Graduation!

We are all so very proud of Case for graduating from BYU's Law School last month!  It was simply a perfect day, and I was so grateful to my mom for watching Lizzie during the ceremony so I could actually listen to the speeches, take pictures, and just soak in the joy of his amazing accomplishment!  

The day before commencement, I was reflecting about this "new chapter" of our lives, and realized it's really not new at all--which is NOT what I anticipated.  For three years, I had planned that his graduation would mark the major transition of becoming a stay-at-home mom, Case starting his law career, and welcoming new children.  Interestingly enough, none of those things are in the cards at the moment--even the stress of law school studying has simply been replaced with the stress of Bar studying/job hunting.  Things feel much the same, and for all the progress I've made over the years in learning to let go of my very-carefully-mapped-out-life-plans, I still have a long way to go in learning to completely trust the Lord & go with the flow.  I am working to accept that I am not the Master Architect, and as much as I'd like to think that I know best what would be the perfect course for my life, His view reaches far beyond what I can comprehend.  

Really, that faith, and the beautiful family in these pictures below, is all that matters.  And life, as messy and unexpected as it always seems to turn out, is good.

 

Fake smile!  :)

Easter Explorers

I'm pretty sure Mont had WAY too much fun picking out the Easter stuff for the kids.  In particular, the binoculars brought serious wonder into the grand-kids' Easter hunt!  :)  Thank you for making it such a special tradition for us all!

And now that I've finally posted Easter, I can eventually catch up on Case's law school graduation (last week), and Lizzie's birthday (yesterday)... it might have to wait until summer break, though!

 

15 Reasons & a Photo Op

Truth: I'm already one incredibly sappy mommy.  You know the type: the ones that cry when their children first say, "I love you."  The ones that despair when their children grow out of yet another shoe size.  The ones that fall apart when they say good-bye to their kindergarten-bound children for the first time.  (And she's not even in kindergarten yet--it's the anticipation of the event.  I wish I were kidding...).  The thing is, I always grew up swearing I would never be that weepy, emotional type--but I suppose that's just exactly why things have turned out the way they have.  I am working on becoming a bit more resilient to the changes that come as Lizzie reaches new mile stones.  After all, her growth is what it's all about!

That being said, I feel strongly that my overflowing emotions are a blessing (even if Case keeps making me promise that I won't make a scene at things like the first day of kindergarten).   Below is a list born of those tender feelings for my daughter.

15 Reasons I Adore Lizzie:

#1: Her big, brown eyes

#2: Her deep compassion for others.  (When I was sick yesterday, she asked me with great concern, "Are you being better yet?")

#3: Her boundless curiosity.  (She's constantly asking a stream of questions, especially when we're outside!)

#4: Her 100% pure love of the color pink (And I don't even like that color myself!  Such an interesting phenomenon).

#5: Her silliness.  (especially when it comes to playing with our dog)!

#6: Her imagination!  (She woke up from her nap today telling me, "I was just talking to the frog, Prince Navine.")

#7: Her sassy-ness.  (She's back to calling us Case & Mary again...)

#8: Her love of Disney movies, and of acting them out (She's Princess Aurora every time she wears that dress).

#9: Her astonishing memory--in matching games, in movie scripts, in conversations, in locations we haven't visited in over a year....

#10: Her girly-ness (yes, that is nail polish on her fingers, and no, I don't like wearing nail polish myself.  Again, another unexplainable phenomenon).

#11: Her good nature--she is so quick to love and forgive!

#12: Her dramatic tendencies.  :)

#13: Her adorably messy curls!

#14: Her singing--we have yet to encounter a genre of music with which she does not like to sing along!

#15: Her heart-melting smile.

More Lizzie-isms

Here are some recent antics from our toddler that keep us laughing every day.  Hope you enjoy them as much as we have!

"Let me lick my snot off, and then I'll kiss you."

Lizzie: "Daddy, will you get me some milk?"

Me: "I'll get it, Lizzie."

Lizzie: "You're not Daddy."

"Where did the kangaroo go?" (In reference to Grandma wearing her parka)

"Daddy, will you turn off the light?"  (of course, that light being from the sun, which had the nerve to shine in her face while she tried to nap in the car).

"Mommy, look what I can do!" (followed by grabbing the corners of her mouth and pulling it into a grotesque grin--I think she learned that from The Nightmare Before Christmas, which is one of her favorite movies).

"I stole your spot!" (she lives for lying in wait to leap into our seats on the sofa when we move).

"Utah said, dang it!"  (Yeah--she thinks Utah is a person.  Utah says and does many things on a regular basis).

Lizzie: "Mommy, can I stack my tea-set?

Me: "No, Lizzie, you know that chips the plates when you do that."

Lizzie: (pausing to weigh her options) "...Mommy, will you go out of the room?"

And some quotes I've posted on Facebook over the past few months, but that deserve repeating:

"I'm not smart--I'm a genius!"

Me: "Should we put the little girl to bed, Case?"

Lizzie: "No way, Mary!  Put Daddy to bed!"

"Gaston, can I have my book please."  (not a question--a Beauty & the Beast inspired command when Case put her bedtime story away)

Oh, and below is a picture of her in her Cinderella Halloween costume.  Little late on that... but what's new?  :)

Fall

Ever since my family moved to McCall, Idaho 11 years ago, fall has been my favorite season.  For me, the crunch of fallen leaves, the brilliant display of multicolored trees, and the glorious tastes of pumpkin, nutmeg, cider, and cinnamon amidst ever-dropping temperatures is heaven. An older woman at church wisely told me that it is a gift from God to ease our transition from summer to winter.  I feel blessed to have lived here in Utah for the past 6 years where I get to continue enjoying autumn in all its splendor!

My parents delighted us during their last visit with a trip to Cornbelly's at Thanksgiving Point, a playground for all things fall.   

Between quality family time...

...goofy photo-ops...

 

...burlap slides...

...special bonding with Nana and Grandpa (Lizzie still asks to go on another cow ride, by the way, Nana)...

...and some serious exploring for our toddler, we had a fantastic time! 

For reasons I don't fully understand, I have a very strong emotional attachment to everything at Thanksgiving Point.  The Gardens are always magnificent (see example post from last year & another from this summer), and the Dinosaur museum always leaves me feeling more knowledgeable.  :)  I know I could visit over and over, and it would never get old.  If we move away (we're still holding our breath for the Air Force JAG, by the way), I hope we find similar beloved family outing locations wherever we go!  Thanks again, Mom & Dad, for that wonderful treat!

P.S. We've determined that few toddlers enjoy dressing up like Lizzie does.  Once again, her tendency to do nothing half-way is manifested in the picture below!