First fourth of July adventures

Today was Kenzie's first Fourth of July. It came complete with 2 patriotic outfit changes, bathtub painting, and her first handprint flag (I say first bc it is likely that she will make another).

Until next year...

Bathtub paints

I totally saw this idea on pinterest bit had to modify the recipe some do here is what I did.

In a bowl combine:
2 tbsp cornstarch
1/2 of a 1/4 cup of baby shampoo (I say that bc I can't guarantee it was really 1/8 cup)
1 tsp water

Mix in a bowl and pour into ice cube tray (or individual bowls)

Add 3 drops of food coloring to each and stir (I used a chopstick)

Since its just shampoo, it is supposed to rinse clean away. I'll post later after Kenzie's bath to see how it goes

Happy First Father's Day to Mike!

When a woman considers marrying a man, she can't help but think of what type of father he will be. I knew from the moment I met Mike he would be an amazing dad. In him I've seen what unconditional love between a father and daughter really looks like. He has learned all of his wonderful qualities from his father, the man I am also blessed to call my father-in-law. Through Mike and Glenn I see love, forgiveness, grace, passion, sacrifice, humor, gentleness, and have experienced small glimpses into how my heavenly father views me.

I am so overwhelmed to watch Mike with Kenzie sometimes. His attention and gentleness are nothing short of sweet. You can see his intense love for his baby girl as he plays with her, carries her around, and rescues her when she gets stuck in new places. Through him I will see my daughter be raised with the daddy I didn't get to have. I know I will watch in adoration as he tosses her in the air, lets her dance on his feet, wipes away her tears when she falls, loves and serves her mother, takes her on daddy/daughter dates, and overall showers her in the love and grace that God shows us. Could I ever ask for anything more? 

Daddy's little polo girl

Mike was the first to hold Kenzie, bringing her over to see mama

skin to skin time

First Halloween

cuddles

dressed for church

comforting Kenzie in the hospital

Valentine's Day!

St. Patrick's Day

kisses for daddy

<3 

I love you Mike. Happy Father's Day!

Book 3 is done!!!!

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100 things to do before I die- another one bites the dust

100 Things to do before I Die

Academics/Career:

1. Be a principal
2. Be either a superintendent/district administrator
3. sing/speak at a public event
4. Be a grade level team leader
5. Get my master's degree
6. Get a doctorate degree
7. Teach a college class 
8. Start my own business/support my husband starting a business Epic fail with Mary Kay but at least I tried

Family:

1. take my daughter to get a pedicure
2. Make baby books every two months for the first year of my children(s)' lives.
3. attend a mother/daughter sleepover
4. go to grandparent's day
5. have ALL my children and grandchildren come home for Christmas
6. french braid my daughter's hair 
7. Be a mother-of-the-bride
8. watch Mike walk our daughter down the aisle
9. hold my baby in my home in her Aunt's blanket
10. offer my engagement/wedding rings to my grandson/granddaughter
11. serve on a Tres Dias weekend with my husband
12. speak to my grandfather about his experience in the Holocaust
13. Dedicate Kenzie at church 5/13/12
14. Adopt a baby with down syndrome

Personal

1. weigh less than 140 lbs
2. Have no need for contacts or glasses
3. come up with 100 items for my list
4. VBAC
5. Rectora/Head Cha
6. Own a black pug
7. Own a MAC/Ipad
8. get married 6/19/09
9. have a baby 10/14/11
10. buy a home
11. see someone accept Christ
12. become a member of my church
13. Host a bible study at my home
14. Write and publish a children's book
15. Write and publish a novel
16. Complete a pull up
17. Do a hanging sit up

Travel/World Experiences: 

1. Cruise to Alaska
2. Live in England for a year
3. Take the Lord of the Rings tour of "the Shire" in New Zealand
4. See my husband baptized in the Jordan River 
5. Meet a president
6. Go on the Disneyland Cruise
7. vow renewal in the church Mike's parents were married in
8. Visit the tribes of my Native American heritage
9. Live in a "Stars Hollow" town

DIY/Activities:

1. Collect all the Cinderella stores from around the world
2. Have an entire room in my home with floor to ceiling libraries
3. Own all the Caldecott winning books
4. take a drifting class
5. Make the hair bows for my daughter's sport's team (volleyball, cheer etc)
6. learn to hip hop dance
7. solve the rubic's cube in under 4 minutes
8. Read all of Jane Austen's book
9. Go to the midnight release of the final Breaking Dawn movie
10. Complete a parallel study of the Gospels
11. Take a ride on the light rail- Thanks Joann!
12. learn to use a sewing machine 
13. trash the dress in water
14. relearn and "speak' sign language fluently
15. Shoot a gun Happy Birthday to David!
16. Learn to ride a sport bike
17. Learn how to do a fish tail braid

Finances:

1. Eliminate all debt
2. Pay off all student loans
3. Learn how to invest 

Total: 68
Completed: 5

Book 2- DONE!

My goal for all my kids is to complete a book every two months for the first year of their life. I am painfully behind but am trying to catch up. I just finished Kenzie's second book.

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Squash, and apple sauce, and crock pots meals...Oh my!

I love pinterest! Why do I start off that way? Pinterest has inspired me to try out some pretty cool things. In the last month or so, Kenzie has started eating solid food and it is hilarious to watch her faces as she decides what she likes and what she doesn't. So far she loves squash, apple sauce, pears, carrots, yams, and yogurt. She will tolerate sweet potatoes and oatmeal, and will not eat prunes and green beans. Interesting! In the interest of saving money, having the piece of mind of knowing exactly what my baby is eating, and because I love it, I have made almost everything Kenzie eats (the yogurt and oatmeal were supplied by the good people at Gerber and Beech nut). I got my organization and strategies from pinterest:

Source: doityourselfdivas.blogspot.com via Leah on Pinterest

Here's another one:

Source: homemade-baby-food-recipes.com via Leah on Pinterest

On top of that, pinterest also has an array of awesome crockpot meals. Mike and I also wanted to try these so last night I did. Check out this pin:

Source: ringaroundtherosies.net via Leah on Pinterest

I can't wait to see how it all turns out this week.