Spring at our home

Spring is in full bloom at our home.  And can I say, we LUCKED out!  

Oh my goodness, I am in love!  With tulips in particular.  Oh how I LOVE tulips. 

When we bought our home last year, I new there were bulbs in the ground.  

And I was careful to keep them there as I cleaned out the flower beds in the fall.

But I did not know how beautiful they would be this year.  

Or even the other flowers, trees and bushes. 

Every morning I go outside, there is a new batch of beauty springing up in my yard.  

I don't know if I have ever loved spring like I have loved it this year.

   
  

Being friends

Several weeks ago, some of my old roommates from college got together (minus one).  

It's been nine years since we all lived together.

And all these nine years later we've graduated, worked, mission-ed, married and had children.

It was so much fun to catch up and laugh about the past.  

I was reminded of some silliness in my former years that I'd completely forgotten about.

As my friend (J) posted on her blog about the reunion, "I felt like none of us had changed...

except for the eleven kids!!" 

I would just echo that comment.  At times, it was a little like deja vu.

After coming home that night, I started thinking about how blessed I've been in life.

Certain circumstances in my life have allowed me the opportunity to make many friends.

At college alone, I had five different sets of roommates.  

I was usually on a different track from my roommates, so I had to move around a lot.  

But I was blessed.  I always connected and made wonderful friends with those girls.  And my neighbors.

Those years shaped me and formed me into a better person.

And not only at college, but in the many, many years before and the few years after.

I have always loved people, and I remember every single friend with happiness.

Even though we haven't stayed in better touch, I still love those friends.  And I have been blessed.

Dear Max: Eight and Nine Months

Dearest Maxwell,

You are such an adorably handsome baby.
You look so much like a Gerber baby with your perfectly round head, big blue eyes and gigantic smile.
I can't get enough of your cheeks.  They are so kissable and sweet.
You love to blow bubbles and click your tongue.
You've been giving everyone the cheesiest grin lately.  You scrunch your nose and eyes and smile wide.

You are a real mamma's boy.  You're very attached, but I love it.
It's funny though, because you really are very friendly, and you don't mind visiting with other people.
You usually find ways to show your interest in them.
Such as pulling off glasses, yanking on earrings, finding pens and putting your hands in their mouths.
Interestingly enough, you still love to suck on your pointer finger.
I'm wondering when you'll grow out of it.  For now at least, it's very cute.

We love that big toothless grin.  I guess it's not really toothless any more.
You finally got your very first tooth (April 13th).  It was an absolutely miserable few weeks for all of us.
As your parents, we really didn't know the meaning of teething until you.
Poor thing.  That little bottom tooth went up and down for weeks until it finally broke through.

You love to play with Kathryn's piano and the music makes you happy.
You started scooting around at about 8 1/2 months.  Really, it's more of a bounce.
It's amazing how far you can get.  It's funny, because Kathryn also scooted before conventionally crawling.
We'll see what happens.  For now, your content to bounce to get where you want to be.

Your hair is growing out, so we started spiking it.  It suits your little face.
Every morning Kathryn asks if we're going to put a spike in your hair.
She loves to get the lotion out and do it all by herself.  She's pretty good at it too.

You are a little guy, but you deceive people with those cheeks and proportional body.
At your nine month check-up you were:
Length- 27 inches
Weight- 16 pounds 8 ounces
Head-45.1 centimeters

We love to make you laugh.
Your giggle is so charming and cute, and you are very, very ticklish.
You laugh so loud when we kiss your neck, throw you in the air and tickle your belly and arms.
You're very vocal and you jabber all the time.
I think you must like the sound of your own voice, you're so loud sometimes.

We are still dealing with feeding issues and we hope to figure you out someday.
I think we've broken all the feeding rules to get you to eat...
You don't sleep through the night, and for a while there, it was really rough.  You would wake up in extreme pain and be restless for hours.  Hopefully that was partly the tooth.
You love to give big cheesy grins, flail your hands and arms, kick your legs, bounce and chew on your toys.
You love your baths, Kathryn's toys, your socks, your shoes, your feet and your hands.

We love to watch you grow.  And we love to watch you learn and discover new things.
Love Always,
Mommy

This evening I'm thankful for...

While making dinner this evening, I had an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for the following:

A sweet text message from a dear friend

Beautiful music that uplifted, inspired and reminded me of my blessings
(Kenneth Cope station on Pandora)

Maxwell sitting next to me on the counter, happily babbling away

Listening to Kathryn's voice as she swung and talked to Michael

The squeaking of her swing

Michael planting our flowers before they wilted from the heat

Memories of a perfect weekend spent outside, enjoying the gorgeous weather

The beauty of this earth and the lovely time of year it is

Fingerprints

I was getting ready one morning.

Max was on the floor blowing bubbles at himself in the mirror.

He was looking adorably cute in his grown-up sweater and tiny, little spike in his hair.

Kathryn was parading around the bathroom and dancing on the bathtub.

She was wearing her tutu and pink crown, which she'd put on all by herself.  

And then she got her red stool out and prepared to put on a puppet show for Max.

There are always little fingerprints and smudges left behind on the mirrors.  And some slobber.

But that is just a reminder that they were with me.  

That they wanted to be near me while I got ready for the day.

And just to remind myself, that's what really matters in the end.  

Two things for today

Michael's Great Aunt died recently.  She was the older sister of his mother's mother.

Grandma and Aunt Lois were less than two years apart, and even though they lived across the country from each other for most of their lives, they were always close.

I only met her once, and that was when Michael and I were married almost seven years ago.

Grandma is now the last surviving sibling and she was so sad that she was unable to make it to the funeral.

We went to the funeral today to represent the family who could not attend.

Everyone was so kind and the service was lovely.  

Even though I only met her once, I was touched by the love of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  She was a wonderful example to them and she led a good life.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Every morning, Michael watches the news while he irons his clothes for work and eats breakfast.
He wants to see if the world collapsed while we were sleeping.
We were watching the CBS morning show the other day, and THIS INTERVIEW was on.
Author Jeff Benedict was discussing Mitt Romney.  We were amazed with the positive dialogue about both Mitt Romney and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
It was so touching to hear the respect.  Whomever you support and choose to vote for in the upcoming election, this interview showed the measure of a man and the values of the church that we belong to.
Please watch this VIDEO (the second one in particular).  You will be uplifted.

Camping In

As summer approaches, we've had many conversations about camping.

Most of those conversations have been directed by Kathryn:

"When are we going to go camping?" 

"We need to fix our old tent."

"We need to go back to COSTCO to get that tent."

"Why does daddy need to pick the tent out?" 

"Can we go camping mommy?  Please!  Please!  Please?!"

I was at my whits end with the questions one evening, but quickly changed my outlook.

We decided to camp inside the very next night.

And I think it exceeded all her expectations.  She was giddy with excitement, jumping on the mattresses.

Tin foil dinners, indoor s'moors, jiffy pop, a movie, and sleeping in the living room...minus the tent.

She didn't seem to mind that last part, even though it's what stirred up all her questions in the first place.

Trip to the grocery store

We ventured out of the house and went to the family-owned grocery store in town.

I wore this scarf to hide the mark (I love you honey).  And I ran into almost everyone I know.

Including one of Michael's fellow CC members.  He runs the store for his father in-law.  

However, he did tell me about a really, really good sale coming up on ground hamburger.

I was slightly embarrassed, almost like a teenager with my worries...not that it really mattered!

But luckily, I have adorably cute children to compensate for all of that worry.

Kathryn-isms

I've been keeping track of some marvelous things that come out of her mouth...

Michael:  Oh Max, you're such a skinny baby.

Kathryn:  Yah daddy, he has lots and lots of skin!

After she had gone to bed one night, I went in her room to put some laundry away.  As I was leaving, she groggily woke up and said to me "give me a kiss."

I was cooking some hash browns for dinner-

Kathryn: that's what I like in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD with my pancakes!

Jumping off the couch and referring to herself and TV (her husband)-

Kathryn:  We're like childs of the high seas with our arms out!

Jennifer:  Thanks for letting Max play with your toy.

Kathryn:  Any time girl.  Any time, that's what people say.

Kathryn got in bed with us one night and said to Michael, "Thank you for the juice you gave me when I was one year old at the mall and I wasn't happy."

Looking at a picture of herself when she was about 18 months old:
Kathryn:  Look, I had hardly any hair.  Look, daddy had hardly any hair! (the top of his head cut off in the picture)

Searching for something...
Jennifer:   Am I loosing my mind?
Kathryn:  No, you're not loosing your mind.
Finding it later...
Kathryn:  Now you can save your mind!

When I grow up, I think I'll learn to sleep in the living room, and Max will learn to shave.

Mommy, I want to be a teenager!

Five Things

1.  Maxwell had his nine month check-up.  He's in the fifth percentile for weight and tenth percentile for height.  When I told Michael later that night, he responded by saying, "Oh, so that's why we haven't bought him new clothes for a while."  And I love that I have the exact same conversation with our pediatrician every single check-up.  He always asks me, "are there any shorter men in your family?"

 2.  We took Michael lunch on Monday, and while we were eating, someone backed into our new van.  Luckily, there was an eye witness, and she knew the driver.  She said it was a very loud crash, but the driver didn't even react and just drove away.  Things are getting taken care of though.

3.  That same night, the police patrolled past our house twice an hour.  We kept all the outside lights on, the kids had a sleepover in our room, and Michael barely slept.  I can't really give the details, but let's just say, we had two sleepovers and two uneasy days.  And it had nothing to do with the hit and run previously mentioned.

4.  Without any intention at all, Michael jokingly gave me a hickey.  We were all snuggling in bed on his day off,  and it immediately turned bright red.  Kathryn was very concerned about my "scar" and Michael felt absolutely terrible.  It's a beautiful shade of purple today, and I may be confined to the house for a week.  Or, to wearing scarves and turtlenecks.  Luckily the weather's supposed to turn cold.

5.  Michael took Kathryn to the city offices to discuss insurance for CC, and the Mayor gave Kathryn a Key to the City.  She was so proud when she showed me, but sadly, ripped a giant hole in her shirt  while trying to take the pin off later that day.

Easter Weekend

We enjoyed a lovely weekend together.  The weather was beautiful and we kept ourselves busy.

Michael had to work Saturday morning, so sadly, he missed out on the Easter Egg hunt.

Kathryn gave her first talk in primary on Sunday.  She talked about Jesus Christ and his resurrection.

She was so excited, it was difficult to contain her.  She was adorable and everyone loved her.

After church, we ate a wonderful Easter dinner at Michael's parents home.  

Grandma and Kathryn sent us on a candy hunt outside, but Kat couldn't keep a secret.

She told us where every single candy was hidden.  When it was our turn, we weren't that easy on her.

 It was a beautiful weekend that went by much too fast!

Row 1:  Max bundled up for the egg hunt; fire truck ready to signal the start of egg hunt; Easter cupcakes

Row 2:  ready to dye eggs; waiting in the age appropriate line; Kathryn after the Easter egg hung

Row 3:  checking out the the final treasures; eggs finally dyed; taking a walk to enjoy the beautiful weather

Row 4:  little chick the Easter bunny left Max via Grandma and Grandpa; soft white bunny; waiting in line

Row 5:  the long anticipated egg dying project; Easter morning; Max enjoying the ride

Row 6:  Kathryn's Easter basket; with the Easter bunny after the egg hunt; butterfly decoration