Book Club: Month #1

So last month we went to a barbeque with a few other couples. One of the gals there had a brilliant idea of starting a book club! Was I excited?! Most definitely!! I love to read! And it also gives me the chance to get together with some great women, at least, once a month (social interaction with other adults when you are a stay-at-home-mommy is always nice).

Anyway, we all take turns choosing a book to read and the person who picks the book also hosts the club at their home that month. Mackenzie chose a book called "The Rent Collector".

At first I had a really hard time getting into this book. I guess I am used to reading "love stories", and this just didn't grab my attention from the get go. However, I am glad that I finished it because it had a great message. Would I read it again? Probably not. BUT I would recommend people to read it at least once.

I am excited to be part of this book club! We have some great ladies involved, and I am excited to get to know them all better, and also to be introduced to some new books that I probably wouldn't read otherwise.

Below is a picture of us all in the book club! Aubrie's little 3-year-old took the picture for us! How cute!

Memorial Day Weekend!

We have had a great Memorial Day Weekend! The weather has been fantastic and we've been able to enjoy a lot of the weekend outside.

On Friday, Nathan and I packed up Eli and went to the Drive In movie theater! We went and saw X-Men: Days of Future Past. I enjoyed the movie! unfortunately it shows Hugh Jackman's bumb (I will never understand why they have to show that crap) & it has some cursing. Over all it's not too bad of a movie, and it was enjoyable because we weren't worried about Eli bothering other people. He actually fell asleep before the movie began and I just held him the whole time.

We had an awesome set up! We borrowed Howard's truck, and took Matthew's GINORMOUS pillow, a mattress, and plenty of blankets to cuddle in. We used the pillow as our back rest and sat on the mattress!

Eli really enjoyed his first Drive In experience!

He loves his Mike & Ikes! (Just like mommy)

On Saturday Nathan worked for most of the day, and then we went into town and picked out flowers to put in the flower bed behind our home! (My Mother's Day gift from Nathan :-)) We found some really pretty ones. Unfortunately everyone else had the same idea, and by the time we went back for them today, they were all gone! But thankfully there should be another shipment coming into Home Depot within the next few days. Afterwards, we had Julie over for dinner and Nathan barbequed hamburgers! Thank you to Daniel and Susie for allowing us to use your grill while you are away!

Yesterday, being Sunday, Nathan and I went and visited the graves of our grandparents who have passed away. It was just a quick trip because we were on our way to church, but I am grateful we were able to pay our respects to our loved ones.

I always feel such a sweet spirit when I go and visit my Grandpa Woods's grave. Now I know his spirit is not there, but I'm sure he is constantly with me, and there are times when the veil is thinner than others and I can feel him more strongly. Like yesterday I felt him, and also when I got sealed to Nathan in the temple. I KNOW that he was there. As I was being sealed to Nathan that day, the thought came to me, "I wonder if my Grandpa Woods is here?". Then there was such an overpowering feeling of love that it brought me to tears Yes, indeed, he was there.

Anyway, we went to church and then went to my parent's home. Dad made dutch oven chicken, home made fries, and grilled asparagus! Yummy!

such a little cutie!

Then today, being Memorial Day, Nathan, Eli, and I met my parents and Gabe at the Green Belt in Idaho Falls. We took bikes, and my parents brought their bike trailer for Eli! My dad pulled Eli and all of our picnic supplies in the trailer. It was so much fun! We rode around the Green Belt a few times and had our picnic at Smith Park. So glad that we got to enjoy this day together!

Getting in the trailer! He didn't know what to think.

Grandpa excited to pull Eli!

Eli playing with daddy at the park

By the end of the ride, Eli was tuckered out!

Amy's Graduation

Congratulations to my sister-in-law, Amy, for graduating from high school yesterday! It doesn't seem real that she is old enough to be at this stage in life. Man how time flies! I have sure enjoyed watching Amy play volleyball and basketball. I am glad that we share the same passion for the game of volleyball though :-).

I look forward to seeing what is in store for Amy as she moves on in life. Love ya Amy!

Family Fun!

We have had a lot of fun things going on this past week!

First off, on Sunday afternoon Nathan, Eli, and I got to go mushroom picking with my dad, mom, Gabe, and extended family. It was alot of fun to take Eli out into nature. It was a beautiful day! Nathan carried Eli around in our little backpack. I didn't realize I married a man that has such awesome mushroom pickin' capabilities! ;-)

There was alot of left over chocolate from Morgan and Rayse's reception, so mom gave a bowl to Nathan and me. Nancy has these neat molds that you can make suckers with and other little flavored candies. For Family Home Evening, and after Eli went to bed, Nathan and I made the chocolate into different shaped candy! 

Nathan's favorite is obviously the tool mold!

Yesterday Nathan and I took Eli for his first four wheeler ride down to change water in the fields! We, of coarse, went really slow. He just loved it!! This picture (below) is when we got off so Nathan could take the four-wheeler on the main road. 

I'm so glad that the weather is finally starting to get nice! Eli and I went on our first walk down to the highway and back with Julie yesterday morning. It was so nice and Eli loves to look around as we are walking. I didn't get a picture of him, but he was happy to be outside. I look forward to this summer so he can explore the outside world.

6th Month Old Eli!

Eli turned 6 months on Saturday! He is 1/2 a year old!!

I took him in and got his 6th month pictures at JC Penney today. He did pretty good for his first time at the portrait studio.

Eli loves to:
*play with his feet
*blow bubbles
*"talk"
*eat lots & lots!! (he loves applesauce)
*take baths
*play in his walker
*eat mommy's hair
*laugh

He is learning how to sit by himself! He can sit without any help for a few seconds now.

Morgan's Wedding

Wow! This last week was SUPER crazy, but so wonderful. Morgan and Rayse finally tied the knot on Friday, May 16th. The day before, my family, Rayse, his dad, and Wendee, Cydnee's mother-in-law, decorated for the reception for NINE hours!!! It took so long, but it turned out really beautiful!

Then it was the wedding day! They got married in the Idaho Falls temple at 9:30. It was a wonderful and beautiful ceremony.

The reception also turned out very nicely. They had a lot of support, and everything went pretty smoothly.

Even though it was a great week, boy am I glad that it is all over! It was quite the week. Congratulations Morgan and Rayse!

Happy Mother's Day!

Tomorrow is Mother's Day, and we are actually going to celebrate it with my family tonight. I love this holiday! Always have, but now that I am a mom I have a much greater appreciation and love for my mom.

My mom has taught me so much in my life. I am and will always be grateful that Heavenly Father sent me to the family I am in. My mom is the most patient, loving, and kindest person I know. She is my rock and always helps me look at the bright side of situations and keep my emotions in check. She is more than my mom- she is one of my best friends and closest confidants.

Happy Mother's Day mom! I love you!

And now for the other mother in my life! Nancy, my mother-in-law!

I couldn't have married into a better family. I love my in-laws and they are constantly teaching me different things. I couldn't have asked for a better person to raise Nathan. Nancy is such an easy-going, fun, and kind hearted person. She is consistently teaching and showing me how to make the best of every situation that you are put in.

Happy Mother's Day Nancy!

Eli got very lucky to have two extraordinary ladies for his grandmas!

I am also grateful that Heavenly Father has chosen me to raise, at least, one of his chosen spirits and allowed me to become a mom. I will forever be grateful for the opportunity which I had to experience being pregnant and growing a baby inside me, and now for the journey of parenthood that Nathan and I are experiencing. Aside from Nathan, Eli is my greatest blessing. He has filled a hole in our family that we did not realize was there.

Thank you Eli for letting me be your mom!

Somedays I feel completely inadequate in my calling as a mom, but I know that if I try to raise my child with the help of the Lord, then I will be blessed.

I love this video! It shows all that I hope to do and be as a mother.

Change is hard.... but Good!

This past week has been a lot of change for me! Mainly with my Eli.

He has grown out of his 0-3 month clothes, has gotten sick for the first time, and is cutting his first tooth! (We think it's his top right canine one.. kind of a funny one to get! haha) I'm not sure if it will break through anytime soon, but there is a bump there.

Well Eli has now moved into his 3-6 month clothes! It is always bitter sweet to pack up Eli's baby clothes. Bitter because he is growing up so quickly, and sweet because he is getting bigger and learning more and more every day! It is so fun to see him learn new things and watch him progress. I sure love him!

 Also Susie & Daniel (my brother-in-law & sister-in-law) moved away to Cody, Wyoming this past Saturday. :-( Susie and I are very close, and these past few months that they have lived at Howard and Nancy's other rental have been so much fun! We saw each other almost every day or every other day. Anyway, I am excited for them to start on new adventures, but sad to see them go. Best of luck you guys!


Change is always hard, but I love the quote "The only thing constant in life is change" by Francois de la Rochefoucauldwhich. It makes it easier to accept, and possibly helps us to enjoy change.