Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Memorial Day Weekend

We spent Memorial Day Weekend in Fort Collins for Amanda's High School Graduation. Erik was able to take two days off from teaching and so we left Wednesday night. I did four shifts in a row so we could leave then and let me tell you, I will NEVER do that again. I felt so trained and sick everyday. It wasn't the funnest thing ever...but then I don't know how getting only a few hours of sleep for four days straight could be any fun. Not for work at least. I'm glad I did though because we were able to spend more time with my family, which we always love. We got there late Wednesday night and then Thursday was quite a day. The weather was awful and there were tornadoes all around Fort Collins. Windsor, which is about 10-15 minutes southeast of Fort Collins got hit pretty bad and I guess there a few other tornadoes North and South of Fort Collins, but none hit Fort Collins. Very lucky considering how close they all were. The schools were all on lock-down for the afternoon and most all businessess shut down. It was crazy, I had never been in such a threat of a tornado before. I always thought that places close to mountains were safe from them. Apparantly not. Although we were very glad we were all safe, the weather did keep us from doing much of anything during the day.

Friday we had Amanda's graduation party. I tell you, high school graduation parties in Fort Collins are like weddings. EVERYONE has one and they ALL have to be this huge event. It was fun for me as a senior because you get to go from party to party and eat everyone's food and see all your friends all day, but for the parents, it's a little stressful. The weather was still not so great that night, but it didn't rain...and there were NO tornadoes! YEA!!! :) Amanda and her friend Heidi had their parties combined and they did it at Heidi's house. It turned out to be fun, although Erik knew about NOONE! He got good food though, so he couldn't complain.

Amanda and Heidi at Graduation Party


Madalyn enjoying the fountain at her party. (There was also a chocolate fountain there....always a hit anywhere)


Madalyn loves her Aunt Amanda!!


Saturday was the graduation ceremony. Those are always LOADS of fun!!! Especially with a 15 month old. Erik and I went out with Madalyn at least 6 times during the thing...and to make it even better we were basically sitting at the very top row of the gymnasium. That's what family is for though right? To support us in EVERYTHING! Okay, so it wasn't that bad, I guess. :) It sure made me feel old though. If I feel old, I can't imagine what my parents feel right now? :) There youngest, graduating high school, going to college. WUH! I guess that explains my dad's gray hair. :)

Amanda in her whole shibang!



This face depicts exactly how Madalyn felt about sitting through an 1 1/2 graduation ceremony. :)




So this is what happens when I leave Madalyn alone with Grandma and Grandpa?! :)

Monday, May 12, 2008

Happy Mother's Day -- TO ME!

I'd say this Mother's Day was pretty good. I worked on Saturday and when I got home Erik had dinner all ready on the table for us. Waffles with peanut butter and syrup..one of my favorites! He said he knew Sunday would be busy so he wanted to do something for me that night. I walked in our bedroom to change and there was a huge present all neatly wrapped sitting on our bed. Those of you who know Erik, neatly and wrapped aren't things he does. :) He really wanted me to open it right then and there, but I told him I wanted to wait until Mother's Day to open it. I probably should have opened it then because Sunday got so busy that I didn't even get around to opening it until late Sunday night. Erik let me sleep in a little on Sunday, at least as much as I could. Ever since I started working I treasure my sleep--since I don't get much of it, but Madalyn wanted her Mommy up so I was up. We went to our church and then my cousins Brett and Kim Hornberger were both having their farewells and so we went to their ward and heard them speak...then had to go back to our ward so I could lead the music in Primary (that's my new calling in the ward..BLAH!) and then we went back over to the Hornberger's for dinner then had to leave early to go up to Erik's Mom's house for another dinner and to celebrate Mother's Day there and Max's birthday. Whew. We finally got home around 9 and Erik made me open my present before we even got in the house basically. He was really excited about it apparantly.

So here's what I got for "MOTHER"S DAY"...






YES, a punching bag!!!!! SUCH an Erik gift! :) Now funny thing is I've wanted a punching bag for awhile now and thought that it would be really fun, and a more productive way to release some of my energy instead of taking it all out on Erik, but I was never expecting it for Mother's Day. It's just not the typical Mother's Present I guess. But I love it nonetheless. Madalyn was even enjoying punching it and kicking it. The only problem was she coudln't lift it up. She was getting very frustrated in the fact that she couldn't drag it around the house. Poor thing. :)
Anyway, Erik was great to me this Mother's Day. He's an awesome husband and wonderful Dad. I'm so grateful he's been so supportive of me going back to work. I think Madalyn's starting to become a Daddy's girl now, I'm okay with that. In the long run I'll still be the favorite to our kids because Daddy won't share his ice cream with them but Mommy will. :)


I don't think I fully recognized everything my own Mom does for me and my family until I became a mother myself. Having a daughter of my own now, I understand what a huge part of my life she is and am amazed at the amount of love you can have for such a tiny little person. She's everything to me right now and it makes me feel so bad for all the things I put my mother through as a child...mostly teenager. I guess it takes having a child of your own to realize just how much they do care for you and worry about you when they're not with you. I think about Madalyn all the time when I'm at work and hope she's doing okay without me. Especially when she's with her Daddy, I know she's okay, but the fact that I'm not with her still makes me worry. And I'm guessing that feeling isn't going to go away anytime soon. Just wait until they're teenagers and always want to be away from mommy. :( That's what makes mothers so great. Their ability to love UNCONDITIONALLY! What would we do without them?
Happy Mother's Day Mom!



Obviously this picture was taken awhile ago. :)

Sunday, May 4, 2008

Recovery Day!

So this was my first week back at work. All in all I can say "I'M TIRED!!!" I did three day shifts and then last night I worked my first night shift. 6pm to 6am. It actually went better than I thought it would, I wasn't all that tired during my shift, but I'm feeling it now. I came home and we don't have church until 1:00, so I tried to catch up on some sleep, but it was really hard for me to fall asleep, even though I was extremely tired. I'm just not used to sleeping during the day. I really like the work part though, so I'm hoping I can adjust appropriatly. I would have never thought I would be so excited to start working again, but I am. Probalby a combination of having adult conversation again, getting me out of the house once in awhile, and doing what I love the most...helping people, but I'm loving it right now. We'll see how long that sticks huh?! :)
I'm so lucky to have such a great Mom. She came out this week to help watch Madalyn for me since I worked three full days. Madalyn loved playing with her Grandma and I appreciated the help A LOT! Leaving at 6 in the morning makes babysitters a little difficult. And thanks to some nasty weather in Wyoming, we got to keep Grandma for a few more days. Although visiting the family is a lot of fun, I do wish it was somehow possible to have all our family closer. Someday maybe!

What's a visit from Grandma without gifts for the grandbaby?! This is a new swimsuit Grandma got for Madalyn, along with the matching hat. I think she's ready for the pool, what do you think? And I may be a little biased, but she is looking pretty darn cute in it too.


Madalyn discovered Grandma's glasses and thought they were pretty neat. As far as the picture....I don't dare say more about it. :)



We all took Madalyn to the park one day. She still hates the swing, but loves the slides. Her hair cracked us up when she was in the tunnels. Can we say static gard?




Madalyn experienced her first popsicle with Grandma too. She liked it for awhile, but then I think it got too cold for her.