Beautiful birthday girl

Our sweet girl turns 3 today!  I can't believe she has gotten so big, she was just my itty bitty baby.  She loves pink and tea parties.  She likes to play with dolls and dressing up and doing girly things, but she also loves to race her brother and play trains with him.  She hopes to jump in the pool just like big brother this summer.  My biggest surprise during our birthday interview was when she told me she wanted to be a ballerina when she grew up.  I didn't even know she knew about ballet, good thing we were planning on starting her on lessons next fall.  Of course you can't have all sugar without a bit of spice and our girl does have an opinion.  Recently she has started telling us "you call me Beth" so we will see if that sticks.  When you tell her something she doesn't like she will put her fists on her hips, purse her mouth, point her face down and look up at you angrily.  Most of the time she really is a sweet, cuddly girl who we are so happy to see grow.

Calling Baton Rouge

We spent last weekend camping in Louisiana.  We wanted to go on a dry run with our camper and had never visited Louisiana so we just went for it.  We started by visiting the French Quarter in New Orleans







We ended our day with s'mores around a fake campfire since we didn't have a firepit at the campsite.  We made do and the kids had a blast!

The next day we explored both the old and new state capital buildings in Baton Rouge.

Elizabeth wanted to look for Cinderella in this castle, but couldn't find her!



Next we visited the USS Kidd and our kids had a great time climbing all over the ship!







We didn't go in because the kids were passed out in the back seat, but we did get to see the unusual New Capital Building.

With beautiful gardens right out front!

Sidekicks

I have said before that Jason is our shy guy, but that might be changing.  Where at one time he would run away when introduced to new people, now he goes up and says "Hi, I'm Jason and this is my sister Elizabeth."  We tend to see our children in one light until we are forced to change.  Yesterday Jason had his 5 year old check up.  We learned that although he is very small for his age he continues to grow along the same curve.  Because of this check up we had to drop him off late to preschool.  The other kids all at the playground running around.  We have always thought that Jason was more of a follower and when he talked about his sidekicks, Isacc and Ian, he was really more of a sidekick to them.  I was pleasantly surprised then when we went to the playground to drop him off and many of the boys ran up to greet him and seemed genuinely glad he was there.  It just makes me very happy that he is making some really good friends and socializing well.   I don't know why I'm surprised, Jason is just letting the other children see what an amazing person we know him to be.

Wordless Wednesday of Salt Lake City

Busy Month

Wow, I can't believe it is almost the end of February!  It feels like it just started, we have been so busy!  We had Jason's 5th birthday (!!!!) and Valentine's Day with their respective parties, ice skating and making new friends, visiting the San Antonio Grandparents and going to the rodeo.  It feels like we just clean up from one thing and we are off on another adventure.  I'm looking forward to March slowing down a bit.

At the beginning of the month Jeff wanted to take Jason ice skating again and he did so well this time.  Jeff would skate out a little bit then let Jason skate to him.  We got a couple of times in there where he didn't even fall!  They both had a great time!






The next weekend was Jason's Cars themed birthday party.  We are so thankful to all the family and friends that joined us.  I was worried that the house would be too small to hold all those wild big boys, but it ended up being perfect and the sun came out right before the party so we were able to go outside a bit also.



Then came Jason's actual birthday.  We had a playdate with some new friends and took him out to dinner at his favorite "tortilla restaurant" before heading off to Awana's to celebrate with those friends.  I still can't believe my baby boy is 5!


Last weekend we drove down to San Antonio to join Grandma, Grandpa and Aunt Michelle at the Rodeo.  Jason really enjoyed watching the cowboys on horses roping the cows.  I've been doing lots of photography practice because I am taking another online class.  More importantly I've been asked to photograph a 5k charity race at the beginning of March.  I want to be sure I can do a good job so I have been taking pictures of the kids running around to be sure to capture all the details. To be sure the runners can get their photos I started a website they can order from http://rachelsalomon.smugmug.com/









As I said we had a lot going on and next week Jeff and I are going to Salt Lake City while the kids spend more time with Grandma and Grandpa.  We will get back just in time for me to photograph the run.  I hope to put more frequent updates in here in the next few months.

Mirror Mirror and mini Christmas

Elizabeth loves standing on our bathroom counter and playing with her "2 Elizabeths" in the mirror.








We celebrated "Little Christmas" with gifts from the Grandparents in Virginia.

Christmas wrap up

This Christmas we drove down to San Antonio to spend time with family.  We did lots of traditional thing and had a great time.



Making cookies with Grandma

Reading 'Twas the night before Christmas


Santa came


The kids on Christmas morning


What the kids saw


Daddy got an Ipad Mini


Jason got a garage to fix his cars


After she got her pink dress Elizabeth wore it most of the morning


You've got to climb on Daddy, because well...he's Daddy


I got some camping wine glasses


Elizabeth happily ate a Christmas colored doughnut

After Christmas we had a little bit of downtime to be in San Antonio.  We decided to try going to the Children's Museum in downtown.  It was wonderful for our kids ages!  They had a blast and I hope to do it again soon!

Elizabeth loved playing in the balls and having them fall on her


A huge indoor sandbox


Jason was so excited to fly the plane


A cup of tea in the little house


huge building blocks


Playing in the bubble


You were supposed to milk the cow, but it wasn't working so Elizabeth decided to try to feed it


Little piano and couch in a room to teach kids about the Victorian era.

We headed back home and to reality right before the New Year.  We are trying to get back to normal with a few resolutions.  Hoping you had a blessed Christmas and a wonderful new year!