What Is Happening To Me On The Last Day In May...

Its last day in May and I am sitting in the house freezing contemplating putting the fire on. Last night while watching a movie with Larry the fire came on and we didn't even noticed, it seemed like a normal thing to do like it really was winter. This weather has been weird but at least its not hot right?

Here are some funny things that have been happening at our house:

Larry & David mowed the lawn both barefoot and at the same time weirdo boys.
My dad and Larry make milk shakes almost every night together.
My dad reads the newspaper everyday literally from cover to cover and Max enjoys tearing the pages apart when he finishes.
Max eats watermelon at almost every meal and gets a bath in the sink almost every time he eats.
We eat dinner together as a family almost every night just like it was when I was growing up.
I call carlene whenever I am going anywhere just to see if she needs me to grab something for her and she does the same for me.
Max is teething again and its really not funny.
Harry Potter is coming out in 46 days and I have been working on another Harry Potter appreciation week...stay tuned!

We Took A Trip To Fairy Tail Town!

One our of good friends from the singles ward tied the knot yesterday and had his reception at fairy tail town! The best part about this friend of ours is that its a third generation friend. We have known this family going back to my grandparents, my mom, me, and maybe Max one day its pretty cool growing up in huge families that interact with other huge families.Now growing up in Sacramento it was always so fun to go to the zoo and then over the fairy tail town. It has all sorts of slides and play structures to climb around that are about fairy tails like the old lady who lived in a shoe or mother goose and so forth.

It was such a fun night seeing tons of old friends and the happy couple and getting to catch up. Max had a blast crawling everywhere and playing on the fun toys. When we were driving home Larry was all sentimental remembering all the fun times we had with all our friends in the singles ward and how much we love living in this area. Such a fun night and such a cute place to have a wedding reception...I love going to these because it makes you remember when you were first madly in love and your wedding day its the best feeling in the world to know you have someone who loves you unconditionally.

10 things I am really Lovin Right Now!

1. Drinking cold diet cokes all day long.

2. My new aqua green nail polish on my toes

3. Listening to the Deathly Hallows while sewing, cooking, cleaning.

4. Meeting larbear for lunch once a week.

5. My new brown salt water sandals I found in a women's size six that are in the mail.

6.Larry coming home from work and giving me a big kiss in the kitchen each night.

7. Getting new mascara.

8. Finding really good clearance deals on clothes for Max.

9. Planning a bike ride this weekend.

10. The Bones season finale, sad there was no make out sene between Booth & Bones but I am keeping my fingers crossed for next season!

Also that me and Max love to wear stripes: {notice his baby doll in the pictures, he loves her}

Our Life Before Law School.

Recently I have been re-blogging our 2009 summer living in D.C. I love pouring over the pictures remembering every little crazy thing that happened to us. At the time I thought it was crazy to pack up and move across the country without a home, car, and knowing no one. Looking back I laugh because it was such a fun summer and really a simpler time. We still were in the throws of undergrad and had a pretty easy cheap life back in Utah. I look back on our time pre max and sans law school and sometimes really miss those times. On hard days my heart breaks for simpler times where our rent was small along with our incomes but it all worked out and it was just the 2 of us spending every second together.

I know we have to progress and move on and grow up but sometimes its the pits right? Any tiny second I get alone with Larry it seems like we should make the most of those precious moments but sadly it usually turns into practical conversations about work,school, bills, no romance no butterflies. Sometimes I feel like I am past my prime. I've been to college, fell in love, got married, had a baby the steps of growing up and I feel I've peaked. I tell Larry this all the time, he just laughs and reminds me of the exciting things that are yet to come; buying a house, more babies, having 2 cars, a dishwasher, vacations, and it we are blessed a steady income worthy of 7 years of schooling.

Its true at times I feel old and that everything is behind me but its not true and I have to continue to remind myself of that, and that I need to be content and happy. I am hoping I am not the only one out there that feels these things at times because apparently my husband doesn't but I am still trying to figure this entire growing up thing out.

Fortunately I have great people in my life that encourage, support, and give much needed advice and conversation to make me realize things are good. Things might be unstable and uncertain but I have people that care and want us to succeed in whatever we try. I am feeling a little nervous as the weeks go by and Larry's grades will be posted. I continually pray we will be blessed with the necessities we need to continue on for the next year of law school, I may not be the one that is studying and taking the tests but I would say I am the one that is pushing our small family onward and getting us through the the highs and lows of law school. We have come a long way and I need to not look away so much and remember how far we have come! If anyone wants to send some good thoughts towards us in the next week we would be most appreciative...fingers crossed his grades come back and we can party hard!

Tahoe or Bust

This weekend my family packed up and went to stay in a huge house up in South Lake Tahoe. Growing up we really never went up to Tahoe to vacation even though it is pretty close. There is a lot to do during summer & winter but we are more of a national parks or Hawaii kinda family not a lake and snow family. It was a relaxing weekend with no plans just hang out, swimming, watching movies, playing games and eating. We had a good time enjoying the huge TV and sleeping in a king size bed {we will be buying those when we get a house} and enjoying the beautiful view! Check it out it was breathtaking from the house.

Oh we also stuck Max in the pool, and he hated it. It was a sad day for me but we will continue to try {force} him to be a water baby. Maybe if he was naked and it was the bath. This might turn out to be a long waterless summer. It was fun to get away hopefully we can do a lot of little weekend trips this summer.

11 months later...

Max is almost a year old and I kinda cringe every time I think about it. Its great to see him grow and develop and learn new things but I do miss having that tiny newborn around. Max is kinda amazing :) He is everywhere and into everything. He loves crawling around my parents house and has particularly favorite areas. He loves taking all the magnets off the fridge, the drawers under the oven and some drawers with random things in it, its his go to spots. You can look around the house and see everyplace he has been. He is starting to say lots of different sounds and really learning to scream when he is in a particularity happy mood. He stands everywhere but his very hesitant to take a step. He loves to kiss you which turns into biting usually. He loves to blow on the glass door and thinks its so funny. Really I love watching him play all day long and take care of him, it truly is so awesome and he is such a sweet boy. He still sleeps really well all night long and two glorious naps a day {thank heavens I need the time to clean up his messes}. He loves eating anything you give him and especially the ice cream his grandpa is always giving him. He has a sweet spot for my dad, really sometimes the first person he will give a smile to once he has woken up is his grandpa its pretty cute.

Max your amazing, I love you and so does everyone else. Happy 11 months!

Rain Rain & More Rain

It has been pretty rainy here the last couple days. And while anyone who knows me knows I love me some rainy days with the dark clouds and the warm clothes but not really so much in May. Plus I packed all my winter clothes in the storage unit so I have one light weight hoody that is not cutting it in these wet times. Also when it rains I can't take mister Max to the park or on walks...kinda a bummer.

So dear rain, I love you but why don't we heat up a bit so I can bust out the kiddy pool and put Max in some sweet swim trunks and get some sun on our white bodies!? I am dying to teach my baby cakes to swim.

thanks. love annmarie.

A dry spell.

I keep thinking of things I want to blog about when I am in bed or the shower, but then I get on the computer and it all falls out of my brain. Things have been really great around the house. Only a few blow ups and that is to be expected when your entire family moves back into one house for the first time in over 7 years. We are packed to the brim in the house and are all sharing one upstairs bathroom while my parents remodel theirs.

Living with lots of boys can be challenging. Sometimes they forget I am their sister and think I am the live in cook and maid :) It is like I have 6 children sometimes. Its okay though I put them in their places {Larry frequently says stop being so bossy}.

I have been trying lots of new foods and have been sewing a few quilt tops and some banners for holidays and taking Max to the park everyday. Really its been a dry spell of things to write about, in short my life is pretty boring but I love it. I love planning out the week and having little random events like visiting my nieces and nephews back to school nights, or going to the fabric store with my sister-in-law Carlene. Sorry for the boring post its just whats up with us :) We are looking forward to warmer weather so we can start swimming more often!

Random things I thought You Ought to know:

I love this handsome max of mine.

Also I thought it would be fun to jot {type} down some random facts about me:

* I listen to Harry Potter whenever I am sewing, cooking, crafting, doing dishes...anytime I can.
* I drink a lot of diet coke and visit Target way to much.
* I am super frugal and will walk away from anything that is not an amazing deal, this is a big fault sometimes because then I am always bummed when I can't get it anymore {drives Larry nuts}
* I rarely wear makeup and do my hair during the week.
* Larry and I watched a lot of documentaries and have recently discovered PBS Masterpiece theater on Netflix.
* I constantly am worried about my weight...but still eat whatever I want.
* I worry about money constantly if you haven't noticed.
* I talk on the phone a lot and really loud.
* I LOVE being a stay at home mom.

Living with your Parents 101.

So a lot of people keep asking me...So how is it living with your parents again?

Really it has been great. I knew it was and never was stressed or nervous about moving back in. First its not permeate and second my parents love having us around. I cook dinner and clean lots because my parents are both still teaching till the end of the month and its nice to have space to spread out. Larry and I can just be ourselves if we are fighting everyone knows and we don't care. I made a lists of some great perks of moving back home with a baby and husband in tow.

1. Babysitters whenever you need.
2. Cars whenever you need...this is big when you only have one car your husband takes to work.
3. No rent & no grocery bill.
4. Having someone around at all hours of the day..parents, brothers ect.
5. Having a washer, dryer, & dishwasher.
6. Always getting to go on walks with my mom.
7. Having my sister-in-law to hang out with everyday.
8. Living in EDH.
9. Eating dinner with my family everyday.
10. Larry watching Sports with my dad and their constant conversations.
11. Larry watching random old TV with my mom.
12. Max roaming everywhere and getting constant love and attention.
13. David will always go to Sams Club with my when I get a hankering for a hot dog.
14. Seeing movies with my brothers.
15. Sharing one bathroom with my brothers again...we are way to open in this house!

so there are a million more thing that I really do love. Yes it is tight with everyone upstairs and it will get tighter when Tom arrives this week, but these are seriously precious memories and times we have. Really who gets to move back in over the summer and ALL their siblings happen to be living at home again for the summer...its been almost 7 years I think. Its been really fun and I love being home...I know I say this a lot but I love El Dorado Hills and feel so lucky to be back!

The day I became a mom.

Today is my first official mothers day. Last year I was big and pregnant relishing those last few weeks alone with my husband and sleeping through the night. This year I fit back into my clothes..somewhat and am chasing an almost 11 month old down the church halls. I could say so much about being a mom but I just wanted to note and remember a few things.

The day I became a mom I had know idea how much I could unconditionally love another person. I had no idea the impact it would have on my marriage. It is both challenging and rewarding to raise a child with your best friend. Some days are better then others, and other days are just amazing that you get the entire picture of how important family is. I also had know idea how much love and forgiveness comes with bring a new baby into your family.

I love being a mom. Personally I think it is the most important thing I can do. No job, degree, or amount of money will be as rewarding as having a sweet baby come into your life. For me Max has been the biggest blessing Heavenly Father has given me and I continually look forward to the day when we can bring another baby into our family.

The last of many things I have learned is that motherhood is not glamorous. I knew that but to actually live it everyday you really learn how it is. Poop, blood, sweat, and tears is all in a days work. Sometimes when Max goes down for the night I do a little dance knowing he will be peaceful and still for 12 hours, but I always manage to go back into his room and watch him sleeping so peacefully and am so happy he is mine.

Happy mothers day to all the moms in my life. Thanks for the advice, play dates, and constant support you give me! I am grateful to be a mom and to have a great mom in my life who constantly supports and uplifts me to be a little better everyday.

Friday Favorites.

We have been busy soaking up sunshine and playing outside all week long. Larry finished his first week of work and has been super busy. I am super busy too, making cookies, cooking for a family of 8, making crafts, shopping and such. Busy Bees we are.

Friday Favs? These Oatmeal cookies are so good...I ate like 7 last night no exaggeration. I watched Country Strong ate cookies and drank diet coke, my kinda night.


Vanishing Oatmeal Cookies
2 sticks butter softened
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 1/2 cups flour
3 1/2 cups oatmeal {use real oats not instant}
16 oz large milk chocolate chips

** Mix wet ingredients with the sugars until creamy then add the flour and oats. Place large chocolate chips on top of the balls on the cookie sheets and Bake 375 degrees for 6-8 minutes. I think the key is just placing the chocolate chips all over instead of mixing them into the whole dough**

Another Friday Fav...Taking Max to the park everyday so he can swing to his little hearts content. We are so happy living here, its been amazing! I can't say it enough times.

Random things on my mind:

Larry started his PAID job. We haven't had a real paycheck in almost a 10 months...crazy right??

I really want to go to Old Navy & Johann Fabric but I am trying to tighten our budget...grr maybe I can swing this somehow....I am dying to start some new projects.

I hear Max crying in his crib...we are pulling a wanna be Harry Potter and he is sleeping in my parents closet, to bad its not the cupboard under the stairs that would be legit.

Spring has finally made it to El Dorado Hills and we are enjoying every minute being outside...lets face it I live in San Diego but still have a Utah tan.

I am trying hard to relax, find happiness, and be continent...pretty hard right?

Stairway to Heaven...Literally

Max loves going on walks. We take at least two a day. One in the afternoon and one right before bedtime. It kinda lulls him into a coma and then he sleeps really good. It also breaks up the sometimes monotonous days of feedings and naps while Larry is off at work and I am on mommy duty alone. Here he is in all his glory after a particularly sunny day so he had to wear his hat, which he hates but he is so cute in it. He's a ladies man in that hat don't you think??

onto the stairway fiasco...

I have to admit being in a house is 1000 times better then a small apartment. Max can roam and open cabinets, drawers, and scream to his hearts delight in a spacious house. He is really loving it and giving me a heart attack all day. He really likes the stairs which he can climb up perfectly but has zero clue how to get down, I am afraid he might die on those stairs. I turn my back for one second and he bolts to the stairs...and man that baby can crawl fast. He is like a little dog panting with his tongue out obliviously crawling to his death...oh those stairs! I will keep you posted on the stair debacle of 2011, hopefully he doesn't fall to his death, he does have a lot of "padding" though so maybe he would just bounce?

Sunday Message:

"Two of the vital pillars that sustain Father in Heaven’s plan of happiness are marriage and the family. Their lofty significance is underscored by Satan’s relentless efforts to splinter the family and to undermine the significance of temple ordinances, which bind the family together for eternity. The temple sealing has greater meaning as life unfolds. It will help you draw ever closer together and find greater joy and fulfillment in mortality."

-Richard G. Scott from April 2011 Conference-

I become more and more grateful for the sealing ordinances as the years go by. This is such a sweet talk about family and marriage. I love my husband and our growing little family. Sunday Best? We keep trying to nail a good family portrait, maybe next week!