Spinning

My friend told me about a spinning class in town.
So crazy me, I told some friends too.
Then they called and asked if I was going and to let them know because they would love to come with me.
Why, oh why, did I spread the word??

Well, here is why:
Because tonight the three of us met up, got out of the house, participated in some serious rear-kicking (at least mine was), chatted, chatted, chatted, and had a blast.
I am tired and sore and scared to go back - because now I know just how hard a spin class really is.
But I feel great.
Thanks, friends, for pushing me to go and be better.
I loved it!

Pink and Brown

I remember my very first pair of 'pumps' when I was a little girl.
They were slip ons, which meant no strap. And that was a very big deal to me.
They were also pale pink and had what I thought was the biggest, best heel ever. Which in reality was about 1/2 an inch.
But I loved those shoes. I felt like a princess as I pranced around in them. I didn't want to take them off all day long. I was so excited to get ready for church and thought up any excuse I could to put them on. I can recall even trying to wear them with jeans. What a silly girl, who would ever wear pumps with a pair of jeans?! (hmm, who knew it would be hugely popular again 20 years later, see I did have some fashion sense when I was 9)

Finding these fabulous brown shoes brought back the wonderful pink toed memories of my childhood.
I slipped them on my feet and for those few moments in the shoe store I felt like a princess again.
They were practically perfect in every way. Well, every way except one.
I don't have a dress to match.
Yet.

Now I am searching, searching, searching for the perfect brown dress to wear with them.
Before you think I am a crazy person for buying a pair of shoes that now must have a dress to match, let me tell you -

I DO actually have a reason: my brother's wedding.
The ladies are supposed to be wearing brown. Hmm, you try finding brown in the spring. and not just brown, but modest as well.
I dare you to look for me. Please. Size medium. Flattering fit. If you have anything that I could borrow, that would work too.
Oh, and I'd love if it could match these shoes.
I did, afterall, buy them for the wedding.

Tonight Shar & I drove up to Salt Lake to throw Chelsea a baby *boy* shower!
As I left Jeff called out "Have fun at your girls' night out"

and I did.

We talked and laughed, ate good food, played silly games, and caught up with our relatives who we seldom see but LOVE oh so much. We smiled and cooed at beautiful, sweet little Aydrien, were given great advice, and just enjoyed each other.

It was fabulous.

When I got home, exhausted, but happy, Jeff met me with a huge hug and asked how my night was. I told him all the fun, exciting details then asked how his night turned out.

He told me about how great the boys were and that they had lots of fun (doing things they don't get to do with mommy).
Then he told me how much he had to get done on his lesson, his paper, and ALL of his other homework.
But did that happen? Nope.
Because while I was out partying and having a blast, my sweet husband was stuck with our busted water heater, tracking down leaks (which required emptying our storage), seeing how far they went and figuring out how to fix it.
Not once, in his explaining of the evening, did I hear a single complaint about the injustice of my 'fun' night versus his difficult and busy one.

Thanks, babe. You are amazing. And I totally owe you one.

Fabric

After talking with Amy about fabric, and in light of my new sewing machine, I was just itching to go to the fabric store today.

But my children hate the fabric store.

I really think they know that when we walk in that store, they will be stuck. Stuck with a non-responsive mom who hmmms and uh-huhs any question they have as I walk slowly down each isle admiring every single bolt.

Today, however, they must have understood how much mommy needed a little break. Because they were perfect.

Weston oooh and ahhhed with me, he pointed out things he liked, he didn't cry when I said we couldn't get an item he found. He played with a size Q crochet hook in its package... have you seen how HUGE those things are? He waved to the people surrounding us and was downright adorable.

Tave sucked on his two fingers and just watched it all with a sweet smile on his face. He laughed when Weston played peek-a-boo with him and not a single cry was uttered.

It was practically perfect in every way.
And, of course, I left with some fabric.

Here I am...

When I walked in to get West from his nap he was crying.
"What's up buddy, how come you're so sad?"
(as a side note, he usually wakes up really happy and ready to play)
"I just want my mama."
"Well, look, here I am!"

He jumped up, ran into my arms, and gave me the biggest, clingy hug.
I loved every second of it.

Isn't it crazy how the teeny-tiniest little thing can totally make your day?

I've been thinking lately about how I can make other people's days.
What can I do to make someone smile, to make their day brighter, and to make their load lighter?
I feel like I have been the recipient of a lot of love lately.
Love from my husband, from my kiddos, from my neighbors, from my sisters & sisters-in-law, from my mom.

I think this is all love from my Heavenly Father.

Through all of these wonderful, amazing people he is telling me
"Well, look, here I am!"
And he's waiting for my hug.

Sew spoiled

I love my husband. And I loved him before this. I really did.

But this time, this time he outdid himself.

He surprised me with a beautiful, brand new electronic sewing machine!!!!!!!
I am thrilled more than I can say. I am ecstatic, jumping for joy, shouting out loud, doing a dance, happy, happy, happy!
I have been using my mom's old machine. Which is a trusty, useful old thing. But it has it's quirks...I mean it's as old as me. Which, for a sewing machine is old. (For me not so much)
But it worked, and it did it's thing and it has sewn many a fine project in its day. Especially if you only need to go in a straight line. It is great at straight lines. :)
But this, this is...well, I'm in sewing heaven. You can bet there will be some awesomeness coming out of this machine quite soon.

Thank you, Babe.
Thank you for surprising me, for catching all of my not-so-subtle hints on what I would love love love to get someday, thank you for getting it for me much sooner than I ever thought you would. Thank you for knowing me and loving me. You are wonderful. And so much more than I deserve.
Thank you for making my day every day of my life!

Sometimes...

In blogland we tend to post about the noteworthy, the positive, the fun, and the exciting, the happy, the good news, the great news, and the even greater news.

But let's face it: sometimes life isn't always like that. I thought I'd let you in on some of my little secrets.

Sometimes I don't get ready for the day.

Sometimes my house is messy. Very messy.

Sometimes my bed doesn't get made, the dishes don't get done, and the kids toys are everywhere.

Sometimes I don't feel like doing anything with my free time except reading or blogging, or just wasting time on the internet.

Sometimes I am not very nice to my husband. I always feel horrible afterwards and I know I don't deserve him. I am surrounded by people who are perfectly lovely and ooey-gooey in love and would never say an unkind thing to their spouse. Someday I will be like that.

Sometimes I am not a very good mom. I don't read stories and sing songs and play with playdoh often enough.

Sometimes the tv is on waaay more than it should be.

Sometimes I am snippier to my children than I ever thought I would be. And I regret it and am so sad and apoligize, because really, how can I let a 2 1/2 year old get me so frustrated?

Sometimes the kiddos get sick 2 weeks after finally kicking the last cruddo-sickness and I just want to pull my hair out and scream because I want to leave the house and go on play dates and have fun outside with my babies.

but sometimes it snows in March.

Sometimes my 10 month decides that he doesn't want to nurse anymore and I am absolutely heartbroken because it was our special time and I had decided to (and was very happy about it) nurse for 1 full year. But he will not nurse anymore, or take a bottle of anything, and I am just so so sad. (not to mention worried about his health)

And sometimes, all of this happens in one day.

But this blog is, afterall, supposed to be happy, too.
So I'll tell ya:
I got the laundry done and dinner made.

Which was pretty huge considering the day.

Poetry

I found a beautiful poem today that touched me.
It warmed my heart and gave me hope.
It reminded me that there is beauty in this world - and it can renew us often if we let it.
I hope you appreciate it as well.

The Peace of Wild Things

When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children's lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

- Wendell Berry