Mondays

I should really get the "bad blogger" award - but hey, I come back eventually...  :)

I am not so fond of Mondays in general because I always have high expectations for what needs to get done, and then it doesn't.  Hopefully I can get over this soon and get more realistic in my abilities and plan better.  Then maybe I will enjoy Mondays as a fresh start to a new week and relax a bit instead of go, go, go.  But then I won't get stuff done - you see my dilemma.  Mondays just make me grumpy and you know the saying, "When Momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy."  It is true.  It was a rough day.  I am grateful for a new day tomorrow.  I am determined to be better tomorrow.

Life is good and I have a lot to look forward to:  General Conference, Michael's two-week break from school, no work this week, and warmer weather so I can run and we can play outside.

I am grateful for my life.  It really is so good. 

Making Dinner

Love that smile.

Today Carter sat at the kitchen table playing with battleship pieces while I made dinner and Caleb jumped and squealed in his Johnny Jump Up and ate pretzel sticks.  I jammed out to "Let It Go" and "Mamma Mia".  This is definitely how making dinner should go every day. 


It snowed today - a real blizzard - after we were down to nearly zero snow in our yard.  I hope it melts soon.  I also got a hair cut today.  Picture to follow.  :)

February In Twenty Fourteen

Michael finished his first class and is on his second - going strong despite working full time too.  He is pretty much amazing.  We are coming up on our 5-year anniversary and realized that we were engaged at this point five years ago.  Sweet memories.  I am so glad I am married to him.

Caleb is walking! (at 10 months old.)  Tonight I gave the boys a bath and it was fun to just watch them play.  Caleb is so pudgy and clumsy in the water.  He gets bumped by Carter and slips and splashes, but smiles the whole time.

Carter is getting tall and his imagination is growing too.  It is so fun to hear him talk to imaginary friends and to set up elaborate arrangements of toys and household items that you can tell are a whole world that he has created around himself.  It looks like a mess to me, but if I try to move any of it Carter lets me know that I am messing it up.  It is a mess with a plan - all set up by our little Carter.  I love watching him.

Today Carter and I raked the front yard.  It still has patches of snow, but needed cleaned.  Carter went through three pairs of shoes, socks, and pants while I worked because he kept getting wet and cold.  Caleb slept in the car with the window open for a much needed nap.  I got to open the windows in our house to let fresh air in.  I am so ready for summer.  It felt good to be physically active and accomplish something outside.  This winter has been too long and I am excited for warm weather up ahead!

Boys trip to SLC

Michael and Carter got to take a trip to Salt Lake shortly before Christmas to pick up Kenio from the airport and take him to the MTC.  They had so much fun getting to take the trip with just the two of them. 

Christmas 2013 Recap

Gingerbread house we made at Grammie's! 

Caleb 8 months old

This year was Caleb's first Christmas - and Carter's first Christmas to really get the Santa Claus thing.  It was fun.  Here are a couple of Christmas morning pics.

Mom and Carter by the stockings Christmas morning before going to Grammie's!

Mom and Carter sledding.  Dad driving.  Tanner riding behind.

Uncle Dallin sledding with Carter.

Despicable Me 2.  The highlight of the Christmas presents!

Mom's new boots.  Everyone watching/playing with Christmas gadgets.  

 We love this special season and holiday to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and to be with family.  Merry Christmas everyone!

First day of Preschool!

It was an exciting morning.  I woke up Carter at 7:30 to get ready for school.  (Usually he gets up around 8:30 so it was a rough start.)  I reminded him that he got to go to preschool today and he got excited.  He ate Life cereal and got his new school clothes on.  I helped him get on his coat and monkey backpack and sent him on his way.  Michael took him to school because I needed to get some work going.  He enjoyed his first day and is excited to go again!

Life is looking good.

Life really is looking good.  Every day is not perfect or easy but as I look around at my many blessings I feel happy.  I have my wonderful Michael, who is an amazing husband and father.  He has started his master's degree at the University of Phoenix in Business Management.  He is working full time while going to school, which is hard core.  He manages to do all of that while spending time with us and puts God first in everything.  He inspires me to be better.

Carter and Caleb are healthy and happy kids.  Carter is becoming more imaginative and has started playing more independently (not needing mommy to play with him so much - although the invitations are frequent).  He is so much more independent in potty and eating needs too.  He will be starting preschool next Tuesday and he is quite excited.  I can't believe how much my little boy has grown.

Caleb is a very mobile crawler, soon to be walker.  He is finally sleeping much better (as of the week of Christmas), only waking up once or twice at night and can put himself to sleep most of the time.  He loves food and eats a lot of things.

Our church schedule changed to 1-4 with the new year but will be changed to 11-2.  Happy day - no more exhausted Caleb at church, although he did pretty well just falling asleep during the last hour.

I am the second counselor in our Primary.  It is a busy calling but I am starting to get used to it.  I really enjoy getting to know kids in our ward.  

The snow is slowly melting.  I can't wait for warmer weather again!!  I am excited to start running outside again and playing with Carter and Caleb outside.  We are ready to enjoy summer activities more this year because Caleb is bigger and will do better outside than he did last year.  Yeah for summer!!!

I am still working three days a week from home as a medical transcriptionist.  It isn't a perfect job, but I feel blessed to work from home and have more time with my boys.  I love to spend time with them and help them with the things they need.  I love talking to my Carter who has something to say about everything and I love my Caleb who is full of curiosity and cuddles.  They make me so happy.

Michael and I are excited for this new year.  We know it will have its challenges but we are already seeing many blessings.  The best one is knowing we have a Heavenly Father who has a plan for us and that He loves us and is always with us if we let Him.

Happy 2014!