Dear Collin

Will you still love me for the rest of my life? I've got a lot of love and I dont wanna let go. Just say you'll love me for the rest of my life. I can't go on, no I can't go on, no I won't go on if I'm on my own.

Love Nicole

San Diego for Memorial Day weekend

This past weekend, Collin and Frederick and I joined my mom, dad, and brother on their trip to San Diego for a basketball tournament. Neither of us had been to San Diego in years, and certainly had never been together and CERTAINLY not with our new best buddy and son, Frederick. We left the kitties with a babysitter, who took very very good care of them, might I add, and got outta town. Man, we LOVED it. The gorgeous weather, green and color everywhere, fresh air, beach, cute houses, hilly roads, beautiful temple. We went to a random ward there on Sunday and it was full of families about our age with lots of kids and breastfeeding mothers. The whole thing made us seriously want to move there. Look at Grad School out there. The weekend was short and there was also lots of basketball watching, so we can't wait for our next opportunity to get out there again. Of course, nothing can be perfect, so just as we were getting out of town, both the drivers in our party got pulled over and tickets were issued!!! (STUPID MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND TRAFFIC AND COPS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF NAIVE TOURISTS WHO DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY ARE GOING AND DIDN'T SEE A TURN ONLY SIGN!! grrr) But I must say that both Freddie's and my crying got us quite a bit of leniency....)

Here are some photos. Such a fun trip:

pure sweetness (it's hard in the car, but I'm becoming a pro ;) )

 (missin us):

Finally, I was able to enter the San Diego temple! (every time I've been there in the past, I haven't been endowed, so i've had to wait outside!) One of the most beautiful celestial rooms ever.

had such fun playing with this one all over the place. he loves the sun, and being in grass, eating leaves, playing hard. He's so active. He was crawling around in the grass and there were little burrs and pokey things and he crawled on his tips toes and fingertips hahahah but no complaining because he just loves nature!! Love this kid. Plays hard; sleeps hard.

We went to an awesome ward for church, and then took a drive  up the coast to la Jolla Beach. It was GORGEOUS and so relaxing.

we are at the BEACH!

get to work, boy

(I'm not eating any seaweed!!!!) Frederick!!!! hehe

blurry because it had to be a fast one

Fun(ny) at the Mormon Battalion Site

(yes we went twice because my mom didn't get to go and was sad, haha)

silly sillies

most awful gym ever. they didn't turn on the a/c and there were 16 basketball teams of teenagers playing. shudderrr. the horror.

once more at the beach

thank you, san diego, 

love the smiths

Priscilla W +3

My good friend, Priscilla, who i know from Rockville and who is currently living in Hong Kong with her husband and three kids is visiting family here!! Tonight we got together for a visit. It was sooooooo good to see her. It was so easy to talk, no walls, no insecurities or anxieties. So amazing seeing her children and having her meet Freddie.
And last night we got to see some of our best friends that we haven't seen in a while. Same thing. We have some great conversation. They make us want to be better people.
I hate how life makes us busy and then passes us by. Ah but so grateful for really good friends here and all over.

Healing

Mosiah 14 is beautiful and humbling.

"He has born our griefs and carried our sorrows...he was wounded for our transgression, he was bruised for our iniquities. And with his stripes we are healed."

I experience heartache now and again in this life...like today...but I know my Savior loves me and knows everything I've gone through. I know prayer is real because as I've ached for peace, i've been granted it.

Plus look at all these blessings!! (don't look at my disgusting water stained window. I haven't washed it since Freddie was born. Oops.)

Homemade from scratch sloppy joes in crockpot!!

Lately Frederick has been in a routine where he takes a long nap in the morning and then a few short naps throughout the day. I try to use that long nap to get some stuff done around the house. Yesterday I decided to try a crockpot meal so that it could cook for 6-7 hours and be ready soon after Collin got home from work (fun surprise...usually we take turns cooking/playing with Freddie when he gets home). I tried this awesome recipe for sloppy joes. I didn't grow up eating them and have only had them a handful of times so I thought it'd be random and fun. It ended up delicious!!!

Recipe:
1 cup onion diced
1-2 cloves garlic diced
1 lb ground beef
6-8 oz can tomato sauce
1/2 cup water
1 TBS yellow mustard
1 tsp worcestershire sauce
2 TBS sugar
2 tsp chili powder
1 small jalapeño diced (I did mine without the seeds).

In a pan over the stove, sauté onion and garlic then add ground beef and cook until browned and onions tender.

Meanwhile, in crock pot, add tomato sauce, water, mustard, worcestershire sauce, sugar, chili powder, jalapeño.
Add beef, garlic, onions to crockpot and mix everything together.
Turn crockpot on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours.

When its done put it on a fresh whole wheat bun. We always buy our bread and buns etc from the bakery. They are so fresh and usually cheaper.

Dads/daughters

I'm reading about dad-daughter relationships in fit pregnancy (love this magazine. Tons of awesome stuff for pre and post partum.)
Psychologist Peggy Drexler: "The connection between a woman and her father changes as she matures: she starts to see him not only as a provider, but also as a role model. Many women idealize their fathers, no matter if they demand independence or control, or are 'good' or 'bad' dads.'
Wanting their fathers' approvals is a driving motivation in their lives as grown women."

This hit close to home for me.

Lunch date with Grandma Money