LAZY

Our days at the Gummow home in Idaho are usually lazy days. The weather was really beautiful in IF on Sunday and we just hung out in the front yard while we watched the boys play. I was also privy to the information that Heidi has an obsession with protecting newborn babies' ears from wind (or slight breezes as the case may be). Just when I think I know everything about that girl, she surprises me.

On Monday, about an hour towards home, Ashley announced that she missed baby Wyn already. I guess we will just have to hold tight to our memories, because there is no way Ashley and I would ever want to live in Idaho!

OZ

Two years ago, I sat on my couch and cried for two hours because I was too pregnant to go to Idaho Falls to see my best friend be Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz dance recital. "This baby has already ruined my life, and she isn't even here yet!" I wailed. But never fear, Heidi's dance instructor decided to do it again, only this time she asked Heidi to do it knowing that she would only have about three weeks to recover from a C-section before performing. Heidi really wanted to do it though, so even though she was greatly harassed by her family and friends over it, this weekend was the big event.

Ashley came along with me and we took a road trip away from our babies. We were even able to stop at Maddox, which Ashley had last eaten at when she was like 13, so it was a real treat for her. We listened to some of our favorite old songs and chatted so much that our 3.5-hour trip just flew by.

Before the show, Craig wanted to go out to dinner to a place next to the theatre. I felt pretty cool hanging out with the star of Idaho Falls' production of Wizard of Oz. There were posters with Heidi on them EVERYWHERE. I saw them at the grocery store when I was in Idaho last weekend, and then when I went to dinner at the restaurant before the show, Heidi's poster was plastered right in front of me while I was going to the bathroom! There was even a GIANT billboard showing off the adorableness of my BFF, who was 8 months pregnant in the promotional picture!

We were allowed backstage for some exclusive access to the performers. I mostly was interested in Dorothy of course because she was the star of the show.

When it was finally time for the production to begin I was on the edge of my seat with my camera in hand. I took way too many pictures because everything Heidi did was ADORABLE! Now, this was a children's dance recital, not a play, so it was mostly a lot of dancing, which sometimes got a little long. I felt the same way Catcher did: "When my mom is on stage, I love it, but I just want to fast forward through the other parts." There were some cute dancing moments, but none of them could compare to on-stage Heidi. I had a little tear when she first appeared on stage and again as she was taken up to the rafters on a swing back to Kansas.

At the end of the show Dorothy was bombarded by tiny fans, and gave many an autograph and posed for many a picture with the little ones.

Soon she was back at home with baby Wyn, who didn't even need to see her on stage to know that she is a star.

BABY WYN!

This weekend I headed up to Idaho to meet our new nephew Joshua Wyn. Wyn is adorable, of course, and he is super tiny. He has really long everything including fingers, accented with a perfect tiny head. He is such a good baby and hardly made a peep the whole weekend. He is the luckiest baby ever because his parents are awesome and his two older brothers worship him. Welcome to the world baby Wyn!

For pictures from Wyn's semi-official photo shoot click HERE.

READY TO PARTY DOWN

Tomorrow is the two-year anniversary of when I became an aunt. My little Ava Bean is officially in her terrible twos. To celebrate, Ashley planned a low-key dinner at the Pizza Factory. I was the first to arrive, and when I saw Ava I wished her a happy birthday. She replied: "Where is Stella?" Ashley and Riley booked a room so we could let the girls run around and play together, which they did.

After dinner we sang "Happy Birthday" and Ava loved every second of it. She just kept looking at everyone and smiling. Then she surprised us all by blowing out her candle all by herself!

Ava loves her mommy's high heeled shoes, so her mom ignored the advice of Glamour Magazine and bought a special pair just for her. It took her about a minute to get used to walking in them and soon she was running, jumping, and twirling in her very own high heels.

Ava came out with a load of gifts. Unfortunately, Cousin Stella was not happy about Ava getting all the attention and she threw a few tantrums when she didn't get to open a present. However, the birthday girl had a tremendous time, and that is all that matters. And when you ask Ava how old she is, she can tell you: "I'm TWO!"