My sisters and I started a fashion/beauty/lifestyle blog. I'll have to go more in to that in another post!
But most of these are from a few photo-shoots done for that blog!
I was so excited to take these little cuties to Baskin Robbins because I remember when I was little how fun it was to look at all the flavors and pick out the one I wanted! When we got there I spent the first few minutes showing them all the flavors and then asked Olivia which one she wanted. I thought it would be bubblegum or something like that, but nope all she wanted was, "banilla!" (vanilla) Of course Clara wanted the kind that Olivia had! So much for fun flavors :)
It's hard to believe that it's been two years since you were first placed in my arms.
You, my dear are absolutely precious.
Even though you have only been with us for two years, we know we've known you a lot longer.
You fit into our family perfectly.
Everything about you is as sweet as can be. You have the most beautiful big brown eyes and curly brown hair.
There isn't a lot of it, but its perfect. You have the cutest toothy smile and silliest little giggle.
You still have your binky and love to find hair around the house (mostly mine) and place it on your binky and then twist your binky around and around until the hair is completely wrapped around. The thing that is so funny about this is that your aunt Sophia did the exact same when she was your age!
You absolutely love Olivia. You want to be just like her and imitate everything she does.
I love watching you two interact and know that you will always be the best of friends.
You still don't really know how to talk, but that's okay because you are still as smart as can be.
You know exactly what is going on and what you want. You are obedient and always listen to me when I ask you to do something.
You still love to be tightly swaddled before nap time and bedtime and rocked by me.
I cherish that time more than anything else.
You love your daddy. Especially when you both do silly things like dance and play hide and go seek.
You absolutely love to read and be read to.
Overall you are just the sweetest, happiest little Clara.
You are our sweet Clara and always will be.
No matter what, always remember that you are loved not only by your mom, dad, and Olivia, but by your two extended families as well.
Everyday we thank our Heavenly Father for giving you to us.
You are precious and perfect in every way.
We love you Clara Sophia! And can't wait for every other second we get to spend with you!
I have been waiting for this day since I married Michael. And for him much longer.
As newlyweds looking into the future all we could see was school. It seemed like being done with school was just too far in the future to even try and imagine.
But the moments turned into days, the days into months, and the months into years.
And here we are!
Michael attending school at BYU was extremely hard, yet it can hardly be compared to what we went through during our three years of law school.
Not only was just attending law school hard but we both faced some very painful personal trials.
I can say without any hesitation that they have been the hardest three years of my life.
There have been countless tears and times where each of us wondered if we were doing the right thing, if being a lawyer was what Michael really wanted, if we were where we were supposed to be.
There were moments where one of us was literally dragging the other along. Moments where I honestly didn't think our family would survive.
But we did, and I can honestly say every second of it was 100% worth it.
We had such an incredible support system. Each of our families lifted us and gave us hope and confidence to carry on. I have dear friends who probably have no clue how much they did for me. But they too played a part. But most of all we had the help of our Savior Jesus Christ. There were so many times when it seemed like we were alone, but looking back we realized we never were. He was right beside us, blessing us with countless tender mercies over and over again the entire time.
I want our children to know how proud of their daddy I am. He worked harder than anyone I know. Not only on doing well in school, but on becoming the best person he could be. He ALWAYS put his family first. And sure enough everything else fell into place.
I will never forget these past three years. They have changed me. Changed us.
And I am so grateful that I have Michael by my side, hand in hand, to continue on our journey that thankfully has no end.
The board of Trustees of Willamette University upon the recommendation of the President and Faculty has conferred upon
Michael A. Mickelson
the degree of
Doctor of Jurisprudence
with all the rights, privileges, and honors pertaining thereto.
Every once in a while you luck out with just one of those absolutely perfect days.
Today was one of them.
Michael got up early to go to the school for pictures and to get ready with his class.
We got the girls all ready and headed to the school.
We lucked out with a parking spot right in front of the law building, and arrived just in time to see all the students standing outside the building in their robes taking pictures.
Graduation was taking place in a large tent outside in the middle of campus.
I mean how could it not, Willamette's campus is simply breathtaking.
We took our seats and waited anxiously for the ceremony to begin.
What happened next will be something I will never ever forget.
The sound of bagpipes were heard off in the distance and began to get louder and louder.
Soon we saw a group of bagpipe players marching across campus with the law school teachers and students following behind. Every one stood up. It wasn't long before we spotted Michael near the front, and that's when it hit me. Michael did it! He had accomplished something he had been dreaming about since he was little. All of our hard work suddenly seemed worth it.
They walked around the tent and then came up through the very center and took their seats in the front. (This whole time the bag pipers are playing).
It was incredible.
Simply unforgettable.
The ceremony began and it's hard for me to remember all that was said because all I could think about was giving Michael the biggest hug ever after it was over.
As part of graduation each student is hooded and gets to shake the Dean's hand, walk off the stage (all while professional photographers are taking pictures) and then walk around the audience and back up through the middle of the tent to their seat.
After the ceremony was over the students stood up and once again followed the bag pipers back through the center of the tent and around the campus to the law school.
I wish so badly I could put my feelings into words but it's just impossible.
But I will say, I could not be prouder of my Michael and everything he has done to get himself to this point. I am so grateful for Willamette University's law school. They truly are the best!
Now for some pictures!
The law building is absolutely gorgeous.
Michael's graduation picture.
The graduates entering the tent.
Olivia was so proud of her daddy that the second she saw him she ran up to give him the biggest hug!
I couldn't resist giving Michael's hand a quick squeeze as he passed us.
A little video of the graduates leaving the ceremony. If you look carefully you will see Michael pass by!
As the students were walking back to the school Olivia saw Michael and ran up to him so she could walk with him!
I mean seriously...I absolutely loved his robe!
Michael and one of his good friends Drew Starbuck.
Michael and I were supposed to go to a law school graduation dinner and even found a babysitter for the girls.
But after thinking about it decided that since we were paying for a babysitter we might as well take advantage and skip the dinner and socializing and just enjoy some much needed one on one time.
That started off with a yummy dinner at one of my favorite little spots in town, a quick stop at Starbucks for some caramel and cinnamon steamed milk, and a tour of all of Michael's favorite study spots at the school. We were literally the only ones at the school and it was so fun having him show me all his little spots and explaining how certain ones inspired different things. We found ourselves laying on the couches just talking about how unbelievable it was that we had done it.
Michael was finally graduating from law school!
We were so excited that Michael's family and my mom were able to be here for our exciting weekend.
We were able to go to dinner at one of Michael's favorite mexican restaurants, open gifts, decorate and get ready for the big day. We made lunch the night before and baked a yummy homemade chocolate cake.
Here are a few pre graduation pictures.
Michael's parents totally surprised Michael with a very nice Invicta watch! And anyone that knows Michael can imagine just how excited he was about this.
Everything was aligning perfectly for one of our most anticipated days as a married couple!
Mother's Day has always been something I looked forward to celebrating when I was little.
I was just so excited to be a mom. I had all these grand plans of the perfect mother I would be.
A clean and organized house, scrapbooks galore, fun activities going on all the time, never ever getting mad, always being patient and kind, always looking my very best, ect.
But lets face it that is not exactly how motherhood so far has gone for me.
Being a mother is SO much harder than I ever thought it could be, yet it is so much more rewarding and wonderful as well.
It's hard to explain, but I am sure all the moms out there totally know what I am saying.
Anyways, my point in saying all of that was just to illustrate that being a mom is a lot of work.
And I am so so lucky to have had such a wonderful mom to look up to.
I've also had the opportunity to get to know my mother in law and watch her as a mother.
There are so many things that I see that she does that I hope to do for my littles as well.
I just feel so blessed today, and everyday for not only for my own mother and mother in law but for every other mother out there that is doing their best in this crazy hard, wonderful thing called motherhood.
The yummy breakfast Olivia and Clara brought to me in bed.
My darling Olivia and Clara are by far two of the greatest blessings I have been given. I am in awe each day as I watch their tiny perfect bodies grow bigger and bigger. But mostly I am amazed at how those tiny little hearts aren't actually so tiny. They are sweet, tender, accepting, forgiving, and loving. Nothing brings me more joy than looking into their eyes and knowing that they are mine forever.
