Saturday Game Night

^ Maggie and Parker are BFFs.

Saturday Night we went to the MacCallums for some dinner and games. Ian made kick-butt omlets with spinach, feta, tomatoes and green onions. Beth made a peach/blueberry cobbler for dessert. We're so spoiled! We played Finish Lines and The New Yorker. It was pretty fun although I didn't win anything. =[ We're looking forward to moving to Oswego and having them over to our house!

^ The Hubbies and the 'older' kiddos

While we were there I noticed Carter's first tooth is starting to come in!!

It's SO HARD to get a good picture of a tooth but this is what I came up with:

juxtaposition

I can't believe my littlest boy is over 6 mon old!!

Carter had his first taste of real food today!! He loved the squash.

(&& He got his first tooth yesterday, I'm waiting on a picture of the tooth...)

Carter turning 6mon made me feel really nostalgic..... I am SO HAPPY with his birth. It was what I always pictured it to be like. It was what I wanted. It was what we both needed. I love my sons the same. I do not love their births the same. I wanted to do an "experiment" I took my memory cards and found the first picture of both kiddos and wanted to put them side by side.... this is the result:

^ Parker's first picture

^ Carter's first picture

date night fun

For date night we made laundry detergent and dryer balls! We have been wanting to do it and keep putting it off. Well last night- we did it!

Supplies for soap: washing soda, baking soda, oxyclean free, and essential oil. measuring cups were to make detergent and measuring spoon for a 'scoop' and a container to put it in.

finished product:

supplies for dryer balls: wool yarn, crochet hook to finish ball, kneehighs to wrap ball, and scissors to cut string

finished product:

Parker LOVES these and is requesting a ball of his own!

(we realized it only took one skein of yarn per ball, so we exhanged a couple for new colors! we plan to make more and proudly display them in our laundry room! =])

summer lovin'

^ Parker loves helping mommy.

He loves putting garbage in the garbage can, dirty diapers in the bathroom, clean diapers on the changing table, and picking up his toys. He's my favorite helper.

^ Parker and Carter playing together. My favorite time of day is when they laugh back and forth to (probably more like at) each other. They have my heart.

((The pictures that are in black and white are because someone has a PINK diaper on, I'm not telling who! ;) ))

^ Daddy and Parker were playing outside today. They cooled off with some Gatorade (courtesy of Daddy)

^ Carter is trying SO HARD to crawl. He gets his knees under him, and he pushed up with his arms-- just not at the same time!! LOL

^ He's officially a sitter! =]

My big boy!!

3/4 Steffen and 1/2 MacCallum

Parker, Carter, and I met up with Beth and Maggie (Parker's BFF and future wife) today at the mall. Baby Emmett and Ian (Beth's hubby) were home so Ian could do school work (ew). Brian was working at the college so he also missed out on the fun.

^ Beth and I thought Parker should go on the horse with the gun to make him more manly looking. Soon after, I realized that horse didn't go up and down and so, we tried to move to a horse that moved. BAD IDEA. Parker screamed the rest of the ride.

^ This was me, obviously impressed he was riding and not crying (like I said, that didn't last long)

^ Beth and Maggie on the horse. ^She was a pro.


^ Parker playing with Maggie's wooden cow. By the look on his face, I think he loved it- what do you think?! But he stole it on accident, so he has to bring it to church on Sunday and apoligize for taking something that wasn't his.... naughty naughty boy. (ha!)


We had a lot of fun, and I didn't spend any money besides lunch! =] Go me!
I've got my eyes on that d90!

my heart breaks.

A couple of years ago, I joined an online group for Mommies, there I met a girl named Jami. She has become one of my dearest friends. Her husband, Kameron has had a long battle with lupus. Yesterday, he lost the battle.

((Kason, age 2, with daddy))

My heart is broken. I am so sad that she will have to live her life without Kam and that Kason will only remember a little bit about his daddy. My testimony has truly been shook by this story. During our family prayer (well brian and my prayer) every night I prayed for him and for their family. I prayed for a miracle. Its always sad when it feels like Heavenly Father says No. I don't get it.... =[ After I heard the news I fell to my knees and now had to pray for Heavenly Father to give Jami a sense of peace and hope. That is still my prayer today as I try to figure out the best way to help her. I wish I could just hop on a plane to AZ. :'(

"I know I'm praying for much to much
but could you send back
the only man she loved
I know you don't do it usually
but dear lord she's dyin
to dance with [her best friend] again" -l.v.

Jami,
I want you to know that through making and keeping your temple covenants that your family is eternal. Kameron can now take even better care of your family. He is anxiously waiting your and Kason's arrival. It might seem like a long time to us, but I bet it doesn't seem as long on the other side. I am beyond sure that Kameron is SO PROUD of you!
Please please please let me know if I can do anything for you. Even if you want to just call and cry. I love you and Kason.
Holly

carter and the purple crayon

this picture is HORRIBLE... but you see the damage. LOL..... crazy kiddo already getting into things

goodbye love

^ this loveseat (yes i know the cushions are missing... i'll get to that) has been through a lot. my aunt and uncle got it when they got married and both my cousin's took it to college with them. we needed a couch and they graciously gave this to us. i was looking forward to passing it on to someone else who needed it..... well, it looks like that will not be the case. ='( we came into our apartment after a long day of garage sale-ing and house drama while Brian's sister Laura came to visit. Our apt had been closed up ALL day (i do NOT like the leave the windows open when i'm not home) and it was HOT. We opened the door and a smell hit us like nothing else. It was coming from the couch. We searched and found nothing. It literally smelled like an animal and crawled in there and died. So, we had to bid adieu to our dear friend.... =[ it was a sad day.

So, now we sit, couchless again.....

But how can ANYONE stay sad/mad with a kiddo like this:

Parker and Carter love to play together. Carter will whine and Parker rushes over saying "tarter" HAHA and then Carter laughs. Carter lets Parker share the carseat with him.


I am AMAZED how they love eachother. Parker makes silly noises and Carter laughs. (My favorite time is hearing this in the car. It's better than any radio station out there) They are already the best of friends.

The other night we decided to try cereal with Carter. He wasn't a huge fan. I think I'll hold off a little longer.... He sported an adorable bib made by - who else- MOMMY!

HOUSE HUNT (summary):

We had an accepted offer on a house in Oswego, after doing the inspection we realized the house wasn't worth it. We backed out of the deal.

I found a house online and I was DYING to see it since seeing the pictures. We got in the next day and ever since then I can't stop thinking about it. We are waiting to her on our offer...... I love it.

Everything happens for a reason.

Oh, and

I'm not going to update the blog a lot about the house hunt because I think it's pointless until a closing date is set and a mortgage is secure. I definitely will not show pics bc I don't want to get my hopes TOO high incase something happens... because with houses you never ever know...

recent crafts

These are my most recent projects.... sorry the color on my camera is so off...

^ scripture tote for cate (has magnetic snap)

^ back view shows pocket

^ matching tote for cate. i made it completly reversible with no showing seams. the polka-dotted side has a pocket with 2 pen pockets and a larger one for a notebook/paper.