Memorial Day Weekend

Wow what a Memorial Day weekend! We had so much fun and were constantly on the go and therefore have spent the past few days recouping, thus the shortage of blogs. On Saturday morning we woke up early and headed to Lake Mead for the day. We had such a good time and are so blessed that Jason and Melissa invited us to come with their family. We rented a boat, tube and 2 wave runners for the day. I thought that I would spend most of the day sun bathing and keeping an eye on my little one but I actually got to get out on the water quite a bit. I loved the wave runners, there is just something strangely freeing about having that much power in your hands and nothing to hold you back. My poor husband thought that I was a little crazy and was a little taken back that I wasn't a "wimpy driver" as he put it.

Cade didn't much care for getting in the water, which I found rather strange because he LOVES swimming but I think that the lake was a little overwhelming for him. He was so funny to watch because he loved to just watch every one and wave to all that passed by.

Cade and Ben liked to sit in the front of the boat and hang their arms over the side. It was cute to listen to Ben say, "Its okay Cade the fishies wont get you, you are safe, okay?"

We then took off early Monday morning for California. Jared decided to surprise me and take me back to a beach that we spent a great deal of time at when we were first married. It was so much fun to be back there and relive our newly married days. It was kind of a windy overcast day and so Jared built a "wind break," basically a big wall of sand. He worked so hard on it and all Cade wanted to do was climb up and jump off of it, figures.

That night, before we made the trek home, we went to an angels baseball game and had a great time, even though they got killed. Cade loves baseball and loved watching a really big game on the field and on the screen. We had a great weekend full of excitement, family, travel, and memories. Thanks to everyone who made it possible and thanks to my sweet husband for my California surprise.

On This Day 3 Years Ago...

On this day 3 years ago.... I married my best friend. I am so lucky to have the most wonderful husband in the whole world! We are as different as night and day but were definitely made for each other. He is the person that fills my heart and comforts my soul. He is the man that makes me smile when everything else seems to be falling down around me. He is the man that has given me my beautiful child and honors me for being a mama. He is the man that inspires me to be more and encourages me to reach higher. He is the man that I get to spend eternity with.
Jared and I were set up on a blind date by his mom on February 12, 2004, I guess you can say that I was one of the lucky few to be hand picked by my mother-in-law! It was an instant connection from moment one and before we knew it, 8 days to be exact, we knew that we were going to spend the rest of forever together. No, 8 days is not a typo, it really did happen that way, the Lord knew what what we both needed and placed it in our realm of vision very quickly.
Exactly one month to the day of our first date my sweetheart proposed, in a "cave" and we almost got arrested but that is a story for another day, it is hilarious I must admit and has Jared written all over it. We were so blessed to live a fairy tale and have an amazing wedding reception on May 26, 2004 and then were married on May 27, 2004 in the Salt Lake Temple. It was such a beautiful day and I am so thankful to have spent it with him. He is such a wonderful man and completes me so well.
It has been such an honor to be by his side for the last 3 years and look forward to the rest of forever. I love you sweetheart! Happy Anniversary.

Yes, this picture has a "viewing proof" label on it....such a long story but just pretend it is not there...

My Favorite Birthday

So I must admit...I forgot that it is Friday which means I need to post an answer to my own question. Haha, I have thought about my favorite birthday memory all week and come Friday it just slipped my mind...welcome to motherhood! I had a wonderful childhood full of fun birthday memories such as crazy hair parties, slumber parties, and birthday dinners. I have always loved my birthday and all the festivities that it involves, however I think that my very favorite birthday memory is the first one celebrated by Cade, the day he entered this world.
I loved being pregnant, I loved everything it encompassed...the tummy, the kicks, the hiccups in the middle of the night, having a reason to convince Jared to give me a back rub, the constant hunt for cute non-maternity clothes, rubbing my tummy, having others rub my tummy...but I think more than all of that I loved giving birth. I know, I am crazy, but I loved it...I wasn't so fond of the recovery but even that wasn't THAT bad.
Jared had a conference that he had to attend 2 weeks before Cade was due and after the doctors okay he took off for the 3 day symposium. I decided to spend the weekend with my grandma. We spent Friday evening shopping, talking, and day dreaming about the day the baby would come. After a short walk and a movie I headed to bed, only to be awoken by a "tummy ache" at 4:oo am. I made several trips to the bathroom and tossed and turned for about 2 hours, thinking that I had eaten something that just didn't sit right. Once I noticed that my pains were coming about 10 minutes apart I decided to call Jared in tears. He calmed my fears and told me to just relax and try to get some sleep, "don't worry, the baby isn't supposed to be here for another 2 weeks and he promised me he would wait for me to get home" he said. I decided to take his advice and try and get some rest but that lasted about an hour before I had had it! I woke my grandma up to ask her what labor felt like to which she responded, "oh Lacey, don't do this to me." I laughed and we proceeded to read articles about stages of labor, called the doctor who told me to stay home for a while longer so I settled in and tried to ignore the pains for the day. After several movies, a little rest, and a "salon style" hair washing in the sink I had reached the point of no return and my grandma and I started the 45 minute drive to the hospital.
Once we had finally reached the hospital, at about 9:00 pm, I found out that I was dialated to a 4 and 90% effaced and therefore very politely yet very urgently asked for my epidural. As soon as Jared found out what was happening at home he frantically tried to make it back and soon word spread like wild fire. My sweet mother-in-law and sister-in-law were the first to get word and come to my side. As the epidural was settling in and I was feeling WONDERFUL my room got a little bit fuller with 3 more sister-in-laws, 2 brother-in-laws, my father-in-law, a few more nurses and my sweet husband on the phone. I was able to rest a little bit until about 4:00 am when I started pushing and by 4:38 am my dear little Cade began his journey on this earth at 7 lbs 8 oz and 19 inches long. It was so exciting, so thrilling, so empowering, so spiritual to be involved in the birth of a child. I was so happy to have my little one here and here healthy and safe.
After a few hours of "post birth" stuff I made it to my room with my little bundle and before I knew it my sweet Jared came running through the door to meet his new little son. It is such an honor to have this little man in my life and has been from the first moment that I found out I was going to be a mom. I love birthdays, I love celebrations, but my favorite birthday memory was the day that our little one entered this world.

Pathetic...Yet True

The other day we decided to sit down as a family and play with some toys. Due to Cades recent fascination with putting things together we decided that Potato Head would be the perfect toy. For Christmas my mom and dad gave Cade a giant potato head with lots of little spuds and their accessories inside. As soon as the top came off of the big one Cade dumped all of the pieces out onto the floor and sadly, that is were his involvement ended. Jared and I got so into building these silly things and kept saying, "no, no, no, don't take the arm off, I am making a pirate," or "hey, I was going to use that mouth," or "could you take Cade in the other room while I finish?" Pathetic, I know, but true.

We had so much fun and were just busting a gut while we made the little potato heads into characters. Poor Cade, just looked at us as if we had lost it, and I guess in a way we had. It is amazing how you forget how much fun you had playing with toys when you were little and how easy it is to become territorial of something you have created. Needless to say, we were both proud of our creations and Cade was happy when it was time to put the toys away.

Survival of the Fittest

On our way home from Disneyland last week we stopped at a little diner for some lunch. They had those little games where you move the little golf tee around and try to knock out all the pieces except one. Well, Cade thought it was so neat that there were little holes the fit the pieces perfectly. So, he tried and tried to get a piece in and would clap his hands and then go onto the next one. I was impressed that he was able to do it, they were really small holes.

Once he got all the pieces in Jared would quickly pull them all out and ask him to do it again. I thought it was a little bit mean but he claimed that he was only "encouraging his eye hand coordination." So Cade would start right back in again with the same process: place, clap, do it again. Well, once he had finally put the last piece in he ditched the celebration and went right to protecting his pieces because he knew if Jared got anywhere near them, they were toast. So he immediately coved the pieces and looked at Jared with a "don't even try it" look in his eyes (last picture) it was great! It is amazing what little ones come up with.

Monday Pondering

So I have decided that in honor of all the May birthdays... my hubby, his bro, my brother-in-law Joel, my little sis, nephew Carter... I would wrap this weeks question around them. It is an easy and fun one this week...

"What is your favorite birthday memory?"

Have fun, post some pics, conjure up some memories and don't forget to share. Enjoy!

So They Say Its Your Birthday...

Happy Happy Birthday to my favorite 28-year-old twins! I was once told that when I married a twin I got 2 for the price of 1... and what a lucky girl that I am that I ended up with a set of good ones. First off, my dear sweet husband! Happy birthday sweetie...I love you! What a wonderful man that I married and how blessed I am to have someone that honestly opens a whole new world to me. We are as different as night and day and have learned a beautiful dance in our marriage. He is everything that I am not and more. He has taught me how to love life, how to laugh, how to give, how to love. What a good man he is. Happy Birthday baby!
And my Josh, also a wonderful man. He has always been so sweet to me and so welcoming. He is truly the big brother that I never had. I was a little worried if he would let me borrow his twin brother for a while but he graciously gave him over to this silly girl while still keeping a loving watch over him. Josh is a wonderful brother to both of us and we love him dearly! Happy birthday Joshy.
What a joy and a pain it has been to watch these two boys. I use the term "boys" very accurately because I have watched both of them go from boys to men, honorable men, strong men, loving men. I have watched them love each other, protect each other, bug each other, defend each other, and support each other. I love you boys and am forever thankful for the day that you entered this wonderful world. Happy Birthday to my boys!
P.S. yes, the only pictures I have of the two of them together is at each of our weddings, pathetic, I know. Note to self, take more pictures of the twins!