Megan and Joseph

I just got back last night from Richland. Claire, Kindle, and I drove last week to Washington for Megan's wedding....I must share...because it was awesome! Here are a few pics:

After the ceremony, Mindy had planned a beautiful luncheon for the family...totally cool...I know who the person is behind the curtain that keeps everything running...it's Min.( she even cut the vinyl monograms for the doors) It was truly great. She did a fabulous job.

We spent the evening at a beautiful reception...laughing our heads off with the Baird family.




I made the cake....I call it the Blake cake because it is chocolate cake with almond coconut
(my take on almond joy). It was good....very good.

(I love how the coconut looks like the hydrangeas on the tables)

The McCullens

It was so nice out today that after dinner we all went outside to hang and a
baseball game broke out!!! (it is the American past-time, you know...)
I love these guys.

Even Sweet E boy got in the game...but then got distracted by the dandelion puffs that were in abundance....mmmm...yummy.

This is Jeff's impression of Alice Cullen....man I'm gonna miss this guy.

Thinking and Rambling....

I have been doing alot of thinking the last couple of days...about my life so far. So many ups and downs. I think what the real deal is...is that there were probably more ups than downs I just did'nt realize that we were in an "up" time. I thought it was a down time. OR maybe I made it a down time because I was having "brain junk" going on...you know..."everything is bad because it's not what I want..."
(stupid, stupid brain....why do I even have a brain..........wait...)

The girls and I were talking the other day about being a stay-at-home mom vs. a working-mom
---wait---it has to be said that I hate that verbage. I worked my butt off, I just happened to do it while I was being a mother at home. Anyway, It seems to still be a concern....are you valid as a person if all you do is mother? I remember wrestling with this question in my own mind...trying to find validation. In hind sight I know that it was the best blessing that could possibly have been...but I don't know if I appreciated it as much as I should have.
I remember being overwhelmed alot...I don't think I was a great mother of small children. I wasn't very patient. But I do remember having fun with them all...and I do remember thinking how much I loved them, and I know I prayed about them constantly. I hope that counts for something.

To all the young mothers out there, at home or not, I know I'm old enough to be your mother....but here's my advice: Stop for a minute and imagine yourself with them all grown. Then go thank Heavenly Father for today...and pray that you will be able to enjoy it all day!

Gene Pool

"sweety boy" came to visit me today!!

the Baird gene pool never goes too far away... look how much he looks like his aunt Kindle. she was just around a year old.

Kindle

Ephraim

(You gotta love this.....)The Bairds
(I think Ephraim and I have the same hair cut...or maybe that runs in the genes too.)

...and I LOVE This!!