may goodness

The month of May seemed to pass rather quickly! I don't have much journaling for the month at all, so here's a quick recap through pictures:

 This is me basting a t-shirt quilt I made for a graduating senior in our ward. Learned a ton through this process; and yes, I would even do it again!

 Little mascara incident. She has done this twice since - you'd think I'd learn!

 Mother's day weekend I drove twenty minutes south to the nearest Rita's. L-man has taken a fascination with our camera, and loves to snap pictures for me during our day-to-day lives. 

 This is his angle every day. Made me laugh.

 R had a day off (thank heavens!), and we went to explore a nearby greenway path. Refreshing to be outside, and it did us some good.

 There was this awesome suspended bridge we crossed. Made me shaky in the knees thinking about L-man falling off it. Whew! We made it safe and sound.

 L-man loves to help me water the flowers every morning, which usually turns into him watering the concrete and trees. This particular day he found a spider web and made it glow with droplets of water. We have been watching this web for weeks now.

 Lady-LE loves mommy's shoes.

 Once again, another L-man perspective shot of me sitting at our computer desk.

 "I'm so glad when Daddy comes home!"

 Playing outside.

 More water time in the front yard. 

 This was around 5 in the evening, and the shade was started to get a little cool. So L-man would run over to the sunny spot of the yard to warm up.

 90 degrees outside, and we were wearing ourselves out at the playground. 

L-man in a bounce house at our neighbor's birthday party. 

Just a few minutes after I took this photo, my camera completely died. It won't function at all anymore, and I have reverted to taking pictures with an older camera that is also broken but at least works well enough to capture some memories, albeit poorly. I'm feeling all kinds of out-of-sorts without a camera and am hoping the situation gets resolved soon. Hopefully soon, because the month of June is seriously lacking in the photo department!

preschool sing a long

Preschool has been incredibly awesome for L-man this year. We were so sad to see the school year end, and he's already talking about how his next class will be upstairs (4 years olds are on the second floor). His teachers are wonderful, and it has been a growing experience for all involved. 

 We did a little carpooling action with a good friend of mine. These boys loved to lean out the window when it came time for the drop-off zone. Good buddies!

 On the last day of school, the preschool put on this Sing-a-Long for the parents. I was excited to go, but really didn't know what to expect. As I walk into this gym, I see all these parents have their video cameras on tripods set up already! I was laughing so hard! It was quite a large group, and I saw so many moms/dads rush in during their lunch break just to watch. 

While I did laugh at the humor of it all and how over the top some parents were about a preschool deal, you better believe that I started recording one of the songs they sang just to show Ry. I'm such a sucker. (and I was across the gym from where L-man was, so forgive the 100% zoomed-in shaky camera work)

And for those of you who can't understand them (I couldn't even when I watched it live), here are the words:

"God is watching, watching over you.  24/7 watching over you. Your life is in His hands, whoa, whoa. He's got great big plans, 'cause he's watching over you. 

When you're waving, your hands up in the air; When you're shouting - woo! - no matter when or where. God's seeing everything you do. 'Cause He's watching, watching over you."

I didn't record L-man's favorite song, "Wild About Us" that you can watch here. He's been singing this one in the car for months, but didn't quite know the words all the time. I would try and guess what he was saying all the time because it sounded like "He's wa! He's wa! God is wa about us." I laughed so hard when I realized what the words actually were! My favorite part is when the kids all 'raised the roof' singing "God is great, He is awesome!" 

Hilarious! So sweet, endearing, and funny. I completely am falling in love with these southern churches. :)

L-man and his fantastic teachers. We miss them already!

some best friends

We have been so lucky to have visitors lately! First my brother and his family, then R's parents, and now some of the best friends we had in Ohio. Short, but oh so sweet to be with these wonderful people again! 

 I got to meet a little bit more of this little dude's personality, and I love him! Watching him almost brought tears to my eyes a couple different times because he looked so much like his older brother did when L-man and he would play together as toddlers. Crazy how fast time goes!

 We just happened to be in the perfect spot for the S-Family to take a break along their drive back from their vacation. So they stayed the night, and then continued their journey the next day. We ate a yummy lunch - complete with awesome homemade guacamole - and played outside a lot while they were packing their car. They undoubtedly got home late because we just couldn't say goodbye so soon! 

 Oh I love this girl. She constantly makes me laugh, and always inspires me with her many talents and abilities. I feel like she's always pushing herself to be better, and because of that I want to do the same! And whenever I tell her just how awesome she is, she just shrugs it off like it's no big deal. She was the one that L-man and I would just walk over to their house in Ohio, unannounced, and asking for a distraction during the day. We would trade recipes for seriously good food; always had good, real conversations; do last-minute get-togethers whenever the hubbies had time off; and lovingly accepted the fact that our boys rough-housed and always got in fights together. We would constantly blame it on the "intense" personalities of their fathers. Seriously. We even listed one another as living in the same household to qualify for a zoo "family" members - because we practically are family!   

Man alive we miss these guys. It felt completely natural, easy, and right to be together laughing again. 

You know the best part?! A year ago, we came home from crazy traveling to find our home and personal space in OH completely violated and graffitied with medical-student business cards. Andrew (in above picture) and two other great friends, Eric and Justin, stuffed and pushed their business cards into every nook and cranny of our house and belongings. Our entire home was plastered! 

(they spelled the name wrong on purpose)

We would take the business cards off the picture frame, only to find one in the exact spot under the glass frame (in fact, we've left it in the glass as a little reminder of such great friends!). While we were packing up our house I literally felt like these cards were falling from the ceiling. And you know what? I just found a card last week. As in, a full year later we are STILL finding these cards. One of my favorite spots? In a little Russian nesting doll - there were ripped up pieces of a business card even in the tiniest doll that was literally an inch tall. 

Anyway - you get the point. These boys are professionals at pranks. 

WELL - We got a surprise visit from Andrew on his way down to Florida about two weeks earlier than this family visit. He was pulling another prank on us! This time with address labels, and sticking them all over our trees, flowers, door, etc. In fact, I bet there are some under our slate rocks that we haven't found yet. While the prank wasn't a complete success since we ended up seeing one another and catching up for a bit, it was SO SO funny, and completely fitting for our friendship. 

The best part, is that even a year later, our friendship picks up right where we left off. And it will continue to do so, I'm sure. Especially since we still have all those business cards to return to their owners - and yes, that includes you, Eric & Justin. You will all get what's coming to you. :)

Thank goodness for best friends! 

water fight

We have little water fights a lot these days. And are thankful that friends can come over to join us every once in a while. 

Lovin' the summertime!!

mothers day

 My friend and I made these for ourselves this year with our kids' handprints. Oh I love them!

Mother's Day hasn't been that big of a deal for me to be honest. Sweet holiday, but never something to make a big fuss over. Well! That has all changed, and it is thanks to preschool! :)

 My world has broadened to now include darling little special events in honor of being a mom, and special little gifts made by my child without me helping them! ha. L-man's preschool class did a Mother's Day Picnic, and it was seriously my favorite thing in the world. I got to sit on a blanket in the beautiful sunshine, with my two lovies and cuddle them up as much as possible. We ate a yummy lunch of cheese, crackers, and apples; and I got to meet lots of L-man's friends from school.  

 This little girl was loving her some sunglasses today, and she pulled them off in such an adorable fashion!

 And this stud muffin is practically a spitting image of his Daddy - which is probably why I love him so much. :)

 Almost caught you looking at the camera! 

 After lunch all the kids got up served us our dessert. It was darling to watch them all listen carefully to their teachers when the teachers were pleading with them to be careful while walking over blankets, bags, and picnic paraphernalia. It was quite a serious responsibility.  

 They sang us a song - to the tune of Bingo, but spelling the name Mommy instead. Funny that hardly any of them sang it when they were up in front of us, but right after they all started singing it loud and clear as they're running around and playing. 

 And the treats just kept coming! They each had made these pots for us, completely with thumb-print bugs all around them, and beautiful flowers inside. What a treasure! I will keep this for years!! 

Man alive am I lucky to be a mamma. And not just any mamma, but his mamma. 

What a beautiful day! 

nonnie and papa g

We started off the month with another wonderful visit from family! Nonnie and PopPop came to see us! One of the things that I love most about these two wonderful people are that they take the everyday, ordinary things in life and make them special. I felt that way every day they were here, and try to hold onto it and keep it going after they've gone. 

Sadly, we started the trip with both kids getting sick. LE had a crazy high fever the day C arrived, and even fell asleep on my shoulder while I walked around the grocery store in the morning - she never falls asleep outside of her bed or car seat. Seriously, I knew something was wrong. But generally speaking, she was simply more needy and cuddly which just heightened her already momma-girl personality. Sweet baby had a rough night, and ended up in our bed (another never moment). Babies always look so peaceful when sleeping!

We played around the home a lot, visited L-man at preschool for a special-guest lunch with Nonnie, spent a long time shopping for flowers (completely my fault, I'm so indecisive!), and went to watch Daddy play in a soccer game. That's when L-man decided to get sick too, falling asleep on my legs while watching the game with a high fever, although his got to the point of throwing up in the car. Yuck! Luckily he seemed to get better quickly after that, with only a fever left over. While they both got over it quickly, night-sleep was completely ruined and we were all waking up a dozen or so times each night. Made for a long week of getting back to normal!

"One, two, free, four, daddy higher!"

We played outside a lot, went swimming at the Y when the kids were feeling better, and worked on planting our new flowers. 

G joined us a few days later, and we enjoyed a lot of low-key fun together: working on the garden and bringing it back to life, playing frisbee, some water fun in the front yard, small projects around the home, playing with new toys that PopPop brought, and eating yummy food. 

C-Boys. Love them all!

Playing 'Doctor' - trying to be like daddy!

What fun memories!!

The kids were in heaven to get so much attention, and R & I were in heaven to feel of G & C's goodness. They are such amazing people - and we are lucky to have them!