Shelter Cove Beach Day!

They say a picture is worth a thousand words...

I think this trip of ours to Shelter Cove was well worth the 1,000 pictures I took.

They all spelled out one word...

F-U-N!!!

Day One: Beach Day!

Full of sun, starfish, sand, and silliness.

Laney as a "dead mermaid".

Quick Post

I have no time to catch up with my blog...I don't think I have EVER just not blogged about a trip or milestone...but too much has happened and I just don't have the time to catch up.

Here is a quick glimpse of the past month so I have it minimally recorded for my sake.

We had a fun Utah trip last month!  Loved seeing family, and a cousin married - hated throwing up out the side of the car because I had food poisoning on our way there.  Worst 5 hours of my life...

Some of our closest friends moved away. :(  The Ellsworths.  We have known them since their oldest Brock was 1 week old.  Leslee and I were pregnant together 2 times!  We had the ultimate 6 night sleepover with their family.  Each of us has 3 kids...and all six of them are awesome kids.   I miss the Ellsworth's!

Kadie had her first piano recital last weekend!  She did awesome.  Aunt Morgan and Grammy and Grandpa came and brought her so many flowers she could hardly carry them.  She was so cute.

School ended.  Kadie is now a 3rd grader and Laney will be in Kindergarten!  Next school year is going to be the best yet.  I can't wait.

Laney started reading!  She is sounding out and trying to spell things all of the time.  I keep finding notes all over the house in her "language".  I love that spunky kid.  She also gave her first primary talk, and she did great.  She added her own little flair of course, the primary kids were all laughing.

Josh is still working 80-100 hr weeks.  I'm not sure if I had a (or multiple) nervous breakdown(s) yet, but I think I do remember being tied up in a white jacket.  Not really, but we have learned to play hard on the weekends again.  No moment is wasted. :)  And...the kids sleep pretty darn good Saturday and Sunday night after a full day of family time.

I have changed a lot in the past few months myself.  For the first time in a long time I have stepped back and I am taking the slower road.  I guess I got sick of life seeming like a race.  I still want to be in the race, but it doesn't really matter to me when I finish it now.  I want to take everyday one at a time instead of waiting for the next big thing to happen.  Not everything is crossed off on my list everyday, and it is actually a good feeling to know the world didn't end because my list is still full.  I took the work out of my hobbies and found the love in creating again, for myself and my kids.  For the first time in YEARS, I have actually taken time to relax!  I sat down with Josh and watched an entire movie without making something at the same time, and I enjoyed it!  Life is getting good.  I have so much to be thankful for.

Where's your Tooth?!?!

Laney has already lost her first tooth!

After biting into an apple during our Utah trip last week, she loosened one of her front bottom tiny teeth.  Her teeth are so tiny.  It has been getting progressively looser and looser all week. (Is looser a word?)

Yesterday, she ran in to wake me up by yelling "It's gone.  My tooth is just gone!".  She was so excited, until I asked, "Where is it?", to which Laney did NOT know the answer.  She was about 70% sure she didn't swallow it in her sleep.  Kadie is sure she saw it fall out of Laney's mouth and onto a blanket on the couch, but that it was lost when Kadie lifted the blanket up.

We searched and searched, to no avail.  Said tooth is lost.  Twice lost.

The Toothfairy was kind enough to leave a whopping $5 bill under Laney's pillow last night.

Lucky girl.

My Josh...

Happy Cinco De Mayo, and Happy Anniversary to US!

Warning: This is mushy and squishy and specifically written for Josh...ok.  I have warned.

Since I met Josh 11 1/2 years ago, I haven't seen anything in front of me except him.

After only 2 months of dating, I knew he was who I wanted to {hopefully} marry and be with forever.

There have been a few definite moments in our marriage that were almost more than I could handle, and through my craziness he stood by me.  I knew we loved each other when we got married, but I had no idea how much that could grow.  I also knew he would be a good father and husband, but I had no idea what an AMAZING father and husband he would be.

We were so cheesy when we were first together.  We spent pretty much EVERY minute together.  We wrote love notes.  We took walks every day.  We spent hours on the phone when we weren't together.  Then, we spent the hours we had together telling each other what we loved about one another.

Times have changed so much in 11 1/2 years.   I like to call it Modern cheesy!  Instead of written love notes, we send emails and texts.  I don't know what I would do with out being able to send Josh an instant message and instantly get a reply.  No matter how hard it is between work and kids, we make time in our separate schedules so that we have time together.   Then, we spend the time we do have together talking about all of the work and the kids.

I just wanted to write down, how thankful I am to have someone like Josh in my life.  Of course our marriage isn't perfect, and there is always room for improvement - especially on my end.  What I am thankful for is that Josh doesn't ever comment on my flaws, he cheers me on in all of the good things he see's in me.  That cheering is what gives me energy and makes me want to be a better wife, mother, and person.

Happy Anniversary My Josh, I love you!

Here are some fun photos through the years...