Family Days

We have had the great opportunity to have a lot of really wonderful things happen over the last week.  A missionary home, a baby born and a beautiful young lady wed.

Braydon came home from Brazil on Friday, May 13th.  What an amazing man he has become.  He is so stinking cute, as always and I am glad he is home.

Then, we had a baby!  My sweet Michael and Amanda welcomed Olivia Jane who is the sweetest baby of all time.  She has Amanda's nose and Gracie's behind.

Then, the gorgeous bride, Melissa, had a rainy wedding day, but married the love of her life yesterday.  The temple ceremony was so beautiful and even the rain didn't damper anything.  Here is the family!

Conflict

Sometimes, being a single mother kinda bites.  Scheduling conflicts push back time with Little Monkey Shorts and there is not a darn thing I can do about it.  They are all really great, healthy scheduling issues, but (as you have probably guessed) being with Monkey is my absolute hands-down favorite thing in the world.  I get really, super grumpy when pesky things like, oh - work, get in the way of Monkey Time.

Last week, I was able to attend the most amazing 2-day conference on my career field.  It was truly impressive. And all I could think of while I was there was how much time I could have been spending with Monkey.  I didn't even have to stay overnight somewhere.  It was just close.  But I missed him.

Saturday was full of chores like cleaning out the tent trailer for our upcoming outing (SQUEAL!!).  Even though we were playing and puzzling and sunning ourselves, it felt like I was not spending quality time with Monkey.  Then, I had the opportunity to go to the temple with my beautiful bride-to-be niece, Missy.  I love the temple.  It was late when we were finished and when I picked up Monkey at 10:15pm, he was still awake and playing hard.

Is it just me who absolutely watches the clock every second until I can play with my boy?  He is so quirky and funny every moment.  Even this morning when he looked at me to see if I would really, really, really not let him drip his chocolate milk on Aunt Kari's couch.  I really, really, really didn't.  But it was cute to watch him try.

Mother's Day

Our Mother's Day this year was extremely low key.  It was overcast and wonderful.  I love the rain even though our area has had plenty this last few months.  In contrast to Saturday, it was a snuggly day.  Church was wonderful and it was followed by the best 3-hour toddler-snuggling nap I have ever had.

The best present I could have received for Mother's Day was a three hour nap.  I was so tired and my buddy snuggled with me the whole time.  I don't get nearly enough snuggle time with Mister now that he is in his big boy bed. (Okay, so he still comes in to my bed at 2am every night, but that is not snuggling.  That is waking up long enough to hoist his skinny behind in bed and then passing back out.)

Then we had dinner with Uncle Chris and it was lovely.  Turkey burger with sweet potato fries.  Perfect for my Mother's Day dinner.  I didn't have to cook/clean and was able to spend time with two of my favorite boys.

However, Mother's Day is always hard for so many reasons.  I miss my mother this year more than in years past.  I feel like a Mother this year more than years past which makes me connect to her in a way that I couldn't while she was alive.  I miss her.  I was thinking of all the things that are distinctly my mother: Little House on the Prairie nightgowns, herb tea, Diet Coke "just for headaches and allergies", lipstick applications before going ANYWHERE at anytime of the day or night, long talks when I know she was so tired.

It is that - the long talks - that I miss the most.  Yesterday, I would have talked about her vision of being a mother... how she kept her temper, her patience, her kindness... when raising her own and many other's children.

I know what her answer would be - keep the Savior in your heart and pray for love and patience.  It will come.  No parent is perfect.

She was pretty darn close.

Yet another day in paradise

This morning we went to the ZOO with Jessica.  It was so much fun.  Perfect day - around 70 degrees.  A slight breeze.  Yes, it was busy, yes, it was hilly, but it was fantastic.  Jessica makes things so fun.

Aiden wants to walk everywhere now, which makes it easier on everyone involved.  He is heavy.  And when we have the stroller, he wants to get in and out to see everything.  Works for me.

Fun picture, but check out the guy behind us.  A mutual friend called his look the Urban Sombrero.  Is there such thing as a Taco Hat?

Watching the Elephants.  Thanks, Jess, for coming with us!

Aiden calls the Rhinos "Nienoes"  This is looking through the wires to their habitat.

Bananas and milk for my monkey.

He was growling in this picture because he was a tiger.  Funny kid.

This giraffe was demented.  He/She (I don't know which...) kept licking and kissing the door jam.  Weird. 

In my defense of this picture, please remember that we were both tired, and I am going through an awkward hair phase until it grows out more. 

Jessica and I took bets.  I said he wouldn't stay awake to Sunnyside Ave.  Jess said he wouldn't make it to the car. She won. 

Tulip Festival

Saturday is my favorite day of the week!  I get to be with Little Man all day with no interruptions.  We saw it was a partly cloudy, but clearing.  Today was the last day of the Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving Pointe.  We went last year and Mister had a great time. See last year's post here.

But last year he wasn't walking and it was much easier this year.  He loved to point to all the tulips and tell me the colors.  "lello, Mom.  Pohpoh, Mom"  It was really, really great.  Really, really cold.

I am working really hard on making sure I get great exercise, so I went around once (1.9 miles...) and found that Aiden was asleep, so I went around again.  By the time I finished the second time, I was exhausted.  Big hills.

Then, we went to Uncle Chris's house to plant flowers and clean the flower beds.  I had purchased gardening tools and gloves for Mister.  He was FILTHY by the end of the gardening, but happy.  Very, very happy.

Then, Uncle Chris didn't want to go alone to a wedding reception of a friend's daughter, so we got cleaned up and went to the reception which was.... AT THE UNION STATION!  Oh, yeah....  It was amazingly fun.  

I must say that my son was in the car seat for over 4 hours today.  He was expected to be polite and happy for the whole day and did marvelously well.

And he is currently sleeping marvelously well.  

Hat

Aiden usually hates hats.  But he found this one yesterday and would not take it off

My little Oliver Twist.

He is risen!

Luke 24: 6:  He is not here, but is risen.

Seven simple words that saved mankind. And this year, I really needed to remember what Easter was all about.

Aiden and I headed down to Temple Square for a little refresher course of Spring, the temple, and our Saviour.  

Aiden was there for the fountains mostly.

Aiden at the fountain by the South Visitors Center.

 Is there a bad shot of the temple?  Point and click.  Great picture.

 Of course the main reason we were there.  We went up the ramp and it was very quiet.  People were there, apparently in deep, deep thought.  When we rounded the corner and the statue came into view, Aiden screamed, "JESUS!!!  JESUS!!!  HOOORAY!!!"

The entire quiet room erupted in laughter.  He went up to the base and blew a kiss way, way up high to Jesus.  

It was very tender.  I know that my son loves his Savior, too.  And I know my Savior loves me and loves my boy.