Book Club: Month #2

I know I'm a month behind, but I'd still like to tell you about our second book we read in our book club! (My dad thinks I'm a nerd. Every time I talk about my book club he bursts out laughing!)

We read the book "The Screwtape Letters" by C.S. Lewis.

It was an interesting book, but contains very intelligent language, and I honestly had to use the dictionary every page because there were words I didn't understand. Anyway, the book was about a demon writing letters to his nephew who also is a demon. In these letters, Screwtape (the uncle) gives advice to Wormwood (his nephew) about how to lure his human to be bad and to get him to eventually become evil enough that he would go to hell after he dies. The human, however, has help from the other side, so it's not as easy as Wormwood thinks.

I had a lot of contemplative moments about my own life and spirituality as I read this book. I pondered a lot about my own weaknesses, and wondered in what ways Satan and his followers get to me. This book made me realize that we probably have a demon that is constantly around trying to tempt us and lead us astray. It's made me do better at putting on my "Spiritual armor". Great read that makes you think!

Eli is 8 months old!

My baby boy turned 8 months on the 17th of July! So about 4 days ago. I cannot believe it. I know I say that every month, but, SERIOUSLY, the time is just zooming by. He is such a joy in my life. There are definitely days where I think back to what I did before I had a child, and a sense of longing for some free time and a full nights rest come to me, but they quickly pass as I look at Eli. Then there are other days where I just can't even believe he is ours and he is sealed to Nathan and me for forever!

Being a parent is definitely the most rewarding thing I have ever done, but don't get me wrong, it is also the most difficult. I now have a deeper understanding as to why God commanded us to have families! Being a parent is a very selfless task, and no, I'm not saying I am selfless (yet!), but I know I will eventually become less and less selfish the longer I am a parent.

At 8 months Eli:
*Loves to eat his feet!
*army crawls all over the house! (He started crawling about July 5th)
*laughs
*Scrunches his nose
*Gives mommy kisses!
*Eats whatever mommy and daddy are eating
*Has fallen off the bed and the couch!
*Is figuring out his hands
*LOVES to be outdoors and go on his morning run with mommy in the stroller
*Is starting to pick up things off the floor
*Loves his Gerber banana cereal, bread, and cheerios!

Scrunching his nose :-)

And here is a video of Eli crawling!

Week of Celebrations!

The first week of July was soooo much fun!

July 1, 2014
July 1st was my 24th birthday. I am getting old! ;-) Anyway, I got to start the day off with taking Eli to the dr. (Yippee!) He just had been acting really fussy and not like himself the days prior. I had weighed out the idea that he was teething because he hadn't been running a fever, slobbering, or anything that I thought related to a baby teething. However, the Dr. told me that that is exactly what was going on with him. haha.. so much for "mommy instincts". He looked in his mouth and said, "oh ya, he's teething. His gums are swollen." He also mentioned that it could be a few days or weeks until the teeth come out. (They still haven't come out yet!) After getting back from the Dr. I went to lunch at Cafe Rio and shopping with my mommy! I got to buy clothes with the money that I got for my birthday and my mom gave me a shirt. Then Nathan met us in town, and took me out to dinner at Applebees. It was such a wonderful day!

 Some pictures for memorabilia

July 4, 2014
Happy Independence Day!! This is my absolute favorite holiday. I am so grateful to live in this free land where I can worship how I want, go where I want, be whomever I would like to be, and raise my family how I want. I know that there are a lot of worries and concerns about our country and its future, but I know that God is the true leader of this country, and He is in control. We started the day off by taking Eli to the Idaho Falls parade. We only stayed for an hour because it was so blistering hot! (We didn't get a shady spot) Then we went and staked out our spot for the fireworks and went home. We didn't get to the fireworks until 8 PM, which was a little later then I had hoped, but we still had time to walk around and enjoy the crowd before the fireworks started! Eli did so good! He watched the fireworks for about 10 minutes, and then he kept entertained by the empty water bottle he made into a toy :-).

At the parade!!!

 

 

In his "Independence Day" outfit! red, blue, & white

At the Fireworks:

Eli is 7 Months!!!

My sweet baby boy turned 7 months on June 17th!! Where has the time gone?!?! I love him so very much and I feel blessed every day that Heavenly Father sent him to our family.

At 7 months, Eli is:
*Eating baby cereal 3-4 times a day.
*Not wanting to breastfeed nearly as much.
*Rolling all over the floor!
*starting to scoot, which, I believe is, the starts of crawling.
*cooing, screaming, & making all sorts of cute (and loud) noises!
*Sits all by himself!
*Loves looking at "the baby" in the mirror!
*Gives the best kisses
*Loves cruising in his walker
*Now sleeping in his crib!
*Wakes mommy up about 1-2 times a night.

Happy 7 months Eli! Mommy loves you!

Nathan's First Father's Day

We celebrated Nathan's first Father's Day on June 15th! Eli and I got him fishing supplies! How exciting huh? ;-) I also made him biscuits & gravy, eggs, and bacon for breakfast. He seemed to enjoy breakfast and liked his gift. We went over to my parent's house for dinner because Howard & Nancy were gone on a trip that day.

Nathan is such a wonderful father! He adores Eli and Eli, in return, just loves his daddy. He loves to tease Eli and scares him every chance he gets! (thankfully Eli thinks it's funny!) He is constantly showing him love by playing with him, changing his diaper (which also gives him brownie points with me!), worrying about him, and making sure he is provided for.

I couldn't ask for a better father for my children, and I am excited to see Nathan and Eli become the best of buds as the years go by. I am also excited as more kids come into the picture to see how each one is like Nathan and me, and to also see how their own personalities develop.

Being a parent is one of the most challenging things, but Nathan is a terrific one and makes it look so simple. I admire him for his patience and "go-with-the-flow" attitude. I hope to be more like him in my parenting skills.

Happy first Father's Day Nathan! I love you!

Grateful

I have so much to be grateful for in my life! I have a wonderful and loving husband, a sweet son, Nathan and I both belong to great families, we are financially stable, great friends, and, most importantly, I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and much much more!

I have been thinking about a lot of things over the past few weeks. Thinking about life in general, and my purpose on this earth. Sometimes it is easy to lose sight of the "big picture" in the every day monotonous tasks. BUT every day holds new opportunities for us to grow in one way or another, and to become a little more like our Savior Jesus Christ. Every single one of us has a mission on this earth, we are all destined for great things, and it is up to us to discover why we are here.

How grateful I am for the Atonement of my Savior. Without it we would all be lost, and we would not really have a purpose on this earth, because we would all die spiritually. Every one of us sins each day, and we are unclean, but thankfully, through the Atonement, we can repent of those wrong doings so that we can be made clean again.

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Anyway, this month also gives me the opportunity to think a lot about my dad because his birthday is on June 5th, and also Father's Day is this Sunday!

My dad is one of my biggest heroes. He has gone through many difficult and trying things in his life, and has over come them. He is a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and grew up in an abusive home. He went through unimaginable things, and he either could have let that break him or make him stronger. He chose to let it make him stronger and learn from it. The road wasn't always "smooth" as I was growing up, but I wouldn't trade my childhood for anyone elses. My dad has struggles, like everyone else, but I love him despite them, and look up to him so much. He is one of the most loving, kind, and giving people I know. He has always made me feel safe and protected, and has taught me many life-long lessons that I will never forget. Happy (late) birthday and Father's Day daddy! I love you!

"Papa" & Eli on my dad's birthday

One of his favorite hobbies- fishing! (2007)

Making dad's "famous" salsa! (2010)

At dad's graduation from ISU (2011)

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Lastly, I am grateful for my son! He brings me joy every single day that I never thought possible. He is growing up so fast! I am grateful that I get to spend every day with him, and make all of the precious moments count. Here are two videos we took of him yesterday!

This first one is him sitting, and making the noise that he just discovered this past week!

This second one is of him laughing at Nathan shaking a salad dressing bottle at him while he's eating. He was kind of grumpy so he would start complaining when he stopped. haha.

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!