mi hermano, el misionero

This photo makes me really happy.

My brother, Chad, included it in his e-mail update this week. He's preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of Mexico and I'm so proud of him for taking time away from school, work and dating to serve God and his fellowmen.

I love reading his letters because they help me remember of my time in Spain's Canary Islands as a LDS missionary myself, and of all the people I came to love during my time there.

His two year's of volunteer service are nearly up -- he'll be home on August 2. Can't wait to give him a big hug and reintroduce him to his nephew, Christian, who I hope will follow in his footsteps one day. (I also can't wait to chat with him in Spanish -- even though I know it will be a humbling experience since I don't exactly pull it out very often these days.)

for the love of pinterest

Have you joined Pinterest yet?

It's where I choose to waste a good amount of my free time on the computer these days. It's quite addicting once you get going -- so watch out. It's totally genius because you can "pin" images you love and the links are saved along with them. That way you can always track things down, including recipes, and forget all that tedious copying and pasting.

I have a few binders full of images I've ripped from magazines and catalogs over the years, ideas for my future home or projects. This is so much easier -- and it cuts down significantly on my paper trail. Who couldn't use one less stack of papers around the house?

At this point you still have to wait for an invite to join up. Or -- if you're impatient like myself, follow this link and get in right away. You just have to promise to look me up once you get on (so I can borrow from your great ideas and inspirations)!

a perfect summer day

We spent Saturday at the pool with friends. It was heavenly.

Weather was perfect. Mid-80s with a breeze. And no sign of the icky humidity that usually plagues D.C. summers.

The kiddos were happy as clams -- splashing, laughing, snacking -- and so were the adults.

It was just the kind of day this four-months-pregnant mother of an extremely energetic two-year-old boy needed.

{Perfect day photo credits go to soon-to-be mother of two darling boys, Miranda.}

coupon: good for one new grandbaby

My parents have been in Europe for nearly three weeks and when they arrived home the other day this "coupon" greeted them in the mail, along with Shane's law school graduation announcement and photos of the big day.

It's kind of hard to read online -- I saved it for printing on paper so it's a little small for the web. (Can you tell I'm really hooked on this painted chevron pattern..?)

We did the same thing for Shane's parents, and sent a similar coupon for "one new niece or nephew" to our siblings. A coupon for "one new great-grandbaby" was sent to my grandparents and my sister just informed me that this baby will likely be our Grandma and Grandpa Sellers' 100th great-grandchild. (I say "likely" because with so many cousins out there I wouldn't be surprised if someone else has good news they've been sitting on as well -- but still, pretty cool concept all in all.)

So there you have it -- Christian will finally be a big brother sometime around November 21 -- just in time for the holidays.

a hot & happy memorial day

Memorial Day breakfast with at local church congregation. Tribute to our veterans then and now. Time at the park with good friends (and 95-degree weather!). Afternoon naps with the air conditioner blasting. Dinner of black bean burgers, sweet potato fries, seasoned cucumbers and buttermilk onion rings. All topped off with root beer floats.

Feeling so grateful today for the nation in which we live and the men, women and their families who have sacrificed so much to preserve the freedoms we take for granted every day.

May God continue to bless America and all those working to protect her.

graduation day

On Sunday, May 15, Shane graduated from law school.

After four long years of year-round school (he worked full time by day and went to class at night, which meant he always had summer classes too), this day was definitely greeted with a sigh of relief by both of us (and probably Christian too). Shane's sister, Nancy, joined us to celebrate.

Despite Shane's insistence that the ceremony was no big deal, that any idiot can graduate from law school after getting in, and that passing the bar is the event to be celebrated, I couldn't help but tear up when I spotted him in the crowd and waved to him with Christian in my arms.

Don't let this cute little guy fool you. Christian didn't sit for one second of the diploma ceremony. We even left the building for a bit during the keynote speaker's address to get him a milkshake (I was hoping something cold might slow him down). But it was all worth it when I was able to hand him off to Shane and they picked up his diploma together.

Law school has been our entire married life. That's all we know how to do together. Guess we'll have to get some new hobbies. ;)

These pictures completely crack me up. Christian is sitting on a hippo (wish you could see it better) and he's making what he believes to be hippo sounds (and faces, supposedly).

weekend getaway

With Christian's Aunt Nancy in town for graduation, Shane and I were able to escape for a quick weekend getaway. It was short but so nice to "check out" of the craziness that is life in D.C. for a bit. The hotel we stayed at was so well hidden we felt like we were almost in an alternate universe. It was fabulous. So peaceful and calm -- and still so colonial Virginia. :)

Of course, we can't thank Nancy enough to watching Christian for us. It was such a comfort to know that he was in such good hands.

my first shabby apple dress

Got a birthday package in the mail last week from my sweet mother. Guess what was inside?

A dress from Shabby Apple. I've always wanted to order one but have never gotten up the guts (I hate having to return thing through the mail).

Don't those stripes just make you happy? And there's a bonus: pockets in the skirt!
I haven't got a picture yet of me in it but let's just imagine it'll look just as cute as it goes on the girl above, shall we?

Thanks, Mom!

(BONUS: A note came with the dress that reads, "By buying this dress, you're helping change the lives of women around the world. Shabby Apple is sharing a percentage of its profits with Unitus, an organization working to bring life-changing micro-loans to the world's working poor." Then it gives the name and details of a woman benefiting from the micro-loans.)

turning two

I've been thinking a lot lately about my little boy turning two. It's all happening so fast. This song/prayer from Mindy Gledhill really tugs at my heartstrings right now.

Hourglass

Little boy, when you speak
I can’t help but kiss your cheeks
I love the way you grab my hands
And tell me all about your plans

Rocket high, comets fly
You and I could take a ride
And fly away to Neverland
And give our best to Peter Pan

When you reach for the stars
Don’t forget who you are
And please don’t turn around and grow up way too fast
See the sand in my grasp
From the first to the last
Every grain becomes a memory of the past
Oh, life’s an hourglass
Life’s an hourglass

Story’s read, prayer is said
Close your eyes sleepyhead
While angels linger in your dreams
And hold you in their feathered wings
Just like you, I was small
Not that long ago at all
I wish you all the happiness
That God gives freely if you ask

happenings

Gosh, I've fallen off the blogging circuit lately. I've been a bad blog reader and writer.

For the most part I just blame an incredibly busy final semester for Shane, coupled with two family weddings out West, and a lot of craziness in between.

But hey, we've nearly there. This is Shane's last week of classes and then he has only ONE final exam left. Just ONE. And then he graduates. On May 15.

During the last month or so, here's what we've been up to:

- visiting the animals at Frying Pan Farm and the National Zoo

- running the Monument Ave 10k together down in Richmond on a GORGEOUS spring morning (our first race as a couple)

- watching/listening to LDS General Conference (and taking LOTS of notes -- wasn't it fabulous?)

- working, working and more working (the budget battle on the Hill has kept me busy and Shane's office is ALWAYS busy)

- enjoying the cherry blossoms and fabulous signs up spring all over town

- playing with some fabulous longtime friends we never get to see

- dining with cousins in town for spring break

- Shane acing a final mock trial performance (with a great assist from friend Will Wittwer)

- flying to Idaho for Kayla's big day (and forgetting the camera -- so we'll have to wait for pictures -- so sad!)

- celebrating Christian's 2nd birthday while in Idaho with yummy Cocoa Bean cupcakes (again, no camera! but, we're doing some more celebrating this week because he has yet to open any of our presents for him)

- gearing up for a California trip to spend Easter with family