Sweet Summer Days, Our June Review

I know i talk about summer in basically every post. Clearly our winter/ spring thing we had going on was not good to me. This June summer has been perfect though. I obsessed over getting away and planning a luxurious vacation for the longest time and right now I am glad it never happened. I have been learning to appreciate the simple life and it is oh so sweet. We have spent most of our days at the park or lounging around the house. We have made a couple visits to Logandale but besides that we have been experiencing all that Cedar summers have to offer.

We filled our yard with flowers.

Spent some time in Logandale.

Leighton started swim lessons and Emersyn watched.

Jess and I tried to teach the kids their letters in a fun way.

We braved the heat and spent most of our days at the park.

The girls spent lots of time with Grandma Nancy.

 All four of us enjoyed the summer games ceremony.

I ran the summer games 5k with Courtney.

We got to be VIPs (didnt mean anything) at the Iron County rodeo and Leighton chased the cash cow.

The girls spent an entire week being sick.

Road tripped to the valley again.

Kaden visited the aquatic center for the first time.

We tried out groovefest. Leighton discovered bounce houses and Emersyn chilled like this all night.

We clearly found ways to be busy and enjoyed all of it. I can't wait to see what July has in store for us!

Summer Favorites- Hot Days

We live in pretty high elevation and in Southern Utah so i know that some of you are going to laugh when you read this but some days here are hot. Not like the heat of Nevada where i truly believe the Lizards go to die, but hot enough that the kids don't want to be outside with out shade, or water. Since my goal this week is to work on being outside and exploring rather than inside and melting our brains with telivision i figured i would round up our favorite things for hot days. Which is kind of perfect since Friday is the 4th and who doesn't want to spend it outside?

 Sun Tent and Coconut Water- Amazon, Sandals and Dress- Old Navy, Sunscreen and Pool- Target

We Have an awesome pop up tent, not this exact one, i actually can't find it anywhere online. I grabbed it at target one day during one of my random shopping sprees and almost took it back because of buyers remorse. I am sooo glad i didn't. I keep it in the car and take it everywhere, the park, friends homes, on Sunday drives and I am even considering setting it up at the 4th of July parade. It isn't too big or small and if it had a brand or i had anyway of finding it i would buy like 10 of them so if i can always have one. 

Do any of you use the Honest company products? We love them! Leighton has the worst skin ever (poor girl) and I found their balm cleared her right up and she has zero break outs with this sun screen. Not as high of spf as i would like but it does the job. 

Old Navy is clearly our go to for so many reasons but you can't beat their prices on sandals for the kids. 

Most important thing while your in the sun? Staying hydrated. I am not a huge fan of coconut water. I think it is bitter and gross, but Leighton has always liked it which is great because it is so good for you. It is packed with electrolytes and vitamins and is totally natural. These pouches are convenient and way better than a juice box.

Hope you enjoy and I would love to hear your hot day go tos!

Motivate Me Monday- Lets Play

Where has this summer gone? I honestly can't believe that June is already over. At the first of the month i made a goal to work on pre-school type activities with the girls everyday. Well that hasn't worked out like i planned. We kind of fell into a funk of lounging a lot and watching too many movies when we are at home. Last week I watched Leighton play with her cousins and she was so involved in everything. She wants to be exploring and making messes and just learning. So we are going to play. We are going to run through the water, dig in the dirt, and paint with our fingers.  

Heres to being motivated to get out and play!

A Not So Normal Sleep Routine

Before Leighton was born i had a list of do's and don'ts for raising children. At the top of my list. Do establish routines for bed and do follow it to a T. I had watched as people around me figured out what worked best and what didn't with their kids, I read several books on sleep and sleep routines. My favorite book? Healthy Sleep Habbits, Happy Child. It made perfect sense to me. It described all of the differences in babies with colic or not, babies who breast or bottle fed and that every baby is just different in some way. I stuck to this books plan and life was good until life got very very busy. I stressed myself out way to much trying to make sure Leighton got 3 naps a day at least 45 minutes long and got to bed at the right time. I am not quite exactly sure when this happened but at some point, I gave up. I decided that my baby was happy and healthy and that she would sleep when she needed to. Guess what!? It works. Not every day is a dream but honestly when Leighton is tired she goes to sleep. If she only has 1 nap a day instead of 2 she goes to bed earlier that night. We are constantly on the move and my girls adapt so much better to traveling and a change of plans when they aren't held to a strict schedule, and so do i. I know this is not the norm. Everyone says put your babes on a set schedule. Children love routine! And its true, they really do and with all of my schooling in education I know how importnant routine is. I just don't keep a strict one. I know that an hour after Em first wakes up she will go down for a nap. Then she naps between 12-2 and again around 5-6 then goes to sleep at 830-9. Leighton is down to 1 long nap or 2 short ones. When i know she is need of a long nap i plan all of our outings for the day out so that we will head home around 1 and that is when she falls asleep. If she falls asleep in the car, she will be out for a couple of hours. Still all very different than how most moms handle naps but it is what works. It works not only for my babes but me as well. Fighting the sleep battles is not fun or easy, but finding what works for you is so different with every family. You need to establish the routine that works not only for your kids, or is what the best book every suggests, but what works for you as well. 

This is the last of the Toddler Topics link up. To read others take on sleep click here.

Summer Favorites- Red, White and Blue!

The 4th of July is right around the corner and we are feeling patriotic. Really, I look forward to this day every summer. A day dedicated to celebrating our country should be done right. We always dress up,  attend a parade, have a lunch party and end the night with fireworks. This year I really want to have a bbq full of  festive food and red, white and blue decor. I went shopping for our outfits today and here is what I found.

This recipe looks heavenly.

These candles are on sale and how perfectly patriotic are they?!

This banner is too cute not to hang.

What will you be doing this Independence day?

Motivate Me Monday- Quit Robbing Yourself

Confession, I have a huge problem. I compare myself to almost everyone and everything. It is something that for what seems like most of my life i have struggled with. I honestly can remember comparing myself to kids in elementary school and getting so nervous because i couldn't run as fast as other kids or i thought there was no way i could hit the tether ball as hard as someone else. I don't know why i started this game, i wish i never had. I think that life would have been a lot easier this far if i wasn't always so worried about what other people had, or thought or what i didn't have or how i looked. This is something i have been trying to work on constantly and something that is really embarrassing to come out with, but i figure if i feel this way i can not be the only one. Since the day i decided i didn't need to keep up with the "Joneses" of the world I have found myself immensely more grateful for what i do have. It has given me perspective and helped me to be happy with where i am in life, what i can afford and what i can offer my family. It is frustrating to think of how long i went with feeling like i wasn't as good as another person or that my home wasn't as pretty as a bloggers that i follow or that my children didn't have as cute of clothes or nice of toys. I truly had been robbing myself of joy. I had been letting something that is unobtainable control me, and for what? Nothing good ever came from it or ever will. Over the weekend i found myself frustrated again with somethings and had to  step back and realize I am blessed, i am happy and i have enough. 

This week i challenge you to quit comparing. To be yourself. To find joy in all you have and know it is enough, and you are more than enough. 

Who Has Time These Days?

I blog and I love it. I love writing down my thoughts and feelings, the adventures my family goes on, the sweet things that Leighton says or looks that Emersyn gives me. I also like writing all of the mundane things in between. This is where i record our story. It is my journal where one day my daughters can read all the ups and downs i went through and maybe they'll see as human. It is where i post pictures for distant relatives to look at and to keep up on how big the girls are and what they are doing now. I blog because i find peace in it, writing is calming and allows me to find perspective in the day to day. Blogging is time consuming and can be stressful but it is a priority so i find the time to write. Like anything in life it is easy to say "who has time these days?" We live in a world that glorifies busy and busy can be an understatement for a mom, working, self employed in school or staying home. How does anyone find the time? It is a priority so you make it. Personally it is easier for me to stay up at night and work during nap time. After i put my girls to bed and enjoy a little pillow talk with the hubby i head down stairs, turn the TV on really low and go over my list of things to get done online. It usually reads like this

- return emails

- make business cards

- write post - things to write about

-read blogs

- edit photos

Then i proceed with the list. Doing this keeps me organized and using my time wisely. If i didn't keep a list i would wander pinterest for hours, its like a black hole that sucks me in and next thing i know my girls are waking up for the day. So not only do i make time to write, but i make sure i write with that time. If blogging is a priority you will find the time to do it. 

I am linking up with Courtney and a bunch of other lovely ladies. You can read how they find the time to blog here.

Dear Babies

Dear Leighton and Emersyn,

                You two have been sick the past few days and I am about ready for you to be over it. I am also about ready to punch a mom from the park in the face. I really am not a violent person, i promise. My mother bear instincts just come out when you are harmed in anyway and in this case it was getting sick. Since i am so upset she took her sick kids to the park who got you two sick, we have not left the house for a while. I am use to being gone almost all day long between the gym, errands, and the park. Being home the past few days has not been easy but in some ways it has been great. You both have been so sad and tired and whiny but all you have wanted was for me to hold you, love you and make everything better. You have fought over who gets to sit on my lap and who gets to rock with me first. You take turns having fevers, runny noses, and the saddest little coughs. Im sorry you have both been upset but i have loved all of your loving. Leighton you have been cuddling with me on the couch all day and want me to hold your hand or carry you in the kitchen so you can look at your fish. Emersyn you cry when you are left alone but smile when i hold you and kiss your hands. You touch my face and look at me with so much trust while i cradle you. When you two are sad and can't feel better unless i cuddle you or rub your back i suddenly feel needed more than ever. Making sure you are happy and healthy and safe is my job and when you aren't that way i have to work extra hard to get you feeling good again. I hope that you always need me this way. That when you aren't feeling great, you will come to me and want to cuddle and have me make it better. I love both of you more than you will ever know.

Love
Mom

Summer Favorites- Runnin Runnin

Since the Utah Summer Games are officially underway i figured now was a good time to introduce our favorite work out gear. I try to be a runner. I love running, it gives me a feeling of accomplishment and a visible goal to aim towards. I ran during both of my pregnancies to stay sane and in shape and have been trying to get back into it after having Emersyn. Saturday was my first big race of the year. I run with Courtney and we help keep each other going. It was only fitting that we ran the summer games 5k together. She seriously encouraged me through the entire thing and was so great! At one point near the end i thought to myself, why in the world do i think running is fun!? Well i don't, it is hard and it totally kicks my butt. But it is sooo worth it and the gold medal at the end of the race reminded me of that. I can't wait for the rest of the races we have lined up this summer and for our regular runs up the canyon with the girls. So anyways here is our favorite gear right now. Enjoy! Oh and I would love to hear what you are doing to get some exercise this summer?

My outfit- Gap Fit and Nike Shoes. Leighton's Outfit- Under Armor and Target Shoes. Water bottle- Target. Stroller- Bob Duallie. 

Motivate Me Monday- Sick Days

This past week was eventful and fun and very very draining. Emersyn got sick on Thursday and as much as i tried to convince myself that she was doing fine, she wasn't. She hasn't slept at night since Wednesday and i mean really hasn't slept. Like when the baby can only sleep being held and the second you lay her down she starts screaming or once you do get her to lay down she just coughs herself awake. This has been awesome! Im full of sarcasm right now (due to my lack of sleep) so bare with me. 

Last night sat down to write this post and thought what in the world is going to motivate me this week, what do i need?! All i can think? Sleeeeep. So i gave up on this until this morning. Hope all of you have slept much much more than i have the past few days and i hope all the littles are way healthier. It is summer, life is supposed to be a dream and no one is supposed to be sick. But here is real life and here is what is motivating me today. 

Fathers

In our home the girls know that dad is their go to guy. They have adored him since the minute they were born and he has loved them with more heart than they will ever know. Our daughters are Kaden's world. One day out of no where Kaden said it was dangerous how much he loved Leighton (this was before Em was born), that she could ask for anything and he would give it to her. All he wants for his daughters is the world. Is that too much to ask? Kaden works so hard to support them and wants them to experience everything. He lights up when Leighton and him find new rocks to collect and she says a new word he has been trying to teach her. He is so gentle with Emersyn and cuddles with her at night. Our daughters are so blessed to have a father like Kaden. Someone who wants to be a part of every second of their lives. A man that finds joy in teaching them how to be kind and loving and is a great example for them to look up to. 

Growing up both Kaden and I felt like the worst thing we could do was disappoint our fathers. Kaden may just have been afraid of his dads wrath, but i think i was afraid of knowing that my dad expected so much of me and i might let him down. Both our fathers are amazing men. Smart, kind, serving, religious, hard working men. I honestly don't know if there is anyone better for us to look up to and now for our daughters to. Our dads have instantly became the best Papa's ever! Both men turn into huge teddy bears around our girls and their bonds only grow as they get older. 

Happy Fathers Day Dad's!

 Thank you for being so amazing! 

We love and appreciate you all!

Summer Favorites- Little Swimmers

Want to know what we are doing all summer long?! Swimming. Leighton started swim lessons today and of course she loved it! There were a lot of old women, think grey hair can barely lift their water weights old, in the water. When it was time to leave i grabbed her, wrapped her in a towel and headed for the locker room. As dramatically as she could Leighton reached longingly towards the pool and yelled "Grandma help me!" Obviously my daughter has a thing for grandmas lately. Good thing she gets to see all her new grandma swimmers twice a week.

Alright, here are some of our swimming faves so far this summer. What swimming gear are you loving?

Old Navy- heart swim suit, turquoise swim suits, and hats. Target- navy and red swim suits, swim floaty, and swim diaper. Amazon- swim toys. 

Don't worry i didn't forget the giveaway. Actually i am so excited to announce who won. Thank you so much to everyone who entered! The winner is...

Allyson M.

Email me your address to claim your prize! Congrats girly!