We told Chase to open his eyes.

Act surprised!

 

 

 

 

 

Teaching Jessica how to ride!

A few things as I am sitting here about to scarf down an entire bag of buttered popcorn while watching Count of Monte Cristo (one of Cody’s favorites!)…

-I knew if I didn’t post these pictures I wouldn’t get around to it… so here is the biggest picture overload that will ever exist on this blog. Well, maybe.
-A few funny things about these pictures. 1. Avery is absolutely adorable and is going to seriously break some hearts when she is older. 2. We told Chase to stand by the tree and then take two steps forward he continued to lean on the tree and move his feet outwards. 3. Ethan makes AMAZING silly faces and he looks a lot older than 5 years old. 4. We Carter girls (now Dain, Rindlisbacher, and Searle) make the cutest babies ever.
-My sisters are my best friends. It was amazing to all be in the same place at one time. It needs to happen more often!
-Putting babies right next to each other is hilarious, they love to touch each other’s faces and give disapproving and shocked expressions when it happens right back to them.
-The most fun thing about going to Utah was seeing my brother Jeremy play with Ellenor. I think she really likes him but I am disappointed I didn’t get a picture of them playing together. He laughs at everything she does and she smiles right back in return.
-Looking at pictures of Cody and I on that bike makes me smile. We got to have a little us time (30 whole minutes!) and went for a drive up through the canyon at sunset. It was b.e.a.u.t.i.f.u.l!
-Also looking at these pictures makes me SOOOOOOOOOOO so very excited to get our pictures already! We had them taken right before we took cousin pictures and I already know that they will be fantastic!!!

Other random thoughts…
-It’s almost embarrassing to write but it is a victory for me. I bought a swimsuit from a real store, not a plus size store! I love post baby shrinkage!
-I cannot get motivated to run for longer than 20-30 minutes on the treadmill. Any suggestions?!?!
-Postal system is dumb. I need my book to be here already so I can get started on my homework that is due on Wednesday.
-I am seriously inhaling this popcorn and I should really put it away!


AAAAAAAAAAAAAAND
-I got the best call ever tonight. Cody was in the driveway with his cousin when I went out bawling, they both thought someone had died. But I don’t want to jinx it and have it not work out but June 30^th should be a very, very, very special day for my sister and we couldn’t be happier!

 

 

Ellenor has been keeping me on my toes the last couple of days. She is scooting like crazy and rolling when she can't scoot far or fast enough. Within 5 minutes yesterday she had my camera and computer in her mouth and made it to the other side of the room. Where did she learn to suck on her bottom lip?! That is also a new development, we think it makes her look like a bird, especially from the side because it looks pointed!

Yesterday I heard her just talking to herself after a nap and when I went in to grab her she was chewing on the bumper! Somehow she managed to get it untied and had a good chunk of it in her mouth. By the time I got my camera and tried to hold still from laughing she had taken it out of her mouth.

I do not know what I did to make my immune system hate me so much. I went to the gym last night at 10:30 and when I got home I felt great. But this morning I woke up and ran straight to the bathroom. I am thinking it was just something I ate yesterday because it has been a few hours since I last let loose and I feel alright. I obviously have done something. Today is the third time in the past three weeks that I have been sick. The first was a cold that lasted two weeks, then Cody and I got a stomach bug last weekend and now this morning. I'm just glad that Ellie didn't throw a big fit and went right back to sleep great this morning. It was extremely disappointing because I was supposed to go spend the day with my sister in law while Cody worked up in Boise. Oh well, next time!

Technology has decided that we are no longer friends and I have no idea what I did to upset it so badly. Just after I uploaded pictures from my camera of our amazing Memorial Day weekend it decided to just die. As in will not even turn on. Then our old laptop (which is cracked and the screen is due to fall off at any moment) decided it did not like my camera or the internet. Disappointing but eventually I will get pictures of this weekend posted. Eventually...

We spent the weekend in Utah with family and it was amazing! Monday was also nice being back in Burley. Wait, did I just admit being in Burley is nice?! WIERD! I actually got to make Cody breakfast and we got the yard looking all spiffy and nice. Our garden is also coming along nicely. We have a plentiful crop this year and we are just a wee bit excited for our food. I even bought squash at the store yesterday because I couldn't wait a few more months.

Last night was our young women's hike for girls camp. I was very nervous about  burning out and being the last person to finish because I haven't exercised in a few weeks due to being sicker than a dog. Oh and just life in general. But it was amazing. It wasn't very hard and the girls did great. What is even more amazing is that I survived! Not only did I actually survive but I was in the lead the entire way. Hiking is definitely being added to this summer's list of activities... for every Saturday. It was beautiful to look over this beautiful area that we live in and the weather decided it liked us and was perfect. Minus the wind but we know that wont ever, ever go away.

I have decided that I need to be more like this girl, just maybe not standing on the bathroom sink. Just be more positive in general. Yesterday was one of those positive days, I felt like I could conquer the world and it was amazing. I was so productive and got a lot done. I even registered for a class that starts on Monday. And no, I was not planning on taking a class this summer at all because of girls camp and going to Alaska and also just because it is summer. I only decided Tuesday night that I needed more to do because I felt like I wasn't doing anything with my time that was worth while. Anyways, I need to start being more positive and really just appreciate everything more and take time to enjoy this stage in our lives. Maybe I do need to stand in front of the mirror saying things like, "I love my house!"

One last thing... Ellenor had her 6 month appointment on Tuesday. It was a lot faster than the two and a half hours that the last appointment was. She is now an entire 14 lbs (25th percentile) and 26 inches tall (75th percentile). The best part was her doctor saying that "She is just like her mom, tall and skinny." Well, what a compliment or just a suck up because I am neither but thanks! Especially for thinking that 5'5"' is tall! OH and she is just about completely up on all fours, most of the time it is elbows and knees but there has been an occasional hands and feet, like a bear. It wont be long now until she is crawling. Too bad she has already figured out how to scoot backwards.

 

 

 

Three years ago I met a really cute boy in one of my classes. We talked a little bit and I thought he was special. We went on our first date on a Thursday and I knew that there was something about this kid. We spent a lot of time together and the next Tuesday I took a leap of faith. I invited him to go camping with me and my sister's family. I was so nervous that he would say no and it was the longest two days before he gave me his final yes. 

It was a weekend I would never forget. We spent time playing with the kids, he was so amazing with my nieces and nephews. We spent time around the fire and cruising through the mud on the ATV. He even told me that he loved me. 

As we were sitting in the cabin with the kids on our laps sound asleep watching a movie and drying off he took my hand and spelled out "I want you forever." I knew then that he was exactly what I wanted and that I wanted to spend forever with him.

I still wake up every morning and think to myself, is this real? Am I really married to the most perfect man for me? What did I do to get so lucky?! Every morning I have to remind myself that this is for real. I am this lucky and this is really my life. 

I never imagined three years ago that we would be where we are today with a little girl that we couldn't love any more than we already do. It is funny to look back at these pictures and see how little we were. And when I say look little I mean we really were little. I am the person I am today because of him.