what we are up to!

We haven't been up to much lately. Chris gone all weekend, and I am so busy still with photography. I have 7 weddings booked this year so far! I am enjoying being at home with my son and I finally feel like this age is something I have under control (watch, he will wake up with a whole new dose of terrific two's!). He is very funny, and bright. He catches on quickly and chats up a storm. He is really into Yo Gabba Gabba and Elmo. Most days we have to leave the house to get away from him asking for TV.

      

This cold weather is blessing us with 8:30, sometimes 9am wake up times! (the above picture was 9:15!)

 

I bought the two above books because disciple is not coming easy or natural to me. I started Love and Logic and so far I am enjoying it, and even seeing results applying them. I do have a hard time consciously thinking of these things unless I am reading the book. I feel like I will have to read it several times for it to sink in. It is about giving your children choices and, if it is safe and harmless, letting them fail and teaching them about it. For example, (and I know Everett is a young toddler and may not understand this yet) Everett is not allowed to walk around in stores. He doesn't stay with me, he runs and runs. We were with my mom and she let him walk, but ended up chasing him. I told Everett, "you may sit in the cart or hold my hand". He held my hand for a second, before running away toward a small pile of rugs that I knew he would trip and fall onto. I let him (it was a very soft fall). I took him up right away and said "this is why you hold mommys hand, you can fall!". I don't know he is young but I want to get in the habit of giving choices and maximizing those "teaching moments". The second book I have yet to start. I did watch this video early this morning, and WOW, my heart longs to be a "hero" to my children, to speak life into them and encourage them in everything!

In the past, I have struggled greatly knowing where I belong in this community of young moms, new moms, or stay at home moms. I felt lost or unconnected, alone. I was angry with others or frustrated at being left out. I know I had no right, and I feel like I am finding my own way and friends. I do have great family, in-laws and friends, I know I have to reach out to them too. I am grateful to my sister in law Tara who invited me to a moms night and is always willing to let our boys hang out.  My old friend (also named Shannon), who I have know since kindergarden moved here with her little girl, Ava, who is a few months older than Everett. We have been hanging often, a few times a week, and it is the most refreshing thing to happen to me. Everett loves his friend Ava and us Shannons have a blast. I hope she feels the same, ha.

I have also tried to go to story time by my house every Tuesday. Everett ran to the door and left last time, so I am kinda embarrassed to go back!
Also, for a while I was feeling so iffy about our church. Mainly because I knew no one there. After a few conversations with Chris, and some other people who have great insight, I know we belong there, and again, I have to CHOOSE to get to know people. It is not something that will magically happen (obviously, we have been there a year now). I joined the Thursday morning bible study and they watch Everett and teach him about the bible while we go through 'The Power of  a Praying Wife'. That is one awesome thing about attending a very large church, they have stuff like this for the women and the option to leave Everett is such a blessing to me. He needs to socialize too!

Ok, enough Wednesday morning randomness! Be blessed! 

GIlbert Balloon Festival

Last Friday evening, after a busy afternoon, we went to the Gilbert Balloon Festival with some of Chris' co-workers (ok, his boss!). They had tickets and a parking pass and wanted to share with us! It was a nice evening. Everett had a lot of fun seeing the "boons" as he calls them! He also loved the fire, he actually is quiet fond of fire already...scary.

 

(ev showing me his 'itsy bitsy spider)

he thinks he's 5.

Usually we take a daily walk to the lake in our neighborhood, and try to make friends with the ducks by throwing them small pieces of bread. They don't like people yet but Chris and I are determined to make them friendly. There is a little park next to the lake that is basically two swings and one giant slide. I let Everett run around in the sand yesterday when I saw him make his way toward that 8 foot tall slide.

He went up and down all by himself (seeing him push his little booty forward so he goes down is so cute). It gave me a little heart attack, but I was so proud of my brave boy. He is getting too big too fast!

November, so far.

Wow. I cannot believe it is almost halfway through November, just 6 short weeks until Christmas.
Everett turned 18 months this past weekend, I need to do his post for that.

Here is what we have been doing since I last posted:

dressed up as a spider, went trick or treating

Went to the farm with family. Everett loved the piggies.

Grandpa Bill visited and we got to have some good quality time with him




gave Grandma Wy many many hugs

'we' voted

I drove to California for some photo sessions and stayed with my friend Laurel

Got a new big boy car seat and forward face (daddy sometimes sits next to E for fun)

had more visits with my moms side of the family who were in town

Vegas

Chris took me to Vegas for my birthday! It was a convenient trip because he was out there for work already.
My flight was supposed to leave at 8pm Thursday, but I kept getting notified that my 45 minute flight was delayed. It ended up being delayed until 2am. Can you believe that. Well when all the madness of my delayed flight was going on, and after 2 failed stand by attempts, Chris got refunded my old ticket and bought a new one on a different airline. I left at 8:15 and landed at 9:30. My plane taxied for forever.
I had never flew alone before, and this disaster was so overwhelming. I was in tears most of the airport. I had left Everett a couple hours prior and was feeling guilty for leaving him and wanted to just cancel the whole trip. Sometimes I LEGIT feel like God doesnt want me to go anywhere. Like the Idaho trip where my flight was booked wrong, or when I left my house to meet some mom friends at a farm an hour away and got pulled over and received a ticket, now this trip. I don't feel like He is punishing me, more of a priorities thing (even though all my time is with Everett). I am probably just nuts.

Anyway, I arrived at the Hard Rock where we stayed late Thursday. Chris showed me around, we got a late dinner. We "slept in" that next morning (like 7:30, why does that happen), I took  as long as I wanted getting ready. Chris had work to do so we were just hanging out in the hotel. Around 11 we went to the strip. My favorite part of Vegas is walking around, looking at all the casinos and stores. We walked so much the two days we were there.
Friday night we went to Fremont Street. I had never been. It was actually a lot of fun. Lots of concerts and street performers going on. We even went to a Haunted House. I loved and hated every second of it.
Saturday we had hotel breakfast, went to the other side of the strip, played some blackjack, and got Serendipity Frozen Hot Chocolate that I am determined to remake.

Here are photos in no order.

I am so  grateful to my sister in law and brother in law for taking care of my sweet boy Everett. I had zero worries or concerns with him being there. Sometimes when my mom watches him, I feel bad, like its an inconvenience for her to tote around and entertain a toddler (she never feels like this, only I do). But with the Treslers I know its just adding one more to the mix, and that his cousins keep him happy and entertained. I was sent many photos (see below) and even though I enjoyed my time with my husband, I missed my boy like mad!