I can't believe my baby is 1! It was nice to have an excuse to celebrate and something to plan and do.
Menu:
-Drinks: Jarritos
-Taco Bar
- Hard taco shells
- Soft mini street taco shells
- Ground beef
- Toppings: cilantro, rice, beans, green onions, olives, salsa, limes, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes , sour cream, avocado
-Fruit Kabobs
-Corn Dip and chips
-Homemade taquitos with cilantro lime dressing
-Dessert: Churro cupcakes and smore's cookies
Games:
-Fiesta BINGO. Papa won, but doesn't drink soda, so the second place winner was Jeff. Simon was thrilled Jeff gave him the Sodalicious giftcard.
-Kahoot: Who knows Isabelle best? Nana won! Her weekly babysitting paid off. She was giddy about the Crumbl giftcard.
Decorations:
- Cactus plates
- Fiesta tablecloth
- Uno cactus sign
- Sombrero hats for the 4 kids
- Uno cake topper
Presents:
Isabelle was spoiled rotten! She got a stuffed animal dog and goes around saying, "doggy" all the time. She also got a baby doll, an adorable outfit, some feminist books, a Rody, a xylophone, and her practical parents bought her floaties for our upcoming camping lake trip. My kids have been entertained with all the new toys around.
Party Attendees:
We limited who we invited to keep the group smaller and we had the party outdoors. (Thank goodness there was shade.) We only invited my immediate family. We didn't invite either of my grandparents. Jeff, Lindsey, Simon, Esther, Nana, Papa, Jessica, Chris, Joel, and Alexa helped us celebrate.
Highlight:
Chris started an impromptu baseball game with Simon. The other kids joined as well as some adults and they ended up playing for quite awhile. It made me realize our setup isn't so bad because a baseball game is possible in our "yard."
Reality:
Isabelle wasn't her usual happy self during the party. This week she has been getting a molar. She was kind of grumpy, but the cupcake helped turn her mood around. Also, after she opened her presents, she had plenty of distractions. James ran inside during the party and threw-up. He gets himself so riled up. This happened recently at another event as well. Totally fine, just overexcited/stimulated and running wild. He ate dessert a few minutes later with no problem. Another sad reality is that I didn't get a group pic. Oh well.
Meet Isabelle:
Friendly. Waves to everyone non-stop! Also says, "hi" repeatedly in an adorable voice. One of her other most-frequented words is "uh-oh." Demanding. She wants a bite of anything and everything Mom or Dad are eating. Indecisive when it comes to food. Sometimes she LOVES grapes/cheese/strawberries, etc, and other days she spits them out and refuses to eat them. I gave up hope on her loving hot dogs like James does (they're quick, easy, and cheap), but she tried one again recently and liked it this time. Popcorn lover. I shouldn't admit that we let her eat any. If you try to get her out of her high chair before she's done eating, she shoves you. Drama queen. When she's mad, everyone knows. She turns blue. Big fan of Nana and often cries when Nana leaves. Early riser. Mama's girl. She gets sad when I leave the room. She has started to warm up more to people now, but quarantine made her very used to us. Dancer. She loves music and seems to actually have some natural moves in her blood. (Must have inherited those from Andrew). She especially loves the song: "Who Let the Dogs Out."
The fiesta was a success! I couldn't have done it without lots of help. We all slept soundly that night and we even had leftovers to eat for dinner the next day.
I'm proud to say that we have kept up our hiking! There are so many fantastic places to hike near us! Sometimes we have to drive a bit, but it has always been well worth it. Oftentimes, I lose cell service while we're hiking and I don't mind it one bit!
Bicentennial Park Loop-- Provo, UT
Distance: 1 mile
Saturday, June 27
A Saturday morning well spent. Simon, Esther, and James started by playing on the deserted playground. We had the trail to ourselves and walked it twice. (I don't think it was a mile.) It was green and luscious. Simon liked reading all the signs throughout the trail. The kids also enjoyed seeing bugs and nature in action. They found a big spider in a web. Doughnuts were a part of this hike. The Frisbee Golf course was especially intriguing for the kids.
Cousins
Buffalo Peak-- Near Provo, UT
Distance: 0.9 miles
Friday, July 3
This was quite the drive! The last few miles of road weren't paved, but our van made it up through the rocks just fine. My parents as well as Lindsey, Simon, and Esther joined us which was a treat. Wow, what a breathtaking hike. I can only imagine how stunning it would be in the springtime with all the wildflowers. It was still gorgeous though. The last bit was really steep and a bit scary with little kids, but I would do it again. It was safe and had spectacular views. Nana and Papa brought doughnuts which is always a highlight. The drive back down the mountain was much faster.
Canyon Nature Trail-- American Fork, UT
Distance: 0.6 miles
Wednesday, July 8
Unexpectedly, all but 1 of my piano students cancelled their lessons. We decided to make the most of it. While I taught my 1 lesson, Andrew and the kids picked up dinner, and then we headed up the mountain. Our map told us we arrived far too early, so we unpacked the car, stroller and picnic dinner included, only to find that we had a few more miles to go. When we finally arrived in the correct location, the scenery was exceptional. We started by eating on one of the shaded picnic tables. JCW's put us all in a good mood. James enjoyed the bridges at the beginning and end of the hike. He was also fascinated by the signs that explained different plants, etc. He was convinced that this was where "Word Girl'" (World Girl is a tv show) lives which was adorable. He kept looking for her.
Grotto Falls-- Payson/Santaquin, UT
Distance: 0.6 miles
Saturday, July 11
I had never been in this area before. Wow, it was gorgeous! This hike was shaded. In fact, we were all quite cold, especially in the beginning since it was about 7:45am. Once James was no longer shivering, he had the time of his life. He loved crossing the water balancing on logs and the ending did not disappoint. Our shoes did get wet and in James' case, soaked.
Ensign Peak-- Salt Lake City, UT
Distance: 0.8 miles
Saturday, July 18
My parents joined us for this hike. They had hiked it before and I had as well. Andrew was the newbie. The sun really beats down on you throughout this hike. We even went at 8am. Going mid-day would be brutal. It's pretty bleak until you reach the top and then you have incredible views. James especially enjoyed the side-view of the airport. He even got to see a few planes take off! Einstein's Bagels topped the hike off well.
Lower Bells Canyon Reservoir-- Sandy, UT
Distance: 1.5 miles
Tuesday, July 21
This hike is rated moderate and I can see why. I did it years ago and didn't remember much. James was miserable for the first while. He fell asleep on our way there and had a hard time waking up. The steep stairs right off the bat didn't help. We also went in the afternoon and is was scorching hot with little shade. The lake at the end was serene and peaceful though. There were tons of ducks that came up close to the kids which they enjoyed. James also had a blast throwing rocks into the water. The hike down was quick with way fewer tears! James collected sticks along the way down and was drawing with them in the dusty dirt. When we reached the steep, rocky stairs again, we made a game out of it and James earned the nickname, "Jumping James." Suddenly, the worst part of the hike became the best because Daddy swung James over the steps.
We are looking into investing in a hiking backpack. The carrier we've been lugging Isabelle in isn't the most supportive or comfortable. Is this hobby turning into routine?
