Scott's Run Nature Preserve

Last Saturday I drove past the Scott's Run Nature Preserve on my way home from a RS activity. I remembered walking through it 4 summers ago with Holly and two friends. I walked ahead with the group of kids and proceeded to get lost... Never follow directions from a 10 year old no matter how confident she seems. After walking for an hour she'll tell you she doesn't actually know the way.

Shortly after one child crying out, "I'll never see my mommy again!" we were reunited with their mothers and all was well. I wanted to try the hike again, this time with my own children and the Oates family.

It was a beautiful day with a little sun, a breeze, and no bugs. The kids did very well on our hike through the dirt and rocks.

Oliver, Macy, Halle

 I love the scenery

After a long walk of playing in the river, walking over rocks, and forging the river with strollers we eventually make it to the Potomac. I didn't realize there was a little inlet with a small waterfall. Bonus!

We relaxed for awhile and enjoyed snacks. There was a large group of kayakers who came to enjoy the waterfall too. The kids threw rocks in the water and just played. The saying is true- give kids dirt and sticks and they will entertain themselves. We found out later that night the Potomac water level was higher than normal because of all the rain we've had lately. The current was also strong so I'm glad no one fell in.

Oliver

 Sloane loves Ja and as soon as he sat down she ran into his lap. The whole trip she had to make sure Ja was nearby.

To get down to the river we had to walk down this step and very rocky hill. The kids were tired so Ja carried/ran Macy up the hill.

 Ellen would have made a great pioneer. She had Sloane on her front in the Ergo, holding Oliver, carrying a backpack, and holding Halle's hand up the steep hill.

You have to cross the river in a couple of spots (it's very shallow, not even an inch deep) and on the way back we let the kids take their shoes off and play in the cold water. They enjoyed it very much.

I think we'll be going back again this summer. It was fun to play in the shallow river parts. No need to walk to the end of the trail.

The next day we found out the Oates are moving to Utah in two weeks! We will miss them so much but are happy for their new adventure.

We went again the next Saturday so Joe could enjoy the walk with us and we had another great hike with beautiful weather. All the kids wore sandals so they could just walk through the water.

 Everyone besides me and Anna braved the hard climb over the waterfall and sat across the river. Apparently it has a few steep climbs in a few parts and Ja said Macy was a great little climber and did it all herself!

Macy's Got a Brand New Bed

We held off getting a twin bed because the girls' room isn't very big. But when we would hear Macy turning in the toddler bed and knocking into the side railings multiple times during the night we decided it was time for a twin bed. She never complained but she slept much better in the queen hotel beds-probably because she wouldn't get woken up every time she rolled over. 

We went one Saturday and picked out a bed. Easy Peasy. They delivered it the next Monday and viola! Macy has a twin bed. She was very excited about it and loves to jump on it. She also shows it off to all of our visitors. 

We said good-bye to her cute little toddler bed. A lady in the ward bought the whole set from us.

When Macy saw me taking pictures of her bed she said, "Take a picture of us mommy!"

Macy picked out her new bedding from Target and was so happy she wouldn't pose for a picture. Like I should be surprised, does she ever pose for a picture?!

Then Macy wanted to take the pictures.

"Look at my crazy hair mommy!"

Macy's drawing

Macy drew this picture then 

placed it outside our door saying, "I want everyone to see my perfect picture."

I am grateful today

Macy helped me feed Anna today

So many nice things have been done for me today I need to write them down. 

I had surgery yesterday on a troubled root canal. It was painful and sore so Ja took Macy to the mall so I could nap. Then a friend Katie offered to take Macy that afternoon for me. The pain medicine kicked in so I was feeling good enough to hang out with Katie and her daughter Izzy. Macy and Izzy played in the splash pad for 2 hours. My medicine started to wear off so Katie ran into Target to buy me more ibuprofen. Then Ja stopped work early to meet me and the girls for dinner so I didn't have to cook. 

Last night Anna slept all night without waking up which was a treat. I woke up though to take more medicine but at least I didn't have to take care of a baby too.

Today I woke up with a swollen cheek that made it hard to talk. I felt tired so I dropped Macy off at Katie's house so I could sleep when Anna napped. 

At 4:30 our neighbor called to say she had dinner for us. This was only minutes after I told Ja I still didn't feel up to cooking and would heat up leftovers for dinner. She didn't know I had the surgery! She was an answer to my prayer and so kind. She made us delicious homemade empanadas. 

After dinner Ja played with the girls so I could slowly clean up and relax. 

Now I'm sitting in the hot tub at the gym while Ja stays at home with the (hopefully) sleeping girls. 

Although I was uncomfortable all of today I had great people helping me out and making me feel loved and helping my family too. 

Our dinner

Ja and the girls enjoying Popsicles. Anna took it right out of Ja's hand and would NOT let go. 

Family Photo Shoot

I wanted to get new family pictures taken since we don't have an official one with Anna and she's already 9 1/2 months old! We took them on May 24th in Old Town Alexandria. They turned out great despite the fact that it was very cold and windy. Poor Macy and Anna were purple by the end. I didn't get as many cute Anna smiles as I wanted because she was too cold to be happy! The weather is so unpredictable! The next day was warm and sunny which was quite unfortunate. Oh well, the pictures are great and I think my little family looks so cute!

Here are some favorites:

We started the Carlyle House. It's the same house we took Macy's 9 month pictures.

I love how bright and vibrant the green leaves are!

Then we walked down an alley for the fun cobblestone look.

And we sat on someone's front step for a picture.

My sweet Macy.

And my adorable little Anna.

I love this one because it captures those cute little cheeks I love so much.

I love the way Macy is clinging to Ja's finger in this picture.

I love Anna's little toes!

 We eventually made it to the marina but it was quite cold there. Macy's legs were turning purple and Anna's toes were ice.

This was the last picture we took. The girls were done and freezing. We were not going to get anymore smiles out of them that day!

Thank you Danelle Empey at MP Photography for capturing our family perfectly!

Macy's New Thing

Lately when Macy wants to do something she will come up to me and ask if it's all right. I think it's sweet she thinks she needs to ask me. Most of the time it's things that don't need asking, or things that she's already been doing for a few minutes.

When she really wants to do things she asks, "Mommy can I _____? Please, please, please?" She clasps her hands in front of her and jumps up and down while saying please. Once again it's things that don't necessarily need permission like playing with daddy. I tell her of course and she jumps up with a "Yes!" and runs off.

I love the hand clasping combined with the please, please, please. She is the sweetest little girl.

Macy very patiently getting her face painted last weekend.

 She loved her fairy and enjoyed looking at herself in the mirror. Look at those cute pink lips!

A cute thing Daddy did for Macy

We came across a website called Cute Girls Hairstyles and Macy enjoys watching the video tutorials on how to do different hairstyles. She especially loves the Tinker Bell video. We've watched a few others and wanted to try a few.

I was able to braid the Rapunzel braid into Macy's hair. It looked great until she tried to take it out. I was proud of this braid and it gave me confidence to try other hairstyles. Macy will actually sit still for them too! It helps if she's watching the tutorial as I'm doing it.

We've been wanting to do the Tinker Bell bun but it requires a bun maker which we don't have. It's been on my mind for weeks but I haven't been to a store that sells them and I'm not going to make a special trip just for one thing.

Now we're getting to the cute daddy thing. Ja really wanted to get a bun maker so he searched online to see where they are sold. He found one at Claire's in the mall. All on his own accord he packed Anna up and headed to the mall. I love the visual of him pushing Anna in the stroller through the mall and into Claire's to buy a bun maker for Macy. He picked out the right size and color for Macy's hair. He surprised us when he got home with a topsy tail too! Now Macy can have the "upside-down ponytail" as my sisters and I called it growing up.

He was very excited when he picked Macy and I up to go to Trevor's house. He was trying to talk Macy into getting a bun (which she refused initially) and Addison too. When Macy say Addison was interested she was suddenly anxious to get one. Since the package came with two bun makers we have twin Tinker Bell's!

Ja was even ambitious enough to do Z's hair. I didn't get a picture of that but it also looked cute!

I think Ja will have many more cute hairstyles for his little girls in his future. He was so sweet for getting those things for Macy. He saved me a trip out too so I am grateful for that.