Lately

The YM and YW in our ward put on a great 5k/fun run mile fundraiser with a yummy breakfast to follow.  As you can see we took the more relaxed of the two - the fun run. :)  Colby loved it. 

Colby's first experience with rain.  He just stood there and watched it fall.

Then he realized that I was taking pictures of him through the window. :)

We have been so lucky to have little friends for Colby here in Peoria.

He LOVED playing with Kade!!!

Tarzan

One of the presents Spencer gave me for my birthday was tickets to see Tarzan at Arizona Broadway Theatre in Peoria.  It actually was a dinner theatre which I had never experience before, so we had a blast!  The play was awesome and the dinner was delicious - oh and the dessert - holy cow, so yummy. Coconut sorbet with fresh fruit served in half of a coconut.  Awesome!

Everyone in the cast was great, but my favorite was Terk, Tarzan's best friend.  He was hilarious and played the role perfectly.  I really wanted to get a picture with him at the end but just as we were going to ask, some of his theatre friends walked up to distract him.  He is at the left of the picture... you can see his blue sleeve.  It just so happened that Jane's Mom (in real life) was standing next to me and saw that I had my camera out.  Thinking that we were just nervous to ask Jane and Tarzan for a picture (why wouldn't she think we wanted a picture with them??  They were the main characters! ha!) she offered to take one for us and proudly introduced herself as Jane's mom. :)  It was pretty cute to see a proud Mama!

DIY Junkie

A few months ago, the Relief Society asked me to lead a meeting on repurposing items in your home.  Repurposing has become a hobby for many these days, in part because of the economic downfall as well as the realization that it is far less expensive to have custom items in your home when you make them yourself!  When Spencer and I were first married, I started following blogs that were doing just this - taking something that they didn't love in their house and changing/creating something far more useful and enjoyable.  And ever since then, I have been hooked.  It has been a huge blessing to me now that Spencer is in dental school and the income isn't quite there to purchase any kind of home decor that I would like.  I have become very passionate about the feeling of my home since I spend most of my time there and I want it to feel as comfortable and homey as I can make it.  So as you can see, this was a very fun activity for me to plan!  

I brought anything from my home that I or others had repurposed or that I had plans to complete and could fit in my car and displayed them on tables - the rest I just took pictures of to show in a power point.

I showed many before and afters, played a video of me shopping at a local thrift store since many didn't quite know how to catch the vision, and also demonstrated a simple glazing technique.  There was a great turnout which I was so happy about since I had put a lot of time into it.  I enjoy sharing things that I love with others and I'm so glad that I had the opportunity to do this! 

Fun in the Sun

The one awesome thing about the Summer heat is spending lots of time in the pool!  Every once in a while we gather for some poolside BBQ's as well, which are equally fun.   

Our good friends Dave and Julia took some pics of Colby with their underwater camera... so funny!

Our little surfer dude

Dave and Julia's Sophia slept nearly the entire time

Party time!

One Lucky Mama

I feel extremely blessed to be the mother of this little boy.

Nearly every night as I snuggle him in the rocking chair one last time before he lays his head down to rest I feel overwhelmed with joy.  Often the joy that I feel is so powerful that it brings me to tears.  They are a testament of the love that I feel not only for him, but for the opportunity I have been given to be a mother on this Earth.  Up until this point in my life I have never completely understood the concept of unconditional love - the love that a mother has for her child - the love that my Heavenly Father has for me.  

While truly grateful for the knowledge that I now have, I suspect that there is still much more to be learned.  

At this stage of my life, to me, motherhood is

*seeing the smiling face a cookie brings 

*discovering Cheerios intentionally lined up, all in a row

*long, beautiful walks with Colby in tow

*sweet baby kisses

*clapping hands while screaming "YAY!"

*little hands reaching just high enough to play a piano key

*peek-a-boo with curtains wrapped around his chunky body

*opening every cupboard possible to find that perfect "toy"

*welcoming an adorable running boy with open arms

All of those things, and many more, are worth every sacrifice that is made.  There is no other place that I would rather be than in the home.  

"One cannot forget mother and remember God. One cannot remember mother and forget God. Why? Because these two sacred persons, God and mother, partners in creation, in love, in sacrifice, in service, are as one. "

Thomas S. Monson

Mother's

"Women wear many hats in their lives.  But no matter where we are or what we're doing, one hat that moms never take off is the crown of motherhood.

There is no crown more glorious."

~Ann Romney

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