Happy Birthday to Me!

Ruby loved my balloon. I loved that Reed added "Mom" to the balloon with a Sharpie.


Today was a truly wonderful birthday, but it might as well have been Thanksgiving because all day long I could feel nothing but grattitude for the MANY blessings in my life. I always enjoy my birthday and I have often used it (like many other times during the year) as an opportunity to feel like I can start over fresh, complete with my own personal list of "new year's resolutions" of how I am going to do better in some specific areas of my life. Doing this has been a good thing; however, it also has the tendency to have me focus on my weaknesses and on the things I'm NOT doing as well as I would like.

This year I adjusted my birthday tradition a little and instead of working on a long list of things I'd like to do better now that I am 31 I decided, at least just for today, to ONLY focus on the good things I am already doing or enjoying in my life right now. It's amazing how focusing on all of your blessings can really effect your attitude and perspective. All I can say is that I have so much to be grateful for--specifically for all the people in my life that love and care for me. I am SO blessed. (If you are reading this, you are probably one of those people...so thank you for helping me to have an amazingly wonderful day/life.)

All day I have been telling Sam now that I am 31 I am much more wise than I was at 30. When he asked me to explain more I told him, "Don't worry, you'll know what I am talking about in 3 days." I may in fact not be wiser, but I sure am happier...and I think if I had to pick I'd pick happy every time.

Sam did everything he could today to make sure I felt celebrated--and I did. My celebration began with some perfect french toast and buttermilk syrup. Sam was so excited to give me my present that I got it right after breakfast. When I saw what he had done I could see why he couldn't wait. Sam had painstakingly copied all of the blog posts from the month of March (when I did my "month of record keeping") and turned them into a book for me. It was absolutely the most thoughtful, wonderful, perfect gift he has ever given me. I love it! It made me so grateful for the things I had recorded and made me even more determined to do a better job from here on out. The things in that book are priceless.

Later on in the evening we went to downtown Fuquay (which I might add is like a ghosttown after 6:00 p.m. on a Saturday) so that I could take pictures. It's something I've wanted to do for a while, but it never seems to make it anywhere near the top of our normal list of Saturday madness.









Updated family photo. Not bad for a self timer.


Me and three of my very biggest blessings.


After our picture taking outing, we came home so Sam could finish making the most gourmet, labor intensive, fancy, and decadently DELICIOUS cupcakes I have ever eaten. They were salted caramel cupcakes and I am not exaggerating when I say that he must have spent at least 4 hours making them. I love sweet and salty flavors together so there couldn't have been a more perfect cupcake for me. He was disappointed that they didn't look quite like the picture, but they were perfect to me.


Thank you Sam for all of your hard work to make this a wonderful day. (And thank you Reed for taking this picture. Pictures of Sam and I are a rarity.)


If birthdays are any indicator of how great the year ahead is going to be, then I'm in for a real treat.

Some things I love to see

Things got off to a great start this morning. This isn't always the case so I thought it was worth remembering...especially for the days when it doesn't.

I love to see Reed enjoying reading his scriptures before school. There are many things I have to tell him at least ten times before it gets done in our morning rush, but this isn't one of them.


I almost never start a job around the house without Max asking to help. This morning was no exception when I went to vacuum the boy's room. I hope being a hard working and helpful boy is something I can always remember about him.

I love that he is vaccuuming with one hand and plugging his ear with the other.

Reading and other random things...

I love reading to my kids. It is really one of the regular activities in my life that I enjoy the most. As much as I love it, however, I do get tired of reading the same books over and over again. Tonight as I was reading bedtime stories I decided to spice things up a little and read the book in a strong southern accent for my boys enjoyment as well as my own. I didn't get more than a few pages in before Max says, "Mom, why aren't you reading it the right way?" "Oh, you don't like my accent," I replied. I thought for sure Reed would back me since he's usually an advocate of all things silly; however, when I asked him if he liked it he said, "Ummm...no. It sounds like jazz."

It may not sound very funny, but the way the whole conversation (and my version of a southern accent) went down was quite funny--especially to me. I actually had a hard time keeping a straight face (and not using a southern accent) for the rest of the book. I may not enjoy my many repeat reads, but I do enjoy the time it gives me with my favorite boys.

Since my birthday is this month I thought I would try to blog every day this month again as a gift to myself since any record I keep is most meaningful to me. I already bombed on that goal, but I do have several picture from the past week or so. I wish I had time to record more, but a picture is better than nothing, right? Here are some of my favorite.

Max is enjoying the book that Reed is reading. His face is more a reaction to the subject matter (gross bugs) than the actual reading.


Then Max had to take his turn telling me how gross the dung beetle is. I totally agree, Max.


Ruby just being cute.


Max doing what he calls his "prayer jump".


My children (Reed actually more than Max) are not bothered by wearing their clothes backwards. How does that not drive him crazy??? Don't worry, I made him switch it around the right way after I took this picture.


We enjoyed a little family jump rope. Too bad no one documented Sam or I showing off our old school skills (my old school skills anyway--Sam assures me he did not jump rope in school).


"Mom, take a picture of me being a Cheetah!"


Ruby just being cute again. I guess I need to teach her some new tricks.


Apparently Max wants to jump on the record keeping wagon.


Well...that was certainly random and without too much information, but my other goal is to go to bed by 10:00. I already missed on my first goal so I guess I'll stop now and almost get 1 out of 2.

Roly Poly Hunt

Last week Max was so sad one morning when our plans to go to a friend's house were canceled. He can do "sad" pretty cute (see below) so I was trying hard to think of another activity that he would be excited about instead.


I guess he was pretty determined to be sad because he turned down several ideas before his eyes finally lit up when I suggested we look for roly polys. He was so excited to show me the steps for catching roly polys.

He said, "First you have to scare them."


"Then you can pick up the ball."


"And then if they crawl away, you have to grab 'em"


We found lots of "babies", but Max really wanted to find the mama ones that he said were "this big".




What exactly do you do with roly polys once you catch them? Build a home for them of course. We filled a mason jar with dirt and leaves---everything our new pets could want. Later Max also thought they might like a little (or a lot) of water. ( I missed this addition), but when Sam came home he asked me why we had drowned a jar full of rolly pollys. Poor bugs.


In an effort to continue my resolution to be in more pictures I had Max take a picture of Ruby and me during our "hunt". He was excited to use the camera and was so proud of his picture. "I got you Mom!!....except for your head."

Backyard Baseball

We have now lived in North Carolina long enough now to know that good spring weather doesn't last, so this week we've been trying to enjoy every minute of it. Max has been dying to play t-ball, so we finally took the opportunity and made it a family affair.


Max is definitely a sports boy. I love how focused he is when he plays. He kept insisting on doing practice swats before he would actually hit the ball. I have a feeling this isn't the last time I will be watching him swing a bat.


Reed's look here doesn't show it, but he had a great time playing as well. (My little boy is looking so old!)


Although he may have enjoyed fielding the ball more than hitting it.


Sam had the boys running across the yard chasing the ball when he got up to bat.


And Ruby was the the perfect (and cutest) little spectator.

Fathers and Sons Campout

Last weekend was our Stake's Fathers and Sons Camp out. The boys had been looking forward to it and counting down the days for at least two weeks prior. Reed would mention the upcoming trip at every opportunity. If we ever spoke about an upcoming event he would use it as his point of reference. "Is that before or after fathers and sons?"

He even randomly told me one morning, "I have so much coming up to look forward to. When I turn 8 I'll get baptized, when I'm 12 I'll get the priesthood, and this weekend is Fathers and Sons!"

He also told me, "Fathers and Sons Camp is kind of like Zion's Camp--except without the mobs, of course."

As soon as Reed got home from school, both he and Max packed their backpacks and sleeping bags and were on the porch waiting for Sam to be ready.






Max wanted to know why they didn't have "Mom and baby" camp (now that sounds like fun). When the boys left, Ruby and I had a lovely (and quiet) evening at home. I must say it was quite fun for me to think of staying at home together having a "girls" night with her. I wanted to think of some fun "girly" thing for us to do, but I mostly just spent the evening giving her airplane rides on the bed, playing patty cake, and enjoying just looking at her and thinking of how much I love her. Maybe next year we'll get out the nail polish.


When the boys arrived home the next morning I could tell that the weeks of anticipation were not in vain. They came home dirty, a little sunburned, and completely satisfied by their overnight adventure.

What's Next?

Recently, Max has developed a new habit. Whenever he goes to use the bathroom, as soon as he gets in there he starts asking from across the house, "What are we doing next?"

Like today, Max excused himself during dinner to use the bathroom. No sooner did he get in there than he asked, "What are we doing next?"

"Finishing dinner."

"What's after that?"

"Playing phoenixes." (Phoenixes are Reed's recent obsession--we all had to draw one and cut it out so we could play.)

"What's after that?"

"Bath time."

"What's after that?"

"A special family treat." (We made caramel popcorn.)

Lindsay would know better how long this normally goes on, but he continued for several more questions after that before he was satisfied.