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!