Overflowing Heart

Sorry for the lack of pictures lately. No excuse other than the simple fact that I haven't taken any :)

I love Bloomington. I mean, I LOVE BLOOMINGTON. But sometimes, it's really hard being away from familiar faces of friends and family.  It is ALSO hard having a busy husband who is doing his best to get an amazing education, and is thus sometimes hardly ever around.  I know many other woman who have this "problem," and even have it 10 times worse than me. I find myself complaining a lot. I complain about things I don't like, people who bother me, the fact that sometimes- all day, I feel like a single parent. I try really hard to be logical about things, and I try to get advise from great people... but sometimes, I feel defeated. Sometimes, or a lot of times, I'm tired (not depressed tired, but just tired).

Last night, I drove home from Chicago after visiting with some of my family.  I decided to call a few friends I haven't spoken to in a while. First, I called Anne. I love Anne. She is one of my absolute FAVORITE people in the world. She and I have a really special bond that formed when we were both going thru some tough times in college (mine was NOTHING- but I acted like it was).  Anne ALWAYS makes my day.  Whenever I need a pick me up, I call her. In fact, her name in my phone is, and always has been, "ANNE!" Anne warms my heart in a way few people can. I love Anne.  Everyone needs an Anne in their lives.

Then I called my friend, Kelly. Kelly and I have been friends since my sophmore year in high school. She is awesome. When she called me back, she said something that kind of woke me up. She said, "You look so happy in your pictures on facebook!" I paused and then said, "I really am happy."  Again in our quick conversation she said, "I'm so glad you're so happy!"

Today, I watched the Mormon Messages called, "My New Life." Now, this is my attitude (at least this evening)...

I am really happy!!!  I may be overweight right now, and I may not enjoy some things about our life, but I am happy.  I have a testimony in the Savior, Jesus Christ. I know that it is because of HIM that I am able to be my BEST! I am able to be forgiven. I love my Father in Heaven so much- though I know I can show Him more. He blesses me everyday with what/who I have in my life- and BELIEVE ME- I do not deserve an ounce of it.

My husband is the most amazing person I've ever met. He's not perfect, but he is perfect for ME! He is the most amazing father I have ever seen. He is so helpful. I've never met someone who is as kind as he is. His love for people is astonishing.  Today he read some books to Grant. I don't know if he noticed I was watching, but I loved every second of it. Our children ADORE HIM. He is so wonderful. I married FAR above myself, and I am holding on for the best ride ever. (ugh- as I read this to myself, I am finding I can't find the right words to describe how much me means to me)

Grant is awesome. He is always quoting Backyardigans as if it's his own language. He loves to sing, dance, give high fives, hide, "read", run away whenever he gets a chance and drink chocolate milk. He loves to look for airplanes in the sky (and he can see them even when I don't!). He is his daddy's son. He LOVES to tinker around with everything. He is too smart for OUR own good. Grant is the best first son someone could ask for and the best older brother (right now, that is!).

Henry. I just want to stare at him all day. My favorite thing to do with him is get my face close to his, and he feels my face all over. He grabs my cheeks, my mouth, my chin. He stares into my eyes, and I can just FEEL how wonderfully precious he is. He is so ino cent (it won't let me publish that word, I guess). He is so pure. He is the perfect second child. He is so laid back and he just loves. You can tell. Henry is a beautiful gift from my Father in Heaven. 

With three guys in my life like those- and a testimony I adore and cherish, why would I NOT be happy?!

Tonight, my heart is overflowing.

Do You Feel Better?

Last week on Facebook, I made a comment about how reading some people's blogs makes me feel like a crappy mom.  I had one friend say that she sometimes feels like that after reading mine (I think she must have been smokin' somethin'...! jk).  I don't know how many others feel this way- it's never really BAD, I mean, I don't get depressed over it- but sometimes it just makes me sad that I am not more proactive about things, and that I am a little bit (or a lot) more lazy than I'd like. 

SOOOOO

Every now and then, I am going to start posting something that will help YOU (whoEVER is reading this) feel better about yourselves.  hahaha... I can't believe I'm going to do this... but guess what?

I AM NOT PERFECT! (hahaha... as if you didn't know)

Saturday was a really rough day for me. I got really mad at Grant A LOT. I was not very good at keeping my calm.  I was also very frustrated with Grant yesterday (Sunday).  I was not as Christ-like as I should have been.  I found myself appologizing to my two year old a lot for my actions and words (mostly words).

SOOOOOO

Do you feel better?

Love, Rochelle

The Kids Who Stare at Goats

Let's see... quick recap for the last week or so. 

Easter. Conference. Chicago.

That pretty much sums it all up! And here are some pictures to prove it.

HAPPY EASTER!!!!!!!

Grant was excited for...

...THIS (I'm so awesome)!

Henry got a book. He likes it.

Our friends, the Lindsey's, came over for an Easter Egg Hunt.

Here is Luke and Grant running out to it

(but the hunt was in the grass... not the driveway).

I love this picture.

Grant was just running around, so Henry started to snag some eggs.

Henry was a HUGE fan of Conference- here he is listening.

My older sister and her daughter are in from across the pond (England),

so I went to Chicago to spend some time with them.

This is Holly's daughter, Chloe (with an umlaut).

She and Grant are only 7 months apart, so this is the closest

age difference between him and all HIS cousins.

Chloe is making out with Henry. haha

Grant and Chloe "baking" with Grandma Word.

Chloe put them on the baking sheet, and Grant would eat them.

Can you see him snitchin' it? Don't worry- I taught him that.

Aw. Chloe loves Baby Henry.

'Sup?

Isn't this hat the BEST??

At Lamb's Farm in Lake Bluff. 

This is also

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE GRANT

Looking at a bird?

Chloe and the FAVORITE Aunt Scoobies :)

Grant LOVES the goats

Here is Grant saying, "HI! My name is Uniqua!"

This is the last picture before I ran out of memory.

I think he's deciding which goat/sheep he should chase

(and CHASE he did!).

I hope everyone had a WONDERFUL Easter.

I am so grateful for a Savior who has made it possible for me to be where I am.

There is NO WAY I would be able to have the blessings in my life if it weren't for HIM.

He Lives.

I've Got Love

For these crazy kids.

I love that I only got a pic of Grant's eyes and nose.

Kinda like THIS ONE!

Oh Yeah... I fried my ONE arm. Nice.

(And I am not pregnant... just fat! YEAH!)

{insert creative/witty title here about spring break}

Spring Break came and WENT. Boo. But we decided to have some fun. Because I'm usually really good at writing novels/long picture books on here, I'll try to keep the captions short (also because there are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO many pictures!!) so you can enjoy looking at our cute kids :) hahaha  Enjoy

MONDAY

Henry's 4 month check up went as follows:

Height = 24 3/4" = 50% (cool... already WAY ahead of Grant at this age)

Weight = 16 lbs 2 oz = 75% (wow. Grant stayed in the 5% for a LONG LONG time! Way to eat and NOT SPIT UP, Henry!!)

Rental Agent (is that what they're called?) totally canceled on us. Boo.

***VISITING TEACHING!***

Want to check out this month's message??

It's a GREAT one! I spent 2 and a half hours at the appointment.

 It was so fun. Why have I been so bad at this?!

TUESDAY

Headed up to Chicago, and though we may die if we continued to drive behind this.

Here is Grant and Henry enjoying our little road trip up to Chicago.

Then we hit up this cool place for kids called "Belaboos" in Valparaso, IN.

 They had a water room, ball and slide room...

...a pizza parlor and dress up room...

(that is Grant blow drying his hair like mom)

...and a train room that all the boys enjoyed.

WEDNESDAY

The next day we checked into KEY LIME COVE!!

They have an indoor water park (sorry- so pictures of us IN the water)

and tons of fun things to do around the hotel. TOTALLY worth going!

Henry was SO excited to go swimming for the first time!

THURSDAY

The rest of the time in Chicago was just spent hanging out.

I spend a lot of time at the BEACH growing up,

so we took a walk with the boys to my childhood playgrounds!

(please ignore the quadruple Worthen Chin- just look at the dog and Grant...

...by dog I don't mean me!)

CUTE HENRY! We <3 him.

FRIDAY

Then we went to the mall to get Grant's hair cut and to let him play!

SATURDAY

We drove home.

HOwever, this is the cute boy we took to church with us

And here he is being a baby- he did this all on his own!

Ah, and here's our REAL baby- not so tiny anymore!!