Cute Little Tales...

YUMMY BALL
I heard Noah in the other room saying "Ball. Ball. Ball. Ball....Yum. Yummy. Yum. Yum." So I was thinking what in the heck spilled on the ball. I started into the living room to check things out. He found a box of tomatoes, given to us by our sweet neighbor Pauline Kummer, that I had left on the landing. Obviously, he decided to put it in his mouth, like everything else, and take a couple bites. He found out that it was the best tasting "ball" ever!!! "Yum. Yum."

SHAKE IT BABY! SHAKE IT!
And this afternoon, I was getting dinner ready & I started hearing a toy hitting a table of some kind, and waited a second to evaluate the sound & decided it sounded safe. Then Morgan started squealing & laughing hysterically & then shouting out encouraging "Whoo-hooos." At that point, I should have realized that Noah was doing something naughty. Morgan loves watching & egging on Noah getting into mischief and of course laughing hysterically too!! Like me having to chase him in church is so hilarious! Anyways, I come around my kitchen wall & find Noah standing on top of the kitchen table! He immediately sits down, because that means what he is doing is ok, but continues to shake the pepper shaker everywhere & eat it. He had already handed the salt shaker over to Morgan. They were shakin' 'em everywhere baby. In this house he knows if he has 2 toys, he should give one to Morgan. He is such a sweet boy, even shares in his michieviousness! It was seriously so hard to tell him "No." and not to just laugh & join the the fun!

Amazing

Noah and I walked to Petco and to the Post Office with our little dog Niki this morning. And it was one of those days when I realized how happy I am. How amazing life is. I just sat their staring at all the wonders thinking how beautiful everything is around me! I noticed the leaves are changing on the mountains, the sky radiating the most amazing blue, and the weather, well, it is absolutely perfect.

I can breathe on my own, I can see on my own, I can smile, and walk. And I have this sweet little boy who is taking everything out of his diaper bag & gibber gabbering up a storm on his little play phone. He's laughing, & Niki's sitting right next to him in the jogging stroller, smiling away too.(Yes, dogs smile:)) Morgan is at school, by the way, she loves it! Every morning she starts yelling "Hi!" down our driveway to the bus & bus drivers, smiles & laughs, so of course they do too, and once she's up the little wheelchair lift, she turns around and tells me "Ah-Ma, Bye. I Laaa Ooou". ( love you.)

So yes, some days as a momma are hard. Some days I just don't feel like I can hear "uh-oh" one more time or feel like I can't handle Noah exerting his independence by throwing himself on the floor or making his body limp when I try to get him to follow me or hear the noise Morgan makes when she doesn't feel like signing but wants something desperately. And worse of all, there are those days where I just can't fathom having to pick her up over & over again. Not one more time. And that is an awful, selfish thought. Some days it's hard not be selfish too.

Then, some days are perfect. You've found the perfect balance. You got good sleep and your kids might not be on their best behavior, but the day is just perfect. Of course, it's always nicer when they are on their best behaviors:). I love the evenings, right before bed. We run around, playing peek-a-boo, hide & seek, have tickle fights(it's the best when me & Noah gang up on Morgan), chase each other growling, and fall on on backs laughing. And a new favorite, putting our legs up in the air while on our backs & back down again, then our arms....etc. Kind of like follow the leader, but in Morgan style:). I am finding this new love for being a stay at home mom. It's incredible to watch your children everyday. Ladies, we are all so blessed. Give those babies an extra squeeze today.

Now, if only Isaac would come home. We miss you like crazy Papa!!!

Blessings

There are some days in particular... Some days that really remind you...

YOU know...

the ones that show you...
just how lucky...
and blessed...

you REALLY are!!!

Curious Who Reads

I too, just like my fellow bloggers, am curious about who checks us out.

Curious if I have an fellow blog stalkers( I am becoming one myself) that I do not know & how many look & do not leave comments.

I have become a fan of reading other's life stories. Especially looking into the insights of mothers. You are pretty amazing creatures.

Here's to all my fellow bloggers or should I say stalkers;). Leave us a note & let us know you're out there.

Things I've Come to Realize....

Things I've come to realize, especially today...

• How grateful I am that I have a marvelous husband that provides for his family.
• That even though it seems like I am doing everything by myself right now, that I do not have to work a job for 8 or more hours, come home, pay bills myself, be by myself & try to give my best to my children. I have so much respect for single mothers.
• I know that there is no way that I'd want to be doing what Isaac is doing right now. Knocking doors & selling. More than that though, being away from his family. I would much rather be taking care of my children by myself, then be somewhere without them.
• That children are the most amazing blessings. That they are miracles from a loving Heavenly Father. No matter what challenges they face & how long they are here.
• No matter what challenges I am facing, someone is facing something far worse.
• That I miss my husband & the busy world seems to pass us by..

I am so grateful for my family. My amazing husband & my beautiful children. I never imagined that I could love anyone so much. They make me want to be a better wife & a better mother. They make me a better person.

Bike Ride

Last Wednesday we went for a bike ride with Aunt Adrielle & Clare. Thank goodness Aunt Adrielle pulled them. That's the only way I can keep up:)! Noah & Clare had a blast watching the movie Cars, once Noah got the hang of not turning it off & annoying poor Clare. We just rode around some of the local neighborhoods chit chatting away. I then checked the time & realized I needed to hurry back to get Morgan off the bus. So I booked it from 800 N to 400 S in Orem. It didn't take me 10 min! Aunt Adrielle took the monkeys to Great Harvest & Costco & Noah took a little nap. We had lots of fun!

Cute kiddos!

Such a Good Helper!

One morning while Morgan was at school, I started sanding & staining the shelf that I bought when I was pregnant with Noah. Yeah, I'm a bit of a procrastinator & then it seems that after every summer I have to put my house & my head back together again & remember where all my secret hiding spots are. You know the spots you put your projects & things that are important & then completely forget where those spots are! So here's to remembering & finding the shelf behind Noah's door! And thanks to Noah for being such a great helper:). Noah saw what I was doing & didn't hesitate for a second to pick up the other piece of sand paper & help!
So he sanded a little, but mostly danced around & on the shelf, laid on the shelf, sat on the shelf, & of course drove cars on it too! And he did stand still long enough to snap a 2 pictures!

Family Reunion

On Labor Day weekend we had a reunion with Isaac's side of the family. It was way fun seeing everyone. We had just gotten back from our 2200 mile trip from Maryland back to Utah the day before. It was nice to see everyone again...especially all at once! Sorry I didn't get more pictures of everyone. I forgot about taking pictures until the end & missed alot of you.

Aunt Ronnie & Morgan Mae have this special bond:).
This is Mr. Noah stealing someone's shoe, running across the yard & laughing along the way.
Playing in the pool. McKenna & Bud had so much fun playing with Morgan & making her laugh in the pool! Thanks you guys! You totally made her day!
Aunt Adrielle and Clare having fun swimming. Noah & Clare jumped off the diving board & I caught them while I was treading water. I couldn't believe they'd jump off! Little crazies!
Sweet Aunt Teri & cute cousin Camryn.

Papa & his girl! How happy is she?!

And this has to be my new all time favoooorite picture of Noah. Running away from me, laughing, in his favorite car shoes(he loves Lightning), with the goggles he had to have on! I love my kids!

We had so much fun! Thanks everyone! Especially you Bud & Beth!

We Get to See Papa!!!

On August 25th, at 2:30 in the afternoon, we finally get to see Isaac after almost 6 weeks apart!

Getting all ready to go see Papa! We met him at Mike's. A restaurant on the water by my parent's house.

First hugs with Papa. I wish I had a camcorder to catch Morgan's reaction when she saw her Papa! Recap... Morgan saw someone walking toward the van & said hi casually like she usually does. Then paused, said hi again with a bit more urgency. Then the hysterical hi's started & the body shaking with excitement! Isaac started running towards the car & she started laughing & shaking even harder! It was just about the sweetest thing ever.
Noah & Papa checking out the water, boats & ducks. And look at my hubby's arm. Wow, he is seriously hot.

Feeding the ducks. And yes, Morgan just ate her lunch & is now eating the bread that was supposed to be for the ducks! That girl loves her food! And Noah, well, once he saw the ducks, it was just about impossible to get him to eat. He just wanted to squat down & watch the ducks through the railings the whole time.

Morgan with her sweet Aunt Meg. We went swimming after eating to cool off & see some more of the family. And thank you Aunt Meg, Uncle Skeeter & kids for being so wonderful with Morgan & Noah! We love you!Noah being incredibly cute! With beautiful Miss Caroline in the back!

Cousins Jack & Henry and Grammy & Grandad...and Mo & Meg.

Sweet toy Noah. Everyone is so happy to be back with Papa!

We had fun in Maryland this summer! We miss & love all of you!

Playing at the Beach

Around July 12th, we went to a community beach by my brother's house. Not knowing of course that would be the plan. Therefore no bathing suits, but whateva. The kids had a blast playing in the sand and water!

Noah was unsure about the water.
This is the cutest picture of Grandad & him!

And I truly don't think that there is a little lady

out there that loves the sand more than Miss Morgan Mae!

Noah is a little boy through and through!

He loves, loves, loves cars & trucks & planes!

And as you can see, he is no longer afraid of the water!

And who doesn't love getting wet & sandy in their nice clothes!

Philadelphia Seouls vs. New York Dragons

Sometime in mid-July...
We went to our 1st arena football game to meet up with some friends that we met our 1st summer selling in Virginia. Thanks lots for the invite Ed, Suzanne, Jessica, Emily & Taylor! It was so great seeing you guys! Arena football is quite different from the original game that my hubby knows so well. He wasn't so sure about it until he saw it in person & of course he started to like it too. It is football of course!





















Noah & Morgan had a blast playing with the other kids &
watching a little football. But most of all Noah had the most
fun stealing & spilling sodas & shaking his little booty to the
music and Morgan giving hugs & shaking her terrible towel!

4th of July

I know, I know, it's 2 and 1/2 months after the 4th of July but come on, we have been moving around quite a bit! The craaaziness is slowing down a wee bit, so now I can catch up.

I cannot even begin to imagine what our forefathers, our leaders, and our soldiers have been through and continue to sacrifice for our country. I am so grateful for the freedoms that we enjoy and take forgranted. I could not imagine living somewhere without democracy. Thank you to our many soldiers and their families that defend our freedoms everyday!


On a different note, our 4th of July started out with the boys selling all day and then Outback for dinner! Yum! I know, very American. Since we were in Philly, we tried to find a yummy cheesesteak, from some place local, but it was the 4th, and they were all closed! Then we went to catch the fire works and all it did was rain. So, we ran around in the rain and had a blast!