Piece by Piece...at Legoland

While in California, we spent a day at Legoland.  It was really neat to see everything imaginable - made out of Legos. 

     

 

On many of the rides, at Legoland, you actually needed to 'drive' the car or boat.  So, for example, on this boat ride...I was sitting back enjoying watching Sienna take in the sights.  And then we were drifting into the wall and causing a blockade.  No track on these rides...it took paying attention to get back to the loading dock. :)

And then there was this "Lego Character."  Not quite like Mickey Mouse.  No line to get a picture with this guy.  

Gracie did NOT like the Lego Mascot.  This is her running away from him when I suggested she be in the picture. 

The rides were ideal for Gracie and Sienna.  Gracie LOVED Legoland!  Sienna, unfortunately, was not tall enough for some of the rides...and it was so sad when she saw Gracie going on certain rides...and she couldn't.  That was a bummer.  

There was this ride, that looked CRAZY!  Just watching it, made my stomach turn upside down.  And of course, my mom decided that was just the ride for her.  She and my dad took on this beast.  Before loading onto the ride, you could choose your level of "thrill" 1- being gentle and 5 - being 'whip you every which way, super fast, super insane.'  The teenage boys in front of my parents chose 4....Mom and Dad chose 5.  

They Survived!!  

There was a Dinosaur Area - where the girls could dig for fossils.  Pretty mesmerizing, as you can see from the picture.  Gracie was too busy being a paleontologist to look up.  "Talk to the brush, Mom."  Sienna, clearly, is appalled at the lack of respect.  

 Gracie did amazing driving around the racetrack!  Sienna was so cute behind the wheel too.  She didn't really make it around the racetrack, but she was only 2 at the time...so her driving into the wall was understandable.  (Like mother - like daughter.)

My parents are so fantastic at making sure Michael has the best experience!  They have always tried to give him every opportunity possible.  Going to a theme park with Michael, is exhausting for my dad.  My dad is constantly lifting Michael in and out of his wheelchair and onto rides that usually are not equipped for people who lack some head and muscle control.  I know my parents would do anything for Michael.  Michael doesn't enjoy the conveniences that so many of us, often times, overlook.   His body is partially broken - But my parents have always taught me, his disability doesn't mean he should have a broken experience.  

When it was time to leave Legoland, Jody asked if we should buy the girls a souvenir.  They had been so good all day - never asking once for a toy or any of the other things that were for sale around every corner and at the exit of each ride.  I said, "No" to Jody's question.  They didn't need a toy.  They had a blast, and I was thrilled they were content to just be there.  

That night, my parents watched the girls, while Jodes and I went to the Oceanside Marina for some Fish Tacos.  The restaurant had the best churros with caramel dipping sauce.  Yummy! 

The girls were tuckered out each night!!   They slept great! 

They were super excited to wake up each morning to the sounds of the ocean - outside their window.  

My Happiness -- Beach Days

The second week of September, we traveled to the Carlsbad Coast in California.  We spent three days on the beach.  It was a wonderful time to travel to Southern California.  The beach was empty and nearly all ours. 

This was my view.  

It was perfect.  Really - my idea of paradise.

Gracie had the time of her life, splashing through the waves!  We played game after game of 'mermaids'. 

*Pure Joy*

Sienna was more into the sand than the ocean.  She perfected her Frisbee skills.  

  

Dad gave her a lesson or two in Frisbee throwing.  

We laughed so hard and made so many memories!   Feeling the warm sand in between my toes was heaven.  Spraying my girls off at the end of the day with the hose, and washing all that sand away was a sense of accomplishment.  

We played until the sun set.   

When I am happy - I want to dance.  No really -- dance.  So I did.  I danced on the beach.  I got the entire family involved.  I just love the beach, and I can't wait to go back.  Here's one Instagram Video from the trip.  

                                                                                         

Beach Baby just melts my heart!

The punishment for throwing sand in your sister's face - you take a time out while being half-buried in the sand.  She doesn't look too disappointed.  But she was more than ready to get out, and start chasing the birds, collecting shells and building sand castles again.


We stayed with my parents and Michael in a three bedroom condo directly across the street from the ocean.  It was lovely.  We ate breakfast out on the deck, overlooking the beach.  And we enjoyed sitting in the bay window nook too!  It was really fun to wake up to the sound of waves crashing on the beach.   

Incredible Sunset!!

Oh Yuck!  Sienna forgot that we don't eat the sand.  

After a full day of the ocean beating against the sand, the waves had created this ledge.  It made it tricky to get up by our towels.  But never fear: Little Sister was there to help Gracie up.   

Our first day at the beach was a bit overcast, and the next few days were full of sunshine.  This picture sums up Jody and Sienna's sweet little relationship.  She adores him; such a daddy's girl.  

Jody helped Gracie build an extraordinary Sand City.

Gracie was fearless in the ocean.  She got slammed by a few big waves, and came up out of the water, totally soaked, with a big SMILE on her face.  Jody always swims out way far.  He is a great swimmer.  At this one point, I was watching, with Sienna, from the shore...I was sure I saw something BIG swimming by him.  I stood up to start yelling and waving at him.  Interestingly, he started swimming to shore right then.  When he got back in, safe, I told him I thought I had spotted something out there with him.  He said, "Well, I didn't feel alone - that's why I came in."  Yikes!   

At the end of the week, this little one was done running, playing and splashing.  She was ready for some resting.  And boy oh boy, doesn't she look relaxed?!?!?!  

The Swinging of Summer....

“What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness.” 
― John Steinbeck

Our summer was beautiful and memorable, and just like the playground swings that we spent so much time on...we had our highs and lows.

I knew something was wrong.  I was at Cookie Cutters, a children's haircutting salon.  I should have made an appointment, like all of the more-prepared moms.  They take walk-in's; I just didn't expect it to be booming at 9 am on a Thursday morning.  But it was.  I put Sienna's name on the list for a bang trim.  We needed to be somewhere in 45 minutes...and it was evident, we were going to be late by the time she made it into the little airplane to get her hair cut.

Sienna was finally next.  And I was anxious for her turn.  The stylist called another child's name who had walked in after us.  Oh Heavens!  You would have thought I had been shot.  I started bawling.

Bawling....people.

I knew this wasn't appropriate behavior, and my frustration as to why I couldn't get a grip, made me cry harder.  The shocked stylist realized her mistake and took Sienna back where she was placed in a mini pink car.  She asked me what we were going to do with her hair, and I could hardly answer her because I was choking back tears.

Tears. Streaming. Down. My. Face.

I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror, and cried harder.  What was going on?!?!

I share this because maybe, just maybe, one of you moms have had a similar situation where you felt like you weren't yourself; like you had been taken over by a crazy, crying person who clearly shouldn't be in public.  OR perhaps this has never happened to you, and you can get a good chuckle out of the situation, and be thankful you've never turned into a puddle at a Children's Haircutting Salon.  

The following week, I miscarried.  I was seven weeks along.  My body had been fighting hard to create a viable pregnancy, which was evident from my above (out-of-whack hormone induced) behavior.   But there were too many factors preventing a healthy pregnancy from taking shape.

After I miscarried, I felt awful.  For two months, I couldn't shake it.  I didn't feel like myself, physically or emotionally.  I had a number of symptoms, many of which I won't share here, but I was dizzy and ill.  After weeks of symptoms, an ultrasound showed an inch-long complex cyst on my right ovary and a polyp on my uterus.  My doctor said that polyp would continue to prevent any successful pregnancy.  But the great news was we had answers.  I always feel so terrible for people who struggle with their health and never receive a diagnosis or solution for the problem.  We had a solution: surgery. The date was set, and I was excited.

As relieved as I was to have a date for surgery on the calendar, I still felt a little sorry for myself.  Disappointed and discouraged that things were taking so long.  Sad because I felt like I knew what should happen next....and it wasn't happening.  Silly, I know.  There are so many others out there, who have been dealt a much tougher hand.

I went to Macey's Grocery Store after work one night.  It was late.  I had a cart full of groceries, and as I tried to leave the store, there was a wall of people blocking the exit.  It was POURING outside.  People were waiting it out, but I was ready to get home and see my husband...so I started running.  Pushing my cart, in four-inch heels, I was drenched after two strides.  SOAKED.  I have never been so wet from a storm.  The rain was coming down so hard, I couldn't even open my eyes.  And the cart wouldn't really roll because there was so much standing water on the ground.  But I was so determined to get to my car.

I thought, "Why is it raining so hard?  I'm tired....so tired."  And then something funny happened, especially to the girl who hates to get wet when fully dressed.

I stopped.  And I started laughing.

I stopped trying to hurry through it.  Nothing I could do would stop the storm.  I was in the middle of it, and the only thing that was going to get me through it, was a change in attitude.  I was alone, the rain beating down.  And suddenly I was okay with it.  I took a deep breath in, and just embraced the moment.  It was such a drastic, eye-opening moment for me.

Days later I went in for my Pre-Operation Visit.  They did another ultrasound.  And to the technician and doctor's surprise both the cyst and the polyp were gone.  Not smaller -- completely gone.    Cysts can rupture on their own, which I thought may have happened...due to some intense abdominal pain I had.  But the polyp on my uterine wall was large, and my doctor was more than shocked.  He said it's because I am younger, and my body was able to heal itself.  But I really think I had a lesson to learn. And through my prayers and the faith of others supporting me, the ending result was amazing; a true miracle.

Things are good.  God is good.  I'm still not pregnant.  But it's not about my timeline - it's about His.

As a great friend recently told me, It's all about 'Loving What Is'.  There is such beauty, contentment and relief in those three words.

And as for Cookie Cutters...they have me labeled as the Crazy Mom in their computer system.  Yep, I'm THAT lady.  I was five minutes late for my last (already scheduled - Not walk-in) appointment.  I watched the man at the counter look at his computer screen and say with a smile, "No, your appointment is in 10 minutes...you're actually early.  But I'll take you back right now."  Bless their hearts.  There is definitely a red flag by my name in their computer system and a note that says "WARNING - this lady has had a melt down before."

Yes, we walked away from that haircut with Free Balloons too.

Summer isn't a time; It's a place as well....

  Vacation Spots, Deep Thoughts, The Days are Bright, and Stars Shine at Night....

Here is our Summer 2013 Recap:  My parents have a beautiful pool.  We spent more time there this summer over any other.  The girls really enjoyed swimming.  

It was a big summer for Sienna.  She potty trained, gave up bottles during the first part of June, and said goodbye to her favorite pacifiers.  She was really attached to her "Ginkies".   It is so nice that she is living the bottle, binky, and diaper FREE life.  Hooray.     

She is such a character.  In fact, I don't think that even touches on how silly Sienna is.  She makes us laugh all the time.  

This Summer was Filled with 4th of July Festivities and the Annual 1260 Street Party and Bike Parade.

Days of reporting for KUTV-2News in super hot weather.  

And my Birthday!!  Jody and I went out for a fantastic sushi dinner.  The girls stayed at the Steel Days Craft Fair with Michael and my parents.  

Here we are on the VERY TOP of the Ferris Wheel.  Gracie took my hand and said, "Mom, this whole carnival is for you."  Wow.  She knows how to make a girl feel special.  Gracie truly believes American Fork's Steel Days Celebration is in honor of my birthday, because it always falls on the week of my birthday.  We always attend the parade, spend the day at the carnival, and enjoy the outdoor concert and fireworks.  Pretty fun birthday! 

Gracie got a carnival fish during this summer's Steel Days Celebration.  She named him, Blueberry.  Blueberry is our pet.  He is orange and gold, which makes sense since he's a Goldfish.  It's now November, and Blueberry is still with us.  Despite, the girls tipping his bowl over and me running out of the shower to rescue him from off of the floor; he has survived.  I'm shocked!  The girls love to feed him and watch him swim.   

                 

We also spent time at the Outlet Mall by our home.  The girls always want to visit the Chocolate Factory and get a scoop of ice cream.  

And another part of our summer was Skinned Knees.  These girls played and played outside and we went through lots and lots of band aids.  

Most importantly, we spent lots of time together, as a family.