Sunday Snapshot {Settling Into the Desert of California}

Oh my, it's been a while since I've done a Sunday Snapshot.

We have moved to California and are getting settled into the house we're renting. It took us 6 days to get here from Michigan. We left on June 27 and arrived on August 1. On August 5 I reported to work for my first day, to begin getting my classroom ready. In case you haven't seen my previous posts, I got a teaching job at a private school in Blythe, CA as a Kindergarten teacher!!! I'm so excited to finally have my own classroom after substitute teaching for 3 years! I'm feeling both excited and nervous about the first day of school which will be on September 3. In case you're curious, here's the website for the school... http://www.desertlearningcenter.org/

Everyone seems to be adjusting pretty well to the move and the drastic change in climate, especially Rommey. :-) She continues to be her happy, active self (as most 22 month olds are). Her favorite thing to do is to play in the backyard with her water mat. She LOVES it!! And it's a great way to beat the 100-110 degree heat. We are definitely consuming much more water than we have in the past.

Anyway, as usual, I decided to post pictures of Rommey (she is the most fun to photograph). So, here she is beating the heat.

Sunday Snapshot {Summer Craziness}

Our summer has been non-stop crazy busy. In June I was offered a teaching job... In California, which I accepted. They want me there by August 1. So, we've been busy trying to pack for the move while working full time and trying to see as many people and do as much as we can before leaving Michigan. Now we're down to a week and a half before we leave and the house hardly looks like we're moving, aside from all the boxes in the garage. Luckily I have managed to snap some pictures here & there. 

The Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island.

Rommey enjoying the porch of the Grand Hotel.

God shining His light down while I was at work.

Romney enjoying Black Lake.

Daddy keeping tabs on the dogs at Black Lake.

Rommey dancing to the Petoskey Steel Drum band on July 3 at Bay Harbor.

Watching fireworks with my siblings & grandma.

Spending time with friends at The Butterfly House on Mackinac Island.

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Summertime

Summer is almost halfway over now. I can't believe how quickly it's gone by. Work and Rommey have both kept me very busy. To add to that, we're moving to southern California at the end of July. I finally got a teaching job! It's very exciting!

In the meantime, we're enjoying the rest of our time in northern Michigan. Here are some pictures of our summer "adventures" so far. 

Rommey has been enjoying the strawberries in our garden. 

There have been lots of homemade fruit popsicles.

We even spent some time on Mackinac Island and went to the Butterfly House. 

We also enjoyed some time playing with friends in Lake Huron while on Mackinac Island.

Sunday Snapshot {Growing Up}

Our little girl is growing up so fast! I can't believe how time is flying by. Rommey is 19 months old and even though the only words she says are uh-oh, juice, shoes, mama, dada and mom, she now knows 18 signs and "talks" a lot with babble (i.e. di, da, dee, etc.). She is becoming much more independent and using her own methods to let us know what she wants. Her mannerisms are becoming more distinct and "grown up" too.

She has been trying to figure out how to clip her straps (like the one on the bike trailer) and she finally got it today.

When we ask her to, she will smile for the camera (most of the time).

She occasionally asks to sit in the big chair at meals instead of her high chair. She does this by saying, "di, di" and patting on the chair. 

She also continues to try to put on her own shoes. She still can't quite do it but she can put on daddy's shoes.  I'm sure it won't be long before she's picking out her clothes and dressing herself. 

I'm just so in love with our daughter. She is the greatest blessing. God sure is great!

Healthy Snack Ideas

So, I found these images through a link on Pinterest but all it did was take me to a photo gallery. I didn't think that was an easy way to pin these ideas so I saved the images and decided to put them here.

I'm always looking for meal and snack ideas for my daughter. She's still kind of at an "in between" age when it comes to eating. She's 19 months old and has 12 teeth. She's not crazy about the texture of proteins like chicken or beef or even fish (but she'll take bites of our sushi when we get it or make it) and for some reason won't eat sliced meat (but she'll eat cubed meat). She's great about eating fruit and will eat most fruit but when it comes to veggies, it seems to depend on the day. As for sandwiches, she still doesn't really have the motor and coordination skills to eat a sandwich unless it's grilled cheese or PB&J where the sandwich essentially holds itself together. Even then, she sometimes takes it apart and will eat each piece by itself. When I give her sandwich rolls or burritos, she unrolls them and eats what's inside by itself.

Anyway, here are some more ideas for snacks for a toddler which I really like.

I'm not sure what the thing is on the right in the picture below, I think it's some kind of cookie thing so you can kind of disregard that part of the picture but the other two are great ideas.

Using an ice tray is a great way to give your toddler several choices and have the portions be appropriate.

Another variation on the ice tray is to use a muffin tin. The picture below is of my daughter with a muffin tin of "grazing" foods. I was a bit slim on choices so several things repeat but it gives another idea.

This idea might just solve the sandwich issue but I have a feeling my daughter would just take the top off and eat everything inside. 

I hope this post has helped to give you some additional ideas for snacks for your little one. 

Suunto Lumi Watchband

If you're like me and have a Suunto Lumi watch that you love but continue to have a problem with the strap breaking, this post might be helpful.

I got my watch several years ago and it works great but the watchband is always breaking and now I can't even find a replacement strap for it so a did a "makeshift" strap for it using some paper clips and a watchband from another watch I have. It doesn't look great but so far it's working great.

Sunday Snapshot {Spring Time}

We've continued to have wonderful weather around here with temps in the 60's & 70's. We've even been able to get out the shorts. I'm loving the opportunity to dress Rommey in all of the super cute Spring and Summer clothes we have for her (thanks to hand me downs and resale stores).

Yesterday we went to Petoskey and I had the opportunity to take Rommey down to Bayfront Park. She even got to play on the "beach" and in the really cold water, which she loved. :-)

Rommey even got a little sun bathing in. 

We also had the chance to go to the local park and even rode our bikes there.