a night out

Last Friday was a much needed night out with our good pals the Poulson's!

Brielle and Maggie are just 2 days apart! It was so fun watching them play together. They sure did get a lot of attention and comments about their "cuteness" while we were out.

Nolan and Caden are only 4 days apart! Our girls are bound to be best friends. Wouldn't you say they both look just like their daddy's??

Then it was off for our first bowling trip (with mags that is). The girls were mesmerized!

It's nice to have another mom that has a baby the same age as yours so when your kid is fussy they know how you feel. Thanks Jani!

It was a late night in jammies for this little one.

Thanks for the fun night out guys!

rainy days

It's crazy how fast an hour can go by on a

rainy day snuggled on a bed.

yoga anyone?

Recently Maggie has quite the moves! She could be a yoga instructor.

Downward Dog

she does this all on her own. i don't put her like that.

Plank

Cobra

Table Top

All that work and the rolls are still there!!

I love her little tooth!

i got my new lens (50mm) today for mother's day and i absolutely love it, if you can't tell. Now i just need to learn how to work it to the fullest! Trial and error :)

goldilocks

Well, we did it! We accomplished 60 miles together on the Goldilocks bike ride!

It was a beautiful day full of ups and downs. Tires blowing out, headwinds, cramps, sunburns, sore necks and (most of all for me) being away from Mags for the longest ever (9 hrs!!). But it felt so good after 4 hours of riding, dancing while biking, and more than 3000 calories burned to arrive at the finish line!! So glad I had my mom and sistas there to celebrate. Couldn't have done it without you!!!!!!!

my mothers

With mother's day coming up in a few days I've been thinking a lot about my mothers.

My mom has always been a wonderful mom! She is, to me, the ideal mom. Now I could go on and on about my mom, but here are a few things I love about her.

I never realized how much my mom actually did until I became a wife and a mother myself. My mom was so good to have dinner for our family, clean the kitchen, pick up after our silly messes, do the laundry, take out the trash, use her money to give to us for wants etc etc. It's hard to always have to dishes done and know what to fix for dinner. Seems simple, right?? harder than it looks, but she did it!

I'm grateful for my mom's testimony. She is always willing to share it in letters or notes. It's exciting talking to my mom about the scriptures or what we know to be true. I loved having my mom in Young Women's a few times while growing up to see her example. She truly did strive to bring our family together for prayer or scripture study. I could tell it was important to her.

Over the last few years I feel like I have become closer to my mom. She is more than my mother. She is my best friend. It's been hard being away from her. Now I know we are only an hour and 20 minutes away, but I wish we were neighbors. I love how she gets excited when we come to visit. I hate driving home after being with my family. I'm grateful to have my own little family with Caden and Mags, don't get me wrong, but there is just something about being close to your mom.

I know she loves me when she drives to our house just to visit for a few hours, and by slowing down on our bike ride to be close to me during a steep hill, by opening up her day to do my hair and visit when I come down, by giving me advice and assuring me I'm being a good mother.

I love you Mom!

Four years ago on May 9 I lost my second mother. I only met Roene a handful of times before she past away suddenly a few months before our wedding, but I know she would have been more like my second mother than a "mother-in-law". I have heard countless stories from Caden and family about how wonderful she was, but I want to share just a few of the memories I have of her that describe the type of mother she was and would have been to me.

A few days after Caden and I got engaged, she was so excited! She thanked me for saying yes to him (which made me laugh), and we started talking about wedding plans. She wanted me to try on her wedding dress. Even though it was hitting me six inches above the floor, she was thrilled with excitement to see me in it. "Carl! Carl! do you see her! I can't believe I was that skinny. It looks so pretty!! Carl, do you see?" She then told me things about her life and advice to a happy marriage.

One night, Caden and I were coming home from a weekend in St. George right after our proposal. We got to his house at probably 2 am, and there was Roene in her teal nightgown waiting up for us, thankful we were home safe.

Around easter time I remember her giving me an easter basket, lotion and earrings. "I'm so excited to have a girl to buy stuff for!" she told me. (Caden being an only child)

I loved the way she would call Caden everyday, literally EVERYday, when we were at snow college. I just know that she would have treated me like a daughter and would have called almost EVERYday.

She loved to be silly and make people happy. I could tell one day as I came to visit Caden. She was giggling and laughing with her sisters making christmas chocolates. She had a laugh that was contagious.

She was so excited to have grandkids. She told me she wanted a dozen!

I wish she was here to see Maggie. I wonder what she would do, what she would say, how things would be different, but I'm grateful for her love and example for the short time I knew her.

I'm so lucky to have wonderful mothers! I hope I can be a good mother just like they are.

easter

just some stuff

Now that maggie can sit up in the bathtub, she loves it even more!

i just can't get enough of that smile

i love how she smiles with her mouth open

i'm pretty sure almost everyone that sees you for the first time has to comment on

those cheeks.

If you can't tell, i'm a little obsessed over this little one

Mom is:

trying to blog more because i kept beating myself up about not journaling as often, so i figured i'll blog more and put them into books each year.

getting ready for the 80 (maybe 60?) mile bike ride in 2 weeks.

trying to coupon

always googling things about photography, container gardening, baby milestones and coupons

officially making my own whole wheat bread

enjoying young women's and looking forward to camp

Dad is:

wrapping up the school year and just finishing up D&C and church history

wanting an iPhone

busy with bishopric meetings and visits

is desperately waiting for the 5 season of Psych to come to netflix

loving his favorite time of the year for candy

Maggie is:

something that i love lately is maggie's "quiet time". sometimes i will put her down for a nap and she doesn't actually sleep. she will just play with her hands, play with her feet or blanket and just be content in her crib for an hour. i'll go in and check on her or to put the pacifier in her mouth. She'll just smile at me, i walk back out and she goes on playing. She is so content and such a happy baby!

and just incase you were wondering, the hair growing is coming along....

snowing with a chance of running

"Spring" Run Off & t-shirt: 18 dollars

a warmer jacket: 10 dollars

training: 9 hours

sprinting across the finish line in the freezing snowy weather: priceless

6 months

Weight: 17.6 lbs (77%)

Height: 26.5 (72%)

This little one is all over the place!

She's sitting, she's rolling, she's scooting, she's bouncing

She loves her veggies

She's a little attached to mom

She loves to be outside

She will wake up around 530-630 in the morning, just to cuddle and sleep in our bed for an additional hour or two. (a habit i love, but that needs to be broken)

Everything goes in her mouth

Loves to say nananana

Wakes up with a smile

These last 6 months have gone by so fast! I love to watch her grow and figure out new things. We are so lucky to have Maggie! We don't know what we did without her. Love you Maggie girl!!

older and wiser

Another birthday came and went. I am 23!

Sunday morning, I woke up with Caden by my side and Maggie in my arms (who came in the bed an hour earlier). They were still both asleep and I was just thinking how lucky I am to have both of them. I wanted Maggie to wake up and share my birthday with me, so I started tickling and kissing her face (rude I know). She started making faces and whining a bit cause she wasn't ready to wake up, so I stopped. A few minutes later so opened her eyes and smiled at me. That is what I was waiting for! The best birthday present of the day. I then enjoyed breakfast in bed from my wonderful husband. We then watched conference, which I've always loved being around my birthday.

This is how I got to enjoyed conference. Jealous??

We then went over to my parents for a birthday celebration.

Here is Asher modeling one of my new shirts. Doesn't he look cute!

and this awesome Garmin watch my fam got me for working out I'm so excited about!

My mom spoiled me by making this yummy ice cream cake (my favorite!)

and i was so lucky to share my birthday with my little sister Paige who will be 16 in a few days.

I'm lucky to have such a wonderful family. There is no one else I'd rather spend my birthday with.

also, during conference President Dieter F. Uchtdorf said some things that inspired me to post this.

“With so many social media resources and the multitude of more or less useful gadgets at our disposable, sharing the good news of the gospel is easier and the effects more far reaching than ever before…. My dear young friends, perhaps the Lords encouragement to open our mouths might today include use your hands to blog and text message the gospel to all the world… With the blessings of modern technology we an express gratitude and joy about God’s great plan for his children in a way that can be heard not only around our work place, but around the world. Sometimes a single phrase of testimony can set events in motion that effect someone’s life for eternity."

While listening to President Uchtdorf’s talk, I knew I wanted to take the opportunity to bear my testimony to “all the world” that I have a testimony that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the true church. I know that President Thomas S. Monson is a prophet called by our Heavenly Father to guide us in making right choices in our life. I know that through prayer Heavenly Father can give me comfort, peace and love. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and that by sincerely studying and applying the principles I can learn what is expected of me. In this world today Satan is trying to destroy marriages, and eternal families who are sealed in the temple, but I know that if we are studying the scriptures and praying with our spouses that Satan will not have power to break that sealing, because with our Heavenly Father in our relationships, we will not fail. I know there is always forgiveness and mercy because of the Atonement that our Savior performed, because he loves us. The gospel can bring happiness if we obey all the commandments. This I know, in the name of Jesus Christ.

(share your testimony for "all the world")

family vacation

This week was Caden's spring break, so we took advantage of this time off and headed for St. George! My grandparents have a trailer there (thanks Nana & Papa!), which is right next to all the fun things to do.

Mags did good for her longest car ride yet,

(which she enjoyed if mom was back there with her)

The weather was amazing! It was nice not to worry about socks, sweaters and a blanket. We did a lot of relaxing,

swimming,

eating out, shopping,

and hiking!

Maggie was only mad that we had to stop and take a picture. She loved that hike so much, she was kicking her bare feet the whole time in the bjorn. Now I know what we'll be doing lots this summer. Now if it will just get here and stay!