Ronan turns 1!!

We found out Christmas morning that Ronan Patrick Quinn was on his way. I was LITERALLY jumping up and down SCREAMING and at one point I looked down and I was drooling.

We wanted Patrick and Erin to have a baby in the worst way. Well they did and he is fabulous. I get to have two little boys.

Patrick and Erin threw an amazing party for him last night in their backyard. It was perfect. The little details are what make a party so perfect. 

-Big round tables with white linens

-The homemade invitations with sewn fabric flags

-Delicious chocolate one eyed monsters

-The centerpieces made from vintage tonka trucks with balloons attached

-The world hotdog guy. He is a hotdog cart who is a Sugar House fixture. Gourmet hog dogs, vegetarian and beef. Patrick and Erin had him set up his cart in their yard. People got to eat hot dogs galore.

-Corn Hole. My favorite new game. Sooooo fun!!!

-Yummy cold mommy and daddy drinks.

-Old and new friends celebrating this life we all love more than anything. The majority of the people at Ronan's party we have known since we were kids. How lucky is that. We grew up together and now we are becoming parents together. Wow these children are so beautiful, just like their parents. I truly hope they grow up together they way we all did. 

Ronan we love you. You have tons of support and love.

Thank you so much for coming to us. I will be at every single one of your parties watching you grow and become an amazing man. 

Love aunt Shannon

 My beautiful Quinn

 Proof that I didn't bring my child to the party naked. I CAN'T keep clothing on her

 Hot dog cart

 Cutest centerpieces ever. That Patrick and Erin have amazing taste

 Patrick's credeza with vintage drink buckets

 And she's naked.

 Josiah. He belongs to my long time friend Leah Steele Barnett. So beautiful!!

 Mom, Al and Jaren

 Greatest guys in town

 Quentin, son of Brian Clinger and Annette

 The guest of honor. Ronan loved his cupcake. Holy cow they were amazing. One eyed green monster chocolate cupcakes. I ate two on the way home.

 The finest women in town. My oldest friend Sascha, Christine and Al. Classy, intelligent, beautiful women and SO FUN!. These women are my friends. I am so lucky.

 Hot Dawgs!! Setho and Andy

 Nathan, Brady and Jen. More good friends we are so lucky to know.

 Pipes and Iris. These two are going to preschool together next year. They are going to be so close for many years to come. Iris belongs to Christine and Andy. Seriously great people. I have a feeling we may get a phone call or two from the police regarding these two when they are older and causing trouble.

Enjoying this beautiful summer evening

 Pipes does parties right

 Grandpa Tom

 Centerpieces

 Sweet, silly Jaren

 Quinn is done

 Headed to grandmas for the latter part of the evening

Happiness Is

I have been incredibly humbled by our situation over the past 6 months. Everything I do I feel so incredibly grateful. The ability to pay our mortgage, put Piper in preschool, have food on our table, great medical insurance, an amazing career, going out to eat, healthy kids, time together, you name it I am overwhelmed with gratitude.

I don't believe in blessings or luck. I do however believe in good decision making, hard work, and sacrifice. They are essentials for being a human being. When you have children, they are more than essential, they are a must.

It's silly, but the other day we went hiking and I even felt grateful that we have a car with a full tank of gas and the ability to take our children to an amazing place of beauty. 

 

Preschool Graduation

All good things must come to an end. Yesterday Piper graduated from the U of U Preschool. She is going back in the fall, so it's not a final goodbye. What an amazing experience we have had. The teachers, other kids and their parents are phenomenal. It has been a perfect fit for us. To trust someone with your child is so scary to me. Piper's best friend Eli is switching schools, so we are sad about that. Her other little friend Iris is joining the U of U Preschool family in the fall. We couldn't be happier about that. Iris and her parents are amazing people. 

Piper, Eli and Sammy

Piper and her teacher Miss Tammy Taylor

Piper and her very best friend Eli. These two love each other so much. I love watching them.

We all got to come to the end of school party. Quinn loved it.

 

Piper and the potty

It was a lovely hot Sunday afternoon. You were hanging out watching a nature show on Black Mambas eating chocolate ice cream and bananas in the nude. Just exactly what you should be doing on a Sunday.

The pee pee dance started and it happened. You ran to your potty and you did it. You started to use the toilet today. Seth and I have tried and only ran into tears and fighting over the past 6 months or so. We backed off and tried to let it happen on its own. 

2 skittles for pee and 5 for a poop. Piper keeps trying to urinate over and over to get her skittles. I taught her about what makes urine, so she spent much of the afternoon parked on her potty with her water bottle. A friend of mine at work suggested keeping your child naked while potty training. Worked like a charm. Not one accident this afternoon.

Not only did you pee, but you got up from the dinner table without a word and pooped in your toilet. 

This is so Piper. She does things on her own terms. Piper will not be pressured and does not follow the group. These are wonderful qualities to have. Qualities that I hope stick with her as she becomes a teenager.

Today was bittersweet for me. I am in no hurry for any milestones. I love my LITTLE children. I have never minded diapers. I am happy that she is proud of her new achievement, but with Quinn walking and now the potty, I am hoping we can slow it down a bit. 

Next they are going to tell me they have found an apartment and are moving out together.

Congratulations my little love. I am so proud of you. 

May Family Update

My sister-in-law made this famous LEMON CAKE one summer and I couldn't believe how amazing it was. The recipe is in Favorites.

 Piper had her second trip to Primary Children's Hospital. She was sick, sick, sick for days with diarrhea. She became lethargic and so we took her to the ER for IV fluids. She didn't even flinch when they stuck her. She is so brave. It made a world of difference. I can't believe how amazing the nurses and doctors are at that hospital. We are feeling so grateful to have such close access to such wonderful healthcare. Pretty grateful for great health insurance as well. These kids aren't cheap, but SO worth it.

 Pure bliss. Momma Erin and Ronan

 It's official. Quinn is walking. I am going to say his first steps were May 24. He is so proud.

Lemon cake was a hit!

Motherhood

Last year my brother and Erin hosted Mother's Day in their backyard. Their yard is so wonderful. Tons of trees, and perfect for croquet. I think we might have it at their house every year. I better let them know.
Last year Erin and I were about to give birth, so not much croquet happened. This year however was all about croquet and mimosas.

I would make a million babies with this man!

My babies

My Piper girl

Only true men wear outfits like this. And no it's not feminine, it's European. Seth and I have this conversation over and over.

I felt lost for so long. I never knew where I belonged. Should I be a city girl or a country girl. Where will I truly be happy. The problem was I had too many options. I'm not complaining. I wasn't one of those girls who grew up saying she wanted to be a mommy. It was always a maybe.

Clarity came when my little girl was born. Ok well not immediately after, but after the postpartum settled down.

Have you felt that true calmness in your heart? Have you felt that peace in your soul when you truly know you are where you should be. I know my place in this world. I no longer wonder what if. I am satisfied thru and thru.

They gave me this incredible gift. They solved all my what ifs. They gave my life meaning that I never knew existed.

I hold them and feel so incredibly lucky for every day I get to spend with them.

Thank you Piper and Quinn.

We are so lucky to live in Utah

On any given day we can leave our house and be on the mountain within 30 minutes. How lucky is that. This morning the kids and I went for a walk along the shoreline trail. It was incredible. The air was cool, and the light and colors were amazing. The only thing missing was Seth. He stayed behind to finish school work. He will be done in 3 months. Woo freaking hoo!!!

My little hiking bud

This is Piper's new hiking technique. She would get tired and wander off the trail and sit in the brush. My little lady just gets tired. Her solution was to ride on uncle PPs shoulders. God I love this little girl.

I've got a lot to learn about my nephew, but one thing I know is that he is crazy about his mother.

Piper and her uncle PP.

Piper taking one of her brakes.