My baby is growing up.

I was talking on the phone with my mom today, and she was asking about the kids. She mentioned that she feels like she hasn't got to share in Isaac's life like she has Jex and Stella. It made me think about all the things Grandparents miss while we live so far away. So... I am going to share with you ten things about Isaac. I hope this will help our family get to know him a little better.

1. He loves to snuggle. He will snuggle with me for hours and is content as long as he's on my lap. When he wakes up in the morning we snuggle for 5-10 minutes with his head on my shoulder.

2. He is very smart. He can say "Mom", and will holler at me when I'm not in his view. He can also find the light, patty cake, and grab your nose when asked.

3. He loves to eat grown up food. His favorite is a grilled cheese sandwich, and without teeth no less. He is a great eater.

4. He's not in any hurry to be mobile. He likes to just sit and play. On the other hand, he is very busy. No movement involved... but he manages to get his hands into everything.

5. He loves people watching. If he is tired or hungry he can forget all about it when a crowd of people (especially kids) enters the room. He will just watch and smile.

6. He loves to play in the water.

7. He is bashful and also a flirt. We will smile at you and then bury his head in my shoulder.

8. He is a very happy baby, with the most adorable laugh.

9. He is ticklish on his sides, and he can't contain his laughter.

10. He is too busy to let us read to him (I try, but his hands are really involved) He loves when we sing to him. He will let me sing and rock him for 15 minutes or so.

We love you Isaac!! I hope this helps you know more about this wonderful addition in our life. I am sorry we have to be so far away. Even though our lives are so far apart, our children love their grandparents, even Isaac!!

AHHH!!

There is nothing I hate more then living in a mess. I know that this will be our circumstance for the next few weeks or so as we transition. We have got most of the boxes packed, and we feel very organized. We will have Jonathan's graduation to attend this weekend. Monday we plan to pack the truck, and then we are off early Tuesday. I am so ready to be settled, and to enjoy the summer with my kids. I must say that I could never live in a cluttered place. This is making me crazy. Does anyone have an extra anxiety pill I can have?

P.S. I love you!!

This is my new favorite movie. Jonathan so kindly watched 2 chick flicks with me this week. It was our anniversary. We watched "27 dresses" (very predictable, and a little cheesy). Then last night, we watch "P.S. I love you." If you have not seen this, I highly recommend that you rent this movie. It has such a wonderful message, and just makes your heart melt. This is how love should be. We should love the people in our life with all our heart. Make sure that you have a box of tissues handy. Enjoy!!

P.S. This song by James Blunt is my new favorite. It is from the movie.

It's Official

We signed our life away today, and we are officially home owners. It feels so nice to have finally closed on our house. My friend Krysta told me, "just take a big deep breath until closing day because anything could happen between now and then." That is what I did. I have been holding my breath for 6 weeks. I am glad that it is all done.

I feel so blessed, and I know that Heavenly Father has a hand in where we end up. What a blessing to be in a position to buy a house. Heavenly Father loves and blesses us everyday.

It was such a great day to close!! Happy anniversary. What a great present. After nine years of marriage, we own our first home.

Congratulations Jonathan(home owner)! Thanks for a great gift, and providing for our family.

Nine Wonderful Years!!

Jonathan, I want you to know how much I love you! Thank you for sharing these nine years with me. You are a wonderful husband, and father. I feel so lucky that you chose me!!
Happy Anniversary Jonathan!!
I love you!!

Graduation Announcement!!

Congratulations Jonathan!! We are so proud of you. We have witnessed first hand what a big accomplishment it is to complete medical school. I am so impressed with you determination. Once you decided that is what you wanted to do, you went ahead and never looked back. I know it has not always been easy, and I know it will still be difficult at times, but you have already journeyed down a long road. I am so thankful for you and your example of hard work. Your example has already taught our children many valuable lessons. Thank you for including me in this journey. Thank you for working so hard to support our family, and allowing me to stay home in the process. We love you, and we are so proud of you!!
Andrea, Jex, Stella, and Isaac.

Is there anything better than friends?

It is 1:30 am, and I just can't bring myself to sleep. I am on a friend high. Today, our friends here in OP had a BBQ for us. It was our last BBQ. We had a great turnout with wonderful food and conversation. I am so sad to be leaving this wonderful place. We have formed some tremendous bonds and lasting friendships with so many people. Many of our friends were here to greet us when we moved in, others have come along in our time here, and some we have just recently gotten to know. All of them have made a lasting impact on our family. I will miss everything we have shared, and each person for different reasons.

I know it is time for our family to move on, but it is just not fair. Do you think it would be possible to ask them all to move with us? I know that we will make more friends, and I always say, "She who dies with the most friends wins!!" hee hee. I will however, miss the friends I have now, and never forget all they have done for us. So... here is a shout out to all of our OP friends(you know who you are) We Love you and will miss you!! THANKS, for being our "extended family."

There is a song on the radio,that always reminds me of all of our friends here, and what kind of friendship we have. Some of the lyrics say:

Run your car off the side of the road,
get stuck in a ditch way out in the middle of nowhere.
Get yourself in a bind, loose the shirt off your back
need a floor, need a couch, need a bus fare

This is where the cream is going to rise,
this is what you really didn't know
this is where the truth don't lie

You find out who your friends are
Somebody's gonna drop everything
Run out and crank up there car
Hit the gas, get there fast
Never stop to think what's in it for me, or it's way to far
They just show on up, with there big old heart.
You find out who your friends are.

When the water's high, when the weather's not so fair, when the well runs dry:
Who's gonna be there?
You find out who your friends are.

This song always reminds me of how our friends have always been there for us. Everyone here is so willing to give and do for each other. What a wonderful thing to have in life. Friends to lean on.

I will end this post with one of my favorite quotes.

"Are we going to be friends forever?", asked Piglet
"Even Longer", answered Pooh

Soccer Star!!

Jex has been playing soccer for six weeks now. It has been painfully hard for Jonathan and I to watch. He is so adorable,and we love him with all our heart, but soccer was not his thing.... UNTIL!! His last game. Which was today. We signed him up for a soccer clinic that was supposed to take place at the beginning of the season. Because of rain it was canceled several times. It happened to take place last night, FINALLY!! They must have taught him something. He stepped foot on that field as an allstar. He got right in there, and took charge with that ball. He also scored the only goal today. We knew he had it in him, we just didn't know how to get it out of him. It just goes to show he is a great learner, and wonderful listener(when it is not his parents) Anyways, we are so proud of him, and have enjoyed watching him grow and learn this season. Wait a go Jex!!!

Happy Mother's Day!

 
I have been thinking about the role that women play in the life of others. It is pretty significant. Women do have such a divine purpose in life. I am thankful for a Mother who taught me the importance of knowing that I am a Child of God, and that I do have purpose. It helps me stay in check when I do feel the pressures of life. I remember that I am of worth, and my hectic life is part of that great eternal gift of being a woman, wife, and mother. Mother's Day is such a good day for reflection, and reminder that what we do as women is important. I don't think that you have to be a Mother to celebrate this day!! All women every where "Mother" in some way. It may be through serving others, teaching someone else's child, or smiling at someone at the grocery store. All of these small acts are part of the instincts that we as women are programmed with. I am thankful that Heavenly Father gave us these divine instincts that help us fulfill our role as women.
I am thankful for all the women in my life whose example blesses me and my family on a daily basis. My Mother is such a good example to me, and helped my desire to be a stay at home mom. She was always baking, cooking, and making fun projects with us as children. As I get older, I realize how hard she worked to be frugal, and find ways to save money when it was tight. Her example has helped me when money gets tight while in Medical school. Mothers are so important. Her example, has then affected my children in a round about way. Thanks MOM!!
I am thankful for a great Mother-in-Law who has accepted me as one of her own. I appreciate her, and her love for me. She is a great example of giving. She will give and give and give, and is always the last to receive. What a great Woman.
OUR CHILDREN ARE BLESSED WITH GREAT WOMEN IN THEIR LIFE!! I was also blessed with wonderful Grandmothers, and even wonderful Great Grandmothers. All of these women have helped the cycle to continue, with a world full of Wonderful Women.

Thanks to all you wonderful women in my life. Sisters, Friends, Teachers, Grandmothers and Mothers. You have made me who I am today.

Bug

How many of you are so sick of the word verification on blogs? I certainly am. I don't know how many times I get the letters wrong or just can't read them. Just wanted to let you all know that you can take that feature off. I would greatly appreciate it, so I can give my brain a rest. It is so easy, go to Settings, then comments, and click the no box for word verification. Well, there you have it. This possibly could be a bug of yours as well, just wanted to pass the good news on. We don't have to strain to remember or read letters that just don't belong together anymore. Please, join the bandwagon and just disengage this feature. It isn't protecting you from anything so why bother with it. Thanks!!

Photo Obsession

Okay... I do have an obsession with pictures. I love my walls to be adorned with photos. There is nothing that makes me more happy. Forget fancy art, or obtruse wall hangings.... I LOVE PICTURES. As many of you have probably figured out once you step foot inside my house. We all have passions for things, and mine happens to be good photography.(I just wish I could do it myself.) So any hoo... I had my friend Sara take some pictures of our family. I love them, and think they turned out beautiful. I even had fun doing some neat photo editing. You can do so many amazing things with photoshop. I know that all those real estate shows say that you shouldn't make your house too personal. Well mine is as personal as it gets... and you know what... I LOVE IT!! Just thought I would share some of these wonderful pictures, and one of my passions. Oh and by the way... am I vain because I love looking at photos of my beautiful children? I don't think so, but they do make great wall art. Don't you think?