Some Catch Up and An Awesome Mother's Day

Wow - it's been a while since I've updated our blog. Hopefully now with my new schedule, I'll have more time to do so!

First off - this new year, our ward got the lucky meeting time of 1:30pm... which means - horrible nap time for the little man! So I figured out a way that wins for both him and I!!! We sit like normal in the chapel until after we have had the sacrament (there have been a few times that we actually didn't make it cause he was too grumpy!), and then we move to the mother's lounge - where I turn out the lights and turn on the volume for the PA system - and Jonathan falls asleep within minutes of getting in there - and I actually can listen to the talks!

Isn't he just the sweetest!


As children grow - it's funny to watch as their habits evolve too. For about a week, Matt and I would find him sleeping so hard in the weirdest places/positions. The top of the stairs, the couch, and this picture here - he was actually underneath his indoor trampoline... Matt moved it because he thought he'd wake up and hurt himself...


Over the weekends, we all like to be a bit lazy at times. And I love the giggles that Matt gets out of LJ... It's so awesome listening and watching these two roll around and play each morning.... Look aren't they just adorable and happy!


So now for an update on my job situation... Matt's job allows for me to not work full time for the military - and to him I am completely grateful! I never thought I would even have this option. But after the stress and complications that job was causing to me physically and emotionally, and also to our family - we thought it'd be better to just stay home and allow me to be with LJ more! And I love it!!! But after a couple of days, a dear friend of mine since high school (actually I played against her and her cousins and little sister in sports - but we became awesome friends!) offered me an alternative. She is the manager for the daycare/preschool we started using back in Feb... and Matt and I loved the growth and development that we were seeing in Jonathan. Anyway - she needed someone to help out in the afternoons along with when the other girls needed time off. So now I get to spend the days with Jonathan - while ALSO helping out at the daycare/preschool! It's been so much fun - and the girls that work there are all so amazing. I just love it!

Here is LJ while we were waiting to close last week.... He decided that he wanted to put on his own shoes - and this is what I found....


Here is LJ with his buddy, Jadin. He is my friend's son. Lindsey has always been an awesome friend to me (she's one of the cousin's I mentioned earlier!) and her son is only 4-5 months older than LJ. So needless to say - the two of them together... are quite mischievous!


Jonathan decided that he wanted to dress up later last week - and since Matt has a slight obsession with the Transformers... I snagged this picture for him!!!


Our puppies... Well - technically they are still puppies - but they are beasts to us! Anyway - Bear (you can slightly see him in the cage) was being a bad boy and not leaving his sister alone while being overly aggressive while playing - so he had to come inside and be in timeout! Which ironically - the next day he was being taken in to be neutered! Jonathan decided to go over and play with Bear - so Bear would mimic what Jonathan was doing. When he went up on his hands, Bear would sit up - and visa versa... It was cute.


Last week, Matt took the majority of it off and we were able to do things together as a family. We went out to have some Mexican food on Cinco De Mio (or however you spell it!) - and the two of the boys were just too dang cute to not snap a few pictures!




Onto Mother's Day! Matt and Jonathan got up early (not early for them since they wake up before 6 every darn day) and made me breakfast... But what was really cute was having LJ take me by the hand and say "Come Mommy, come see" He took me out to the front porch - where before they made breakfast... Matt and him had planted me some flowers!


My Mother-in-Law was so sweet and made this arrangement for me. These flowers smell great and I love the color! She is quite an amazing lady - and I'm glad she lives so close that we can visit whenever we like!


I'm so glad that I have the opportunity to be a mother... My sweet little boy is growing so big - and I love being able to watch him develop.

The friendship of brothers

A few weeks ago - ok, it was more like over a month ago - we were able to go an attend the baptism of Jonathan's big half-brother, Kien - and also spend some time with Kien and his mom's family. It's amazing how things work out and to find out later on in life that your family's could have crossed years before they actually did. Kien's mom is now married to a dear friend of mine from high school. I remember hearing stories about Kara's older brother, Lee - and then to find out that he is my son's half-brother's stepdad!!!! Did you follow all that?! Yeah - it's a little tangled web - but Kien was excited when he found out he was going to be having another little brother when I was pregnant - that Chanthy (Kien's mom) and I decided that neither of us had any problem allowing the boys to have a relationship. Brothers will be brothers - and these two are no exception... they have just as much fun when we get them together!

On the drive over to Caldwell, I couldn't help when we were at a stoplight to snap a couple of pictures of my handsome little man... who obviously thought I was trying to hand him the camera...





The after-baptism party at Chanthy's was full of children running crazy - or so it seemed! But it was a joy to have a house full of family and friends to help Kien celebrate the wonderful decision he made to be baptized!








Oh.... brotherly love!



These next couple of pictures show you exactly how busy both of these boys are... and trying to get them to both smile at the same time... well, ya know - there are just more important things to be doing!











Congrats Kien on a wonderful day and thanks for sharing it with us!

Wow - Time to update!

Yes - I know, it has been a really long time since I have updated here, so I'm make a quick post today and tonight, I will get all the pictures off of my camera and really go to town on a new post!

Here is Matt before he had to go help out with the Governor's Ball.... Isn't he quite handsome! :)



This winter/spring season has been a hard one for LJ. He got his with a really bad sinus infection that turned ugly - and so Matt and I have spoiled him a little extra - to include allowing a little Mickey TV time after his baths before bedtime... But seriously - isn't this the cutest thing ever!!!





What mother doesn't have to struggle at times to get their boys dressed?! This little man is not different - even when it's cold... He just really wanted to go start reading his "Dog" book that Grandma got him... He loves that thing!



Count your many blessings, name them one by one....

So my biggest and most wonderful blessing has been this beautiful child! From his birth, he has been a fantastic baby! He enjoys his sleep as much as possible (just like his momma!) and as he gets older, it still hasn't changed.... If we get involved in a TV show or something, and don't notice the time, here is what we typically get... LJ will grab a pillow and a blanket and start laying on the floor within our view, lay there for a few minutes... and then will move around to a new location until we ask him if he's ready for bed - which of course makes him jump up, start heading for the stairs, yelling 'C'mon - mon mommy/daddy' and then start singing a song I picked up from my friend Cindi, "nigh nigh LJ, nigh nigh LJ" - he's really cute singing it to himself as he walks upstairs!



And the aftermath once he gets to sleep... The kid can be a really HARD sleeper! I love it!





Over most drill weekends, LJ gets to spend the weekend with Grandma and Grandpa! I love the my mom sends me pictures throughout the weekend - and here is one from January, I think...



NOW - on to our 'other' toddlers.... Princess and Bear! These two English mastiff's are going to be enormous! I don't think it's really sunk in how big they really are going to get! They are completely inseparable and love to snuggle. They were litter mates that we got from some friends of mine that live near Idaho City. Here's a snap shot of the two goobers when they were about 5 months old....



And here they are a few days later when I took them into PetSmart for a little bath time and puppy groom (had a good coupon!) - and what did we meet when we came in.... a pair (brother and sister as well) of 3 year old brindle mastiff's!!! Look at the size of those guys! Oh dear - is all I have to say! But I am also so excited for the puppy-stage to be over and get in the lazy-big-dog stage that these two are in! I have seen them nearly every time I've got to the store!




There's my quick update for now. I will try my hardest to download the pictures tonight and then I can really get into an indepth update on how things have been going in our lives! Just know that we are all doing well - and excited for warmer weather so we can start going on family hikes!!!

The wonders of Family History

Before I spend time to catch up on the personal side of my blog... I've got to take a time out to say what a blessing family history is! My mom is amazing! She has taken to family history and geneology like a major addiction! And I love it! I love that she has such a strong desire to do as much as she can. And I really love when she calls to tell me how excited she is when she finds something new!!! That happened yesterday - and I just have to share with everyone.... She was emailed some photos - and these are ones she has never seen before. Actually, she has NEVER seen a picture of her grandfather - until these were emailed yesterday! So take a peek, and I will attach her comments as well so you all can read and learn a little more about my family!





Nana1 - top left is my Aunt Toots (Martha Anne Nichols Andrews Flaherty)
my mom's oldest sister; top right is my Aunt Ella (Ella Viola Nichols
Ireland Bardari) my mom's 2nd oldest sister; middle is my Nana and my
grandpa (Martha Anne Ireland Nichols and Horace Edward Nichols) I've never
seen a picture of my grandfather until today; bottom left is my Uncle
Buddy (Richard Winfield Nichols) my mom's oldest brother.





Nana2 - left is my Aunt Ella and Uncle Buddy; top middle is my Uncle
Junior (Horace Edward Nichols, Jr.) as a baby and my mom - don't know who
the boy is yet); bottom middle are my grandparents again, don't know who
the boy is in the background; right is my grandfather holding Uncle
Junior.




Nana3 - left is my Aunt Helen (the tallest one) who was my grandfather's
daughter from his first marriage, my Aunt Toots is standing on the side
and my Aunt Ella is in front of Aunt Helen; middle is my mom with her
Shirley Temple doll (she LOVED that doll) and my Nana; right is my Nana
holding Uncle Junior. My uncle Buddy died a few years ago and so did Aunt Helen. Both
grandparents are dead. My grandfather died 6 months before I was born.
Everyone else is still here.

It's been a while....

I do realize (especially after my blog-stalkers have commented about it) that I have not posted anything in a while. And as you may realize - life has been a little busy - as most of you know!

Quick recap:

29 October - LJ walked me down the isle so that I may be married to one of the world's best men, Matt! And let me just point out that there is only one other day (besides Jonathan's birth) that will come close in comparison to how happy that day made me feel. That day will be when Matt and I will have the joyous opportunity to be sealed for time and all eternity as a family!








2 November - I took a previous planned (and much needed for both of us!) birthday vacation with my dear friend Becky to LA... Our only plan once getting there.... was that we HAD NO PLAN! It worked out for our benefit, as we got in a lot of walking, and when we finally made out way to the beach...... it was GAME TIME BABY!!!





5 November - Though I did not want to leave the beautiful 80 degree weather, I boarded the plane and went to a military course near Salt Lake City, Utah for 2 weeks. And with all silly things, a silver lining will mostly likely be found! My silver lining came from a friend whom I will hold dear for the remainder of life. She became such a strength to me and together we had some good laughs!








After I completed that course, I was met at the airport by my wonderful husband and excited little boy! It was a load off my shoulders to see them both - all mother's know what I'm talking about - you miss them terribly when you are separated (even though separations are needed!).



Thanksgiving up in Northern Idaho with Tera's family! (and mom and dad too!)





Life has continued to stay busy with bursting into the holiday season as well! There is so much love in my life, and I am eternally grateful for the numerous blessings that I have been given and the amazing family and friends that have been placed in my life.

And that pretty much catches you up!!! But I'm not done.... :)

This morning, I had the amazing opportunity to return to the temple and go through an early morning session with a dear friend. And to her, my extreme appreciation and adoration!

There comes a point in life (maybe even several points in life) that we are asked to do something outside of the "plan" we choose for ourselves. And if any of you are like me... you will more than likely fight these feelings, or bring to surface the justifications that have a bit of reason as to why it wouldn't be a good idea. But as I sat in that wonderful building, I realized just who's 'justifications' were actually coming to surface. (And yes Cindi, you all ready made those comments to me - again I bring up the stubborn factor in me!) So even though the point at hand in my life scares the ever-living-snot right out of me, I will put my faith back in my Father, for He knows more than I can begin to comprehend.