yeah so the crawling video would NOT work for ANYTHING! so here's another equally cute one of baby eating mashed potatoes.

eh?

i've been trying for two days, unsuccessfully, to upload a video of the baby crawling (or at least her version of crawling). dang technology! the video will come soon, whether my computer wants it to or not...

bon bons

i made these fun little bon bons from a box today. chocolate covered peanut butter ones. woo betty crocker!!

gila valley temple!

today was the Gila Valley Temple dedication. what a beautiful time we had! President Monson was there, as well as President Eyring, Elder Holland, Elder Costa, and one other general authority (i wish i could remember his name). when we walked into the stake center, it felt so familiar. then President Eyring and President Monson both spoke about how going to the temple feels like going home, because all of us are children of God and all of us know what it feels like to be in His presence. i felt that. i know it's true. each time i go to the temple it's like i'm walking into a beloved and familiar home, and it's because of the feeling there. i've felt it before and so have all of us--pre-mortally. another thing that struck me was how much i love President Monson for just being himself. i realized that he's a man. he's just like us, really. he has a sense of humor and a past. i also know that he's a prophet of God. i don't know quite how to explain it but i'm just grateful for him and how he shows us his personality.



all in all, it was beautiful. here's some pictures of me and baby when we went to the open house.

love that love

i love waking up next to johnny and feeling like we just had a sleepover.

cutest thing of my life

katy laughs!!

motherhood, frankly.

i've been thinking about motherhood as i've watched my daughter and had Mother's Day yesterday. i've also had a strong desire to write my thoughts exactly as they come to my brain, so bear with me. the job of a mother is somewhat thankless. sometimes, i get sick of it. sometimes i ignore Kate crying out for me because I have something "important" to finish on the computer. how utterly, absolutely ridiculous!! katers turned 7 months old Saturday. i've seen the time fly by as if i blinked and then found myself in a completely new situation as my eyes flew open. more and more i realize that my time with her is fleeting. it sounds so cliché, but i think that clichés become cliché because they're so true! the other night johnny was watching kate sleep and he said, "She's never going to be like this again," basically meaning that each moment is unique. after it passes, we can't have it back. sometimes I would find that depressing but with all i've been experiencing and thinking about, i find that it's more of a revelation and a push to enjoy life in the moment.

kate gave me the best mother's day present possible yesterday. she's been teething and is naturally quite upset a lot of the time if I'm not constantly holding her. on saturday night i expressed my frustration at this: "i just want you to be happy and smile and laugh again!" so yesterday she was a complete angel. the fussing was at an all time low and she laughed several times. she smiled almost constantly and just seemed stoked to be here and alive. and she was unbelievingly patient. i know, without doubt, that there is a God in heaven that loves and cares about me and about kate and about johnny. i just know it! i also know that He cares about each and every person on this planet with the perfect love of an Eternal Father. because that's who He is. our Father.