Sunday, November 12, 2017

First primary program!

Cambria participated in her first primary program! I couldn't help but feel all the feelings as I saw her sitting up on the stand.

It's amazing to me how starkly different each child feels in front of people. Each child is unique, but somehow you get the same "types" of kids in every program 😊. Cambria sat next to one sunbeam who had the bright eyes and huge smile on her face the whole time. The other one took the more shy approach. They were all so cute!

Cambria seems to be very obedient in a classroom setting. I couldn't help but feel pride as she sang almost all the words to all the songs (which, by the way, was all her. I didn't work on the songs at all with her) and confidently said her part.

Many of my closest friends are moms to sunbeams, (and they are all the oldest kids too) and I couldn't help but look and see the pride on their faces too.

It's moments like this. Yay for good moments as a mom 😊

Sunday, September 3, 2017

my haircut

I kind of cut my hair on a whim.

As I was on my trip, I realized how much time my hair demanded (which I didn't give it on the trip, and it just looked bad almost all the time). One day I started thinking about it and decided that I wanted to cut my hair. I started researching on pinterest and found one style that I loved! It was short and it was curly!

I wanted something that was cut with the intention of it being styled curly. I've never had a cut like that, and thought if it was cut to look good curly, then I probably would style it curly.

So without further ado:

before: (It's so long I can't even get all of it in the pic)


After!!

I love it curly! It's not the best pic, but I really love it curly!!


Food and Anxiety

About a year ago, I started accepting the fact that something was up, that how I was feeling didn't fall within a "normal" (for lack of a better word) emotional spectrum. I started going to therapy and after a few sessions, I asked my therapist what she thought of me. She told me I definitely have anxiety. She said I am very tightly wound.

A few of my friends had started making some major changes in their diet for one reason or another. As I was talking to one of them she said that she did an in depth study of the Word of Wisdom and got some very clear instruction for how she needed to change her family's diet. That got me thinking, and praying. You know the phrase "you are what you eat"? Well, as I thought about things, I felt like the food I put into my body probably has a lot more to do with how I feel than I was giving credit for. I started lightly researching food and emotional health, with not much luck. So then I felt like I needed to study the Word of Wisdom, like my friend had.

As I studied, I also received specific instruction for what I needed to change in my eating habits. Mainly, I needed to add more variety and increase my consumption of vegetables. I jumped in with both feet and it lasted for about a month. But I was pregnant and we were on a grad student budget. Once I saw how much it cost to eat that way, I went back to the way we ate before with the idea that we would jump back in when we started our post-doc and I was no longer pregnant.

We started eating more veggie-heavy meals after Aveya was born, and have been ever since. I didn't put the two together, but my anxiety was also pretty low. Well, we went on vacation for 5 weeks and my diet drastically changed. By the end of the trip I was an emotional mess, and this week (the first full week we've been back) I've been one big ball of anxiety and nerves.

Again, I didn't put the two together till maybe yesterday. But I think I have received a confirmation that I am what I eat, and I can attest to the fact that I feel better when I eat better. For me, it comes out in my emotional health, for some others it may come out in energy or something else.

So here's to healthy eating, and getting back into the swing of eating better.

Tuesday, August 29, 2017

Corbin's Birthday

Corbin's official birthday is tomorrow, but Jonathan will be gone all day, so we decided to celebrate today.

I can't believe he's 3! He is such a happy boy. He is starting to talk a lot more which just adds to his "I want to make you laugh" personality. He is so thoughtful and caring. We are so glad he's part of our crew!

As soon as we were up, I wanted to start on waffles. He wanted to help.
For some reason, he seems so big in this picture. Jonathan commented that he's growing up, to which he replied "yup, just like Daniel Tiger!" (he watched an episode all about Daniel Tiger growing up and being a big helper)

Daddy suggested we open one present in the morning. The only gift that was wrapped was the one Cambria bought for him and helped me wrap yesterday. So that's what he got to open.

I told him to say thank you to Bia and then this happened. They really do have a sweet relationship.

Not pictured: I had a friend come over and cut all my hair off! I'll probably blog about it later.

Right after quiet time I made frosting for his cupcakes. He was right by my side. Right where he likes to be.
Bonus: he got to lick the beater... and the bowl...
 Not pictured: Hot dogs for lunch! We also went to the park. It was good to get out of the house. He is starting to get brave enough to play by himself. He still would rather me be right there with him, playing. I did actually do that for a few minutes. Go me!

After the park Daddy came home a little early and played with the kids while I got Hawaiian haystacks ready for dinner. That is literally the only dinner meal my kids will actually eat. I make a lot more food than that but they take one bite and then they are done.

We had floats (edible bubbles... it doesn't get much better than that) and needed something to put candles in... so we had cupcakes too. Thankfully neither of the kids finished either dessert, so I don't think they were too flooded with sugar.


"show me your bubbles!"

I'm not sure why, but the quality of the pictures dramatically decreased with these ones. Sorry.
"oh-ho! Me-me own playdoh toys! And playdoh!!"
This is me trying to get in some pictures too. Corbin got soap (as many bubbles to dump into the sink at one time as he wants!!!) and playdoh toys. 
Thanks Grandma Fletcher, and Grandma and Grandpa Kershaw for the cards!

Sunday, August 27, 2017

Summer Trip 2017

This summer we had planned to go spend some time with Robert and Ruth in Georgia, and Dave and Jenny in Virginia Beach. That was planned to last all of one week.

Well... our trip ended up being a bit longer than that. I decided pretty last minute (a few weeks before leaving) that I couldn't stay away from Utah. We planned to go for Christmas, but that wasn't going to fill my needs now. So we booked tickets to head to Utah, so that I could to my cousin's wedding in Alberta during my trip to Utah. At first I was thinking I would just take Aveya and we could go and come back over a few days. But then push came to shove (cheaper airline tickets, a desire for my kids to strengthen relationships with their cousins... etc) we decided that me and the kids should fly to Utah for three weeks and then fly directly from SLC to Atlanta where Jonathan would meet us and drive us to our originally planned vacation (to Robert and Ruths, and then to Dave and Jenny's). As we were in Utah, Jonathan found out about an opportunity to go to a work conference in Rhode Island that started on the day we planned to drive home from Virginia. What the heck, why not add another 5 days to our trip...

Our trip ended up being 5 weeks. It was long! But we had a good time. There were some highs and lows and everything in between. We had some unexpected expenses (Jonathan had a tire blowout on the way to Georgia and ended up replacing all 4 tires, even though we took the van to a shop and got an all clear that things looked good... yeah... we probably won't be back to that shop. We also had a crazy adventure getting to Utah, our flight was canceled due to storms, and Frontier couldn't fly us out for another 4 days or something crazy, so we spent all day trying to find a flight to Utah that day.... that was a lot of money, but we made it!) Even with all the crazy, we saw blessings, and recognize that we have been taken care of more than we probably realize.

blah blah blah... here our the pics!

A picture from our 24 hour trip to Utah. After we found a flight, we found a free indoor playground close to the Airport. That killed some time and energy! Both of those things were needed.
(We woke up at 3:00 AM to make our 6:00 flight, which was canceled, and after all was said and done, rolled into my sister's house at 2:00 AM Utah time, we had been up, and traveling for over 24 hours... blah!)

Aveya with her cousin Ezio, he's only a month older than her :)

the kids shared a bed the entire trip. They did surprisingly well. 

The kids with the Brown family

Jonathan spent a weekend backpacking with a friend! From what he told me, he had a good time!

The cute newlyweds! The wedding was beautiful!!

I wanted to make it a point to spend some one on one time with each individual family in Utah. This is Corbin and his cousin River. They played really nicely. Which is saying something, because he would rather hang out on my lap while I visit, then be with kids his own age. (Shaylee was Cambria's constant friend in Utah. She often came with us on whatever adventure we went on. It was sweet!)

The Lawlors have to squeeze games in whenever they can. I'm glad I could play with my cousins too!

We stayed with my Grandma and Grandpa when we were in Canada. They have momentoes from all their travels around the globe. Shaylee's listening to the ocean. (I believe this shell was found in Fiji)

Every time I go up to Alberta, I have to make sure to stop and visit Danae's grave. Cambria is named after her and Aveya was born on her birthday. I believe they will always have a special connection with her.

I also tried to get out of the house and do fun things this trip! (I took my inspiration from you, Erica!) This is BYU duck pond. Word from the wise, if you want to see ducks eat the bread you offer, go somewhere else. haha! They had no interest in the food we brought!

The kids loved watching the ducks anyway!

my 8 year old nephew. Sometimes he looks 12. NBD

These two... there's one cousin who is right with them in age, but he wasn't there. I can only imagine the mischief they will get into as they get older :)

Merek LOVES babies, and he's so sweet with them. He doesn't talk much, but he's very clear that he wants to hold the baby. :)

Springville splash pad!

Corbin actually played in the water. I think this is a first. For real! He gets really nervous around water that sprays... or that sits in a pool... just water in general, unless it's in the bathtub.

I didn't take too many pictures in Utah, there were so many cameras flashing all the time. I figured I would just get their pictures. But I never do... sigh...


The boys were matching. this wasn't intentional. Neither one are great picture takers, so this is the best we got.

Robert works at a fire station. I'm so glad we got to check out the fire trucks! Corbin loves fire trucks!
Georgia Kershaws with Indiana Kershaws :)

Michelle is so proud of her photo bomb ;)



I love this pic haha!

photo proof that he actually got out and got wet!

Holding hands. This gives me hope that their relationship will be good once they learn how to control their big emotions.

This girl, and water. She loves it! Sand is good too


Uncle Dave is so great with kids! So is Jenny, I just don't have any pics with her.

Cambria and Kami. They hit it off real quick. Kami has dress-ups and princess stuff... Cambria was all over that!

at the aquarium. Proof that I actually went on this vacation... I don't often remember to get in the picture. #momproblems


Cambria was excited to catch a fish until it started squirming. Then she didn't want to get too close.

This is our posed solar eclipse picture. You don't need to know that we watched the eclipse out the side of a mall parking lot. You also don't need to know that this pic was taken in the shade... much after the eclipse ended...

pedicures with the girls! I love my last summer hurrah toes!