Best Guy Friends

I love that Gavin is old enough now to realize he has friends and actually WANTS to play and spend time with them. Tonight was his best guy friends 3rd birthday party and he was so excited to go. IT was also Gavin's first friend birthday party that he had been invited to, so it was a little exciting yuet a little saddening because it means our baby is growing up so big.

Last night I took Gavin to the store to help pick out Collin's gift and you would have thought Gavin had never been to the toy isle before in his life. He was in heaven I tell you! I let him walk through the store and help push the cart as it was his special trip and I wanted him to be the one to pick out the gift. He wanted to get everything he liked for Collin, and even some things he put back and said "no, that not right" and he would continue to look for the "right" gift. He finally found what he wanted to get and we went to go pick out a card and gift bag and there was this cute little old lady in the same isle. I should have yelled, "HURRY RUN!" as a warning to her, but of course I didn't.

If you know Gavin well enough you know he is not a shy kid. He makes friends everywhere he goes, even if they don't want to be his. He marched right up to this sweet lady (I'm guessing she was in her mid 70's) and this is how the conversation went...

Gavin: Hi, I'm Gabon (he has a hard time saying the v in his name). This Hulk Smash! (showed her the gifts he had picked as he HAD to carry them)
Her: Oh that me see (bent down and was looking at it all with him).
G: This Spide-Man, this IonMan (IronMan), they for Collin. Hims birthday party.
H: Oh is he your friend?
G: Yes, Collin turn 3!
H: How fun. I hope you have a good time.
G: Tanks! (turns and points to me finally as if I'm just an after thought) That Mommy, I Gabon. Bye, See you next time, I love you!!
H: (walking away with her cart, stops and turns around quickly and with a big grin) I love you too!

That sweet old lady took just a minute to listen and talk to him. As his mother I tend to get smiles and waves and even the remarks along the line of "Isn't he friendly... he's cute... etc." But this was different, she took her time to show him she carried and loved him even though they were complete strangers. It made my night and melted my heart to see someone care for him and treat him with such respect, when she could have easily just said that's nice and went on her way.

So needless to say Collin's birthday part was tonight and he had fun. It was a Wizard of Oz theme and Amber (Collin's mom and my dear friend) went all out making everything adorable for the kids.

He insisted on carrying in the gift on his own...
He is getting so big!

 

 

 

 

NCAA Championship Game

I am a die-hard UK fan, and if you know me more than likely you know this. Well considering I live in Indy and the fact that we thought UK really might have pulled off a perfect season, Clint agreed to let me buy a ticket to the game! I was more than excited I found an amazing seat for a decent price, decently priced for that particular game. Then Saturday night my heart was broken to pieces and Kentucky lost to Wisconsin and would not make it to the championship game. I took it with stride though and being a die-hard UK fan would not and could not let myself cheer for Duke to win the final game even though I was unhappy that Wisconsin beat us I knew what I had to do... I had to cheer for Wisconsin.

I wasn't going to let this hiccup in my plan stop me from going and having much needed "alone" time, alone meaning without kids or husband. I had a blast and met some fun new people who took me under their wings and taught me all about the Wisconsin team so I could "fit in" with them. At half time I must say the best part of the entire game occurred for me, but first here's a little history lesson...
both my parents are only children, therefore I have no aunts, uncles, or cousins. My parents on the other hand have several and their kids are the closest cousins we have. So with this said...
I was able to see my cousin Scott! He was at the game wit ha group of his friends and we met up just for a few minutes. Those few minutes might not have been much but I hadn't seen him in over 10 years. My family means the world to me even though we are all spread out we all know we love each other and would go to the end of the world for each other.

At the end of the game I was a little saddened that Duke won, but I had a great time and that's all the really mattered anyway. I made it home safe and sound that night/early morning and was so glad to see my bed. It had been a long few days and I was ready for a goodnight's sleep.

Scott and I!!

Easter Weekend

Friday morning Gavin and I set off for Kentucky for a special and fun filled weekend. Being excited for the events to occur I was not ready for what happened first. My poor Gavin got sick in the car, so I hurried and got off at the next exit and cleaned him up and we set off again. This time we made it about farther but he did it again and I repeated the process of cleaning him and the car yet again. By this point I was already almost over the trip as I was dealing with it all on my own and it was down pouring rain all while I was cleaning everything (and I couldn't put the windows down to help air out the car). Regardless I kept on as we were over half way to my parents already. We got there and just both crashed and washed everything and got ready for the rest of the weekend.

Saturday was a very special day as my first niece turned 8, which meant she was able to be a baptized member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. We were lucky to be apart of her day and I just wish that the rest of my own little family had made the trip with us.

The Atonement that our Savior undertook for us is very dear to me. As we all have ups and downs in life the last few months have been some of the hardest mental, emotionally, and spiritually. I have relied on my Savior more than ever and what a better time is there than to reflect than on Easter Sunday? Gavin and I had a good day with my family watching General Conference, having an Easter egg hunt, and of course a delicious dinner.

We weren't planning to head home until this morning (Monday) but for some reason I felt that I needed to hurry and pack our things and head home that night. I thought the trip down to my parents was rough, but oh boy was in in for a treat on the way back home that night. To save you all the gross details, in the 3 hour trip and the hour after we were home and got him a bath, Gavin was sick over 6 times. Bless his little heart! He was so tired and wore out by the time we got home that once we got him cleaned up and had his bath he just curled up in bed and slept until almost 1 pm this afternoon. Even though I wasn't too thrilled about driving at night with a sick little boy I know that my prompting was given so he could be at home while sick.

Even though we had rough travels, overall the weekend was filled with spiritual moments that I needed personally in my life. I want those of you out there who read and follow my life and family to know that I have a testimony of our Savior. I know that our Heavenly Father loves us so much that He gave His only begotten son because He wants us all to return to live as a family with Him someday. It is through the Atonement that it is made possible. If we rely in the Lord and turn our will over to Him we can and will conquer all things that we are given both difficult and easy. We will be strengthened beyond our own means and will learn who we truly are, children of God!