Happy 1st Birthday, Vyla Leigh!

 Six months ago, our little girl was a wee babe.

With pudgy cheeks, quiet coos, and no where to go!

 Her only problem in the world was that pesky older brother.

 And just like that, she's an entire year old! She's full of curiosity and alive with movements.

 Her smiles are big and goofy and she gives them generously.

 She loves to tease, play peek-a-boo, and 'sing' to music.

 Her new favorite activity is playing with anything pretty. Headbands and necklaces and beads. She meticulously takes each one out of it's bin or container and then carefully places them all back in. Over and over.

 This girl loves to eat!  Her cake was demolished. She must be my daughter.

 Auntie Gretchin came from New Hampshire to join our little party and play with the kids. I'm so grateful for her here. We feel so lucky to have her.

 Her first time independently opening presents. These moments were simultaneously exciting, sweet, and tedious. Hinder came uncorked with the s-l-o-w pace of her dainty fingers grasping and pulllllling. each. individual. square. inch. of. paper.

 By the end she got the hang of it and was excited to see what was inside each package.

 What a spoiled little munchkin! Toys, puzzles, books, new church shoes, minkie blanket and cute new clothes from her grandmas, aunt, and parents.

Thanks for this cute outfit, Nana!

We love our Vyla. She's the sweetest girl. Just enough spunk to keep her interesting, and just enough mellow to keep me sane. Vyla is the girl of a million nicknames. Vy, Vee, Vee Lee, Vylee, Vyloo, Vylo, Vyleela...she'll answer to any of them. Daddy only calls her "baby girl". They have a speical little bond. The only phrase she says right now is, "hidaddee!" when Ri comes in the door.

She's my heart. I love this girl.
She's so loved and has a charmed little life. She really only has that same problem.

That pesky older brother.



But even that is blossoming into a beautiful friendship.

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Behind-The-Scenes-Blooper Photo

HahahhhaHahooheeeheheheheHahahha!

I couldn't resist posting this picture of Riley attempting to restrain Hinder from opening Vy's gifts. The facial expression was staged. I promise he wasn't as rageful as this photograph makes him appear.

 It's just so funny. :)

Thanksgiving Break

I have never anticipated Thanksgiving as much as I did this year. Not only did it mean turkey, partying, and Black Friday shopping, it also meant TIME with Riley! He was out of school Tuesday at noon, and you better believe we had the entire week planned out!

There were parks to be discovered and RC helicopters to be flown. I'll never forget Riley's flying mishap that ended with H getting the heli flown into the side of his head. Which was almost followed by my mama-bear instinct to smash that ridiculous toy to a trillon, irreparable pieces.

Riley is so lucky I happened to have a tiny bit of self-restraint in that moment.

(Hinder still smiling after getting nailed in the head- Riverton Community Center)

 Vyla and I generally stay away from the dangerous action. She's a girl after my own heart.

(Vyla- Payson Park by Back Cove)

Turkey day was spent playing ultimate Frisbee, cooking up a storm of savory dishes in the kitchen, and Skyping with our much-loved, much-missed families.

A couple in our ward organized a dinner for all the grad school/resident students and their families. We shared a lot of laughs and good convo. I didn't snap a single picture, but the place was decked out! Gorgeous linens and centerpieces added so much festivity to the ambiance.

Here's our little family thanksgiving turkey. For the month of November, we added "thankful feathers" to our once-bald bird. After a couple of weeks, it was a bit crowded.

My favorite feather was Hinder's own drawing of his blue polka dot blankie.

We decided to forgo the crazy, midnight, doorbuster Black Friday. Instead, I went to a few favorite stores throughout the day. Nothing beats the people watching on Black Friday. Chaos reigns.

The deals I scored rounded out my holiday shopping. Unless you count the Cyber-Monday deals I just couldn't pass up today.  Woo hoo for being done a month early!  

(Vyla making herself comfortable on a Walmart shelf)

What does the end of Thanksgiving celebrations mean? Christmas decorations!

Our cross-country move required that we scale down in a major way. Christmas decor was no exception. We had one box of Christmas and the tree. But honestly, I kind of like it this year. The set up was absolutely effortless, and it has left a lot more room for DIY decor and new traditions.

We copied this advent idea I saw my mom do a few years ago.

You just string up 25 socks clothes pinned to a decorative ribbon. Each day until Christmas, the kiddos take one down and get to enjoy the surprise inside.

I chose to put one piece of the magnetic nativity scene in each sock, as well as a little Christmas snack or play dough or painting page or whatever. It's been the easiest thing and it's surprisingly cute with all the homely, mismatched socks dangling down the stairwell.

Hinder helped with the tree a lot more this year. Little children make Christmas so magical!

 The smallest things excite him to death.  

For instance, we drew Secret Santa names at the end of fhe tonight. This is our first year doing it in our little family, so we explained the concept to Hinder. He couldn't stop giggling he was so elated by all of it. He drew Vyla's name, and read the little slip of paper himself. I was surprised he didn't say it out loud, but as I put him to bed, he whispered to me that he had "V". Then he pressured me to tell him what name I had drawn, and giggled some more when I wouldn't tell him.

So sweet.

It was such a lovely vacation.

Halloween

 Halloween happened at our house. It was a whirlwind holiday. Literally. With all the Hurricane Sandy hype in our area, I didn't get our act together as far as costumes went until minutes before the big event. Good thing the kids are cute so it didn't matter that much.

Hinder wanted to be a zombie at the last minute, but Nana already got him this adorable construction worker costume, so we combined the two ideas. He's a construction zombie. Or zombstruction guy. Or whatever. 

Vyla was content to be the ladybug. She didn't even fight about wearing the hood. Tender Mercies.

I think one of my favorite things in life is a chubby baby in striped tights. It's just so cute!

 Riley and I were Little Orphan Annie and Daddy Warbucks. We didn't get a good picture of our costumes. Somehow that slipped my mind as I was rushing about the house searching for a toy hammer for Hinder while simultaneously hot gluing the rest of my orphan dress.

We trick-or-treated down our street. It was so convenient and our neighbors were very generous. Hinder was independent enough that we could just stroll behind, occasionally reminding him of the words "thank you" and swiping the peanut butter cups from his candy bag. It was pretty perfect.

 November in Portland is all about leaf removal. I've never seen/raked/stepped on so many leaves. Leaf-raking has officially turned from Fun Fall Activity to Weekly Household Chore.

At least Hinder still thinks it's fun.

 

A little random tidbit- Hinder is improving everyday with his writing. Here is his almost-4-year-old handwriting.

Notice the backwards 'e' and extra long "stick" on the little d?