Let it rain...

Let the rain kiss you. Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops. Let the rain sing you a lullaby.

~Langston Hughes

I woke to the sound of rain pounding on the roof.

To flashes of lightening and the boom of thunder.

I snuggled deeper into my bed and sighed at the beauty of it all.

And when I finally climbed out of bed,

I raced to open the window-

to see it, to smell it, and to feel it splashing on my skin.

I love the rain.

Laughter

The best way to start any day.

Singing Along

I love music. It is the background to my life and to my day.
Lately my music mostly consists of children's songs and silly little made-up songs that Weston asks me to sing.
I am so glad that both of my boys absolutely love music.
Tave will dance and bounce along to the songs he likes. He'll even try to sing them in his little babble and humming.
Weston, well, he has started remembering the words. And it is so dang cute.
I love hearing him singing at the top of his voice to his favorite song. (The Imagine Island theme song aka the Jack song)
Both boys also love the Tarzan song (You'll be in my heart). I have sung it to Weston since he was a baby.
Now he sings along with me and it makes me cry almost every single night.
I love these boys. I love sharing something so happy and fun and uplifting together.
I am so glad that music will always be a part of our home.

Tonight

Staying up late putting together kits for Super Saturday can be a lot of fun.
You just need good friends to talk to and laugh with.
That makes all the difference.
Thanks, friends. I needed that time.

Missionary

Today is my little brother's birthday.
He turned the big 2-0 which means that for this year only all 5 of us kids will be in our twenties.
That was just a random thing I realized as I wrote him a letter.
He's in the MTC (Missionary Training Center) and is heading out to Portugal in a week and a half.
I love him and miss him.
The boys and I had so much fun putting together the package we sent him. It's exciting to know that what I wrote and made him this morning is in his hands tonight. My mom put together a tape of everyone talking and singing and just being us. I think that will be his favorite part.
He is an amazing missionary already, picking up on the language and growing so much. I love reading his letters and seeing the change, the strength and power that comes from diligence, prayer, and faith.
Heavenly Father can make so much more of us when we turn our lives over to him.
Mckenon, thank you for your example. Happy Birthday, bud. You couldn't be in a better place.

Walking

The boys and I went on a walk tonight.
It was just to the mailbox - a good distance for Tave.
I found myself hurrying them along until I realized we really didn't have anything else to do. Jeff wouldn't get home for a few more hours, dinner was done. We had all the time in the world.
So I let the kiddos set the pace.
At first it was hard to slow down. To not try to get where I needed to be and then right back.
But once I decided to just enjoy the moment, I started finding those little wonders that fascinate them, were fascinating me too.
We looked at leaves, stomped on the water covers, picked up bugs (ew ew ew ew ew) poked around the fire hydrant, and found lots of sticks.
A walk that normally takes 1 minute took at least 15.
They loved it and I did too.
I am determined to 'slow down' with my kids some part of every day. To let them lead and see where they take us.
To enjoy this walk together.

Goodbye

We said goodbye to my parents today.
And while that definitely wasn't the happiest moment of my day,
the time we have spent with them was.
Games, movies, talking, shopping, girls day, welcoming a sweet baby into the world, road trip, saying goodbye to my little bro for 2 years, row boat-ing, shooting, 4-wheeling, puppy playing, laughing, eating, and playing have filled our last month and a half.
It has been wonderful.
When I got the boys up from their naps, both of them kept looking around for Nonny & Papa. Tave was squealing for the faces he thought he would see as we came down the stairs. His look of confusion at finding an empty house almost broke my heart. And cute little Weston kept saying he wanted Nonny & Grandpa to sit by him at dinner.

I miss them already.

But we have Thanksgiving to look forward to, and all the phone calls, emails, chats, letters, and good stuff in between.
We love you, Mom & Dad.

Curious

As I type this I am wearing my glasses.
Glasses that used to be super cute. Glasses that I loved. Glasses that were not broken.
Now there is a lovely, ever so fashionable piece of masking tape holding them together. Masking tape- I know, I know- I look darling, really.
And even though it was quite painful and sad the moment it happened, I can't help but shake my head and chuckle when I picture the demise of my poor, unsuspecting (did I mention very cute) glasses.

Tave's curious little fingers just couldn't help picking up the one item mommy never, ever lets him touch.
I can still hear his adorable squeal at having escaped my view long enough to wrap his hands around them.
And those sweet, little curious fingers just had to see how much pushing and pulling the glasses could take.
It only took a minute. Well, really about 10 seconds to tweak them just right.
I held my breath for the next 3 days, hoping they would hang on and miraculously not have to be replaced.
But nope. They're done for.

And as sad as I am (I really did cry- new glasses simply are not in the budget) this lame-o piece of masking tape continually reminds me of Tave's curiosity and his excitement over any new discovery.

Even if it includes seeing how far mom's glasses can bend.

Up

Dear Weston,

Tonight you and I went to see UP at the movie theatre. (You called it UPs)This was only your second time going to the movies! Daddy stayed home with Tave so you and I could have a special date night together. (and he had LOTS of homework to do, so it all worked out)
We went to the store and you got to pick out your very own box of candy. You were SO excited when you saw the Swedish Fish. That was it, you were sold! You carried your box of Fish everywhere and only put it down so we could pay for it. Then we said Goodbye to Daddy & Tave and we were off.
It looked like it was going to rain so I made sure we had Daddy's umbrella in the car. You were so cute and told me "If it rains, luckily we'll have the umbrella." I love when you use new words. Luckily, I have you to always make me smile.
We had to park far far away from the theatre since it was so crowded. We didn't mind. I picked you up in one arm and had the big blanket that would be your booster seat in the other arm and we ran across the parking lot, laughing together. Your laugh is one of my favorite sounds.
We went and sat with Grandpa, Nonny, Shawn, & Abby and then waited for Trav, Shar, Kapria, & Mila to get there.
You talked and smiled and were so happy to be at the movies.
You did wonderful through the whole thing. You remembered to whisper most of the time, but when you got really excited you liked to say things out loud. You loved sitting up high in your seat and were so good to hop down everytime I needed to fix it a little. (note to self: blankets tend to sink, bring something with more substance next time)
You loved the popcorn Nonny & Grandpa shared with you and you loved sitting by all of your family.
But you loved watching the movie most. You were fascinated and asked tons of cute questions when you didn't quite get what was going on. You laughed out loud countless times, and I had more fun watching you than anything else!
Afterwards, you held my hand and then had Shawn & I swing you high in the sky. Then Grandpa gave us a ride to our car in his truck. While we drove home we talked about your favorite parts of the movie. You told me about when the bad guy set the house on fire and all about the dogs. Your favorite part was saving the bird and you liked Russell a lot.
When we got home you were so excited to tell Dad all about it, too.

We had so much fun, you and I.
Thanks for making our special date so magical and for being such a sweet and wonderful little boy.
I love you, buddy.

Love,
Mom

Fabric

So I recently found and fell in love with Garden Party by Anna Maria Horner.
And today is my day, because I just found out it is on sale at Midnight tonight and all day tomorrow here.
Wow. I am SO excited to see what I can make with this~
Summer quilt, girly skirts, purses, necklaces, the possibilities are endless!

Today's Happy Moments

I finished quilting Jeff's quilt. Hallelujah! I machine quilted the entire thing by myself. My mom gave me plenty of tips, but it is 100% made by me. If you look closely you will definitely be able to tell it was done by a beginner. Oh well, it was made with love, imperfections and all!

Weston helping me with Jeff's quilt by sticking random pins in it.

Tave trying to run. It was pretty funny, he's just not that balanced yet!

Going to the park with Steph and her boys.

Weston & Noah getting along SO well.

Tave's independence. (that kid has attitude!)

Getting to watch 2 darling baby girls. Girls are just so sweet.

Jeff making dinner. It always tastes better when I don't have to cook!

Having a fun visit with Shar & Trav.

Having little Mila fall asleep in my arms.

The boys loving on Mila and Tave softly touching her silky hair.

Kapria & Weston being so dang cute together.

My sweet hubby going to the store for me so the boys and I could hang out longer at Shar's.

It's been a really good day.

Sister

I love that my sister and I can have a heated discussion where we completely disagree with one another (in other words an arguement) and then realize that we aren't going to convince the other that we are right so we decide to move onto a new subject and can laugh and have fun like nothing ever happened.
It's taken us 29 years to get here, but we finally made it.
I love being able to say what I think and how I feel and whether she agrees or not she will listen, care about my opinion, and love me despite it.

I love you, Shar.

Girls Day!

What: Girl's Day
When: Last Saturday
(I didn't post about it then because weekends are blog-free for me)
Who: Me, Mom, Shar, & Abby
Outcome: Awesome.
Description:
We saw My Sister's Keeper. And I cried and cried and cried. I loved the story, it was beautifully told, and just so touching. Perfect girls day movie.
Then we went to ON, one of my very favorite stores. Since I have some birthday money to burn, I didn't do too shabby.
Next we headed to California Pizza Kitchen for a delicious dinner. I LOVE their bbq chicken salad. Mmmm...
And then we hit the mall for some browsing and a little shopping.
Thanks Mom, for treating us all to a pair of earrings- I've already worn mine!

It was our first ever Girl's Day with Mom since having kiddos. I don't know why we waited so long, but it's definitely a must-do anytime we're together now!!! It was so wonderful and relaxing to have a day out with some of my absolute favorite women. I feel so lucky to have them in my life!!

A huge HUGE Thank You to my wonderful hubby who entertained our boys for 7.5 hours without me. I love you.

Very Favorite

I have this little thing I say with the boys.

I like to tell Weston: "You are my very favorite Weston"
and I tell Tave: "You are my very favorite Tave"

Recently West started giving me a huge huge hug, squeezing me tight after I tell him he's my favorite Weston and then he says "You are my very very very very very very very favorite mom."

Gets me every time.

ps. I am half way done with the quilting. wahoo!!!!!!!!! (I'll post pics when it's done!)

Quilting Buddy

As my mom and I were kneeling on the floor today, pinning, pinning, pinning
we discussed how fun it would be to live close by each other. We would definitely be quilting buddies.
Today she taught me how to lay out and pin a quilt. And the details of quilting. We tried out a few patterns on some scrap fabric and I learned that I am not great at free motion quilting.
What was I thinking-- trying out a detailed wave pattern on my very first quilt?!
Yeah, so not happening.
Instead we're going with a swell...you know, those smaller waves that kind of roll along. Yup, that's what my first quilt will be filled with. Simple, easy, and very beginnerish.

As she took me through the steps of how to use her machine (since every machine is a little bit different) I was reminded of the many many times she would patiently teach me how to do all the things she did.
Sewing, toll painting, doll making, skirt creating, cooking, cleaning, the list goes on.
My mom is amazing.

She never minded setting aside her own project when I showed an interest in learning. And she always took the time to help me accomplish what I set out to do.

I hope that out of all the things she taught me, I learned this the best.

Sewn

Well, a very happy moment of my day was finally, finally finishing the back of Jeff's quilt.
It is looking beautiful!
Now I just have to:

• Pin the top, middle, and back together
• Quilt it
• Bind it.

No biggy, right?!
I love creating something that will be cherished by our family (and hopefully my hubby) for years to come. It is so rewarding.
My mom is going to teach me how to quilt it and we're coming up with a cool wave-ish pattern to do. LOVE it!
So here we go. Let the sewing continue...

little pieces

My baby went to preschool today.
It was hard, and sad, and just plain weird to say goodbye and leave his learning to someone else.
Little pieces of my heart were left with him and the only thing I wanted to do was take him home with me and keep him in the safety of my arms.
But his smile, his excitement, and his joy at going to school with new friends helped to keep a smile on my face. (amidst tears, but it was there)
I was reminded that this is just a small little step toward him becoming the person he will be.
And when the day is done, I am still his mom, and he is still my little boy.

Road Trip

We've been out of town for the holiday weekend.
We had a wonderful time full of nature and family, good food, and relaxation.
The boys gave me a great gift today.
They were absolutely awesome in the car. Of course we had a few moments of crying and frustration (what 15 month old likes to be strapped in a carseat for 4 hours) but overall, it was an extremely pleasant drive.
My dreams of fabulous family vacations via road trips to national monuments, theme parks, and visits to far away places are now seeming possible.
It's really hard to see my little babies grow up.
But they showed me today some of the perks that come with that.
I can't wait to see the rest.

These are a few of my favorite things

A hug
A kiss
A dozen I love yous
I sure love all my boys

Notes to

Dear Mom,
You have been staying with us for a few days now. I love it. I love having you to chat with and hang out with. Picking fabric colors is so much fun because it's with you. Thank you for listening to my endless chatter and for always loving me. Thank you for helping me with projects and being willing to teach me anything. Thank you for playing with my boys. It means the world to me. I am going to pretend that you live close by so it won't be as sad when you leave.
I love you.
Love,
Your daughter

Dear friends,
Thank you for coming to visit us today while our car was stuck in the shop. You brought us a yummy lunch and a little bit of sunshine. We loved talking and playing and catching up. It was wonderful and so are you.
Happily,
Your friends

Dear Autorepair Guys,
Thank you for taking especially good care of our car. Thank you for giving us wonderful service and explaining things carefully. For us non-mechanical people it is very comforting to have someone honest to trust. I have never been more impressed with customer service, speedy repairs, and overall quality in my car-maintenance.
Sincerely,
A satisfied customer

Dear Big Black Toy Spider,
Today you were Weston's best friend. You sat at the breakfast table, went on some pretty crazy adventures, took a few bites out of some bad guys, enjoyed a Diego episode, and were a pretty hilarious prop in a 3 year olds imaginitive play. Thanks for lasting through it all...you helped me get a lot of stuff done.
Sincerely,
A busy mom

Dear Darling Sweet Little Niece K,
You celebrated your second birthday today. We had a lot fun partying with you. You have so much spunk and excitement, you constantly make us smile and we just love you to pieces. Weston & Tave are always thrilled to visit you and I love your hugs and laughs.
We love you,
Your loving aunt, uncle, and cousins

Dear Blankie,
I don't know what I would do without you. My kisses paired with your soft silkiness can calm down Tave in under 1 minute. Every. Single. Time. You have become a favorite of mine because you are his. I have a feeling you'll be needed a lot during these next few months as Tave learns about all the new tricks he can (and sometimes shouldn't) do.
Yours,
A loving mom

Dear Professor,
I understand that my husband is getting his masters degree. This means he is gone a lot. And I'm supposed to be okay with that. Which I am (even though I hate it) It will all be worth it in the end. You did something wonderful tonight. You let class out early. Me and my boys were so happy to see Jeff an entire hour early. You really made our day.
A thousand thank you's
From,
A very grateful wife

Dear Hubby,
You are lying in bed waiting for me to lay my head down next to you. I am so excited to do that. Thank you for being the person who I get to spend forever with. Thank you for loving me and helping me want to be a better person. Becuase of you, because of us, I will get there.
Love,
Your wife

(ps so I'm giving credit where credit is due- I got this 'letter' idea from my friend, Noelle. Her blog is private or I would link you there. But I just had to try it out, you should too, it's so fun to change things up!)

All by me-self

I love how Weston says 'myself'.
He says me-self.
Which I just can't bring myself to correct. It's so stinkin cute.

Anyways,
Tonight me and my mom went to the grocery store sans kiddos.
Jeff offered to take them on a jog while we shopped. (Thank you thank you, babe!)
Once at the store we decided to divide and conquer.
I slowly meandered down the isles to browse before hitting the hard-core grocery side of stuff.
It was bliss. I can't remember my last trip to the grocery store all by myself.
And while I definitely missed Tave's huge grin as he says Hi to every single person we pass, and Weston's stories about what Superman and Spiderman eat for breakfast...

I loved every minute.

Somehow...

I have managed to let 3 months slip by without a single post.

I am sorry my dear, loyal readers. (Which really means 'my dear, loyal friends) I know you're out there.

When I checked my sitemeter I had 24 visits this week.

24!

I was shocked and surprised that despite my horrible lack of postings you would still check in on me.

I feel loved.


And so today I am beginning anew my daily thoughts on the beauty that surrounds me.

The past 3 months have been wonderfully busy and full of the crazy things that summer brings.

I have had lots and lots of high moments and some lonely ones. Some dissappointments in myself, in others, and in life. I was silly and didn't recognize that those are the times when I especially needed to focus on what was good, what was beautiful, and what was blessing my life. I let my frustrations keep me from here. I just didn't want to write some of the things that I felt.

But I was wrong.

Not because I was keeping the difficult and bad from this journal, but because I was letting it keep me from the good. From realizing all that I am blessed with, daily.
How often do I have to learn that lesson?

So here I am, Grateful:

For long days and weeks and months that show me I have and am more than I thought possible.
For a husband who never, ever gives up on me and tells me constantly how much he loves me.
For little boys who laugh and smile and run with open arms for a kiss and a hug. Whose excitement for learning and life make me so glad that I am their mom.
For new babies and new life and the complete joy they bring to families.
For Moms and Dads whose visits last long enough to make it feel like we *almost* live close by.
For family who visit and make my day by playing Ticket to Ride. Yeah, it's that awesome!
For friends. Those angel people who come in the form of sisters, moms, neighbors, phone calls, notes on my door, emails, cupcakes, and surprise gifts.

You are the beauty in my past 3 months.
And for that I thank you.