Out to lunch.

At the zoo. With dad.

The snow leopard was our favorite. She was so pretty!

Look at how long her tail is!!!

Thanks (James) for the lunch date at the zoo, your girls loved it :)

Morning Runs

For the past 3 weeks I have been good about going running (after a 6 month hiatus). I have been feeling great as a result and enjoy the structure that it gives my day. At least I know I have accomplished something if I get my run in:) Sydney loves this time outside and usually takes the opportunity for a little morning snooze. Lately it has been so cold though she looks something like this...all bundled up.

Her (Secret) Admirer

This adorable dress showed up on our door step and the note said "From Grady". Already she is getting attention from the boys (Grady is 1 year old). Daddy is not happy :) Happy St. Patrick's Day folks!!!

One fine day...

..back in July of 2003 James & Marissa got married on this very hilltop area at the zoo! And yesterday when I took Sydney there with some friends and she had a blast chasing the birds around the lawn.

Her favorite both times we have gone is the petting zoo section. She gets so excited that she starts jumping up and down in her seat and squealing with delight. She would scale the fence and hop in the cage if I let her. As usual she was cracking people up with her antics.

10 Gold Stars!!!

So the Folmars decided to give Sydney a BIG present for her birthday. A giant play structure! WOW huh? We knew it was going to be a BIG project so we snagged my brother in law (who builds houses-real ones) to help us put it together. After 7 hours, 2 guys, and a lot of electric tools they finished steps 19 out 58!!! But they hammered out the other 39 the next day, with 15 minute breaks for food:)
Here is Doug reading the 1 inch thick instruction book.

Looking good.....

There were soooooo many parts!

TA-DA....it looks just like the picture online! I smile when I think of all the kids that are going to have so much FUN on this thing!

Doug, we give you all the credit for making this happen. YOU are fantastic! We would still be on step 4 if it weren't for your help!!! Thanks!

Funny Faces

Sydney loves to get attention, espeically while she is eating. I haven't been able to capture her funniest face, where she squints her eyes and makes a fake smile...hilarious. I will post it when I catch it!

My little girl...11 months old this week!

I love this picture of the girls!

http://sbdemmins.blogspot.com/2011/03/friends.html

Everyone said she would play the piano....

but I don't think they thought it would be so soon.

Thankful

My mom and Ron came last weekend for a visit...Sydney is one popular lady! It was a great time. We took a trip to the zoo, a drive down to Carp and ate some delicious food. But the best part for me was waking up in the morning to find the dishwasher unloaded, Sydney finishing her breakfast with a big smile on her face and Ron doing yard work!! Thanks mom and Ron for all your help!

The sad part of the trip came right in the middle when Sydney woke up at 12:30pm one night hysterical and barking like a seal. For those of you not familiar with Croup those are the symptoms along with labored breathing called stridor. Long story short we rushed Sydney to the ER where she was treated with humidified air (through a tube), some epinephrine and a steroid injection. She was in pretty bad shape as the dr. on call heard her from across the ward while she was stitching up another patient and began prescribing treatment from there. She still has some of her lingering cold symptoms and a slight bark to her cough...but she is much better. The bummer is that she is prone to croup so she will be likely to get it again in the future until age 4-6. I am hoping that now that I know how to treat it at home we will be able to avoid any future ER trips! What a stressful night...boo croup! However I am so thankful for quality medical care and a husband who amist the chaos remembered to pray for our daughter!!

Guests

Lately we have been enjoying several visits from family. The Folmars came up 2 weeks ago and so did my sister and her family. It is always fun to have a giant slumber party in our 1200 sq. ft. house (seriously, it is fun).

Sydney with her Grampa Howard..so cute.

I love going on vacation in SB when we have company in town. We got to go on a long beach hike and brunch at the boat house one day and then took a hike up to Tangerine Falls the next. It was a beautiful day.

My nephew Cody rockclimbing....or should I say terrorizing my sister! (hey those rocks were slippery)

My neice Hailee and our new friend Sam (yes Riley the Chihuahua came too)

Brothers!

Kimmy at the falls with an ocean view in the distance.

It was a big hike for such a little girl!