Monday, July 26, 2010

Tids and Bits

I volunteered to be the PTO President at the kids school. Yes I did. I must have been under the influence. Ha! No, I'm really excited, it's going to be F.U.N.

I only have a week left in the boot.

Charlotte and Laila are hysterical together. Except for the times when they discover body butter, popcorn, or shampoo.

Hallie and Colson are a nightmare together. Fighting ALL the time! Please help.

Made some great new friends in the ward at church, so nice!

Josh and I are doing better than ever.

I'm reading the Book of Mormon again, but this time super quick with a specific topic in mind. It's changing my life. Seriously.

That's it for now!

Pictures to come soon!

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Summer Vacation

Instead of going on vacation, we're here, at home. enjoying things like our play set, our gym membership, local events, and friends close by.

My summers usually consist of trips to the orchard, or zoo, or water park, or even a trek home to Indiana. But this year, we haven't done those things. We've spent time at home.

We've worked on our house: painted shudders, doors, the basement, replaced the damaged carpet, spread mulch (26 Cubic feet of mulch to be exact), painted an accent wall in the living room (RED of course), hung pictures, replaced hardware, finished the bathroom project.

We've also worked on our marriage. Talking, time together, dating, not to mention all the previous projects we've worked on together, and instead of watching TV at night, we've gone back to the beginning when we didn't have TV and read in bed at night. Our marriage has never been typical, and never on the top of our priority list, finances, kids, jobs, and moves took up a lot of our time. For the first time, we are making it a priority. Things have changed. We've changed. It's kind of crazy to see where we have come all of these years. We both were so unsure and yet attempted to navigate ourselves through this life of ours. It's been an incredible journey, of ups, downs, joys, sorrows, laughs and tears.

Sometimes I wonder why I write about the things I write about. Why do I sometimes share TOO much? I think because we are on this journey together. I don't have my life together, and I'm d*mn sure you don't either. So as I continue to "Find" joy in my journey, sometimes it gets a little ugly before it's pretty. It's not always rainbows and lollipops - that's for you Collette!

However, I know one thing for sure. Never would I amount to anything if I didn't know what I know. I know there is a purpose in this life. I know there is a Savior. I know that some things don't make sense, some trials seem too difficult to bear, that our hearts ache for peace. How do we ever make it through?

We have to TRUST the purpose. Have faith that His plan is better than our plan. We must forgive. We have to let go. We have to "give more than we get". (Michael Buble ;)) We have to serve, love, and press on.

Changing our hearts isn't easy. In fact, its down right impossible on your own. But I believe in miracles. I hope you do, too.

Happy Summer.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

A new hobby.

Thanks to this:


I've been doing this:






Monday, July 05, 2010

My dad told me so.



Earlier in the day on the 4th, I called my dad to wish him a Happy Birthday. I enjoyed a fun chat, usually we celebrate back home in Indiana, but not this year.

I decide to throw my own party instead of the traditional trip home. I bought candles, fireworks, glow bracelets, bottled beverages, stuff for s'mores, and the list goes on.

Activities for the party included sidewalk chalk, croquet, a new playset, and a bonfire. I know it's hot, but really, I had a pile of crap I was tired of looking at, from the snow storms this year. Josh and I have seriously had no fewer than 5 bonfires. We do it regularly. NEVER, have we had a problem. EVER.

UNTIL we had twenty witnesses.

Back up to the phone conversation, I told my dad all about the party, including the bonfire. He says to me and I quote: "You need to have not one, BUT THREE, buckets of water, you know, just in case." "ok, dad". We only did ONE.

Imagine now, dry grass, huge fire... now to grown adults using buckets, coolers, lids, etc. to get this fire put out. Seriously, TOTAL mayhem. Thanks to some people with quick thinking we were able to put it out without any major damage.

But the lesson learned?

Dad ALWAYS knows best.

and P.S. Heath parties are always rockin'. Sorry you missed it.

Thursday, July 01, 2010

Number Three Turns Three - Happy Birthday Laila!



Today's the day! She arrived in a hurry, I went to the hospital at 6pm she came at 9:30pm... My only entirely drug free birth, I guess I had a tylenol for a headache...

Her name came from Laila Ali - who was on Dancing with the Stars the season before she was born. I thought for sure she was a boy, my biggest surprise!

And Laila has definitely thrown us for a loop! She's the kid we have tried hard to figure out. We still have no idea what's going on with that girl. But she's so fun, and lovable, and beautiful. She has a way with showing love to EVERYONE. Sometimes I wish I could help her more, and wonder if I'm doing enough... but somehow we muddle through.

Laila, today is your day!

Happy Birthday!