busy week

I know that I'm never that great at updating our blog in a timely manner, but my really good excuse this week is that we've had a lot going on. Last weekend, we enjoyed an overnighter at Grams & Gramps' house in Kaysville. Tony & Dorothy also came up with their kids. It almost felt like I was a kid again going to grandma's with cousins. When I mentioned that Russell, Calvin and I were sleeping in the basement, Tony and I reminisced about the days when we were kids and we (and all the other cousins) were sure that Large Marge from Pee Wee's Big Adventure lived down there. I still find myself getting a little anxious when I'm down there alone =)! We found grandma's life size cardboard cutout of John Wayne in one of the basement bedrooms and Russell and Tony had such fun leaving it outside of bedrooms and around corners to scare each other. It was great to get away, spend time with family, and give Calvin a chance to play with cousins, which he LOVED.

Calvin & Richmond playing trucks.
Dorothy won a rousing game of Pit.
Danny, Shelley, Sarah, German & Natalie came up Saturday morning for an easter egg hunt. Calvin got the hang of it much better than last year!
Natalie, Calvin, & Richmond with their spoils…I can’t believe how big these kids are!
Buddies...
Calvin loved following Richmond around.
Also, if you look close on the left, you can see Lauryn's sweet face. She was my little buddy (she actually let me hold her for awhile!).

Sunday was my mom's birthday and we also celebrated for Alex and Logan who will turn one next week.

Grandma had plenty of helpers for the gift opening.
Logan and Alex worked together.

Jamie made the cutest cakes for the twins. Here's Logan doing a great job on his!

I have to add how much I love my amazing mother - a talented, supportive, courageous, and unconditionally-loving woman! My mom is so many things that I want to be. She's my example of service, gratitude, and closeness to the Lord. I'm sure that she's one of the best nursery leaders her ward has ever seen. She puts so much time, energy and love into her lessons, handouts, and treats for the two and three year-olds that she teaches. She is a confidante and friend that rejoices in her children's successes, sorrows in their challenges, and prays for them daily. She is an example of selflessness in marriage. I've always known how much my parents love each other and that they are best friends, which is a priceless gift to a daughter. My mom is a creative, loving, fun grandma. She enjoys her grandkids and they adore her. She is famous for her treat dishes that are always full, grandkid sleepovers, and craft activities with the kiddos. I've been blessed with an incredible mother.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Monday we went to a St. Patrick's Day shindig at Kim & Mike's. Kim made corned beef and cabbage, Mike grilled bratwurst (not exactly Irish, but delicious!), and Calvin got to see Rusty. Rusty is Kim & Mike's great dane puppy. He's the only thing I've known that grows faster than Calvin and they have a love/hate relationship. Calvin loves puppies and he loves to "woof." He loves Rusty as long as he's not on the ground with him (that's where the hate comes in). I'm sure I'd have a hard time too if I was standing next to a dog that was taller than me.

We couldn't resist a "pony ride" picture!

This is an older picture that I love of Kim and Calvin. He loves his aunt Kimmie! Thanks for the yummy meal, Kim (and for all those jelly beans that I ate)!

Okay...Tuesday was our anniversary - four years! Russell made pizza and we went to the temple that night. We've actually been going out to eat way too much this month (all in the name of our anniversary), but our "official celebration" was a few weeks ago - we went to see A Midsummer Night's Dream at Pioneer Theatre and ate at Market Street Grill. The play was fun, the food was incredible, and we thankfully made it home in the snowstorm!

On our anniversary, Russell and I made up this game called "before we were married..." Basically, we compared then and now. Some comments were unappreciated (me to Russell: "before we were married, you weighed less and I weighed more"), but it was fun to look back. Before we got married, Russell and I were both full-time students, he was a janitor at UVSC and I drove to Draper to work at a call center. We don't make that much more money now (sad!), but we both have college degrees, we live above ground, we love eachother more, and we have an energetic little munchkin that brings such joy and keeps us on our toes.

I'm grateful for a husband who loves the Lord, has ambitious goals, enjoys life, adores his son, and selflessly supports me.

Happy Anniversary, Russell!

bowling

this was over a month ago, but i found it when i was transferring pictures from our camera tonight (sorry about my amateur camera-work)...

a new look

Who knew it was so easy to change blog templates (okay, probably most of you)? I've been meaning to do this and update our family & friends list, so that just leaves one more item I've been procrastinating - tag. My friend Shan tagged me a month ago and my sister Jamie sort of tagged me last year sometime. So, 10 things about me:

1. I love dessert. I need it after almost every meal. My first choice would be anything chocolate, preferably with marshmallows mixed in. As a side note, I'm in the market for a fabulous chocolate chip cookie recipe. I made cookies last week and was bitterly disappointed about how flat they came out. I even took preventative measures by softening the margarine at room temperature exactly the way Betty Crocker suggests, but the cookies looked worse than the "these cookies were made with butter/margarine that was too soft" picture in my book. Any suggestions or recipes for the perfect batch? (Confession...it's been hours since I finished dinner and I didn't have dessert and after writing about this, I just got up and got a cookie --- okay it was three.)

2. I've recently rediscovered how much I love reading. I get absorbed in a good book, which is why I didn't read much for fun when I was in school. Since graduating, it's been so nice to not have 10 other things that I need to read and I've really been able to start reading for fun again. I've never read any of Jane Austen and her novels are next on my list. Any other suggestions? My sisters have introduced me to a helpful website: http://www.goodreads.com/. You can rate books and get good ideas for reading from friends.

3. Speaking of my sisters, I love them. Jamie, Lyndy, and Heather are such blessings in my life. They are each unique and courageous in their own way and are incredible mothers. I admire Jamie's patience, organization and creativity, Lyndy's love of learning and joy in motherhood, and Heather's independence and selfless regard for others. I'm inspired by these women and the other good people in my life.

4. I hate needles. It doesn't matter if you call it a shot or an injection or "just a little poke," I'd rather not. This was a major motivation for no epidural and looking back, I'd actually do it again!

5. I love movies. Some recent favorites include Amazing Grace, the six hour version of Pride & Prejudice, and I Am David (one of the best movies I've ever seen).

6. I hate flossing. Russell and I went to the dentist last October for the first time since we've been married. (I know that sounds gross, but I do brush daily). When you're poor college students with no insurance, some things have to go. Anyway, as usual, I started flossing a couple days before I went, but really didn't for years before that and I only had one cavity. (Russell had two, his first two EVER.) So, I decided that I'll be okay if I floss every few days, which is less guilt-provoking than never and much more tolerable than daily.

7. I like watching football on TV. There's something oddly relaxing about it. Perhaps it's the association with lazy Thanksgiving afternoons, but I grew up enjoying this with my dad and still do.

8. I hate mornings. Well, maybe that's unfair. There's nothing wrong with morning time, I just prefer to be asleep for most of it. I would much rather stay up late than get up early. My husband and son seem to agree with me. Russell regularly works graveyards from 6 pm to 6 am and would much rather do that than a morning shift. Calvin usually sleeps until 9:30 or 10 am (I thought I'd never see the day!).

9. I actually love my job. I don't know if I've ever been able to say this before. I work part-time for Utah County as a clinical therapist for a residential substance abuse treatment center. I enjoy my coworkers and the flexibility of the position that allows me to be a full-time mom [and sleep in=)]. I also never thought I'd enjoy working with addicts and alcoholics, but it's been my favorite. I'm amazed at how courageous my clients are and I learn so much from them.

10. I love my boys. There's never a dull moment with just the three of us. Russell is truly my best friend and is such a wonderful father. Calvin brings indescribable joy to our lives. The other morning during breakfast, which as you can guess was later than at most other homes, I just sat back and watched for awhile. Calvin dropped his milk (on purpose), then said, "Uh oh, uh oh, uh oh, uh oh, uh oh, uh oh..." This whole thing repeated eight or nine times, with variations such as "Ooooo oooo." Russell gave Calvin a bite of oatmeal, then turned to his bowl of cereal, exclaiming to it (and I quote): "Corn squares ain't got nothin' on you, raisin bran." He really likes raisin bran. Anyway, I cherish even the chaotic or silly moments and love the time I have with these two peas in a pod.

I'm actually sorry that I put this off because it's been inspiring, even therapeutic, to recognize what makes me me. Thanks for reading and if you haven't done this yet, consider yourself tagged. Here's a picture to reward those who made it all the way through...