Super fun with a super (babe) friend

My BYU roommate, Chelsey, and her family came to visit us a couple of weeks ago from North Carolina. It was such a treat!!

 We drove up to Big Meadows in the Shenandoah National Forest and enjoyed a picnic lunch before starting off on our hike.

Jillian on the horse hitch post.

 Lucy and a stick. Small caption for such a big personality.

 We hiked up to Hawks' Bill, the highest peak in the park. Robbie really wanted to climb all over the place; it gave me heart palpitations.

 Henry appears concerned about the height as well.

Can I just say that getting everyone to look and smile is a lot harder than it should be?

 Crazy Robbie!

 My sweet ten and three-quarters girl. Don't just call her ten years old. Trust me.

I love this baby!

 Double gorgeous--man and scene.

 That night we enjoyed some homemade pizza and then roasted marshmallows. Clara really loved these kids and they were very sweet with her.

 Doesn't get much better than a s'more with a marshmallow the size of your fist.

Thanks again for coming, Chels, and for being one of the best women I am privileged to know.

A quick visit from Grandma and Grandpa

A few weeks ago we were thrilled that Grandma and Grandpa could come visit for a few days. David and Char also came over for the weekend, and I sadly only got a couple pictures as evidence.

Here is Nina, David and Char's eight-year-old (?) playing with Henry. She loved holding him and was so cute with him. Robbie loved playing with his cousins, especially Lincoln, and he often talks about him and wants to see him. We are so glad that they are close by (in D.C.) for several more months while David learns Hindi in preparation for his first foreign service in New Delhi, India.

Grandma and Grandpa were awesome, as always. It was a privilege to have Grandpa ordain Michael as the bishop of our ward that Sunday. The next five years will certainly be a new adventure for us, but I feel peace about it and know it will be a blessing to our family. When the stake president met with us, he talked about the mantle of a bishop, and he felt that the mantle was charity, receiving and feeling Christ's love for God's children. That makes total sense.

Birthday fun

Michael and the kids made me a big "Happy Birthday Mommy!" banner.

The kids wanted to take it down the next day but I am insisting it stay up at least a week.

With the help of Daddy, the kids each made me a coupon card--Clara's was for 12 hugs upon request, and Robbie's was for 3 living room clean-ups upon request. I am going to cash them in for sure. Michael gave me a new scripture bag which I'd asked for, and he also watched the kids for much of the day (even taking them grocery-shopping). We (Michael and the kids) went swimming at our friends' house, the Whiting's, over lunch, which was fun as well. Another gift was painting the kitchen for me and hanging up curtains. But more on that in a future post.

Hooray for another happy birthday!

Back to school

Clara is now in the fifth grade, amazingly.

 Ready to go, no fear. Double peace signs all the way. She was very pleased to have Mrs. Morris as her teacher. She was Clara's aide for a little while in Kindergarten, so they have a good relationship already. Hope it stays that way!

Bunny ears for little brother.

Robbie also got "school clothes" and a bookbag that is over half the size of him. He'll have to grow into it. I was stressed for several months about if and which preschool to put him in, but eventually I realized that the reason I didn't feel good about it was because I shouldn't put him in this year. We are enjoying doing "Teach Me Mommy" with my mom's book two mornings a week.

 My favorite guys.

This year's front entry school decor. Courage, my child, and on, on to the victory.

Thirty-three things that make me happy

As of yesterday, I have been on this beautiful earth for thirty-three years. That's a pretty good amount of time. I am so thankful for my parents and older siblings who raised me and loved (love) me. Birthdays should really be the day to thank parents, not Father's and Mother's days, you know?

In honor of this day, here are 33 things that make me happy:

1. My husband and best friend, Michael
2. Clara and Robbie playing nicely and laughing together
3. Good naps from Henry
4. Getting to bed by 9:30pm
5. Waking up early and having a good scripture study session
6. Green, trimmed grass
7. Warm, breezy days without much humidity
8. Laughing about movie quotes with Michael
9. Good listeners who validate my feelings
10. Sweet young women at church who are brave and make good choices
11. The temple
12.Vanilla ice cream with chocolate chip cookies or candy bar pieces
13. Good salad
14. Fresh tomatoes from the garden
15. Gardens that actually produce produce
16. YA/youth lit that sucks you in (enjoyed reading Brandon Mull this year)
17. Clean floors
18. Having (making) the time to practice voice and piano
19. Singing
20. A good workout and stretch
21. Breakfast--I look forward to eating it every day
22. Newly-trimmed nails
23. Homemade whole wheat bread
24. new Crayola markers
25. A full tank of gas
26. A clean car
27. Henry smiles and laughter
28. Talking with friends who inspire and uplift me and help me feel adequate
29. Blogging and journaling
30. Being outside, especially with my family
31. The mysterious scent I sometimes smell outside walking that I love but cannot place; some sort of herb or plant that grows wild but I can't ever seem to figure out what it is
32. A fully-stocked refrigerator and freezer
33. The blessings and promises of the gospel of Jesus Christ

Fun with the Superbabes

Last month, we drove to Richmond and enjoyed a day with my BYU roommates Joy, Chelsey, and Karisa and their awesome families. Karisa took these and shared them.

 Joy got water balloons for the kids. Big hit.

 Robbie really wanted Karisa to take a picture of him, and I think he thought he was smiling.

 Robbie and Annie, Joy's little cutie.

 The menfolk.

 Sugar Shack donuts!

I feel super blessed to have these folks as friends.

Lucky 13th

Thirteen years ago, Michael and I were married in the Atlanta temple. In some ways it seems like yesterday, but in others it seem like, "Wow, that's a long time. Thirteen years!" I am truly learning how fundamental love and sacrifice and teamwork are to happiness. He pretty much rocks in every way.

To celebrate, we went to a Japanese steakhouse and then sat and chatted at the JMU Arboretum. Nothing glamorous, but that was fine with me.

 Of course, our little buddy accompanied us.

xoxoxoxo

More of baby Henry (or Hankie-poo, as Clara calls him)

Had to post a few more pics of Henry, here at nearly ten weeks old.

 Big yawn!

 Hey . . . how you doin'?

 Okay, fine. I'll give you one of my killer smiles. Just because I love you.

 Clara wanted to use my camera. She did a good job!

 We sure love this guy.

Henry at eight weeks

Henry is growing so much! At his two-week check-up he already weighed ten pounds, and he definitely weighs much more now. I love that his thighs are starting to fill out and he has a little double chin. He has started smiling in the past week and just gives the best smiles. He even tries to talk back and coo when you talk to him. His dark blue eyes (which I predict will turn brown but Daddy thinks will be blue) are absolutely gorgeous, framed by long lashes. Some people say that long eyelashes are wasted on boys, but I disagree--he will be a heartthrob for all the girls when he is older, I am sure. I have heard him chuckle a little a couple of times in his sleep, which makes me so excited for when he laughs on purpose when he's awake. Henry has started to lift his head up better during tummy time (which he hates) instead of grinding it on the ground as much. He is even standing up (well, putting pressure on his legs). I think he's going to be a busy boy like his older brother. He has had a few nights where he's nursed once in the night, but during the day he often nurses every two hours, which is pretty tiring, but we're making it.

 Henry gives Clara great smiles--she spends a lot of time by him and loves to hold him and talk to him. Robbie loves holding him as well but for less than a minute at a time.

We just are loving this guy so much and pray that he'll be valiant and faithful. I am so glad he has joined our family!

Robbie's third birthday

Happy birthday, buddy! Can't believe this guy is three already. Actually, I can. He is just the exact amount of adorable, intelligent, exasperating, willful, hilarious, kind, and interesting that a three-year-old can be.

This was the first year we let Robbie pick his breakfast cereal and brought it up to his room. I wasn't ready to brave "breakfast in bed," so he got "breakfast on rug." He didn't mind.

  Mmmm mmm.

Nana and Bapa sent him a Thomas the Train book with suction cup trains. He was excited!


Robbie got a bubble lawn mower! He was super excited to push the mower behind Daddy.

This is just the beginning of your future lawn chores, kiddo.

Robbie loves trucks, so I thought this kind of cake (thanks to Pinterest) would be perfect.

 He wanted to take the trucks off as soon as possible so he could play with them.

Our happy family.

 Using the dump truck to move the cake is essential.

We were lucky to have David and Char's family come to visit for Robbie's birthday! Here is Robbie with cousin Abby.

Robbie with some of his cousins--Abby, Charlotte, Kate, and Nina.

 After dinner, cousin Lincoln helped Robbie catch fireflies.

Happy birthday, buddy! Thanks for being our favorite three-year-old. 

Michael and His Mom

When Michael's mom came up to help with Henry, Michael took her horseback riding as a thank-you (she loved horses as a girl and still does). They had a great time.

 Her shirt was a gift from her son, David, I believe, from the Okefenokee Swamp--too funny.

We sure love you, Mom!