Volleyball to the Rescue!

Every Thursday night, we ladies pile into one of our cars and head off for the YMCA.  The ride over is such great fun; constant chatter and laughing the whole way, very therapeutic for mommies of busy kids!  After arriving and warming-up and start the beautiful game of Volleyball.  We giggle and laugh, and often collapse from doing both at the same time.  We motivate and encourage, and say "my bad" too much.  Once in a while we execute the perfect ~bump, set, spike~  and we all cheer and laugh, and slap hands.  Perfect. Perfect in feeling that the world is totally right and I'm in a place that makes me feel SO elated. Too soon the clock very rudely reaches 10pm and the game ends... "ohh, I can't wait 'til next week!" , "this is SO FUN!", "who's driving next week?", all the usual words said. 

I LOVE playing with these ladies, it has made my life so much more the happier. Something just comes alive in me that I haven't seen as much as I used too.  I wouldn't change my life for anything, ANYTHING!  I'm just so darn grateful for this time that I get to revive that competitive bug in me with a smile.  (If you know me, you'll know what "bug" I'm talking about)

Thanks Girlie's, I love ya!

"Nice Weather"

http://www.whotv.com/news/

We're famous!....or not, but this was our first TV experience and it's fun to share.  Thanks Jamie for letting me know.
It takes a minute or so to get to where we show up, it's Ted and Chloe walking in the water (in her undies :)  and then Porter and me walking on the beach.
*Click the link and then below where you video is played, press "next" a few times until you see a dog face and the title "Nice Weather".*

I'm sorry to those in Utah that are having crummy weather... if it makes you feel better it's raining here today :)
love you all and hope you enjoy conference!

"Welcome Back"...kind-of

Formally and usually known as my true nemesis ( actually all bugs are, but particularly houseflies and mesquites).  Anyway, I'm writing to say that I just saw my first housefly since the cold first visited us this winter.   I'll admit, I smiled and stared in pure amazement and disbelief.   Really?  Can this LONG, COLD, ICY, WINDY WINTER finally be going away?  I might feel warmth from the sun again?  
I then say to this little fly *teary eyed almost*  "Welcome back Housefly, welcome back!!!"....  *smile and stare more at it*

..... *SMACK*... ..  

What?   It lived  longer then any other fly I've come in contact with.  Besides, Porter had to take a nap and there is NOTHING more annoying than a fly buzzing around and worse actually landing on your face while sleeping!

  I know my family understands    :D

Happy Birthday Chloe ~3~

Three years old...CRAZY! 

 ~She even looks a little unsure about the age change~

We had SO much fun and Chloe really enjoyed being doted on all day :)    A couple weeks ago we went bowling with Ted's fellow peers from school and Chloe really enjoyed it.  She very thoughtful expressed to Ted one night, "Dad, I'd really like to go bowling again, I did okay, but I think I can do better next time".  (SWEET! I love the competitiveness coming through :D).  So, no surprise to us that her birthday request was to go bowling. In retrospect, I think her first bowling experience was successful due to the fact that the Arcade was on the other side of the building.  We weren't so lucky this time, she enjoyed bowling... long enough to bowl 2 frames, then it was, "Porter can do it now", and we lost her to the flashing lights and the fun sounds of the Arcade.  Oh well, she had fun and Ted had fun getting some good practice on his game with bowling his and her game .  Porter loved bowling as well, but soon joined Chloe in the discovery of the amazement of the"kid casino".

Chloe, we love you so much and are so very grateful for the light and joy you bring into our lives, we are SO lucky to have you around!

 

Anyone else?

Today I took some pictures of Chloe, just for the reason that I can't believe how much older she looks!  I've been working a lot on picture books so maybe it's because I've been looking at her baby pics through the years, but really, just look at the title picture,  she really does look noticeably older.

Maybe at some point I'll realize that I'm not just "playing house" and that I am really getting older and I am really a mommy of two

Whatever the case, she's beautiful!

 

 

The Unthinkable...

Guess what's wrong?

By Ted's smile you know it can't be terrible, right?  Well, maybe not terrible to us, but obviously Porter feels quite differently.  This is the face a little boy that just ran out of ice cream.  Yeah, big huge crocodile tears over the words "all gone".

Here he is minutes before the "unthinkable" .

Such awful parents...running out of ice cream.

Christmas Eve and Morning

What a wonderful Christmas!  We thoroughly enjoyed our first Christmas at home,  it was so much fun to soak in our little family and the spirit of Christmas.   Although, we dearly missed being around all the hugs, chaos, noise and laughter that comes with being with the whole family.

 Our "Mary" and "Joseph" sufficed for the reenactment of the Christmas story, Chloe of course willing to be Mary and Porter oblivious to what was going.  Ted did some quick costume thinking and made the outfits out of old pillow cases.   The kids were so cute and we loved every minute.

Santa brought Chloe and Porter a train set and they have been playing with it ever since.  Of course one plays with it and the other just loves to take it all apart (bet you can guess which one that is).

The second week of the holiday break we went to visit family; the Johansen clan in Davenport (Iowa) and the Butterfield clan in Burlington (Iowa).  It was so fun and relaxing to visit and play.   Chloe especially loved playing with her cousins.  Unfortunately, I relaxed too much and never took a picture during this time...oops!

We feel so blessed and grateful for all of our friends and family.  What a wonderful time of year! 

hmmm.... did "Joseph" wear a bandanna....?

...and a dress?  Poor, poor Joseph...

 

 

Christmas Morning

My Little Pony's + Trains = Perfect for Chloe