictures look photoshopped. It was a long journey to get there and back, but it was worth every minute of it. It was a slice of heaven!We biked as a family through the park there. It was a 10 1/2 mile ride through covered bridges, over rivers, up hills, etc... It was gorgeous!! Daren pulled the girls most of the way until they had a crash! Everyone was okay. Daddy just took too sharp of a turn and they all flipped. At this point, Mommy took over for a couple of miles. That was all I could handle so Daddy stepped back in, but it was so much fun!!!The girls can't get enough of their LaLa. They eat her up! I can envision many visits in years to come with LaLa where the girls will be fighting over who gets to be held by her, who gets to sleep with her, etc... LaLa is very special to Claire and Harper. We had a heated pool in our backyard that also overlooked the beautiful mountains and we spent a lot of time swimming. Harper is such a water baby and laughs the entire time she is in the water. She can't get enough. Claire, on the other hand, is a little more weary but she warmed up to it a good bit with Mimi's help.
We went into town a few nights for dinner and ice cream. It was a quaint little town with a beautiful covered bridge, an old steepled church, barn homes, and amazing landscaping. Claire's favorite part about town was her ride on top of Papa's shoulders. Claire wanted to ride a pony while in Vermont. There were large, open pastures of horses and she got in her head early on in the week that she was going to ride a pony so she did. She loved it!! She liked the ride, but she just didn't want to pet the horse. :-)When Mimi is around, Claire is her shadow. Claire even took up Mimi's favorite hobby...bird watching!!Harper was a trooper! She was along for the ride with whatever activity we did, and she always had a smile on her face. We visited the Von Trapp lodge. It was beautiful and we took our family pictures there. This one of the girls is my favorite one...And my favorite picture of the girls with me that I have ever had is this one... I love it!And here are some of my favorite pictures of Stowe...the place. This was our house.Our backyard
The view from our balconyAn old steepled church in the middle of townOne of the many mills on our bike ride
This was a home in the middle of town that I loved. It looks like an old barn.The famous Von Trapp Lodge
One of many bridges in Stowe, but I loved this one because it was covered.
The river that ran through Stowe

Summer fun!

Pops and Grandma surprised the kids with a playset. They love it!! Claire couldn't get there fast enough and it is impossible to peel her off. Harper girl loves the swings the best but she also likes the slide too.
There is a local school nearby where we take Claire to ride her bike, jump on the bouncy mats, and let the girls play at the park there. We spend many days there and they both love it!
Mimi and Papa gave Claire a bike for Christmas. We practice lots. She is so funny! She is really good at it, but she stares at her feet and white knuckles the handle bars. A little cautious, to say the least... I had full intentions to dress the girls up in their matching smocked dresses and take them for pictures in the bluebonnets. It never happened. So one weekend when we were playing at the park, I took the opportunity to do it. I got one good one out of it. Granted, they are not dressed up but they are still pretty cute.
We swim a lot at Grandma and Pops. Harper had her first swim this past weekend and we couldn't peel her out of the water. She loves it!!!


The boys and the girls spend lots of time playing outside. They love to have tea parties and feed Harper. She laughs at everything they do. They love each other a lot! The summer has started off busy! We are enjoying the heat and being outside.

Say Goodbye to Daren...

Lashelle, Catherine, Christi, Chris and Charlie, Claire, Harper and I got together to buy Daren an IPad for his birthday. I wanted to get him something really cool that he would love and they were all kind enough to help me out. Daren is ecstatic and he does love it...a lot! I miss him. Ha! I lost my husband to his IPad. Ha!!

Happy 33rd Birthday!!!!!!!!!!

We celebrated Daren's birthday. We got a babysitter and went to Eddie V's. We had such a great time! It was nice to get out and enjoy each other. The girls did great with the babysitter which made it easy for us to enjoy being away. As far as Daren goes, what a hot 33!!
Happy Birthday to Daren, D, Daddy, etc.!!! Ignore the 32 candles because D turned 33! Mommy had a mind lapse and bought the wrong number. I guess I was trying to keep him young. :-) Happy Birthday to a great husband, father, friend- you are the best!!

Is Daddy thirsty?

Last night, Mommy and Daddy were putting Claire to bed. We spend some portion of each evening lying in bed with her singing her favorite songs and snuggling. One of Daddy's old and close friends came in town to visit, Mike Suh. Daddy and Mike were going out for a drink so Daddy was finished with snuggles and ready to leave Claire's bed.

Claire: "Daddy, where are you going?"
Daddy: "Daddy is going with Mike to have a drink." (probably not the best answer but the one that came out)
Long pause, deep sigh...
Claire: "Mommy, is Daddy thirsty?"

Hysterical.

Mother's Day sentiments

I have always wanted to be a Mommy. Interestingly, I always knew I would be a Mommy to two little girls. Always... Things have turned out as I thought and I love my life. I am lucky and I often have to pinch myself. I have the most incredible Mom in the world. She loves me unconditionally. She knows how to have fun, but also always set very clear boundaries for me. She pushes me to be the best and she reassures me when I am too hard on myself. She is strong and honest. She is opinionated and full of conviction. She is a wonderful lady who is and always has been 100% available to me and has taught me what it takes to be a good Mom. I try to emulate her in all that I do with my girls. The bar is set high... I love you, Mom! Happy Mother's Day!

Mother's Day was special. It was exactly as it should be...lots of family time, quiet moments, and some sweet sentiments for Mommy. Daren made me breakfast this morning. We had no groceries in the house, so he toasted me an English muffin (one half only because the other half had already been consumed) and brought me a yogurt. :-) It's the thought and I loved it. I wanted to go to church. Our service is at 9:45 but the girls (BOTH of them- HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ME) slept until 8:30ish, which meant that we slept until 8:30ish too. So we showered, scrambled and made it to church running behind, as the Nixes always do. I still haven't progressed to taking Harper to her Sunday school class but she definitely has surpassed the age of snuggles, sleep and newborn stuff. So, she was a wiggle worm. Mommy spent much of church in the foyer. Luckily I could still hear the sermon because I loved the message. :-)

After church, we went to ACC with Christi, the boys, Grandma and Pops for a Mother's Day buffet. It was incredible and they gave each Mommy a flower and a box of brownies. Yummy!!
Daddy took Claire to the putting green to get a few in... Watch out, she is getting pretty good. While they putted around, we sat and watched and played with Harper.
I love being a Mommy. It is the best gift I have ever received to be in charge of two innocent, beautiful souls. It is hard work but I wouldn't trade it for anything. My life is full and my heart is happy. I am proud to be a Mommy.

My favorite moments lately...

Life has definitely changed with two children. I have to say that I was pretty nervous about having a second baby because everyone kept warning me about how much harder it is and how tough it is without as much rest. I have to say, with no disrespect to anyone who has ever told me that, that I completely disagree. While it is definitely more tiring and there is definitely no break, I have a clearer sense of what I am doing. I have much more confidence in my instincts. I am much calmer. I love watching every little new thing Harper and Claire are doing because I do have perspective from having been through it with Claire about how quickly each phase does pass. When I was going through all the sleepless nights, while it was hard, I loved it because I knew that it passes quickly and also that I had to return to work very soon. I truly wish I could push the "pause button" on my life right now. I love the ages/phases of my two children. Harper is a sweet, easy going baby. She rolls with the punches and smiles all the time. She is a really busy girl and is very inquisitive. She is already crawling, standing, pulling up and trying really hard to keep up with her big sister. Claire is so happy-go-lucky, loveable and totally flexible. She is really into ballet and princesses. She is adventurous and will do just about anything with us. She is truly a sweet soul, just a really good little girl. These pictures are some of my favorite moments of watching the kids grow up.
My family loves to take Saturday walks to Taco Shack for a breakfast taco. I cherish these mornings. They are quiet and enjoyable. The routine of it makes me happy.
I also love watching the kids totally let loose and just be kids. Mimi and Papa gave Chris and Charlie water guns for their birthday. Claire and Charlie had a blast fighting Daren, Catherine and I. We went to dinner one night with two of Daren's best friends from college, Brett and Henry. Henry is a brand new Dad and Brett will be a Daddy in August. These boys have partied really hard together and now have grown up to be such incredible men. It made my heart smile so much to see them with all the babies in our lives.Lastly, Claire and I went to Harper's crib when she woke up from her nap on Saturday. She always wakes up so happy and smiling. Anyways, we walked in. Harper is smiling at us STANDING up in her crib. Claire was so excited to see her standing that she asked to get in her bed with her. Harper was ecstatic to have Claire in her crib with her and literally laughed hysterically the entire time. DOUBLE TROUBLE!!!

April 22, 2010

Happy 3rd Birthday my sweet, sweet Claire bear. We woke Claire up singing and had decorated her door with streamers and balloons. She LOVED the streamers! Daren and I were afraid her room was going to have to permanently be covered in streamers. :-)
We took Claire to school and both went to work, as usual. After naps, we came to bring birthday cupcakes to Claire's class.

We went to Grandma's for dinner, homemade brownies and ice cream and more presents!
Claire all dressed up in her princess outfit and loving her new blender!

I really can't believe my sweet, sweet baby is 3 years old. She is the most amazingly compassionate, funny, spunky, smart little girl. Granted, I am biased but I love EVERY minute of being her Mommy. Claire truly lights up my life and fills my heart.

Pump It Up, Claire bear!!

Claire's birthday celebration started a little early with her birthday party at Pump It Up. We shared the birthday party with Chris and Charlie who turned 4. They all share the same birthday and it is always really special and fun to watch them celebrate together. We gathered up Chris, Charlie and Claire's friends and family for a FUN birthday bash. Here are some of our favorite Pump It Up moments: