Good Read

If you know of Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, and are a FAN...you need to read this book! It's Austenland by Shannon Hale. I read it in a day. Short, easy-read, and very entertaining. There were even some moments that I laughed out loud. I've read two others by Shannon Hale, recommended by Emily, and really enjoyed them.

Nursery Time

For that past few weeks/months, we have been taking our boys to nursery during church. Reason number one: so that they were able to prepare a little for the near-future change. And reason number two, aka the REAL reason number one, because they have been so out-of-control during the other two meetings they make me want to pull my hair out and never return to church! Needless to say, it has been much easier just taking them to nursery. Either Shane or I would stay with them the whole time to "help out", until they were official nursery go-ers. Here's the thing, I don't think I was "helping out" at all, really.

Our first time visiting the nursery, I remember feeling like I had a lot of work to do to get them "ready" for nursery. I watched the little kids sit on their chairs, drinking their water out of little Dixie cups, not eating their neighbors fishies, and just laughed on the inside! For the following weeks, I found myself both thinking on the inside and saying outloud things like, "Oh, Cade likes playing with these kinds of toys" or "Really, I don't think you'll EVER get Carson to sit on a little carpet square and sing songs" or "Umm...you have to watch Cade (and Carson) because he'll stuff like 50 crackers in his mouth all at the same time & then try to take a drink" or "You want them to color? Really???" Don't you love it when people just smile and say..."Oh you're such a first-time Mom!" The nursery worker was so great at just talking with me about my craziness but I know on the inside she wanted to say "So, I know you're here to 'help' and and all...but really, could you maybe just...LEAVE!?!?"

This last Sunday was the first time I left them...for the whole 2 hours. For the past 18 months, all I've been thinking is, "oh, it'll be SO nice when I can send them to nursery so that I can just enjoy church." Here's what I got out of Sunday School as I sat there all calm and quiet with my sweet hubby. We should keep the sabbath day holy...."hmmm, I wonder if Carson is still just slamming the closet doors over & over again. Hope he doesn't catch another little kid's fingers." A day of rest..."really, there hasn't been a stinky diaper yet? They said they would come get me if they needed anything...Cade is due...should be anytime now. Oh man, I'm feeling super tired...I'm going to fall asleep any moment now. Wonder if Carson has stolen everyone's fruit snacks yet." AND, Sunday School is now over.

It was such a bittersweet day. Are we ever really ready for our babies not to be babies anymore? I look at all the other kids in nursery and can't help but think that they are all "big kids" and my boys are still "just babies." It really is such a good thing that I turn them over to someone else one day a week to help them "grow up" a little. Otherwise, they'll have the capabilities of a five-year-old when they're ten!

Maybe this is when people decide to have another baby because they have these funny feelings about their current baby(s) growing up. Not to worry...my mixed up emotions about it all subside WAY before I ever get this far!!!

Mom Day

Happy Mother's Day to all the women out there, but especially to these two ladies. I'm not sure where to begin. My love & appreciation for my my mom and mother-in-law has increased tremendously since becoming a mother myself. You can't begin to understand what your own mother has done for you until you experience it yourself & I'm only just beginning. If I can only become HALF the mother that they both are, I'll consider myself successful.

Thank you for being such great Moms! Shane and I have been blessed because of you.

Twirling Dandelion

I have a friend in business! Check out Desi's shop. She's got some really cute skirts for little girls and more. Check her out!

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7318822

Laundry Boys

New Shoes

Catching Up

A few weekends ago, we were able to meet up with some old friends who were in town visiting. Jason & Mary have been living back east and we haven't seen them for quite awhile. It was fun to catch up with them & their cute fam. They have the cutest kids. Unfortunately, we didn't get a picture with everyone, but here are a few that we did manage to get. We had a fun night along with some dang good food! Thank you to Kyle's parents who let us party at their place.

These guys go WAY back. It's fun to see them get together & reminisce about all the good times. This is Jason with his oldest, Jonas, Kyle with Cade & Milo, and Shane with Carson.

Cara, I thought this was a really good one of Kyle & Milo.

I'm can't remember why Kyle ended up holding Cade. Maybe he was secretly fulfilling his dream of having twins!!! :)