I’m saying goodbye for right now to blogging. Not just my blog - but all the time I waste looking at others’ blogs too. I’m also saying goodbye to facebooking. I’m just tired of wasting way too much time on the computer.

I’ll probably check in every once in a while on you guys, but please don’t expect me to know things about your life when I catch up with you at church or what not - because I probably won’t have read it on your blog or facebook. So - if you are moving, pregnant, had a baby, changing jobs, going to the moon - whatever  - let me know in an email. I’m feeling so happy about this decision (I know - it sounds dramatic - doesn’t it!) - but really, it’s what I need in my life right now. Or maybe I should say - what I “don’t need”.

Peace and love.

Are these:

And I guess we’ll keep wearing them in the tub until the pool opens. Just another week. And we’re ready!

My friend Amy introduced this site to me through her blog a couple of weeks ago. I LOVE IT!! I have seriously gone back and read a ton of the entries. It’s so fun because there are so many of them that I can totally relate to and well, this site just makes me happy.

It’s 1000 Awesome Things. Check it.

I. can’t. seem. to. get. it. back. The blog love, that is. But, for you guys, well, I’ll try.

Days go by too quickly. Paige is a little girl. She is a LITTLE GIRL! Do you hear me yelling that? Well, because I’m really not yelling it - but in my head I am. It’s late, okay?

I’m constantly looking at her or listening to her say the craziest things and I think to myself - how did this happen? How did the months go by so quickly? It reminds me of vacation (only so much bigger) - how you look forward to it for so long - count down the days, make a paper chain, cross off the days on your calendar, etc. and then it’s finally here. But then all of a sudden you’re going home. Vacation over. But with some awesome pictures and some awesome memories. So, I guess in a way it’s like that. We waited and counted down and she came. And now she’s 2 and a half! Luckily the vacation is NO WHERE near being over - but nevertheless - going too quickly.

She loves to hear stories about herself. She’ll ask for the same ones over and over again. “Tell about when Paige was a baby” or “Tell about when Paige was born”, etc., etc. Recently I’ve been telling her how we prayed and prayed and prayed for her to come to our family and when we found out she was coming we were so excited. And how we decided on her name. She likes that one. I like that one too. I remember those days before she came. Before we knew that we would ever get to have children. They were very difficult. Very, very, difficult. And I kept it all inside. What was I thinking? I tried to come off as if I was okay, no big deal. Fertility issues - BAH! It’s different this time around. And it stinks to have a “this time around”. Aren’t you only supposed to do this only once? Unfortunately things don’t look great for us. But, every day we see Paige, so everyday we know that miracles do happen and that our Father in Heaven hears and answers prayers. So we’ll keep on truckin’.

My grandmother (my Dad’s mom) died a few weeks ago.

And while I was never close to her, I wish I would have gone to see her one more time. I’m sad that I didn’t. I would have said things. Things that I wish I could tell her. They are having a memorial for her in June so we are headed to CA again.

I wish Paige could see her grandparents a lot more than she gets to see them now. We talk to my mom every day -but it’s not the same. It is cute though - to see her hug and kiss the phone.

So you want pictures?

Playing with a plane, dressed as a tiger. Original.

Paige still loves her baby. And kitty. And lovies. And bear. But her baby, well, that one holds a special place for her. Still.

Giving baby a ride on “her big shoulders just like Daddy does”.

Reading her piano music.

After church.

And in other news, my favorite TV show - Chuck was renewed to come back next year mid-season. So you have 10 months to get caught up! Seriously though - this show rocks. This quote (and I have no idea where I got it - found it when I was searching under “chuck season 3″ hoping to see a renewal) sums it up perfectly, “ ‘Chuck has been heralded by TV Guide as classic TV escapism — a funny, smart, stylish, silly action comedy, a hoot with heart, pure entertainment that mixes danger, humor and romance in a satisfying package.’” And that is why I love it.

So I’ve wanted a beach cruiser for a couple of years now. And Doug was going to buy me one for Mother’s Day - but they were out of the one I wanted. But then I see this:

And I think - well, maybe this is why I didn’t get one - because it would be so stinkin’ cool to have this one instead. Okay, so really, I’ll take any beach cruiser - but this Madsen Bike - ooohhh baby do I likey. Can’t you see Paige and I cruisin’ around in this non-bike-friendly city we live in. Or at a photoshoot??!! Basically not only do I really WANT this bike, but I might just need it too.

First I’ve got to give a shout out to my wonderful mama.  The best, evah. I love you Mom!

Also - to my mother-in-law - thanks for raising an awesome boy!

And now I will gush about how much I love my little one.

Seriously though - you all know how it took YEARS to get this little girlie of ours here. And how totally obsessed I am. From the moment I held her in my arms for the first time I knew my life would NEVER EVER be the same.

The first time I held her.

She has completely grabbed a hold of my heart and I pray daily that I can be the kind of mother that my Father in Heaven wants me to be - and the kind of mother she needs. And if she has to live a life without siblings, then I pray that I can somehow make up for that loss. And goodness - there is so much more on that - but we’re not going THERE tonight.

Anyway, I’m thankful for this sacred responsibility. Thankful for her. I wish I was better with words.

Can you feel my happiness?? Us in our church clothes.

On another note - Doug finished our sprinklers  yesterday!! I can’t tell you how totally happy that makes me! No more dragging the hose around (when I remembered…). Doug has been working every night after work until it was dark - and I am so thankful for such an awesome husband. And thanks to our friends that came and helped us for some really long hours!

Getting ready to try out the new sprinklers!

1. I’ve seen “North and South” twice in the last month. I absolutely LOVE this movie. I love just about any period piece movie - but this one - super-love. I saw it once when in CA and then Doug and I watched it a couple weeks ago.

While I was home I also watched BBC’s “Wives and Daughters”. I liked it…but didn’t love it.

Are any of you period piece fanatics like me?

2. I have a love/hate relationship with facebook. I still don’t totally “get it”…and sometimes I  think it’s such a huge waste of time and other times I LOVE it because it’s allowed me to reconnect with so many people.

3. I am on a reading kick. Have you all discovered Goodreads? love it.

4. Our one and only TV show - Chuck -  ended on a cliff hanger. It’s true folks, I’ve lost the Office love.

5. This girl…I’m humbled to be her mother. And so so so so so eternally thankful for the blessing she is to us. Just a total miracle to have her.

I am so happy that I got to teach sharing time today. I felt the Sprit so much while preparing and then giving my lesson (at least in Senior sharing time…junior sharing time is a WHOLE other story. I don’t even think they heard a WORD I said…) Anyway, I am grateful to be reminded of the Resurrection. I know Jesus Christ really WAS resurrected. I thought of Mary and how she found the tomb empty and what she must have thought! And then to see Him. I’m so grateful for my testimony.

We had a delightful weekend.

Here’s Paige in her Easter get-up. After church, thus the crazy hair.

Okay, so that really doesn’t show how frustrated I am right now.

We have been planning on going camping and I had NO idea you needed reservations. Doug told me that tonight. Ummm, yeah - we’d be going tomorrow. And I didn’t know we needed them. And I can’t find any place to go.

I’ve never gotten reservations before - I just remember driving around and finding the perfect site - when we were growing up. And I guess that’s not how it works anymore. What about spontaineity people??

So, unless I can find some place to camp tonight then it looks like we won’t be going until later. I am BUMMED!! I am getting on this NOW to book for NEXT weekend!!