Gaining Some Perspective

Tim started school on Monday and I felt like bawling my eyes out.  Why did this summer have to end, along with all my happiness (maybe a stretch)?  I need to buckup and realize that the fall season in Provo is absolutely gorgeous, and the miserable winter only lasts three-ish months.  I can handle anything for three-ish months.  Besides Tim starting his new semester, I got a job.  I've been working at ancestry.com for almost a month.  Tim gets home from school at 5:40, and I leave for work at 5:45 and get home around 10:15.  Tim is such a trooper for putting Bridger to bed every night (and cleaning the house before I get home).  I like my job overall and it has turned out to be a nice break from Bridger, bless his heart.  

As I was driving home from work last night, I saw that the engine, battery, and gas lights were on in Tim's car (I hate that car).  I thought to myself, "Carlee, what a unique time in your life.  Your husband is in school, you have a rambunctious little boy, no money, and living in your parent's apartment.  I just need to enjoy this and understand that it won't last forever and knowing me, I'll probably miss it when we move on.  Besides, half of all Provo is in the exact same situation, so stop worrying about the next phase and just enjoy this one."  Amen, Carlee, Amen.  However, its always fun to dream a little. So, when all of our debts are paid, savings adding up, and retirement underway (yadayada), I'm buying this car:

2015 Honda CR-V Fit

July/August and Bridger is 1!

This summer has been the best of my life, I think.  I've been able to walk with Bridger every day, play with girls from the ward, clean my house, run errands, and enjoy absolutely gorgeous days.  I know Tim is excited for fall semester to start and everything that comes with it, but me, I could live this summer forever.  Here is what has been happening with the Hemming's:

We ran our first 5k as a family.  It was a blast and I think it should be a yearly tradition.

All of Tim's family came to for a family reunion.  We got to see Lori go through the temple for the first time - it was really sweet.  I absolutely love Tim's family.  They are the greatest people and we had such a good time with them.

We all flew out to California for interviews in San Francisco, Fresno, and Riverside.  Our day in San Fran wasn't the best but we did eat some amazing ice cream and saw the Golden Gate Bridge.

On Wednesday, we went to Balboa Island in Newport.  We rented bikes and rode along the beach, played in the waves, and ate yummy fish tacos. 

Swimming at the hotel...

For Bridger's birthday, we went to the Cheesecake Factory by the hotel and got him an ice-cream sunday with a candle.  He didn't know how to blow the candle out but he knew what to do with the whip cream.

In the airport, waiting to go home...



11 months/4th of July

My baby is 11 months!  I can't believe how fast time has flown.  Bridger is not a baby anymore and even though I loved baby Bridger, I think I love big boy Bridger even more.  He has been walking for the past month and is just starting to run.  I got him a pair of shoes today from Target - his first.  I think they are tripping him up (and out) a bit but he'll have to get use to them.  Actually, about 4 hours after I got them, he threw up, what looked like, 3 days of food ALL OVER them.  He hasn't been feeling good lately, but I'm sure he's feeling much better now.  He's also learning how to throw a ball, play tag, and climb into cupboards (I don't like that last one).  11 month-old Bridger is so much happier in the car than 6 months ago; he sings along with Aladdin or Karen Carpenter and gets excited for our Target trips.  He's still a little shy of strangers or anyone other than his mom and dad (and his grandpa porter).  His favorite toys are balls, especially the ones that light up when he shakes them.  He only says mamma when he wants out of his crib and says dadda ALL THE TIME!  If Tim wasn't such an amazing dad, I would feel a lot worse.  I love this boy so much and could not imagine life without him.  My whole family came up for the fourth of July this year and we had quite the party.  We went out to eat, had bbq, went to a movie, shopped in Salt Lake, celebrated Ryan's 18th birthday (he turns in his mission papers next month...CRAZY!) and watched the best fireworks in Provo.  It was so fun to have them here and spend time with my siblings.  My older sister, Paige came up with her baby - I hadn't seen her in months and I missed her!  Paige actually took the pictures below - isn't she good?  After I saw some of the other pictures, I've decided that I'm adding a nice camera to my want list.

This isn't much of a post but I thought I would get some pictures up from the past couple of weeks.  It has been the nicest vacation having Tim home.  I don't know how I'm going to let him go back to work!  Anyways, here's the quick update in pictures - they're mostly of Bridger...what else is new.

We found this ball for $1 at Target.  Right now, its Bridger's favorite toy.  He shakes it all the time to see it light up.

 

Tim and I have been spending most of our days outside since the weather is too nice.  We had a great night up Provo Canyon.  I think Bridger liked it too.  He did not want to get back in the car.

I promise I wasn't torturing him.  He loved that lemon!  He kept opening his mouth and pointing at it.  It was pretty funny.

Tim, my dad and brother hiked the West Rim at Zion National Park while we were in  St. George.  It was  16 miles and beautiful.  I think his feet hurt pretty bad afterwards but Tim said he loved it.

10 months

Bridger will be 10 months old on Wednesday!  I can't believe he will be one in just two months!  Tim is in the middle of his first internship this summer so Bridger and I get to play all day.  We go on two or three walks every day, play at the splash pad, and eat tons of snow cones - my idea of a good time.  We are absolutely loving these summer months and intend to spend as much time out of doors as possible.  Bridger took his first steps last week and now we've been trying for a repeat everyday (pretty frustrating).  He claps all the time; it looks like it takes some effort but he loves making noise with his hands.  Bridger is also going through a really shy stage;  if anyone looks at or tries to interact with him, he'll either tuck his head under my chin or cry bloody murder.  We are working on the latter.