A Little Blue

I have been feeling down and a bit sad lately. Wasn't quite sure why.....then I realized my heart still hurts from losing my Mom. I guess the heartache just doesn't ever really go away. It may subside for a time, but then it seems to find its way back. And right now it is back for a while. I guess it is hitting me because Carson just had a birthday, Joshie is about to turn 1 and Colby starts Kindergarten in a few weeks. All things I wish my Mom could share in. Events that I wish I could get advice on and just see and hear her excitement. I know I seem to be a broken record, but I MISS MY MOM! It is truly faith and family that gets me by in my "down" times. This quote gives me such comfort:

“Irrespective of age, we mourn for those loved and lost. Mourning is one of the deepest expressions of pure love. It is a natural response in complete accord with divine commandment: ‘Thou shalt live together in love, insomuch that thou shalt weep for the loss of them that die.’ (D&C 42:45) Moreover, we can’t fully appreciate joyful reunions later without tearful separations now. The only way to take sorrow out of death is to take love out of life.”

Elder Russell M. Nelson, April 1992

Determined

I am determined to get this child trained in the potty way! So......I have resorted to stripping him down to nothing! Wish me luck, because I may be cleaning up some extra messes today. Oh please no! I sure hope not!

Can't Get Enough Of It!

The boys and I watched Prince Caspian the other day, and now I am obsessed with this song! I can't get enough of it! I just love it! Take a listen and see if you love it too!

Look At Me, I Am Thwee!

Once a month we have been having a combined Family Home Evening with Nate's family. It was our turn to host and Carson's Birthday happened to fall on a Monday. So we were able to do both! Carson was SO, SO excited!

He got this Lightning McQueen helmet that he wore for the rest of the night. Hilarious!The Sheriff that he has been playing with pretty much non-stop since he got it. Thank you, Papa!

This picture just makes me laugh! Colby got him the bat and ball with his own money. He is so grown up!



Aunt Nae and Harlie joined us via Skype. Here are the boys giving her a shout out! Isn't technology just awesome!

Here is the birthday boy just before blowing out his candles. And, yes, still wearing the helmet! :)


Aunt Nae was still with us and Papa joined in as well to sing him Happy Birthday. It was really neat that they could be a part of it. Carson loved having some of his family there. Thank you to all who helped make his day that much more special! We love you!

Now, if I can just get him potty trained! Oh, such a challenge!

Oh! And P.S. Colby lost his 3rd tooth that night, too. And, yes, Rhonda he LOST it on his own. No yanking on my part! tee hee!

Carson...Oh, How I Love Thee!

With today being Carson's birthday, I have been thinking of all the things about him that make me happy.

• I love Carson because he is self-less
• I love Carson because he calls a swimming suit a "swimming soup"
• I love Carson because he is crazy and energetic, and he has two chipped front teeth as proof
• I love Carson because of the way he loves his brothers
• I love Carson because of his great belly laugh
• I love Carson because he gets excited over EVERYTHING
• I love Carson because he is a goof
• I love Carson because his response to anything Colby says is "ya, me too!"
• I love Carson because he lights up a room
• I love Carson because his smile makes me happy
• I love Carson because he has worked SO hard to broaden and improve his speech over the last year
• I love Carson because when putting him down for his "birthday nap" today, he said, "come snuggle me, Mama." and we fell asleep together
• I love Carson because he gives zerberts (thanks to Papa!)
• I love Carson because his voice reaches an octive I didn't know existed when he gets excited
• I love Carson because he teaches me something new everyday
• I love Carson because he loves treats just as much as I do
• I love Carson because of his love for life and people
• I love Carson because he is tough with a tender side
• I love Carson because he often has to sleep with a toy car
• I love Carson because the first thing he says when waking up in the morning is, "where's Colby?" and the second thing he says is "where's Daddy?"
• I love Carson because he is Carson!
  

Phew!

So Carson really wanted a Lightning McQueen cake for his birthday this year. Since the big day is tomorrow, I thought I would get the cake done today. I am not going to lie.....this took hours! But, Carson LOVES it! So it was totally worth all the work! Happy Birthday to my Carson who is turning 3!

The Wait

Grandma and Grandpa invited Colby over for a sleepover. He was MORE than excited! I think the pictures below tell you enough. He waited out on the lawn for who knows how long, with stuff in tow, for them to pick him up.I love his excitement for life! Oh to be a kid again!

When It Gets Too Hot Outside.....

We build forts inside!

Comfortable....really???

Every once in a while when I go to check on Joshie when he is napping, this is how I find him: He is sitting up then just falls forward to sleep. How can that be comfortable?? Babies and their limber bodies. How come we can't stay that way as we get older!

4th Oh July!

4th of July has become one of my favorite holidays! We had fun at the Freedom Festival, starting off with the hot air balloons at 6:30 in the a.m. It was so early, but so cool!

We then hit the parade! Here are the boys with their cousins, Landon and Brady, on the walk to our "spot".

Josh just being cute as usual!

Colby and Brady had it figured out! They put their chairs in the wagon. Genius! Oh, and notice to Brady's right.....their is my mother-in-law in her awesome newspaper hat to keep the sun out. Again.....genius! Must run in the C* genes!

Nate plugging Joshie's ears when the loud sirens went by. And Grandpa and Landon, too!

Joshie finally just couldn't take the excitement anymore and crashed on Nate's chest.....awwww, precious! Again notice my mother-in-laws awesome hat.....so cool!

We then headed over to Nate's parents for a BBQ and Nate's cousin built the coolest rocket launcher. So all the kids made their own rockets and then we sent them flying! Here is Nate helping Colby with his.

Here is everyone looking up at the rocket!



Nate and his boy, Carson with a crooked smile that appeared in just about every picture that night. What? Where did that come from?!

The cousins hanging out in the back of Preston's truck! Hope you don't mind, Preston! I think they only made a couple dings on it.....just kidding! :-)

It was a great day, full of fun activities, yummy food, and great family. Hope you all had an equally wonderful 4th! God bless America!