Fun times

Joe had two weeks off between when school ended and summer school started. It was wonderful! It was great to have him around and let him have fun with Michelle while I kinda got a break.
We went to the park and splash park a couple times.

 This one is from Mother's Day

 The rest of these are from when Michelle and I ran down to SLC at the beginning of May. Because sometimes I just want my Mommy! (& Papa!)

Not the most organized blogging and I was too lazy to fix any of the pictures so... yeah, there you go!

Easter Etc.

We kept things pretty easy peasy for Easter (as usual). I tried to get some cute pictures of us all. Fail. So we just have a few kinda random ones and a few good ones of Michelle's Easter basket. Oh well!

 The Bunnies aren't actually hers. Bonus if you know the significance of the big bunny ;)

It was a great evening because a neighbor invited us over for dinner! Score! I really love it when I don't have to cook (especially after 1pm church).

At the end of April I threw Michelle in the car and we went down to Utah to spend a few days with Mommy & Papa. It was awesome to have some relaxing time to be taken care of and let Michelle get spoiled. Grandma read her all the books she constantly brought to her and Papa was her favorite playmate. (she still "calls" him on her phone regularly, funny girl!)

Mother's Day was crazy in our house because the primary kids were singing and Joe had to speak. Sooo for Mother's Day I wrestled Michelle by myself. But we remembered to put the roast in the oven before church so that was yummy!! (Plus Joe always takes pretty good care of me ;)

Joe finished school at Homedale on the 23rd so he is done with the craziness of commuting there everyday!
He is applying for other positions closer to home that will be a better fit for next year (prayers are much appreciated!)

Joe got an offer to teach summer school for the Meridian School District this week. This is a major blessing for us as it is a much needed summer job but provides hours that will still make him available for interviews which was our biggest concern with him working elsewhere. Now he just has to teach 1 year of algebra in 6 weeks- I'm thinking the teenagers will totally be on board for that right?! ha ha ha so that will be it's own challenge!
It has definitely been a bit weird not packing up our life and moving to Playmill for the summer but there is a strange peace that comes with it at the same time. Although we definitely miss the fun times and our Playmill family we feel confident that it is the right decision for us as we can stay here and figure out our future. And hey, actually see Boise in the summer!!! Ha ha ha!

Look what I did!

Most of you that actually read this blog probably already know that I love to crochet. I have lots of fun doing it but I mostly crochet baby stuff because it is cuter and each project doesn't take as long ( I only have so much patience!).
Well, I finally decided to open an Etsy shop to try and sell some of the things I make.
Here's the link, go check it out!
https://www.etsy.com/shop/loopsbylesley

In case you are curious, I don't use patterns. I look at pictures and decide what I want to make and combine ideas and just do it. For this very reason I love to do custom work, I don't need to look for a pattern because I make it up myself!

2 year old Pictures

Yup. Slow with this but a couple weeks after munchkin turned 2 I got her pictures taken (just at JCP) and there were a couple really cute ones :)

I love the sweet spirit you can see in her eyes here (Which used to be blue but this summer last summer turned green)

 But this one is my favorite :)

 They wanted me to give her a kiss on the cheek and this is what we got, the photographer was disappointed but I love it because it is so real and you can see how much she is laughing  and happy :)

Forgettable Moments

I have decided that really truly life is full of forgettable moments. And do you know what, that is ok! Because of TV and movies and sites like pinterest people create unrealistic expectations for their lives. Now don't get me wrong I like all of those things but I think that people forget that not every moment needs to be Facebook post or Instagram worthy. A little while ago my mom taught a Stake RS women's day class on joy and we were talking when she was preparing for it. She mentioned that when she needs a moment of calm she thinks back to a moment when she had 5 little ones and the whole family was together at the beach (now don't quote me on any of this). Was that necessarily a moment of joy at the time? Well, why don't you imagine dealing with 5 kids at a beach.. I'm guessing not so much. But looking back on it brings her joy.
Saturday was a busy day full of forgettable moments over here, nothing really "post about me" worthy but I did manage to stop for a moment and take a picture.

 Michelle was "washing" her trike with the shamie ( I have no clue how to spell that, nor do I really care)

Cute right? Yeah, it's cute.But looking at it is also a little moment of joy for me. I think that is one of the reasons I like having pictures, even if the quality is lacking (as my pictures often are). They help bring me back and to be in the moment, a moment of joy. Man is that they might have joy but that doesn't mean that you are supposed to feel joy twenty four seven. We have to know the rough times so that we can see the good. I think that even in times of trial we have moments of joy but we often don't recognize them because they are just that, moments.

Somebody turned TWO!

It's hard to believe that she turned two but she did! Sometimes I look at her and she is still just my tiny little baby, other times she looks HUGE! She is getting to be quite the grown up and a pretty good helper when she wants to be. She is strong willed but also has an incredibly sweet spirit. Everyone who meets her naturally falls in love with her :)

She really is the cutest patootie

 Loves to brush her teeth!

 Look at that face!

 Saying prayers is fun!

 Present from Nana

 She got a princess tent for her birthday (as well as a couple awesome books and a puzzle) but she decided everything should just go on top of the tent instead of us setting it up.

 I made this pink ombre cake- It was fun but my wrist hurt afterwards!

Wait.... It's chocolate AND ice cream AND I get to eat it?!?!?!

Santa Picture

Well, We she did well last year so naturally this is what we go this year. In all fairness it was at the end of the Ward party and past her bed time but....I find it kinda funny (other than the entire gym turning to look at the screaming child)