Cabin Fever

I just got back from a wonderful trip to Brian Head with Nick's family. We stayed at my parents cabin. I have a feeling it may be the last time we do. All weekend long the whole family dreamed about our own get-a-way in the woods. What will it look like, how big, what colors, how many rooms? You could say that the Strobelt clan has cabin fever. When we were not talking about cabins we were taking walks in the gorgeous weather and riding the four wheelers. It was a fantastic weekend and it is sad to be home looking out my window at my undone backyard instead to those majestic mountains.

(Nick insisted on those green gloves. They were quite hilarious and made her look like the swamp monster)

From England with Love

(grandpa Richard and grandma Pat)

The Dunhill's have arrived. Every 6 months we get to look forward to Nick's grandparents arrival. They have come every fall and spring for more years than Nick can remember. They hail all the way from Kent England! Their lovely house overlooks the sea and in English fashion is named (yes named) Tudor Lodge. Would it not be wonderful to tell people I live at Black Bush Cottage or Five Diamonds (all names of the previous Dunhill homes) instead of blah 123 Enzo Road. England is quite simply more romantic and elegant than the U.S. When Nick and I visited England 2 years ago we discussed what we would name our home if we lived there. We came up with Pemberley and I patted myself on the back for coming up with something so magnificnt and Brisitsh. It is the name of Mr. Darcy's manor in Pride and Prejudice, guess my subconcieous was telling me I watched the movie too much.

Every time they come I swear I gain 5 pounds and I love it. Pat (Nick's grandmother) is such a great cook. She always makes her famous 3 deserts: pavlova, chocolate mousse, and egg custard. To DIE for. Her classic British meal of roasted rib of beef, yorkshire pudding, and broiled potatoes is smothered in gravey and never produces left overs. It is always so sad to watch them leave and fly home. But I tell myself it is for the best sense if they stayed I would have to go on the Biggest Loser (too much good food). I am so glad that Scarlett will have a chance to get to know these wonderful people!

For Dad

She misses you while you're at work too!

Scarlett 5 Months

I am getting a little sad at how that number keeps increasing. Can she really be 5 months? I have to say that I absolutely love, LOVE this age. She interacts, smiles, giggles, and loves to rub her tongue over her new tooth (yes 1 little tooth). In my mind that 1 tooth makes her all grown up. She definitely is my best friend and we just love to hang out together. I feel so blessed that I can stay home with her.

She loves her baths and gets transfixed on the water

Yelling at me from her new toy. She loves to be able to stand up

This is my favorite thing that she does these days. When she is tired she just plops those two fingers in and sucks away. It makes me a little sad because she no longer sucks on my shoulder to get to sleep:(

Started eating food about a week ago and luckily it is getting less messy

Because Two People Fell in Love

We worked really hard on Saturday cleaning our house, running errands, and of course taking care of Scarlett. To reward ourselves we took a walk down memory lane. Nick proposed at a gorgeous park about 2 minutes from our house. It over looks the city and was quite a romantic scene to "pop" the question. We brought lunch and enjoyed telling Scarlett how we fell in love. Scarlett loved it...

she ate pickles and loved it

finished it off with cherry/coke slurpee and loved it

lounged in her stroller and loved it

The exact spot were Nick proposed and of course I consented

Dear Mom

I look back over these past couple of months and I realize how much I have changed. Not really my personality or what I say and do, but what I feel. I feel like I finally understand. Mainly, I feel like I understand you better. I love Scarlett more than I thought possible and now I understand how much you love me. I understand that all those crazy things you did (like not letting me play baseball on Sunday or buy "satan's panties" ) were out of love. I am sorry I got mad and yelled at you when I did not get my way. I understand now that it probably broke your heart when I was 16 and whispered under my breath "I hate you". If Scarlett did that to me, it would break my heart. I am so glad that I went to Nauvoo and was able to grow closer to you, even though we were a thousand miles a part. How many times I called you crying and homesick, you were always able to cheer me up even though you missed me too. I know I gave you a hard time and in many ways still do, but you are my greatest example. I understand now how important my example is to Scarlett and it makes me want to be a better person. I love you... Happy Mother's day (late of course:)

A new car and some snuggles

It even sparkles in the sun!

I can not believe I am about to say it but... I got a new car. YES!! FINALLY!! If you have been around me at all these last 8 months you know how much I have been waiting for this day. The car is perfect and beautiful and has no scratches and thanks to my dad is perfectly spotless! I can finally go the grocery store by myself and venture outside my house during the day. It is wonderful. I feel like I am 18 again and getting my license ( yes I waited till I was 18 to get my license). No more pushing Scarlett in her stroller to McDonalds for lunch. Ahhh the sweet smell of freedom.

It's a 2008 Hyundai Elantra that we got for a great deal

Last night I was reading my sister's, Emily, blog while I was nursing Scarlett. I always catch up on blogs and news while nursing via my wonderful i-touch. Anyway, she talked about how her little boy fits perfectly in her arms and one day he won't. Better enjoy it while you can. It got me thinking (never a good thing) about being a mom. I always told myself that I would never hold Scarlett back just because I needed to. You know, like keeping her in my room and bed too long just because I am sentinel. Well it didn't last long. I feed her every night before I go to bed. Sadly, she doesn't need it anymore. She is more than happy sleeping from 7am-7pm without any feeding. I should stop. But...I need it. I love it. I wake her up and she sleepily opens her eyes and does a big, big cat stretch where she arches her back. She is always so warm and cozy. I sit in my rocking chair, rub her chubby little legs, and calm down from my busy day. So many moments of being a mom are not perfect (like her screaming at the check out or "blowing" out in her car seat), but that moment is perfect. I look forward to it every night. So...I am not going to stop because like Emily said "someday he will not fit in my arms, but tonight he did and I loved it."

This is what keeping up too long looks like