My 28th Year

Tomorrow is my 28th birthday & I've been thinking about this past year (as I do around all of my birthdays). Simply put, this year has been a year of happiness. I have learned to really enjoy & make the most of my days. I have also learned so much about myself this year. I know what I like & what I don't like. It really simplifies my life knowing those things! So, for the record:

What I like:

tee shirts & jeans

photography & photo editing

blogging

owls & birds

doing crafts with June

Ovaltine
crafting & creating

My hair long & dark

routine

Edward Cullen

organizing

technology

**decorating**

natural/neutral palettes in regard to decor & clothing (with some exceptions, of course)

grey

reading: latest fav book "Matched"

Book of Mormon

strawberries & cream cheese fruit dip

seeing my kids have fun AND learn new things

TIME with my (dashing, loving, handsome, terrific, patient, kind, fun, hard-working) husband

getting a massage

cuddling with Logan

reading about fashion (although, I will almost always wear tee shirts & jeans)

listening to an audiobook while I drift off to sleep

symmetry 

Olay products

getting rid of things

the presentation & beautification of things

flowers

my family

my Droid

music

What I don't like:

 early mornings

wearing skirts/ dresses (I will when needed, but wont wear them just because)

clutter

rain

unnecessary demands on my time  

allergies

SPIDERS

grouchy people

when my kids are sick

my painful, dry, cracking fingers (I wash my hands too much & don't use enough lotion)!!

waste

What I've learned this year:

that 2 kids is enough for me:)

what makes me truly happy

not to waste my time trying things that I know I'm not crazy about

that my husband is amazingly talented

that I don't care what size I am, as long as I'm fit (working on it)

I am so proud of my smart kids: June is starting to read & Logan recognizes all of his ABC's & #s 1-9 out of order

that I am extremely blessed
that I'm ok with being pale or using self tanning lotion

to take time for myself

That I love being a good mom!

how to snowboard poorly (but had a blast)

What I hope to learn/do this coming year:

balance my time appropriately 

how to live healthy

more about photography

more about the Book of Mormon (I catch new stuff every time I read it)

exercise regularly 

play more tennis & improve my game

go to Disneyland 

do more nice unexpected things for Aaron & the kids

go to the temple more

New Splash Park!!

Yesterday was the grand opening of the brand new Badger Mountain splash park! I love that they put this in & I love how close it is to where I live & I LOVE that it's free! I took the kids & I think I was more excited that they were!! I didn't get any pics because my hands were full trying to constantly see where both kids were among the chaos. BUT, today Aaron is off & it is gorgeous out, so we went again this morning! It was so much easier with one parent watching one child.

* * *

Logan was pretty much fearless & was running everywhere, checking everything out.

   Sneaking up on the water,

getting sprayed by the water,

and running away from the water!

* * *

June was a bit more timid. She did not like getting splashed or sprayed unexpectedly yesterday. She got more adventurous the longer we were there thanks, mostly, to a fearless new friend June made while we were there. She had so much fun with her! 

It was so cute, for a while the two girls were running around holding hands. I couldn't resist a pic. I love how quickly kids make friends:)   

And the day is not done yet! What else will we do?!

Visiting with family & Mother's Day!!

Aaron had some meetings out in Portland again, so the kids & I tagged along & got to visit my family! 

* * *

June has recently been watching (& loving) the show Angelina the Ballerina. This has gotten her very interested in learning Ballet. She keeps asking her uncoordinated, pigeon toed mom to teach her... Luckily, her Aunt Darcy teaches dance to kids Junie's age, & she invited June to one of her classes! June loved it & now says she is going to teach me ballet! We'll be sure to get a video of that! 

June (& cousins Kenady & Erik, & Auntie Darcy)

Logan (& uncle Nate)

Darcy, me, Nate, & Angie...Where's Brian?

 A tribute to my dad. Growing up he always said, "Oh, let's point at (something)," in pics!

YAY! We got to go on a date after not seeing eachother for 2 days:)

 We celebratedMother's Day on Saturday. The guys watched the kids & my mom, my sisters & I all went out together. We had SO MUCH FUN! First, we ran errands, & then stopped by to see my cousin's wife & cute little boy. My cousin, Larry, got in a bad motorcycle accident & was in the hospital :( Next, we got a fantastic lunch at Panera. Then we went to Michaels to get supplies to make jewelry. In the past, I neglected the jewelry sections at craft stores. Now, thanks to my lovely sister, I'm hooked! We were there for probably 2 hours. Then we went to (3 different) Starbucks looking for cake pops. If you havn't tried them, go do it right NOW!  Finally, we went back to Darcy's house & made our jewelry & watched Dan in Real Life. It was a full fun day, & I laughed & smiled until my cheeks hurt!

When a 3 year old gets the camera

June got ahold of my camera one morning without me knowing & took about 50 pics. It was very fun to look through them & see the world (or our house) through her eyes!

May 12 on 12th

My favorite jewelry store....

....is having a giveaway! here's a link:

http://thevintagepearl.blogspot.com/2011/05/calligraphy-giveaway.html