Emmy da baby

Emily has taken to coming to Landon or I, curling up in our laps, smiling up to us and saying, "Emmy da baby." She also tries to tell me that Daddy's the baby. She loves this new game because we rock her and call her our baby. She does it for a few minutes and then goes about her day.

My Mom's Recital

I just have to brag a little. My mom has always wished she "had musical talent." (Her words) She seems convinced that all if the musical ability her kids have come from their father. She constantly pushed/encouraged us to take lessons, practice, and volunteer our talents. She drove Naomi nuts with it! :) But we all knew that she so badly wanted to do it herself. But she had talked herself into believing that it was not a dream that was attainable. A few nasty people in her life said mean stuff and she believed them, Silly Woman! Last year she joined a weekly woman's ensemble. She kept telling me she only got invited because they wanted Naomi to sing in the group and that they needed more people. Well Naomi isn't here and they still wanted her back so there MOM! Last year they sang in the music festival, this year because of illnesses they weren't able to. Yesterday was the recital. (One of the women in the group is a voice/piano teacher. She was Naomi and Matt's teacher.) Mom did AWESOME! My mom has always had a flair for the dramatic (acting). They had her do a spoken solo of a poem at the begining of one of the pieces. It was BEAUTIFUL! It set the mood for the song. I am so proud of her. She has started to overcome her self doubts and is realizing a dream she has had her whole life. She keeps talking about maybe taking some lessons from Nancy and I hope she does. I think that she is going to surprise herself and find out that maybe Naomi got some of her talent from mom! Emily was so proud of her grandma and I am glad that she came with me to watch! Congrats mom!
(My mom is on the far right in the blue shirt)

Ups and Downs

Life has been crazy for the last week. I am trying a new "diet". Its more of a lifestyle change. Its called "Fit for Life." I'm sure many of you have heard of it. My decision to make a change of eating habits was because my weight loss seemed to have plateaued. No matter what I was doing I wasn't losing inches. (I do inches because I see progress faster.) I was spurred into this decision by the fact that I had myself weighed again at the doctor's office. Landon had an appointment and so I thought why not? I'd lost 3 and half inches. That would show on the scale right? Wrong! In four weeks of working out I had lost 2 pounds! I am still 8 lbs from my prepregnancy weight and 17 lbs from my goal weight. I was devastated. And so I ate junk food for dinner...... Doesn't make sense but I did. So out came my mom's book and I went grocery shopping. Since Landon is trying to get back in shape he actually agreed to a diet of little meat and lots of fresh fruit and veggies. I am in heaven! This week's measurements haven't been anything to shout about but I'm feeling better about myself so I'm happy.

So that was the down but we've had lots of ups. As in I was worried about where the money was going to come for our upcoming trip to Idaho and Utah. Bills keep appearing and well I am only making a third of the same amount a month. But luckily my dad had some work that needed to done, we sold some possessions that we didn't need anymore and voila, we have enough for gas money and food. No spending money but that is okay. We live in a small house and really don't need anything. It is amazing how the Lord provides when you are willing to put in the hard work and faith. My garden is also plante with help from my mom and Roselynn Fluery supplied plants from her greenhouse. I am excited its my first. Hopefully things will grow!

Collin is growing like a weed! Its amazing, where has my baby gone? Today we had to move his straps up a slot on the car seat. It made me kind of sad because when we took him home from the hospital he looked so small in the seat and now he fills it. He is rolling from his back to his side so maybe he'll roll over in the next few weeks. He doesn't get much tummy or lay on his back time. His big sister wants to play with him a little too much when he is down. :) No complaints though. He loves to sit up. He sat on our futon yesterday for 15 minutes without falling over. Yikes! He loves his big sister so much he seems way to keen to grown up to be with her. And when I say he loves her I mean adores and worships. When she gets down on his level to play with him he is so happy he glows! Makes me a little jealous at times. When she ignores him the look on his face breaks my heart.

Emily has become my little grownup. We are attempting potty training! She is doing good. Not perfect but lots of success as well. I am so proud of her. It is incredible how her speech has improved and I love listening to her explain things. Yesterday she kept telling me, "Mom come. Moooom please come. Here mom, now!" She wanted me to come pet a dog at my mom's singing recital and I was reading the program. Everyone told me how cute she was. Its nice because sometimes I worry people see her as a little too adventurous and loud. She is definitely me in personality. I hope that I can teach her to be proud about that part. It's taken me years to accept myself and I hope that I can help her skip the self loathing. She started taking pictures yesterday and is already better than me. Her favourite subjects for pictures are Collin and her dad. Today she wanted to take a picture of Papa but settled for taking a picture of a picture of him. :)

Wow this has been a long post but really I just wanted to say that I love my family and am grateful to the Lord for helping Landon and I get through our tough times. Marriage isn't easy but in the end it has definitely been worth it!

Make a Smilebox photobook

Willingdon Beach

We had a picnic dinner at Willingdon beach with my parents on Friday. Matt and Ashley came by for a little while until they went on their date night. Ethan and Sariah stayed with us because my parents were babysitting. We had so much fun! My dad quite happily ran through the water park with Ethan and Emily. It was the best way to end a hot and busy week! We've decided we need to do it at least once a week. Enjoy!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

I wish I lived in South Eastern Idaho....

Through Make It and Love It I have found the coolest blog. Her name is Brittany and she makes beautiful cakes. Only trouble is she lives in Rexburg so too far away from me to take advantage of her talents on a regular basis. But I am getting her to make me one for the fourth of July because I'll be driving through Rexburg on my way to Island Park. I wish I knew how to make cakes like this..... actually then I'd have to make them so scratch that idea. ;)
Take a look and see what I mean....

Brittany's Cake World

The best thing, if I lived in South Eastern Idaho, would be that I would be closer to both my sisters....

Cheezies and Barbie

This morning Emily was adamently asking me for Cheezies and Barbie. I kept telling her that we didn't have any Cheezies. Then she pointed above the computer at a statue of Christ with the children. She was asking for Jesus and Barbie. So here is a picture of her holding "Cheezies and Barbie."

Playing Together

We were able to capture these two videos yesterday. I thought that you would enjoy them.

The Rock Collector

My daughter walked the whole way back from Strongstart today. That is a 20 minute walk. And she ran for most of it. I had a hard time keeping up. The reason for this sudden interest in not riding in the stroller..... ROCKS.... ordinary, find on the street rocks. She would bring me handfuls of rocks to put in the stroller. Well, at least its not an expensive hobby. :)

Carnival Anyone?

On Wednesday there was a preschool carnival. All the preschools in town get together and throw a carnival for all the pre-kindergarten kids in town. Its at the local track and it starts with a parade around the track with the Clansman Pipe Band leading the way. This is the first year I have taken Emily. The kids are encouraged to dress up. Well, this is what Emily decided to wear. She was adamant about the touque (hat). She loves her tutu. I must say it was easy to find her amongst all the other kids with that outfit! : ) She was so excited to run from one activity to the next. Her favourites were the bean bag toss and the fishing pond. She spent a half an hour scooping out all the toys with her net and putting them back. She also had a chance to meet the A&W Bear. He came up to give her a sucker and she quickly wanted me to pick her up. The Bear was at least 6 and a half feet tall. All she would say was, "Bear, toes." (She was staring at the ground and noticed his toes.) We saw her cousin Ethan right after and she kept telling him about the Bear. She would point and say, "There's da bear, his nose." It was hilarious. Great day even if by 10 in the morning it was way to hot to be outside!

3 months and Growing

Collin was 3 months old yesterday!

Time has gone by so fast. I can't believe how big he is getting. He was weighed yesterday and he is a whopping 12 lbs 4 oz. And 22 1/2 inches in length. He has almost doubled his birth weight and grown 2 1/2 inches. We can't imagine our life without him!
He has bought so much love to our little family.

I had a hard time getting him to smile yesterday for his 3 month picture so I had about 20 photos. Landon thought that some of them were pretty hilarious so I made a little smilebox of them. Enjoy!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook