Under the Apple Tree

We have this beautiful apple tree in our back yard.  Really, it is kind of a sickly tree and barely produces any fruit.  But every two years, for about 3 weeks, it has the most beautiful blossoms.   I took some pictures of Addy at 10 months, and of course Jordyn wanted in on the action too.

Luckily, we took these pictures when we did.  Just 3 days later, this is our beautiful apple tree looked like.  Just for reference, this picture was taken on Mother's Day.  Seriously!  All that snow in the middle of May!

San Diego

"Discovered by the Germans in 1904, they named is San Diego, which of course in German translates to....."

If you can finish that Anchorman quote, then you and I were destined to be friends.

But really, my family too a trip to San Diego a few weeks ago.  We actually stayed a bit north of San Diego in Oceanside at a fun little resort, courtesy of my parents.  We were just a short walk away from the beach.  Our beach days were a little chilly, but we all still had a lot of fun.  Jordyn LOVES the beach and has not stopped talking about it since. 

We also went to LEGOLAND.  None of us had been, and it was perfect for all the young kids we have in our family.  We got the full 2-day package and went to their aquarium and waterpark too.  Definitely a lot of fun!

We have a really fun dad.

This was hilarious! She could not do it! Focusing on the gas and the steering was too much for her....and most of the other kids on the track.  Lets hope she figures it out before 16!

The whole gang!

We also went to the San Diego Zoo.  Such a beautiful zoo.  We saw a panda, which was new for us.  They also had a cool little bus ride we took around the whole zoo...otherwise, there is no way we would have seen everything.  It is a huge zoo!

Tired girls.  They were both a little sick this day with fevers.  But...the show must go on, right!

All the kids, even the ones on the run!

We also went to Knott's Berry Farm, but somehow, I did not get any pictures.  Oops!  We drove right past Disneyland, and with breaking hearts, we just kept going.  We also decided not to go to Sea World.  Who goes to San Diego without going to Sea World?  The Dyrengs do! 

The last night there, we felt an earthquake!  Crazy!  I had never felt one before.  We were about 45 minutes south of where it was strongest, but what we felt was still pretty strong.  Strong enough that we all knew what was going on when it happened.  We had so much fun on this trip!  The kids were all so good and had so much fun together.  Our flights were easy and uneventful.  We left our resort at 3 am to catch our 6 am flight and when we got home, the girls slept literally all day!  Vacation wears us out!

Matchy-Watchy

Matchy-watchy is something my mom always says.  I think it is funny.  I had some fabric stashed away, (let's be honest, I have a lot more than "some" fabric stashed away) and Addy needed a dress for church.  She has outgrown her clothes so quickly, she barely gets a chance to wear them.  I hate buying baby clothes, especially church clothes, that you know will only be worn a handful of times before they are outgrown.  So I decided to save my money and make my own.  While I was at it, I made Jordyn one too, cause really, is there anything cuter than matching sisters?

 

It takes a couple shots to get them both looking at the camera!

The Contraption

Addy is super dooper wiggly.  She whacks every spoonful of food I try to get into her mouth.  I have to pin her down with my extra limbs while I change her diaper, and she still manages to squirm away with a bare bum.  She is like a ninja spy baby and can silently maneuver into or out of any situation when I am not watching.

We were planning a trip and I knew the resort we were staying at did not have a high chair for us.  We were flying, and space was limited, so I needed to come up with something portable that would keep her still while I fed her.  I found a portable high chair on Amazon for $40, but would not have time to have it shipped before we left.  So I made my own contraption.  Works like a charm!  Now I just need to invent some kind of baby straight jacket to get this baby to hold still while I change her diaper!

The Contraption.  I am thinking of selling them in my etsy shop.  But I first need to come up with a better name than Contraption.

Waiting for Spring

Does it seem to anyone else that winter has drudged on?  We are so anxious for warmer weather and for the snow to melt!  Snow in Colorado actually melts pretty quickly, but then the next storm comes just as the signs of the last one are gone. 

We try to brave the wet ground and get out anyway.  We have a good group of friends in the neighborhood who like to do park dates and lunches.  We all have a bit of cabin fever!

A rare smile on the swing.  Jordyn HATES swings. 

A not so rare smile from Adalynn.  Happy baby!

Like a Weed!

I cannot believe how fast Addy is growing.  She just seems ginormous to me!  What happened to my itty bitty newborn?!  She has these chubby little legs, and is just solid.  I pull out the clothes Jordyn wore at this age, and they are all super small on Adalynn.  Like, ripping at the seems too small. 

Adalynn will be 8 months this week.  In just the last month she has mastered the army crawl and is a little speedy gonzolas.  She has one little tooth on the bottom.  She can pull herself up and stand to our couch, fireplace (makes me nervous) and stairs.  She can climb up one step and our fireplace.  She eats like a champ and will eat almost anything except tart fruits like stuff with strawberries or raspberries mixed in. 

One sweet story... Every morning, Jordyn comes into my room and wakes me up.  I usually hand her my kindle and roll back over.  Soon, Adalynn starts fussing and that is Jordyn's cue. Every morning she says, "I will go make Addy smile," and she climbs into the crib and reads Adalynn stories or plays stuffed animals with her.  Super sweet!

Addy HATES being left alone.  Every time I walk into the kitchen, she tries to follow and gets herself stuck in this little corner between the couch and the step.  Then she gives me this pathetic little "please help me" look as she peeks through the railing.

This is the "climb every mountain" picture.  The first time she made it up the step!  Let the baby proofing begin!

She gets tangled up in a lot of stuff.

 

Dancing Queen

Jordyn took a little ballet class.  It was only a 4 week thing, and very low key, but she loved every minute!  She first day, she was pretty shy and would not go out onto the floor.  I took her aside and asked why she was scared.  She said, "The other girls will be mad at me."  Sweet little girl!  I tried to comfort her and she eventually went out to dance.  At the end of the first class she went on and on about how the girls were nice and were her new friends.  The last class, parents were invited to come watch.  It was so cute!  Jordyn is sad it was over, but glad she still gets to wear her ballet costume on special days!

Disclaimer:  Yes, I know the video is long, but I just wanted Grandma's to see it all!