hocking hills

This past weekend we drove down to Hocking Hills in Ohio to go camping with some friends. It was a lot of fun and we definitely want to go back and explore a little more! The camping spot was fabulous, the food superb, and the company delightful! I had really low expections for L (sleeping, eating, staying away from the campfire, not wanting to ride in the backpack carrier, etc.) ... but the entire weekend I was just pleasantly surprised with how well he did! Does happiness always come from such low expectations?!

It was a vacation away from life that R & I desparately needed and it definitely recharged our batteries. There's nothing like being outdoors in God's creations to give you perspective and a desire to be a little better for one another. This trip reminded me how much I LOVE having fun as a family and that I need to find ways to do that even when we are at home! Here's some pictures of our trip - enjoy!

recent favorites

Loves to dance, stick his tongue out, give LOTS of hugs to Mommy & Daddy, be tickled anywhere, hug other babies, run up to Mommy and hug her legs, drink out of water bottles and take the lid on and off, hold his bear and sippy cup all day, be outside walking and watching cars drive by, yell at the top of his lungs while walking up and down the halls at church, read books to himself

Sings (errr ... likes to listen to us sing) & does the actions to (sort-of): Here's a ball for baby, Popcorn popping, Wheels on the Bus, Do as I'm Doing, Eensy Weensy Spider

Plays peek-a-boo with curtains, in the grass outside, patty-cake, with blocks and builds towers, with balls and throws them all over the place, on playgrounds & slides, with rocks on the sidewalk, with Mommy/Daddy's shoes

Climbs on the couch, up the stairs, the beanbag to play the piano, Mommy's legs, on his new Ikea chair

Signs 'all done' -- that's it. Although we've been working on others for a long time

Says uh-uh-uh-uh-uh for EVERYTHING & lots of other nonsense sounds that only he can understand and gets REALLY mad at Mom when she has no clue what he is referring to. Talk about frustrating ... I dispise guessing games ...

Eats any fruit especially grapes, crackers, cheese, pasta is a favorite - any kind, fruit snacks, animal crackers, chicken noodle soup, apples only when he can hold them and bite into them

weekend fun

We've been having a lot of fun playing together this weekend - although I haven't grabbed too many pictures of us to prove it. Here are a few:

Ry took me to the driving range and I got to swing a golf club for the first time in my life. Wow is it a lot harder than it looks! Out of a buket of 50 balls, I maybe had two good hits. Yikes! 

Ry & L exploring a metro park in Columbus area. So fun to have an excuse to use this backpack and my new camelbak Ry got me for Valentine's Day! YAY! 

Our fabulous friends let us borrow their bike trailer to try it out ... we're definitely in the market now (at least in our dreams ...).  L did a great job, and didn't even mind the helmet too much. I love going on family bike rides!

hoo-rah

After studying long and hard, and hard and long, Ry took the Step 1 of the United States Medical Licensing Examon Thursday!! In other words, he took his first round of Boards {yes ... there's more in years to come ... 3 to be exact ... yuck} ! YAY! It has been a blissful weekend full of waking up together, going to bed together, eating every meal together, playing together, watching L together, going to parks together, exploring Columbus together, watching movies together, eating way to many desserts to celebrate together, and simply wasting time together. It has been fabulous!!

Here's to Ry's great success and hard work! We find out the results in 6 weeks. Praying for us is still a good idea. :)

family pictures

Back in the middle of April, we had some family pictures taken and I'm just now getting around to blogging about them! While at the park, L had a couple different break-downs and managed to scuff up his forehead a little bit in a fall on the concrete. But all in all it was a fun morning and I can't really complain - how often do you pictures of all three of you together?! She has a few more on her website here if you are interested. Enjoy!

(I think this one is my favorite of the three of us)

L's rock pose. The wind-blown-mohawk, arms in air-guitar pose, and doing a guy's version of the splits. Love it.

childlike wonder

"To speak truly, few adult persons can see nature. Most persons do not see the sun. At least they have a very superficial seeing. The sun illuminates only the eye of the man, but shines into the eye and heart of the child. The lover of nature is he whose inward and outward senses are still truly adjusted to each other; who has retained the spirit of infancy even into the era of manhood."

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

utah fun

A very timely surprise and exciting change of pace - I got to spend a week in Utah with family! Total last minute, but it worked perfectly. I spent lots of time with my fam, talked for hours with my mom, went shopping with my sis, took lots of walks with L, enjoyed the moutains again, visited Idaho and celebrated 'decoration day,' attended an great friend's sealing in the temple, visited BYU campus, and met a brand new baby and spent time with her amazing parents! It was fabulous - I couldn't ask for more!

This is L helping mommy unpack the suitcase. He was having a blast.

Aunt K loved to follow L around taking pictures - and she definitely caught some cute ones! He loves to stick his tongue out, and his new favorite thing is to squish up his nose and breathe in and out really fast. It totally cracks us up!

We spent a lot of Saturday and Sunday decorating and honoring the graves of loved ones and family members. It was my first time really celebrating Memorial Day for its intended purpose, rather than for the no-school-day aspect. The cemetaries were brilliant with colors of flowers, and my heart experienced every kind of emotion walking through and reading the words engraved on the grave stones. My heart ached for those who are gone and their families, but felt joy as I thought about the legacies left to learn from. I especially loved seeing all the flags marking veterans who served our country in the armed forces. I am grateful to those men and women - especially my dad and brother who honorably serve(d) and dedicated their lives for my freedom. Thank you.

Aunt K was by far L's favorite I think ... "We go together, like rama lama lama ka dinga da dinga dong"

Elizabeth was a beautiful bride, and the sealing was wonderful. Thank you for letting me be apart of your special day!! Congrats!

L walking around BYU campus like he owns the place ...

Watching the fountains in the counrtyard of the JFSB.

I love this kid ...

My home away from home. I spent A LOT of my undergrad in these two buildings (the RB & SFH). Brought back fond memories ...

L playing in the 'wisdom tree'

Apparently L's not ready to go to school ... I'm grateful for that. I'll hold on to him a little bit longer.

Got to see fabulous friend Allison while at BYU. Love this girl!
It's the little things in life ...

Amazing friends and their beautiful brand new daughter!! L looks like a giant compared to her ... since when did my baby grow up?! Thanks Robinaughs for letting me hang out with you - sure miss you guys!!

I love Utah! Thanks for a wonderful time Mom and Dad (and for letting me borrow your car!)!!

a few lessons i learned from my mom

Hug your baby as much as you can.

Take time to sit on the grass and enjoy your life in the moment.

You're never too young to wear make-up (actually ... you are, but when you get a rash on your face the day of pictures ... there's an exception).

It's nice every once in a while to sit back, play, and laugh with your kids while someone else takes the pictures.

Even though it may be easier, sometimes you have to swim against the current.

Be adventurous and try new things.

Matching clothes on kids look cute - especially when it includes tights with designs on them.

School is important. 

That silly rule of not eating before you go swimming doesn't really apply when there's fruit snacks. 

Side pony-tails are always in fashion.

Cooking can actually be fun!

It's okay to follow the clothing trends every once in a while ... so you can laugh about it later.

Be happy and share that happiness with others.

You need to teach your children how to give you shoulder rubs. 

Hand-me-downs are always in fashion. I wore all three of these dresses and loved every minute of it.

Girls' Camp songs are all you need for entertainment.

Making memories together is the best kind of gift.

Marry the man you love.

Marry in the temple.

You can turn any bad situation into a good one by being optimistic, creative, and resourceful.

We can all be like the girl made of bricks.

Music makes life joyful.

Dream big, then work to accomplish it.

Families are Forever. You will never fully understand the impact you make for good on the lives of others. It's all worth it. 

I love you Mom.  Happy Mother's Day.