Z is for Zoo

My parents and my niece Crystal have been in town since Friday. They are heading home today and I am really so sad to see them go. It doesn't seem like Las Vegas is very far away but when you can't see your parents all of the time, any distance feels like a million miles. Harper really loves my parents and you can only imagine how crazy they are about her. All my dad ever says is how little Miss Harper is SO much more special/smart/pretty/cute/coordinated/aware/amazing than any of the other children he has met. He is just a little bit proud of her... just a little. I wish wish wish that my parents were closer so that Harper and I could enjoy more time with them. I cry every time they leave for home. I'm sure that it won't be long until Harper does too. Maybe her tears will convince them to buy a house in Utah. Oh, I hope so!

This weekend we did a little shopping, ate some yummy food, spent time at home, visited some family, and went to the zoo. We had a great time at the zoo. The weather was perfect and most of the animals were up and enjoying the slight cool down. Harper took everything in and was quite fascinated with the animals. My parents spoiled her with carousel and train rides, treats, and prizes. We had such a nice day together (the only thing missing was Colt. He stayed home to take care of Tucker). I didn't want it to end.

Here we are going into the zoo.

I guess we need another baby for Harper to push around.

(No, that is not a hint of anything to come... not for a long time)

Harper was all eyes at every exhibit.

She called all of the animals "dog."

She waived at them.

She tried to give several of them hugs through the glass.

Carousel Ride #1

She was uncertain at first but had a great time once we got going.

Snack Time!

Grandpa Jack spoiled her with a pretzel and ice cream.

Carousel Ride #2

(Because just one isn't enough for Grandpa's girl)

A Birthday Wish

My mom turned 65 today.

Isn't she lovely?

Yesterday at the zoo, she compared her skin to an elephant's skin.
She said, "Harper, that elephant looks like Grandma."

That is just crazy talk, if you ask me... Complete crazy talk.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

The Little Blue Chair Gets a Neighbor

Remember the little blue chair? Harper loves it. Every kid that comes to the house loves it. It is the perfect piece of furniture, whether they feel like climbing or lounging. Hazel has even been known to take her afternoon nap in it. Harper isn't very good at sharing the little blue chair, however. Embarrassingly enough, she has been known to literally push (yes, I said push, as in violently move another with her hands) other children out of it. Usually, I wouldn't reward such awful behavior. However, Harper's birthday is coming up and in order to accommodate our little guests better, we (by we, I mean Grandma and Grandpa Lomento) are getting the little blue chair a neighbor. Meet the little pink chair.

How cute is this?

 I can barely wait to see it in person.

A Nice Way to End the Weekend...

We have had a fun, albeit tiring, weekend. My parents have been in town and it feels like we have played non-stop. It's been energizing and uplifting to have three days of pure fun with the people we love. It seems like Monday always comes too soon when you are enjoying yourself, doesn't it? I hope that everyone else had a wonderful weekend and that you are enjoying the last few bittersweet hours of it just as much as Harper is... See you next week!

Fall Footwear

Harper will be wearing these at her birthday party...

and her mom will be wearing these...

ok... maybe at $340, this is just wishful thinking...

but aren't they PERFECT for fall?

This was one of my favorite stories when I was little (I still have most of it memorized). The rhymes and pictures were so perfect: cute and comforting at the same time. It is just the type of book I'd love to read to Harper. Unfortunately, my nieces and nephews scribbled in my copy. I was in Jr. High when it happened and I still cried upon discovering the blue pen marks. I always thought I'd just buy another copy when the time came. Well, with Harper's birthday approaching, I thought that the time had in fact arrived... until I learned that the book is out of print and I can only purchase it from a private seller for the small price of $100....($100?!? Yes, you read correctly). I'm flabbergasted. This book NEEDS to be on Harper's shelf next to Fancy Nancy, Dr. Seuss, and Where the Wild Things Are. 

I'm left with nothing but questions. How/why does such a wonderful story go out of print? Why didn't I just keep my defaced copy? Did I love the book enough to pay $100 for it now? Should I just check it out from the library, "loose" it, and pay the $10-20 they would charge for my "mistake"? Do I compromise my pocketbook or my conscience for this piece of childhood nostalgia or do I just say forget it and find a new bedtime book for my baby? 

I'm just kidding about the library, by the way. They don't carry the book. I already checked. 

Around Our House Lately

Harper has become quite the chatter... on the phone, that is. 

We don't know who she is talking to or what she is saying.

Hopefully it's not a boy... not yet.

Hopefully she is saying how much she loves her mommy.

Look how happy Colt is. He really loves his puppy.

I don't think he has mentioned fishing since Tucker came.

For Colt, that is a sure sign of true love.

When Harper plays at home, clothing is optional (for her, not us- we stay dressed).

She sure loves to do big-girl things.

Hazel isn't really a fan of Tucker. I think I mentioned this earlier.

This is where she hides from him.

We had to make some changes around here when Tucker came.

Baby books are a really tempting chew toy for him.

I offered Harper a shelf on my bookshelf.

It's the one that is at her level. She always pulls books from it.

We put a few of her books there.

Its funny how that shelf isn't as interesting to her without mommy's books on it.

Harper loves to be outside. We had some really wonderful time outside over the weekend.

And a Puppy Makes Four

Meet Tucker Adams.

This cute little guy joined our family last Thursday and we have been trying to get him settled since. Puppies are a lot of work! Tucker is doing his best to wear me out on a daily basis and it's working. I've never been so tired, not even when I was taking care of a newborn. Caring for Harper, Hazel, and Tucker is quite the job. 12 hour days managing a retail store were easier than this. He is a puppy in every way (clumsy, dopey, whiny, clueless, and trying to bite everything with his little shark teeth) but we still love him. By we, I don't mean Hazel... not yet, at least. She is very unsure about her little/big brother. She has taken to hiding on our end table, which is too high for Tucker, and staring down at him with a look of confused disgust. She has also started showering me with love and snuggles (hoping, I think, that I'll save her from the 17 pound monster that keeps trying to play with her), so I'm not complaining- not about the snuggles, at least. :)

TGiF

Happy weekend my friends.

Do something magical.

Lola

Harper loves Lola.

Lola is her Cabbage Patch Doll.

In the photo below, Harper is feeding Lola an eggplant. 

This eggplant is Harper's favorite accessory these days.

She carries it everywhere and oftentimes leaves it in odd places.

The other day, I found it in my makeup bin.

Yesterday it was in our kitchen drawer.

FYI, I've never hung Harper upside down to feed her.

I don't know where she learned this feeding technique.

A Girl and Her Dog

Well, technically, Hazel is my dog.

Harper really loves her though.

Hazel (who really needs a haircut) still prefers me.

She just sort of tolerates Harper's kisses and attempts at play.

Soon enough, however, Hazel will probably prefer Harper.

She might even start sleeping in her bed instead of ours.

I don't exactly know how I'll feel about that. 

For now, I'll keep enjoying the sweet Hazel snuggles I get all night long.

She likes to sleep in between my legs and use my thigh as a pillow.

It's really uncomfortable sometimes but I still love it.

These two are just too cute.

The Art of the Tantrum

It seems like Harper learns something new everyday. Last week, she worked really hard on mastering the art of the tantrum.  As with all of her other new skills, I had to get some pics. Mind you Harper is not truly suffering in the photos. She wasn't hurting, hungry, thirst, or tired. I put her down to go to the kitchen and it apparently made her sad so she threw herself down and cried.

Just Popping in to Say Hi

I feel like it has been forever since I posted or checked blogger. I haven't been out of town. I haven't been sick. I haven't even been unusually busy. I have been reading Wuthering Heights. It's one of my favorite books and I decided to re-read it as a little birthday treat to myself. Normally I read books quickly. I can put 500 pages of any other book away in two or three days. The heart wrenching story of Heathcliff and Catherine, however, is different. It deserves a deeper type of attention. I read it slowly but glutinously. I will devour a chapter and then decide that it was too wonderful to not read twice. I underline favorite spots. I look up words I don't understand (and let me emphasize how refreshing it is to read a book that requires a dictionary companion. If I know every word on the page of a book, I'm disappointed). I ache for Heathcliff and constantly find myself hating a certain character on one page and pitying them in the next. I simply can't get enough of this book. Every free moment I've had over the past 7 days has gone to Wuthering Heights. I've got about 20 pages left and then I'll be back. See you then my blogging friends. Much love.

Oh Hazel!

Outside Over the Weekend

Harper and I spent some time outside this weekend.
We had fun
exploring,
spinning,
and smelling roses. 

My Birthday

I had a good birthday this year.

It was on Wednesday. I'm 27 now.

I felt loved by the most important people in my life.

I had a good birthday chat with my mom.

Colt surprised me with a new camera.

I LOVE it.

He also gave me shoes:

and a little surprise from Victoria's Secret

(it's a SECRET so no, you don't get to see it)

Harper quickly put the bag to use. 

(I'm so glad to see that she already understands the concept of recycling)

I got other fabulous presents from my favorite people.

(Pink toaster, pink hand mixer, Sephora gift card, money, clothes, Food 

Network Magazine subscription, and flowers)

Calli made me cupcakes.

I was going to take a picture of them, but they didn't last that long.

They were so cute... and yummy too.

My parents, Colt's parents, Calli, Kenzie, and Jesse all spoiled me.

Everyone is too nice. I feel so undeserving.

Colt and I both had to work on Wednesday.

When he came home, we ordered take-out.

We ate together at our table.

It was nice.

Harper was sick with an ear infection.

We spent the evening at Quick Care and Walgreens.

We came home exhausted. 

We went to bed.

Colt snuggled me to sleep.

5 27th Birthday Favorites:

1. I wasn't pregnant.

(enough said)

2. It rained. 

(I opened all of our windows. It was delicious)

3. Colt and I ate dinner together.

(and he even said he liked it)

4. I got wonderful kisses from my baby all day.

(she is sick so they were snotty kisses but I still liked them)

5. My mom sent me a birthday card. 

(I love getting cards. I keep them all in a special book. I also love my mom.)

Today...

is my birthday...

I'm 27, which sounds soooo much older than I feel (and look, I hope).

 I'll blog about my birthday happiness later.

Weekend Visitor

Meet Zowie Adams.

This little lady is coming to spend the weekend with us.

I couldn't be more excited.