family.

We had such a nice night as a family tonight. Loaded up the kids, headed down to the bowling alley, ate yummy (greasy) bowling alley food, and just were happy. Hallie loved bowling...so did Chase. Chase loved the fan that blows out of the ball-holder-thingy that you are supposed to use to dry your bowling hand. He had his face over it all night, mouth wide open. May as well have been disneyland for all the happiness that blower thing brought him. Hallie rolled the ball from between her feet and SCREAMED with excitment when the pins were knocked over. I bowl better with bumpers...for sure. Matt is not the best at bowling either, which makes me feel better about how horrible at it I am. It wasn't about winning though. It was about family. Who cares that the laundry wasn't folded or that the kids rooms were disasters!? Not me. I was happy, and my kids were happy, and I was full of yummy fried chicken. This is what it's all about people....nurturing relationships with my kids and my husband. And loving to be together as a family. I love them so much.

What do you do with yours?

When I finish eating my cereal in the morning, I dump the left over milk down the drain. I don't like plain milk. Matt drinks what is left out of his bowl. Hallie just leaves it in the bowl on the table and I am left to deal with it. Chase has decided that there is a better option for the milk left in the bottom of his bowl. Dump it on your head! From just boring old milk, to exciting fun in an instant! Looks nice on him don't you think?

And yes...I feed him out of a pink bowl. Yes...he gets all of Hallie's hand-me-downs. Yes...I wish I had bought things a little more "gender neutral". No...I'm not going to go out and buy blue bowls. I just don't care that much.

Things here are really good for us right now. Really calm, maybe a little TOO calm. We are happy and healthy. The whole thought of another baby has been weighing on my mind. That would stir things up a bit, wouldn't it? I love my kids, but is it selfish of me to want to tour Europe and enjoy this "calm" a little longer? After four years of having my body out on loan for either growing babies, or feeding them, I'm LOVING having it back to myself. I'm going to be
27 in a few more months. How long do I want to drag this baby making process out? Not much past 30. I've seen what two kids in my 20's can do to my body...I don't want to imagine what they'll do the older I get. I know, rambling rambling. No....I'm not pregnant.

Got scissor happy again...

I decided to pass on the sweepy bangs, and go all out. Matt doesn't like em. I love them. Your thoughts?

She's Crafty.

You know, like that Beastie Boys song. Ok, it's really nothing that impressive. But I did staple this fabric to these wood frames to decorate my salon. I love love them...

Things that warm my heart.

I think just about anyone who knows me, knows that I have a strong belief in God. I also would venture to say that anyone who knows me knows that I respect other peoples right to choose what to believe and how to live their lives. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (the religion in which I have been raised and have a firm testimony of) has never been a Church that uses the crucifix as a symbol of our faith. The death of Jesus Christ is something which all Christians (like myself) have a deep reverence for. The aspect of Christ's death that I have always been taught to focus on is not the sadness of his death, but the miracle of his resurrection. I believe this is the reason the Mormon church does not use crosses on our buildings or for decoration. However, seeing a cross always immediately reminds me of my Savior's sacrifice and I am grateful for those kinds of reminders.
I love the USA. However it makes me so sad the see how hard people there are trying to take God out of the picture. Our Country, which was founded by inspired men who believed they were following Gods will, is so quickly becoming a place where the mention of God or a Savior is becoming taboo. So one thing that has shocked me since our move to Europe, is the reminders on so many houses and on most corners of our Saviors sacrifice for us. There are no people picketing the town square to have the crosses removed, although I'm sure there are many people here who do not believe in God. I would like to think that just as I can see the beauty in a Buddist temple or a Jewish Synagague, they can see the beauty in these crosses that are so often amazing pieces of art. For me, it just brings warmth to my heart to be reminded of Jesus Christ on a walk with my family, or a drive to the grocery store. It is so wonderful to be in a country that has not forgotten God.

Why Spring makes me HAPPY

All my favorite fruit appears on the store shelves again. This was my dinner tonight. mmmmm.

The little baby lambs are my favorite thing to see.

I love our bike rides. The trees and flowers are blooming all around us. The animals are all out on their farms with their babies. I never gained an appreciation for seasons growing up in Huntington Beach (where the weather is always either spring or summer temps), and I'm loving spring here.

A little chat with my Hubby:

Me: Matt, I'm kind of worried about losing my wedding ring. Look try and pull on it.
(he pulls my ring right off my finger)
Matt:Oh yeah! You need to get a spacer or something in there so it doesn't fall off.
Me: I don't get it, it fit fine when you gave it to me almost 6 years ago....why the heck am I losing weight in my fingers of all places!
Matt: I know, the weight is coming off your fingers and going straight to your butt. :)

Now, if I didn't know Matt REALLY well....I might have punched him in face right about here. :) And it did take me two days to bust out laughing at his comment. Bless his little man heart.

Chain of Events:

First: I broke out in zits all over my face (thought that part of my life would be over when I was 18)
Second:Really have needed a new flat iron since we moved here because of the whole outlet situation.
Third: Went and bought the new flat iron.
Fourth: Came home and tried out my new flat iron.
Fifth: Realized my hair looked really boring.
Sixth: Noticed my zitty forehead.
Seventh: Cut bangs.
Eighth: Double solution- No longer feel like I have boring hair (pony tails are now WAY cuter), and my zits are WELL hidden until they disappear.

Prague.

This is all so crazy to me. If someone had told me 3 years ago that I would be taking weekend trips to Prague, I never would have believed them. It's all so unbelievable. I feel so blessed to get visit these awesome cities around us that are so full of beauty around every corner and amazing history everywhere you look. Each building has a story, and it's so exciting to learn about why this building is here, who lived here, how many times it was destroyed and rebuilt because of war, and all the suffering that so many people throughout this area we live in endured. There was a beautiful cemetary behind an old synagague that we found that had Jewish people buried 8 deep and tombstones sticking out of the ground everywhere. There was so room for a plot of land under the tombstone to show where this person rested, because there was seven other people sharing this piece of earth with him and headstones stacked one in front of the other. The whole cemetary was like that.
Anyways! We had a really good time on our trip and I LOVED seeing all the bohemian handicrafts everywhere (I now have more earrings than I know what to do with). The drive there was supposed to be 7 hours, but ended up taking 13. Apparently everyone in Europe decided to take the same autobahn as us!

A shot of the RIDICULOUS amount of people in Prague this weekend. Cool clock though. :)
Hallie mapping out our trip for us. She loved having her own kids map of Prague.

We climbed up to the top of this old Church and got some cool shots of the city.

Italian Ice Cream.....mmmmmmm.

We love our double stroller. It comes in so handy to have the kids napping while we explore.

Best Friends.

Hallie and I enjoying the Gardens. This place was gorgeous, and after a pretty decent hike we had another awesome view of the city.

Up above the city.

On the bridge. There were booths set up all along the bridge with people selling their goodies and random little bands playing for change. The whole atmosphere was so fun.

Enjoying some Czech dessert....we really like to eat good food.

I wish I could tell you what this was called. But I can't. But it tasted really good. Cooked dough rolled in Cinnamon. I think I shall call it.... Cinna-roll-hole. Yep. That's what we'll call it.

Chill-axin on the bridge.

The whole place just looked like a picture. Every street was something that I wanted to frame and hang on my wall.

Climbing up the bell tower of the Church.

On top of the bell tower over the city.

And getting ready to leave our fun easter weekend in Prague and head home to the real world. I love these babies.

Just enjoying our weekend in Prague.

Be back in a few days!

Things I always want to remember.

Moments like these. Happy kids, cooperative horsey (despite the look on the horsey's face), dinner cooking on the stove, laundry folded and put away, music playing, bed time just around the corner. :)

You count yourself lucky if..

Your sunday morning bike ride with your family looks like this...

Check out these people's pet. I don't think I've ever seen an ostrich up this close before. Craziest looking animal I've ever come across.

I'm telling you, this child belongs on a farm. She loves the animals and they love her. And no, I didn't brush her hair today. Yes, the minute I took out the camer I regretted it.

There was no church for us today because of conference and we weren't going to get to watch it on the internet until late at night...so we decided to go out and enjoy mother nature. It was a little over cast, but not really cold out. We found a beautiful walking/bike trail in the Netherlands and the kids were in heaven. All the animals were out on the farms that we rode past (seeing the cute little baby lambs were my favorite) and we just had the best morning. Loving life here.

I LOVE:

-this path behind my house that we take walks on.

-watching my kids play in the bath

-walks to feed the horses

-harry potter (on book 5. boderline obsessed)

-matt

-listening to matt and hallie dancing upstairs to "my little pony" dance music

-hallie's bargaining tactics (just TWO more minutes mom. ok, ONE more minute.)

-chase's chubby buns

-sleeping in

-diet coke

-bottled water (i know....i'm destroying our mother earth one bottle of water at a time. i'm awful.)
-cozying in freshly washed bedding

-reading people's blogs

-top ramen

-sunshine. we finally have had some sunny days here, and it makes me so happy.

-delicious fruit.

-matt's beautiful eyes which he kindly passed on to both our children. i love all of their big, brown, gorgeous eyes.

-make up (you don't even WANT to know what i look like without it)

-dishwasher(s)- the machine AND matt. he knows how much i hate dishes. we always bargain that i'll bathe the kids while he does the dishes. he doesn't know it, but i'm TOTALLY getting the better end of the deal.

-going on a bike ride as a family

-cozy sweats

-america idol.
-my church
-my nieces and nephews
-my life.