Sometimes...

Sometimes we read books in storage bins 

Sometimes we don't go to the store until our fridge looks like this

Sometimes we look adorable while playing in curtains

Sometimes we get really really really bored and resort to all sorts of silliness to cure our boredom

Sometimes we take self portraits

Sometimes it's hard to be 2

Sometimes whilst getting ready for Friday Family swim night we put our brothers swim diapers on our head

Sometimes it's still hard to be 2

Sometimes it's really hard to try something new for dinner

 And at least once a day, it's still hard to be 2

And sometimes Chase likes to take his diaper off before he falls asleep

Good Night...

Firsts...

I believe there are many important "firsts" in life.

I still [embarrassingly] remember my first kiss

I definitely remember the first time I saw Brad.

I remember the first moment[s] I found out I was pregnant

And the first moment of meeting my precious boys face to face

I remember the first moment I realized and knew that my religion was true.

And the first time I realized that I was doing exactly the right thing and exactly the right time.

But this week (and last week for that matter), I've been remembering the first time I tasted one of these:

Oh, Samoas. How I love them. Last Sunday I ate a whole box for lunch (give or take a few that I let my husband and kids have). I won't let myself buy more than two boxes per year. But everytime I see those darn girl scouts at my mall or my grocery store my mouth starts watering. Until next year, I suppose, until next year...

Soccer...

Those of you who read this blog often enough have heard me mention a time or two that poor little Nick is scared of everyone and everything. New situations are especially hard for him, and he also has an unexplained fear of adults, especially adult men (which my pediatrician assured me is normal and he should [hopefully] grown out of. Like maybe when he becomes an adult man). So imagine our surprise when his preschool sent home a flier for a 6 week soccer clinic and Nick expressed his desire to sign up! We explained that this would be with people he doesn't know and the coaches would indeed be grown up men. NICE grown up men, we emphasized. But he still insisted that he wanted to play soccer. Thinking and hoping that we were moving out of one phase and into another, we readily obliged.

Oh, but wait. Lest you think everything runs smoothly, let me assure you that Nick will only participate in class if he has Daddy on "his team." So yes, he is the oldest and the biggest in the class (besides Brad) and he is also the only one that must be touching his parent the entire time. I think we're all ready for the clinic to be over. Especially Brad. :)

I guess we're not quite out of this phase yet. I love this silly little boy!

Remembering...

Lois Gay Lambert Smith

1936-2010

Christmas parties with chocolate mint truffles and pinatas

Swimming parties in her pool

Her beautiful singing voice

Her candy (she was a professional candy maker)

When she stayed with us and took care of us after my mom had surgery

Lots of trips to see her and grandpa in St.George

Her facebook messages

You will be missed, Grandma... Glad you are finding peace in a better place.

Thoughts...

I'm feeling a bit down today. My mom, who got here on Saturday and was supposed to stay until Friday, had to leave today because my Grandma Smith (her mom) has had a massive stroke and is laying on life support in a hospital in Utah. I'm wishing I were there with my family. And because of this, my thoughts have been consumed by the influence and power a mother can and does have over her children.

A little over a month ago, we were playing hide and go seek as a family one night. I was hiding in the kitchen while Brad counted, and Nick ran over to join me. He sat on my lap, looked up at me with a huge grin on his face and said "I love you, Mom." This is not something he iniates saying on his own very often, and I melted. He was so happy and was having so much fun. It reminded me of my favortie quote from my favorite talk:

          

"Recognize that the joy of motherhood comes in moments.

There will be hard times and frustrating times.

But amid the challenges, there are shining moments of

joy and satisfaction." -M. Russel Ballard

Nick has grown up a lot lately. I'm finally starting to feel like my consistency is paying off (er...maybe he's just growing and maturing). All I know is that I love this boy. And I'm grateful to a Father in Heaven who helps me with my patience and dilligence to try and be the kind of mother he, and Chase, deserve.

PS- Tonight Chase purposefully knocked over and broke a vase that he knows he's not supposed to touch. While on time out he sang "Love At Home" at the top of his lungs.
It was awesome! :)

FACT: It is the responsible, adult, smart thing to do to put all of your tax return into your savings account with the exception of making a few, small necessary purchases.

REALITY: When you're wandering around Wal-Mart waiting for them to change the battery in your car (an example of said small necessary purchase), and you see a wagon that you've had your eye on for TWO YEARS go from $99 to $40, sometimes you have to let your husband (the finance PhD student, mind you) be the responsible, adult, smart one while you splurge just a bit!

I was excited, to say the least. But not as excited as these dudes:

And for the record, the box has been as big of a hit as the wagon itself:
Yes, the wagon is half the size of my living room, and Yes, my boys have fought over it at least 5 times a day since its purchase. But it was worth it. Remember all the fun we had in Grandma and Grandpa's driveway with their little red wagon, my Dudley cousins? Incidentally that wagon is now occupied as a planter in my parents flower garden! :)

Somebody turned 2...

My "baby" may or may not have turned 2 last week. And I may or may not be in denial about it. I finally understand what my mom means when she still tells us "you'll always be my baby." As a side note, blogger usually always lets me arrange the order of my pictures without a problem but today it won't. If this contines to happen, blogger and I are going to have serious issues. Seriously. Anyway, onto my birthday boy:

At least once a day, Chase grabs this dinosaur and chases me around the house with it, roaring at me. It's adorable...

Chase's bedtime line-up: light blue blankie that Mara made him, random star blankie that he grew an attachment to, his duck that he got in the ER when he had to get stitches, and his teddy bear. He has to have these when he goes to bed and he has to take them with him when he gets up. He names them one by one until he has all 4.

My baby in a box...

This photo was taken at the end of a long day. I had been trying all day to get pictures of him doing the things he loves to do, and he had had it. He was running from me at this point, hence the fuzziness...

He's always been great at finding things to entertain himself...

He loves trains...

This is the face I get when I tell him to smile for the camera...

This was taken after his birthday dinner, getting ready for his brownies...

Opening a present. He loves to read and loves the "How Do Dinosaurs..." series.

This is as far as my cake/brownie decorating skills go (but I must admit they tasted really good!)

Chase loves to try on shoes, although my boots present him with a bit more of a challenge...

This crazy boy brings me so much joy. I love how he calles himself "Chasey" and his big brother "Nicky." I appreciate his sweet temperment and that he is usually happy and friendly. I love the inflection in his voice and the way he sings and sings and sings. Happy Birthday, Chasey boy!