Move Over Martha

I've never been a super crafty person. I never seemed to be able to create my ideas the way I wanted to and I usually ended up putting some unfinished project on a shelf and never getting around to finishing it.

Until now.

Maybe it's because of the Christmas season, but I just completed 3 crafty Christmas projects...and I actually like them.

My wreath

My 12 Days of Christmas advent calendar

And my "artistic" Christmas trees.

And my favorite part of making them?

Making it with darling Camille. Love her.

So move over Martha Stewart. There's a new crafty woman on the block.

Bringing Sexy Back

A conversation from a week ago.

Julia: "If you can go on one freebie date with any famous person, who would it be?"

Jake: "What...we're married..."

Julia: "I know, I know, I just meant in the highly unlikely event that it could ever happen, who would you go on a date with? I promise I won't get mad."

Jake: "Umm OK. Angelina Jolie I guess."

Julia: "Good pick, I like her."

....Silence....

Julia: "Do you want to know who I would pick?"

Jake: "Yeah sure."

Julia: "Well it would be a tough choice. Either Ryan Reynolds...or Johnny Depp. Something about him is intriguing."

A couple days later I was at the grocery store getting ready to check out and what did I see? People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive issue with who on the front...Ryan Reynolds. And as I flipped through it I saw a picture of Johnny Depp and a side note that said he was voted the Sexiest Man Ever.

I have good taste.

And when I told Jake about what I had read I told him not to jealous. Since I had chosen two of the sexiest men ever and since I think Jake's extremely good looking he should be honored.

Who knows when he'll be on that cover. :)

Saggy Drawers

He's got a little bum bum.

It's a little too big for a size 1 diaper and a little to small for a size 2.

Month Four

Dear Rhett,

You are our four month old handsome, happy, giggly, almost sleeping through the night, little guy. Maybe little guy isn't the best description. You are bigger than most of the 6 month olds at church. We love all of your rolls and folds. We can't stop kissing your cheeks and your fuzzy head. Your hair is getting blonder and blonder each week. With your dark blue eyes you are quite the cutie. You smile all the time, especially when we say your name with excitement. You have the best giggle and you always seem to get the hiccups when you laugh too hard. You still scream bloody murder when we make you do tummy time, but you are finally lifting your head. You're mastering grabbing your toys and putting them in your mouth. And you are starting to discover your toes. I catch you staring at your feet and then getting startled when they move. You love the song King of Anything by Sara Barellis. We listen to it when we're making dinner and you kick your chubby legs so fast when it comes on. You coo so much now. One night you woke up after being asleep for about an hour and we went in to make sure you were OK.

When you saw us you started grinning and it is hard, so very hard, to be frustrated with you when you look at us like that. (And we think you know this) You started cooing and talking to us. I said, "Rhett did we forget to say family prayer?" You cooed. I asked you who should say it and you squealed with happiness. We took that to mean that you wanted to. So we started the prayer and you repeated every thing we said with your little noises. So adorable.

We love you little buck-a-roo,

Mom and Dad

Commercial Breaks

This commercial makes me happy.



But personally I think Rhett is a little cuter than the baby in it.

Personally.

Gratitude

I've been thinking a lot about what I wanted to express gratitude for this Thanksgiving. I feel that this year has filled with so many blessings, more than I could ever list. So I decided to write this post about one topic that I feel has been the catalyst for all of our blessings.

Jake and I are both LDS or Mormon. Growing up we both new that when we found someone who we wanted to marry, that we would chose to get married in one of our church's temples. We knew that we wanted our marriage to last longer than just "till death do us part." We didn't want the life we would build together, the trials we would share, the success, the joy, our relationships with our children, to end when our mortal lives did.

The prophet and apostles of our faith came out with a proclamation to families everywhere in 1995. One of the first paragraphs reads, "In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshiped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize his or her divine destiny as an heir of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally."

All of the ordinances done in LDS temples are performed using the priesthood of God. It is this priesthood authority that Jesus referred to when he taught, " Whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven." (Mathew 16:19) Since priesthood power is eternal ordinances sealed with the priesthood are also eternal, which makes them so important to us.

So why am I so grateful for this? I'm grateful that our marriage will last forever which makes it all more special for us. I'm grateful that because we were married there that Rhett will always be ours. I'm grateful for the peace I feel when we go to the temple. I'm grateful for their stunning beauty. I'm grateful the God has given us a way to know, understand and be closer to Him. I'm grateful for the Plan of Salvation and that it teaches us who we are, where we came from, why we are here and where we are going.

So this Thanksgiving instead of making my usual list, I'm just expressing my gratitude for these buildings and the blessings which have stemmed from it.

Hey there good looking

Jake -

I just wanted to let you know you looked especially handsome when you left for school today. No one can pull off jeans and a t-shirt like you. I don't know how I got so lucky. :)

Love,

Your Wife

P.S. You're a wonderful father. :)

Love

Sweater Weather

So I really hate the winter. I go into hibernation mode. People try to show me the redeeming qualities of the season but I don't buy it. Snow is pretty, but so is green grass and flowers. Snow brings the holiday spirit, so does Christmas music and sugar cookies. There are lots of fun sports/activities to do in the snow. True, I do enjoy skiing, but after awhile my toes and fingers freeze and that's not fun.

But there is one thing I love about winter.

Sweater weather!!!

Cable knit, argyle, cotton, wool, cashmere, I love them all.

These are my favorite sweaters from J.Crew and Banana Republic.

Love the design.

Love the lines and the buttons.

So feminine.

Absolutely love the color.

Anything sparkley gets my attention,

Ditto.

Fabulous color.

Looks warm and fuzzy.

Total cost for my new winter wardrobe- $840.

Maybe I can convince Jake that his tuition for winter semester really isn't important. Maybe.

3oz or less

Airport security...always a good time.

Even when you have a baby, they still think you could be a threat.

And you're only allowed 3oz of liquid...so generous.

One time they took my finger paints...really.

But my favorite airport security experience happened last weekend.

A man ahead of us was trying to get through security with a 2 liter of Mountain Dew.

That's about 67oz.

I have to admit I admire his love affair with his soda.

It reminded me about a Brian Regan clip.

So kuddos to you soda man for trying to stick it to the man.

Better luck next time.

Her Eyes His Lips

Jake

plus

Julia

Equals Rhett-and he's a cutie. :)

Live Your Life Like a Disney Princess

So, my mind was wandering today and I was thinking about Disney princesses and how I could relate some parts of my life to being a Disney Princess. And I thought, hey, that's not a bad way to live. So here's my goal for Living Like a Princess.

Pray daily.


Exercise

Take naps

Eat healthy

Clean up

Read

So that's my goal! :) Feel free to laugh at me. But I think it's excellent.

Like Father, Like Son

I live with 2 boys.

They both have similar habits.

Jake leaves his wet towel on the floor, Rhett leaves his blankets.

Jake gets grumpy if he's hungry, Rhett feels the same way.

Both need a lot of attention and affection.

And both can be rather gassy.

And from this last similarity I have given them nick-names.

Jake is Gaseous Maximus and Rhett is Farticus Sparticus.

I love my boys.

Even when they smell not so sweet.

Month 3

Dear Rhett,

I'm sorry that this is a few weeks late. You have become a funny, smiley, goofy, playful little man and honestly I have more fun playing with you than doing any of my other chores. Which is why our laundry pile is starting to resemble Mount Everest.

In the morning we've started bringing you into bed with us to snuggle. It's one of my favorite times of the day. You love to snuggle and usually you fall back asleep, which we love. If you don't want to sleep you love to play and give us big goofy grins and giggles. We sing songs and take our time getting up. You have helped us slow our lives down and helped us have more gratitude for the small, sweet moments.

Rhett you have also become quite the conversationalist. You coo and babble and squeal with so much enthusiasm. You will look at us in the eye and start telling us your stories with your eyes so bright and your legs kicking so fast.

Since you were born you've hated bath time. You would scream and twist around in your tub the whole time. It was a wrestling match and your dad and I had to double team you in order to get you clean. But this month we made an amazing discovery. You love to shower. You don't scream, you smile. You are the cutest naked baby ever. It's impossible not to cover your chubby knees, little Budda belly and round cheeks with kisses. Or if it's your dad, with zerbers.

This month you have started to love your play mat. And your biggest achievement is that you can grab on to the rings and toys and shake them around. You love to talk to Mr. Octopus who hangs from play mat. You squeal with happiness when you make your rattle shake.

You are no longer my little newborn. I can't call you my itty bitty anymore. You are my little Mr. Man. You are my buddy who dances with me in the kitchen, who loves when I vacuum, who calms down immediately when I hold you, who smiles the biggest for your dad. You are such a blessing in our life. We love you Rhett Rhett

Mom and Dad