"you make you happy"

So much has been happening since I got back I can't seem to find the time to blog about my trip.  But I still want to, and I will- sometime.  Everything started breaking down when we got back- the toilet exploded out the back, the washer stopped working, the car windshield busted and of course my Mac died.  But miraculously it all got taken care of- and I'm happy to report the Mac was SAVED!  I lost NOTHING and my photography business didn't suffer.

I also started school up again!  I know what you are thinking... I'm thinking that too.  I'll be due at the very end of the semester- finals approaching and everything.  But I really think I can do it.  This means I probably won't get to crochet Hyrum his baby hat now but maybe I'll make like an old lady and do it during sacrament meeting.  Heh. jk.

But what REALLY happened today that I wanted to talk about was my sweet little man.  Brody seriously has a heart of gold and an amazing spirit about him.  Everyone who comes around him can't help but laugh or smile, he amazes me.

Today the weight of things got the better of me and I found myself sitting on the floor crying in the music room.  Brody followed me and noticed this right away- he said, "Mommy, you're crying... Don't be sad mommy."

He started wiping my tears away like I do to him.  Which of course made me cry even more because it was so tender and sweet.  He kept wiping my tears and he said "you make you happy".  He repeated that a few times before it hit me... I told him, "you're right Brody, I need to make myself happy, don't I?"

I love the lessons we learn in life- I wasn't expecting to learn so much almost 2 1/2 years ago when I brought this boy into our home.  I thought I would be the one doing all the teaching but he has brought me so much.  What great advice from a two year old.... you make you happy.

..I  definitely  am.  Thanks Brodster.

leaving, arriving, and reunions

Basically, we left OK to get to AZ, to leave AZ a couple days later.  I still don't have access to the really-fun-part-of-the-trip-pictures but my mom gave me these.
Last year it so happened my mom and Bro Mike drove with me to AZ.  This year it ended up being my mom and bro Perris.  Pretty random, yes.. and awesome.
Reunion #1:

what a guy!  Helping out (:

I hate driving.  Okay, I very much despise driving.  So I didn't make the most of this drive other than chew on a new piece of strawberry bubblicious every few hours but I didn't care.  I just wanted to get HOME!
We made it:

Reunion #2:

Okay... piano?  Can we never part again?  It killed me to not have access to one alllllllllll summer.  I LOVE piano.

thank you mom for supplying these pictures.. also for being a picture fanatic and teaching me of your ways.

Here's a peek at the next day...

tell us Connie, tell us! (ok no one cares, just me;)

Spending time with family makes me all warm and fuzzy inside.  That's why these seemingly normal times mean so much to me.

...more where this came from but for now, that'll do, pig.

Oh yeah guess what

My birthday came around again (last week)

I'm 25.  And with this one I actually do feel older.  It could be because of my need to sit down all the time but I'm guessing that'll pass once this baby comes out and I'm back to my usual spry self.

I really appreciated my family that day. I really do look forward to my birthday each year and as always they made me feel special.  I was actually sick (and that day only.. you would connie) but it was all good.  I have the best husband ever...Tony threw a suprise party for me this weekend and had all his family over.  I think he felt bad that I was so under the weather on my actual bday.  I will share everything about my birthday and the rest of the week soon *soon.  Hopefully.  It was a blast (freakin blast guyz seriously)

Anthropologie thought of me and sent me this adorable candle necklace.  Isn't it somethin?  I didn't blow out any candles this year so it made up nicely. (;

Oh, and another Happy Birthday to my brother Mike who was my same age for a few days there (I'm so glad I could be there with you!).  I love my great family... thanks for making my birthday so wonderful!!

bye Oklahoma.

We had lots of fun in Oklahoma this summer.  Here are a few more things we did before we left...

1. Discovered the best taco hole in the wall in the world:

2. Realized Brody still plays with toys after bedtime:

 

3. Cleaned melted crayon out of the oven (note to self: check oven for inanimate objects before preheating...toothbrushes, bottle caps..)

4. Went to the railroad museum and B rode his first real train........and also apparently they (whoever "they" are) are filming a movie there.. there was a box car that was loaded with junk and opened peanut butter jars; it was random:

 

5. Had swim lessons:

6. Visited an old stop from last year:

7. And of course, ate snow cone after snow cone:

it's pretty serious business.

 

And since everyone is so interested:

yes, my computer is still in the shop

yes, I will probably lose everything (I've accepted the losing all my pictures part- but not the hundreds (maybe thousands)of dollars of software part)

no, I don't have access to Photoshop and

......yes, it's killing me.