Memorial Day Weekend 2014

On Friday we got to go on a tour of the White House with David's command (the people he works with). Unfortunately you can't take pictures inside and you can't bring cameras so all we have are a couple cell phone photos (yes camera phones were allowed, weird).

Afterward we went to David's favorite pizza place for lunch and then rode the metro back home. Jax was super good through the entire tour even though it was in the middle of nap time. By the time we got back on the metro though, he was so worn out he fell right asleep. 

I forgot to mention that on Friday morning before the tour, David got up super early and went to the CNO's (Chief of Naval Operations) house to administer his Physical Readiness Test with his Chief (basically he had to count the number of sit ups and push ups he did and record it). The CNO is the most senior officer in the Navy so believe me when I say this, he is kind of a big deal. Afterward he gave them a personal tour of his house. It was built in the 1800'ds and has housed many important military men including many CNO's (except for this brief stint in the 1920's when the CNO at the time decided he liked the vice presidents house more so he took over and moved in until congress kicked him out and took it back) and has been the official residence of the CNO since 1977. Anyway, the house is kind of a big deal too. 

Saturday we went to a little birthday party for one of Jax's friends. Forgot to bring my camera to that. It was really fun though. 

Sunday we went to church and relaxed.

And today (Monday) we got up early and headed down to Quantico National Cemetery. There was a lovely ceremony going on, flags were laid out on all the graves, and it was nice to be honoring the heroes of our nation…and visit with our boy. 

Since it was Memorial Day, I brought flowers for Walter. 

I hope you took time today from your BBQ's and pool parties to think about those who have given their life so that you can be free. I hope you said a little prayer for moms and dads who are missing sons and daughters today, and for sons and daughters who are missing moms and dads. We owe them a lot. 

THIRTY by THIRTY

Thirty things to do before I turn 30

1. Find the perfect pair of jeans
2. Reach my goal weight
3. Run one of the Disney races
4. do a March of Dimes walk for my D3
5. sew a quilt
6. move back to California
7. pay off all debts (except mortgage)
8. take a photography/photoshop class
9. cook Thanksgiving Dinner for more than just me and David
10. go somewhere I have never been before
11. eat at a famous restaurant
12. have another baby
13. buy a house
14. assemble the ultimate playroom
15. spend a day being completely spontaneous
16. go on a no kids vacation with my hubby (maybe after the next deployment)
17. maintain goal weight for more than 1 year
18. find the perfect little black dress
19. Make money off something I like to do
20. cook my way through an entire cookbook (which one has yet to be decided…suggestions??)
21. go on a vacation with my sisters
22. spend 1 week completely unplugged
23. decorate a room (in that house I am going to buy) entirely with thrift store/ sale/ Homegoods type items
24. Learn how to make more foods from scratch (like yogurt and sandwich bread) instead of buying the chemical laden (expensive) ones in the stores
25. plant a vegetable garden/ herb garden and eat from it
26. go dancing with my sweetheart (and not care about how I look to others while doing it)
27. Take professional family photos.
28. throw a dinner party
29. Go to Disneyworld
30. do 30 days of something (being vegetarian, not watching TV, whole 30…I will decide later)

Yesterday

I got my first mother's day card from my own child yesterday (yes my child is a genius and can make mothers day cards and sign his name all before his first birthday. Ok maybe his dad helped a little bit…ok maybe his dad did the whole thing). It was sweet. But it also made me miss the child that wasn't here. It made me sad I will never see his handprint crafts. I will never wear a macaroni necklace he made. I've never washed his sticky fingers,  and I don't get to kiss his chubby little cheeks every day.

It was 2 years ago on Mother's Day that we announced to the world that David III was coming. My mothers heart feels like it failed him. I was supposed to protect him and I couldn't. And missing him will always hurt.

So yesterday was hard for me. Harder than I thought it would be. And after I got my little one to bed, I cried for the one I have never tucked in.

But today I woke up and tried to be the best mom to my boys that I could be. I hugged Jax extra long this morning, and pushed away the laundry basket to play instead of fold clothes. I know Jax appreciates that his big brother taught his mom how to love better, and about which things really matter and which things just don't matter at all.

I am so glad that children are part of our Heavenly Father's plan for us. I know mine have, in the short time they have been a part of my life, helped me to be more patient, more loving, and more like Christ than any other experience I have ever had. My children make me holier and I want to be the best for them.

Happy Mother's Day to all you moms that accepted this difficult calling and are also becoming holier and trying hard to make yourselves more like Christ every day and be the best that you can be for your little ones. You are amazing.

We Stole a Panda

 We took Jax to visit the zoo for the first time. He has become pretty interested in animals at home and has lots of zoo books and toys so we thought it might be fun for him to see some real animals. The weather was perfect-not too hot and not too cold. Unfortunately though, a lot of the animals were not out or were not very active so it was hard for Jax to find them. He seemed to enjoy himself though because he missed both of his naps and never once got cranky.

There was a new baby panda at the zoo and he was just so cute we thought we would take him home with us. Wouldn't you want to steal this panda?

Jax was making friends all over the place. 

Jax enjoyed sharing his monkey rattle with the big monkey statue. 

Also, last weekend while my mom and sister were in town, we went to Serendipity for frozen hot chocolate, shopped around Georgetown and went to the DC temple. :)