pd's b*day!

Parker's special party turned out to be a beautiful day. Great friends and family joined us in our backyard and I think Parker loved it all!

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4 Parker

Four years ago today...

I laughed and cried in the very same moment.

I had worked harder than I ever had before....and I learned of a love much greater than I had ever imagined.

You are so many things, Parker. Sweet, sensitive, smart, strong....splendid.

But most of all, you are a blessing. When I think "Parker", I think "blessing". There is absolutely no better word to describe your spirit. I prayed that you would be a blessing to those around you...but I never expected God to exceed all of my expectations.

And just think...you are only four. FOUR! Four years of laughing and crying at the same time...and hoping for many, many more...

Love you so much. Lots and lots. Forever and ever. Amen. Love, Mama

Wheel Of Fortune!

Watch my sis tonight on Wheel of Fortune!! Kelsey Asbjornsen is her name and I promise she'll be dazzling and smart....and totally not annoying:)

too old for this...

Okay, so forget what I said about coming out of hibernation...apparently not happening yet. I'm freezing. I've been walking around with a rice bag on my neck all day, just to warm up!

I'm not even 28 yet and I already feel too old for some of this....stuff. Here is my current list of things I am just too old for....

*Waking up to 4 inches of snow. I can't take it! I hate the teasing. It is gone now, but still...
*Reading this darned Twilight series. I am totally, completely sucked in and I cannot stop. But that is the problem!!! I have four kids here during the day....I seriously don't have time for this. I should be doing more mature things like wiping noses and bums;)
*Lady Gaga on American Idol last night. My goodness...was that supposed to be cool? If so, then I am hopeless. Totally too old for that stuff. Ridiculous!
*And while we're on the subject of Idol...we kicked off the right girl last night, America! Was I the only one who heard the squawking? That was weird. But I love Idol anyway.....Kris, Adam and Danny are my top three!

out of hibernation

We are slowly emerging. It is just 50 degrees, but we are soaking it up. As the snow has melted, I've become aware of all of the filth left over from the hard winter. We have a lot of clean up to do but the boys think it is just awesome! More dirt to spread all over themselves and pour over their heads. It was a delightful time outdoors. Looking forward to so much more of this...

have you?

So I'm just going to say it...I read it. Yep. I read Twilight. Okay, so I was slightly embarrassed that I was reading "young adult" fiction...about vampires...but I'm over it and I'm coming clean. I've only read the first one and I haven't yet seen the movie, but I have to admit, I'm hooked. It was surprisingly good and sort of interesting to read a story based in Washington state. So I'm just wondering...have YOU read it? Go ahead...come clean. Give it a little try. Don't knock it till you've tried it:)

happenings...

I feel as though everyone around me has exciting things in their lives and I'm a spectator right now. That sounds bad. Okay, what I mean is....it is kind of nice to not have lots of stuff going on right now. I like being a spectator at the moment. That still sounds bad....but you know what I mean. Please?

Okay, first off...BIG news...my little sister is ENGAGED to Bryant. We secretly call him Saint Bryant of Kelsey:) He is such a good guy....we love him! I would love to tell you their engagement story but it really isn't my story to tell....and it quite possibly would take too long to write. Like a week. But anyway, we're so happy and check out this ring....

I must add...I helped pick it out, thank you very much. But even more importantly, check out this couple!

This one I can't take any credit for! Look at them...are they not beautiful or what? Geesh...

As for my life...here is what is making news:

*Spring is official and it is slowly looking like it here...have I mentioned how much I'm looking forward to warmth and sun?
*We're getting a backyard fence as we speak and I'm giddy about it.
*My brother and his family are moving right down the street and I'm even more giddy about that.
*Griffin has a shiner....a really ugly one. He fell out of a chair. Really, he did.
*March Madness at our house and the Zags are in the Sweet Sixteen!
*Parker is going to turn four next month and that sorta makes me want to throw up. Aaaaahhh.

See, I told you. Not a lot going on...but we're having fun!

my happy place

Some days....I run around the house like a chicken with her head cut off....just trying to keep the peace. It isn't pretty. Definitely is something to be expected with four hooligans running around. Who is the boss here??!

But my favorite part of the day is when I get to sit down and read to them. While I'm reading, I remember why I absolutely love these kids...love this whole gig. I feel creative, alive! Sometimes I wonder who is having more fun...

It is my happy place.

rain today with a touch of coziness

Today it is rainy and I sort of like it. It means spring is around the corner...

So....today......we indulged in a bit of comfort, fun, coziness, and maybe a little optimism...

*wearing some spring shoes without socks! {optimism}
*brewing some chai tea {so cozy}
*enjoying our bounty from Trader Joe's {comfort food}
*playing "I Spy" while watching the snow melt {good old fashioned fun}

Hope of spring is in the air! In the meantime, I'm staying cozy...

lucky girl!!

I am so darn excited...I get to go visit Jenn again!! This time I get to see that beautiful state in April!

the days...

Griffin is into making messes...what's new? Loud messes. He's two and I think he is going through baby puberty. He's happy...he's mad...he's happy he's sad....blah, blah, blah!!

I'm sick and tired of looking at my blog and seeing nothing new...sooooo boring!! It isn't like nothing is going on....it is just that I don't have full thoughts these days! My brain works in 3 second cycles, which are often interrupted by the sound of needy children. But life is chugging along. It is good and crazy and frustrating and joyful and tiring and funny....and did I mention tiring?? So I'm going to be posting mostly pictures for a while because these insane days MUST BE DOCUMENTED. Because these are the days...

little big town

Joel and I got to go to a Little Big Town Concert on Wednesday. Amazing!! They make you fall in love with music all over again...and their energy, harmony, song writing...WOW! Plus it was fun to go out on a date with my husband. We stopped at Aqua beforehand...

So my sister and I had planned on going to this concert together, but she canceled at the last minute to go film Wheel of Fortune. Geesh...priorities!! Watch Wheel on April 15th to see my little sis!

p.s. The photo of Joel and I above deserved some serious photo editing...have to be honest! I wanted to remember our night without looking at a picture that made us look run down, tired, and like we'd been taking care of little ones all day:) Plus, the concert started late. Well, like 8pm, but whatever...

my little valentines:)

Aren't they lovely?

Happy 2nd Birthday Griffin!! (yesterday:)

Happy Birthday, Griff! You make me laugh and cry at the same time! I have no idea which planet you come from...and I think you're perfect! I love you with all of my heart! Your incessant jibber-jabber, boundless energy, and sense of humor or going to treat you well in life...just give your mama a break once in a while, okay? Love you little boy:)

Vacation in AZ
*sun*family*love*grandparents*activity*food*
*bliss*

because this is what makes blogging fun...

*the hope of spring*

Some tidbits of information that you may or may not want to know...

*I have never once touched a cigarette, but I have this very odd desire to buy a pack of Nicorette gum. I really like gum, I guess.

*My husband and I like a lot of the same music, with a few exceptions: I love country and he only likes some...and he loves classic rock and it makes me want to vomit. Sorry to all of you fans...but I can't handle it!

*I met Joel when I was 18, became engaged when I was 19 and married when I was 20. When I read that, I start to sweat. Crazy. But it worked for us and we're going on 8 years of marriage:)

*We had a sunny day here today (the first in a while) and it gave me a glimmer of hope....Spring will come again! I long for the days when the kids cans go out back and play in the sprinkler. Oh, the hope of spring...how it tugs on my heart!

*I am reading One Thousand Splendid Suns with my SIL, Andi. Really excited about it. Just finished Like Family. Fairly depressing, actually, but I like that sort of thing. I think it is important to read about lives that are so different than mine.

*We went out on an overnight date on Friday and it was just splendid! BIG thanks to Andi and Erik for watching the boys! Order of events: drinks, dinner, dessert, shopping (at gymboree:), movie, hotel. So great! I love being "just us" every now and then!

*My family is watching a movie together and I snuck away to do this random post. Now, I've been found and I see little fingers under the door. I better go!

the start of something new...

*Griff has decided that he loves baking with mama. But he really loves eating the batter.
*Parker loved his first SoccerTots! Look at that form! And here he his with his bud Kaden!
*It has been so fun watching Audrey and Parker develop their friendship...now we're beginning to see some real friendship sparks with Griff and Elliot! They were so excited to be in the bath together.

p.s.Elliot loved the bath so much that he decided to get back in...completely clothed!

in their world...

bathing with your cousins is still okay...especially if you're being baptized!

and so is posing with your mama in the bathroom mirror...

sharing things might be a little tough...but goldfish crackers and dvd's can totally fix things!

*life is good*

sweet moments

We decided to do our gingerbread houses on New Year's Day instead of Christmas to avoid the rush...and it ended up being a lot of fun! Parker was really interested in helping me so I decided early on to surrender and let it be his moment. I was really proud of him for helping me and staying focused for so long. And it was also impressive that he touched (and tasted) the frosting....this is a big step. I frosted the entire structure and he decorated the entire thing....love it!