15 pounds of UGLY

So the other morning I was taking Brian to work so that I could have the car to run errands during the day. It was a little after 7am and pulling out of the garage we back up so that we see our back yard. Guess what we see? For the first time that I can remember I see a living opossum. I've only seen them as roadkill. Man was it UUUUGGLLYYY!!! The thing was huge! And it just waddled across our back yard. We were afraid it was running towards the yard barn to hide out with Philipe, the ground hog who lives under there, but it just ran behind it and through our neighbor's yard. It was really not cute. Reminded me of the ROUSes from the Princess Bride. I think they must have used an opossum for the model, but tried to make it cuter since it's so ugly normally. Poor things. Since we couldn't take a picture of the one running through our yard, here's one from the internet. (http://www.aaanimalcontrol.com/opossumgallery.htm)

Happy Birthday Adam!

Our baby is one!! He's not a baby anymore...I feel a little sad that my baby is now a little boy. He grows up so fast! Yesterday was Adam's birthday party with just a few of his friends. He LOVED all the attention and possibly loved the birthday cake even more. He even got to have ice cream! Here's some pictures of Adam and the cake. Since I haven't been able to find a cake decorating class I decided to teach myself. This is a first big decorating project I've done, so bear with me. I've decided this is more fun than just using a snipped sandwich bag like I did in college.

It's a turtle cake!

And he's happy to come to the birthday party. This took me a really long time but it turned out cute.

Adam smiling after his first round of cake. He sure liked it!

Adam during his second round of cake, this time with ice cream and he sure loves it! He's so cute! He got icing up his nose, in his hair, and I found cake in his diaper. He's great at making messes!

After opening presents and having fun with his friends. Thank you all for coming! And thank you to family who sent birthday presents--he's really enjoying them!

Stay posted for the birthday video.

Our baby is one!! He's not a baby anymore...I feel a little sad that my baby is now a little boy. He grows up so fast! Yesterday was Adam's birthday party with just a few of his friends. He LOVED all the attention and possibly loved the birthday cake even more. He even got to have ice cream! Here's some pictures of Adam and the cake. Since I haven't been able to find a cake decorating class I decided to teach myself. This is a first big decorating project I've done, so bear with me. I've decided this is more fun than just using a snipped sandwich bag like I did in college.

Remembering the Sunshine

So here in TN it has been raining for the last four days, maybe five...in a row. As I was looking back through some pictures I came across one from last week and it helped me remember the sunshine.


I happened to look out our back door and notice that Phillipe is back. Phillipe is the ground hog that lives under our yard barn. He's the main reason I am nervous about planting our garden. But I am smarter than a silly ground hog...we're getting chicken wire! We'll figure it out. We may not have been born "gardeners," but we can become by trying. In addition, I'm an orchard lady! It's great! Some of the sisters in our ward go out and work in a small orchard and for our work, we get fruit. Sounds like a deal to me! This summer will be spent canning and improving/expanding my homemaking skills. We're stoked!

Adam turns one on Saturday. We're just having a little shindig. Lunch with cake and ice cream. I'm going to try my hand at making a turtle cake. It should be fun! I'm excited to try something new! Stay tuned for birthday photos!

Someone is Confused...

So the other morning Adam woke up super early (he's been doing that all week, bit annoying actually) and after an hour of restlessness gave in and came to bed and snuggled with me. Just as Adam is being peaceful and sleepy I hear this annoying racket coming from outside our kitchen (the other side of our bedroom). It sounded like someone took a jack-hammer and was hammering inside a metal tube! So I get up with Adam and look out our windows. I can't see anything. So I go into the dining room and kitchen and look out those windows. I still can't see anything. Then I hear scratching on metal...it sounds like a woodpecker in the chimney!! So, scared chicken that I am, I leave Adam inside and stealthily sneak outside to catch the perpetrator. I should have taken the big rolling pin...note for next time. But there was no sign of him!

Then yesterday in the late morning, the same sound kept happening. So once again, I stealthily snuck outside (ok, when is sneaking ever NOT stealthily done? oh well...on with the story) and I look at the three sides of the chimney I can see. And then, I spooked it! The confused woodpecker flew out from the fourth side of the chimney. Poor thing doesn't know that chimney's aren't made of wood. I'm sure that with all that rattling and all those vibrations from pecking on metal his poor brain has been addled. Hopefully he finds a real tree to go and peck. Oh yes, and delightful news...Adam has decided that he CAN walk on his own! He's walking a lot more and becoming so brave! He's such a sweet boy. We love him so much!

Our Utah Trip

Brian, Adam and I were very fortunate to have been able to go to Utah this past month. Adam and I went out for 12 days and Brian joined us for the last 3. We had a great adventure and have made it home.We started off our vacation by first visiting family. We haven't seen them since Adam was 5 weeks old. That's too long! Here's Adam with some of his cousins. These are my brother Ben (and his wife Lacey)'s kids. They're cute!

Then we were able to spend time with my brother Tom and his wife Angie and their kids. I only got this photo of Adam with Carter. Silly boys. They both got sick. I must say, having sick kids is awful!

Then Brian and Adam and I headed to Brian's Grandma's house. We were blessed to be able to go to the Draper Temple open house. It was beautiful! Anyone that can go, I recommend it. Adam was really good and loved looking at all the pictures. He was cute!

Then we headed to the temple for the big wedding (the main reason we went out). Kyle and Brian were good mission buddies and roommates before we got married. We love Kyle and Jessy! We got to go on double dates with Kyle and Jessy while we lived in Provo and they were really sweet to come and help us clean our apartment when we moved. We miss them but it was SO good to see them! It was a beautiful wedding.

While we waited for our turn with pictures Brian showed Adam the temple and it was just adorable. Brian is so good with Adam. I love these two boys!

Here we are as a family at the Salt Lake Temple waiting in between shots. Adam looked cute in his little suit. Thanks Adri!

While we waited for the couple to finish up with pictures and before we headed to the luncheon we took Adam to the tabernacle where someone was playing the organ. It was cool! Too bad Adam was asleep. We took a picture so he can look at it later.
On our way to the car after the luncheon and on our way to the reception. This is in front of the conference center. Adam was happy! It was a long day for him.

And here's Brian and Adam all dressed up. They are so handsome! Man I love my husband! And I love my son! Overall, it was a great trip and we were lucky to see many friends. We're also happy to be home. I love my boys!