just hanging with my sweet boy today.

aubrey went to play at a friend's house for a little bit so it's just me and my little man for the afternoon.

i'm thinking the time for a haircut may be a little past due for my sweet boy.....

it's become unruly.  

i think he gets a little angry with me when it gets this long......

the hair on this side of his head starts to lay forward and create one huge side burn.

i'm sorry, buddy.  mommy will get it cut soon.

love my little long haired boy.

<3

Sisterly Love.

a couple months ago i made my dad a photo book for his birthday.  i liked it so much i got one for myself.  (and i got it for free by redeeming a free coupon code).  yay for freebies!!

 it came last week and i thought i'd share it.

 Sisterly Love

a story about a girl and her brother

Once upon a time there was a girl named Aubrey and a boy named Connor.  They were brother and sister.  They loved "hanging out" with each other.

Aubrey loved her little brother SO much and was always there for him when he needed her.  She helped him feel better.

She called him 'her Connie'.  And she was his 'Sissy'.

 They loved being together......whether they were laying around, giving sweet kisses.......

 

.........or making each other laugh.  They didn't care, as long as they were together.

 

They even got to do fun things together........like activities with the Hope Kids.

 Connor was always there to support Sissy.  He loved to watch her perform.

Aubrey always supported him right back in whatever he was doing, and helped him with all his different equipment.

 Aubrey loved to play dress up with her brother.  She was the Princess and he was her handsome Prince.......and sometimes he got to be Princess, too. :)

 They liked to have fun and be silly together, too!

 Aubrey loved being near Connor and always helped him take the best pictures.  They were as close as brother and sister could be.

She loved to hold her little brother......even when he was not so 'little' anymore.

She was her brother's keeper.

Aubrey was Connor's biggest cheerleader, and he was her best patient.

 There was one thing they both LOVED......when Papa came to visit!!!  But he never stayed long enough...

Aubrey and her brother always looked so cute when they got dressed up for church.  They liked being fancy. :)

This sister couldn't have loved her special brother any more.  And she knew that one day they would be together forever,  and live happily ever after.........

The End.

and that's my story.

<3

final.

i started this blog as a way to document my life with my sweet babies, so i could always remember the everyday things, i want to never forget.  another huge reason for starting it was so i could have an outlet for my feelings, sort of an online journal (without going into too much detail).  a way to get my emotions outside of my self.  so i'm going to use it as such today.....

i spoke with my attorney's office today and was informed that my divorce is final.  the judge has signed the papers and it's officially official.   i'm not sure how i'm supposed to feel, or how i should feel, i just know that i feel.  i feel so many things.  i don't know what i was expecting to feel, really.  i just feel all kinds of things at once.  for the most part it's not any different than the way life has been for the past few years, but somehow having it final just feels.......different.   it's an overwhelming amount of feelings all swirling around at the same time.  it's been a long process, and i hope i handled everything in the best way i possibly could have.  it's sad.  it's a relief.  it's good, it's bad.  it's just emotional.

it's a bit of a frightening feeling to have my life pretty much starting over at the age of almost 30.  i feel sad for not being able to give aubrey and connor the 'ideal family life'.   that's what i feel most sad about.  i feel scared that aubrey's life may be 'screwed up' because of it.  i feel guilty and worried about that.
it's also a relief to have the whole process over with.  it's an end to that particular stress in my life.  it's a new beginning.  it's just so many things.
all at once.

it is what it is, i suppose.

a short list.

today i'm tired.  i think it's tuesday?  feels like it's just an extension of a really long drawn-out monday...  since i'm not feeling too 'chipper' (not really sure what chipper is, but i know i'm not feeling it) i thought i would try and focus my energy on realizing all the things i'm grateful for, or that make me happy.
i'll just list a few.

1. my beautiful son and best friend of a daughter
2. my dad.  
3. all of my family
4. tootsie rolls
5. my awesome neighbors and friends
6. the gospel
7. Pearl Jam randomly played on the radio at just the right time:)
8. penguins
9. the sound of aubrey's sweet giggle
10. the way connor's soft skin feels against my cheek
11. tulips starting to emerge from the ground
12. coupons
13. books. good books.
14. apples
15. sudoku puzzles i'm able to solve while waiting to pick aubrey up from school
16.  getting to see connor's classmates at preschool everyday  (love them!)      

i know i could go on and on.......i have so many things to be thankful for.  i am so blessed in so many ways.  i need to always remember that.

<3

in my arms.

in my arms, he is a sleepy boy.

 sleep comes so easily to him, when he's in my arms.

he seems to find the same comfort and peace i feel, when he's in my arms.

in my arms, his ever-moving body rests.

he is so beautiful, in my arms.

the moment i lay him down......

 i think he realizes he's not in my arms anymore.

maybe he likes it there, in my arms.

i know it's my favorite place for him to be.

<3

happy day after saturday!

it's sunday, and that means it's fancy-pants picture time!

we decided we wanted to match and wear blue today.

love.

 smooches.

more smooches.

 a little bit of silly.

winks.

and my favorite part of the day......

watching brother and sister interact.

sharing secrets maybe?

tender kisses.

gentle inspection.

silent understanding.

sibling fun.

i love the love between them.

<3