no pictures, just ramblings

My oh my, how time flies! I've had a couple experience lately that I really want to remember. Scott suggested I write them in my physical, hand-written, journal. So I pulled it out, dusted it off and meekly checked the last time I had written...... April of 2009. I was a little bit ashamed. I DO have a blog, so those past three years are not lost to us, they are just documented on the blog. The sad thing is how much has happened in those three years that I haven't recorded my feelings (besides on the blog of course). So, what went un-recorded? Us moving to Ohio, all our fertility treatments, adopting Eli, several trips back and forth to Utah, my parents coming home from their mission, moving BACK to Utah, living with my sister for 7 months, moving into our own home, Scott starting two different jobs, and all the other little things in-between.

So, I updated my journal and have resolutions to keep it better updated. Thank heavens for blogs, otherwise I would have been really sad feeling like these things weren't recorded. And for this week's update, we've been busy, but happy! We've been super busy with daily "to-do's", school, work, church, but we've also been loving the beautiful weather. The boys have been loving playing outside and enjoying the sunshine. We are fully outfitted for summer with new flip flops, swimsuits, and bikes! Well, we are still searching for a bike for Will, but we've ordered Eli's wiggle car so he'll stop stealing everyone else's. We were all ready for summer and now today it is SNOWING!

Other big news.... my parents who are on a mission in the Washington DC temple have been in and out of the hospital with my dad. He has been having heart problems. We were very scared and worried, but he is doing much better now and we are relieved. The day he went to the hospital, we were putting our boys to bed and told them to say special prayers for Grandpa. Will asked what had happened so we told him and he became very emotional and very worried. He is such a tender heart! He was so worried he was having trouble going to sleep. Finally he said "Mom?! I'm just so worried about Grandma Hopkins, because if Grandpa dies, then WHO is going to have to marry?!" It gave us a good laugh.

Will has been doing great in school, he is learning by leaps and bounds and doing a fantastic job with his violin. He's learning a new song almost each week and loves to practice, which is a blessing! We've also been enjoying our weekly visits from Grandpa Mortensen when he comes down to work at the MTC. The boys love the extra attention, the pillow fights, and the funny things Grandpa does and says. I enjoy the release from my duties for a few hours! :)

Life is good. Motherhood is wonderful and I am blessed. We are very content and feel grateful to our Heavenly Father for his guidance and watch care over us.

jr jazz, veggies, our pet fishies, and our little pup

 For the past 2 1/2 months, Will has been playing Jr. Jazz. He had practices and games every Wednesday night at the Legacy Center. We were happy that one of his buddies from his Kindergarten class was on his team! That made things much easier for Will.  I was so proud of Will for trying so hard. He had never really even held a basketball before starting Jr. Jazz.  Over the 2 months, he really improved his skills and had a lot of fun doing it. I loved watching him running around with a big smile on his face. He is still very timid and NOT aggressive at all, he'd much rather stand out of the way and just watch. But as he gains some confidence I can see him getting into the action a little bit more.

 Last week we went to dinner. I ordered for the boys and their food came with a side of veggies. I was so shocked that Eli was eating the vegetables that I had to snap a few pictures! Seriously, this child only eats about five different things, and has NEVER eaten vegetables. Even as a baby, I have tried everything, but he just won't do it. However, for some reason while we were at dinner at the restaurant, he couldn't get enough and just kept eating and eating and eating them. I was amazed!

 That's a tomato on the end of the fork. I thought there would be no way he'd eat it.....

 Going, going,........

 GONE!

I think the best part of the boys week was when Dad came home with FOUR goldfish after work on Friday! Yep, we are officially a pet family. The boys were SO excited and haven't stopped enjoying them since. I'm sure the novelty will wear off..... but for now, they are loving it. 

 They had a great time setting up the tank and transferring the fish and feeding them. It was a very exciting day at our house!

Yesterday, my nephew had a birthday party. He loves dogs, and loves to pretend he IS a dog, so it was only fitting that my sister did a "Doggie" party. When we went to pick up Will and Eli from the party, Eli had a little doggie nose and tail. Well, he wore that nose and doggie tail for about 3 hours straight. He loved it! It was hilarious, we had to run some errands and he wore them the entire time. It was pretty funny. When I asked him if I could take a picture, these were the doggie faces I got......

Such a funny boy! Our boys are totally the light of our lives. We have so much fun! Eli stresses me out and is so completely different from Will that most of the time I have no idea what I'm doing and I just try to keep him satisfied. :) Our days are filled with craziness and busy little things, but we are having a great time and I am so happy to be a mother. We are really looking forward to some warmer spring weather so we can be outside and burn off some of our pent up energy!