This little girl

Has made my dreams come true.

She is the brightest little star when you are having a crummy day and just knows what to say and what to do to make everything seem better. She is wise well beyond her 2 1/2 years and it blows my mind that we created this. She is funny, beautiful, smart, fearless, inquisitive and most importantly totally and completey potty trained.

And these two together

ahhh, I think every man needs to have a daughter in his lifetime.

In just a few short days.....

I will look like this.

And I won't care the least about wearing make-up.

And my hair will be dreaded by next Tuesday.

And I will stink like fish guts and salmon eggs, and love it. Because in Soldotna, everyone stinks like fish.

And I may eat a couple of jumbo size Butterfingers while fishing on the Kenai. And give Westyn a few.

And I will be forced to drink regular coffee for 7 straight mornings with a few Starbucks runs inbetween.

And I may have a few apple fritters or maple bars from the local donut shop that is To. Die. For.

And I will watch Troy introduce his little girl to all of his childhood "Uncles" that all happen to look like Santa Claus or somebody that sleeps in the bush. But are the coolest people on the planet.

And I will sit on the river bank with a bottle of Alaskan Amber watching all the guide boats come in for the day.

And I will drink 20 bottles of wine in 7 days with my Father-in-Law, because that's just what we do.

CANNOT wait to get on that plane Friday morning so I can lose touch with my sometimes high-maintenance self and turn into a grisly fisherman.

Cousins

My brother and his family are in town for the summer but are spending a few weeks at the canal (its too hard for me to call it my parents house just yet) so I was able to take a few days last week (thanks to my wonderful bosses) and spend some time with them and finally meet my 2 month old niece Hazel.

She was literally picking the clams and mussels out of the shell with her fingers and shoveling them in her mouth. Good thing the shellfish is free and 3 steps away.

This was 2 minutes before Campbell ran and got her own kiddie cart and her and Westyn were chasing eachother through the wine aisle. No Joke. I did not make friends at the Belfair QFC that day. I left sweating and embarassed.

Missing Westyn

I am without child until tomorrow night when we do the child swap with my parents. When they packed up the truck for the final time yesterday they took Westyn with them so she could hang out and get comfortable with the fact that the Canal is their new home. I know she is having a blast with them; playing on the beach, looking at sea life, throwing rocks (which is her favorite) but selfishly I want her home with us. Last night was so quiet without her and this morning was torture it was so lonely.

It's funny because you kind of look forward to some free time with your husband but all you both can think about is your child. And we have high hopes of catching a Happy Hour or 2 (gasp!!!) but we are being responsible and finishing up some much needed projects.

BORING. (This wasn't my idea)

You really start to wonder what you did before you had a child - but before we had Westyn we had no clue the love that would fill our hearts. Little did we know that she would turn into this creature that blows our minds on a daily basis. We didn't know that she would be a best friend and companion to both of us. We were blinded by her smarts and sense of humour. We are still amazed at how beautiful she is (yes I'm bragging).

(At Grasslawn playing in the sandbox. Look at that face! I die.)

(Walking in the park with Hayden)

D Day

My definition of D Day is: the day on which a major change will take effect.

And that day is Saturday. Why? Because my parents are moving an hour & a half away and leaving my childhood home to another loving family. Trying not to go into convulsions and hysterics. For the past 5 years we have lived 5 minutes away from each other and now they will be enjoying some peace and quite on the Hood Canal.

Don't feel too bad for me, my Mom is coming to stay with us a few nights a week....but stilllllll.

Two

My little love bug is two today. Holy crap what an amazing 2 years this has been. Being a Mom is one of the most inspiring, challenging and rewarding role there is. She is the coolest little girl and such a smart little thing. I am so proud of what she has become and I can't wait to see what this year brings us....eeks.

We are off to celebrate at her favorite place, Kidz Bounce, with some of her favorite people.

Anticipation...

for the hands down best place for apres-ski drinks

for conditions like this

and for awesome nights walking in the village experiencing the best place on earth thru Westyn's eyes and enjoying my 31st birthday with my family

I can hardly think of anything else seeing that we leave for Whistler next Tuesday night for FIVE NIGHTS!! Although my impending work deadline is keeping me busy. I don't think we've been on vacation since fishing in Alaska when I was pregnant, and we really don't call that vacation anyways - shhh, don't tell Larry. I haven't been to Whistler longer than 3 nights since I was in college and the thought of 5 nights makes me giddy. We will be renting skiis for Westyn this year so stay tuned for some absurd pictures.