Chasing Sunsets

"Push Ty"

I know that I have been extremely absent on this blog, but I haven't felt that there has been much going on to post about. However, I have since then reconsidered... there is a ton going on with Simret- she changes every day. She is mix between the funniest, most frustrating, sweetest, craziest girl I know. For some reason, and it may be cause of the above mix, she has had it out for her friend Ty. He is one of Letha's children. She always asks about him, "is Ty/Tyler going to be there" before we head to daycare. If I say "yes" she says "push Ty". I'm not sure where this came from, but it has seriously been going on for at least 2 months and maybe longer. I'm not sure if she has continued with this because she sees how upset I get when she says this or because Lance laughs when she says this because he has a warped sense of humor. It usually ends with me saying, "hands are not for pushing, we do not push Ty or anyone else... we have sweet hands". She will usually agree to this. Then when we make it to Bri's (our daycare provider) she may or may not push Ty. She usually does not do it in front of me- usually it is in front of Letha or Bri. She has had multiple time-outs, time-ins, and talks about this. It looked like this scene was resolving a couple weeks ago, because she hadn't brought it up and hadn't pushed him in a while. Then all of a sudden Ty starts telling Letha that "...Met pushed" when she wasn't even at daycare that day? Wierd??? Well, right after that Simret starting talking about "push Ty" every time his name was mentioned again and you guessed it she pushed him again Thursday. The reason I bring this all up was that I was looking at old pictures of when Simret when she had just gotten home from Ethiopia and noticed this picture (guess "Met" has been pushing Ty since the day they met). So, I guess the next step... Ty pulling "Met's" hair in elementary school then depantsing each other in junior high and finally dating in high school?

pushing Ty after 2 months of being home.

I don't want to mislead you... there have been many more sweet moments than "push Ty" moments.

borderline sweet?

...and finally my favorite picture of Simret and Ty. Check out his shirt.

Simret & her friends celebrating Halloween

Simret has discovered the joy of Halloween. She loved dressing up and when she discovered there was candy involved...she was all in! Here are some random photos of her multiple Halloween celebrations.

Lexi & the "ribbit" (as Simret says)

her other costume (a girl cannot have too many costumes)

not happy for some reason???

Ty & Simret holding hands (okay she is really dragging him around, but holding hands sounds sweeter).

the wagon ride to the University to trick or treat with her best buddies.

ready for some Halloween festivities...

the sweetest picture in my opinion.

Daycare party...

Aj, Simret, & Lexi

"the gang" isn't Bri (our childcare provider) or I guess I should say, isn't Pippi the best!!! She made it such a special day for Simret and all the kids.

A walk in the woods...

We took a small hike at Happy Jack one afternoon after work before the snow decided to make its appearance last week. Simret is sporting her lunch pail, while Lance a glass of wine.

she enjoyed playing in the creek...

eating snow...

not sure what kind of child abuse is going on here?

Chicago!!!

Last month we went to Chicago to visit my girlfriend Jen's parents and hometown. It was our first time in Chicago (besides layovers in the airport-which doesn't count). We had a great time- Jen's parents are the best!

It was so much fun seeing where Jen grew up; and striking how different it was from where I grew up. After visiting, I'm quite sure that I was supposed to be FROM Chicago too. How lucky she is to have such a fun place to return when she visits "home". As for me, I have Gillette (no offense to those who still reside in this depressing town with no character). Anyway, Carol & Larry (Jen's parents) graciously packed us all in their vehicle- 6 adults and 2 toddlers and showed us their city as well as their beautiful neighborhood. The girls (Hannah & Simret) were amazing and had such a good time together and with "Nana & Papa". Hannah was so sweet to share her Nana and Papa with Simret. One of Simret's favorite things to do since we have returned from this trip is to pack up her fishing tackle box & her lunch bag and head to "Nana and Papa's". It goes something like this, "goin' to Nana and Papa's see you later". (Just so you know- she does say that she is going to "GrannyPapa's" too sometimes- just don't want my Mom to get her feelings hurt).

Carol and Larry also watched the girls while we ventured out, by train, to a Dave Matthews and Willie Nelson concert; and what an adventure that was. From the train ride itself, which felt like a scene from a movie, to the 2 mile walking adventure to the venue with a liquor store pit-stop for wine along the way (where a girl in the store asked Jen if she could smell her purse and had Jen smelling hers by the time we left- weird?)

The next night we had an amazing meal at this quant Italian restaurant which again made me feel like I was experiencing something out of a movie. It was like we were transported to Italy by driving only a few miles from Jen's house, but on a micro scale. The diversity was refreshing (if you don' know or haven't noticed- I have only visited major cities- never lived in one. In fact, I have never lived in a town larger than 25,000 people).

I really could go on and on about the various adventures we had in our short 3 day stay in Chicago. I hope to return soon, as I'm well aware there is a lot more fun to be had in this great city.

on the plane- milk is Simret's security blanket. I know...I know you are not suppose teach them to self-sooth with food.

She enjoyed opening and closing the window incessantly.

I still LOVE these shoes.

Jen's house growing up and her parents still live there. It has a sunroom off the back (and you know how much I love sunrooms) and is in such a beautiful neighborhood.

Of course we had to work out after a long plane ride while the girls napped.

Lance riding through the woods next to Jen's house. Can you believe we are in Chicago?

Jen running. Isn't it beautiful? It was snowing in Laramie at the time. They actually have a season called Autumn.

A picture of me running. Just in case you don't know...I NEVER run. I dislike running - but thought I might take it up this day for some reason. This picture is a good representation of what my head felt like after only running 10 minutes.

Carol and "the girls" on our arrival to the Aquarium.

Hannah & Simret at the Aquarium

ready for some more adventures...

the city (it was a clouded over day)

the train we took to the Dave show

The picture that turned out the best (yes there were worse) on our walk to the show. Not sure what it is of? Not sure what I was thinking when I took it?

Our second day in the City. Jen and the girls playing ring-around-the-rosie.

"the bean"

Hannah and "the bean"

Lance, Simret, and the Petersons under "the bean"

Hannah & Simret riding the "choo-choo" on the pier downtown.

our tour guide.

the Petersons

the view from the top of the ferris wheel (something Simret slept through)

another view of the city from the top

Simret's most prized possession... her boots. I'm still not sure how she became a cowgirl?

Some more randomness...

Since this blog is essentially Simret's baby book- I thought that I would catch you all up some random things that have gone on over the last couple of months. I thought that I would share some of the special little things that make me smile and that make Simret... Simret.

Simret has just discovered graffiti- she points to it and says "look ABC's" and starts singing her ABC's.

Anytime we go downtown she asks if she is going to get "copcorn" because on Fridays she gets kettle corn while we at the Farm's Market. We spend a lot of time downtown- it is just interesting to me that she now equates downtown with "copcorn".

She also loves to watch the trains go by when we are downtown and will also politely say "bye choo-choo" when they have left. If there is a train on the track that is not moving she will say "shhhhh choo-choo is sleeping".

She loves to boss around "her" dogs and when they bark she will yell "No, No, Stop Dogs, No Barking". She will also ask them, in a less than polite way, to "leave the titken (kitchen)" when we are cooking. (not sure who she learned that from?) Leave it to children to show you how you act to the dogs, what you say that you don't even notice.

If I ask her if she went potty in her pants, she replies "no Lars did it" sometimes "Hannah did it" (I think that Lance perpetuates this behind my back-he seems to think it is hilarious).

In the morning after I put lotion on her- we go over each body part and I tell her how beautiful her skin is, her eyes are, her personality is. Well now when she watches me get ready in the morning she says "mommy pretty eyes, mama pretty skin, mommy pretty tummy" (just sweet stuff).

She also loves to shrug her shoulder when talking. Not the traditional Ethiopian-shoulder shrug which is kind of like when Americans show their middle finger. She just does the shoulder shrug to mean - "maybe". But, she does it at the wrong time- usually after the conversation is over or before it... or she will do it three times during one sentence- it is supper cute and odd looking at the same time.

She still calls food "nana" at times. This was her first word- and was made up by Simret to mean "food" or that she was hungry.

She also likes to announce when we have arrived somewhere by saying, "we're here mama"- it's always my name for some reason-

She will also ask for something and then when I repeat it back to her she says "Oh?" - like it was your idea to begin with. For example, she will say "I yant milk mama-please" then I will say "you would like some milk?" and she says "Oh?".

Simret has this wooden toy that pops a cork out of the top of it and for some reason she thinks it pairs well with a pink rubber glove? She will only play with the toy with the glove on; and when she shares it with you she hands you the toy and the glove. ....strange....

Simret loves dresses, skirts, and anything girly. She loves her pink boots and wears them daily- to the point that they are almost worn out. After she puts on the dress she has picked out for the day, she does a little dance (to twirl her skirt) and makes this ah-ah-ah sound (look at my cute skirt).

Before she goes to sleep she has to run through all of her friends, family, and dogs she knows and asks if they are "night-night too".

Her favorite movies right now are Barney and The Wiggles (could it get worse?). Her favorite songs are 1) Happy Burrthday to me 2) The Wheels on the Bus 3) Hello Everybody 4) You are my Sunshine 5) ABC's.

She is already keeping track of the keys for the car (because I ALWAYS lose them).

She would rather poop in her pants rather than in the toilet.

If she thinks that I'm hurt or just wants to check in she says, in the most high-pitched- compassionate voice, "k-mama? k-mama? k-mama?"

She is an amazing little beast. I love so much it hurts sometimes and I often wonder how I could possibly love her more than I do at this second- and then another day passes and I understand that it is possible.

Simret's second favorite toy, next to the popping thing with the glove.

Lego stacking (notice her outfits-she is dressing herself these days- and I must say she has a wonderful fashion sense).

"the boots" and other great example of Fashion Design's by Simret.

does it get better then this outfit really? Notice the final accessory of the dragonfly wings on her back.

I still love "iiize cream" and apparently Mommy still loves wine (oops).

Waving bye from her school bus.

This picture pretty much sums up our potty training experiences lately.

I have come to understand that Motherhood is a series of trials that are intended to help us grow spiritually. Only during Motherhood have I experienced such extreme feelings: like being intensely frustrated-while remaining supportive, experiencing a love that is indescribable and unlike any other love, being so silly that you are crying because you are laughing so hard. Children will strip you of your dignity (as you are pushing them around in the Fire Truck cart at the grocery store-the same one you swore you would not be caught dead pushing around a couple years back), which liberates you to see life from another perspective; to remember how fun it is play, to belly-laugh, to use your imagination, to love without limits, to be silly, to be honest, and finally to be present in the moment- which all leads to spiritual growth in the end.

Simret's 1st Theater Experience... October 10, 2009

Simret on her way out the door to go to the movies. Apparently, she had no time to pose for a picture.
This weekend we took Simret to her very 1st movie at the theater. It was Toy Story in 3D. We were prepared to leave 10 minutes into the movie- we weren't sure how this was going to go over, especially since she isn't too much of a fan of animation. I know, what kid or what human for that matter, doesn't care for animation from time to time. She would rather watch those creepy Australian guys sing and dance around (the Wiggles) or watch the purple dinosaur, in his annoying, nasally voice sing about how he likes pumpernickel bread (Barney). When I put on something that I can stomach watching along with her like Finding Nemo or Fox & the Hound she yells "I don't yike it" only 3 minutes into the show. So needless to say, I wasn't sure what to expect. Surprisingly, she loved it. She loved the whole movie experience. I should have known- that the popcorn would win her over before the movie even started. She made it through the WHOLE movie and even wore the 3D glasses for most of the movie. This is huge, especially since I had not been to the theater since before I met Simret (honestly, I'm not mush of a movie person- but do like to go from time to time).

Her favorite part of the movie is when she saw Mr. Potato Head. How do I know it was her favorite? Well she started squealing really loud and pointing- followed by her yelling "look mama...look". One luxury of parenthood is that you don't have to worry about preserving your dignity or concern yourself with getting embarrassed anymore- children seem to strip you of these concerns early on... how liberating it is to be parent!!!

Simret's 2nd Birthday at the Miniature Horse Ranch

I apologize that it has taken me sooo long to post Simret's birthday pictures. These are not very quality pictures either; not sure what was going on with my camera that day? I still am trying to figure out how to use it.

So, the day started out with a ride in the school bus (or cool bus-as my friend Aurora calls it). Once again, we do own a school bus- still not quite sure why- for times like these it sure does come in handy? So, we sang songs and played with the party gifts on the 30 minute drive to the Ranch (yes, "the wheels on the bus" was sang more than once).

Lexi & Simret on the bus ride.

when we arrived at the miniature horse ranch we were greeted by Simret's cowboy boyfriend, Justin, that took her on her first horse ride at my sister Sara's branding a few months back. He introduced us to the miniature horses and donkeys. The kids were then told to go ahead and pick and horse or a donkey to walk around or ride.

Simret didn't waste anytime and wanted to ride this miniature horse.

Lexi was a natural as well.

Bri (our amazing daycare provider and friend) and Lexi (Bri's daughter and one of Simret's best buddies).

Simret pulling an ass around. Some of the kids were a little anxious at first with the animals- not Simret she acted like she has owned a donkey her whole life and that the only natural thing to do with a horse is "sit on it". After she was done riding on one beast she would point to the next and say "sit on it?".

Letha, Ty, Tayler, & Justin riding in a carriage with a miniature horse pulling them.

Hannah did finally warm up to riding a full sized horse by the end of the afternoon!

Jen, Hannah, & Lars

Simret striking a pose on the full sized horse. Just as comfortable as can be? She would get upset if I would try to support her by putting my hand on her low back. She wanted to ride the horse by herself.