My newest addiction

One of my wonderful new friends Amy told me about Adobe Lightroom recently. So I went home and bribed Sean into downloading it for me and I am in heaven. I could spend HOURS ( and I have ) playing around and messing with this program!!! Its glorious and amazing and even if you don't want to play with the settings yourself you can download free presets from google from people who have made their own. I'm so in love. Now all I need is a better camera...

It's been a summer...

WHAT A SUMMER IT'S BEEN. I can't believe I haven't posted this whole summer! It's been so fun and eye-opening - a total roller coaster ride but worth every minute. I promised Cari I'd finally blog tonight so here it is. A (very brief) summary of our wonderful summer adventures.


Fourth of July - Sean has done great, while it hasn't been exactly how we hoped (at all) it's been so wonderful making new friends and experiencing a new city. Chicago is AMAZING. If i ever were to live in a city it would be Chicago. The shopping is awesome of course but there are beautiful parks, the Lincoln Park zoo downtown is not only great but free as well, the beaches are nice (though the water is cold), the eating is great and all in all its such a wonderful city - I'm only sad because we won't be able to experience everything Chicago has to offer but that means there will definitely be a next time!

Bannock's first trip to the beach! - The water was freezing but it was still fun. Bannock has been my little buddy, he's such a great little boy. He has the best spirit and he's calm and obedient for the most part (he IS after all still a little boy). And he's SO stinkin smart (like his daddy was at that age I understand...)- he has mastered a bunch of baby signs and loves to help me put things away (toys, groceries, he's a helper) and reading is his favorite thing (he even reads magazines too). It's truly been such a blessing to just be with him all the time and watch him learn and grow.

NAUVOO - was absolutely amazing! I got to go twice, once with my wonderful in-laws and again with my parents. It truly is a beautiful, spiritual place. We went to Carthage and to the old Nauvoo burial grounds (which were tucked in this gorgeous little wood way in the middle of nowhere) and found some ancestors buried there. I was able to go to the pageant too and it was SO fun - there was an awesome bag pipe band and old fashioned games and the pageant itself was spectacular. I have a renewed love and admiration for the early Saints.

Twilight Party - these are just some of the awesome girls I've befriended out here, I love them all! I think that has truly been the best part of this summer - the amazing people we've met! These girls are all so amazing and crafty and caring and sweet and each one is unique and fun! We have recipe swaps and jewelry/craft nights, play dates and pot-lucks. I have enjoyed every minute and I can't wait to do this again! it's been a summer...

The Windy City

The open road in WYO

Bannock found a tumble weed at a gas station in Nebraska

Sean did most of the driving

Just killin time on the 13 hour drive

WE MADE IT!!!!

So after 3 incredibly long days of driving (and an angel turned devil child being sweet and adorable then screaming out for no reason) we made it to Aurora IL. We left Saturday morning and drove straight through NV, UT, and then stopped in Rock Springs WY for the night. Next day we got held up in Cheyenne WY at a Wal-Mart to get an oil changed and I just have to say that obesity is an absolute epidemic in America. Especially the mid-west. Seriously folks, this is ridiculous. We saw so many morbidly obese people and little 2 year old to 12 yr old kids who will more than likely wind up with Diabetes in the frighteningly near future. I recently watched Food,Inc. and I recommend it to EVERYONE. It will change the way you think about food and the corporate food industries. But that's another rant.

Getting back to it. We drove through (boring) Wyoming and through most of Nebraska. Stopped in Kearney (Pronounced Carnie) for the night. Then on through Iowa the next day (it's actually quite pretty). So here we are now.

The apartment is great. One bedroom but its big enough so Bannock has his own little area. It came furnished...a nice long couch for my honey (not that I'll be making him sleep on it or anything!). Also cherry wood floors and cabinets and black granite counter tops-not too shabby. Though I would have taken anything less to call our own. It's so amazingly nice to just nest and be a mom. All the other moms/wives get together every other day for activities-going to the park, library, mall what not. Yesterday we went to the community rec center to check out summer activities for the kids and moms. I could definitely get used to this. Though not seeing my husband from 11 am to 11 pm is already starting to wear on me. It will all be worth it at the end of the summer though!

It's been awhile...

It's been over a month since I've updated but what a month it's been!!!

Just a quick re-cap...pictures to come:

*On March 5th our little buy turned the big 01! We had a big family party and he got spoiled rotten! So much so mommy actually returned a couple gifts...he won't be missing them!

*We had an AWESOME girl's weekend in LA for spring break- Sean's mom and sister Lynsie, My mom and I, and Sean's aunt Kelly and her daughter Courtney- shopped out little hearts out!!!!

*On March 18th my grandpa Woodie passed away at the ripe old age of 100 we had a graveside service on March 27th and then a nice memorial service on April 10. It was a great celebration of his long,full life. He as such a great man - a hard worker, lover of food, family and the Gospel. He will be missed but he'll also be welcomed by his 15 siblings and his parents. What a reunion!

*On March 26 Sean's "Aunt Netty" also left this world to be with Heavenly Father. She was only 54 and it was quited unexpected. She had a heart attack and was kept alive on a ventilator until her boys, siblings and parents could say their goodbyes. We celebrated her life on April 12. It was THE reunion. I think the entire family was there except Aaron (who's on his mish in Brazil). It was such a bittersweet day. She had some trials in her life but she was so greatly loved. Aunt Annette you will be missed!!!

After all of this it's such an awakening. It was a roller coaster month, highs and lows and more lows. I know I've said it before but it has truly taught me even more so how precious each day is to us. I cannot express how thankful I am for the knowledge that I have through the Gospel. I don't know what I would do without it. I just have to end by saying I LOVE my families, both sides. I have the best family around me, I've been so blessed. Thanks to everyone who is reading this for your friendship and support!!!

a Present

I just realized a moment ago that exactly one year ago tonight (the night of March 3rd...) I went into (active) labor. I was just telling Sean that a year ago right now (11:30 ish) I was squeezing his hand and making him stay up and count how long my contractions were. So weird that it was a whole year ago. It was such an epic, mind-blowing, life-altering event and the pain and exhaustion and swelling and fatness are just faint, dream-like memories.

I sometimes like to think about the years gone by. The days in high school where I would stay up all night doing homework thinking that the next day was the end of the world. Or worrying about whether or not I would see the boy I liked the next day. Or the times when I would fall asleep on my brother's bed while they played video games and think "it won't be like this for long". It makes me a little sad to think about those days, how quickly the present becomes the past. At work we were talking about certain people getting married and Ilene and I reminisced for a moment about how exciting it was to date and get engaged and plan your wedding and how it's all about you for that one big day. And then even being a newlywed is gone so fast. As I get older I start to really reflect on each day and its worth. Because the future will so soon become the present and the present will become the past. I've gained a whole new perspective since getting married and having a baby. I try (though more often than not I fail) to treat each day like it was the last. It's so terribly hard to do. We have so many pointless worries, appointments, schedules to keep that it all gets in the way. I wonder, if we really wanted it, if after we die we could relive some of the happy days of our lives. But I suppose our knowledge will be perfect and we probably won't want to because even the happiest day of our mortal life will be nothing in comparison to our life in heaven. Just a thought.



Today is a gift, that's why they call it the present.

Snotty Slug Tracks

I was wallowing in my congestion induced pity and feeling incredibly tired when I looked down at my sleeve and noticed a little slug trail of snot courtesy of my almost one-year-old boy. (We think it may be allergies to the animals in the house cuz his nose is always running but otherwise he's the happiest little boy). I had to smile as I heard him laughing with his daddy in the other room. I've been so incredibly blessed in the baby department. My little man has grown at mutant speed; he eats like crazy and has an amazing amount of energy (today he walked EVERYWHERE). And when he's not walking and babbling and getting into everything he's loving on his mama (or daddy or grandma or grandpa) and giving hugs and kisses. My favorite time of the day is when he's settling down for the night and reading a book. He turns the pages and his little eyes follow the words left and right. I've never felt so much love and joy as I do when I look at him. He's absolutely perfect. He'll sit for twenty minutes and just play with his toys and talk to himself and read his books, then he'll get up and look for mommy or grandma and play a rousing game of "gonna get you" wherein he then fills the house with little sqeals of delight.

I think I've finally found my calling. There are so many things I want to do in my life but being a mother is definately at the top of my list. Its been such a life changing event and everyday is a new adventure-sometimes a frustrating one but worth it most of the time. I recommend motherhood to anyone whos ever looked at a baby and thought "maybe". It's hard, it's scary, it's tough, it's exhausting, it's fun, it's stressful, it's joyful, it's silly, it's amazing, it's life-altering but it's all worth it!!!!

A trip to the duck pond

The weather has been beautiful this past week (yesterday and today regardless). It's that spring teaser we get in California before a month of rain. Sean had a day off so we took a little family walk to the duck pond. I just have to say I love my boys.