one.

Happy first, Sawyer! We can't get enough of you.

moonbeams in a jar

We had  a wonderful and packed week with Gigi. Highlights included a river float, spray painting furniture, lots of Greek yogurt, finding a new (used) couch, and house hunting.  Definitely a fun change from my typical strict adherence to nap times and occasional outings to the park, library, or grocery store.  My favorite part about the trip, though, was resurrecting old childhood songs. I love singing with my mom, and it was the perfect way to keep the kids happy in the car. I'd completely forgotten about the song "Swinging on a Star." The chorus goes, "Would you like to swing on a star, carry moonbeams home in a jar, and be better of than you are?" I adored that song growing up. I'm going to have to work on the lyrics. Miss you, Gigi!

a quick hello

Just wanted to share this picture that my Mama snapped from her cell phone. It's been so fun to have her come visit. Can't wait for more adventures this coming week!

she's three

Here's a little peek into Paisley's world and her favorite things at age three.

happy birthday darling girl.

my new favorite pastime

 I never thought crafting in miniature would be so much fun.  I was pretty giddy planning and making this dollhouse for Paisley's third birthday. When she saw it she exclaimed, "little things!" I guess she'd never heard the word dollhouse before.  She went straight for the tiny books and wanted me to read them to her on the couch, and then carried them around the rest of the day. We plan on hanging it on the wall above her bed. So so fun!

a red lentil morning

7 seconds

28 minutes

61 minutes

worth it

 These are the moments that make motherhood worth it.  

a sketchbook review of 2011

Here's a peek into Brandon's journal from the past year!

JANUARY

It's always sad when Christmas is over . . . especially when your pine cone tree burns up in two seconds, leaving you no hot coals for your raw hobo dinners when you're in the middle of a desert with no firewood.

Paisley LOVES to swing. After a long walk uphill to the park I always hoped she'd want to play on the slides or something. nope.

Daddy teaches Paisley to somersault!

FEBRUARY

Paisley's artistic skills are budding . . . all over Daddy's journal.

We had fun chaperoning a youth dance at the church and getting mistaken for teenagers trying to sneak off together.

I decided to try a "3 day potty training " method. When your child starts to go, you're supposed to run her into the bathroom so she can finish on the toilet. Caution: Slippery When Wet 

Paisley's favorite pastime

MARCH

I'm blaming nesting instincts that I had to have a two week water supply for four people before the baby was born. That's 92 gallons of water. You can guess which pregnant lady didn't haul any of that upstairs.

Daddy learns how to have a tea party.



APRIL

Paisley hanging on the front doorknob--the sign that she was tired of waiting for us to get ready to leave.

More nesting instincts . . . time to spot clean the carpets. Oh wow, our carpets seem to be one big spot.

Relaxing in the park and listening to live music at an art and jazz festival in quaint Boulder City

 MAY

The truth about Sawyer's birth is finally disclosed:

Brandon passed out while watching the nurse repeatedly attempt to break my water. He was rushed to the ER to check for any head injuries, and then held there for more testing when his heart rate was surprisingly low. When my water finally did break, things progressed fast, really fast. My mom finally made it to the hospital and was there when I decided to get an epidural. I was dilated to an 8. That slowed things down enough that my mom was able to bust Brandon out of the ER "against Doctor's orders" and make it back just in time for the birth. You were so worth it, Sawyer.

 JUNE

Paisley loves being a big sister. A little too much love

Brandon requested a company transfer to Florida when work got slow in Las Vegas. When it picked up again they wanted him to stay. After a couple months of excruciating uncertainty, we finally decided to accept an offer in St. Augustine, Florida.

JULY

 Brandon spent the past year studying to become a LEED AP (Leadership in Energy & Environmental  Design Accredited Professional). He dropped to his knees in gratitude when he saw that he passed the test with flying colors.

Brandon's dad helped him drive our little Camry across the country and the kids and I pioneered it alone. Thank goodness for airplanes!

AUGUST

 Brandon feels at home back in the jungle and has loved taking Paisley on adventurous daddy daughter dates.

Tanner, Brandon's brother, arrived home from his two year mission in Ecuador and met Sawyer for the first time.

SEPTEMBER

Brandon's career switch from development to the maintenance division wasn't everything we thought it'd be. In fact, it was everything we thought it wouldn't be--15 hour days laboring in the sweltering heat.

I felt inducted into Southern living when Brandon took me on a date to an authentic chowder house. We ate shrimp and clam gumbo right out of the pot it was cooked in. soooo delicious.

OCTOBER

 It has been so fun to have Brandon's family nearby. We got to several of Mikan's dive meets. She is such a powerful and graceful diver. It's amazing. At this particular meet she had ear infections (which affect your balance) and dove anyway. What a trooper.

After living with Brandon's folks for a couple of months, we finally got our own place. We decided to sell or give away all our furniture when we moved out here, so I was a bit overwhelmed starting from scratch again. I love this picture. He captured the ant infestation, the bowl of baking soda (to absorb the nasty smells), the broken lamp we brought from Vegas, and our apartment's ugly light fixture I was complaining about. Three months later, I think I'm finally breaking free from decorating paralysis. I even hung our first picture last week.

A date on the beach--my favorite

NOVEMBER

Brandon got a new job with a General Contractor in Jacksonville. (yay!) It's been the hardest job he's ever had, but we're so grateful for the experience to grow.

 Work took Brandon out to Destin for a week, a beautiful tourist city in the Florida panhandle. The kiddos and I tagged along and we all stayed in a hotel room. Props to anyone who sleeps in the same room as a toddler.

 Thanksgiving weekend with Brandon's family at their lake house was wonderful, except that I almost had a heart attack when I saw Paisley in a 20 foot tree house with only an 8 and a 5 year old supervising.

Paisley loves to be chased, tickled, and swung.

DECEMBER

 Sawyer explores his world with his mouth. The evidence is frequently found the next day in his diaper.

The kids and I went out to Oregon for Christmas for a few days before Brandon was able to join us. Feeling too lonely in our big empty bed, he opted for Paisley's.

 One of the Kiser family Christmas traditions is to have a German meal of chicken noodle soup, deli meats, wursts, and cheeses. Every year Grammy (my mom's mom) makes the soup from scratch. It was delicious as usual.

It's been an eventful year. Here's to 2012!