the first ever

Saturday night I went to the LDS Women's General Conference with my mom and sister.

(The first one--history!)

 Aren't they beautiful?

I'm lucky to call them family.

I looked forward to this night all week.

Much needed girl time.

And, much needed spiritual boost.

I left that meeting feeling more confident as a mother and wife.

I soaked in that powerful feeling in the Conference Center,

surround by my mom, sister, and other women in the same situation as me.

I am doing my best.

We are all doing our best.

Most of all, I felt God's love in that room.

I know He loves me and is near me as I try my best as a mom.

  You just need to feel that sometimes, ya know?

And now looking forward to General Conference.

Can't wait.

myer's "lucky" 3rd birthday party

 Since Myer's birthday is a few days past St. Patty's day we had a green themed party.  We kept it low-key this year with just a bbq with family.  My favorite part was opening presents because Myer was genuinely excited about each present.  It was the cutest-- each present got a big smile, a gasp, and a loud "thank you!".  He even loved the cards (he slept with one of them). 

So lucky to have family celebrate with Myer on his day.  He loves each of them, knows them by name, and knows when one is missing.  It was the perfect way to celebrate since people are the most important thing to Myer.  Happy Birthday dude!  We are "lucky" to have you.

a letter--TO BOTH OF YOU!

 Myer and Lennon-

Since Lennon turned 6 months last Saturday and Myer turns 3 today (wowzer!)  I thought to do a double letter.

Myer you are a grown-up in toddler body.  You like to have adult conversations--you say, "talk to me mom" or ask "so, how was work?" to get me to chat with you.  You like it when I ask questions and you respond in sentences.  When we pull up to the bank, you ask to talk to the teller.  Or when we get to the check out stand at the grocery store you ask, "Let me talk to her?" So I let you.  And you seriously have an adult conversation.  You like to talk so much that you have jibberish sentences that you repeat over and over when it's silent.  Also, you're a little parrot with the greatest memory.  I have to be really careful with what I say because I can say something once and you'll remember for.ev.er. and repeat it.  Dad gets a mouthful when he gets home from work.

You love to read.  You sleep with books.  Any kind of reading is your friend-- maps, brochures, mail, etc. and you hold onto them just to "read".  You even grab adult books and pretend to read.  I'm so glad you have this passion so young.  Along with that, you are now starting to recognize letters and numbers.  Driving in the car with you has been much more entertaining hearing you list off letters you recognize.  You like to learn new words and phrases and try to use them when meeting new people or just trying to be an adult in conversations.  I can't wait for preschool!  You are going to love all that learning.

What has really touched me these past few months is your love for your sister.  You.love.her.  Your goal in life is to make her laugh and smile.  You ask me if you can "snort" to make her laugh.  My answer is always yes, unless you're eating.  Hugs always and you let her grab your hair, feet, and shirt.  I just love it.  Warms my soul.    

Lennon I love this stage.  I call this the "pay-off" period.  You are adjusted to life, nursing well, on a sleep schedule, and expressing your little self.  You can be quiet, but once you feel comfortable, you can be loud!  You laugh a lot at Myer and Dad and it's mostly smiles for me.

Interestingly enough, your favorite thing to play with is paper.  Yep paper.  Wax paper, wrappers, and clothes tags.  Oh, and I'm still your favorite thing.  I can't leave the room without you bursting into tears.  You live on my hip.  You can sit up by yourself and you have two teeth.  Still going strong with the thumb sucking! You don't like tummy time, going to bed after 7, and anyone with glasses.

And we've started solids!  Wahoo!  You've had avocados, sweet potatoes, and green beans.  So far so good.  Next we're going to try peas. 


I don't know what life would be like without you two.  And I don't know what you two would do without one another.   It was meant for you to be siblings.  Happy birthday Myer.  You are a burst of joy to this family.  You make us smile especially Lennon.  Love, love, love.  Kiss, kiss, kiss,

-Mom

Elder Cooper Thacker

Called to serve in the Angeles, Philippines mission.

In the Tagalog language.

Reports to the Philippines MTC on August 15th.

Congrats brother!

We're so excited for you!

two teeth!

Holy cow girl!  

You're just like your brother-- two teeth by the age of 6 months.  

AND at the same time! 

Come.On.

My weekend date

This little lady was my sidekick for the weekend.  We first went to a dear friend's baby shower from our old Alpine neighborhood.  When we moved, I was pregnant with Lennon so it was a perfect opportunity to for her meet some of my old friends.  Usually Lennon is shy and hides into my shoulder, but she must have known that baby showers are the perfect girl-to-girl gab sessions, because she perked right up.  Again, the perfect sidekick to chat the morning away with friends and to celebrate with Emily.  (Emily we are so excited for you!!!)

Then we went to my Grandpa Thacker's surprise 80th birthday party.  80 years old!  All of his 8 children were there and mostly all of his grand kids (and even great-grand kids).  We sang his old songs, laughed at memories, and shared his golden advice.  My favorite is "Whatever you put as your first priority I'm confident you can achieve it.  So be very careful what you put as your top priority."  This man worked with the LDS church seminaries worldwide so you can bet all of my seminary teachers in high school knew my grandpa, and even some of my religion professors at BYU.  He also was quite the joker.  One of my favorite stories from when he worked in the Church Office Building was when one of his colleagues was late for a meeting and couldn't find his suit coat.  He asked my grandpa if he had seen it.  And my grandpa nonchalantly asked, "Well, did you look under C?"  The man was confused but then it dawned on him.  He opened the file cabinet and sure enough under "C" was his coat.  So many stories like that.  I could go on and on about this man--about his years of service in the mission field, interactions with prophets and apostles, his daily swim in an Olympic-size pool, and the best rendition of "Elmer and the Bear" you've ever heard.  Lucky to be his granddaughter and lucky to join in the celebration of such a great man.

Don't ask me how I didn't get a picture of either event, both being pretty important.  One of those shoot-myself-in-the-foot-after-the-fact moment.   But at least we got a picture of the cutest sidekick to my day.  I do what I can.  

my birthday persent in February

 If you remember from this post, Jake surprised me with tickets to see our favorite comedian, Brian Regan.  I was waiting for this date since October!  It was the best night.  We ate dinner at Cafe Trio (again) and then laughed so hard for an hour and a half in the ESA.  At one point I don't think Jake could breath.  We needed this date night together and a good laugh.  It'll get me through to when we can go out again, which if anyone with kids will tell you those are few and far between.  Thanks again Jake for the thoughtful present that you and I both got a kick out of.  Literally.