Cayuga Lake & Other Fun Things

One fine weekend we decided to venture to Cayuga Lake State Park to visit the beauties this park offers. Of course, the favorite activity was digging (go figure). We used what meager supplies we had and spent most of our time digging in the sand.

 As is the tendency with most boys, Mickey's favorite activity was to knock down ("timber") anything the Mr. built up. :)

 Mickey was so confused when the Mr. buried his feet in the sand. He kept staring down with a confused complexion.

 One cannot go to a beach without playing in the water at least some! Though unprepared, we waded in a short distance to play in the water. Initially, we didn't want to play in the water much because it was a cool day and we were worried the lake temperature would be quite cold. We were pleasantly surprised, however, when we found the water to be in the upper 60's (this lake is more shallow than the one closest to us so it warms up faster).

 Mickey quickly found the joys of throwing rocks into the water - it took a while to convince him to just drop them instead of throw them as the lifeguard on duty wasn't exactly happy with us throwing rocks.

 Aside from our state park adventures, we've also enjoyed:

1. Visits to the local library where Mickey almost always tells this giant teddy bear "Love you too" and gives him kisses.

 2. Making messes in the kitchen when I attempt to cook. Seriously, anything with dough usually ends up with flour all over the place. This picture was his 'innocent' smile after I had cleaned up his face, hair, chair, and the table.

 3. The playground with the firetruck! Rain or shine, this little boy loves this firetruck (and yes, this picture was taken immediately following a small rainstorm).

 4. Thunderstorms and rain showers! Mickey LOVES the thunder and thoroughly enjoys jumping in puddles during or after the rain.

All wet!

 5. The local video store (yes, they do still exist - Redbox hasn't taken over completely). The first time we went to burn off energy before bed (yes, he is in his PJs), and Mickey ran all over the store - around and around every row. We also absolutely MUST get a gumball everytime we go. Mickey is quite insistent that I give him a "money" so he can get a gumball (and then promptly shove the whole thing in his mouth and drool all over).

 6. Riding lawn mowers at Lowe's = pure happiness.

 7. Nightly pillow fights :)

 8. Pushing the stroller everywhere we go ("[Mickey] do it!").

 9. Watching construction just down the street. The best part was the demolition that occurred before the building of parking lot/building.

 10. Last, but definitely not least, celebrating the Mr.'s birthday! I made a questionnaire for family members to answer questions about him, then he had to guess what they would respond. For everyone he got right, he got a sticker for his face. For everyone he got wrong, he had to eat a Jolly Rancher chew. :)

 

(My apologies for a sideways video...again).

And thus has been our summer!

Baby, Surprise Visit, and a Marathon

Sometimes Munchkin stares off into some empty corner of the room or blank wall space and I can't help but wonder what he sees. He does this less and less lately as he can now focus on near faces and objects, but still I question if he can see angels or the spirits of loved ones who have passed on (like his Grandma V who so graciously left to hand-pick our little boy for us). He is so close to heaven . . . who knows, I could very well be wrong, but at least I can pretend for now and then find out the truth when I die.

Some of his favorite sleeping positions include the following:

And yet, he still manages to look super adorable while sleeping . . .

Ok, and while he's awake too! Mr. and I love guessing what his eye color will be - what do you think?

Bath time is always super fun too - though Munchkin repeatedly tells me that it is too cold to take baths now!

J & G came over for a visit and we both thoroughly enjoyed it!

3 months and 2 weeks (respectively)

Munchkin also has this super adorable squeak he does - we had to catch it on camera before he stops doing it!

* * * * *

On another note, we had a surprise visit from a good friend in Arkansas. He also came bearing gifts . . .

Cute hooded towels for bath time! Baby couldn't be more excited :)

Local paraphernalia from Grandma Diane :)

* * * * *

So through all this adventure baby and I have at home (cuddle time, nap time, etc), Mr.'s running a marathon it seems. No, not the 26.3-mile one you do in a weekend morning (I wish it were that quick), but a semester-long academic and work marathon of sorts. His 1 1/2 part-time jobs as well as full-time student coursework keep him incredibly busy. However, he does a really great job at managing his time and making sure to make the time to come home to be with his family. We sure do love him lots and are grateful for all his hard work!

A magnificent husband and a wonderful father :)

Thanks for checking in on us! Happy Monday!

New Year - What An Adventure

Sorry that we've been pretty dead to the world for the last few weeks (ya know, finals, Christmas break, Nonprofit Management conference in Kansas City, MO; new semester, etc.).

We are doing well though. Enjoying life and loving each other even more now that we have been married for 7 months :)

. . .  We both did better in school this semester than we have in previous semesters!. . .

. . . I will graduate this year! . . .

. . .  Matt is teaching me French - we even watched a movie with French subtitles and I got lots of it . . .

. . . We may have an awesome summer job set up (maybe) . . .

. . . Our apartment got a cool make-over (pictures to come) . . .

. . . We may need a larger apartment in the fall . . .

Welcome 2012! You are sure to bring many new experiences into our lives! :)

Loves!

Best Gifts Ever!

For those of you who do not know, I work to help run Education Week at BYU - what a crazy week with lots of work during long hours for the whole week (glad that's over). On Tuesday (I think), I was walking around the 3rd floor of the WSC checking on classes and helping some of the hosts with issues that came up. After I walked out of one of the rooms, I ran into an elderly host who was talking to a lovely elderly couple. They stopped me and asked about my name (a typical topic of conversation when I first meet people). After we talked for a moment about that, the host noticed the ring on my finger and asked if I was engaged or married (I do not have a wedding band with my ring). When I told them that I was married, they promptly asked if my husband "knows what a precious gift he has" and if he "treats [me] right?" Of course I responded that I did, and they further prodded by asking if he opened all my doors for me, including the doors going into and out of buildings, and if he pushed my chair in for me as well. I smiled widely and said, "Yes, he is very good at that. Except for pushing in the chair, I'm a bit clumsy with that so we haven't figured it out yet." The woman then responded that we ought to figure that out early because it's a good thing to have in a marriage. I smiled and said I would before they let me go. What a cute, fun couple & host they were. 

Honestly, it is not hard to see that my wonderful husband treats me so well and is the best husband ever! He does open all my doors (as long as I let him), he's even started trying to push in my chair (even with clumsy ol' me). He walks closest to the street when we go on walks. And he always holds my hand. There's no guessing that he is respectful of me and is good to me, but just in case you'd like more evidence, here's some photos of the best gifts he's given me, and the wonderful type of husband he is (read on only if you can stomach me bragging about my husband)...

After our Vegas Honeymoon, we came home with some souvenirs for Matt, and other family members, but I had not found anything that I found worth purchasing for me. Throughout the trip, I had been talking about this book that I really wanted to save up for and purchase for myself at some point (honestly, I was REALLY excited about it). So one day, after work one day, I came home to see this on our bed with the sweetest not from Matt...

Since we moved into our little basement apartment, I have also been mentioning (or complaining - man, I'm such a whiny wife!) that our bedroom (and our kitchen) are so dark and do not get enough light (I love light during the day - and lots of it). So Matt gets some mirrors from the store to put up and lighten the room...and I never get to putting them up. So one day, he just takes over and puts the mirrors up, with some of our pictures, into a wonderful collage that reflects the light to increase the brightness in our room:

Before

After :) 

 And, as further evidence (only of those I've been able to document via photos), I had been stressing out about the dirtiness of our apartment and all the things I would like to get deep cleaned before school started, but didn't seem to have the time for. Then (and this happened just today), I come home from work not only to find that he had put away our laundry that had been air-drying, but he had hand washed all the dishes...

...took out the trash...

AND cleaned the bathroom - I'm talking the whole bathroom, toilet and all!

This is just the bathroom faucet that he cleaned to a sparking shine - no way was I going to scar you all with a picture of our toilet (honestly!)

Best of all, my wonderful husband has given himself to me. He's dedicated to his studies so that he can get the grades and learning he needs to be a provider for our family, he's patient with me and all my moaning and groaning, and he loves me through everything!

Honestly, how could anyone not know that my husband treats me so well? He is amazing and perfect for me! I love him and am so grateful for all the gifts he has given me. I'm so proud of hims as well as all the effort he puts into life! 

-Cosette

xoxo