One Dae at a Time: May 2019

Sunday, May 26, 2019

Full On Nesting

Our week can be described in one word for sure: NESTING.

I hardly even have any photos to post because they are all basically messy befores and organized afters of drawer and closets and random stuff. I have a long list in my phone and I am just ready to feel ALL ready for this baby before the temperatures hit 100 and before my body is super done being pregnant.

Michael:

Had Thursday off which is Westin's favorite, because that means he picks Westin up from school on his bike and brings Westin's balance bike with him. They even stopped for strawberry ice cream, lucky boys! Westin loves those rides with daddy. Michael is such a huge help whenever he is home and such a good dad.

Maddie:

Nesting! Just lots of nesting. So many random projects that suddenly feel very needed. Like buying a wood marker to color in Kitty's scratches on all our bedroom furniture. Or reorganizing the boys' dresser so that the baby can have a drawer. Or changing up our main linen closet so that Westin's closet now has no kid linens in it. Multiple Goodwill trips. Nesting is my favorite drug. I remember that feeling getting me so far when I was pregnant with Westin, then when I had Bennett I felt ripped off because our Indy>Fresno move took up all my nesting drive. But this time we are harnessing that energy!

Westin:

Is losing parts of his routine here and there as things end for the summer and he's going to be pretty disappointed when school is done. He's pretty much all the way done taking naps but quiet time still does him good. Our school transfer application was denied so our plans for next year are up in the air, but I wrote an appeal letter and I'm REALLY hoping they let him go to Transitional Kindergarten at the school right by us. Fingers crossed. I love chatting with Westin. We have our hard days still but when they come around I am reminded how many good days he has now. He found our turtle in our garage this week and was super concerned that we almost ran him over even though we did not. But, Mr. T is loved.

Bennett:

has so much energy. I want some of it! Especially come June when the weather gets warmer. We had a miraculous May that never hit 90 degrees, which is basically a pregnancy miracle. So grateful. I'm trying to work with Bennett more on his speech but it's hard to tell if you're making progress when you spend every minute with somebody. We understand quite a bit of Bennett's language but I'm sure he'd love it if he had some more to work with. He seems pretty aware there's a baby in my belly and like to share things with him and say "So soft" when he touches my belly and calls it "Brother".

Overall this week felt super uneventful after a very eventful spring, and that is ok.

Slow mornings have been more than welcome to come back around here.

Our walks are not super speedy these days between 7-months-pregnant mom,
and boys that like to check on every hiding cat.

Still loving this new cookie recipe

Westy boy is such a runner and it's fun to watch him go.

Learning about the flag at school

Greek pork pitas -- new favorite

Sometimes Bennet puts his pants on his head and roars. And it's just normal.

Our last time having sunbeam preschool at our house! It has been a fun thing for two years.
Now we're heading into summer and some of these kiddos will be in Kindergarten and Transitional Kindergarten next year.

Sunday, May 19, 2019

Yosemite and more Miner Fun

We started this week with Yosemite! Michael had Monday off, so it was so fun to hike all together with the Miners. We did the Vernal Falls trail, which was pretty steep and close to 3 miles round trip, and the kids did great. Bennett cried and cried on our break until we realized it was because he still wanted to be in his backpack even if no one was wearing the backpack. That kid. The falls in Yosemite were incredible!! So much snowmelt right now. It was the best we've ever seen the park, and the crowds weren't bad at all.

The Miners stayed two nights in the canvas tents up there but our little family headed back to Fresno Monday night so Michael could get back to work and my body could get back to being pain free. I'm grateful I can still do a full day of fun, but I couldn't do three Yosemite days in a row. I was sad to not be up there with them but happy we had Monday up there together.

They got home on Wednesday night right in time for National Chocolate Chip Cookie day. You know we didn't miss that! Then Thursday we had the BEST surprise. Michael got a text right when he got to work that said "Our patient list is so small that we don't need so many providers scheduled -- Dr. Daetwyler, do you have any objection to taking the day off?"

We did not have any objection :) :) So Michael went right back home and was able to spend the last day of our Miner family visit with everybody. We spent the morning walking around the fish hatchery and feeding the fish. The kiddos loved that and could have been happy there for hours! Then we came home and got Westin to preschool, then Jenny and I gave Lydia an at-home spa day for her birthday. She really wanted bangs and Jenny was fine with me cutting them for her, and she loved it so much that she wanted me to cut inches off all her hair too. Then we painted her nails and she was all ready to turn 10 the next day!

Thursday was kind of rainy but the forecast showed a clear afternoon and evening, so we chanced it and loaded up both our kayaks and headed to Millerton Lake. Annnnnnd it was a freezing rainy bust! I was sad for Michael to not have his kayak night, he loves those! We had packed up dinner and the boats and everything for a fire, but ended up just making two quick and cold kayak runs while most of the kiddos and dinner stayed packed in the car. Then we came home, unloaded, got warmed up, and had indoor s'mores for Lydia's birthday. Their family hit the road by 4:30 the next morning and had a smooth drive back to Utah. We miss them!!!

Friday was a catch up day and Westin was happy to be back with his friends for our at-home preschool rotation. Then that afternoon we watched THE WORST DOGS we've ever, ever watched. One was such a beast, straight out of the Sandlot, that could not be contained. And the other was an 8-month old puppy that wasn't potty trained. Neither of these details were clear when they booked the weekend visit... so, after many fiascos later, we are happy they left early on Sunday afternoon. We typically fence dogs off from our main areas so that they are only in our backyard and kitchen. This dog just would not have it -- that 60-pound beast even jumped over our counter ledge into our living room in one clear leap multiple times when he wasn't happy with his arrangement. Lots of chewed toys, Kitty run-ins, a miserable walk, and escape attempts later, we're happy to see them out of here. Seriously the hardest $100 we've probably ever earned. And $25 of it was spent on Chipotle delivery Saturday night because we were all dyyyying from all the madness.

BUT. We won't let that overshadow the week! And my Sunday morning was smooth and productive, the boys were good at church, and Michael is already home for the day, so we are happy to have an easygoing Sunday before another week. This spring has felt so busy and crazy and fun and exhausting.

Julia was not super into the backpack life!

Batman hats forever

I love all the Miner kiddos so much

Westin was anti-picture so we took one without him,
which then made him want to at least be in it.
But definitely not smile for it.

Miner crew at Vernal Falls Bridge

Daetwyler crew at Vernal Falls Bridge, with another frowny-faced Westy boy,

Bennett's preferred snack break situation.
We did not understand what his uncharacteristically long and dramatic fit was about.
Then finally got him back in here and all was well.

The Mist Trail is significantly misty right now with all the water in the park,
so we only went this far on the trail before it became way wet. It was a great view though!

Vernal Falls

The whole crew! Logan talked to someone from Denmark in the park that day,
it was fun to hear him speak Danish. I love all the languages you hear on National Park trips.

No fear from the deer

Bennett and his buddy just peeking at each other

We loved these yellow flowers on our walk!

Mr. T is a favorite backyard attraction around here when cousins come over.

Fish Hatchery Fun

Bangs!

Bangs and her long curly hair...

...until it became bangs and medium curly hair!

Cutest little niece. She's so sweet and helpful.

Books before our kayak adventure

The two littlest, serious sharing skills! Not always... but at least here :) They actually did really great together.

Rainy day at the lake.

We had to park somewhere else in the park because a ranger got mad at us, so we made two kayak trips to get them closer to our cars.
Michael and Jaren made the cold voyages, with Westin the first time and Bennett the second time. Both my boys bawled and bawled when the other one was having their turn. They loooove being on daddy's kayak with him.

This was the first voyage of the kayak that Michael repaired himself after the company sent us a replacement for free.
So we now officially have two working kayaks! Before we had one working kayak and a maybe-working kayak.
Good work Michael :)

This will be our balance bike summer! They've both got it down.
Good thing we got them for Christmas. In 2017. :)

We shared one of our lunch grapes with Mr. T and he was loving it.

We played with the Hintons at the park on Saturday morning and the five of them play so well together.
Colt and Westin are so funny, and I love that Bennett and Shea are so similar in their own ways.

Chipotle delivery and Monsters Inc. Quite the weekend, you guys.
Beast dog and crazy puppy not pictured. But know that they're there,
and that they are why we are here.

Sunday, May 12, 2019

Miner Cousins Are Here!

We're so happy the MINER cousins are visiting! My brother's family is so much fun and we absolutely love having them here. They got here on Tuesday night.

Wednesday: Zoo Day!

Thursday: Donuts at the Park, Trip to Hanford Dairy for the Miners

Friday: Day trip to Monterey -- Point Lobos hiking, Carmel beach, Dennis the Menace playground, clam chowder on the pier

Saturday: Westin's last T-Ball game, food prep for Yosemite, cousin pizza and movie night, parents date night at Westwoods Barbecue and Roll Me Some

Sunday: Julia's birthday and Mother's Day! Birthday waffles, church, burgers, and cake.

I love these nieces and nephews so much. Westin, Lewis, Jonas, and Julia are all sleeping in the boys room and they love it. Kitty has even gotten used to the crazy and hangs out with all the kiddos at home. Pregnancy is getting to the end stretch, so I am only doing full days every other day with them but we're still fitting a lot of play time in! Westin was sad to be done with T-ball but was so happy his cousins came to watch his last game. Michael didn't have a day off this week (because of his schedule last weekend) but he did get off at a good time on Saturday and Sunday. We love when he's home so much!