Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Tuesday April 24, 2012

Serelle,

Happy Birthday little 3-year old! You are such a fun and sweet little girl and you just LOVE telling people that you are three now. You seem so big and grown up and it's pretty crazy for me to think of you as my little baby! You love going to school, looking at books, and coloring. You have a very long attention span and when you get going on an activity, you really zone in.  You also pick up on things that are taught to you very quickly.

In fact, Easter was only a couple of weeks ago and ever since you learned about Jesus' death and resurrection it seems like a lot of your toys are "dying". I'm not sure how much you are connecting between the Easter lessons and your play, but it seems to be quite a lot!

I sure love you Serelle,
Happy Birthday!

Mom

Saturday, March 31, 2012

March 31, 2012

Liliahna,

You have been so excited for "stake conference" this weekend! Last night you set up your little picnic table with all kinds of coloring books and treats that were just for "stake conference"! I am so proud of your excitement and enthusiasm to listen to our prophets voice. I hope I can always feel that kind of excitement myself. Thank you for being such a wonderful example.

I love you!

Monday, February 6, 2012

February 6, 2012

Both of you sweet girls are really into "dates" right now. You love to point out that it's a "Mommy-Daughter" date whenever it's just you and me, and you also love to tell me about all the fun things you do when it's a "Daddy-Daughter" date! Serelle always says, "I LOVE Mommy-Daughter dates!"or "I LOVE Daddy-Daughter dates!"

So glad you like to go on dates with us!

Sunday, January 15, 2012

January 15, 2011

Serellle,
When we asked you what you learned at church today, you said, "Jesus wants me to come back." Simple and accurate. Nice job.
-Dad

Friday, January 13, 2012

January 13, 2012

Serelle,
Your talking is just so cute right now. You still have such a little body, but you are so full of personality. This VERY fun personality comes through your constant chattering. Some of your words are just too cute. Our favorite right now is when you say polka dots. You LOVE polka dots but you call them "poka nuts". Not sure I'll try to correct that one for a while. You are such a joy to me.

-Dad

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

January 11, 2012

Liliahna,

You taught YOURSELF how to ride a bike today! Right after I came home from school (after we had a quick snack, of course) you asked me if I wanted to watch you ride a bike with no training wheels. I agreed, but since you didn't know how to ride bike yet, I thought maybe you had found a balance bike somewhere on the playground where you could just walk your feet along the ground instead of peddling. But, to my surprise, you came walking around the corner with a real big kid bike with no training wheels. You jumped on, gave it two pushes with your feet and then started peddling towards me! You made it about 5 feet before you put your feet down, but you did it! I helped you for a while and you kept getting better and better, going farther and farther. Pretty soon, it was time for dinner, and you were riding a bike.

I was completely blown away. You could barely even ride your bike with training wheels, and here you were riding away! In my amazement, I asked you when you learned to ride a bike?!?!? Your answer..."right now dad!" I followed up by asking, "Yeah, but when did you do it for the first time?" Again, she answered, "Just right now, dad!" I felt a little like I was watching Dan in Real Life.

At some point today, you decided that you wanted to ride a bike, you went and found a bike without training wheels, and then you got on that bike and put your feet on the peddles. You did it by yourself, no one asked you to do it...you just initiated the adventure.

I love how brave you are Lili. I can't wait to see where your courage takes you next.

-Dad

Sunday, January 8, 2012

January 8, 2012

Liliahana,
Today your Sunday school teacher had you say your testimony and then she wrote it down for you. After church, you handed us a piece of paper with this written on it:

"I love reading the scriptures with my mom and dad. I love to see the temple." What a great start!

You have such a sweet spirit Lili, you are kind to all of the other kids in your classes (even the ones that seem just  a little strange to me!) and you are just so sweet to Serelle. I can't wait to continue to get to know you as you grow up.

-Dad

Sunday, December 18, 2011

December 18, 2011

Serelle,
Just thought I would add something to your mom's post below about "Oh my cow!". Lately, you've been mixing a couple of other things together (regretfully that you've likely heard from me) and came up with "Oh my heck in the world?!"

Currently, you and Lili love to say, "Snap it out babe!" which is based off something your mom says if you or Lili are being especially grouchy, "Snap out of it!" (not sure where the babe came from). Sure love you little girls.
-Dad

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Tuesday December 13, 2011

Liliahna,

You sure know how to melt your daddy's heart. You came up to me in the kitchen this evening and said, "Dad, I want to marry you." When I told you that I was already married to your mom, you said, "Well, I want to marry a boy like you then." You are just the best. Sure love you sweetie.
-Dad

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Serelle,

You are a very expressive little girl! You love to copy things that Dad and I say, but sometimes they get a little bit mixed up! The other day you kept saying, "Oh my cow"! Then another time I heard you saying, "Oh my schnikes"! I kind of like that you get it mixed up, it's so sweet!

Monday, December 5, 2011

Liliahna,

You have turned into such a chatterbox! You've started to tell the most interesting and creative stories! I can always tell if it's a real story or if it's a pretend story by the way you talk when you tell the story. You get very animated when it's a pretend story, like you can't wait to get out the next exciting line of the story!

You like to make up names like Renell, Olah, Hoolah, etc. and tell stories about these friends, about school, about playing, about their family, about their vacations (always to Hawaii - maybe you're trying to give us a hint!) and always somebody is sick and has to go to the doctor! I love watching you grow up and mature. These stories are so sweet and I love trying to capture every word!

Mom

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Serelle,

"Hubba hubba, naykee, naykee, shaykee, shaykee!" At least once a day, you end up naked for one reason or another. Once you are clothes-free, you just can't resist...you look at me or mom and say, "You want see me do shaykee shakee!?" Of course, you are already shaking your hips back and forth (stiff as a board) as you ask the question.  Then, when we say yes, you immediately turn your backside to us and somehow shake it even more. We laugh every time. Sure love you.

Don't loose that spirit.

Dad

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Sunday, October 10, 2011

Serelle,

You have done such an amazing job with the "potty training"! You are learning so fast and have only had a few accidents - most of which were my fault for not helping you get to a bathroom in time!

Two funny things that you've started to pick up on:

1. Every time you go to the bathroom we get very excited for you. We always say something to the effect of, "nice work Rellie!" So, lately, whenever you are with me when I'm going to the bathroom, as soon as you hear it you say, "nice work Mom".  Like everyone should be congratulated for using the toilet! Thanks for the encouragement!

2. You also seem to have learned very quickly that there is one thing that mom and dad will always delay bedtime for...if you tell us you need to go potty. You tell me in your sweet little voice, "mommy, I need to go tinkles" and I'm just so proud of you/worried that you'll wet the bed, that of course I let you go every single time! You are usually so excited to jump out of bed and run into the bathroom where you'll sit on the potty and tell me to go into your room and check on Lili so you can be alone. What a smart and silly little girl!

Love,
Mom

Monday, September 26, 2011

Monday, September 26, 2011

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LILIAHNA!!!

Today you are five years old.

You are increasingly independent. You can buckle yourself into your carseat. You can buckle Serelle into her carseat. You like to help wash the dishes. You like to help wash the car.

You wake up at 7 am on the dot. Every single morning. You are more reliable than an alarm clock and you do not have a snooze button.

You love your family. You love your dad, me and Serelle. And you tell us this often. I hope we all learn from you in this regard.

You love your cousins, your aunts, your uncles, and especially your two Mimi's, your Rhino and your Poppi. They know this. And I'm pretty sure that you're just about everyone's favorite niece/cousin/granddaughter! (although no one will ever be able to admit that!)

You love to laugh. You have such a contagious, and irresistible laugh that most people find themselves trying to create new ways to hear that amazing giggle. I know I do.

You are a hard worker. You know what it means to feel like something is really hard. But you are also learning to never give up. To push through and to feel the success of conquering.

Your memory is like a steel trap. You remember everything you hear - except maybe when I ask you to come inside from the park! You remember who gave you which Barbie doll and at what birthday. You remember that Aunt T lives on H street in Salt Lake City. You remember which temple just about every couple in our family was married in.

You are a good friend. You make friends wherever you are. You have friends in Utah, Arizona, and the number of friends you have here in California is growing rapidly.

You love to swing. And although you can pump your legs hard enough that your head touches the tree branches, you want us to push you on the swing endlessly.

You love to learn. You loved Miss Merlene and now you adore both Teacher Lissa and Teacher Triona. Young 5's is the best thing that could have happened to you. Maybe that's why daddy got into Stanford?

Liliahna, you are such a prize and joy to me. I feel honored and humbled to be your mother. I hope that I can help you realize your full potential. I know that you are a beloved daughter of God. I know that He sent you to me and I am thankful for the priceless gift that you are to me. Every single day.

Happy Birthday Lili!

Love,
Mom

Friday, September 23, 2011

Friday, September 23, 2011

Serelle,

We are officially a diaper-free family.

Way to go! You are such a fast learner and have made the dreaded "potty training" transition a complete breeze! I'm not sure why I'm surprised, you are an incredibly bright little girl and I should have known how smoothly you would handle the transition.

You love to wear your "Dora" undies and are so good to come running and enthusiastically yell, "Mommy, I go tinkles!" Or, "I have a big one, poo poo!". You are so funny and such a joy.

Bunk beds and potties, what a big girl.

Mom

Sunday, September 11, 2011

September 9, 2011

Liliahna,
I have been feeling pretty good about all of my new purchases for business school. I got some cool new pants, some great new shoes, and a killer suit. One of the things I was most excited about was my new messenger style school bag. I was feeling especially confident about it today, until you walked up to me and said, "Dad, I really like your purse!" My what?!? You are just so cute and I love you like crazy. You, your mom, and your sister are the most wonderful parts of my life.

Dad

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Serelle,
Right now, your favorite thing to say is, "I ready did!" You say it with such attitude and even put your hands on your hips sometimes! Whenever mom asks you to sit down and finish your dinner, or to put your toys away, or brush your teeth (pretty much any time we ask you to do anything you don't want to do), you quickly and sharply answer, "I ready did!" Sure love you and your BIG little attitude.

Dad

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Serelle,

You have had such a fun summer living at Mimi and Rhino's house with Uncle Kade and lots of cousins around - Satchel, Eero, Castle and Smith. However, you must be a little bit homesick because every couple of days, especially when you're tired or sad, you'll look at me and say, "Mom I want to go home". I'm not quite sure what to tell you because we don't really have a home right now! I think you're referring to our home at Midtown, but because we're not going back there I don't want to encourage that and make you feel sad. Luckily we will be moving into our own home very soon! We'll pick up our Penske truck a week from today and head West to our new home at Stanford! Hopefully, with Dad, Lili and I all together with you, you'll start to feel like that is your home! I sure love you!

Monday, August 1, 2011

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Liliahna

You gave your first talk in Primary today! We are visiting Mimi and Rhino's ward in Glendale, AZ for a couple of weeks and they asked you to give a talk about Temples! Dad helped you write the talk and you did such a great job! Here is what you wrote:

"My name is Liliahna Lundeen.
I love the temple.
The temple makes me happy.
I'm getting married in the temple.
My mom and dad got married in the Salt Lake Temple.
I want to be with my family forever.
I love my Heavenly Father.
I love Jesus.
I love the temple.
The temple is very special.
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."

We are all so proud of you for being brave and doing such a great job giving your very first talk! Way to go Lili!

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

June 29, 2011

Liliahna,

Holy cow! You are a good little swimmer! You went from being pretty much terrified of being in the water to learning the front crawl in two days! I'm not sure how the major progress came, but we're loving it! We're living in PHX this summer while we wait for B-school at Stanford to start, so you're getting a lot of water time right now. You ask me or mom to swim out to the middle of the pool, and then you like to swim out to us, then swim back to the steps. I'm so proud of your efforts Lili!

Dad