A Man's Man

So it all started with growing a beard about a month ago. Actually, it all started with a lucky (expensive) permit.

Then came the beard. And lots of anticipation and preperation for....the big limited entry elk hunt!

Let's be honest, me trying to give the long, exciting details of Todd's hunt would be like Todd trying to give the long, exciting details of childbirth. Completely unnatural and inconceivable. So the short of it from me is....

They had the adventure of a life time.
A true "man's man" experience!(Complete with a discovery that lead to a police investigation over a case that has been unknown for years! Seriously!)


Thanks to the guys who went to help him out and an even bigger shout out to the wives that shared their men!

Happy to announce....

It's a girl. A girl.

I could say the words over and over.

April 5.2012.

xoxo

Summertime and the living is easy...

Unless, that is, you have been so busy it has nearly come and gone and you don't remember what you did! That is about what our summer has been. A whirlwind. We started early on with some serious landscaping, which involved an entire sprinkler system (nice work uncle Vic!), lots and lots of raking and rock picking up, putting in borders, moving around top soil and hydroseeding. Pray for our nearly half acre lawn that by next spring it will look like a lawn, not a field!

We have fit in a few vacations, but not as much as we would like. My highlight was D.C. as mentioned earlier. Beyond the usual tour of our Nation's capitol, my new must see is Monticello. You won't be disappointed!

Atticus has become a little boy this summer! I absolutely love this stage. It is beyond busy and exhausting but oh. so. cute.


We did find the time to hike the Oakley trail. It is kind of fun to see your hometown from above. Atticus enjoyed the ride. And he was thrilled to see that grandpa found a jellybean growing in his ear.

This picture was early June and he has grown so much since!



Our baby boy is seriously transforming into a little boy. He speaks in nearly full sentences now which is so weird to me! I love it when he catches me off guard. Like when I sneeze and hear a little, "Bless you mama" from the other room. He is so full of life and has such a sweet, curious, happy disposition.

Leavin' on a Jet Plane...

Just a few more days and I will be visiting here...

To see her...

Feeling free like this...

Free because I will not have a diaper bag hanging on me and free because nothing reminds me of the liberties I enjoy every day like a trip to our Nation's Capitol! That is right. I am leaving Todd with Atticus. I guess I should say I am leaving Atticus with Todd. Otherwise, it sounds like Atticus is the one in charge. Either way, it feels strange to be leaving my boys but I can't wait to see my sister and visit one of my most favorite places on earth. We live in an amazing country!!

Words I wish he didn't know...

Every now and then, life throws a curve ball. Sometimes it is to keep it exciting, sometimes to learn a lesson, sometimes to wake us up, sometimes for reasons unkown. Last Thursday we had one thrown at us, and I feel it was for lesson(s) to be learned.

Lessons I learned:

There is a first for everything, so be prepared. He had never climbed onto the counter before, so I turned my back to a hot stove.
Nothing in the world is as important as he is. Slow down, stop trying to do it all. Distraction is deadly with a toddler.
Watching your child in real pain is nearly unbareable. Enough said.
Don't wait for a scare to renew your deep gratitude for what you hold dear. The thoughts of how bad it could have been make me sick.
Accidents do happen, forgive yourself All the love in the world doesn't ban heartache from happening....now and then.

Lessons he learned:

The real meaning of hot. Luckily the stove had been off for a few minutes, or this lesson may have been a little too harsh.
The words "burn" and "bubble ouchy" (blisters).


I am grateful for prayer. I am grateful for Priesthood holders. I am grateful it wasn't worse. I am grateful he is on the mend.

I promised myself when I started this blog it would be real. Not for show, not to impress. Well, here is real life as a mom. And this mom is grateful for the lessons we learned.

This took me back....

Every once in a while if I have a hard time falling asleep, which is not very often, I will listen to my ipod. A few of my favorite artists I could listen to day and night, over and over are Sara Bareilles, Nora Jones and John Mayer. Well, the other night, I thought I would mix things up and put my ipod to shuffle. I turned off my lamp, closed my eyes and hit play. Low and behold I heard this....


Not just any Nsync song but the song....God Must Have Spent A Little More Time On You. I have to admit, it put a smile on my face and took me back to my younger days. It is so funny how music will do that to you. Now I know you are probably laughing at me, thinking less of me or seriously questioning my taste in music but come on... this was a good song.

****Unless you are in junior high and slow dancing with a member of the opposite sex, with straight arms, 2 feet away from each other, taking baby steps. Then this is a painfully long song.

I will warn you....

I heard many different warnings from people about having a boy....

But no one warned he would steal my heart.

We have a walker!

We may be nearly 16 months but we finally decided to walk! And he finally is getting more than 4 teeth. We have been a little behind in those two departments, making me feel like I still had a baby, but having this little person walking around my house suddenly makes me wonder where my baby went! It is so cute though. Don't mind me...it was a Saturday morning. It is only appropriate I am still in pajamas with no makeup on! He is the star here anyway!

I love his little head bobble midway across the room. It was a good save!


One of his newest tricks is to fold his arms for prayers...oh and slap his bare belly!



I know to some people, they look at a post like this and think "ya ya, I am so sick of moms thinking their kids are so special! All kids do this stuff!" But it is such a different story when you witness this little being from before birth grow and develop. Every new word, movement, understanding is a miracle in your eyes!

Happy President's Day...

Tomorrow I will be grateful for the men who have served the United States of America as President. While I don't respect them all equally for their policies or leadership, I am grateful for the service each of them have rendured in our behalf. It is no easy thing to be the President of our great Nation. Whether you consider yourself "political" or not, I hope you think of your favorite President and why you respect his legacy. Then go and live it.


Ronald Reagan


All great change in America begins at the dinner table.
-Ronald Reagan

Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.
-Ronald Reagan

Freedom prospers when religion is vibrant and the rule of law under God is acknowledged.
-Ronald Reagan

I know in my heart that man is good. That what is right will always eventually triumph. And there's purpose and worth to each and every life.
-Ronald Reagan

Isn't it ironic...don't ya think

Me joining a book club would be like Todd joining Weight Watchers...highly unlikely and almost contradicting. Not that there is anything wrong with book clubs, or Weight Watcher's. It's just if you don't swim, it's not natural to join the swimteam, you know? Soooo...here is the ironic part. One of us did join the club. I won't leave you guessing which one of us it was.... me. I joined a book club.

I don't read. I could count on my one hand the number of books I have VOLUNTARILY read in my life. (School can't count.) The irony in that is I LOVED every single one of those books and finished them in no time. So why don't I read? Good question. All I know is I have 378 pages to read in the next few days before the big gathering. Intimidating. I have forewarned the gals about my dillemma with joining a book club and they all swore they wouldn't kick me out if I didn't get the books read in time. We shall see. If they do, I guess I will join Atticus in his book club.

THE BABY BOOK CLUB

24

Starting the new year off with a whole new age is kind of fun. It always makes me reflect on my blessings of the past years. This time I came up with a lot, 24 infact. So here are the top 24 highlights of my life, or shall I say blessings:
1. Being born to goodly parents
2. A magical childhood in Oakley
3. Christmas vacations in Mexico
4. Belonging to two wonderful exteneded families
5. Experiencing a family band
6. My membership in the Gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
7. Wonderful highschool friends
8. Moving away from home
9. Marrying Todd (*Thanks to our dear friends Adam and Kenzie)
10. Learning to live on next to nothing with Todd :)
11. Graduating from college
12. A belated Hawaiian Honeymoon
13. Getting a "real job"
14. Traveling to Europe
15. Buying our first home in Oakley
16. Remodeling
17. My first positive pregnancy test
18. Quitting my "real job"
19. Giving birth to Atticus
20. Teaching violin and guitar from home
21. My husbands employment through a rough economy (truly blessed)
22. A rekindled friendship
23. Good health
24. The blessings of being a mother

Life has been so good to me. I see the Lord's hand in everything our little family has been given and I am truly grateful. I am grateful for my friends and family that made this birthday a special one! Nothing like thoughtful cards and gifts from loved ones, a homemade birthday cake, a relaxing pedicure, a long day of skiing,an evening of shopping without complaints from your husband and a homecooked meal from mom on your birthday! Love you all.

4 Years and counting.....

Todd and I celebrated our 4th Anniversary on December 27th! Pretty amazing. Chris and Lizi joined us seeing how they were celebrating their 3rd the day after. We tried out the infamous Ruth's Chris.