One.

here's to cupcakes and party dresses 

and wishing on candles

every year for the rest of your life

happy birthday sweet girl...

Park City Bound

Headed to Park City 

for the week.

What a welcome for our sweet girl!

Kissing Carl

Cheyenne still loves books more than anything.  Grayson used tease Morgan that in high school she "liked books not boys."  It was just to get a rise out of her, but fingers crossed Cheyenne will follow that lead for real!


The new thing Cheyenne loves more than anything is kissing things when she likes them.  She kisses pictures, the mirror, Strider, the light switch, stuffed animals, and if we are lucky, Mama and Daddy.

If this sticks, let's especially hope that she likes "books not boys."  

Reading Good Dog, Carl 

She avidly points while she reads, even when she is by herself. 

Kissing Carl

This is completely without prompting.  She just loves Carl.

The Social Butterfly

Cheyenne and I went to a Mommy and Me gym class yesterday.

I think I expected Cheyenne to by a little shy... but children sure do surprise you, don't they?

She dove right in and was the life of the party - sharing and talking and laughing.

The class started with some circle time - singing songs, doing dances and she was jumping and giggling and thought it was hilarious to watch all the other babies do the same thing.  We signed up for a membership so hopefully I will share more pictures as we start to go more often.

This picture is only half the group - it was quite a party!

Sweet Lyla Rae

On July 3rd, Chris and I gained the new titles of Uncle and Auntie.  Our beautiful niece, Lyla Rae, is the precious new addition to all of our lives.  Welcome sweet girl - we love you so much already.

The beautiful new Mama.
There is nothing like those first few days.
I get teary just thinking about it.  

Cheyenne and Lyla's first introduction.  
They already have so much in common - they were both born
July, their moms are both named Megan, they both have an
auntie named Megan... (a good start anyway - the list will be
better as they get to know each other over the years)

War Horse Pride

We got the pleasure to see War Horse for a second time this afternoon.  Chris and I both agreed that this second time was even more powerful because we could really let ourselves fall into the spell of the characters without having to focus on plot and suspense.  Grayson even took us back stage after the show and it was like seeing behind the magician's mirror.  It also just made us so proud to be part of Grayson's journey.  Sometimes I think that for sure people can just see the pride bursting right through my ribs and out of my chest.  There is no secret curtain there - Let them see.  I wear it shamelessly.

June 17, 2012
First time go around
I warned you about the pride bursting right out of me - look at my face!

We get to see it for a THIRD time even in San Francisco next month.  Gotta take full advantage while Gray is in California, because the end of the summer sends him on a tour de horse around the country.  Technology is not always something that I fully appreciate all the time, but it sure does bridge the gap and lighten the longing when family is far away.  So thank you - to skype and facetime, and to blogging and texting.  I am grateful.

Sunday Morning Breakfast

Cake for breakfast reminds me of Mama.  

Cheyenne's great grandmother sure knows the smart way to do things!

(Side note - pretty cool that Cheyenne has TWO great grandmas - that is two more than most people ever know)

Two years Married

Original Wedding Cake
July 4, 2010

Keiki Beach, HI
July 4, 2012

2 year anniversary
July 4, 2012

Our tradition continues of having a coconut cake for our anniversary.

 This was the first layer cake that I have ever made so it was a bit wobbly and not quite as  pretty as I had hoped but it tasted delicious.

So two years has given us vacations to Hawaii, Wyoming, and New York.  It has given us a plethora of moments that we revisit over coffee and it has given us a smart and brave and beautiful little girl.

What will three years be bringing us?  We'll report back from that bridge next year.

For now, the view from this one is awfully wonderful...




I love you Chris.
Happy Anniversary.

Princess Peach

Well I spoke too soon...

I said that Cheyenne loves all foods...

Now she won't have anything to do with any foods except for

Peaches and Water...

She humors me and takes a couple of bites of other things and then after that she is looking everywhere and making it very clear that peaches are only thing that she is not going to throw on the floor for the dog.  Strider is learning that this must be the silver lining of the pulled whiskers and stolen toys.

God Bless America

Cheyenne's first 4th of July

This is how the night ended...

Waving the flag in peaceful slumber 

sleep that followed a night of bright lights and bright eyes and good, solid celebration.

The Sweeneys truly have the best resident fireworks show in  Southern California.  With the view of the whole bay, we were able to see 4-5 different shows going on at once.  Cheyenne didn't only not mind the noise of the booming, but she embraced it fully.

She pointed and giggled 

and then at some point before all of the grand finale, fell fast asleep in her mama's lap.  

Thanks Stu and Jane for hosting.

I think we showed Cheyenne that holidays with fireworks are the best ones.

Can't wait 'til New Years's!

Element Balance in Monterey

While we were in Monterey, we stayed on Asilomar Beach in Pacific Grove. (http://www.visitasilomar.com/)

It was the perfect mini vacation.  Each room felt like you were in a little cabin, even though technically it was just a hotel room.  The lobby and cafe very much felt like a ski lodge - everyone getting ready to "get out in it" and start an adventure.  They were so friendly and relaxed.  So in feeling like we were bundled up in a forest cabin, to turn around and see the expansive ocean was quite the feeling of completeness and balance.

perfect.

A Monterey Morning with my girl

Chris had conference calls all morning, so Cheyenne went for a walk and ate breakfast with a view.

A Monterey Evening with my love

After Cheyenne fell asleep, Chris and I bundled up on the patio and had beers
and ate carmel apples (with chocolate and marshmallows!) 

Jelly Fish

The Jelly Fish exhibit at the aquarium was breathtaking.

Aquarium Wonder

A couple of weekends ago, we visited the Monterey Bay Aquarium.  We weren't sure if it was going to be something that Cheyenne slept through or something that ignited her wonder and awe.  Turned out the latter was true.  She couldn't get enough.  Her eyes were wide and her pointing finger was very active.  All three of us were so impressed.   

I will probably leak out more pictures slowly but this one explains a lot...

Give that Baby a Kiss

I like the beach except...

what are we going to do with all this sand?

Farm Girl Cheyenne

Cheyenne's Gamma and Gampa G took her to Fairytale Town!  Cheyenne loves animals and she was pretty smitten with the donkeys and goats.  She sure fits in this ranch girl world.  

Can't wait until pony rides and petting zoos.

If she's real lucky Auntie Nini will introduce her to Bentley and maybe take her on a trail ride.  I think that Cheyenne and Bentley will get along quite well, considering they both have a bit of rascal in them.

Helping Mommy with Laundry

Family Photo Fail

Good for a laugh though, which is probably better in the long run...