More New Mexico & a Little Sedona
We spent one more day at the Balloon Fiesta where they had a day that was geared towards kids with all kinds of shape & character balloons. The kids loved it & we still couldn't get over just how many hot air balloons there were. Hundreds!
Noah was really interested in my camera this trip & after I taught him how to take a picture he was always saying, "Let me take a picture of you, mom." I loved looking back at the different pictures he took.
A while back I showed Ruby the picture below of when we took her to zoo lights as a baby & we laughed at how funny her facial expression was. So when she was tucked in the stroller she recreated this picture.
On our way home from New Mexico we decided to drive to Sedona & spent the night in a tiny house version of a cabin which was a fun little adventure. When we got there, Ruby & Noah could hardly even contain their excitement. I think Noah asked me 100 questions in a 15 minute span of time he was so excited. They loved the tiny little cabin & were SO excited to have a bunk bed to sleep in. I think this part of the trip was easily their favorite.
Another picture by Noah
We found the best hike that was perfect for kids & had a great view at the end. I'm so impressed by what good hikers our kids are already. Ruby practically ran up the trail & Noah went back & forth between walking & riding on Tyler's shoulders - they're troopers for sure. The whole time we were hiking, there was a man playing some kind of Native American flute (?) that we could hear as we hiked. It was kind of amazing & also very Sedona. When we got to the lookout point on the hike, the man came down & gave us all heart shaped rocks he had carved that he claimed contained some sort of healing energy. Ruby was very impressed & declared him her new best friend & decided she wanted to invite him to her next birthday party. Sedona is kind of a beautiful weirdo that you can't help but love.
This was such a fun trip! Love these people.
New Mexico
We took a trip last week to New Mexico for the Balloon Fiesta & it was so much fun! The kids have been looking forward to this trip for months now & were so excited to see all of the hot air balloons. We spent most of the first day driving in the car, so once we arrived we stopped off at the zoo to let the kids run around & enjoy the beautiful weather. Maybe it was being cooped up in the car for so long, or maybe it was that we were giddy about cooler weather, but the afternoon we spent there was such a good one. The kids wanted to stay for hours & it was so nice to have totally uninterrupted family time. Being outdoors together as a family is definitely when we're all the happiest.
On day two we headed to the Balloon Fiesta & it did not disappoint! So many hot air balloons everywhere! And the weather could not have been more perfect. It took a little while to coax the children out of the stroller where they were all bundled up, but after a little while they came out. Albuquerque has the biggest international balloon festival & it's something you have to see in person to understand just how big it is.
And then we headed to the temple so the kids could see what the New Mexico temple looked like. It was closed so we had the grounds all to ourselves & the kids loved running around & playing hide & go seek. I love how much Ruby & Noah love the temple already.
Family Night
We had a family home evening the other night all about stranger danger/safety. We taught the kids about strangers & practiced different scenarios & then Tyler mysteriously disappeared & the next thing we knew, someone was knocking on our front door. There was Tyler "in disguise" holding candy in one hand & money in the other trying to lure the children outside. The kids were equal parts confused & amused & I could not stop laughing. Noah was all too willing to go, but Ruby held him back & then they took off running & laughing & screaming. It was one of those nights where there were so many really funny moments. And then Noah wanted to try on the stranger disguise Tyler had & he walked around saying in a deep voice, "Hey, you want to help me find my cat? I'm a stranger!" I feel like more often than not our home is a circus, but I sure do love these people of mine.
Noah is 3!
Our sweet Noah is a 3 year old! I can't even think about this little boy without a smile coming to my face. I feel like the 3rd birthday is when kids really "get" the whole birthday thing, & with Ruby's birthday the week before, Noah could hardly wait for his. We celebrated all day long & started in the morning with a pink donut with sprinkles, just like he had asked for. He took cupcakes into preschool & he asked me several times if I had a cupcake for Abby (?!!), a little girl at his preschool. We had a little family dinner/celebration & opened presents, & then had a family game night. Noah is super into games right now & loved playing Hungry, Hungry Hippo again & again & again. He requested a Star Wars birthday this year, even though he's never seen it, & he was so excited when he got the green bike he'd been hoping for. This little boy is such a dreamboat & I just can't get enough of him. He's a lover & knows just how to wrap me around his little finger. Even when he's naughty he does it all with this irresistible smile on his face that somehow makes me fall even more in love with him. We hit the jackpot with this little boy & couldn't be more grateful to have him as a part of our family. Happy Birthday Noah!!!
I decorated his room & while I think he liked it, he mostly was just excited to have something to destroy with his sword.
When Noah saw his Star Wars cake for the first time he stopped dead in his tracks & said, "Oh.my.gosh. I love it! I love my cute Star Wars cake mommy!" - I kind of never want to forget this moment because it was so darling.
Noah, here are a few things I want you to remember:
1. You are SO special. I tell you this all the time, but what I want you to know is that I really, really mean it. You have such a happy, bright spirit & that is one of your greatest blessings.
2. Family relationships matter. They can be hard, & complicated & sometimes it may seem easier to just not work at them. But this is an area of life that's always worth the extra time & effort. Swallow your pride & bite your tongue.
3. Get up early. It teaches you discipline, it's the time your mind will be the most clear, & God is always found in the early hours of the morning if you're looking for Him.
4. Go the extra mile. It's never crowded & you'll always leave people pleasantly surprised.
5. You have been fascinated with the prophet Joseph Smith for quite a while now. Anytime anyone asks what your favorite song is you always say, "Praise to the Man". You sing this in your bed at the top of your lungs when you're supposed to be napping & you always ask me to play it for you in the car. Learn about who he was as a man & let it be a strength to your testimony. You ask me all the time, "Mom, is Joseph Smith a hero?" And my answer will forever be, "Yes."
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