A hike for Mother's Day weekend

Now that our family situation has changed, we have a freedom again that was once lost.  I used to look at the things people would go do and mourn it. Paige would never be able to climb a mountain, so we wouldn't be able to either, at least not all of us together as a family.

The weekend of Paige's memorial, someone posted a wild flower hike they did on their way back home.  It was beautiful.  I instantly decided we needed to do it.  The girls are young, we'd have to carry them, but it would be alright.

So this weekend, we went and did it with another family.  We made it maybe halfway if you are being extremely generous.  Nathan went to the top with the other dad, while the mom and her kids helped me down with mine.  After we left, the dads met a rattlesnake...so probably good that we stopped when we did!

It was pretty.  We will do it again in a few years when the girls are older and more capable.

This is the point we went separate directions.

Birthdays

It's hard to believe that it has been three years since Natalie and Paige were born.  It's even harder to believe that only one is celebrating her third birthday.  Happy third birthday to my Natalie.  Happy first birthday in heaven to my Paige.

Natalie had a nice birthday.  It started with randomly finding a bunny that has been missing for at least a half a year.  Natalie was so excited for her new birthday bunny.

Then we were at a store and walked by the guy filling up the vending machine toys.  One had broken open and he gave it to my girls.  Again, very exciting.

Then we had a play date at a very exciting pizza place with a play area similar to the McDonald's set up, but probably 10 times bigger.  She got lost a few times, but the bigger kids helped her out, which was very nice of them.

It all culminated with hello kitty cupcakes.

The girls got to paint

For how much I paint the house, the girls get ripped off on painting time.  Clara makes a mess and it makes me crazy, so I limit it.  Eventually she will make less off a mess and they will be able to do it more.

Today, Natalie impressed me with her coloring in the lines ability.  I have no idea I'd she should color better than this or not and don't care.  I thought it was pretty good.

Meanwhile, Clara got paint on her hands, tried to lick it off, wiped it on me and then dumped paint on the floor.  Good times.