thanksgiving with friends

Now is the time to write about our Thanksgiving fun.  We've made some awesome friends that we're going to keep forever.  Before we all left on our Thanksgiving vacations we all got together for a pre-Thanksgiving feast.  If you ask me, I think its the best idea.  I love Thanksgiving foods and it was nice to get to taste it two different times rather than stuff my face all at once.

A couple families slept over night and we had a blast.  We spent the time cooking, laughing, playing games, four-wheeling and eating all of the goodness.  There were so many tasty foods and pies.  And there were tons of kids!  I highly recommend doing a pre-Thanksgiving feast next year.  I might even consider a pre pre-Thanksgiving feast.  Thats how much I loved it.

You can see more pictures that Zack took on Facebook.

reasons to celebrate

I like celebrating the little things in life.  Despite the fact that we are still adjusting to just having had a baby a month or so ago, we'll still enjoy a daily holiday or two this month.  Good bye, July.  What a month its been!  I can't believe August is already here!

looking back at the 4th of July

 We had a lovely 4th of July this year.  We brought a picnic to a near by park and enjoyed the day in the sun with our family.  It was one of those perfect summer days and we were very happy to celebrate one of our favorite holidays.  We hoped that I wouldn't make it to see the fire works later that night as we secretly wished for a Forth of July baby.  But as you know, that didn't happen.

 We made it through our daytime picnic, a BBQ with friends and lovely firework lights in the sky.  While we were at the fireworks, labor started. Thanks to my friend and Zack for helping me realize I was indeed in labor we made it to the hospital with plenty of time to deliver my Fifth of July baby.  The whole experience was so special.  What a memorable holiday we had!

Happy 4th of July!

We had the best holiday this year!  

I can not wait to tell you why...

reasons to celebrate in July

Besides the arrival of our daughter (!) there are a few other dates to keep in mind.  

I like celebrating the little things in life.  So, here are the daily holidays I'll be referring to this month.  Good bye, June...  I can't believe July is already here!

father's day

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY, LOVE

*** you are the best father.  the best! ***

   ... you teach your boy how to throw rocks into the ocean

   ... you have your son blow out your birthday candle and let him have the first bite

 ... you are the coolest dad because you make the biggest messes in 

our living room and then you play and swim and laugh in it for hours.

 ... you teach our boy how to relax in and love nature

 ... you introduce our son to gross things that I wouldn't play with.  this is a necessary part of childhood.

... no matter how tired you are you always find some way to play with and spend time with your boy the 

second you get home from work.  you must know how much he loves this time with you

... you have established special things that are just the two of yours like eating nuts (pistachios)

 ... you read stories and tell the best stories and Odin really loves the time he gets with you when 

YOU read to him.  btw, you read books much better than I ever could.

... you always share your favorite and new things with your son.  

... you encourage him to play and be cute and he loves the attention you are always willing to give him.

 ... you help Odin accomplish the things he really wants to try.  

... you are always there to teach him and play with him.

... you're always up for taking Odin to awesome things like father-son camp outs when he is barely 2 years old.  

this just shows how much it means to you to be a dad and to a son at that.

 ... you are always excited to take your little buddy anywhere in any condition so you can capture the moment with him and for him to always have.  he must have felt like such a big boy up high with that view from the big boat.  

... you always are wanting him to have the best time possible

... you knew he had to see and pet the horses (he's currently obsessed) so you didn't even worry about capturing the moment.  

you just took him without a camera in hand but lucky for us all, I was able to capture these precious moments on camera.  

... can't you just see the happiness on his face?  you were his hero, as you ALWAYS are.

I'll say it again:  

*** you are the best dad.  THE BEST! ***

father's day

I like this holiday. 

I am so glad I have a dad and that we are close and that we get to see each other often now.  

Happy Father's Day,  DAD!  

(he reads my blog, how cool is he?) 

flag day

Today was flag day.  We flew ours high and proud.  Did you?

I'm excited for July to come and not only because it means we'll have a new baby.  

Its the patriotic month in my mind and everything about it feels like summer.  

I am really looking forward to the summer stretch of weather that I've been told is on its way here...

reasons to celebrate in June

I like celebrating the little things in life.  So, here are the daily holidays I'll be referring to this month.  We have the arrival of a baby girl to prepare for this month and I'm sure we'll celebrate a few of these holidays also to help the time pass.  Good bye, May...  I can't believe June is almost here!

a lovely holiday to you

Its been a great weekend for us over here.  We visited the San Juan islands and camped there too.  We also camped with family an hour east of our home.  Both were lovely in their different ways and we can't wait to go back.  I look forward to sharing more from our weekend with you later.  But for now...

We'll be remembering the sacrifices of those who have made this country.

my favorite word is "mama"

I feel so blessed to be able to be a mom.  I love to hear my son say 'Ma', even if it is early each morning waking me up and over and over again.  Its the sweetest thing to hear - "mama".  I can't wait to hear it from a little girl one day soon.  My mom is here for mother's day and that is a special treat too.

Thank you, my friends who are moms or who have shared your moms with me.  I have THE BEST examples of mothers in you.

Happy Mother's Day!

reasons to celebrate in May

I like celebrating the little things in life.  So, here are the daily holidays I'll be referring to.  We have 2 birthdays this month and I'm sure we'll celebrate a few of the above too.  I like reasons to celebrate. Good bye, April...  I can't believe May is almost here!

** update **  Along with scrapbooking and bike month May is also Nat. Strawberry month!

sun day

This weekend has been beautiful!  The sun hasn't left us.  

We've been busy settling in and preparing for more guests to arrive this week.  

These pictures are from our Easter Sunday last week. 

It was a really nice day of church, family, flowers and food and I don't want to forget it!  

today we celebrate

Easter really has nothing to do with a bunny but everything to do with Jesus Christ. As a Christian and a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints today I celebrate Easter and remember the life, sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  I am so glad I live everyday knowing about Him.

source

I wish you a lovely happy day.  

This is a nice reminder of the meaning of this holiday.