It's been a little while, but there really hasn't been much going on around here. I suppose no news is good news. . .

Here are a few of the things we've been up to the last few weeks:

My dear little boy has decided 6am is the time for him to rise and shine, except for the day he bounced out of bed at 5:30am. I used to think 7:30 was early and now I'd LOVE to have that back.

The morning he got up at 5:30 he informed me he wanted to eat so I made him some oatmeal. I was in the kitchen doing dishes, when I heard Samuel saying "mommy, mommy" I go in and find half of his cereal on the floor. This is the thanks I get for getting up early and making breakfast!? But how can I stay mad at such a cute face?

Everyday is new adventure with Samuel! Lately he's discovered all kinds of things he can make into "step stools" to help him climb higher and higher i.e. his dump truck, toy holder, pans, trays. . . With the help of this tray he can quickly empty my utensil drawer and "set" the table.

One day I came in to find him sitting on a stand next to the fridge holding a black permanent marker. I was pleasantly surprised that he didn't have it all over himself. Later that day I noticed that it wasn't all over him because he colored the pictures on the fridge. When I showed Pete, he laughed and said we had to give Samuel credit for keeping most of the marker on the pictures :)

Last but NEVER least we have been enjoying SPRING!! We have been so lucky with the weather and have been taking advantage of every sunny day. (sorry to my family/friends in utah) I'm sure we'll still get hit with at least two more snow storms - but I can safely say spring is here and my like for Cleveland is starting to warm up again.

A Birthday Week!

On Monday I had a birthday (32 yikes)! It reminds me of an Allen Jackson song "Remember When" it says "remember when 30 seemed so old, now looking back it was just a stepping stone." Now I know I'm not old, but I do remember when 30 seemed so old! Time just keeps going. . . . I think I thought my life would be different at 32. Like, I'd be more established in a house, with multiple children, etc. But truly I have a wonderful life. I love my little apartment (just wish I could change the city!) I have a perfect husband, and a beautiful, miracle of a little boy, dear friends, I can go on and on. . . So it's not like I planned, but please - what EVER goes as planned?! Life is good.

So, the Saturday before we went out to eat at the Wild Mango, my new favorite place to eat in Cleveland. Cleveland friends: you must go, it is SOOO worth the drive!!



Then Monday I was so pleasantly surprised by my dear friend, Sarah, with this beautiful and oh so delicious (and can i also add HOMEMADE) chocolate cake! Every girl should be as lucky as I am to get a cake like this to eat on her birthday. . .and believe me I ate and ate and ate. Yum!

Happy Birthday Relief Society! This was the second birthday party I had this week and what a party it was. I have the best Enrichment leader (see the above mentioned Sarah) and enrichment committee, they make my life so easy and stress free!! It was a wonderful night, with wonderful food, company, and OH the decorations - beyond cute!

Warm Spell

Or so I thought. 45 degrees sounded a lot warmer than it actually was, but we both were dying to get out of the house! So off to the park we went (we weren't the only people there I'll have you know).

Side note:

A sure sign winter is still here - the lake is still frozen. I have to admit I was a little surprised (not to mention disappointed) to see that. I mean in my mind March is here, I made it through another Cleveland winter. I don't care if there was a 10 minute blizzard this afternoon, SPRING is here!! Please don't try and tell me otherwise.

Anyway, back to the park, we only held out for about 40 minutes then we had to head back for warm shelter. You won't keep us in for long old man winter. . .we'll be back outside soon! not this week though, it's only going to be in 20's.

I Simply Love

These mountains

His Family

My Family

i slacked on the pictures here, but we had a wonderful week in elk ridge!!

This little boy ALWAYS!!

These forever friends

last, but not least, Buffy at the curl up and dye hair salon (is it a salon?)

she is a miracle worker with hair (see above pic for haircut).

Now here I sit in cloudy, 18 degrees, Cleveland missing the above mentioned with all my heart. One day we'll be back . . .for good.