Three years and going strong

We were married three years ago today! It was a super stormy and hectic day. But since that day we have changed, grown, laughed, loved, smiled, maybe argued a little. We lived in three different places, next week we move into our fourth, our second home we will buy, we have had one sweet little boy, kris graduated college, started his MBA, vacationed to Atlanta, the beach, Utah, and Washington DC. We have many more adventures to go on, and can't wait for every single one of them.

Carricatute

We just got back from vacation to Washington DC this week. It was a blast. Post with pictures to come. I just had to share this though. We had a carricature made one night down on the Warf. I have always wanted one. I was so excited with how it turned out.

Max

We go to the library pretty often lately. They have a pretty cool outdoor area. They had the boat from the where the wild things are. It was cute.

Elmo

Wesley's new obsession is Elmo. We don't watch sesame street, we didn't have Elmo toys, so I am not sure where this new found obsession came from. When kenley was here, she really liked Elmo, but that was a month ago and he just now started obsessing over Elmo.

First example, we went to his 18 month check up. We walked in to the waiting room and on the TV was Elmo, he screamed ELMO! ! And then watched for a few seconds and went on to say hi to other kids. Then as we were walking out he asked for Elmo, but the show changed and he cried.

Second example, Grandma Kim bought Wesley an alphabet Elmo thing after this new obsession came about. He loved it, the night he got it it had to ride in his lap on the way home. He wanted to hold someones hand so we told him to hold Elmo's. He held on to it, and fell asleep holding Elmo.

Third example, I wanted to get him a little Elmo. I found a hard, small, plastic one at target. We bought it, and he has barely let it leave his sight since!

Since then I have tried to turn on Elmo, but he has no interest in the actual show. Its odd.

My happy place

Sunday mornings we get to be lazy. Church doesn't start until one in the afternoon. So we usually lay in bed, all three of us together. We just play, tickle, sing songs, read books, and laugh. Its so wonderful to just relax as a family. I love my two boys! They sure can make me smile.

On another note, we are under contract to buy a house! We are super excited. We hope everything goes as plans! If so we will close towards the end of May. Keep your fingers crossed for us! I have been pinning all sorts of ideas for our future house. It will be nice to be in a much bigger space.

PS-

There is a marathon of blog posts down there. Don't fall asleep. :) and feel free to comment on every single one. It's like that saying "When it rains, it pours."

Toodles.

Easter Weekend

After AAAA, my dad came down to Huntsville for Easter Weekend. We spent a ton of time over there so Wesley could get in some GPA time. The first day he was home we spent out in the yard, Wesley climbed the ladder. As he would get to the top he would say woah, woah, woah, louder and louder. He carried trees to the pile. We dug up worms and played in dirt. Wesley was so happy to have something to do all day long! He also got to ride around in a wheel barrow. Wesley carried around two little buckets and wouldn't put them down for anything. On Sunday, Everett was being blessed at his building, so we went to Church there. Then after we headed back to my parents for Easter dinner and an egg hunt before Dad had to go back to the airport.

We had a delicious dinner. And great company. They are practically family. After we played outside with the awesome bubble mower the Rogers bought Wesley for Easter. Then it was time for the Easter egg hunt. We brought Wesley inside while the eggs were hid and did some practice rounds so he could be an egg finding champ. Then we went outside and let everyone go at it. All the "kids" (us included) got to hunt eggs. After they were all found, we dumped them out and divided up the goods according to who wanted what. They Easter bunny was nice this year and gave us money! what a treat! Then Wesley got to open his Easter basket from his Thurgood Grandparents and was spoiled with tons of goodies. He enjoyed his time. We had to say goodbye to Grandpa, and then we headed home. The Driggers came over that night to see Wesley cause they hand't seen him all week. They were having "Wesley Withdrawls". Wouldn't you too?

Water and Sand Table

Wesley gets super fussy if he doesn't have something to occupy him all the time. This is quite a struggle to always find something to do in our apartment without having any yard or much area to play. So we have to get pretty creative. I have seen water and sand tables in the store. But most were pretty big and cost a lot of money. I had seen a few diy ones and thought Kris and I could master it. After a trip to Lowe's and twenty bucks later we were good to go. Just a few 2x4's, play sand, and two bins. Wesley is pretty happy with it, and I can get some relaxing time outside.

AAAA

Every year we have the opportunity to go up to AAAA with my Dad. (this year Kris had to work and have class so he didn't make it. I went up with my sister.) We always get bags of cool stuff, tons of reusable bags, and food. We get to see old friends and of course, see helicopters. Last year Wesley wasn't quite old enough to enjoy all the goodness of the experience. This year he was more aware. He could say helicopter and airplane. He started to shake peoples hands, and turn away from others. He could run around. And sit in helicopters. Wesley wasn't too sure about the noise of the helicopters, it freaked him out pretty bad. He warmed up to people pretty fast, and enjoy shaking their hands if Grandpa was shaking their hands. Some people had special stuff for him from seeing him last year, and whenever someone would give him something he would hold on to the item for dear life. If you tried to take it away he would scream. We were only there for one night of events and a day, then we had to come home.

While we were up there we were able to go to lunch with some good friends, and mom and I walked around Opry Mills Mall now that it opened up after the floods a few years ago. Wesley slept in his stroller the entire time we walked around the mall which was nice.


A funny story or two:

The night we stayed, we actually stayed at the Opry Land Hotel. We stayed in my parents room. There were two beds, so my sister and I shared a bed and my parents were in the other. Wesley was going to sleep with my sister and I, but as we were getting ready for bed, my Dad came over picked him up and put him between my mom and him. It was so funny. My dad is attached to Wesley just a little bit. I briefed them and told them he would wake up in the middle of the night and probably want juice, gave them his juice, and his little blanket. Well sure enough about 3 o'clock in the morning he woke up saying juice juice juice, but mom couldn't find the juice cup. We had the "juice search of 2012". WE all had a good laugh in the middle of the night. The next morning we were all awake at 630 and all very tired.

When we first got to AAAA, we walked into the room to drop off our bags, and GPA was on the phone. He just casually waved to Wesley. Apparently wasn't happy with that, and went up to him and slapped him on the arm to get his attention.

Motherhood

“Motherhood is not a hobby, it is a calling. You do not collect children because you find them cuter than stamps. It is not something to do if you can squeeze the time in. It is what God gave you time for.” - Rachel Jankovic

"Model yourselves after your mothers, not after celebrities whose standards are not the Lord’s standards and whose values may not reflect an eternal perspective. Look to your mother. Learn from her strengths, her courage, and her faithfulness. " - Elder M. Russell Ballard

 "...Parents are entrusted with the education of their children and, ultimately, parents must ensure that their children are being taught what their Heavenly Father would have them learn...Teaching in the home is becoming increasingly important in today’s world, where the influence of the adversary is so widespread and he is attacking, attempting to erode and destroy the very foundation of our society, even the family. Parents must resolve that teaching in the home is a most sacred and important responsibility. While other institutions, such as church and school, can assist parents to “train up a child in the way he [or she] should go” (Proverbs 22:6), ultimately this responsibility rests with parents....Parents must bring light and truth into their homes by one family prayer, one scripture study session, one family home evening, one book read aloud, one song, and one family meal at a time. They know that the influence of righteous, conscientious, persistent, daily parenting is among the most powerful and sustaining forces for good in the world. The health of any society, the happiness of its people, their prosperity, and their peace all find common roots in the teaching of children in the home." - Elder L. Tom Perry

* All of these quotes were taken from lds.org