A Blogworthy storm

Wow, has it really been that long since I’ve blogged?  Sorry about that, maybe it’ll be my New Year Resolution. 

ANYWAY, we’ve had a huge storm and I wanted to send photos to all my family/friends that I’m sure miss living here in Nebraska and missing out on these storms.

 

 

Shall we have lunch at the picnic table today?

  The slide is even better with snow!!

They cancelled school the evening before about 7pm in anticipation of the big storm, Matt headed out for work (no early morning seminary—Yeah!), but State Farm sent everyone home at lunch—after they unloaded all the cafeteria food for free!!

Here’s some more photos from this morning, we haven’t had a storm like this for a long time, it started snowing Monday night about 8pm and literally snowed ALL day, finally today the bright sun is out. . .no school again today, no work for me, and Matt doesn’t have to go in until noon!  Happy snow day!

 

Umm. . .I don’t think I’ll go anywhere today.

Whoops, forgot to put the cozy coupe away, it looks like a rabbit is maybe hiding out in there?

Higher! Higher like a flyer!

He really is smiling under there.  Speaking of “he”. . . Simon is all big boy now.  When did that happen?  He is a toddling, babbling, bundle of big boy-ness.  Non-stop eating.  (I swear I really do feed him although he contests otherwise at all times.)  He bursts into laughter after someone else does, just so he’s sure to be in on the joke.  He constantly opens and shuts things loudly and tosses his toys around with joy.  He is one beautiful boy. . .so beautiful and fun that we’ve decided. . .

 

 

 

 

 

we’re done.  Really, as I discussed with my bestest the other day. . .I’ve been having babies for 10 years.  I know that some women have babies for much longer but I’m spent.  I also feel very done.  I had initially thought, well, I’ll give it until Simon’s a year old (I can make NO good decisions when I’m so sleep deprived and crazy. . ).  As Simon reached that one year mark I was so excited.  Ready to “move-on” in life.  I’m ready for all of us to go places, not to have to pack snacks, diapers, sippys, worry about naps and babysitters.  Most of all we just know it.   I really had been wondering, but the moment I knew was when I was holding someone’s little tiny babe (I LOVE babies. . .), and she started to fuss.  It used to be like a challenge to me when I was holding a baby and they fussed, like I was saying, OK, watch me in action, I can get this baby to be happy, go to sleep, let a little gas go . . .whatever.  But this time the first thought in my head was. . .yep, I’m done. 

I have 4 beautiful children and a wonderful hubby right along my side.  Those children are growing and growing literally before my eyes.  Madison can look me right in the eyes now and shares my shoes. . . I’m coming to realize  that in only 8 short years, Madison will graduate. 

I’m excited for “life” for my kids.  I’m ready to be that big momma bird that preps and talks and practices with them then sends them off flying.  Of course, I’m not ready for that but I’m excited for it.  They’re ready, and because they’re ready I have to be. 

Did you hear that?

Did you hear that noise?  I think it was jingle-bells. 

When the weather cools off a little I always start thinking of the Holidays.  I blame (praise?) my mother, Queen of shopping ahead of time.  In fact, I already have her gifts to my children for Christmas (wrapped, with bows, with a card) upstairs in  my storage closet.  I have a handful of things already, but I’m in the mode of finding things they will really love, not just play with for a bit, then toss into the never-ending pit that is “the playroom”.  Here’s a couple of things I’ve bookmarked from blogs that I’ve seen that I love.  I need to get in gear to make these. . .

http://www.sayyestohoboken.com/2009/08/henrys-book.html  

How much do you love this?  Finding the things that Simon loves, pictured with the cute block letters?  Love this idea Liz!! 

http://youcanmakethis.com/info/featured-products/Personalized-Name-Pillows.htm

Really cute/designed name pillows for your kiddos to claim their turf (well, at least where they lay their sweet heads.)  I know that Design Mom posted about these as well, but I can’t find the original post.  Here’s a picture from a recent post where you can get a glimpse of Oscar’s pillow.  These would be super cute to make ahead for your kids bestest buds birthday gifts too!

Well?  Get to work!  Just hear those sleigh-bells jing-a-ling. . .

Cake time!

We had our family party for Simon the Sunday after his birthday. . .presents, yummy food, and of course, the cake!  (oh, and don’t worry Duff, I obviously won’t be taking over Charm City Cakes anytime soon. . .)

Hmm, just a taste. . . 

  Oh yeah, shovel it in!! Who’s birthday is it??

  So big!

   MMM, cake in the ears.

All cleaned up and playing after a much needed bath! 

Happy Birthday Sweet Boy!!

Simon’s 1st birthday!!

**editor’s note:  Simon is not one today (actually it was on 7/11 which is when I originally attempted to post this. . .I’ve changed to using Windows Live Writer and was having some trouble with the pictures. . .but now it’s all good. . .let the blogging resume!)

 

My BABY is ONE today!  Wow, that was fast (click for a peek at his very first post).  He was a really awful baby (of which I will remind him often. . ), but now he makes up for it big time.  I am completely in love with this little boy!  Happy Birthday Si-si!

I totally stole the idea for his shirt from Tesia, a friend from High School.  Super easy and it turned out so cute!

Simon is. . . So big (his latest trick)

I kept trying to get a picture of the back of his shirt and he kept turning around to find me!!

 

We headed out to the zoo. .  .

 

Molly went up to the dog show in Omaha with Grandma Mary so we missed her!!

See ya dudes!  More pictures of tomorrows big party with cake of course coming up soon!!

It’s out with the old. . .and in with the new. . .

I have new dishes!  Finally!  IKEA in Utah came through.  It’s a good thing I don’t have an IKEA closer to me, or I may ditch everything in my house and start over.  For now, it’s just out with the Corelle dishes and in with these. . .just plain white dinner plates, salad plates and bowls.  Plain, simple and SO much better than the old.

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00044481

and some of these for the kiddos. .super cute in olive green, red/orange and turquoise.

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10132972

Oh, and these new glasses (which I also saw when I went to LVC’s house after I had bought them. . .of COURSE we have the same glasses.)

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60131705

SO, anyone want to roadtrip to Minnesota, or back to Utah with a big trailer for all our goodies??

My twinner

My secret twin Lisa Lou's birthday is today! I want to make it fully clear that I'm not copying her, this really was my plan for today!!! Lisa and I have never remembered a time without each other. In fact, my first memories almost always include her. I'm so thankful for our parents who must have realized our friendship early on and always had us together (or more than likely our mothers were tired, and needed a break, but that's ok, we get that now.) We seriously thought we were twins, I mean, come on, her birthday is ONE day after mine, and who cares that she was born in the Carolinas, and I was born in Nebraska, we are SOOOO twins. We have been through probably every situation together. . .hilarious (remember when my little sister Julie would cry and we would laugh? :), and your sister Gina got left at the dance studio?), sad (we saw ET about 12 times and thought it was the most tragic movie we'd ever seen in our 7 years), scary (remember that creepy guy that worked next to the dance studio that freaked us out while we were waiting for our moms?). When I was about 8, I wanted a dog SO badly (Lisa hated them I'm pretty sure), and Lisa helped me all the live long day on time cleaning out this corner area of our yard to show my parents I could take care of a dog and in the end. . .no dog. I'm sure my Dad took us to DQ for ice cream or something instead. (Oh no, I'm that exact same parent today. . .) The only way I survived at BYU was that I took my two best friends with me. . .Lisa and Cim. We lived at Heritage Halls with 3 other room-mates, I think in the process of living with the 3 of us we ran out about 4 total room-mates. . oops. The day before I was scheduled to get my wisdom teeth out, my mom's best friend died in a car accident and she needed to leave right away. The first thing I thought to do in that moment was call Lisa. I didn't know what I would do if I didn't have Lisa and I just wanted her to know. She also offered to come and hang out with me when I got back from the Dr. She got me my drugs, watched movies with me, all that good stuff.

Lisa and I have that kind of relationship that just has always been. I can't remember a time without her, and I know that I never will have a time without her. We may not chat every day, but I think some part of every day, I think of her, or wonder what her smarty pants kids are doing, and mostly wish that we had our dream of living next door to each other. Yesterday when she called for my birthday, we were wishing we were together and she reminded me of something we decided a long time ago. . .we certainly have our mansion lots next to each other set up in Heaven. Where we will always be able to take each other to lunch and watch our gazillion grandbabies run around while we reminisce about the good old days.

Happy Birthday Lisa Lou!!

Nibs Bibs

My Dad has always called me Wendy Nibs. When I was little I wore this pair of overalls everyday. EVERY day. If my mom tried to wash them I'm sure it was while I was sleeping. I also always wore them with my Rousseau Rams shirt from the elementary school where my older siblings went. I called them my "bibs", so that's where my name came from. They were my nibs bibs. Anyway, my mom didn't ever get rid of them (THANKS MOM!), so I still have them. I have pictures of Madison in them, and I think Molly too. Yesterday I was clearing out some things in our room and opened up my cedar chest to see if I needed to toss anything in there, and there were my nibs bibs, and my blue shirt! I called to Whitney and put them right on her. . .luckily, they still fit (mostly. . .now they're capris on her). She posed up for me so I could get some pictures. Be sure to look closely at all those patches. Whenever there would be a hole, I couldn't bear to throw them out, so my Mom would just patch them up. One patch is even a little heart by the front ride side. Here's some pictures of Whitney, and a few of me in them (I think I was maybe 2-3 years old?).