I can't wait until ...

*I have my own house again.
We have been living with my in-laws 4 months and, don't get me wrong, it's been a huge blessing. BUT ... I am so ready to have my own space again. My own furniture and decorations. I can't wait to paint the walls. I can't wait to have my own kitchen, filled with MY pots & pans. I can't wait to organize my pantry and my closets.

I can't wait!!!!

*I can announce 'We're Pregnant'!

We have the worst luck getting pregnant. It doesn't come easy for us ... at all. We're not one of those couples who "accidentally" becomes pregnant. We have to work at it. Lots of drugs have to work at it. The hardest part right now is that, by "Mormon Standard" we should have already had another kid (or 2) by now. So, we get the question ALL the time ... "when are you going to have another?" and it always seems like when we're trying to get pregnant - every woman I know, instantaneously announces they're pregnancies. I cannot WAIT to be pregnant again - I loved every minute of it with Kason. But, I'm trying so hard to be patient because I know that things don't happen on my clock - they happen on the Lord's. BUT ... at the same time, I am SO grateful that I have all this time to spend with JUST KASON. I feel blessed to have that little guy and I love spending so much time with him and not worrying about juggling my attention between two kids!!

*I can feel like a good mom ... EVERY day.

Does this one ever happen? There are somedays where I feel like the WORST mom to Kason. I don't want to play, I am impatient, I just want to do MY thing, I let him watch WAY too much TV. But, then, I dream about being the best mom ever. You know ... the one's that do projects with their kids everyday and in the afternoon they make cookies? They play at the park every morning and afterwards have a picnic? The one's who always have a clean house, a home cooked meal every night & the most polite kids. Somedays I'm like that - I just want to know where to find the motivation to be like that EVERYDAY.

I can't wait to be supermom!

Do you ever just feel ho-hum?
I think I've been feeling this way, mostly because ...

of my circumstances. I'm not in my own space, and anyone who has lived with family knows it's not the easiest thing.

I want to know what's going to happen in the next 6 months ... and I have a hard time being patient. (But, I will say - I have a feeling our life is heading in a GREAT direction and I'm SOOO excited about it!!!)

AND ... this medication I'm on - ALWAYS makes me depressed! I HATE IT! All I want to do is sleep, cry and be depressed. Thank heavens I only take it for 10 days at a time!!

What can't you wait for??

I figured out a way to post my talk!

I'm glad too because since I use this as my journal & I always keep all the talks I write, this makes it easy!!

So, this is mostly for my benefit but, if any of you are in need of some Spiritual Uplifting check it out ;o)

Applying the Atonement in Our Lives

Easter Sunday

On Easter Kameron and I had to talk in church. We were, of course, given the topic of the Atonement.
I spoke about 'Applying the Atonement in our Lives' & Kameron talked on 'How the Atonement helps us fulfill the Plan of Happiness'

I picked the one I picked because I thought it would easy ... boy, was I wrong!! I had the HARDEST time writing my talk!!! I finally finished it at 11:00 the night before (and church starts at 8:00am). I wish I could find a way to post my talk online without taking a whole post ... like posting the link for those who want to read it. Anybody know how?

Well, needless to say, I was relieved when I was done giving the talk! I don't mind giving the talk, I just have a hard time writing the talk!

Then after church we had a big Easter Feast! Ham, funeral potatoes, rolls, carrots and a yummy dessert. Matt was here so, it was fun for Kason to get to spend time with him. He sure misses having his uncle close!!

We had a really good Easter this year. Having to talk on Easter really made me think about the holiday more than usual and it really made me appreciate it more than I have in that past. I am grateful we have a Savior who was so willing to be sacraficed for us. And I feel so blessed to have the knowledge that I do about the Atonement!!





Here is Kason before heading to church ... he wasn't really in the picture taking mood.

And this makes me laugh ... an Easter Sunday nap with Daddy.


I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter!!

Easter Eve

Each year we have the Easter Bunny visit us on Easter Eve, instead of Easter Morning, that way we can focus on the true meaning of Easter on Sunday instead of getting distracted by the worldly things!

So, Saturday morning Kason woke up to eggs all over the house and a basket on the table!
He got Pinnochio & Madagascar, a puzzle, a little stuffed chick and a little bit of candy!

Then the hunt began!

All finished!

After eating breakfast we went to Veteran's Park for the City's Easter Egg hunt! It was FREEZING but, we braved it anyways. They do a little carnival where you can play games and get your picture with the Easter Bunny. It was fun, I just wish it had been a little warmer!


getting ready to hunt!



picking up the eggs!

All done! Kameron said it was seriously like 20 seconds of organized chaos. One second there were hundreds of eggs and the next they're all gone!!

Golfing ...

Playing the duck ring toss

And ... the pathetic little Easter Bunny.

When we were standing in line Kason saw the Easter Bunny and asked me if he was sad.
I told him "No! Easter Bunny's are happy!"

Well, we get up there and he's so excited to see him, he takes the picture and then as we're leaving he asks the Easter Bunny ...

"Bunny, are you sad?"

HA! I was laughing so hard as I carried him away. He is so funny.

I don't blame him for asking though ... he (she?) was a pretty pathetic Bunny.

And ... sorry the picture is horrible. I had to scan it in and it's a Polaroid ... did you even know they still MADE Polaroid camera's?!

Coloring Eggs

The Thursday before Easter we colored Easter Eggs.
Kason had fun but, I'm glad we didn't do more. He got bored after the first 4 or so.
But, he did think it was fun to mix the colors and see the egg change colors!!


Waiting for it to color ...



"I did it!"



The finished eggs ...

O.C.D.

I have a feeling Kason might have some form of OCD. (But, then again, don't we all?!)

I had all these things just laying in the hallway, waiting to be put away. Well, apparently that wasn't okay with Kason. He had to tidy it up into a neat, little pile.

He was so proud of himself. He said, "picture mom. okay?"

You know how sometimes, you can just never seem to get clean, no matter how much soap you use?

It happens to Kason all the time.













Kason kept asking, "more soap please!" then he would tell me he's washing.

He loves this foaming soap!!!

Walk the Loop for Lupus

On April 4th we headed to Tucson for a Lupus Foundation Walk!
It was a 5K walk around Reid Park. My dad flew down from Denver and my mom and Jeremy came down from Payson.

I was told that the most creative teams would win a prize. And our team name was Haban Ohana (Ohana means family in Hawaiian) so, we got all dressed up and when we got there I didn't see anybody else wearing anything so I figured we had the win in the bag. Well, was I ever wrong! Some team who had hardly dressed up won! I think it was rigged ;o)

But, the walk was a lot of fun. It was a big deal. I was suprised at how many people were there. We got free eegee's and blue bell ice cream afterwards. YUM!

Then the rest of the weekend we didn't do too much. We had gotten a hotel so we could spend the weekend with my dad. Saturday we went out to eat at Rubio's and it was my first time ... it was SO yummy!! And then we went back to the hotel and went swimming - even though it was freezing!

That night we ate at Macaroni Grill and they are lucky I know how good their food is because if that had been my first time there - I wouldn't be going back!!!

Then Sunday we just hung out at the hotel and then came home in time to watch the 2nd session of conference.

It was a really fun weekend and I'm glad that we were able to support the Lupus Foundation!! I think we might try to make it a annual tradition! :o)

Wow!

This is AMAZING.

If it doesn't bring tears to your eyes and make your jaw drop ... I don't know what will.

It's DEFINATELY worth watching the whole thing!!

:o)

"...may we declare ourselves to be more fully disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, not in word only and not only in the flush of comfortable times but in deed and in courage and in faith, including when the path is lonely and when our cross is difficult to bear."
~Jeffrey R. Holland

Speaking of Baseball ...

A couple weekends ago we went to a Spring Training game with Kameron's company. Kason wasn't feeling so good so I was afraid it was going to be a long day but, he did so good. He sat and watched the entire game ... I was pretty impresed. It was a fun game!!

This was Kason the entire game - he was so fascinated by it!! I guess he really his is Daddy's Son!! :D

Heck, ya!

It's that time of year again ...

We pull out the shorts and the flip-flops.
Put away the jackets and jeans.

Spend hours outside in the beautiful weather.
Say goodbye to the cold.

Dream of summer vacations.
Watch wild flowers cover the hill-sides.

Go swimming and camping.
And ... most importantly ...

BASEBALL'S BACK!!!!!

Today is Diamondbacks Opening Day.
As I type and watch the game - I get so excited that it's FINALLY that time of year.

This is definately my favorite time of year.

I LOVE Spring & Summer.
I LOVE the weather.
I love getting to go swimming.
I love wearing flip-flops without freezing my toes.
I love wearing shorts.

I just LOVE the feeling of this time of year.

Oh, and not to mention that the next 7 months we get to watch endless amounts of baseball!

*sigh*

It's good to be enjoying Springtime.

26 months

Kason is such a joy.
He is an incredibly smart kid (though I may be partial).

He loves to sing and is really good. Some of his favorite songs;
- ABC's (he can sing the whole thing by himself!!)
- Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
- Itsy, bitsy Spider
- Popcorn Popping
- I Love to See the Temple
- Book of Mormon Stories
- I am a Child of God

- Jesus Wants me for a Sunbeam

He is talking more and more everyday - putting 4-5 words together to make sentences.

He LOVES reading books ... always asking to read just one more before bed.

He loves brushing his teeth, he probably brushes them 4 times a day.

He asks me everyday if we are going swimming, he's our little fish.

He loves sports, just like his daddy. I think sometimes he would rather watch a baseball game on tv instead of cartoons ... crazy kid.

He is turning into such a Daddy's Boy. I love it. Except for the part where he cries for 5 minutes each time Kameron leaves.

Kason can count to ten.

He can name all sorts of animal sounds but, my favorite is when he does the donkey ... "ee-aw"

Currently, his favorite movie is "WALL-E"

He loves airplanes, cars, big trucks, buses, trains.

He loves bugs.

He loves going on walks and bike rides.

His favorite shows are, "SuperWhy!" & "Mickey Mouse" ... he also loves "The Wiggles" movies.

And, he is so much fun and a very goofy kid. There isn't a day goes by that I'm not laughing at him. He is such a blessing to our family.

WE LOVE YOU LITTLE MISTER!

March 21-22 ... mini-vaca

We headed to Mesa for the weekend. Saturday morning Kameron and I went to the temple for a much needed session. And then we checked into our hotel

(which I just have to add, I'm a HUGE fan of Priceline ... we got a room at the Hilton for more than 50% off ... if you've never tried Priceline's "Name Your Own Price" feature, you really should. It's amazing) ...

and then Kameron and I headed off to watch 'RENT' at ASU Gammage Auditorium. The traffic was horrible, and the parking garage was a disaster but, we made it there in time. The show was AMAZING. We LOVED it!! Two of the original cast members performed so, it made it even more amazing. My mom was watching Kason this whole time (thanks, Mom!) and it was nice to spend a lot of time with just Kameron.

That night we met up with Rand & Karen Baker and their kids and Spencer & Greta Baker and their daughter for some dinner at Applebee's. (thanks, guys!) And then we went back to the hotel and went swimmin'!

On Sunday my family was having a potluck so we stuck around and headed up to my Aunt and Uncles house in Anthem for that. It was fun to see family and especially Steven and Tamara Lambson that were out here from Missouri. I had never met Tamara and haven't seen Steven, probably for almost 5 years!

We did NOT want to come home! We were having the best weekend! And it was so relaxed and fun. But, I guess all good things must eventually come to an end right?

just getting out of RENT:

we asked Kason who he was talking to and he said, 'Jesus!'

hangin' by the pool:

spendin' time with family!

tamara, steven, kason, jami, kameron, juli (mom), jeremy

family shot

such a FUN weekend!