1.2.3. jump!

This kid is growing and changing more and more everyday.  He is saying tons of words and phrases now and it is so adorable.  I love going through this phase because their little personalities start to develop and it's just so much fun.  He is quite the daredevil... throwing himself onto the couch is one of his favorite past times.  He'll yell, "MOM!  Watch this!"  And then he'll do the following... over and over and over...

I just love him to bits.

love her.

This girl is the perfect amount of sweetness with a little bit of sass.  I cannot get enough of her.  I honestly worry that something big is going to happen to her someday because she is just too perfect.  The other day when we were grocery shopping she snuck a mix for chocolate chocolate chip muffins into the cart.  We've never made them before so I was a little surprised when I saw them in the cart.  She was so sweet when she asked if we could "pretty please make them together while Petey-boo takes his nap".  I couldn't resist.  They were tasty treats!

She isn't coping with me being so sick very well. This is how she gets my attention when I am feeling yucky and can't be a good mommy.  She stands in front of the tv or takes my book and begs me to play with her.  We spend lots of time cuddling in the afternoon or coloring or reading books together.  She helps me get through my hard days.

projects, etc.

I found this little bird dish at the store the other day and had to have it.  It's the perfect size to sit on the windowsill and hold my ring while I do the dishes and make dinner.  I love it!

I was sealed to Jeremy in my temple dress almost 11 years ago.  It's my favorite dress that I own.  My body has changed over time and the dress still fit in most areas but needed a little addition on the waistline.  I was terrified to cut apart my dress and add to it.  But I said lots of prayers and went to work.  It came together in no time and fits perfectly now!  It was a tender mercy from Heavenly Father because I had no instructions and just kind of made it up as I went along.  (I added a little triangle under each arm.)

I got these pictures from the craft store ages ago and just hung them up as is.  I liked them but I've never loved them.  I decided to take them apart and use the frames for something else.

I added two little phrases and a picture of the kids.  I love how they look now!  I smile every time I read the song lyrics....

family time.

After our day at the temple without kids we had a family game night before sending them to bed.  We played Twister for the first time and it was hysterical!

It ended up in a dog pile on Daddy... insert loads of giggles.  It was one of those moments when everything was right in the world.  I love those moments.

Graham made a First Vision scene out of Legos.  He actually taught the lesson for FHE last night and told the story.  My favorite is Satan's darkness... the black stream coming in near Joseph.

The kids have been playing so well together lately.  Oftentimes they pair off.  Lincoln and Grace play well most of the time and Jayne and Graham really love each other.  I think they were pretending to be monkeys this day.

this child of mine.

Peter is growing and changing more and more every single day.  It's kind of killing me.  I just want him to stay in this phase forever because it is one of my favorites.  He loves to bang his head on things.  I was making dinner one day and I looked over to see him doing this over and over and over....bonk, bonk, bonk.

He is not a cuddler unless you are daddy.  He'll sit with Jeremy forever but not me.  One day he climbed right up next to me and stayed there long enough to snap a few pictures... then he was out of there.

He has become quite the couch potato since I've been sick on the couch so much.  I try to read to him but he's just not interested.  He's learning a lot about letters and fairy tales from Super Why!  It's only temporary... that's what I keep telling myself.

He thinks pants are optional lately.  And he loves to play with the remote.

instapics.

I am finally completely over the flu!  Yeah!  Now I just get to deal with normal pregnancy sickness.  Boo!

We have had the best winter.  Tons of snow.  Tons of rain to melt it.  And a few days of sunshine in between.  I love Cleveland.

I haven't been cooking very much these days... so when I do it's picture worthy.  This mean was delicious... except I put too much salt on the broccoli and it was nasty.

We read the scriptures with the kids every night out of the Book of Mormon Reader.  We finished it and Jeremy decided it would be a good idea to read the Character synopsis and dictionary in the back of the book.  These two got the giggles one night when we were reading.  They thought the words Shiz and LAME-anites were hilarious.  I love them.

Cleveland does an amazing job keeping the roads clear when it snows.  The only downside is they use tons of salt and salt kills cars.  We have to go to the carwash with undercarriage at least every other week.  We've had friends who have had to get a new vehicle because the salt ate away the bottom of their car.  It's lovely.  Peter is deathly afraid of the carwash.  It's pretty funny.

This girl spent four whole days on the couch 'fro-ing up'.  She was SO excited to go back to school when she felt better!

This man has been incredible the past few weeks.  He is what is holding me together.  We were able to go to the temple without kids which was amazing!  I loved every second of the time we got to spend together.  I wish we could do it every month!

I have the most talented, giving friends in the world.  We saw these pillows down and Amish country and my bestie re-created one for each of us.  I love how there are pieces of her all over my house.

The kids have had fun taking turns telling stories with their toys for Family Home Evening.  Gracie told the story of Daniel and the Lions Den the other day with her Lalaloopsies.  It was fantastic.

We hadn't gone real grocery shopping in weeks and I finally felt well enough to go.  I went to three stores in two hours with two kids.  I spent the afternoon on the couch when we were done I was so exhausted.

I am doing a little better with the morning sickness.  I was able to get zofran and it kind of works for me.  I do well in the morning, the afternoon is hard, and nighttime is often brutal.  With or without the medicine I still get sick.  Some days are way better than others.  One night Jeremy was away and I was alone with all of the kids.  I went in to throw up.  Jayne heard me and came in to make sure I was okay.  I was crying (because I hate throwing up) and she came and held my head like this for about five minutes.  Gracie apparently grabbed my phone and I'm so glad that she did.  It was a tender moment I will never forget.

I am not able to hold much of anything down on some days.  I try to eat little meals so my tummy is never empty.  Chocolate milk, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and fruit seem to sit well.  Apples and caramel dip have become a daily snack.

We had the missionaries over for Wilde Wednesday and I was feeling up to cooking.  We had "the big ones" (the kids call giant rolls that).  And Zuppa Toscana soup.  So yummy.  I want some more right now.

Peter is such a funny little guy.  He has learned how to open the fridge and will bring me the milk at least twice a day.  He can usually carry it all by himself but on this day it was just too heavy.  I adore that little guy.

most connected couple 2013.

We were invited to a couples only party the week before Valentine's and I haven't had that much fun with Jeremy in a long time.  It was so much fun!  There were lots of people we knew at the party, and a lot of new people to get to know.  It was seriously so much fun.  I guess they've been doing this for several years.  I hope we get to go again next year!  

The decorations were adorable.  I loved the kissing booth.

Everyone brought an appetizer to share which is my favorite because they are always so yummy.   I made little skewers with a little tomato and fresh mozzarella marinated in pesto.  They were delish.

There's was lots of conversation throughout the night but the main even was playing a Love Connection game.  They split us into two teams.  We were in the first group.  They had the husbands go downstairs while we answered questions.  Then the husbands came up and answered the same questions.  If we answered the same, then we got points.  

Then we switched and the boys and answered first while we were downstairs.  We rocked that round.  I got all of Jeremy's questions right.  

We made it to the next round which was a lightening round.  They asked us easier questions and we'd have to take turns answering them.  We only missed one of those questions.  

Here's the hostess with the mostest and her hubby.  She is my visiting teacher and has become a dear friend. She's who I call to baby-sit when I'm in a pinch and need someone close by to take my kiddos.  I adore her. I just need to convince them to stay here forever so I can really become attached.  I hate good-byes.

Before the final round we had these delicious smores.  The marshmallows and graham crackers were homemade by someones brothers company.  They were so yummy.

See that.... we made it to the final round!

This round was hysterical.  We had to sit like this, link arms and go across the room and pick up oranges without using our hands.  I didn't think anything of it and just stood up and started walking.  Apparently I practically tore Jeremy across the table.  It was rather comical.

We just bit right into the oranges.  Not knowing that the other team that went before us had done the same.  Good thing we are not germophobes!

We rocked this....

We may have fallen down a few times... and when it was Jeremy's turn to grab an orange he literally dragged me back to the table.  It was so fun.

We won by .02 seconds!  Crazy!

Most Connected Couple 2013... right here.

I kind of adore this guy.  So glad he's mine.