Memorial Day and Tennesse

The meal for Tennesse is Memphis ribs. Thanks to Scott, we were able to have SMOKED Memphis ribs for memorial day and they were delicious.
Memorial day was a very laid back and relaxing holiday. We went on a run together (thank you Johnson's for watching Kelsey), and babysat Ralphie while the Johnson's went on a bike ride. We then just read and got ready for the parties that we are having this week. In the evening we joined the Nelson half for a picnic at the Kidd's. It was really relaxing and a great way to close a fantastic weekend.
Friday: Pizza, Ice cream, and golfing with the Johnson's
Saturday: Volleyball tournament and International Peace Park
Sunday: Games and pie with the Johnson's
Monday: Running without Kelsey and a picnic with the family

She just isnt big enough for a real table and it is so so cute!

Girl Talk

So this is the cutest thing that I have ever seen. I guess I talk on the phone too much! Whenever I pretend to talk on the phone, I then hand it to her and this is what happens...

Sports Sports Sports

With such abnormally hot weather this week, we were able to enjoy some summer time activities a little earlier than normal. Ethan is on another work softball team and it was finally warm enough to go watch him. Ironically half way through the game it started to rain, but quickly stopped and we were able to enjoy a very intense game. Ethan's team started out on fire. The score quickly went from 0-0 to 17-2! It was awesome. Kelsey and I stopped watching so closely because we assumed that the game was in the bag. With about 20 min left I finally started to pay attention to the score again and it was 17-16! Don't know how it happened but it did. Before long the score was 17-20 and we were losing with only 1 inning left. Of course the other teams last at bat was a 3 run home run. O.co was a little demoralized. And then some magical things started to happen. People got some great hits and runs and it was 19-20. Ethan was up, pitcher walked him and he was on base. When he got to second, the weakest link of the team got up to bat hit a great ball to center, which allowed Ethan to make it to third  but Ethan wasn't going to stop there. He rounded third, turned on the jets and raced the ball home. We were all screaming and shouting. He slid and in a beautiful cloud of smoke, Ethan tied the game! As he was doing that our weakest link had made it to second and everyone knew that he needed to get home to win the game. One more at bat, link rounded ran to third, rounded third and thanks to some errors from the out fielding team, link made it home!! It was so much fun! I mostly have video of Ethan's game, but unfortunately I did not record his slide! I am so mad at myself but I was just too into the game. Ethan is number 6

We also went to the driving range and it was SO MUCH FUN!!!

Not pictured: 9 mile run on Thursday and 11 mile run on Saturday. Side note, I have been training really really hard for a half marathon. On Friday, Ethan was like "I think I'll run it with you" and on Saturday he went on an 11 mile run. he went from 0 to 11 in one day. I know he has been playing basketball and softball but come one! Thanks for making me feel like all my training means nothing! Why can men do that?!?!

New Jersey and New York

The last Office aired on Thursday night and we wanted to send it out right. The show takes place in Pennsylvania, but we already had eaten Pennsylvania and so that wouldn't work. When Michael leaves he moves to Colorado, but we already ate Denver so that wouldn't work. Then I remembered that corporate in the show is in Florida and New York and so we had to pick between Key Lime Pie and Buffalo Wings. The Wings had it!

Not related to the Office we also ate New Jersey which was a hoagie sandwich. On a particularly hot day I didn't want to cook so I looked at my remaining states and tried to find one that required minimal effort and no stove/oven/microwave. New Jersey was a perfect fit.

Mothers Day

Mother's Day was kinda weird for me this year. Ethan treated me very special and it was a beautiful Sunday filled with lots of family, but I just don't feel like a mother yet and so it didn't feel like the day was for me. It doesn't make sense, I know that, but Kelsey just doesn't seem like my daughter. She seems more like a cute little person that I get to hang out with all day. It was also different because I see Mother's day as a time to relax. Not do any dishes, not make dinner, not change diapers, read, nap, soak in the sun, sleep in... those kind of things, but news flash for myself: I have a baby! Some things just don't go on hold because I want them too. We got together with the Wings for mothers day which I was very excited to do, but because we were there, Diana was the mother not me, which just added to the weirdness that I was feeling. I know it is all so strange and will make no sense to anyone but myself.
Regardless, Ethan gave me some very thoughtful gifts and although Kelsey was a grump all Mothers day, this morning she laughed and played with me and it was the cutest thing in the whole world. I love being a mother and am so grateful for the responsibility that I have been blessed with. It is hard at times but those are just moments. I mostly just love it so very much and hope that there will be many more little ones in our future. Being a mom gives me so much satisfaction and joy. I hope I never have to work again because I love this way too much. It is easy for me to say that the things I am most proud of in this life is my marriage to Ethan and Kelsey. I love being a mom regardless of my weird emotional roller coaster.

 I love you Kelsey! You are my whole world!

Nevada

Don't laugh, but EVERY website, blog, and book labeled Nevada's state meal as a buffet!! What?! I know, but we had a lot of fun picking which buffet we wanted to go to. Ultimately my love for pizza won and we went to Pizza Pie Cafe which is no Nevada buffet, but it is seriousness like my favorite place to eat. We all left stuffed and satisfied, so we call this state a major success.

 Side note: Kelsey didn't like the pizza! She must not be mine!

Projects

I'm going to brag, so everyone either look out or stop reading!

For the past few weeks I have been working really hard on some projects and have finally finished them. I am really proud of some and cried over the others. Here is the list that I have been accomplishing

Caught up on all my scrap booking

Organized my 50 states project

Made a book just like Julies for finances

Made mothers day gifts

Tried a new cookie recipe

Cut old jeans to make shorts

Made a maxi skirt (and failed horribly resulting in me never wanting to sew again)

Fixed the said maxi skirt as well as I could

Paint 4th of July wood things

Work on a baby shower and a birthday party

Made a slip lace extender which I was going to give to my sister because she is super tall, but I was afraid           she wouldn't like it and I loved it so I kept it for myself

I have been able to do so much because Kels has recently understood the concept of nap time which frees up my afternoons. It has been glorious and so much fun to work on some of my hobbies. I am trying to love it up now because I have been told that my time just slowly starts to slip further and further away as Kelsey gets older and as more kids come. For now, bring on the nap times!

 so this is the slip and I love it!! The dress goes like mid thigh which is way too short, but now I can wear it comfortably

 Mother's day gift for Diana. thanks for the help Karolyn

Mothers day gift for mom. thanks for the help Shara