take 2 in the little white suit!

Oliver Ben is a lucky little guy.  He was given a beautiful name and blessing recently by his Dad wearing the exact blessing outfit his Dad wore 29 years ago.  We love him so much and are so glad he is in our family. 

 The Ollie fan club that came all the way from Arizona: 

Babies: Oliver, Daddy Doug, & Uncle Ben

Introducing.... DR. DOUG!

Wahoo!  I did it!... I mean, he did it!  :) 

But serious, the med wives and I decided that we deserved a little graduation program just for ourselves as well. 

  So, we BOTH did it!  

The Douger is all grown up.

Everyone's reactions to his graduation have all been the same.  They all want to know when the tummy tucks, lypo, boob jobs, Botox, and prescription meds are going to be available.  :) 

But on a more serious note,  I am so proud of Doug.  He did a truly incredible job the past four years.  He was ridiculously dedicated and incredibly focused.  He had an amazing attitude and wore a very handsome smile all through the late nights and early mornings and long tests. 

(I know I am using a lot of positive adjectives here, but I just need it to make up a little for any complaining I may or may not have done the past 4 years.)      

It was so fun to celebrate together with our families this fun day.  We recieved so much love and support from them the past 4 years as well.  Doug definitely had a big support team behind him every step of the way. 

I think I am going to be switching from 'The Douger' to 'The Doctor.'  

Hee hee!

Good times with our Houston buddies

These are the days I don't ever want to forget.  We have grown so close to these wonderful friends of ours the past four years!  We trade babysitting together, go to the parks together, go out to eat together, go to the movies together, get together for girls nights and game nights.  Help each other out in the many times of need, exercise together, laugh and cry together, graduate together.  Play and occasionally fight together We are looking forward to one more year of Houston memories!!  

a BFF reunion (aka: the perfect mother's day gift)

After two and a half years.... we made it back together again!!!  And I've pretty much been counting down the days since then.  At least one or more of these girls have been there for me since the day I was born, first day of kindergarten, through the elementary school bliss, through junior high drama, through high school's social growing pains, through college roommates, trips to Africa and boyfriend fiascos, and on to marriages and births. 

Carrie gives the worlds best advice ever.  She has been blessed with so many beautiful talents and seriously spends her life thinking of others first.  She also happens to be a stand up comedian. 

Erin is so genuine and real.  She has been such a loyal friend.  She is a very strong woman who is not afraid her wear her heart on her sleeve. She is a really good listener who is always full of empathy and is not quick to judge. 

Tara is manna from heaven.  She is has the bubbliest personality and can't help but just reek of pure joy.  She is the most amazing mother to her 4 beautiful children.  I don't think there is anything she cannot do.  

Paola is so refreshing and spunky.  She is a lover of all people and has a way of bringing out the best in others.  And she also brought me a stash of breast milk for Ollie all the way from VA on dry ice!  I think about all that time pumping...What a friend!!  

And then there is me.  And I'm wondering if I ever shut my mouth the whole time.  In at least half of the 300 pictures of the weekend, my big mouth is wide open... I'm gonna work on that. 

Ohio was so beautiful!  Who would have thought?   We had so much fun visiting the Amish county and meeting the sweetest people.  Can you believe our cute little tour guide Mary!  She decided to convert over to the Mennonites so she could enjoy a few modern conveniences like Facebook. (No joke!) They are such a happy and hard working people. 

We toured around some of the old historical church history sites in Kirtland and learned a little more about the school of the prophets, where Joseph translated the Bible, Emma's daily life of cleaning up the tobacco spit, the Community of Christ church (used to be referred to the RLDS), the Kirtland Temple, and the work that went into building such a beautiful building. 

We spend a lovely afternoon picnicking and touring the John Johnson Farm.  We saw the room where Joseph and Emma were sleeping when a mob came to get him to tar and feather him.  And the room where the revelations for most of the Doctrine and Covenants were given and recorded. 

When we weren't busy touring around, we were really busy laughing our heads off and having so much fun staying up til 2 in the morning every night! We even squeezed in a real tea party just before the airport run.

And just a little bonus of the trip:  we were able to meet and fall in love with each others babies.  I think they had a good time palling around together too.  Oliver and Isaac are only 3 days apart... destined to be second generation BFF's.  And little Elin and Eva were as sweet and dainty as ever.  And I always love to steal a picture with my little Annie girl! 

Medicine for the soul!!  I feel like I can happily do just about anything now.  Bring on that whole mother of 3 boys thing again!

the first signs of summer...

We were given a little swing set a few weeks ago.  It has been the best 'babysitter' I could ever ask for.  The boys rock out on the teeter totter on and off all day long.  They have become such good little buddies.   

With a little help the "not fun, baby slide"  turned into "the coolest water slide!"   

Cal said that every pool is supposed to have a diving board.

No worries, he makes it...

...well, everything except for the little toosh.

And the douger has been enjoying a lot more free time the past 2 months.  He has added gardener, plumber, and car mechanic to his list of credentials. I would add MESS MAKER as well.  :)