The joys of being 2!
Playing in Leaves
The kids had so much playing in the leaves. They jumped, kicked, and threw the leaves high up in the air. The boys were more eager and willing to play, it took some time for Pip and Ella to join in on the fun.
Aren't they so cute! I promise all those kids are 2, but when I see them lined up...Piper has really loved getting to know all her friends. She's getting to the point where she will recognize them and talk about them when she goes home.
"Star Student" We decorated jack-o-lanterns. Pip placed the eyes, nose, and mouth all by herself. I happen to love that Picasso pumpkin.
I was looking through pictures and realized I never documented our trip to Nauvoo. How could I have forgotten? I know...life was pretty crazy around that time. First, Bobby was coming home from his internship in Texas. Second, my in-laws were making their very first trip to B'town and staying at our house. Third, school was starting back up. August is always an insane month at our house, so a vacation was in order. I had never been to Nauvoo and Bobby hadn't been there in 25 years. The drive was interesting. We drove through corn field after corn field, a massive wind farm, and followed the mighty Mississippi. We passed through several tiny towns (in one town we saw 2 little boys sitting on the front lawn just watching the train go by and waving at the few cars that passed, too funny!) When we finally arrived in Nauvoo, I was surprised by how quiet it was. Apparently, the BYU performers had just left so the town was in desperate need of tourists. We were one of the few families there so we got VIP treatment from all the tour missionaries. We learned so much about the city and its rich, vibrant history.
Bobby and I did a session at the Nauvoo Temple. We got to take a mini tour of the Temple and look at artifacts from the 1800s. We both agreed that this Temple was absolutely beautiful and bright. Pip loved peeking through the gates at the Temple and running around smelling all the flowers.
This trip is when I think Pip discovered a fascination with horses. Her Opa took her to see the horses across the street from where we were staying. For the rest of the weekend, it was "horsey, horsey!"
We went on a wagon tour of Historic Nauvoo. I loved listening to the stories of pioneers and the history of the buildings. We had a chance to ride on the trail leading out of Nauvoo that the Saints used when they left for Salt Lake. I looked back and could see the city that these Saints had built and felt such sadness for them, it was a real sobering experience.
The Sculpture Garden behind the visitor's center was so beautiful. Our favorite was called "Fulfillment". Piper loved the one where the children are playing "Ring Around the Rosy". She wanted to get in on the action. It was cute watching her twirl with the statues.
One of our last stops was a visit to Carthage Jail. To me this held the same reverence and respect as the Vietnam Wall.
After visiting Nauvoo, both Bobby and I had a new respect for our pioneer ancestors. Nauvoo was such a beautiful and peaceful place.
I love October. I love Halloween. I love Fall. and I absolutely love pumpkins. Buying a pumpkin is like buying a Christmas tree, both equally enjoyable and fully festive! One thing I have always wanted to do was go to a for real pumpkin patch. NOT a "pumpkin patch" that's just pumpkins thrown on a lawn, but a bonafide straight off the vine pumpkin patch. So this past weekend, I was in search of "the patch".
"Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forward."
What an amazing journey this has been. I've had a lot of fun searching for pictures and reminiscing about my twenties. There are so many things I wish I could tell my 20 year old self- those pearls of wisdom that only come from countless mistakes: Don't date him or if you're going to date him at least get kiss before you dump him. Buy that fast car. Put those doughnuts down because that 100 pound figure of yours isn't going to last, in fact it will be a distant memory by 26. Laugh more, smile often. Quit waiting for something to happen. Invest in Facebook. Slow down.
2008
Here are the 3 BIG changes at 28:
1. At 28, I became a MOM. This is the single most important event in my life. I struggled learning how to be a mom-what does this cry mean? how can I go to work and be mom? will my stomach ever deflate? I learned charity and compassion. I remember when Pip was first born having to take her up to Primary Children's Hospital every week. We would wake up at 4am, bundle Pip up, and drive to her appointments. I look back at those memories and wonder how I managed to function on so little sleep.
2. At 28, I moved to Indiana so Bobby could attend IU and get his MBA. When Bobby told me he wanted to go back to BYU and get his undergrad, I couldn't see the light at the end of the tunnel. But at 28, the light appeared! We were finally done with undergrad and could start focusing on the ultimate goal: Business School.
3. At 28, I decided that I needed a break from teaching so I could focus on raising Piper. Quitting teaching was a very difficult decision for me. My last year of teaching was hard. I was absent a lot. My boss was...well, I can't say what she was, but she definitely put 100% into what she was. And I was pregnant for the first half and new mother for the second half. It was a balancing act I didn't want to do anymore. It's a decision that I haven't regretted.
And lastly, though not a BIG change, I celebrated my 10 year high school reunion. Senior 98 TC is Great! I didn't go to it since we were traveling/moving and I was still fat from having a baby (the last thing I wanted was to show up fat at my 10 year reunion).
