We Survived! It's a Miracle!!!

We have spent the last two weeks in swim lessons. What a nightmare. We switched this year from the Washington Community Center and a mom and tot class to Dixie State College and a independent class. Casey and I had a lot of a discussion as to whether or not this was the right decision for us and for Jenna. Once she gets comfortable she's very outgoing, but at times it can take a while before she is at ease. She's definitely not one to just jump right into something. She sits back and gets the lay of the land and then on her terms she will eventually join in. She's also still very clingy and has some separation issues. For all of those reasons, we decided we should go ahead with the independent class. Heather Kearl's son, Russ, Morgan Dewey's daughter, Lexie, and Kacey Perry's daughter, Lauren, were all going to be in the class also so I thought that would help with Jenna's computability. That being said, I expected it to be difficult, I did not expect it to be so traumatic. In hind sight, I still think we may the right choice, but I know now for future events i.e. preschool to have very low expectations. 

Day one Jenna screamed the entire hour and spend most of it on my lap crying. 

Day One

Lauren Perry, ?, Lexie Dewey, and Russ Kearl

On day two, I wore my swim suit thinking maybe if I sat on the steps with her, we could ease her in. That was a giant fail. She screamed and screamed and would not let go of my neck. So I finally yanked her off my neck and left the pool area. It was awful! She was in the pool, abandoned and sobbing. I was just outside the pooling, peeking through the fence, sobbing. Nobody won. Heather finally gave her a fruit snack and bribed her into not crying. 

So on day three, I brought cinnamon bears and fruit snacks. Dropped her and the treats off and left the pool area again. It's my understanding from those allowed to stay in the pool area by their children, that she cried for a while but then calmed down fairly quickly. She spent the entire day swimming with her cinnamon bear, like a little security blanket. And then there was Jasmine. 

Meet Jasmine, our saving grace: 

 She spent the rest of the two week class doing one on one with Jenna. Though Jenna had to do everything all the other kids in the class were required to do, she just did it on her own. 

During week two, I was finally able to stay in the pool area. Once we bribed her with treats, and she found Jasmine, she was fine. I was so glad I was able to watch her, get some pictures, cheer her on, and not be isolated in the car. Hooray for progress! 

I love her sweet little friendship she has with Lexie. They were only born a month apart and they play so well together. Hallelujah! 

P.S. How cute are her little ringlets?! So fun, now that she finally has some hair. 

Play Group

For play group this week we went to a park in Washington City that has this little stream that runs through it. The kids were in heaven! Knowing they wouldn't want to get it out one they got in we did our play ground playing first. Then headed over to the stream. Heather is our of town on a little vacation with Matt for their anniversary. So Morgan had her three kids as well. Glad it's her not me. Not I don't adore the Kearl kids, or that they aren't great kids, but the sheer number of being responsible for 4 children overwhelms me. I have no idea how my mom did it. 

I was especially grateful for the stream, as Jenna had not 1, not 2, but 3 accidents while we were playing at the park. She had been doing to great with the potty training until a couple weeks ago, when all of a sudden she either couldn't make it to the party or chose not to go in the toilet. It's getting so frustrating. I feel like we can't leave the house because, inevitably she would end up peeing her pants. I really don't understand the back sliding and hope this phase ends soon. 

Play Group

The girls: Morgan Dewey, Heather Kearl, and me {Ryan Talbot not shown - taking the picture} We have been getting together every Wednesday for a play date for the kids. This week it was raining out, so instead of the park we headed to the indoor play area at Fiesta Fun. The kids had a blast, I had a hard time not thinking about the vast number of germs that had to have been on everything. So I focused on taking pictures of the little cuties. 

Jenna and Lexie Dewey

Russ Kearl and Boston Talbot

Boston Talbot

Lexie Dewey

Brinlee Kearl

Blake Talbot

Lexie and Jenna birthdays are just a month apart. 

What Unbelievable Friends We Have!

Our dear friends, the Kearls, took Jenna for the last few days (including overnight) so I could keep working on the house while Casey was at work. What an amazing thing. They saved us a thousand times over. It was such a relief to know she was being loved and cared for while we were able to get some much done without having her under foot. When they returned her, she was all gussied up from her mani/pedi. What a happy girl with pink nails. 

A Candy Land Birthday Party - Jenna's Two!

For the second year we had a joint birthday party for my nephew, Cooper, and Jenna. Since they were born just 3 days apart this is what's happening for now. We had the funnest time at the party. My sister, Sara, and I decided to do it in Saint George this year since her family was in town for Thanksgiving and went with a Candy Land theme. As most of you are probably aware, we don't really do anything on a small scale. So, yeah, went a little overboard....but it was to be expected, right? You'll have to forgive the 1000 pictures but I promised pics for the out of town fam...

We had candy cane balloon pillars on the entrance to the clubhouse.

When you opened the doors you were greeting by the start of the construction paper board game. 

It lead you around the room to each of the stations.

You started by getting your ice cream. 

You then stopped at the "Gingerbread Plum Tree" station. Where you could top your ice cream with chocolate sauce, crushed graham crackers, cheese cake crumbs, yogurt chips, brownie chunks, crushed Oreos, Butterfingers crumbs, mini Reese's peanut butter cups, milk chocolate caramels, or cookie dough chunks. 

The next station was the "Gumdrop Mountains" / "Lollipop Pass" where you could have a choice of Skittles, Dots, Smarties, Gummy Bears, Nerds, Mike & Ikes, M&Ms, gum balls, Pixie Stix, and lollipops. 

At the "Peppermint Stick Forrest" station we had well, peppermint candy canes, peppermint mints, licorice, and Jolly Ranchers. 

We also include the kid's gift "bags". Because we were pumping these children full of sugar before we sent them home we decided to not include any candy in the gift bags. We were lucky enough to come across some Candy Land chapstick in the Target One Spot {oh man, I love that place way too much!}. Target also had bubbles in a ice cream cone container, and we topped it off with a squiggly straw. 

We had cupcakes topped with Airheads Xtremes to look like a rainbow.  

I made a wreath from water balloons, tulle, and ribbon. I bought a Styrofoam wreath and inserted each balloon/tulle/ribbon piece in with a floral pin. It took FOREVER and my fingers were killing me by the time I was finished but I loved how it turned out. And I can totally reuse this at another party. I finished it off by printing a miniature version of the bunting banner I made for the entrance. 

We also had a water station, thinking these needed to be grounded with water after all the sweetness. 

My lollipop tree. Loved it. 

The reversible banner at the entry way. "Happy 2nd Birthday" on one side...

...Cooper & Jenna on the other. With a picture of each of them at either end ended up being the perfect number of characters. 

Birthday girl, Jenna Rose! 

We felt so supported by all of our friends and family that came out. My cute sister, Sara did the ice cream serving. The Quarders clan; Cooper, Sara, Chloe & Chris. And the birthday boy, Cooper. Seriously, how cute is he, all sugared up?!

We had a little cake walk for the kids to play. It was the only game we had. It was a great night. A lot of work!!! I really need to figure out a way to reign it in, but so far, that's not my m.o. so I have little hope of that changing.