LOVE (AND NEW CLOTHES) IS IN THE AIR

My Grandparents have been in town for the past week. We have had a ton of fun (and spoiling) since they’ve been here. They took the girls birthday shopping and each girl got an entire new outfit… from head to toe. The girls were IN LOVE! Usually when I take them shopping they are limited to things on sale. But not with Great Grandma!! The girls got new dresses, shirts, accessories, shoes… the whole 9 yards. We HAD to take some pictures to make sure Great Grandma and Grandpa had some to take back to Arizona with them.

{{Disclaimer: There aren’t as many of Kalea because we had to take her pictures before school. It’s not because I love her any less.}}

 

 

 

FIRST WEEKEND OF APRIL

This weekend we celebrated (a little early) Kalea’s 7th birthday. She chose to have a sleepover with her cousins, Mackenzie and Caroline. The girls had a really fun time with a few activities planned but mostly just girls being girls. Playing dress up, Barbie's, and tons and tons of giggles. We started off the evening with the girls just playing and dressing up in whatever they found. Afterwards, Christian had brought home pizza and the girls had a “picnic” on the floor while watching a Barbie movie.

After pizza, the girls were ready to open presents! Kalea got a lot of really fun presents. None better than the movie Tangled though. The girls watched it 2-3 times – at least!

Later on the girls got their PJ’s on and we made bracelets and rings and decorated each one. Landen of course wanted to be part of the fun, but he was only interested in sticking the stickers on himself.

I told the girl’s to pose…. and I wanted SASSY poses! They were hilarious with their little poses.

And one “normal” pose.

The girls finally “crashed” around 10:30pm and woke up bright and early at 7:30am. A short night for these girls! They played a bunch until they had to head on home. They had such a great time together and it was such a great time for them to spend time together with family.

 

This weekend was also Conference weekend. Christian and I were able to watch and listen at home. The girls even sat and listened with us on Sunday. It is such a blessing to us, as a people, to have such great men in our midst. That we are able to hear their words and guidance. The testimonies of President Monson and his Councilors, not to mention the 12 Apostles are extraordinary. They know how to uplift and inspire you in the ways you need most.. They also know how to discuss things that may be hard to hear, but the Lord wants you to hear it, and that makes it that much more important. It is truly a time for self reflection. I love Conference weekend. I remember being a kid and having to go to the church to listen. It seemed SOOOOO long. My girls seem to have a much sweeter spirit then I did and would stop to listen and even ask questions. I was able to capture this sweet moment of them listening to the Prophet.

and this…

PERFECT

Call me crazy, but whenever I hear this song I am on the verge of tears. It’s called “Perfect” by Pink. There’s a clean version (and a not so clean version which I’ve never heard. I’ll stick with the clean one.) I think it hits me close to home being a woman and remembering my teenage years being so difficult. Remembering what it was like to be so self conscious about my body, or how I dressed, making sure my hair was perfect. The pressure is suffocating. Then I look at my 2 little girls and feel for them… because I know they will feel those same pressures one day. It gets me so choked up just thinking about it. I want their preteen and teenage years to go so much more smoothly then mine did. I want them to know how BEAUTIFUL they are to me and their Heavenly Father. I want to take away all of the pain that they will one day feel because of the pressures of this world and society on them. But mostly I just want them to know that they are absolutely PERFECT in my eyes.

Made a wrong turn
Once or twice
Dug my way out
Blood and fire
Bad decisions
That’s alright
Welcome to my silly life
Mistreated, misplaced, missunderstood
Miss, no way it’s all good
It didn’t slow me down
Mistaken
Always second guessing
Underestimated
Look, I’m still around…

Pretty, pretty please
Don’t you ever, ever feel
Like you’re less than
less than perfect
Pretty, pretty please
If you ever, ever feel
Like you’re nothing
You are perfect to me

You’re so mean
When you talk
About yourself
You are wrong
Change the voices
In your head
Make them like you
Instead
So complicated
Look how big you’ll make it
Filled with so much hatred
Such a tired game
It’s enough
I’ve done all i can think of
Chased down all my demons
see you do the same

Pretty, pretty please
Don’t you ever, ever feel
Like you’re less than
less than perfect
Pretty, pretty please
If you ever, ever feel
Like you’re nothing
You are perfect to me

~Pink

Love Mom

ODE TO CHRISTIAN

This is my husband…

THE END.

MAKOA “fearless”… WHO KNEW WE COULD PREDICT THE FUTURE.

Things are going as according to plan. Which is a HUGE accomplishment in itself. My mom is currently listing our house as we speak. It’ll be interesting to see if we have any takers. I know lots of people are listing right now, but I haven’t quite heard if there have been people out there BUYING which is kind of the most important part.

Christian received an email that we got into Student Housing at Chapel Hill. We were going to be living a little farther from the playground then I preferred. I had talked to a friend of mine (Matt Gertsch) about living arrangements there since he and his wife (and 3 boys) currently live there also. He suggested I call and see if I could get the same size apartment but closer to the “circle” which is basically a cul-de-sac. So I called on Saturday and the manager wasn’t there. Then I called again on Monday. At first Christian thought I was “messing with our blessings”. But it wasn’t that I was feeling ungrateful, I just thought it was worth a shot. And if you know Landen… it is definitely worth it to be closer to a playground. Anyways, I called back on Monday and I spoke to Mike. He was SUPER nice and accommodating and he had one more apartment that was closer and it was still the same size as the first. I was EXTATIC and so thankful to him. So the move-in date has changed a little but it works out perfectly because now I don’t have to try another OB/GYN in Chapel Hill. We can still deliver in Raleigh but then it’s bam bam bam. Baby, move in, class. It’ll be a hectic month but I’m sure we’ll be fine.

As if life isn’t crazy enough, Landen has been giving me a “run for my money” so to speak. This kid has more energy than I’ve ever seen. Even people who have boys tell me Landen has a lot of energy. He hasn’t been sleeping well at night so I’ve decided to cut down his nap schedule. He naps only once or twice a week, and they are short. Which doesn’t help my exhaustion, but I’d rather him sleep through the night… in his own bed… than keep his naps.

Don’t get me wrong. I love this kid. Like… love with all my heart and adore him. But he is A LOT. A lot of what you may ask? A lot of EVERYTHING. This kid is like a bullet and just takes of from morning to night. This picture describes him to a T. He is ALL boy. Can be aggressive and rough. But is really sweet natured at heart. When we found out we were pregnant with another girl I really thought I’d want a boy. But now… I think I’m A OK with having a girl. One boy is enough for now.

We went to Collin’s Eagle Scout Court of Honor last Saturday. Landen started off looking cute. Button up plaid shirt, khaki shorts, and his blue sandals. Well, by the end of the evening he had dumped juice all down his shirt so off it came. Thus the wife beater. Then he decided to drink until he exploded and peed out of his shorts. Off the shorts came.

By the end of the evening this is what he was wearing… He looked like a homeless child.

Last night we were feeding the missionaries. Christian had the idea to make Tilapia. It’s a great recipe and super easy for the 2 of us (the kids won’t eat it) but when you’re making enough for 2 adults, one pregnant, and two 19 year old missionaries, it doesn’t help that you have to make four sides with the dish. So I searched high and low for my potato peeler. Nowhere to be found. I dumped drawers, dishwasher, everywhere. GONE. So I had to boil the potatoes and then peel them after they were cooked which burned my fingers. Then I hear a CRASH… Landen decided to pull and knock down a vase my parents were letting us borrow for showing the house and such. Great! I was so upset with him. Not to mention, Kalea decided to skimp on her homework and get away with it. Ugh! I was about to lose it. Seriously lose it. Apparently Christian had warned the missionaries I was going to be a grump when they got there. So Christian picks a fight just to prove his point. I was very impressed with myself for holding it in. Next time I’m making spaghetti. period.

Christian swears that I’m a push-over with this kid. But by the end of the day I am so exhausted by him, and tired of the chaos that I cave in. I know I should stand my ground a little bit more, but he is just so… so… Landen. I am just hoping 3 year old Landen isn’t as exhausting, or so full of tantrums, as 2 year old Landen.

KNIGHTDALE WARD PARTY

Amongst the craziness at home… we always have other things to plan. Christian is currently the 2nd Councilor in the Elders Quorum and it was his responsibility to put together a gathering. Well, you know Christian and his BBQ. He grilled up 5 pork shoulders, I made 3 different sauces, and we were in business. It took the bulk of a day to get it all ready but it turned out great! He brought Corn Hole, Croquet, Bubbles (for the kids), side walk chalk, etc. The kids all had a blast! And it was nice to sit around outside with good friends and enjoy the weather. It was perfect and he did such a GREAT job!