Hiking Buddies

...italics are all comments AGG made during our walk/hike

Ooooh! It makes me want to sleep it's so pretty.
Jesus makes the best world, ever!
Hike, hike hike! We're hiking through the woods.

The last week of my 5YO, Avant Garde Gal's two-week spring break, her sister 3YO Dauntless Daughter... started school. So... since it was just AGG and I... we decided to take a little walk/hike on one of many trails in our community. I love to walk. My husband, Phantom can be compelled to walk - but he doesn't like it. So... I was hoping that AGG's boundless energy would prove fruitful in finding myself a proper hiking/walking buddy. As a mother, I know my child, and let's just say - I was right.

It's so pretty. It's music to my ears.
Wow, it's so pretty. I wish I could swim in that pond.
I wish I could get baptized in that pond.
Yeah, we're exploring. Hey what about my snack?
I need to take a break. I like hiking.

AGG was so excited. Her constant commentary on everything she saw was like a stream of endless chatter. Everything she said made me smile, giggle and laugh. One of my favorite things she said was, "No time for dilly dallying, hurry up!" She also was completely in awe, and exclaimed at how beautiful the world Jesus made is. "Wow, Jesus is sooooooo creative!" I could only giggle and tell her she was right, and extremely smart.

Heavenly Father's super awesome. They have great ideas. And Jesus is the best ever. He didn't do any mistakes. How can I do that?

This is like a hill. This is like the woods.
Shhhh. quiet. there are snakes in here and pandas and bears.

I am excited to keep this a consistent part of our relationship. I am really proud of her first jaunt. I had brought a snack for her and water. In all we wandered about the trails for 2 miles and she didn't complain once. When I told her she was my hiking buddy - she said, "you can be my hiking buddy too."

I like exploring. I've never done this before.
This is my first time. You're the leader.
QS: Why am I the leader?
You're the Mom.

This trail is the best one yet.
What does best one yet mean?
Wow! I can see lots of things.
I see a lot of houses, I can't count them all.

Ew stinky.
I have to plug my nose three times.
Smell that stink.
Mom why do I have a good sense of smell.
QS: You were blessed
I don't like smelling stinky stuff.
Ah, fresh, fresh air.

I am one lucky Mom.

FRIDAY FOTO FOOTH 2

HAPPY FRIDAY!!!

On a Sunday afternoon....

With my sister, her baby J and my girls during Spring Break... Sisters RULE!

Miss Independent

...she came up with this outfit, all by herself.
I still have a hard time putting things together, so I am impressed.

My 3-year-old owns a very special place in my heart.

She is tiny, but her personality is HUGE. She doesn't allow anyone to short-change her. She is tough. She is also my cuddle-bug. She desperately needs breaks throughout the day to suck her thumb and twirl her bibi ... she's like Linus that way.

She makes me laugh all the time. Her new trick is masking the truth, and wiggling out of trouble by smiling her smile and giggling as she says, "I was just kidding!"

Often she misplaces her sacred bibi... so you'll hear her walking around the house, calling sorrowfully... "bibi! bibi! bibi, where are you???" I remind her that the bibi can't respond...but she simply ignores me and continues the mournful cry.

She loves all things girly, and has been a bit obsessed with these colorful glass stones she receives from preschool. She always tells us to be careful because they are her "fragicle jewels".

Lately... she likes to wear only about 5 pieces of clothing. Mostly skirts/dresses. So if I decide that the clothes are dirty or that it makes more sense to wear pants... she digs in her heals and can have a very royal, very noisy fit about it. If I do get a pair of pants on her... it's miraculous.

She relishes silence and comfort, just like me. As soon as she gets home from preschool, she strips down, drops all her clothes on the floor and rushes upstairs to get on her pajamas. The two of us can enjoy a quiet car ride, while her big sister and daddy chatter the entire way.

She is a little mini-me sometimes. We are both temperamental when we don't get our way, or are simply starving for some sleep.

Sometimes she comes home from school and asks to have a nap...

I have always wanted to raise strong-willed, don't you dare mess with... girls. Heavenly Father gave me two. Oh...yeah-yeah!