Neighbors

We have some really sweet neighbors who love to dote on our children. Wanda is an older lady who lives alone, but who is gone a lot playing with her sister. We don't see her much, but when we do she is always so nice. Today she brought over two Halloween treat buckets filled with candy and toys for Kade and Tenley! It was so nice of her to think of them and to do so much for them! I was surprised and am trying to find a way to repay the favor! Kade and Tenley both enjoyed going through the buckets tonight after dinner.
Thank you Wanda!

College Football

Brad has always been a big sports fan. Especially when it comes to college sports. After we first met at BYU, our lives seemed to revolve around the current sporting events of the year and their schedules. It was fun and exciting and I quickly became a huge fan as well. I grew up loving basketball, but it took me a little bit longer to fall in love with football. After going to a few games with Brad and listening to him explain all the rules to me it became a lot more fun to watch.
Good memories:

Even though we live far from BYU now, and are no longer able to go to the games in person (except when they were here last week at Notre Dame! Brad got to go with his dad and brother.), we still watch every game. Luckily we've had some good friends move in our neighborhood who are also die-hard BYU football fans and they join us for the game. It makes it fun to have a party with friends!
Kickoff is in about 15 minutes!

Moments

This afternoon Brad got home early from school.
Since Kade was still asleep, Tenley and I decided to enjoy the beautiful fall day and go for a walk around the neighborhood with friends.
An hour or so later my cute boys met up with us.
Kade ran to me and gave me a big hug. He was happy to find us.
We came home and I quickly threw together spaghetti for dinner.
While I was cooking, Brad and the kids raked the leaves in the backyard.
Kade loved jumping on the pile.
Tenley loved being held by her Dada.
It was a sweet moment.
I love those perfect afternoons while I'm cooking dinner when all I can hear is my children laughing and playing with their Dad. It makes me so happy to be a wife and a mother.
Life is good.

They are too cute!

Music

I love music.
Like L.O.V.E., love.
It is my passion and I wish my ability was as high as my passion is.
But I can get better, right?
Even though I'm 27 and am super busy as a Mom with 2 children (hopefully more to come), and in a few short years will hopefully be helping my husband open a dental practice, I can still fit in time to practice, right?
I love playing the piano, but I can't read music.
I shouldn't say I can't because I kind of can, maybe I should say I don't.
That doesn't sound right either, maybe I should say that it is really hard for me to read music.
But I love to write music. It's nothing spectacular. I write very simple songs, but I love it, so why stop?
But I also want to read music, so every day I try and practice by playing hymns while the kids are napping or after they have gone to bed. And I actually have noticed some improvement over the last few years so I guess I'll keep on it.
My other new desire is to learn to play the organ.
The organ is SO fun to play. It is really hard and it takes a lot of concentration when you add the foot pedals in, but I love it!
A few weeks ago, I filled in as the church organist. It was scary, but also exhilarating. Afterward a man from the Stake Presidency came to shake my hand and tell me I did a good job. I told him that was the first time I had ever played the organ for Sacrament Meeting and that I had just started learning how to play the organ.
He seemed perplexed and then said, "Well maybe you are learning it for a reason."
Hmmm...maybe so. I don't really know. I just know that I want to learn, so I am trying to. I hope it becomes beneficial in some way some day.
What I love most about playing the piano/organ/guitar and always having music playing in our home is how it touches my children. Kade has such an amazing memory. I will sit to play a song and he will immediately know the title of the song. Even pop songs that we listen to on Pandora, if we hear them at the store or in the car, he recognizes it!
And sweet Tenley who is just a year old loves music too! She will bounce and sway and smile. She even sings! Her sweet little voice will hum along to the melody. It is the most adorable thing ever. I really need to get it on tape.
SO hopefully all the passion I have for music will emulate in my children and they can do greater things with music than I can or will.
That would make me happy.

Family

Brad's parents came into Indianapolis for the weekend last Thursday and we all headed up to Chicago on Friday to see Brad's sister and brother and their families. It was so nice to be with family!
I love my family.
I love that Brad has a big family.
I love that both of my parents come from big families.
Big families bring chaos but that is what creates great memories!
Heck, even our little family of two children brings chaos! But I am learning to love every moment of it!
Whenever My Man gets home from school Kade loves to exclaim, "We're all together! Yay!" it is so cute. The other day in the car when it was just me, Kade and Tenley he said, "We're all together!" and then he paused and said, "We're not all together..."
I said, "Who are we missing?"
He said, "We're missing Dad!"
He is right to be so happy when we are all together! Those are the best moments of the day! I miss our extended families frequently but we are pretty lucky to have such sweet children and have a chance to be "all together" with them every day.

FAMILY is where pure joy is found

I can't think of anything better to be grateful for.

Book Club

Last night at book club we discussed this book:

I laughed and cried (during the book and at book club!). It is such a good book and such an inspiring story. Her positive attitude and outlook on life and her love of being a mother is such a great example to me. It was so uplifting!

My Man

My Man is so handsome. He is such a great Dad. He is such a hard worker. He makes me laugh every day.

I love him.

These pictures are from the Hobson Family Reunion a few months ago. See what a goof ball My Man is?

He did great work on my teeth! He is going to be one HOTT dentist!

In one month we will celebrate our 7 year anniversary. I'm so glad I chose to marry him. Life's struggles have only brought us closer and made us stronger. I can't wait for all the many more adventures I get to have with My Man.

Rice Bags

It is officially Fall here in Indianapolis. I love this time of year.
The leaves are changing colors,
there is a freshness in the crisp autumn air,
college football has started,
the holidays are coming,
Tenley's 1st birthday is in a few days,
our wedding anniversary is in a month,
and time at the park seems to last all day because the weather is so perfect!

I also loving opening up the windows during the day to let some fresh air in. My sweet husband also loves to do this at night. Brrrrrrr... But luckily my mom once gifted me a rice heating bag.

These things are awesome! I just heat it up for a few minutes before I go to bed and put it down by my feet and then the cold weather that my husband loves, is finally tolerable for me!

Doughnuts

I've never made doughnuts before, but I decided to give it a try yesterday! I found this recipe online and had to search for this chocolate glaze recipe because what is a doughnut  without some chocolate! It was fun and they turned out super yummy!

It made way too many for our little family, though, so we ended up having some friends over to help us eat them. Yum!

...now it is time for a run...

Chaos

Most days feel pretty chaotic. There are 3 things I just have to accomplish everyday: a workout, a shower, and some time to play the piano. That should be easy to fit into my day, right? It should only total about an hour and a half to two hours of selfish time to myself in a whole day. Is that too much to ask?
Sometimes it seems like it is.
The kids wake up and need breakfast and want to play, laundry and dishes are never-ending, the house always need to be cleaned somewhere. With grocery shopping, doctor appointments, and play-dates with friends almost everyday of the week is booked. Planning meals and cooking dinner and making lunches takes a big chunk of the day too.
And there are always distractions...
This past weekend was General Conference. I LOVE conference weekend. It was so nice to cuddle and play with my kids while we watched General Conference and heard such uplifting messages from the Prophet and Apostles and General Authorites. And I learned a lot. I have a renewed desire to be better in many different areas in my life.
So, even though the days seem chaotic and I might not get to do one or two of the things I WANT to do done (a shower is non-negotiable!), I have decided there are 3 things that I NEED to do everyday: read to my kids, snuggle with my husband, and give undivided, non-distracted time to my children. If I can't fit those things into my day, something is wrong with my priorities!

Here is proof of the chaos that occurs as I try to make dinner!

Paint

Paint can really add some spice to a room! I'm so glad that my friend Becca convinced me to paint my kitchen.

I loved doing it, so I decided to do the living room.

 And now I think I'll take a break from painting for a while...

Traditions

Tonight I made homemade pizza with a recipe I found on pinterest. The pizza dough was so yummy! I loved it so much I've decided every Monday night will be pizza night! I think it will be fun for the kids and a great way to start off Family Home Evening. Plus, I love traditions AND it means that is one less meal I have to plan for the week!

The recipe for this yummy pizza can be found here.

We had a great Family Home Evening tonight. Brad has a test coming up, but he took an hour of the night to have dinner and a lesson with us. Kade can really melt my heart sometimes. I love that when I teach him about the gospel he listens intently to me. I love how he says his prayers. And I especially LOVE listening to him sing primary songs! He has been learning so much in nursery. Thank you Sister Bunker for being an awesome primary chorister! I love his sweet voice and how he does all the actions with the songs. He is the best little man and I'm so glad he's mine!