Last bit of our trip...

Raise your hand if you are bored of posts about Maui. Well, too bad because this blog doubles as a family journal for us so suck it up. This is the last one, I promise. More pictures of course.

One of our favorite parts about Maui is the Lahaina First Ward. We always attend church while we are there and its wonderful to know that our church is the same no matter where we are.

All clean!

Who needs toys when you have a fancy plastic bottle.

Beardy Jazz has lasted longer than the winter...

Just before bedtime, the giggliest time of the day.

We were kind sad to leave such a beautiful and relaxing place. At least we didn't return home to snow, like Sabrina did. Sorry dude, move to California already.

More of Maui

We all read some books, even the little ones:

I read the first two books in the Hunger Games series (really great.) and I'm sad to admit that I caved and started reading the Fablehaven series. If you have ever seen these books, they look so ridiculous, it was hard for me to get past the illustrations of centaurs and witches and dragons on the front covers. It was worth it though, they are fun to read. I used to make so much fun of my siblings toting around such silly looking books. Oh how the mighty fall.

We ate at our favorite Cheeseburger's in paradise:

We watched some sunsets and did some shopping:

And even did some ziplining: (we had to split up so we didn't abandon our babies all at once)

Aaaand that's my super cool peter pan mom, who was very first to leap off the platform.

Helllloooo?

What am I, the worst blogger ever. I think this might be a record of total posting fail. It's been like two weeks, and I've got like 324892x8 things to update about. I just could not get motivated to post while on vacation- I kept thinking I would do it the next day and the next day and soon we were on a plane home. I guess that is the point of vacation, right? We took over 400 pictures in ten days, so I'll probably break the trip up into a few smaller posts. In a nutshell:

1. We had a really awesome time.
2. Izzie rocked the plane rides. I mean, basically she was a professional baby flyer.
3. Madilyn + Isabelle = Magic
4. I ate my weight in food
5. I read three books. THREE! Exclamation point!

Turns out, Isabelle would rather swim than do ANYTHING IN THE WHOLE WORLD. She loved it- even though the water was a bit cold. It was an awesome way to tire her out before nap time. Here are some pictures from all of our swimming adventures.

 More to come!

Be back soonish...

Not quite ready to rejoin reality.

Chunky baby thighs, tutu-ed swimsuits.

Lazy mornings and afternoons at the pool.

Sandy bottoms and other interesting places.

Lots of helping hands, naps to go around, food in abundance.

Is this heaven?

What the WHAT.

I know I should be packing. Or cleaning. Or folding laundry. Or doing the one million other things I have to do before Friday at 6 AM- but I saw this and could not stop thinking about it. Totally trumps my list of potential posts.

Introducing, the Chum Buddy! For just TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS, you too can pretend you are being eaten by a giant seven foot shark while you sleep. It also doubles as a child friendly stuffed animal, super plush and all hand sewn! I can't decide if this is ridiculous, or awesome. Ridiculous..awesome...ridiculous...yeah, it's ridiculous. Who thought of the name 'chum buddy.'

I MEAN REALLY. I love sharks and everything, seriously- I'm the first one to set my tivo for Shark Week every year, but come on.

Wait, now it is kind of awesome. You can put it over your head? Dang, that is more awesome than ridiculous. And it's a sleeping bag? Well, that is useful. Crap, another vote for awesome. Maybe I will find one of these bad boys in Maui.

We leave Friday morning and I am super excited. Well, not particularly about the 6-hour plane ride with my infant, but other than, SUPER EXCITED. Ten days of sunshine and food and sand and family (if we don't get voted off of the airplane mid-pacific ocean). Tomorrow is packing, cleaning and last minute errands. I don't know why we pack anything at all. Izzie will just wear diapers the whole week. We will just be in swimming suits and pajamas. This should be simple!

I'll keep an eye out for a Chum Buddy. If you need one, lemme know, I'll pick an extra one up for you.

Happy Mother's Day

Yesterday, Mom and I spent hours upon hours consignment shopping and checking antique stores. We went to every thrift store in town, pouring over dusty frames, vintage buttons and weird abandoned junk. We scored some awesome treasures and with our bags in tow, returned to our menfolk late in the day. It was one of the greatest days of my whole life. Mom- I hope in twenty years, Isabelle will want to hang out with me like I want to hang out with you.

Today I woke up to beautiful flowers and a colorful canvas printed with my baby's tiny feet. We went to church, had lunch at my parents house, and then took a delicious nap. I really like this Mother's Day business. It's kind of like having a birthday, just in the spring time.

I was going through some old photos and found this one of my mom with Sabrina and Morgan. This is just a regular ol' day at the Sumsion house. Kids playing nicely, clean house, mom dressed up like one of the Village People. If there is one thing my mom has taught me, it's that every day is the perfect day for a party.

I think this Mother's Day I appreciate my mom more than ever. I appreciate the diaper changes and the late nights, the sick days and the spit up. Every year I know I will appreciate her more and more, as I experience my own sick days and late nights. Thanks Mom, you are the best. And also, you look excellent in a hard hat. Happy Mother's Day.

May Day Giveaway (yay!) Winner

The winner of the fantastic $60 Gift Certificate to any CSN store is JaNae and Scott who said:

Congratulations! Looks like mama's gettin' some new sheets! JaNae and Scott are expecting their second baby late fallish and so some linen pampering is definitely in order. Thanks everyone for entering- and thanks to CSN for sponsoring May Day Giveaway! (yay)! JaNae, I will email you and give you some more details- happy shopping!

Ok, that is all the exclamation points I can use for the entire month, it's exhausting being that excited.

7 Months

Dear Isabelle,

Today you turn seven months old! In a few years time, these little milestones probably won't seem important, but for now they are so exciting to recognize. This month you have really grown- your thighs are getting chunky and your cheeks are more round then ever. You even feel longer to me- like when I burp you over my shoulder, your little legs bend and curl at my waist. We visited new baby Jakob in Irvine a few weeks ago and I was shocked that you were ever that size. I browsed through your first few photos and felt so nostalgic for that special time in our lives.

Just as of this week, one jagged shark tooth has popped through your pink gums and this morning I noticed your other one coming in too- good work! Soon we will be able to share our favorite foods with you- although I'm pretty sure grandma has been sneaking you delicious snacks this whole time. You eat regular meals now and love mangos, peas, beans and carrots.

Well, one thing is for sure- you love to be entertained. You laugh when you see people dance or giggle when we sing silly songs to you. You are a multi-tasking baby and can play with toys AND eat lunch. In fact, we had to make a trip to Target to clean out their toy aisle since you are so bored with your old toys. You love to be on the go- trips out, walks in the baby bjorn, stroller rides at the mall, anything to keep your eyes and mind occupied. You are so delicate with your tiny hands. You move them so purposefully and reach for anything that catches your eye. You show no interest in crawling- instead you lock your legs and stand up every chance you can get. We are a little worried you are going to skip the whole crawling thing and be running around here before you know it. Time to baby proof the house.

Speaking of the house. Your new room is set up, your pictures on the wall, your hanging mobile in place. It feels so good to have a stable place for you to be familiar with. I remember planning ever detail of your nursery before you were born, I wanted everything to be perfect. I think we have finally set up your crib for the last time and I'm so happy to see your little body rolling around in there every morning, just like I imagined.

This is not new this month, but you still don't love to sleep. If only I could express to you the worth of a delicious afternoon nap or a long night of deep sleep... But alas, you still wake a few times a night, sometimes to eat, sometimes to play, and I'm going to just pretend that you miss us so much at night that you want to party. Lately, we have been reading stories together in the very early morning- before the world is stirring. We read about colors, about jungle animals and farm babies, we read about caterpillars and gorillas and sheepies and hippos. This is some of my favorite time of the day- just me and you, and you are so attentive and quiet in my lap. I hope you love to read as much as I do.

Isabelle, you are now closer to your one year birthday than your day of birth. If it's possible, I love you now more than I did then.

Love, love, love you.

xoxo

Momma

Why I love craigslist.

Because you can find a giant ugly gold mirror for $75 bucks, go to town with a couple cans of spray paint, and voile. Fireplace masterpiece. Total cost of mirror and mantle crap? About 95 dollars. I lurve a bargain.

Turns out, I'm not really sure about mantle ettiquite. What goes on there/what doesn't? Does it have to be even or symmetrical? What are the height requirements of tchotchkes? And why can't we make it easier to spell that word? These are questions I plan to answer through my ongoing quest to decorate.

PS: May Day Giveaway (yay!) still going on, don't forget to enter. Also, if you want to become a follower, simply scroll to the top of your page and there should be a "follow" button in the left corner, next to the blogger search box.

May Day Giveaway!

I have been a total slacker in the blogging department. I have a whole list of things to update and blog about but whenever I get free time I usually spend it in a coma in my bed. (Remember? My 7 month old? The anti-sleeper?)

Anyway, to make it up to you, I am hosting a fantastic

MAY DAY GIVEAWAY (yay!)

What is this, you might ask. Well, it's a giveaway. On May Day. To mark my rededication to blogging during the month of MAY. Plus, it rhymes. What's not to like?

CSN is sponsoring this whole schendig, so let me tell you what that means. CSN has a whole myriad of websites and stores- seriously anything from housewares to furniture, handbags to baby cribs. They have everything. And in honor of May Day, we are giving away a $60 gift certif to any CSN site your little heart desires.

Think of all the glorious options!

You could buy yourself a new pair of sassy summer sandals:

Franco Sarto Fiji in Brown

OR if your feet are too swollen for shoes, maybe this super versitile Skip Hop Diaper Bag:

OR Possibly this adorable yellow pitcher for someone special on Mother's Day

Emile Henry Pitcher in Citron

Seriously, the possibilities are endless. Here's how to win this magnificent May Day Giveaway (yay).

1) Leave a comment and tell me what you would buy from any CSN store. Keep in mind you can apply it to a larger purchase, like a crib or a couch. OR

2) Leave another comment if you are a follower of le blog. OR

3) Leave another comment if you blog about it on your own blog.

Aaaaand that's it. Super easy. The giveaway will be open starting today, May 1, and will end Wednesday, May 5th at 7 pm PST, at which time Isabelle should maybe possibly hopefully be asleep and I can announce the winner.

Happy May Day! And Happy Shopping!