Little Dude.

How could I not ooze with gratitude and joy over this little boy joining our family. He is just as darling as I could have ever hoped for. My heart droops when I think of him going into nursery in only a few more weeks. He is too fun, and I love his little self.

** watching him learn words is so fun for me. He has several that he knows all by himself, and then several that he can repeat when we remind him what they are. Drink, Help, Car, Bye, Hi, Dog, Shoe, Sock, Bath, Treat, Lion, Book, Up, Down, Grandpa, Daddy, Collin, Church, Cheese, Nap, Two, yes and no are a few of the words that he knows.

** he has mastered the stairs, although I didn't think it would come without several spills. Surprisingly, one day, he just figured out how to turn around and slide down. It was awesome. He usually gets on his tummy and starts pushing towards the stairs several feet too soon. Which is too cute to not love. I still put the gate up when I'm not in the mood to chase him up and down as I'm not totally confident in his abilities just yet.

** Loves technology. What kid doesn't, right? He knows the iPad and iPhone well. Can swipe through the screens and to and from the home page. Knows where his apps are, and can switch them when he is board of one or another. And, of course, gets downright angry when playing time is done. Classic.

** Molars have been coming in for what feels like his entire life. But we have finally started to see them poke through and are looking forward to an end in site.

** Enjoys going to preschool with me...sometimes. He loves the kids for about an hour, and then gets overwhelmed and unsure for the rest of the time. But he loves the songs and will even do some of the hand motions if we sing it enough times in a row.

** Has leveled out at 29 lbs for the last several months, which has been super nice. He's wearing 18m-24m clothes; leaving me with the huge chore of cleaning out all the clothes that don't fit anymore!

** Holds hands. Be still my mother's heart. I love when he reaches up to hold my hand while we are walking. Especially when there is a stair that he isn't confident about going down, he'll reach up and say 'hep, hep, hep' (help). I can't soak up those moments enough.

** You know the game where mom and dad hold each of the child's hand and then "one, two, three" they swing the child into the air. Okay, we play that game, of course. But the cute part is that we say "one..." and Cameron will say "two"...and then wait for us to say three and toss him into the air. It is so darling, we almost do it too many times just to hear him say two.  So cute.

** Sits in church. I know, right? He is beyond wonderful for almost all 3 hours of meetings. We get through all of sacrament meeting and then go for a walk around the entire church before going in for Sunday school, we get through about 3/4 of that class before he starts to loose patience. After another short walking break before YW, he will then play quietly with his diaper bag full of goodies for the last 1/2 hour before I really have to step in to get through to the end. It is awesome. And unreal, I realize.

** Loves playing with cousins. He spent the entire evening with the Bouche's the other night and I haven't had a more worn out little boy than I did that night. Makes me smile to see him try to keep up with the big kids. Luckily, Collin (2) seems to tag along with him quite nicely and he's taken to him as his buddy. After spending a day with Collin, the entire drive home Cameron chanted, "bye Collin" over and over again.

He is just learning and growing just like kids always do; quickly! Since starting preschool, I feel like it is going faster and I am missing far too much of his little life. As I finish up this post, he is stirring awake (an hour too early, darn him) and I must go and snuggle my little man. I am such a lucky mamma.

If I didn't have a budget

Sometimes, when I've got nothing to do and Cameron and I are going stir crazy, I like to go to the store and just walk around. Just to look at all the things that are there to buy. Oh man, if I didn't have to worry about where my money was going, I'd fill my cart up with all kinds of goodies. And so, I made a list. A lovely list of things I would buy today if I had all the money I could ever want to spend.

-- hand blender (like for home made soups)
-- cake decorating kit and dye colors
-- cake pop kits
-- new dishes
-- curtains
-- a new bedroom furniture set; sleigh bed style
-- and upgrade to a California King at that
-- book binding maker
-- new wardrobe
-- a house! 6 bdrms, 4 baths, full finished basement, fancy home office, media room, 1 acre lot, view of mountains.
-- and all the furniture to go with it
-- scrapbooking kits
-- camping gear
-- bikes and kid gear
-- jogging stroller
-- plethora of workout gear
-- organizing bins for pantry
-- bins for holiday (crap) storage
-- new bathroom decor
-- new bedroom decor
-- new decor...everywhere
-- new couches. did I say furniture already, well, the couches for sure
-- a cruise. for me and my friends
-- and a trip to London/Paris for me, the Hubs, and the BIL tour guide.
-- BBQ
-- more WorldMark credits
-- better printer
-- dye cutter
-- unnecessary office supplies galore
-- a safe
-- a swanky trip to DisneyWorld with all the bells and whistles

What happened in Vegas

I could not have been more excited for this year's Sister's Weekend; a tradition I hope sticks for the rest of our years to come. Jennifer must get the props for hosting this year's event, and Vegas was a perfect choice as it was fairly easy for everyone to get to and had too many things for us to do.  It was awesome.

We came in at different times on Thursday evening. I was elected to be the driver of the group being that my home was just 6 hours from Vegas. So I got the blessed responsibility of maneuvering Vegas Strip traffic. At least I don't have any hesitations or fear about busy roads, so it worked out fine. We stayed in a great suite with kitchens and family rooms and all, so we were all able to put down our things and still have somewhere to sit and socialize. We utilized the hot tub first thing being that A) I'm not pregnant so I could soak right up to my neck for as long as I wanted, and B) I had no kids to keep me from doing so.  A great start! It must be said this was also my mom's first knowledge and encounter with my brown hair. I had purposefully waited to share it so she would be surprised when she saw me in person. And it was the best surprise yet. She gasped, and almost choked as she stumbled toward me. It was so great as she tried to adjust her eyes to what she was seeing. Oh, it was funny, and I loved it.

We spent the next 2 short days walking the strip and seeing all the different hotel's that we could. Everyone underestimated the distance between the Treasure Island hotel and the Bellagio, despite my suggestions at such, and we ventured on the long walk there, through every hotel along the way, and back.  Wow! Our break at the Belligao hotel was beyond welcomed.  A 3 hours stint in their Buffet was my best memory of the trip. We sat, and laughed, and ate, and talked. It was awesome. Our table was perfectly situated in a quiet corner so nobody bothered us and we didn't bother anybody else. It was by far the best night of the weekend!

Saturday we attended the Las Vegas temple together - another delightful choice, and finished off with tickets to the Mystere show in Treasure Island. The acrobatic stunts are stunning and we all left with a jaws on the floor! Awesome.

I couldn't be more lucky to have such awesome sisters. They are funny, and friendly, and smart, and give me ideas on how to be a better mom, cook, wife, and friend. I am so grateful that we love each other's company! Cheers to Vegas for a great trip!

Come, Listen to a Prophet's Voice.

Twice a year, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has the general conference of the church. Everyone, members and not, are invited to listen to a prophets voice, and hear the words of God. It is the most awesome 10 hours one can dedicate in any given weekend. And I look forward to it every year. This year was no different. Though sometimes the talks can tend to lull me right into a slumber, I always go back and study all the talks to pick out any and all instruction that I need to know to better my life as God would have me do. I found some cute conference journal ideas on pinterest, which I duplicated for myself in an effort to pay attention more, and longer. Victory to the n-th degree.

It was awesome. I learned so much. My testimony was strengthened. I came out a better, more spiritually minded woman than I was when I went into it.  I know God speaks to his children today through those men called as Apostles and Prophets in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Make time to study the word of God, given for his children today. Go here.

Favorite Things

Several weeks ago, the young women had a favorite things night for our mutual activity. In an effort to really make the scene better than a bland room with chairs in a circle, I had a whole themed spread with tons of cute Pinterest printables and ideas. It turned out so cute. And, rather than bring in just one thing, I put together a whole pile of my favorite things to share. It was awesome. It gave me a reason to contemplate the good things in my life and what I have that brings me joy and happiness. I collected little things around the house that represented each thought; oh how I wish I took a pictire to accompany this post. Alas, here is a list of the things I thought up. 

(1) family: I have an awesome family, both those that I grew up with and those I live with now. I have an awesome in law family too which is a triple bonus. I know that I am lucky to have such a perfect companion in my husband. How much he cares for and watches out for me, encourages my interests, and works for my happiness is unusual in many family circles. I son is just an awesome buddy to have around. He is fun and happy and curious and smart. He is talkative and quiet, busy and still. He is everything I prayed for in a kid and The Lord has blessed me beyond my wishes. My family is one of my favorite things.

(2) teaching: I have a folder in my drawer with an envelope full of all the notes that I received during my stint as a high school teacher. I frequently think back on my days in room 101A and 3002. I remember being exhausted, annoyed, burned out, lazy, and frazzled. But I also remember the funny kids, and the feeling of satisfaction in my career choice, and living near Disneyland, and yearbook class, and watching the sandlot and remember the titans every quarter for freshmen seminar. Today I try to get my fix in preschool and YW lessons/mutual activities. Teaching is one of my favorite things. 

(3) travel: I love to experience places. I love to see the world, especially the history of the people and events that once were. If I had a million dollars, I would spend a majority of it paying for myself and my loved ones to travel together. Cruises, Europe, luxurious DisneyWorld trips in the fancy hotels - so much. Traveling is one of my favorite thigs. 

(4) yearbooking: I love to put my year if pictures into family yearbooks. I have been especially busy putting 2013 together these past several days and it reminds me how excited I am for it to be printed and then to have for generations to come. I love to look back and see the pages of my life, and love to share it with others. It's awesome and wonderful and is most defiantly one of my favorite things. 

(5) lists, colored pens and calendars: I always feel a need to buy more. I love writing lists of everything; menus, to dos, goals, to get, to call, to write. Using a note pad and a myriad of colors just makes my day feel good. Like I am on top of everything. I am super excited about my 2014 planner that is on its way. I found the Mormon Mommy Planner, purchased, and now want January to get here immediately so I can start using it. It's out of this world perfect for me and just writing about it now is making me want to hold it and look at it's organizing pages for hours in anticipation of using it. Google it - it's awesome. These are a few if my favorite things. 

(6) food. I am on a constant diet. That I constantly disregard. It's horrible and awesome all at the same time. I try to be healthy, and have moderation on all things, but it isad constant battle between what I want to eat and what I want to look like. I eat when I am sad, stressed, happy, celebrating, tired, bored, watching TV, relaxing with a book, on the move, in my car. Food is certainly one of my favorite things. 

(7) cafe rio: yes. I put it on the list separate from food. It is unreal how much I love this place. I would go 4 . . . Maybe 5 times a week if my metobilism could keep up. I.  Love. It. 

(8) Pinterest: genius the person who made this forum of all things creative and Orginizational and printable and doable. I love to sit with the TV in in the background and scroll through it's many idea boards. It's soothing, motivational, and awesome. Pinterest is defiantly one of my favorite things. 

(9) Disneyland. Another thing separate from travel. This place is so magical for me. It removes my worldly cares. It makes my heart leap. It makes me feel like I'm on a permanent, romantic honeymoon. Lucky for me, my husband loves it too so it isn't too much to go 4 or 5 times a year despite the 10 hour drive. When I loved close, I would just go there and sit on Main Street and listen to the crowds and the music and eat a chocolate covered Carmel Apple. And maybe a churro. I still think those moments were wonderful and would do it again if I could. Disneyland is certainly one of my favorite things. 

(10) spiritual conferences: I love all things spiritual. I love getting into groups and talking about or listening to spiritual things. I love the encouragement my heart feels when I listen to truth and take notes in how to apply Christlike principles into my daily habits. Women's conference, general conference, education week, EFY, firesides, books, even going to Deseret Book on a Saturday afternoon is awesome. The church if Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is probably my most favorite thing. 

New Hair

I am pretty excited about fall finally making it's way to Utah.  Fall has been so beautiful and crisp - all the things that I just love about this season.  I have been thinking for quite sometime now, that come the fall, I would change the color of my hair.  And by "quite some time" I mean, several years now. I always knew that I wanted my cousin to do it for me, being that she is just really good at hair, has blonde hair naturally herself, and is my muse in hair life. Conveniently, we were going through that part of town on our way up to Yellowstone National Park. The timing couldn't have been more right, and the change more perfect.

I have found that I have to reintroduce myself to basically everybody - but it is exactly the look that I was going for. I have been blonde my entire life - except for that one summer when I decided to be a redhead.  It was just a college phase that ended in pink hair for the summer. What a mistake! But this - this is nothing like that and I am so excited about it.  Hopefully I'll be able to keep up with my roots so that I don't look like a scary granny when the blonde grown in and looks gray! Love it!


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An unrelated side note about my neglected blog.  I'd like to say that I've been too busy, or that I don't have much to blog about. But neither are true.  I've been lazy.  But - these past few days I have been working really hard on catching up my family yearbook and am so glad that I do have phases when I am diligent at keeping this current. It helps me remember trips and moments and photos. It help bring a little life to my books. And it helps me keep all things in chronological order. So - I've planned to get in at least 6-8 posts before the end of the month.