Crafting, Sunshine and Love Notes

Today was a good day. I starting putting out my October decorations. I need some more pumpkins and gourds to fill in places but I wanted to show you the new sign I made.



It was a gorgeous day today. I went out to get the mail and there was a fabulous breeze going so I scooped Noah up, got a blanket and the camera and we headed outside. Noah is sooo funny when he feels the wind. He will stick out his tongue like he is trying to taste it or something. His head was constantly moving trying to take in all the sights and sounds. He is so observant. I tried to get a pic of him with his tongue out but was never quite able to do it. But, I did get several cute shots of him.






Fall is slowly, but surely, on its way as is evidenced by the ONE red leaf that has made an appearance on my October Glory Maple.

And lastly, sometimes my hubby does something so unexpected that just makes me fall in love with him all over again. Those of you who know him know he is a man of FEW words. Well, I found this on top of the laptop (which I have taken over from him) this morning. It is amazing how something so simple can light up your whole day.

Carnivore

I had to post these pics of Noah. It was one of those things where you put the kid in the floor and surround them with toys in the hopes that they will stay occupied long enough for you to go to the bathroom or something. When I came back into the living room this is what I discovered. He is so insanely adorable!

2 Years Down, Eternity to Go!

Two years ago today Chris and I were sealed together. It was the happiest day of my life.

Chris and I were civilly married on Feb 4, 2005 because he hadn't been a member of the church for a year yet. It was not a decision that we made lightly and we sought a lot of council before doing it but in the end we felt good about it. We planned on getting our endowment together in Sept of that year when his year membership was up. In August we went in to our bishop for temple recommends. We were told then that there is an exception to the rule of having to wait a year from your civil wedding date before you could be seal. That exception is if you couldn't enter the temple because you hadn't been a member long enough. Our bishop told us that once Chris' year was up we could not only get our endowments but we could be sealed as well. We were so excited. The bishop had to step out of his office for a minute after he told us that and Chris and I just held each other and shed a few tears at this unexpected blessing. After we left his office I remember calling my parents and my sisters to tell them the good news.

About a week later we had our interviews with Pres. Brown. I went first and everything went well, until he went to sign the recommend. I could tell something was wrong because he just kept reading and rereading the info on the recommend. Then he told me that there was a mistake. He said we couldn't get sealed yet. I explained to him what our bishop had told us but he said our bishop had misunderstood. I was so crushed! I remember calling Mom when we got in the car and crying. She told me to be patient and that we would just have to wait a few more months and then the blessing of an eternal marriage would be ours.

I couldn't get it out of my head. I thought about it for days and I was so very disappointed. The next Sunday our bishop asked me how it went in our interviews and I told him what Pres Brown had said. He kind of stood there in shock and then he said he thought Pres Brown had misunderstood the exception. I asked him how I could find out FOR SURE if we could or could not be sealed early. It just so happened that Pres Rich, the former temple pres, was in our ward at the time and he and his wife always sat behind Chris and I. Our bishop suggested that I ask him. So, I marched my determined self right up to Pres. Rich and asked him to PLEASE clarify this issue for me. He said that he believed we COULD be sealed early but that I should check with the current temple pres. He then gave me the man's cell phone number. Right when I got home from church I gave him a call. I explained the situation to him and he told me he would need to double check a few things and get back to me Tues night. I was so anxious for his call. Finally , at about 8:00pm on Tues night, I got a call. He said that we COULD DEFINITELY GET SEALED. I could have jumped thru the phone and kissed that man.

All the hassle I went thru was totally worth it. I will never forget that day. The endowment session was overwhelming for the both of us but we had kind of expected that. Then the sealing session came. I cried thru the whole thing. And it wasn't attractive. I did the ugly cry that you do when you are trying really hard not to cry. But, I couldn't help it. I had never felt the spirit so strongly in my entire life. I just couldn't believe that my Father in Heaven was so merciful to let me have that great blessing in my life. I remember just being so overwhelmed with gratitude and in awe of the blessings I was being given. I remember looking across that alter at the man that I had chosen to spend eternity with and knowing, more than I had ever known anything in my life, that I had made the right decision and that Heavenly Father was proud of me. I remember thinking that life couldn't possibly get better than that moment.

Chris and I have talked before about how our marriage changed after we were sealed. Neither one of us can pinpoint anything specific but it is there. For that and other reasons we have chosen to only celebrate this anniversary and not our anniversary in Feb. The day we were sealed is the day our marriage was made whole.

I am still in awe that he is mine and I am his forever. Now we have added my most precious Noah into the mix and I know what perfection is like. Right now, in this moment, my life is perfect.

I am Woman. Hear me ROAR!

Sometimes I am such a housewife! I have had a bread maker for over a year now. I got it from a girl at work for super cheap. I have always wanted my house to smell like fresh made bread. Anywho, the chick didn't have the instruction manual and I didn't really have the inclination to use the maker for the longest time. But the other day I had a craving for fresh bread. Chris, my genius of a hubby, got online and tracked down an instruction manual for me and today I attempted to make bread for the 1st time. It was sooo easy. All you have to do with a bread maker is just dump all the ingredients in the thing and turn it on basically. Chris and I enjoyed a warm slice (or 2 ;) ) of whole wheat bread with honey butter ( which I also made). I am so Molly Mormon! Next week sometime I am going to attempt to make bread not using the bread maker. Chris thinks I am crazy to do that but I just want to try it. I have no expectations that my bread will turn out as well as the bread maker bread so we will have to see.

Shut it Mom!

I have a morning ritual which I love. Every morning when Noah wakes up I change his diaper and then we get in our bed and snuggle and play for about 15 minutes. He is so talkative and playful when he 1st wakes up and it helps to wake me up too. I tickle, sing, make faces, wrestle, anything and everything I can think of to get a smile or a giggle from my little man.

Well, this morning I got kind of close up in his face and started to sing the "I love Noah, he loves me...." song. He got an adorable little smile on his face and then promptly put his hand over my mouth. I laughed, moved his hand, and started to sing again. Again, he gave me a tolerant smile and put his hand over my mouth. This happened about 4 times so I know it wasn't just coincidence. Then I realized, I hadn't brushed my teeth yet. My son was trying to tell me I stink! I got up, brushed, and came back to resume my serenade. This time I was permitted to continue uninterrupted. Boy, did I learn my lesson!

Fav Pic #1

1. What do you smell, hear, see and feel when you look at your favorite photo?
I smell Noah's lavender shampoo. I hear kids laughing and screaming after being released from church. I see Misty because she is the one that took this pic and I feel the sunshine and a breeze. It was a gorgeous day that day.

2. If your favorite photo were a movie, what kind of music would be playing? What kind of lighting would be used?
Oh, I don't know. Something soft and peaceful.

3. How do you feel about your favorite photograph? Why is it your favorite?
I absolutely LOVE this pic for many different reasons. I love this pic because, lets face it, I LOOK GOOD! I mean, great hair, great facial expression. Heehee! But mostly, I just felt so overwhelmingly grateful. I mean, look at him. Who could want for more?

4. Who or what does your favorite photograph remind you of? Describe.
It was taken the day Noah was blessed so I always remember the amazing blessings the Lord promised him and I remember feeling proud to be Chris's wife and Noah's mother.

5. As you look at your favorite photo, what fears do you have? What do these fears say about you?
I fear him growing up so fast. It was only yesterday that he was so tiny and helpless. Now, he's my big boy who, more and more, wants to do things on his own. I fear not doing a good job at raising him. I fear making mistakes. I suppose my fears say I care...and that I am a fraidy cat.

6. What would you tell the person pictured in your favorite photo? Why is it important to do so?
I would tell Noah that I have tried several times to describe how I feel about him and what he means to me and I always seem to come up short. I just don't think it is possible to put into words what he has done for me by choosing to come to earth to be my son. I am awed by him and so very thankful for him

7. Why was it important for you to take your favorite photo? What did you want to capture and express with the image?
I wanted to remember the day of his blessing because it was the first of many important spiritual moments in his life.

8. How is the person pictured in your favorite photo unique? What do you love about him or her? What are his or her quirks?
He is unique because he is all mine. He is everything that is right. He has no quirks, he is perfection!

9. Describe the memories surrounding the day you took your favorite photo. What was going through your mind? What circumstances were you facing?
Again, it was taken the day Noah got blessed. Misty took this for us. Thanks, Mist! I felt the Spirit so strong that day. It was such a gorgeous day and most of the family was able to be there with us. It was the perfect kind of day.

10. Looking at your favorite photo with fresh eyes, what new perspectives have you gained? What have you learned?
Like Alisha, I have learned that no matter how much I will it to be otherwise, time will pass. My baby will grow up and I have the most important job in the world of making sure he grows up to be a righteous, fabulous man. I am humbled to be his mother. I am more grateful then I could possible express. I love him

TAG: I'm IT!

Alisha tagged me so here goes!

Rules: 1.You have to post these rules before you give the facts.
2. Players, you must list one fact that is somehow relevant to your life for each letter of your middle name. If you don’t have a middle name, use the middle name you would have liked to have had.
3. When you are tagged you need to write your own blog-post containing your own middle name game facts.
4. At the end of your blog-post, you need to choose one person for each letter of your middle name to tag.
5. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

Middle Name: Renee
R: resourceful
E: easy going ( to steal from alisha)
N: not good at acting my age (almost 29! can you believe it?!)
E: r"eee"ader
E: "e"maginative

Too many E's!!!


1. Do you like cheese? YES, but none of the kinds that stink or look moldy
2. Have you ever been arrested? No but I had a warrant out for my arrest b/c of I forgot to pay a speeding ticket. REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE!
3. Have you ever shot a gun? yeah,I was very Charlie's Angels
4. Your favorite song? I can't decide on one favorite.
5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? only when I am meeting the doc for the 1st time
6. What do you think of when you eat hot dogs? We need to get a grill
7. What's your favorite Christmas song? Oh, Holy Night
8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Ice cold water or milk
9. Can you do push ups? Yeah, but don't ask me how many
10. Is your bathroom clean? Hallway bath-yes. Master bath-ashamedly, no
11. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? My engagement ring. I love it!!
12. Favorite Hobby? Crafting. I need to start scrapbooking
13. What are you listening to right now? The Today show
14. What is the last thing you ate? Cereal w/ banana
15. What one trait do you hate about yourself? i procrastinate
16. Middle Name? Renee
17. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment? I must not give in to the urge to consume ANOTHER oatmeal cream pie; i should take Noah on a walk today.; this chick on the Today show had six babies at once and i am thinking NO THANK YOU!!!
18. Name the last 3 things you have bought. groceries, gas, pictures. exciting huh?
19. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink. water, skim milk, and apple juice
20. Current worry right now? getting Noah to roll over already!
21. Current hate? my weight
2. Favorite place to be? Snuggled up on the couch with Chris and Noah
23. How did you bring in the New Year? sleeping. PAR-TAH!!
24. What is your quirkiest habit? I count things, like buttons on remotes, constantly
25. Name three people who will complete this and return? i think most everyone has been tagged
26. How many siblings do you have? 5 bros and 2 sis's
27. Do you own slippers? nope, i prefer to go barefoot
28. What shirt are you wearing? A Riviera fitness center t-shirt
29. What shampoo do you use? I have just bought some Sunsilk Antiflat.
30. Favorite colors? greens and blues
31. Would you like to be a pirate? No thanks, I would get sea sick
32. What songs do you sing in the shower? Anything that comes to mind
33. Favorite female name? Eden, Belle, Ava, Bree
34. Favorite male name? Noah, Isaac, Elijah, Isaiah
.35. What's in your pockets right now? no pockets
36. Last thing that made you laugh? Noah discovering that he can blow his spit all over dad
37. Best bed sheets as a child? never had a fav
38. Worst injury you've ever had? 3 fingers jammed at the same time. I know, horrible huh?
39. When's your birthday? Dec 26
40. How many TVs do you have in your house? 3
41. Who is your loudest friend? melanie
43. Does someone have a crush on you? my husband if he knows whats good for him. YOU WILL LOVE ME!
44. Do you wish on shooting stars? I would if I ever see one...
45.What is your favorite book? anything by nicholas sparks, harry potter series, and the work and the glory series
46.What is your favorite age? I loved how i looked in my early 20's but I love my life now.
47. What song do/did you want played at your wedding? nothing in particular
48. What song do you want played at your funeral? All Is Well
49. What were you doing at 12 am this morning? Sleeping hard
50. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up? I didn't get up to pump so i was painfully full so my first thought was "I hope Noah's hungry!"

That's me in a nutshell!
The only person I know who hasn't been tagged is Ashley, so TAG!