He's met his match

This little boy is still my all-time favorite baby. Just last week he toddled upstairs three times during FHE to grab scriptures for each one of us and wouldn't sit down until we all had a set in our hands. I might add we did not ask him to do this. We started singing the opening song and bam, he was gone on his mission. How can that not melt your heart?

The one thing I don't adore about him is his aggressiveness when he is upset. The hair pulling and hitting are quite embarrassing and exasperating to say the least. Thus why "gentle" is one if the clear words he speaks.

He's met his match, though. Tonight his little girl friend gave him a bloody nose by whacking him with a book. Though I felt so sad for him as I tried to clean up his gushing nose and wipe his tears away, I couldn't help but laugh. This was payback for all the chunks of hair he has pulled from that poor girl's head.

I wonder if they will marry someday. .

You can fly, you can fly, you can fly

Well, I am not sure about flying but I do plan on running my first half marathon in January 2013 with tmy wonderful SIL.

There is something inside of me that thrives on setting goals and reaching them.  And something more exciting when those goals improve my overall health.  

Let the training begin!

A very big week

Carsten turned 18 months.  Which means he is officially old enough for nursery.  Our little hair pulling, snuggling, giggling, train & dirt loving, book reading haas is no longer our baby.  Nursery kids, watch out!

Elisabeth gave her first scripture and prayer in Primary.  She chose 1 Nephi 3:7 - Because Nephi is her favorite prophet.  I have never seen a child more excited to hop up on that podium to speak in front of 40 kids/teachers.  Love our little spunky, fearless, princess who wants to do what is right. . . most of the time.

And last but not least. . . We bought a house!!!!  As of April 12th we can say we are officially homeowners and have settled down to roost.  We will be moving in mid-May and I literally can't wait!!!!

I know that homeownership is not all roses.  I know that my children aren't perfect and I am far from a perfect mother.  Experience and reason also tell me that there will be rocky times in the years ahead.  But as I laid down to go to sleep the day escrow closed and I thought of my two sweet children sleeping soundly in their beds within the walls of my new home and dear Lance sleeping next to me and my stinky beagle snoring by my feet, my heart couldn't help but almost burst with happiness.  I want to hold on to moments like these forever.  God is incredibly good.

Interior decorating

This past year has been one of discovery for me. I discovered I love to run. I discovered I love fashion. I discovered how to find a happy balance between being a mother, wife, freelance instructional designer, a member of the LDS church, and an individual.

Most recently, I have discovered how much I love interior design. It is a little like scrapbooking only instead of using paper, I get to use textiles and paint.

Our soon-to-be new home is absolutely beautiful. The sellers have kept it immaculate and have decorated it tastefully. The only room I want to change is our bedroom. We are officially retiring our IKEA queen sized bed frame held together with wood glue and clamps (yeah . . . high class here at our house) to our new guest room and purchasing a bedroom set and new bedding along with painting our walls.

After some browsing online, here is the look I am going for:

Love the splash of reddish / coral color with the contrasting blue. Love the white duvet which makes the room feel so fresh and clean. Love the rug and the stools at the end of the bed. Love the use of both blue and gray in the paint.

Here are a few things I have bought so far:

Hadley Ruched Sham - Pottery Barn

Beige/Red Flowing Branch Square Pillow - Target

This is the duvet cover I want for our bed (only with silver sage stitching instead of gray) but I do not want to pay what Restoration Hardware charges. Wondering if I can find a knock-off somewhere for cheap? Or maybe even just buy a white duvet cover and add my own edging?

Can't wait to hit the discount stores, like Home Goods, now to find nightstands, lamps and other throw pillows. And to find a bed frame and dresser. . .

What do you think? Any suggestions? Comments are most welcome.