crazy week

Life has been a little out of whack in our house. We've been busy. It's gotten crazy. And yes, we're a little stressed out over here. But, once this week is over it should be smooth sailing for awhile (or so we hope). Here's what this week entailed/entails:

1 eye exam - check
1 doctor's appointment - check
3 shots, plus 1 flu shot - check
1 half-birthday celebration - check (post on this to come)
1 Praxis test  - check
3 walks/runs outside
1 baby shower to plan - check
1 church talk to prepare
2 siblings coming to visit
4 loads of laundry - check
7 home-cooked vegetarian dinners
1 graduate school application - check
1 student teaching application - check
1 group project - check
3 days of 60 degree weather
1 pink eye
1 runny nose
2 trips to the library - check

But even with 1 tired mom, 1 stressed dad we still have 1 happy baby and that makes all the difference :)

Happy Wednesday from our crazy home to yours! 

photo booth fun

Just organizing some pictures on the MacBook and found these...

I love my silly boys. 

tonight

After attending a information session about this graduate program at N.C. State...

Logan: So, are you with me?

Abby: I'm always with you. But this time I even agree with you!

Logan: ha ha ha ha ha 

Bottom Line: I am with him and do very much agree (after little persuading) with this decision.

He will be applying.  

Here's to both of us (potentially) being in graduate school at the SAME time. 

Yikes.

Bring on those student loans! 

New Year, New Start

I typically always welcome a new year, but 2012 has been hard to welcome because I feel like 2011 was quite possibly my best year yet - filled with milestones, lots of changes, and so much love. I remember one year my dad grew a beard for the last few months of the year (my siblings and I hated it) and then miraculously he woke each of us kids up on New Years Day with a clean shaven look. I looked at him a little startled and asked, "why did you shave?" Dad answered with "It is a new year. Time for a new start." And, that has always stuck with me. 

So, here is to a new year and a new start even though I am trying to hold onto 2011 with all my might. I am letting go in the hopes that 2012 will be just as good. My mother-in-law has this thing where she chooses one word to live by for the entire year. I've never been really good at sticking to my resolutions, even though I make them every year so I decided to simplify a bit and pick just one word to be my motto for the year. You ready?

My 2012 word is:

FOCUS

"If life and its rushed pace and many stresses have made it difficult for you to feel like rejoicing, then perhaps now is a good time to refocus on what matters most."
-Dieter F. Uchtdorf

In all the chaos, events, trials, and daily life that surround me I've realized that I need to slow down and really "focus" on what is most important - of things that matter most to me:

-My relationship with God

-My family

-My education/career

-My health

I know that seems like a lot of things to "focus" on, but part of my goal is to really "focus" and be in tune with each one. I've realized that I can't divide my attention to different things at a time (no matter how hard I try to fold laundry and play with Hudson at the same time - it can't happen). And, because multi-tasking doesn't really work for me or for anyone else (see here).

Each thing I do requires my full, focused attention. I hope that as I focus my life on the things that do matter the most, I will be able to focus inward and really get to know who I am - my strengths, my capabilities, and the type of person God wants me to be.