THE countdown

the reoccuring theme in our house lately has been "counting down." this is literally the second paper chain we've been through in the past month. and when you feel stuck in dental school, there is nothing more exciting than counting down to the end, or to a big event. i guess i've been thinking about this a little bit though, since i have that chain staring me in the face all day. i don't want to always be counting down until the next big thing. i want to enjoy what i have right now. and i think i do for the most part. of course sometimes i think of the next thing we need to make our apartment look better, or what new outfit soph needs, but in reality i know it just doesn't matter. i love where we are at in life right now. landen almost has a year of school behind him. we're so blessed to be in boston, where we get to experience "east coast life" and make new best friends. i love being a mom, and staying home with sophie everyday, who we adore and love so much! i guess this is just a reminder to myself of how good i really have it right now! and how grateful i am for our lives. {can you tell i'm getting emotional with my baby turning ONE tomorrow!?}
we do have some exciting things coming up for the summer though. and on the theme of "countdown" i just want to make note of them. i'm so excited to see ALL of our family this summer! and i mean pretty much ALL. it's been a couple years...

• 1 day... until sophie is OnE!
• 4 days... until landen is doNe with his first year! you mean we actually get to enjoy him with no homework and no studying? oh the joys of apex!
• 7 days... until we drive to PITTsburgh to visit our long lost friends lib & deej!
• 28 days... until kyle gets home from the mish! {i had a dream the other night that he extended for 18 months... is that even possible? sorry mom}
• 41 days... until soph and i fly to poRtlAnd for 17 wonderful days!
• 50 days... until the fourth of july. i lOvE the fourth of july! seriously what is better than bbq-ing, wearing shorts, being a pyro, and eating potato salad?!
• 98 days... until my SIL amy gets married! we are so excited to go to MeSa and be with the tutts for the big day! {well... not excited about the 120 degree arizona august weather}
• 118 days... until soph and i fly to orLaNdO to visit my good friend sarah and her soon-to-be-born baby girl abigail!

it's going to be a busy summer but we are looking forward to every minute of it. especially since we finally get landen all to ourselves for a few months! we are so proud of him!
we're also excited to explore boston a little more while we have some time. including hitting up the bEaCh with the girls! can you tell soph is ready for that sun to hit her leggies? we got her a new beach chair for the event.

we're ready to get out of the house for a little while...

sorry arthur, we're going on vacation...

and we're getting ready for her big bash on saturday! is anyone else in as much shock as i am? pictures to come...