He believed he could do it, so he did.

Taylor graduated with his M.B.A and J.D. in May. 

   1 Week

+ 2 Degrees

+ 3 Ceremonies

+ 4 Visitors

+ 5 Dance Parties

________________

= Lots of Celebrating. 

I could go on and on about how much Taylor has impressed me over these past few years. But I will keep it to this: I love the graduate, and all of his determined awesomeness. We could not be more proud of him.

Congratulations Taylor!

Five Pictures

So much to catch up on, and not enough time. Each event needs it's own long-winded, picture- overloaded post. But until then, here's a 5 picture account of our month, according to my phone.

Taylor graduated law school. We stole a happy kiss.

I went with my mom and sisters to Harry Potter World. (It's essential that you say it in an English accent when you read it, as my dad does every time we talk about it.) Multiple frozen butterbeers were consumed.

We said goodbye to Omaha. Waaaaaaaaaahhhh. 

I went with my family (minus my studious husband preparing for the bar) on a little vacay that included visits to Utah, Seattle, and Canada. Sooo beautiful.

And we made it to Lovelock.

Oh, it's been an adjustment. I think we will really end up liking it here once we get settled in and Taylor is done with the bar. The people seem wonderful, and there are some fun perks to being in such a small town. So far simplicity has not been one of them. We're adjusting, and learning. Our apartment was completely FILTHY when we moved in. Layers of dirt, grime, grease, mice . . . you name it, everywhere. So the past week has been spent trying to make this place livable. Poor Taylor is juggling work and trying to get the necessary 10-12 hours of Bar prep in every day. I'm trying to get this place set up and clean so that Beck and I can take off and allow Tay to do nothing but focus on his studies. Don't really want to leave him again but don't really want to take the bar again either. :)

Enter my current BFF: my new steam cleaner. I scrubbed this place down on my hands and knees, and it was barely making a dent in the grime. So, we bought another steam cleaner. I love the Haan steam mop I got for my birthday last year, so we went with a Haan multi-purpose cleaner. And I feel the need to rave about it. I love it. We love it. Tay even felt the need to document the moment.

The first time I used it (to blast steam at some random goop under the sink) Taylor kept saying, "this is like an infomercial!" So Haan, thank you. You might just make our 1970's brown floral lineoleum bare foot worthy. Taylor emerged from his studying cave last night and said "I want to steam something". Love it. I personally can't wait to steam our clothes.

So the moral of this story is . . . buy a steam cleaner, go to Harry Potter World and Canada, miss Omaha, and get through July. Got it all?

Wrapping things up . . .

The last few weeks have been busy and full of decisions. We had another offer from a firm here in Omaha, and have been going back and forth.  It was a tough decision and one that we spent a lot of time thinking and praying over. We love it here, we love the people here, and like the state slogan says, life is good. Plus, I am partial to a town with amenities. :) Ultimately, we decided to stick with our decision to go to Lovelock, and we both feel like it's the right next step.

So, we've been wrapping things up. I had my last piano lesson, taught my last Gospel Doctrine lesson, finished B's story time, open gym, and museum pass, etc . . . all of the things that have become our routine. Boo. I don't like that we are wrapping things up in Omaha. But we are beyond blessed to have these opportunities, and I am excited for our new adventure. Plus, with the Bensons moving to town, the booming metropolis of Lovelock will go from 2,000 to 2,003 people. Exciting times, I tell you. Exciting times.


We have also had a sick bebe, which has resulted in lots of snuggle and Tangled time, and outfit changes.

This one (compliments of Taylor) was probably my favorite. 

Being sick has only fueled his Tangled (Maximus) obsession. And when the boy is sick, the boy gets what he wants. So here I am hunched over my spoiled B so he can watch Tangled on my phone whilst getting a diaper change. Tough life.

 The sun finally came out, and that just makes everything better.

This week has been full of baseball games, pool days, and zoo days with my boys,

origami wrapped Mother's Day presents, and delicious food and flowers, 

and snuggles with the bug.

Most importantly, we're saying goodbye to the late night headlamp studying (for 2 weeks anyway). 

Beck has been super sensitive to lights, if he sees a light coming through his bedroom door, he wants to party. 

So this kid has been studying with a headlamp.

But this kid finished his last final. And this kid graduates this week. We've started 3L week, family will be rolling in, his MBA hooding Thursday, and law school hooding and commencement over the weekend. This kid gets a break until Bar prep starts. We've been enjoying every second.

I am looking forward to a weekend of celebrating Tay with our friends and family, and just had to take a second and document the little things that have meant so much this month.

Easter Week

We had a lot of Easter egg hunts, an Easter brunch with 30+ kids, and matching father/son Easter ties. Creamsicles as Tay calls them.

The Easter bunny made it and Beck was so pumped that he left Tangled. He is now obsessed with Maximus, and Taylor and I can sing a mean "Mother Knows Best."

Easter dinner with our friends was delicious and the company was even better. We had a blast with the cascarones and pinata. 

It was a renewing and refreshing week, as Easter week always is. I guess that's what happens when you're celebrating the greatest event in human history.

Auntie Al comes to town.

Little sis came for a visit! 

She must have packed sunshine in her suitcase, because we enjoyed crazy warm weather for February. Beckham LOVED having her here. He wanted her with him 24/7. And who can blame him? Everyone needs an Auntie Al in their life. 

Plenty of fun was had!

While she was here, Lani got to fulfill her lifelong dream of being in two places at once. I don't think it gets more exciting than being in Nebraska AND Iowa at the same time.  That's right folks, we make dreams happen here in O-town.

See that smile on her face? It's from the perfect mix of sweet and salty chocolate at Jones Bros Cupcakes, one of my favorite places in Omaha. This was a new flavor from their stint on Cupcake Wars, and the deliciousness . . . forget about it. We went back for more the next day. 

Taylor came back into town from a trial competition in Oregon just in time to take us out for an early Valentine's Day dinner. 

Valentine's day 2011 will forever be the day B began his love affair with salsa.

Then it was back to class for Tay, so Alaina and I snuggled in the candlelight, eating chocolate covered strawberries and watching Anastasia and America's Funniest Home Videos. Tia, you were missed, especially during Bartok's lines.

Then it was time to send her home.

Isn't it a bummer when a visitor leaves? You come home to an empty house that seems extra quiet (even with a spastic toddler running amuck) and the bed looks so lonely, and there are still marks on the carpet from their luggage, and you feel kind of . . . sad? It's especially sad when that visitor cleans, changes diapers, wins all sorts of horse races, and has sweet dance moves! Like I said, everyone needs an Auntie Al in their life.

If you would like to borrow Auntie Al for yourself, I accept cash, checks, and red wine red velvet chocolate chip cupcakes.

And then we ate popcorn and cookies for dinner.

We woke up to sunshine and blue skies today. I was so excited I ran outside to take a picture, and then turned into an icicle. Don't let this blue sky fool you my friends, it's -10 outside right now, with a -25 wind chill. I'm a firm believer that on days like today, people should skip work, bake, build a fort,  drink hot cocoa, sing Kumbaya, and read stories by the fireplace.

Apparently in the real world people have to go to work, and Tay has a huge trial competition this week so no time for fort building. But there's always time for popcorn and chocolate chip cookies! So that's what we had for dinner. And it was almost as good as Kumbaya and storytime.

When we aren't eating popcorn for dinner, we have soup once or twice a week. It keeps use warm during these chilly winter months. Mmmmm . . . soup and fresh bread  . . . that's almost as good as Kumbaya too. Here are a few that we have in or monthly rotation:

Minestrone Soup (from Tia)
1 lb. Italian Sausage (I use ground turkey)
1 C diced onion
1 C sliced celery
1 C sliced carrots
2 cloves garlic, diced
1 (15 oz.) can Tomatoes
1 (15-16 oz.) can Tomato sauce
2 C. water
5 tsp. beef boullion
1 tsp. dried parsley flakes
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. basil
1.4 tsp. pepper
{add at the end...}
1 (15 oz.) can red Kidney beans (undrained)
1/2 C elbow macaroni
1 C cut green beans
1 C sliced zucchini

In large pot, brown sausage. Add all ingredients EXCEPT beans, zuchini, and macaroni and Simmer for 20 mins. Add remaining ingredients, and let simmer until noodles are soft and cooked. 


White Chili 
- I would wait and add the salt until after finished, and then salt to taste. It gets too salty quickly.


Tortellini Sausage Soup
- I prefer a little less parsley than the recipe calls for and use turkey sausage. 

Chicken Tortilla Soup 

Put the following ingredients in a large pot and cook on medium heat for 1 hour.

3-4 chicken breasts (depending on how "chickeny" you want it)
20 oz can diced tomato
1 can beef broth
4 c chicken broth
1 can tomato soup
1 - 10oz can diced tomato with green chiles
1 chopped onion
3 garlic cloves
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp chili powder

After 1 hour of cooking - take chicken breasts out and shred them with two forks. Put shredded chicken back into pot along with 1 can of corn and 1 can of black beans (drained & rinsed). Cook for 15 more minutes.

Serve with homemade tortilla strips.

We love any of these soups with cornbread or Lion House Rolls.  Also, all of these soups taste better when eaten while wearing warm sweats just out of the dryer. It's a proven fact.

Then for dessert, have a snowball, or just gnaw baby's chubby little hands. Delightful.

Enjoy!

Month of Merriment, Part Three: B turns One!

We had Beckham's birthday party a few weeks ago, before Tay went back to school.

As I thought about some of Beck's favorite things, I realized how many of them start with "B". So that became his theme. It worked out perfect with Beckham, birthdays, balloons, etc. Any excuse to celebrate and throw a party! And I figure I might as well enjoy it this year because soon enough he'll be requesting Elmo or Dora.

We had his party at a Splash Pad in our neighborhood. That way the kids could eat, sing to Beck, and be on their way to the fun in the water. 

We did the B theme for the food:

BBQ:

Mini hotdogs, 

BBQ chips in buckets

Baby Food: 

Mini PB&J's

Baby watermelons (raspberry jello in lime rinds, cut to look like watermelon)

 Baby cupcake sandwiches served in old baby food jars (they had to eat those with baby spoons)

Bug Juice:

Mixture of grape juice, lemon-lime, and apple juice (that ironically enough became the watery grave of many a honeybee). I guess they like juice too.

and of course,

Birthday Cake:

We made a Beckham sized smash cake for the Birthday Boy.

(Thanks for your help Stacy!)

It's a miracle any of the food stayed on the table. It was a very windy day and I just gave up on the decorating after a few failed attempts.

Some of Beckham's good Buddies.

The one (fake) smile I got out of Beck with his Birthday hat on.

( I love any excuse to celebrate so I made "B" t-shirts for the three of us to wear. Taylor mocks me. I don't care).

The kids took home wooden bird whistles as favors. Beckham loves birds. I'm pretty sure all of the parents loved us for that one.

Beck loved his Birthday song and all of the attention.

But he was not interested in his cake. He could not understand why we were forcing it in his face, when he wanted to crawl around and mingle with his guests :). 

At least Tay and I enjoyed some cake.

Finally, success. We knew he liked it when he stuck his foot in it. 

Again, with the Birthday hat, Mom? I made him put it on again yesterday.

There, that's much better. 

We ended the day with another birthday song. Both grandmas (in Japan and Utah) got to sing to Beckham at the same time. He was really engrossed in his birthday waffle though.

It was a wonderful day of reminiscing, and counting our blessings. We sure love this little man, and feel lucky to be his parents. We are also so lucky to have such fantastic friends to celebrate with.

Thank you to so many who helped make such a special occasion for us, even more merry.

One year down . . . 

We love you B.