Moments...

I'm happy...even though Braden deliberately threw his plate full of food on the floor (rice, salmon and broccoli) and I had to get on my knees and clean the mess and I got really, really mad at the moment, I'm happy. I've been thinking lately that this time of my life is here now and is never coming back. I tried holding Brielle today, like I used to hold her when she was a baby and it hit me that she is such a big girl. Today she grabbed my face with her two little hands and looked at me (the kind of look that you feel like they are looking into your soul) and she said to me in a very soft voice, "mommy, you're sweet". I held her tight, as long as she would let me and I just tried to soak up that sweet moment, that will never come back.

Last year around October.

After cleaning the mess during dinner this evening, Braden knew I was very upset with him and I could tell he felt bad. I bathed both of them quickly, I usually let them play for about 20 minutes but I was so mortified...my poor Braden knew I was upset...I was putting his pajamas on and he reached to give me a hug with such love that I couldn't resist being upset anymore...how could I be upset when they love me unconditionally? He puckered his little lips and grabbed me by the neck and gave me the longest kiss on the cheek.

October 2007

At that moment I thought, "I'm the luckiest woman in the world, these 2 children love me!" Can anything else in this world bring me the deep feelings of happiness that I feel right now being the mother of these children? In my whole life, I haven't felt this level of happiness. Yes, of course, I have frustrating moments...but I think of the scripture that talks about opposition in all things and as a mother, could I really feel this high level of happiness if I didn't experience the frustrating times? I guess what I'm trying to say is that we need the frustrating times in order for us to experience high levels of happiness. The longer I experience mortality, the more I understand and appreciate "The Plan of Happiness", and the happier I am.

Almost There...

After about a month and a half I finally feel like we are almost settled into our place. We are so glad that we were able to paint our walls even though it was a HUGE task! It was a lot of work and I had Scott for the first couple of weeks (I'm so glad because he did soooo much!) but we weren't quite done and then school started. He's gone all day and on the weekends the last thing he wants to do is work on the house. I only have a few hours a day when the kids are napping or after they go to bed to get stuff done around the house. So anyway, a month and a half later this is what we have done. It is sooooo nice not to have white, plain walls ANYMORE! It is amazing how different it feels when you have color on your walls! I took a few before pictures of the living and dining areas.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

I got that coffee table at the D.I. in Rexburg (which by the way I think I paid way too much for now that I think about it, it is all real wood though...) about a month before our move thinking I could get it finished before moving...yeeeeeaaah right!...Scott started sanding it in Idaho and then it was time to move...I just barely got it done a few days ago...

BEFORE:

AFTER:

I wish I were gutsy enough to re-upholster that blue chair. It is the comfiest chair and I love it. It just doesn't match anything we have...May be I'll find an inexpensive fabric I love and may be then I will get the guts to get into such a HUGE project...we will see...

This built-in armoire is my FAVORITE!!! With the white walls you couldn't even notice it but with the new color it stands out and I really like how it looks!

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Our dining table got really beat up during the long drive here. You can see the scratches on the table pretty bad, we tried to cover them up but it didn't work. I have a couple of table clothes but they are getting old and I didn't want to spend $15-$20 on one so I thought a table runner would just be easier and cheaper. I got it at Ross for $3.99! I thought it was a pretty good deal.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

I got this little console table right before we moved, literally like 3 days before we moved, from the cutest little store on Main Street in Rexburg called Country Keepsakes. I felt VERY guilty buying it, the owner lady knew me from all the years I had been stopping by her store and she kind of gave a deal. 10% off. Which wasn't much but now I'm so glad I got it because I love it!

This is the most impractical kitchen I've EVER had in my whole entire life!!!! And trust me, I've lived in many places throughout my life!!!!! I DISLIKE (too nice of a word) EVERYTHING about it!!!! EXCEPT...for the nice beautiful window. That is the only good thing about this kitchen everything else is basically RIDICULOUS!

Our bedroom was already painted this pretty yellow. We liked it so it saved us some money and time.

This is the bathroom in the master bedroom...nothing too exciting...

The messiest room in the house...the kids' room!!! I have this pretty green paint for that bedroom and I will hopefully get around to painting it soon and finish hanging their decorations...hopefully by the end of September...

And last but not least this is our messy office/guest room. It was already painted this light blue and I have to figure out how I'm going to decorate this room. For now, it is just plain. Any suggestions?

Brielle & Braden

A few Sundays ago, one of the ladies in our ward approached me and asked if she and another lady (also from the ward) could take pictures of Brielle and Braden. They are two moms who have been taking pictures for years and now want to team up and get their name out there. They are using the pictures to build a portfolio and a website. They are the coolest ladies and so talented. Erin's husband works for the FBI, which Scott and I think is so cool and the other lady, Amy lived in Macedonia for a few years because of her husband's job. People here have the coolest jobs and backgrounds and it is so interesting to talk to them. I just got the pictures today and they turned out so cute I had to share. They were taken at this absolutely amazing place called Meadowark Gardens. The kids cooperated somewhat, but I think Erin and Amy were able to capture their personalities so well!!!

This little girl is always busy...

So happy and then sooo serious!

The cheesiest smile EVER!!!

And can I just say how much I LOVE these two children? The other day I looked at Brielle and I got teary eyed. I couldn't believe that the little girl who used to kick my ribs when I was pregnant with her is now such a beautiful, full of spunk, independent big girl. And my little Braden is such a handsome, sweet, cuddly boy, who is definitely a mommy's boy. Oh how I love these two. They are the greatest treasure I could ever have. They make my days full of work...and laughter.

We are having way too much fun!!!

Can I just say that I'm loving living here in Virginia/DC area so much? We are having so much fun here. We have been taking advantage of everything this area has to offer. Once the weekend arrives IT'S PARTY TIME!!!! Since Scott is pretty much gone from 7am until 8pm Monday through Friday, Saturdays and Sundays are the only days we get to spend together all day and even some Saturday he goes to study for a few hours. We've been trying to go and see at least one place on the weekends. It's been a blast! A few weeks ago we went to the Natural History Museum. It was pretty crowded but it was fun to see all the cool dinosaurs! You could seriously spend days in each of the museums here.

Hope Diamond--45 carats!!! Yes you read it right 45!!!! It is even more incredible in person!!!

Braden seems to ALWAYS want to play with what Brielle is playing with...he's having a fit in this picture right in front of the Hope Diamond!!!

Brielle is generally such a good big sister to Braden. You can see she's giving him the care bear in this picture and usually tell him in a very sweet voice, "it's ok Bwaden, it's ok, here you go"

An old Post Office building, I don't know if it was the first post office building or what...we'll have to go and find out one of these weekends...but isn't it a beautiful building?

Two weekends ago we went to the zoo with the whole family. It was really, really HOT and we started the day late and missed most of the cool animals. But nonetheless, we had a great time and the main animal I wanted to see was the Panda and we were able to see them. They are so cute and cuddly!!!

A red panda.

The fam.

Brielle thought she was so cool wearing my mom's hat.

This is the main reason I wanted to go to the zoo!!! Doesn't he just look so cuddly?

This last Sunday, after our Sunday nap, we wanted to go on a walk with the kids. We decided to drive to DC. There are so many FUN places to walk there. (BTW, since I've been here, I have noticed that everyone is so active and fit! People are always running, riding their bikes, etc. And it's awesome because there are trails everywhere that allow people to do that, it's great!) We went to the Jefferson Memorial, it was so beautiful. It was so nice because there weren't as many people and I have to say that this is one of my favorite spots I've been here in DC so far. It is just BEAUTIFUL!!! We kept walking and we went to the FDR Memorial, then it started to get dark and it was time to go home. But we had such a great time.

The Jefferson Memorial

It was just the perfect day to go on a walk!

Definitely my FAVORITE place in DC so far! I love the view!

The FDR Memorial. It's just so beautiful!

I've always seen pictures of this and I was finally able to see it in person!!! Scott thought he was being so funny!!!!:)

Scott and I were also able to go to the temple!!! I have to say that the DC Temple is the biggest temple I've ever been in!!! WOW!!! It is incredible!!!!! It's about a 20 minute drive from our house!

So far, we haven't had one boring weekend. It's also so nice to get together with my family on Saturdays! It's so nice to spend time together.