.number twenty-five has arrived

My nephew Alex Glen Leary was born this week on Tuesday to my brother Tyler and his wife Missy. I don't know when I'll get to meet him, but I'm excited that he's here! And I know he's gonna love me!

Babies love everyone.

Ty and Missy are so awesome, and have had a lot of excitement going on in their family with a new baby and a new home being built in Lake Point, Utah!

When Alex was born I called their house and talked to their oldest daughter Kiersten. She told me that she was babysitting her little brothers and sister by herself! I can't believe she's old enough to do that now. Also, she wished Alex was a girl... but she'll be happy with a little brother instead.

*Alex with my brother Tyler

.view from the bottom

When I was 21, having escaped from a number of serious relationships back in Utah, I was living in Gurnee, Illinois--without a dating prospect in the world. I remember feeling very lost. When I was done working at night I would go lay on my bed and think. Sometimes about the idea of never being married and never getting to have kids. It's at that time that I decided I wanted to serve a mission for my church. I was listening to the tapes that my friend Nichole recorded and sent to me from her mission. I loved them! I wanted to have more purpose in my life than taking care of someone else's kids. (I didn't end up going on a mission, but that's a whole other story)

I remember thinking about how someday all I wanted in the world was to be with my future husband (who I knew would be cute) in our own little apartment that I could decorate myself with our own furniture, our own dishes, our own flowers... The thought of that made me so happy and hopeful. I knew that if I ever got to that point I would just constantly be in complete bliss. Constantly.

Four years later and here I am. {If you want to know how it happened, click here}

I know that "the younger me" would have given anything to be right here and to have nothing more than this. I was right then, I am extremely blissful and I love Air more than I ever comprehended back then. But I still forget how blessed I am to have this cute little place to live in, a very cute husband, and everything else that my dreams entailed back then. I just keep wanting more.

I am still fully aware that at this point in my life I'm at the bottom. Not only do we literally live below ground level. In a little basement. But I am figuratively living at the bottom of my life. In the beginning stages. There is still a whole lot of life ahead for me and Air, yet to be seen. We have a long way to go. And a lot of learning and growing to do.

But at least I'm not as close to the bottom as I was before I had Aaron.

And now I can keep dreaming about another future:

Someday we'll have kids.

Someday we'll live in a bigger place that I can decorate with more furniture and more dishes and bigger flowers (maybe even trees!).

Someday Air will be done with school and have a career.

Someday Air and I will be able to serve a mission together. We would love that!

And when I'm there, I'll look back at today and be more grateful for the things I'll have, that I might not be so grateful for otherwise. Because at least I won't be back here.

There's a lot to look forward to and even though we'll most likely have a lot of trials in our lives, it's going to be really great.

I feel like I'm standing at the foot of an enormous mountain and looking up. Of course the view from the top of a mountain is amazing--when you can see the whole world below you; but it's also incredible to look up at the mountain from the ground. Its a beautiful view from down here too.

And sometimes when it's not so good here at the bottom--cookies help.

A lot.

.Sunday

We had another beautiful weekend. It was so sunny and nice we couldn’t get enough of the outdoors! Plus, Air really scored at church on Father’s Day – they gave out bottles of Dad’s Root Beer and a cookie to all of the men/Dad’s. Awesome.

Air’s Dad got this awesome new grill for Father’s Day… We all benefited from that gift! Delicious barbecues for two days in a row!

Tiana was playing with our camera for a while. This was the result:

She is so cute.

Oh! And we finished off the shower! Now we just have to wait for the caulk to dry and we’ll be clean again! Awesome.

.Happy Day of Fathers

To my Dad,

You are the best Dad that I've ever had, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I love you!

To my Father-in-law,

You are the best second Dad I've ever known, thank you for being so. I love you!

To my Grandpa Ellis (who may or may not read this),

You are one of the best Grandpa's ever to exist, and I'm sure you've heard that more than enough. I love you!

To my (late) Grandpa Leary,

I miss you more than I've ever missed anyone. Thanks for watching over all. I love you!

To Air,

Someday, you will be a great Dad. But you're not a Dad yet. Not at all. I love you!

And happy Father's Day to you all!
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.June showers

Its been raining here a lot lately. But that's not what I'm talking about when I say June showers.

What I'm referring to is the bathroom shower renovation that’s been going on in our apartment for the past two weeks.

I know what you're thinking if you read my blog often: "Wait a minute, hasn’t Amber talked about renovating their shower at least two times before this?"

The answer is yes. Our shower has definitely had its share of issues.

This is how it’s been doing for the past 4 months:

Slowly falling apart and leaking!

But don’t worry this time should be the last time we ever have to rip it out and redo it.

Air and his cousin are doing a reeeeeally good job this time! And they are so awesome!

And now it’s almost finished! And it's beautiful! I can’t believe how fast the renovation was! Of course, it wasn’t without some blood, sweat and….... smiles! (the blood being mine… ouch!)

And holy wow, can I just tell you how excited I am to shower in my own home again!?

We all take that for granted.

Maybe once I start smelling better and our apartment isn’t under construction I’ll get some more job interviews!

Wish me luck!

.dirty carnies included

Beaumont Days fair and fireworks show on Saturday night:

Tessa and I were beyond excited to be there!

Air was probably just lucky he was awake after the longest work week EVER

That Air sure knows his way around a camera:

Can you believe that here in Canada the sun doesn’t go down until 11pm this time of year?!

It is so awesome.

And by the way - Canadian fair's are very similar to American ones. In case you were wondering.

Fireworks have got to be my favorite thing about summer.

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.Love to See The Temple

{I got to help plant flowers at the temple again}

It was raining most of the time on Monday, but we were just glad it wasn’t as hot as last year.

The cool, wet weather was perfect for gardening. And I should mention that it's Thursday now and STILL raining!

We got it done way faster this time - and it was so much FUN! I could definitely stand to do that every day if it were a job. Why can't that be a job?

Oh, and there were some really awesome people there to talk to while we worked :)

.the damage

We got hit on the way to church yesterday. Our little scrappy car got damaged more than it’s worth to get it repaired. A lady was turning left and pulled out right into us as we drove through an intersection. Pretty sure we’re just down a car again. Oh well?

We were lucky we didn’t get hurt… and that our friends Duane and Jenna happened to be driving by after the accident and stopped and gave us a ride. We even made it to the last hour of church.

the redemption

On a more positive note - we had a really fun weekend with the family!

climbing trees

fighting with big sticks?

and crossing the big bridge

Canada really is beautiful, isn’t it?

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