Making Memories

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Mandatory Fun

Running around with Daddy.

Look, my belly has become a perfect seat for the boy.

Playing- she hardly took a break to eat, she was having so much fun


Eating lunch

I took him on a walk after playing and eating and he fell asleep, just in time to be transferred to the carseat to head home.

I have mixed feelings about "mandatory fun" days. I totally understand the benefits of building a sense of belonging and community with fellow soldiers at work and their families. I love that families are invited to be a part of their soldier's day and spend that time together. But, in the past, the mandatory fun was more like come and eat and sit around until you are allowed to leave. Not this time. This mandatory fun was FUN! I really felt like I was getting to know others and that most of the people wanted to be there and were having fun. I also liked the fact that Philip told me we got to be the "photographers" for the event and I didn't have to feel limited in the pictures I could take (besides, it is a great conversation starter when you are snapping pictures of people and their kids). Yay for mandatory fun that is actually fun!

One Year Older (And Better Too)

Last year, Nater chose to finally join us at 1:01 a.m. on my birthday. After several days of regular contractions he came quick and easily into our world. It truly felt like he had waited to come to share my special day with me. That birthday- I didn't do much celebrating- I mostly slept and fed my newborn. This year, however, I got to see what it is really like to have this special day be both of our day. I love it! We already try to make the day magical for the kids, and by default, it becomes magical for me. I get to spend my birthday reflecting on him (and naturally my other kids). I get to evaluate how we have all grown and changed as a family and I find a renewed joy in having everything I always wanted (home, husband, children, best job in the world).
I had actually begun really pondering and evaluating before my birthday. I had been reading (in this book) about women who played a role in establishing a group in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints that I belong to now, known as Relief Society. I loved the way they were presented. I found myself highlighting word after word and sentence after sentence that described these women. I knew that I wanted to be described this way. I wanted to be more like these women. I wanted to be MORE. I tossed these thoughts around in my head for quite some time. I shared them with my husband and posed the questions of how would he be described, how would he WANT to be described, and how would he describe me. I took in all that he said and added it to the mix of thoughts brewing in my mind. I knew that I wanted to be more of some things and less of others. I wanted to be different and I realized that in order to be different I had to focus on BEING different everyday. Being better everyday. Trying harder and doing more. I had a goal that I wanted to reach and I knew that I could do it! As a birthday present to myself I chose to turn my thoughts into something more, something visual and lasting.

I got on Facebook and invited my friends to describe me. I had such great responses that truly touched my heart. I added these thoughts the the goal and idea brewing in my head. Then I got to work. I made a list of what I want to be. I used punch out letters to spell these characteristics out and I attached them to foam board (until I ran out of adhesive- I bought more and can finish the project soon). Then, I will hang this inspiration board where I can see it every day. I will see it and read it and remember this desire to be more. I will try every day to be more. I will add and change as needed and I will some day be what I want to be. Hopefully, I will be remembered in one or more of the ways that are listed on this board. I hope that by being more like the me I want to be, I will find more happiness and satisfaction in the things I do and the choices I make.

Are you who you want to be?

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Cupcake Destruction

I can not believe that Johnathon will be one year old tomorrow. It is supposed to rain all day- so we took our pictures today. I made him a cupcake and we headed outside. He had so much fun! He would go to the cupcake, take a few bites, and then go play. He came back for more several times. He also enjoyed playing with his hat and balloon- until he somehow untied the balloon from the table and let it fly away. I had so much fun taking pictures. I love taking pictures outside- the lighting was beautiful! (The only editing I did with these was to crop a few of them and put them into a collage)

Friday, March 23, 2012

All Grown Up

She had to take a picture of it herself, that is why it is so blurry.

I have very independent children. They recently have begun to talk about all of the things they will do when they grow up. Especially about when they will move out and what their homes will be like. 18 is their magic age. At 18 they will be all grown up and able to do whatever they want. The first thing they plan to do is move out. Fortunately enough, they want us to come and visit. Lex wrote us a letter the other day inviting us to visit her when she moves.

The letter reads: Dear Mom and Dad
I relly want you to kome to my home wen I am edtten. Ill tell you wir I will live. Collurodw Spring
Love Alexis
For you tow.

The map reads:
-start -forst stop -sokont stop -therd stop -finnisht

Translated: Dear Mom and Dad
I really want you to come to my home when I am 18. I'll tell you where I will live. Colorado Springs.
Love Alexis
For you two.
-start -first stop -second stop -third stop -finished

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Half Down

So, I am officially half way done with this pregnancy. I was lucky to have only minor morning sickness (feeling occasionally nauseated- never vomiting). I went from craving lettuce and veggies to craving cookies (most other sweets don't work- just cookies). Baby went through a growth spurt- I wore pants on Saturday and then couldn't put them on the next Monday. I love my second trimesters. I am sleepy and sometimes my thoughts are foggy, but I mostly feel great! I have an appointment and an ultrasound in a couple weeks. Philip is still planning on finding out the gender and somehow keeping it from me. We don't have names picked yet, but we have the girl's names narrowed down to 5 and the boys names at about 12. We use a family name for each of our kids and so that makes our choosing a bit harder sometimes. Anyway, here is a picture taken at 20 weeks(ish).

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Magic For Saint Patrick's Day

My husband and I have recently agreed to putting more effort into making holidays magical for our family. Unfortunately for us, the first holiday after our agreement wasn't an easy one. I mean, how do you create magic on a day that you see no real point in celebrating? Nonetheless, we did our best to make this St.Patrick's Day a day of magic for the girls.
Our day started last night when we picked out our green outfits. The girls were excited just to wear something special for the special day. We met up with some friends and went to a parade in Erin, TN. I can not believe how many people were at this thing!!!! The weather stayed beautiful until just after the parade, when it started to rain. While Lexi, Nater, and I watched the parade; Emi and Philip drove in it with the miata club. After the parade we ate our packed lunches picnic style and headed home. We took a ferry across the Cumberland River both ways- which was new to all of us. Once we got home we crashed- or would have if the kids would have let us. We did all rest for a while at least because we knew it would be a late night for the kids (got home at 9- 3 hours past the typical bed time). I made cookies and we went to an auction dinner at church. We were outbid on some of the items we were interested in, but we did walk away with 2 hours of babysitting (perfect, since we need a babysitter this coming up Friday). The girls didn't take long to fall asleep and I think they really did feel a bit of magic today.


Best part of the ferry ride was getting to be out of their seat belts to enjoy the experience.

Wouldn't it be great if we could ride like this all the time!

The ferry and the river.

After we crossed, waiting for our friends.

Jumping with excitement- she stood by herself near the road because some people chose to stand in front of us the whole time and she wouldn't have been able to see.

She dutifully waved at nearly every participant that went by.


Nater's first sucker.

Alexis made a friend. I am not sure what this girl kept saying to her, but she did chat her ear off.

He loved joining in the clapping, even though he had no idea what he was clapping for.

Nater ate lunch so well, and surprisingly stayed fairly clean.

Monday, March 12, 2012

Getting My Craft On

So, I had a pair of pants lying around that I wanted to save for a project. However, I really only needed the pockets from the pants and when I saw this on pinterest I thought- why not? And then I got crafting.