March

Well I have a hard time believing that March is already over!  But here are a few happenings from the month.

 We started out the month with a bridal shower for my baby sister Karli.  She got married March 30th!  Here is my mom, sisters, and me. (The baby bump is clearly visible in this picture.  Looks more like flubber, though.)

A week before the wedding we had some more gorgeous weather, so we did more exploring.  These were taken at Niagara Springs, about 25 minutes from  our house.  Harper and I rolled down the hills, Dada showed her some fish...

we checked out the springs (yes, that is water just gushing out of the side of the mountain),

we went for a walk along the river where Harper got nice and relaxed and took a little rest.  (I brought my book along, just in case of the perfect moment.  Never happened.  Yes, I re-read Hunger Games.)

This was...who knows when.  Just another Tuesday, probably.

Chase's mom and sister (Megan) came for a visit a couple weeks ago.  Harper notified us all she was ready to "go buh-bye" so she promptly got her shoes on, got her "purse" and she was out of there!

 (Please ignore the lazy eye)

Then came the weekend of the wedding.  (AKA General Conference weekend.)  I have no wedding pictures, hopefully we'll get them soon.  I have only 2 that I took that weekend.  Yes, I always carry my camera around my never go through the pain of taking it out.

Harper enjoying a swim with her dad

Harper pretending she's asleep so she doesn't have to get in her dress for the reception.  But once she was back in her dress she loved it.  She was a twirling girl all night long!

I think that gets me pretty well caught up.  I'll be editing posts as more pictures become available.  Oh...and I have about a bazillion on my phone that would be good to put on here.  And another zillion videos.  Oh my.  I must not get overwhelmed!

February

Real, boring life really begins in February.  Holidays are over.  Families are all back at home.  No holidays in sight.  So we must find ways to entertain ourselves.  

Enter: cowboy hat

I told you you might see this pop up more than once!

On Valentine's Day we decorated sugar cookies...and ate our weight in them.  Yummy!  Neither Chase nor I are huge romantics, and our anniversary is 4 days after Valentine's Day, so it's kind of a holiday that comes and goes without much fanfare.  Which is fine with me!  Give me a few sugar cookies (and maybe some flowers) and I'm good!

Harper appreciates this, too.

 My valentines

Harper has started getting excited about my shoes.  I thought this was quite the outfit she found one morning!

Boy is this girl fun!!  She's a busy 2-year-old, but is really quite well behaved (knock on wood) and she makes me laugh constantly!  Her speech has really taken off and I love that she can tell me what she wants, what she doesn't (quite loudly), and it's almost scary that she copies most of what we say.

It's a New Year

Happy New Year!

We rang in the New Year at G&G Fly's house in Caldwell, along with Spencer & Kylie, Drew & Megan, and Bridger & Bennett & Madelyn.  We had "healthy snacks" (the Fly family tradition of crackers with cheese and salami and veggies and dip), and all kinds of unhealthy snacks as well.  Lots of eating.  We also made adorable masks, thanks to Megan and her craftiness.  I'm waiting to get those photos, but hopefully I'll have them soon.  It was a great night.

Harper was pretty crabby by about 10pm so I went in the bedroom to put her to bed...ended up just laying down with her...and we were both out in about 10 minutes.  Chase had to ring in the new year without his ladies, but that's the life we lead these days!

 You may see several photos in the future of Harper in Dada's cowboy hat.  She loves it and if you ever say "cowboy" or "yeehaw" she will run in and get it.

Once things got back to normal and the holiday fun was over, we were on the hunt for fun things to do in the dead of winter here in Magic Valley.  One Saturday was particularly sunny so we decided to go to Malad River Gorge State Park, which is conveniently located just off the freeway about 20 minutes from us.  It was a cool but beautiful day and we all had a great time!  We'll have to go back in the spring (want to come?) when stuff is green!

Grammy & Papi Come for a Visit

On Harper's birthday, after the Fly Family celebration, we drove home and a couple hours later my parents arrived at our house!  We got to see all grandparents in one day!  Miracle!  We had a little Google+ Hangout party with my siblings (no pictures) and then the rest of that week we just hung out with my parents.  It was swell!  Once again, I took next to no pictures, so I'm getting some from my mom.  In the meantime, here's what I have...

 Harper and Papi watching Shirley Temple.  All snuggly.  So cute.

(That's it...more to come...)

Harper turns 2!

On Dec 26th our little baby Harper turned 2 years old!  Crazy!  She's quite the little girl, now.  We got to celebrate with the Flys and then we drove home, where my parents were meeting us as they drove in from California, and we got to celebrate with them that night.  I was busy doing cake and stuff that I didn't take very many pictures, but my sis-in-law Kylie did so I'll get more from her.  But here's what I've got.

*Update: photos from Kylie have arrived!  Hers are all the cute ones!*

 Her spoils

The cake I made for her.  I was nervous, but it turned out cute, I think

 My two best buds

Happy birthday, our sweet girl!  We love you so much and feel blessed everyday to have you in our family!

**P.S.  On Christmas Eve we found out we are expecting our 2nd child!  Hooray for babies!**

Christmas in Caldwell

This is going to be one looooong post.  Dec 1st-25th.

I had this great idea to make homemade wrapping paper out of a roll of brown paper and Harper's painted handprints.  It took as much time to get it prepped and Harper-mess-proof as it did to actually paint.  But you can see Harper quite enjoyed herself.

Then we celebrated Dad's birthday.  The big 2-8!  (Someone...not me...not Harper...just couldn't wait to have a few bites.)

(Maybe the video will work?  It sure won't go to the center...)

We also ventured into the forest on the hunt for our own Christmas tree.  I {wisely} decided to take pictures on the way in.  Everyone was happy, Huck was obeying, the sun was shining...it was perfect!  Turns out it was the wisest decision of the day because on the way back Harper was screaming and squirming in my arms, Huck wouldn't listen to anyone, Chase was perhaps saying choice words, all while hauling back the tree.  But WHAT FUN we had!

 Harper couldn't have been happier!

 Beginning of the meltdown

 Happy once more

 Here is THE tree...should have taken a picture at night.  Oh well!

 Her favorite spot for the next 24 days.

 Enjoying a little Christmas treat.

Then we were off to Caldwell, ID for Christmas with the Flys.  It was great to be together and we had so much fun!  Harper seemed to finally understand unwrapping presents.

 I made both grandmas a "Grandma's Helping Hands" apron with each of their grandkids' handprints on them.  They turned out pretty cute.

Below you will see several attempts at the perfect family photo.  None of them quite reached perfection, but we still love each other.

Harper in her new snow outfit....now we just needed the snow!