He did it!

Finally, the day we've been waiting and working for, John graduated with his Bachelor's from Utah State University May 7, 2011!! It was a great weekend with family and friends we hadn't seen in too long that live in Logan. I was feeling sick and didn't make it to the morning speaker thing but the afternoon session where the graduates walked and got their diplomas i made it and it was really, really good. So neat to watch John accomplish something that he's been working so hard for for so long. John really is amazing, he went to school full time (did well) and worked full time to provide for our family and allow me to stay home with our kids. Its been a long few years but its been good and i'm so proud of John. Really, couldn't help but get a little teary watching him sit down there with all those graduates.

Way to go babe!

A quarter of a Century....

 May 2, 2011- John turns 25! Holy cow, a quarter of a century!!! Really?! How did we get so old (wink, wink, joking). We had a great day on John's birthday and we celebrated for days, it was fun. John had to work on his birthday so we headed to the zoo first thing in the morning, to lunch and then John went to work. When he got back Kristen watched the kids while John and I went rock climbing and to chili's for molten. It was great and so much fun.

I love John so much and am so grateful for all he does for our family, he is such a good husband and an incredible father. Jack wants to be just like his daddy. Lately they've been working on the truck together and Jack loves to get dad his "tools". So cute. Thanks everybody who helped John's birthday to be special!

(This was taken just after John found out he was getting WaffleCrisp for breakfast, he's not hard to please)

Nellie, 3 months old

Its hard to believe our sweet angel is 3 months old.

She's smiling all the time, sits in bumbo pretty well, loves interaction, wearing 6-9 mo clothes, growing blonde hair underneath all that dark, loves sucking her hands and holding other peoples fingers, doesn't sleep through the night (bummer) but is so so fun.

We love our Nellie girl

Happy Easter!

This is what we filled Jack's eggs with, i love that he calls both peas and candy "nummy's"

Jack loved the bubbles and the peas, and he now loves hunting for eggs.

Nellie slept while Jack hunted

this is the look we first get from Nellie in the morning, love it, its just before she's full of smiles for us

I have no pictures of the Thomas Family Easter party because i forgot my camera. My sister in law and cousins were taking pictures for me so when i get them, i'll blog them. Jack was completely obsessed with the Easter Bunny at the party, it was hilarious! I was dying to have my camera. Lol, he wouldn't leave him alone, and kept saying "bunny bunny, ridbit (thats how he says ribbit, he's a little confused....). Nellie was so adorable in her Easter dress, i can't believe she mostly fills out a 6-9 month outfit!

bathing

I LOVE my little goofball 

This is their first bath together. Jack saw Nellie in there and was just tying to join, thanks Jack for letting us use your cars washcloth to make you sister modest for the picture :) (you can tell she's got an older brother eh)

Oh sweet chubber :) Her and her brother have matching cheeks

Can't believe she's been with us for almost 3 months already! It crazy how time flies, she's growing so fast and we love her so so much. We are so blessed. 

obsession....

I am totally and completely obsessed (have you ever noticed that words is way too close to the word obese, sorry, just realized that while tpying) with these babies. Wow. They are a.m.a.z.i.n.g.

Yogurt covered pretzels

I like to think that with a word like yogurt in the title they can't be that bad for you....well i did a little research and....they are. bad for you i mean. 

But i don't think it can give up this little piece of heaven just yet... i am enjoying them way too much.

Don't try them. They're completely addicting and you'll only regret it....later, i mean, not when your eating them because all you can think about while eating them is how they are oh so good. 

So, you know you want some, here's some advice: 5.39 lb through the Nutty Guy, on sale this week at the sunflower for 2.99 lb. Yum yum yum, i think though after this week this obsession has got to end.

just run

Sometimes John mistakenly tells people that i like to run.
Well its time to set the record straight, I HATE to run.
BUT, i LOVE how i feel after I've done it.

There are a few things i've found that help me get up and out at 5:30 in the morning.

#1 is somebody depending on me. A running partner is HUGE in my motivation to run, props to all of you who can do it all on your on. Sometimes i can, but lately....i can't :)

The #2 thing that helps me get my run in is setting my clothes out the night before. I'll just make a pile of everything i'm going to need for the run and set it in the bathroom, that way i get up, use the restroom, and change. Everything's in one place, no rummaging around for the hat, or the lost shoe etc... when i'm half asleep. It really does help.

Lastly, i'm happier. The days i do it, i'm a better mom, i'm a better wife, i'm a better home-keeper. Its always worth it.

Anyway, this week my dependable one has been my aunt Kristen, its been so great to be running with her. She told me about my new favorite website. I'm probably the last one to jump on this wagon but it really is great so i'm sharing it with all of you.
mapmyrun.com I'm loving it. Check it out. Its seriously so cool.

Visiting Teaching

Today has been a day of Visiting Teaching. This morning i went with my companion and visit taught one of our sisters. Mostly we just talked and enjoyed being with each other, letting the kids play together. It was nice. This evening my visiting teachers came to teach me. It was nice too,  but it left me wondering why. Why was it such a surprise to me that other mom's feel the exact same way as i do? It left me feeling like, yes, we do need each other. As these sweet, amazing women sat across from, trying to act strong, as i did the same, i could see in their eyes that their life isn't easy either. Yes, we try to make the best of what we have, but when it comes down to it, being a mother is hard. Rewarding definitely, but hard. Women can understand each other. Women need each other. Women are made to serve and help and love and understand each other. I need to be better. I need to unselfishly serve others. Anyway, today i'm grateful for women.

My loves

This picture melts my heart. Just driving home from our awesome vacation down to zions (I took the kids and left John to work...poor guy, but we had a blast though, just wished John could have been with us!)

 Reunited with dad, we sure missed him! 

wow its been too long

I'm sorry i haven't updated in forever! It hasn't really been a priority just yet...i keep thinking i'll do it but then i have so many other things to do that i don't get around to it. Anyway, here's a quick update of our lives....in pictures :)

 (trying to catch her smile)

(Jack's breakfast every morning: 2 eggs, grapefruit, "urt" (milk), a few bites of dad's cold cereal, Car's bowl and cup, and "Ruff", his favorite stuffed animal)

I love having a family of 4. It has taken a while to get used to it, but we're getting used to it. Nellie is such a smiley little girl and we LOVE her smile. Jack loves Nellie and takes such good care of her, John takes such good care of us. We're so happy. I have been a slacker though, i need to take more pictures, i need to capture the smile. 

Speaking of having a family of four, we've needed a new car, one that will fit us AND all of our stuff. So, we finally found one...pictures to come, in the meantime you can join John in calling me "Queen Bee," --don't ask :) (I promise you won't need too)

Nellie

I'm way behind in blogging, but here's a little something to hold you over while i work on catching up. Enjoy

Blessing Day

Nellie's blessing day was perfect. It was such a beautiful blessing. So many people came to support and we feel so blessed and loved! Thanks to everyone who cares about our little family!  

(P.S. Nellie was blessed in the same blessing dress i was blessed in, she looked like an angel.)