Monday, May 20, 2013

magical sunday.

today was one of those sundays that my heart felt like it might burst. burst right out of my chest. it was full of gratitude and love. gratitude because i was finally feeling better after my 'bout with a stomach bug all weekend, and also because it was just one of those magical sundays. ya know what i mean? those sundays where the weather, what you eat, who you're with, and everything is almost perfection. 

my heart was full of love for this little family of mine. brooklyn and james put up with me being sick all weekend. james changed brooklyn's diaper every time. we're talking six times in two hours. her tummy also didn't feel too swell friday night. brooklyn gave me plenty of loves and lots of "i so-wee"s. she also was a total rock star and marched right into nursery without one tear. so proud of her! she stayed the whole two hours and was thrilled to do it. she's getting so big and just growing right up. my heart bursts with love and sadness.

after james picked a bucket load of mint in the backyard this evening, we decided after talking about it for two years, it was high time we made our own mint limeade. i looked up a few recipes and then we just kinda dove in. what we came up with was a pretty tasty drink. i only took a sip because my tummy's still a tad iffy and one sip was enough to know it was good. no need to down a glass. but james did. and he loved it.


between rain storms brooklyn wanted to be outside. always outside. james obliged and played with her forever. she was in heaven. in only her diaper and a blanket for a cape, playing with her daddy on the tramp made her day.




then it started to rain again. drats. little did she know that her daddy had another fun activity in store. 

fort making.

she loved it. she wanted to be under it, on top of it, around it, and next to it all at the same time. if you've seen her in real life, you know what i mean. totally brooklyn style. 



(take note of the carpet burn on her cheek. aint no thang.) 


gosh these magical sundays make my week. especially because, i think, i don't have to go through those miserable sunday night blues any more. i don't dread 'going to work' monday morning. i love my job. i totally and completely love it. it's not easy. no no. teaching kindergarten was a lot easier in a lot of ways, but this job, being a stay at home mom, is sooo much better. in like a thousand ways, my new job totally rocks. i wouldn't trade it for all the money or clothes or purses or shoes or...you get the point. i wouldn't trade it for anything. it's something i try to remind myself of when i'm having a really bad mommy day. those days don't come super often, but when they come, i remind myself just how good i have it. i am blessed. totally blessed.

this week i'm praying for lots of good mommy days as we pack and prepare ourselves for our hawaii trip and flight. we're stoked for this vacation and only hope the prep, and journey there, will go smoothly. i've already made five lists. not even kidding. that's how we roll around here and it works. so send good karma and prayers our way. packing and flying with a toddler is cray-cray and we're about to do both. ahhh! 

but first, we've got a dinner party to host for the holmes crew here at cream gables tomorrow night (monday) and we're pumped. i'm thinking... hawaiian haystacks...




p.s. my team teacher in my church calling got married this weekend and gave away tomato plants to her guests as a welcome and guess what?! i scored three of them. bless her.

Saturday, May 18, 2013

daybreak bbq.


thursday started out as the most sunny/happy day. brooklyn and i gulped down our breakfast and headed to the park. she was in heaven. she probably hadn't been to the park in over a week. she was going through withdrawals. getting her in that swing made her day! she didn't want to get out. our whole time at the park was spent 'at the swings'. she loved it. and to make the deal even sweeter, her daddy stopped by to say hi to us, give us kisses, and then say goodbye. she was thrilled.



the heat and all the swinging, and then post park playing really wore her out. she fell asleep, rice krispy in hand, on the floor with her nana. she had a great nap i tell ya. when she woke up, she promptly finished that rice krispy treat. no wasting those around these parts.


the day started getting less sunny and a lot more cloudy. we were bummed because we were heading to a bbq out in daybreak at my MIL's brother's home. kurt and steph were the awesome hosts and spoiled us with tons of food.

brooklyn loved their tramp, dog (from a distance), the bubbles, and steph's son hayden.




not pictured is brooklyn's favorite food at the bbq... nacho cheese doritos. she was in heaven. she ate more than just that, but she definitely filled up on those yummy chips.



their house was so cute, slide in the basement included. steph and her kids were so cute with brooklyn. they let her go wherever she wanted, play with whatever she wanted, and she even got some glow sticks at the end from aunt steph.



we had a great time and loved the time we were able to spend with my in-laws. promptly after we left the bbq, i got sick. and i've been sick for the last 36 hours. ugh. i do feel a little better this morning, and by darn i have to feel better. we have another bbq to attend at ruesch manor tonight. not to mention, we have a lot of errands and things to get done before we head to hawaii. 


Thursday, May 16, 2013

on her way...

well, she's at the mtc safe and sound and she's six weeks away from being in texas. we all made the trek down (minus james darn it) to provo, dined at pizza factory, and then said our goodbyes.

enjoy the pictures from our day.
















happy almost weekend.

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

wordless wednesday...


(and not really wordless)

we ate at texas roadhouse as tori's last supper with her family. we left with full tummies and were super content. brooklyn ate more in that one meal than she has for a whole week. she loves her some texas roadhouse.






Tuesday, May 14, 2013

just rollin...

as you might have guessed...

things are crazy and busy over here. brooklyn's soaking up every last minute she can with her aunt toria before she heads to the mtc in the morning, and she's loving having her nana and papa here.

so know that we're alive, just busy.


Monday, May 13, 2013

mother's day weekend.

mother's day weekend was a crazy busy one for us. we were all busy getting everything ready for my SIL's farewell dinner. we did get to relax, play heads up, go to the temple, and eat sushi in between all of it. but boy are we pooped! so this post will be short and sweet like the last couple. enjoy the pictures.

(thanks again hay for watching brooklyn so we could go) 

 (late night sushi dinner. delish.)



(see. pooped.) 

the sweet little thing that made me a mom. gosh i love her to bits and pieces.




(wearing my other mother's day present from james.)

(soon to be hermana ruesch) 



(the ruesch gang - minus gary) 

a total bonus of the day was getting to see and hang out with these two. we haven't seen them forever.


grandma and grandpa brown came down to help set up on saturday, went to the temple and sushi with us, drove home late, and were back two hours before church to help again. then, they worked in the kitchen the rest of the day. talk about work horses and so selfless to spend their sunday/mother's day like that.


after all was said and done, a nice round of darts took us into the evening and it was time to go to bed.


boy oh boy... 10 days until we're on a plane headed for hawaii. it sounds heavenly right now. can't wait.