Xiana turns 3!!

Like last year, we had Xiana's birthday party at an indoor swimming pool. She was slightly miffed that she couldn't have it in out backyard with pools like her cousin Kylee did. We had to explain to her that June birthdays and October birthdays are slightly different. Ekco got to come so Xiana was a happy girl!
This year there was no ambulance...
Xiana insisted that she wanted a princess party, but when push came to shove to opted for a caterpillar cake instead... go figure. That's okay. I'm sure there are many princess parties in her future.
The whole fam.
The party had the usual... all her friends, family, cake...
too many presents...
Way too many presents...
and Swimming!!!! This is a perfect party for both Ekco and Xiana as they are little fish and LOVE the water.
It was remarkable to see how much all the kids have grown in a year. Last year Kylee was jumping in all over the place. This year she was swimming!
Last year Rowan could barely touch in the deep side of the kiddie pool... this year he was a full head out of water.
Last year Brian and I were not married or engaged.... this year we are pregnant, bought a house, a new car, and have established a life together.
This year, Xiana plugs her nose... last year, she didn't know any better.
She had a wonderful time with her family and
Friends!
Then, on her actual birthday I let her open her present from Kacie. A few weeks prior to the big day we went to Toys R Us with Kacie. Xiana went back and forth between gifts trying to decide between barbies, dolls, art kits and then, when she found the makeup sets, there was no more indecisiveness. She was dead set on getting makeup and did not waver. So... that's what she got. I didn't let her actually open it until the day of her birthday. I'm pretty sure that according to her it was worth the wait....
She loved it. Plus it kept her occupied for hours.
Then my parents and Garrett came over and Brian made Xiana's special request (homemade spaghetti sauce from tomatoes in the garden and elk burger... delicious) and we had leftover cake.
We got her a frog and the princess music kit which Garrett and Brian were happy to help try out.
They could have started their own band!
Of course we put more candles in the cake. You have to make a birthday wish on your actual birthday!
The makeup went perfectly with the vanity her uncle Kevin got her. She is in girly girl heaven.

Xiana continues to be a social butterfly. She loves to have friends and people around. In the last six months she has FINALLY developed the skill of self entertainment. Instead of following me around the house all day long, she can usually play make believe and do art projects for regular intervals. She bears her testimony every fast Sunday. Her little spirit is growing. She is just as tiny as she has always been, but she's small like dynamite. She is will full and headstrong: two qualities I both dread and commend. She is sensitive and easily gets offended when others aren't as aggressively social as she is. She loves play group. She thrives on her new preschool. She never ceases to amaze me with her intelligence. She counts everything and has just recently taken to counting in Spanish. She is confident and loved. She seeks justice in all things and regularly explains why something is or is not fair. She loves to read books, watch Dora, Barney, and Sesame Street. She loves to sing. She reminds us every night to read scriptures. She has been saying her own prayers for a long time. She is insightful and perceptive. She recognizes hurt in others and tries to make people happy. She is a joy (most of the time). Her spirit is strong and she is dedicated to living a full life. I'm so grateful that 3 years ago she joined me on this earth. I genuinely don't know where I would be without her.

Brian

Is going to make a guest appearance on this blog some day soon. He is going to tell you all about how to start jeeps and mountains on fire. Aren't you excited? I know.. the suspense is killing me too! But... now it's my turn to write about Brian. He has been busily chopping wood for our stove to keep us warm all winter long. It has been a long process. One which I haven't been as much help as previously anticipated due to a little bumpkin in the oven. Still, I help as much as I am able. Here he is in action...
Pre swing
Post swing
I am extraordinarily grateful for his willingness to do hard work for us and our house. But more than that... I am grateful for this....
When I am at school... or just about any other time he has the girl(s), he plays church songs on youtube. Lately his favorite is "Oh Lord My Redeemer." It is particularly heartwarming to come home to this or to hear Xiana singing beautiful, spiritual songs that I never taught her... all because her daddy spends time inviting the Spirit into our home.

Canning

My first canning experience was a success.... except that I had no idea how long it would take and ended up canning until 1:00 am (not a super good idea when you're pregnant and tired and your husband is off hunting). But... every surface covered with tomato juice is going to be so worth it when we have fresh tomatoes in January!

Halloween... a bit early

Playgroup had an early Halloween party so that we wouldn't have to compete with all the crazy goings on of Halloween weekend. Xiana still fits in her little bo peep costume so that's what she was. I have some friends (Kacie) that think it is cruel and unusual punishment to make your kids wear the same costume 2 years in a row. But she is the CUTEST little bo peep that ever walked the face of the earth and I couldn't resist. She was just way too darling to pass up another opportunity. Ekco bemoaned this fact saying, "hopefully someone will buy her a costume for her birthday." She didn't get it. It's not that we are incapable of having my mom make her another one... it's just why bother when this one is sooo cute?
Seriously!
This was a very organized and well attended play group party.
There were crafts... games... cupcakes....
And trick-or-treat.... kind of :)

Apple Hill

This year for apple hill, my brother and his family met us up there. I was a little sad to go without Brian as it was such fun last year, but we went any way and it was great to see the fam. Xiana loves her cousin Eva and she mothers Xiana like nobody else. They had a great time playing and eating.
and eating...
We also got our pumpkin there this year. I know I know, pretty silly to go to the pumpkin patch and leave without a pumpkin and then go to apple hill and get one, but you know...
This was a beautiful little pumpkin patch at one of my favorite orchards, Boa Vista.
A balancing act.
We REALLY tried to get all the kids to hold a pumpkin and look at the camera... alas, it was impossible.
We went for a train ride around a little pond and the conductor was so kind as to let us pay only 12 instead of 22 simply because he wanted our ones.
We went to a farming museum where Xiana tried to wrap her mind around the concept of no electricity. We explained the job of the miller and then the use of oil lamps. She might of understood a little, but she did ask why they didn't just turn on the light.
They went on a corn maze that was loud.
And ate lots of apple donuts.
And caramel apples. We even brought some home to daddy and Ekco and then I made caramel for the left over apples... my mom's recipe and it was delicious!
Brian's favorite thing last year was the fresh brussel sprouts so I brought some home for him. He promptly turned them into a microphone...
A bouquet...
And the statue of liberty. It was a great day (though I must admit I forgot how long it took....)

First day of school

To say Xiana has been eager to start preschool is pretty much the understatement of the century. Our life basically goes like this: X- mom? me- what? X- when am I gonna start my school? me- soon... next Friday X- okay. ( A few minutes later) X- but mom I really think I should start my school now. Am I gonna go on a school bus? When do I start again? But is that now? etc etc etc. This has been our life for some time now. She is OBSESSED and finally, after much organizing, meeting, and getting things together, her co-op school has begun. When I asked her what she thought she was going to learn she informed me that she was pretty sure she would learn her letters and her numbers and writing her name. I asked her if she would learn the alphabet. She scoffed at me and assured me she already knew that!
She was so happy... and so cute! I am really happy that we have been able to work this out. I think we have a WONDERFUL group of kids and moms in our group. We are all low stress, energetic, involved, and our kids get along wonderfully.
Alicia has the first month and Xiana thinks it's pretty special that she gets lots of different teachers. Now the ongoing question is: when is it gonna be at our house?
And already she's mastered the art of line making.
When we got home Xiana tried out her new-found skills of riding a bike. (I can't remember if I mentioned that she could finally ride her bike, but she can. She acts like she's been doing it all year!)
She has also discovered that while I'm painting, scraping or primering, she can easily entertain herself just like a little monkey should... by swinging on the bars of scaffolding and climbing.
She assures me continuously that she is being careful.

And that she won't fall. After all, she's a big school going girl these days, didn't you hear?