The Wonderful, The Beautiful, and The Ordinary

So I don't forget about the wonderful, the beautiful, and the ordinary moments of this trip...

My dad epoxied the little plastic handle back on to my curling iron yesterday.  It's been falling off since I bought it, and I am constantly burning my thumb... or running after the bouncing plastic handle to slip it back into place.  It was such a simple, quick fix, and yet I've put up with it for over a year.  I love that my dad can do stuff like that for me.  Solving problems is something he has always done well, and I love that I have benefited from it my entire life.

My mom made oatmeal applesauce muffins with home-ground wheat and homemade applesauce.  Alec was thrilled to get to help stir, pour, and mix up such a yummy treat.  I loved watching them.

I've had countless walks, talks, discussions, and conversations (which all truly can describe different events) with my Mother Dearest.  She makes me feel not so alone in my world and the way I think.  She doesn't mind me being an individual.  My mom is one of my best friends.  There is a reason why one of us almost always ends up crying when we part ways.  

Tonight my dad read to my babies as they climbed all over him and his chair like a jungle gym.  He just kept reading.  It made me smile.

Friday I had lunch with two long standing wonderful friends, Michelle and Nicole.  We enjoyed some delightful chicken salad sandwiches and a strawberry spinach salad.  It felt like spring and I was happy.   Every time I see these two lovely ladies I am reminded of why I adore them so much... and why I keep trying to convince them that their husbands should attend Vet School in Iowa.  A girl can dream, can't she?

Monday I shared a D.I. shopping trip and a delightful visit to Jamba Juice with my Dad.  My closet and my smoothie cravings were nourished.  

Watching my brothers love, care for, and play with my babies makes me so happy.  They will be wonderful fathers to their own children some day.  For now they are some of the best uncles in the world.  My babies are so lucky (especially Alec, who got to go to IHOP on National Pancake Day with Uncle Mike and his friends).  

Friday night I spent the evening on the bright red oversized, extra deep couch of two wonderful friends, Ed and Ashley.  We talked for almost two hours about almost everything from children to politics.  Though we may not agree on everything, I appreciate friends who really try to think things through.  They are some of the most giving people I know and I can't help but wish Ed, Ashley, and their three adorable children were my neighbors again.  

The weekend was spent in Zion National Park, where the beauty of God's creations was in abundance.  More medicine for the soul I say.  I'll write more on that another day. 

Today my best friend from college, Alli, brought her sweet little Kathryn by to play with my munchkins, share a big bowl of popcorn, and chit chat about our lives and our kids.  I think Alli is marvelous in so many ways.  She's one who has seen the worst of me, watched me grow up, learn, and change, but still loves me just the same without the obligatory family relationship.  We all need people like that in our lives.  

What would I do without my mother?  All last week my Mother took us to different library story times.  She bought us more books for our ever growing home library.  She has pushed babies in the backyard swings for hours.  She's changed countless numbers of stinky diapers.  She's been puked on and cleaned up puke from both my little spewers.  She's given them almost every bath they've received since we arrived in Utah.  She has prepared and served almost all of their meals, snacks, and sippy cups.  Yesterday when I was crabby she told me to go running.  Then she took us out and bought the babies sandals for the upcoming spring/summer season.  Today she took us all to my favorite park so Alec could play on the playground.  She always seems to have fine chocolate on hand for me when needed.  Oh, and she bought me two BIG bags of dried mango at Costco.  (which  I have shared lots and lots.)  

Tomorrow Mom plans to take us to the dinosaur museum. 

 

Alec and I can hardly wait!