Santa gets to much mail anyway

I really want to send out Christmas cards this year. I love when I get Christmas cards from other. I love seeing their pictures and the way the cards make such homey decorations. Most of all it makes me feel good to know someone thought of me and went to the effort to show me.

Here are some of the cards from Shutterfly I am thinking about:

I saw a clip on Studio 5 about putting a letter that is the same size behind you Christmas card, and this card would be perfect for that.

I really like the design on this one, too. It kind of has the same feel as the one above it.

This one is different from what I would normally pick, but I like it.

The next two are so much fun, and great if I don't end up attaching a letter to the back (which I am sad to say there is a good portability that cool idea will never turn into a reality).

Which card do you like? Would you be interested in one? Do you want to send me one? Can you feel the Christmas card love?

My feelings on Shutterfly:

I first became a fan of Shutterfly right after my wedding. I had my bridal pictures taken in the snow. The Shutterfly prints looked so much better then the Inkleys. They also always have good promotions and sales. I also got one of their calendars (on sale or maybe free) in 2008, and I loved it. It had all the birthdays in my fam printed right on it, as well as my own pictures. They also have cool personalized Thank you cards.

Also for this post I may get some free cards. If you want to try go here.

A Year of Wesley

A few minutes old

3 weeks old

1 month

2 months

3 months

4 months

5 months

6 months

7 months

8 months

9 months

10 months

11 months

12 months

Buttons and Blinkies

I love buttons and blinkies. I think they are a fun way to add to show your personality on your blog. I could go way crazy with them, and I think that I may make some changes to my side bar.

I just wanted to post some of the cute ones I found. There were a ton more than this that I liked, but I don't want this post to be too long (too late).

I really think this is funny especially because I usually don't get many comments, but I love them. Maybe I will add it to the side.

My husband would agree about this.

Love this quote!
Okay, I now know that I am a mom because it almost made me cry when I read this. What a great book.

May add this to my side bar, too.
How doesn't love a good snowman blinkie?
Hmmm. I had to go delete some of them because there was way, way to much flashing. Now there is only too much.

Wind Trouble

Look what the wind did to our fence...

I am really grateful our trees all survived.

Here's our neighbor's yard.

Happy Birthday, Alex!

Wesley was not excited about wearing something on his head, but he sure does love his uncle!

Tinge of Green

Shortly after we spread our grass seed there were two big storms that moved our seed into puddled clusters. We were worried that our lawn was ruined. But look, there is a ting of green now! It my come up a bit patchy, but hopefully my next summer we will have a nice lawn!

Within Wesley's Reach

I left the candy on my bed, and Wesley was very happy about it. Two weeks ago he thought candy was just toys. I am sad to announce those days are gone. He knows candy tastes good, and the knows how to open the wrappers by grinding his teeth on them.

Look at that happy little smile.

While I cleaned up the candy and pulled my phone into the charge, Wes took the dump truck in the picture and was putting it in the toilet.

Tales from an Isolated Extrovert

To begin, my intention is not to complain. I love my life, and I would not trade it.

But I have found it is an adjustment to be a stay at home mom, especially far away from where most of my friends and family live.

It was an adjustment when I first moved up here, but at least in the apartments I had some walking buddies who I would visit multiple times a week. But since I moved into my house in June, I have no walking buddy. I have great neighbors, and I love my ward, but no one that I feel comfortable knocking on their door just because I feel lonely.

My bestie lives 30 or 40 minutes away, and she comes up here to shop sometimes. Plus, we talk on the phone quite a bit. I go to lunch with old friends who live up here every once in a while. I have had a few awesome people make the 2 hour drive to come visit me (they are so awesome). I would go crazy without that.

Still, day to day my social contact is limited. It's an adjustment, and I feel lonely. I use to really enjoy meeting new people and being involved in many activities. Now my only scheduled thing some weeks is church. Sometimes wonder if all the life changes have caused me to start some type of identity crisis.

Hmm...who am I now? I am a wife and a mother. I love blogging even though I am not an interesting writer and my blog audience is rather small. I love my cats, but I don't like to think of myself as a crazy cat lady. I am still random and accidentally only say half of what I mean to while saying the other half twice. I love small adventures, but I need to get out and do it more. I am still not use to my post child body, and I need to get use to it. I always plan to exercise, but don't. I really need to because I feel that helps put me in touch with my body (plus I miss the extra endorphins).

I think one of my problems is I think I have so much time now that I do not use it wisely. I forget to factor in caring for the baby takes a bit of time in and of it's self. Plus, cooking (which is not a natural or developed talent of mine) takes a while. I live in a time warp (the daylight savings change hasn't help either). My husband's work schedule is awesome, but because he has a random day off in the middle of the week and never knows when he will actually be getting home the days he does work, it doesn't help the time void.

One thing I want to do is start setting goals and writing them down because I feel like my actions don't match what I want. I mean the important stuff is there, but I want more. It's easy to think goals, but putting then down in writing solidifies them.

Goal 1: Start working out.

Why: Makes me happy, makes me healthier, makes me look better.

Step 1: Make a chart I need (something to help make me accountable).

Step 2: Check out the rec center by my house (I am going to wait at least a day to do this because I am getting over the stomach flu).

What is this random picture of me in a wig from 2007 doing here?

Well, I since I am not an interesting writer (sad truth), I am compensating for with a picture.

To conclude: I don't know that I will ever get use to the seclusion of a stay at home mom, but my little guy is so worth it.

P.S. I am open to suggestions, and I actually really like when people leave comments.

Wesley with his Great Grandma

I had been looking for this picture when I blogged about my grandmother, and I was unable to at the time. I just found it and want to share it with you.

1st Birthday Party

I was glad that some many wonderful people came so far to celebrate my little guys birthday, and gave him such thoughtful gifts.

I made this hat. And did the cake with the help of my awesome sister-in-law. I did the chocolate molds, and I am so happy that I was able to dye the frosting to match.

Cupcake tower

Wesley was not so happy about the cake at first.

I gave him a cracker, and he used it to pick at the cake.

And he started to warm up.

And then he decided he like it.

Bath time!

Wesley's 1st Birthday

1 year has gone by so quickly. What a joy Wesley has been.

We started out the morning with lots of balloons.

I was so excited when I found this dump truck that was as big as Wesley.

We went to the park and had some fun.

Oh, my he is so cute!

We went to a small little Italian restaurant, and Wes loved it. He really enjoyed eating my pesto fettuccine.