Schools out for summer! (But not for me!)

While most are out of school for the summer, I'm excited to be going back! I'm taking 2 art classes this summer at UVU. It's through their continuing education program, so most of the people there are older and really weird. But that's ok!

Maybe I should preface by saying I already have a degree, a fine arts degree, actually. I haven't done much with it since graduation. Why? I have a long list of excuses. I mean, having a 2 year old definitely eats up most of my time. Plus I have a husband in school and working full time - so there isn't a lot of me time, without Aimee at my side. I'm not even going to attempt to bust out the watercolors when she's awake. That would be a disaster.

So what about the fews years in between college and having a baby? Again, I don't have a good excuse. I think I just got burnt out. There was a time when I would sit with a stack of papers in my lap and I would draw the day away. I don't know what happened to that girl. Somewhere in college it kind of left me. I remember feeling so discouraged about lacking inspiration for a project once. I went to my professor, in tears, and told him how drawing just wasn't fun for me anymore. He was very zen about the whole thing and told me that I needed reach down and find that joy again. Well 5 years later, it seems to hit me in little spurts. I start fun little projects all the time and they never really get past the planning phase. A cousin of mine had this as her facebook status a while ago:

The worst enemy to creativity is self doubt.

That's really it. It's so easy to doubt yourself and your abilities. When I got the brochure in the mail listing the classes they offered at UVU this summer, I immediately scanned the art classes. There was a digital photography class and an oil painting class. I told Greg that I might want to do them, he was all for it. "You really should do it."
But I let that brochure sit on the computer desk for a few more weeks. I almost didn't register for the oil painting class. When I finally went online to register, I became nervous about it! It was the weirdest thing. I started to make excuses, when none needed to be made. But I did it, I registered. And I'm so glad I did!

I had my first class last night. I really didn't know what to expect. Our teacher brought in a model to paint for the next 8 classes. Painting the human figure is really challenging. (Believe me, I took that class before - many an all-nighter was pulled for that class!) But I'm happy about it - it feels good to flex those art muscles again.

The photography class begins next week. The brochure says that the class is supposed to help you learn how to use your digital SLR camera. I really don't know how to use mine, so I thought this would be beneficial, even if I only ever end up taking pictures of my kids.

I'm grateful that Greg encouraged me to do this, and that he's willing to be on Aimee-duty a few nights a week now. I'm probably not going to get to do something like this for a while, at least until Greg's done with law school. I'm going to live it up and thoroughly enjoy my back-to-school summer!

Greggie Jr.

And no, we're not talking about baby boy. There is something about Aimee - her expressions, the hair, cheeks... it's totally Greg.











Ok, this is one of me. I'm a little older than Aimee is now - but there are some similarities! I will have to ask my mom for some more pictures of myself at 2 to compare...



It makes me so curious to see what baby boy will look like!

2

Her birthday is just around the corner. Crazy how time flies! I took these pictures on Sunday. I figure I'd better do it now, even though she still is a few weeks away from being an official 2 year old. She sure acts like one already!

The nicest neighbors

Giant doughnut... you are oh so tasty!





This was from last month. Our super nice neighbors, the Ross's, always bring over treats for Aimee. Aimee loves them! (Both the neighbors and the treats) She calls the Ross's grandma and grandpa. So cute!

Mommy "tarded" and Shrek

Earlier this week I was on my to a doctor appointment with Aimee along for the ride. I made a wrong turn and said out loud to myself, "Woops, mommy is retarded."

Guess who picked up on that one??

Aimee chimes in from the back seat, "Mommy tarded. Mommy tarded." I laughed and said, "Yes, well... sometimes. But don't say that!" She then started to say, "Mommy tarded, Aimee tarded." "No, Aimee is smart!" But the damage was already done.

That took place on Monday. Since then, she has let me know that I am "tarded" every time we get in the car. She stopped calling herself tarded. Thankfully!

Lesson learned - watch what you say in front of the (almost) 2 year old.

On another note - Aimee had her first movie theater experience today! Now, I am the first to complain about parents bringing little kids and babies to the movies. Specifically movies not intended for kids! AND movies late in the evening. Get a sitter!!

But this is Shrek we're talking about. It's a "kids" movie. We went at 12:20 in the afternoon. And Aimee looooooves Shrek. Maybe this is a bad thing, but she can usually sit through a movie too.

Well, she did awesome. Greg went to get some popcorn and I found us some seats. Aimee was a little freaked out by the huge screen and the volume, but once Greg came back with the popcorn and Icee, she was perfectly content to chill in his lap or mine for most of the movie. About 2/3's in, she started to get a little antsy. She wanted to sit in the empty seat next to me. Which was fine, except she kept looking at the little girl in the seat next to that one. I think she was trying to hold her hand too. But other than that - she was a little movie-going pro!

Gratitude

Last night I was thinking about what I would write today. As I laid in bed, my mind-wandering was interrupted by one of the baby's crying downstairs. I was grateful that the crying child wasn't mine and that Aimee was asleep. It made me think a lot about motherhood, gratitude, and patience.

My sisters in law are visiting with all their kids. We are living in a state of happy chaos. Happy that the kids are (usually... ok, sometimes) all getting along. Chaos, because a house full of 11 adults (two of them pregnant) and 5 children (ages 5 and under) is a recipe for chaos.

I love my little nieces and nephew. I love their mom's and what their moms teach me about being a better mom. Laura, you are saintly. I think I would have lost it by now. Carinn, you are always so cheerful and happy. Where does all that energy come from? Both make me want to be more patient and to smile more.

And Aimee - even though you still put pennies in your mouth - no matter how many times I tell you in a mean voice not to, and even though you have some major drama moments - I really, really, really love you. And I am EVER SO GRATEFUL that you still nap like clockwork!

I'm grateful that today Greg made all the little babies some pizza for lunch AND changed Aimee's poopy diaper, even though he still doesn't have an iPad. :)

Repentance

So this Sunday I am teaching my beehives a lesson about journal keeping.

Yikes.

What? You might ask yourself - Emily teaches the Beehive class? (What's a Beehive class? I will get there...) Yes, and you might not know this because I rank anywhere from poor to super lousy on the journal keeping scale. Or blog keeping scale... whatever.

I've been thinking about the kind of blog I've been trying to maintain. Lately it's just updated after some out-of-the-norm event happens, I upload a bunch of pictures (99.99% are of Aimee, of course) and add a few captions.

So here's to recommitting to keep a better blog - not only of pictures and videos of Aimee, which I still need to do - but to record more of the thoughts and feelings (and what not) of day to day life.

Let me share with you a quote by President Spencer W. Kimball from my lesson this week:

"Every person should keep a journal and every person can keep a journal. It should be an enlightening one and should bring great blessings and happiness to the families. If there is anyone here who isn't doing so, will you repent today and change - change your life?"

Repent?!?! Yes, I am in need of some serious repenting. So let it start here.

Yes, I am a Beehive advisor in my church's youth group - specifically in the young women's program. For any non-Mormon friends reading this - the Young Women's program is for girls ages 12-18 (or graduating seniors). The 12 and 13 year old girl's class is called Beehives.

I really, really, really love my calling. We have 13 girls in our class (well, 14 this Sunday). There are two that don't come very often, but still - we have a large group. I love the youth in our ward in general. They really are a good group of kids. I love the weekly break from Aimee that I get when I go to mutual for an hour or two (Aimee dear, I love you - but I feel like my love gets a little rejuvenating kick when I can have a small break. Greg - thank you for watching her when I go). I love that I get to teach a few times a month and that I get to share my testimony with them often. Those girls probably think I am a huge dork and emotional wreck every time I teach. Really, I think it's the pregnancy that makes me get weepy super easily - when I hear them practice their songs or when I get to share testimony building experiences with them. Okay, maybe it's a little bit of feeling the Spirit too.

Law school prep has more or less slowed down for the time being. Our loan applications are in (talk about "yikes") and the next big thing we're waiting on is to find out if we will get into the on-campus housing. We should know at the beginning of next month. A few weeks ago I was super motivated about packing - that has slowed down quite a bit. I need to get re-motivated though. The move isn't that far away. It's weird, sometimes I forget how soon that's happening AND how soon baby boy is coming. Both are happening at like, the same time! Aimee turns two in a month and baby buy makes his debut just 2 months after that. And then - we're gone! CRAZINESS! It still seems a little surreal.

Since I mentioned Aimee - she is just amazing to me. Just when I start to worry about how she's progressing (with communicating) she makes some sort of huge developmental leap. She's decided to have mini-sentences now. She copies more and more words. I still have a hard time understanding some of the things she says. And sometimes she still has some crazy-Aimee language conversations with herself... but it's getting easier to communicate. I love it! I love when she mimics grown up behavior. Like with her hand gestures when she plays with the cell phone. Greg and I will watch her and then look at each other and just laugh. She is a crack-up.

Well, I think my blog-updating time is about over. I wanted to post another quote from President Kimball that I hope will keep me motivated to update the blog. And hopefully will motivate you - if you're track record for journal keeping is anything like mine.

"Those who keep a personal journal are more likely to keep the Lord in remembrance in their daily lives."

Now, who couldn't use a little more of that?