.The Little Mermaid.

My sweet mom bought me a ticket to see the little mermaid the other night. It was SO amazing! Really, SO good! I can't wait to go see Alladin next year! I love haning out with my mom and grandma. They are so much fun! Beau was nice enough to take a night off from hunting to stay home with Blake, not that he minded, he loves being home with the little buster. It gives them some 'Man-bonding-time' or whatever ;) I was glad to get a night off, Blake is such a good kid, don't get me wrong, but he is definetly a toddler. He is into/onto/messing with EVERYTHING constantly! So having a few non-kid hours is nice every once in a while.

Me and the 'sitter' ;) Like the outfit? This is pretty much what he wears 24/7 now a days. Orange and Camo. He's either hunting or working. But this is the last week of the hunt, and then hopefully our lives will slip back into normalcy. Well, as normal as we get!

see this...

this may give you an idea of the craziness he brings into our life! or how about this picture.

 yup.. this little stinker (no pun intended) learned to take off his diaper. Oh joy.

which results in lots of sheet washing (notice the lack of bed linen above)

Other than that, Blake is such a good kid! I've felt so bad, he's been 'stopped up' the last few days and MISERABLE! While I was trying to 'take care of it' Beau just chuckeld and said "you'll do was grosser things" Oh thanks babe.

whirlwind.

These past few days have been crazy!

emotional, sad, happy, stressfull, crazy.

saturday Beau went hunting, so I spent most of the day at my moms helping prepare food and decorate the gym for Scott's farewell luncheon. He did GREAT at his talk! I was so proud watching him up there! He has grown so much in these past few months preparing. SO many people showed up! Seriously the support Scott has is amazing! Thank you to all who came! And to all of you who brought food! There was SO much! Gotta love Mormon get-togethers! ;)

Someone made the comment that there were like 10 different jello/jello-salads there. And  I though "Yeah, but would you expect any less?" ;)

The pictures I got were horrible.

 fluorescent lighting + manic me + no time to change settings = yellow pictures with flash. :)

Oh well. We got pictures, and thats all that matters!

Plus I have like flour or something all over my shirt?

Monday I had a Dr's appointment and then I went back down to my moms to help Scott finish packing and spend time with him.  Once we Blake proofed my moms house a bit, mr. b was in heaven! Thankfully my mom isn't too uptight, because he was constantly making messes! That afternoon we went shopping, and I got real shoes. gasp. I know. Me? REAL shoes? I got back down to my pre baby weight fast, but I am not real thrilled about how I look now that all my weight has 'shifted', plus, since then I gained 5lbs. so I went and bought some good shoes to start walking every morning. (and yes, with the exception of the morning scott left, I have been successful!)

This picture was from Tuesday when we went walking. I had only brought Blake shorts and a tshirt, so we raided scott's baby clothes in my mom's cedar chest and came up with this. Can you say 90's baby? Turtleneck and all.

Tuesday night I went home to pick up Beau after he got back into town from work, and we went back down to my moms for the night.

And now, Elder Carlson is officially a missionary. He flew out yesterday (wed) morning. I thought I had prepared myself, and I did pretty good all morning, but when we all went down to where he would board the plane, I lost it. And I mean LOST IT, lost it. I don't remember the last time I sobbed that hard. I wasn't sad that he was leaving, I just knew how bad I was going to miss him. Scott and I have always been really close, in spite of our sibling rivalry. ;) I guess that happens when you only have one sibling, you kind of just rely on eachother. At one point I said to my mom, "Why couldn't he have left when he was 10 and annoying? why does he have to leave now that we are such close friends?"

But, I know that he is doing an amazing thing, and I would never want him to miss this opportunity. He is going to be the best missionary! I can't wait to start hearing from him! Gah! He is going to do awesome!!

I think Scott is having the hardest time leaving Blake. He will be 3 when he gets back!

Me, sobbing my eyes out.

And there he goes....

Keep up with his mission progress at http://elderscottcarlson.blogspot.com/.

Blake update. Crazy child. That's all I have to say about him! He has SO much of Beau's personality in him! He is quiet and well behaved when he is in a new/non-familiar place, but then when he gets comfortable, watch out! He gets hyper and loud and stubborn! OH so stubborn! Okay maybe he gets some of his stubborn-ness form me :)

 He turned 13 mo. on the 8th.

He loves cars, blankets, cups, photos, music, dancing, being chased, peek-a-boo, pulling books off his bookshelf, phones (he knows how to hold it up to say hello now)

He can reach the counter. WHAT? Yeah my 1 year old can reach up and pull things down off the counter. awesome.

He is SUPER picky about food.

He likes cucumbers, toast/bread, blueberries, grapes, crackers, yogurt, popcicles, ice, pancakes, grilled cheese, frozen (not canned) green beans, nutrigrain bars, fig newtons, frozen peas, pears, spaghetti squash, oreos (Aunt Heidi will be proud ;)) pb&j, pickles (he makes a funny face, but then wants more), ice water, special K cereal, V8 juice (which makes me happy on days he wont eat much else) and Medicine (tylenol, gas drops, his vitamins, he loves it all!)

He does NOT like any kind of noodles, carrots, cheese, eggs (he used to like them, but suddenly doesnt?)

His personality is going through the roof lately! He is such a funny kid! And smart. He does NOT forget anything!

This may me TMI, so skip if you aren't into listening to my inner most thoughts :)

the other day at the doctor he was asking me about birth control and I confessed that I had missed a few months (I know, how do you miss months?) Anyways but while I was sitting and waiting for him to check the 'potty test' (is there a nicer way to put that?) I started thinking about what I would do if he came back and said that I WAS pregnant. Was I ready? Did I want to be pregnant? I mean REALLY? Could I handle another one so soon? Well... I wont leave you in suspense... I am NOT pregnant. But it really got me thinking hard. I thought about the other night when our friends were over with their new baby, changing diapers every 10 minutes, worrying about feeding times and if he was hungry or tired, or poopy. Another close friend of mine is pregnant with a toddler and I dont know if I can do that!? I mean, I know I CAN. But it's gunna be tough! I just hope Heavenly Father sends the next one when we are fully ready, and we don't get any lovely little surprises!

October? really?

This year is going by way too fast.

Please tell me that it's only like this for your baby's first year... and the rest of the years go by slower?

No?

darn.

I've been thinking a lot today. Beau called me this morning from work and told me that one of his high school friends husband was killed. What a mind set to start your day with. It got me really thinking about how grateful I am for my life, for my sweet little family. And for how precious and fragile our lives here on earth are. I couldn't imagine what that sweet girl is going through.

Have I mentioned that Beau is working out of town again? Bummer huh. It's not so bad though, he's only gone 2 nights a week, and it's only in Beaver, so I can really go see him if I want. But it still sucks those nights he is gone. I miss him like a mad person. We really never get sick of being together! It makes me sad when people can be away from their spouse and totally be 100% fine with it. I doubt we will ever be that way. We have a hard time being apart. Having Blake around makes the days go by quicker, but I can tell he misses his dad. It makes me sad to see him walk around the house saying 'da...da....da...da..." or when I get him up from a nap and he peeks around all the corners looking for him. Thankfully he isn't gone as much as he was when he worked in Nevada. that sucked. I'm praying for snow so they have to come back in town to work.

 Scott leaves on his mission in less than a week. What!? I am so not ready for this. But at the same time, I am so excited for his to get out and teach! He is going to be a crackerjack missionary. seriously.

Did you all watch General Conference? Pres. Monson in hill-ario-us! I love that man!

Thankfully Blake slept through 75% of the second session so we got to really listen. We shared gogurts and snuggled. mmmm... I love pajama Church days.

Dawn and Helaman came over the other night and brought little Parley man to meet Mr. B. He was not so sure about a mini person. and he really didn't want to sit next to him. Sorry about the horrible pictures, and blakes awesome drool marks. dang teeth.

Did I mention I love this guy. I do.

and my little family.

And Blake? Blake loves blueberries. a lot. like, a LOT a lot.

He also like to run. I guess that comes with being 13 mo? Yes I said 13 mo. He is getting so big and fun! he yells and jabbers all day. He goes through phases of eating REALLY well, and then not hardly at all. He loves spaghetti squash, toast with butter, yogurt, cereal, cars, and shrek (still).

He hates broccoli.

he is FULL of kisses lately! He will run up to me, and pucker his lips and humm until I bend down and give him a kiss. it melts my heart.

When he runs, he gets going too fast, and totally faceplants it. HILLarious. Only because he thinks it's funny too.

says Shrek (kk), All gone (uh gu), uhoh. and some other words we can't understand, but he seems to.

He has major separation anxiety. But not really just from Mom and Dad, from anyone he loves. grandparents, uncles, friends. If he likes you, he wants you to stay. forever. :)

He sent his first text. To Aunt Tiffy :)

He is sleeping HORRIBLY. I don't know what his problem is, he goes to bed fine, but at like 2 am he has a freak out session! I am hoping its just teeth. Because I can't handle this much longer. Any advice would be lovely.

Sunday Dawn and Helaman blessed Parley and we got to go! I was really glad they decided to do it down here since we don't get to see them much anymore! :(

Here's Beau and Helaman with their little boys! I have a feeling that these two are going to raise some hell when they get a little older, just like their daddies. :)

Blake's new favorite thing to do is point and say "OOOH!"

I love Blake's Sunday clothes. He looks so grown up! We definitely have a toddler on our hands!

Our family. I love family pictures. I don't even care that Blake isn't looking. They make me so happy, because I know that someday when I'm all old a wrinkly These kind will be my favorite. :)