Important.

All you new mom's should probably click here for some very, very important parenting advice.

...the treasure you are.

Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are.

Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart.
Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow.

Let me hold you while I may, for it will not always be so.

One day I shall dig my nails into the earth, or bury my face in the pillow, or stretch myself taut, or raise my hands to the sky, and want, more than all the world, your return.

-Mary Jean Irion

My normal days with Caden are such a treasure. We were driving down University Parkway to go pick up prescriptions at my old work and I literally had tears of joy fill my eyes. I am so grateful to be at home, to be able to watch him learn new things every day, and to be learning things from him everyday. His new things lately are: spitting when he's mad, hanging on for dear life to his toys and shaking them, kicking like crazy in his bath, and staring intently at books. I went to this book show with some of the girls from our ward and I'm quite excited to get the things I ordered because Caden cuddles when he can stare at books. Plus the books, Usborne, are just plain sweet.

We have been spending lots of time with just the two of us seeing as though my expectations of Bryan being a 2L were completely wrong--shouldn't be surprised there. It tends to happen quite frequently. His 2L year is proving to be far busier than his 1L year; He got a great clerking position with a firm here in Provo so with that, on top of the many interviews that 2L's have and school itself, we haven't been seeing much of him. Not complaining though. All those things that are keeping him away are definitely good things.

I've been staying very busy reorganizing every inch of our house. I've deep cleaned everything and gotten rid of all the junk from my pack rat days. (Which was very extensive considering my pack rat days ended yesterday.) I've also been trying to get some sort of food storage started. I'm finding it kind of difficult though because I'm such a picky eater. AND...I totally do not get this. We go into the emergency food supply store and they have all these buckets of WHEAT. Uhm...if I am in need of actually using my food storage do you really think that I am going to mash...grind...whatever...up the wheat to get flour to then make bread with?!?! I'm pretty sure that is not happening folks. Plus if it's that destitute of circumstances do you really think we will have electricity to bake that stuff? Bryan's answer to this was dutch oven. Uh, last time I checked we do not own one buddy. So with that said, does anyone have any advice on good things to buy for food storage--that are actually realistic for someone who is no baking diva?!?

I've digressed. Back to my point. I am really so grateful for the treasure of normal days.

This is My Town

Da Na Na Na Naaaa
Where I was born,
Where I was raised,
Where I keep all my yesterdays,
This is my town.

-Montgomery GentryDriving through my old town brought back so many good memories of growing up. I lived in the best neighborhood in the world. As I walked past all the houses very vivid pictrues came back from my childhood. There was always close friends around riding bikes, playing night games, and building forts. I was a very lucky kid. It was hard to explain to Bry exactly what we did with all our time in this little town--we always got creative. Dad, Cody, Logan, Bry, and I went to a Minnesota Twins Baseball game. Mom babysat Caden--I had a really hard time leaving my baby. I even made my dad call to check on him a few times so my mom didn't think it was because I didn't trust her. :) But the game was great; They beat the Yankees 4 to 0 which put them in first place in their league. Growing up this was Dad and me's father daughter date. I was in shock going back home for the first time in almost 3 years. My little town has changed so much; It now has 4 stop lights and a huge overpass highway running through it. I didn't know what to do with myself.

They are also starting to restore the downtown area. They put in a brand new park. I'd forgotten just how pretty Wisconsin is...sometimes all I remember is the frozen tundra winters. :)

Poor Caden will never forgive us when he sees all the things he was put through by his father.I think Grandma and Grandpa liked their first grandbaby. He definitely liked them. Let me just say that becoming a parent has made me infinitely more grateful for my own parents. One of the bridges down by the University my dad teaches at. We spent three of the ten days in Wisconsin Dells at my parents time share resort. It had 6 water parks at the resort alone. We spent lots of time on the lazy river, in the wave pool, and going down the many slides. I think the funniest part of the trip was my dad complaining about the dark tube ride. He said, "You might as well put me in a dark closet, scream in my ear, and pour water over my head."

Riiiiiight Dad.Cute little boy after meeting everyone from my home ward. Everything and everyone had changed so much since the last time I'd been home, especially.....Cody.

This is so sad, but the last time I saw my baby brother he was probably 4'10 and weighed maybe 70 pounds. When I saw him I barely recognized him...until he opened his mouth. He is still a hilarious punk. He's now almost 6 feet tall, can drive, and has grown up into a great guy.One of our other favorites of the trip was what we named, Yard Numb Chucks. My brother Logan killed us all every time we played.

We had a great trip back to MY TOWN.

Home Sweet Home

There is something to be said about when a house is no longer just a house, but a home where memories are kept, where you feel safe, where you feel you belong. We are back HOME! I really feel so blessed to be where we are and to feel so at home here in Utah. It was fun to bring Caden home for the first time. He had the cutest smile when we took him in his bright green nursery. And of course we can't wait to see all our Utah friends!!!

San Francisco Treat

Megan nanny's for an awesome family that let us stay in their condo right in Ghirardelli Square for the weekend. It had an incredible view of Alcatraz and the Wharf. We had a great weekend exploring San Francisco--although it is definitely not a kid friendly city--it is definitely a people watchers dream. There are so many "unique" people there. Here is the view from the balcony:Thanks to Caden needing to eat at 6 am I was able to see the fog rolling in. Pretty neat.Highlights of the trip:
1. Trying Thai Food for the first time.
2. Watching Megan drive in downtown San Francisco. Actually, make that watching Megan drive period. Had I not been fearing for my life it would have been hilarious.
3. Clam Chowder.
4. Jenna and Steve.
5. Seeing a 25 million dollar home.
6. A street sign in front of a 5 by 5 foot patch of grass that said: Mini Park.
7. Getting yelled at by a talking statue for not tipping him.
8. Waiting 3 hours for Bryan and Jarom to get back with movies. Apparently they got a little lost.
9. Driving through the Prisidio three times because we kept missing the right exit.
10. Watching Bryan wear the bjorn.

We spent the first night eating Thai and Cold Stone ice cream, and hanging out with our friends that just moved to SF, Jenna and Steve.Saturday we headed down to Fisherman's Wharf with Megan and Jarom. We ate at some Sourdough place that had really good clam chowder. Then we walked to one of the beaches and Ghirardelli's. Jarom with the mean Statue. "I can't believe you feel okay about not tipping. I have to eat too you know." Here's a tip: Get a real job! (Like I knew you had to tip every weirdo you came across.)At the Wharf. It stunk.The ocean with the Golden Gate Bridge in the back ground.I'm sure you can guess what this is a picture of...San Francisco is such an unique city. I loved the row homes, but wouldn't be able to stand having no yard. Everything is just all mixed together; businesses are right next to homes, and the streets are always insanely busy. I loved visiting, but I am definitely not a big city girl. Through out the night you could hear people walking by our front door and it totally creeped me out. I'm pretty sure I checked the locks about 15 times. The funniest part was when we drove up to the carport of where we were staying I asked if we were in the ghetto because everything just felt so on top of eachother. Megan laughed at me and said we were in the really nice part of the city. Clearly I know nothing.Saturday night Jenna and Steve gave us more of a tour. They showed us all the huge homes and the Cliff House/Sunset Beach. Too bad it was pitch black by the time we got there. :) Then we went back to the Condo and played games and ate way too much Candy.

San Francisco: Palace of Fine Arts

Bry and I got our engagement pictures taken here, at the Palace of Fine Arts, almost three years ago to the day! Since we happened to be in San Francisco it was fun to go back, relive it, and think about how far we have come together since that day. Lots has changed...but we are still pretty dang in love.

The architecture is beautiful and I put my camera to use. I really don't have the eye but it was fun anyway. There were people there doing this intense photo shoot. Of course it inspired us to make fun of them.... And act like idiots...
Bry took on the role quite well. I, on the other hand, couldn't stop laughing. I was really obsessed with these doors. They just make such a cool back ground.

I just love feet.
This picture is to prove that Bry's "'still got it." Three years ago he did this...and yes folks, he can still jump.
These were some actual "relive the moment" photos.
Don't worry...We didn't leave our child. It was a bit cold out so he was looking like this the entire time...probably wondering what he'd gotten himself into with parents like this.

The end.