Spring Family Photos

I wanted to get some springtime family photos and one year pictures for Pepper. So naturally my first call was to our wonderfully talented photographer and friend, Laura.
So last Saturday, Laura and her little baby girl, Megan, came over and took some wonderful pictures for us. We decided to stay here at our apartment complex because we wanted to have some nice photos to commemorate our stay here and we thought the backgrounds would be perfect.

Laura did a fantastic job and we couldn't be happier with the results.
And I must give a shout out to Heather's beautiful flower hair clip that was just perfect.
It is so great having such talented friends!

Perfect, just perfect!

Morgan can find a musical instrument anywhere!

Thank you, Laura for helping us beautifully capture such a special moment in our family's history.

5 1/2 Years in the Making!

Yesterday, I finally finished a blanket project that I began right after Cody and I got married 5 1/2 yrs ago. I had no clear vision when I began crocheting of what I wanted to have my blanket look like. I was just trying to be crafty and kill some time while Cody worked all day and I worked all night.

I worked on the blanket on and off over the years but was never really focused on finishing anything. I would run out of yarn and go to the store and wouldn't be able to find the same color so I would end up with something totally different. I wasn't following any particular pattern so my edges kept getting messed up and the entire blanket was becoming very mishapen.

Sadly, I did not take a picture of this first effort but let's just say it was horrific! A few months ago, I enlisted my sister, Jill, to figure out if there was a way to help this so-called blanket. After trying and trying to figure out if there was any way to save it, Jill finally told me that I just needed to unravel the entire blanket and start over. Of course, it only took Cody and I a couple hours to unravel years worth of work and in the end I had yarn balls that were the size of basketballs.

Once again, I didn't take pictures of my crazy collection of huge yarn balls but I did manage to get some pictures of the process.

After a few months of making 5 in squares, creating a pattern and staying focused, I was ready to put this blanket together and finally finish it. I decided to do 12 squares up and 8 across. I bought a new accent color to have as focal point squares and a border. I laid out the squares on the floor in a bit of a mismatched non-pattern and got ready to stitch it together with a whip stitch.

I stitched the long rows together first and then stitched them to the next row and worked my way across. After they were all stitched together, I crocheted a border with my accent color.

I picked a light yarn to stitch with. I didn't plan for it to be so noticable but in the end I really liked how it made a checkerboard look on the underside.

I know it has its imperfections but I am very pleased with the results. My little critics seem to be happy with my efforts and that is all that matters!

I am taking a little break before I start another one but I am definitely hooked. And next time I will have a much better understanding of what I am doing...that always helps:) If I get real crazy I may start taking orders, either a baby size blanket or twin size blanket...just maybe. I would love to help teach others if anyone wants to make their own. Just let me know.

Uncle Mike and Mother's Day

Last weekend we were very pleased to have a visit from Uncle Mike.

We were all very excited to see him and are glad he made the long trip up here from Alabama.

Friday night Cody had tickets to see the Cleveland Indians. Unfortunately, a big storm came in and rained out the game just minutes before Mike got there. We hung around for awhile to see if maybe, just maybe the rain would stop but when the bleachers began flooding we gave up and went home.

Saturday morning, we got up early and drove to Kirtland so see the visitors center and the temple. We were trying to beat the rain but near the end of our tour the skies opened once again but luckily we managed to see most everything.

Mike with the Kirtland Temple.

We didn't go inside because the kids were nearing the end but we did a quick trip around the grounds before heading home. Morgan LOVED having Uncle Mike around.

Hanging out on a rainy Saturday afternoon.

No naps made for some crazy kids but luckily Mike is used to craziness since he has 5 kids at home.

Pepper seemed quite taken with Uncle Mike as well.

Morgan likes to save space when sitting next to people he especially likes.

Saying good-bye Sunday morning.

Thanks again for coming Mike and come again soon!

See you in Florida.

Now on to my favorite day, Mother's Day!

This is how I was woken up Sunday morning. So happy!

I am so grateful to be a mother and to have two beautiful little souls on loan from Heavenly Father to look after. Everyday may not be perfect but I wouldn't trade a moment of my time with them. Morgan and Pepper are my favorites!

We found another geese family on our Sunday afternoon walk.

Perfect.

Pepper's still not sure about this whole grass thing but she's getting braver.

Even though it was a little wet and cold, we were all so happy to be outside in the sunshine.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day weekend.

Also, a special shout out to my sister Kim (her husband is Mike,) who had a birthday yesterday.

I am always amazed at my sister's boundless energy and ability to get things done. Kim takes care of five children, keeps her house spotless and still has time to be a referee. I give Kim a hard time for not being able to sit still but I know I should strive to be more like her. I love you, Kim. Thank you for being a great example to me and an awesome big sister!

Babies, Babies, Babies...I Love Spring!

I have been keeping a close eye on this mommy and daddy geese. Every day when I drive out of the complex I looked to see if the mommy was still sitting on her nest while the daddy kept a close watch. Last night as I was leaving I noticed that the babies had finally arrived. I quickly called Cody so that he and Morgan could go see them.

This is happiness.

Last Saturday morning we decided to go to the playground to have a picnic lunch before the rain came and we would be stuck inside all afternoon.

I love her flippy hair wings and scrunchy face.

My big boys.

Pepper loved the slides despite her facial expression at this moment.

Morgan and Pepper are starting to really play and have fun together. Morgan loves to tickle Pepper and make her laugh. Pepper really likes it too. To get Morgan's attention, Pepper keeps flopping on the floor in front of wherever Morgan and I are so that he'll tickle her. I was starting to wonder why Pepper kept falling over until I figured out she was waiting for Morgan to notice her. Pepper is also starting to communicate more each day. The last few days she has really latched on to her baby dolls. Cody and I both kept repeating the word "baby" to her and yesterday while we were at Little Gym, Pepper picked up another baby doll and said "baby" pretty clearly. Now she keeps saying it and looking at me with this big smile, as if to say, "Look how big I am! I am so smart!"

So yesterday afternoon I tried to capture it on camera. It took me awhile to get her focused but if you have patience at the very end of the video she finally says it.

For playgroup on Wednesday, we went to a park in West Akron near where we are moving. Here is a great picture of my adorably pregnant friend, Heather and her little shadow, Pepper. I thought Pepper was a mommy's girl but not if Heather is anywhere in the room. Pepper practically jumps out of my arms to get to Heather every time she sees her and does a little crazy dance until Heather picks her up. Thanks, Heather for carrying my daughter along with yours:)

And finally, Morgan woke up from "quiet time" the other day with some awesome bed head mohawk action. He wasn't in the mood for pictures but his hair was too sweet to pass up.

So that was our week.

I hope you all have a fabulous Mother's Day weekend, and that all you mommies out there get the love and attention you deserve.