I'm back

I wanted post when I got back, just a brief note to say I actually made it home, but of course my internet was down. Between our luggage getting lost again on the way home, and our car having to get put in the shop I was frustrated to find that our internet was down. I guess it was good even though every time I turned around I thought, I need to check on xyz and then it hit me that I couldn't. It gave me the time to reconnect with my girls which turned out was nothing at all. Life just resumed as it was before as if we had never left.

It is good to be back. It took me several days to feel normal, but luckily now I am not dying to sleep when 3pm rolls around and doing my normal routine feels, well, normal...good. It was such a nice break and I hope to share with you my thoughts and experience soon.

guess where I'm at??

Madrid?

NO!

I'm in Houston at the hotel Marquee where our wonderful, not, airline put us up for the night. I've already seen a cocroach in the bathroom.

So I get to hang out in Houston until 6:30 when I finally catch my now flight to Paris and then to Barcelona where I get to try to make my ship. We have two hours to get there. The kicker...we don't have our lugguage now and since we were suppose to go to Madrid and tour Spain before our cruise I am now fearful our luggage won't be there in Barcelona to greet us.

Oh the joys of travel. Now I get to shower and put on the same cloths with no toiletries what so ever. Good time for us today.

Oh and by the way if you are wondering if Denver airport is at all exciting it's not though with good company you can sit in the same chair for a while without getting too upset.

Here to hoping I actually get there with my luggage and hey at least I get to walk through the airport in Paris. It's the closet I'm going to get.

Til next time. Enjoy!

this is it

I'm off.

Feeling good.

Feeling a heightened of emotions.

Feeling excited.

Jill came to get my kids last night, which I'm now realizing was the best thing. I was a mess. As they drove away I realized it's the "what if" of not seeing them again that brings me fear and worry, but this morning I am calm. Missing them.

I miss the way Megan reaches out for me and says, "I just want to be with you"

or the way Tess asks, "will you sleep with me for a little bit" or
Bella telling me "They're the happy kind", referring to her tears.

Before leaving Bella told me she will help take care of her sisters. Tess in her hold everything on the inside way, showed me the signs that she truly will miss me, and Megan telling me while cupping my face, "I will miss you when you gone". I love them and can't wait to see them 2 weeks, but for now I focus on Adam and I.

Hopefully I'll check in a few times. Enjoy the next 2 weeks. I know I will.

reflections

I took this photo yesterday morning while the rain continued to fall. We heard it was suppose to rain so Bella took her cypher outside the night before. By 8 am we had already received 1 inch and throughout the day and evening the cypher overflowed with drops of rain.

It's strange when your moods seems to mirror the gray skies. I have been non stop preparing for Europe and while I'm so excited to go on this adventure, I am terrified at the same time. My anxiety is heighten to the max and I once again remember why I prefer to stay home and why I hesitated at the mere mention of crossing the Atlantic.

I feel much better today thanks to some reassurance from Adam. I think he's finally understanding how much I need the, "everything will be fine" speech. I know it sounds childish and crazy, but hey it's me and who doesn't like a little bit of crazy now and then.

So today I am grateful for a regular day. After dealing with Bella puking on Tuesday and the fear of it spreading to everyone I have finally decided that that just won't happen. That all is well and all will be well.

sigh...

spt - favorite color

This was a hard challenge because primarily I don't have a favorite color. What I lean toward really all depends on my mood at the moment. Plus I am more drawn toward color combinations instead of just single colors. So because of that and lack of time, I really would have liked to do a mosaic of some sort, I decided to have fun with this. A little embarrassing, but I guess you could say I've shared worse.

So as a way to get prepared for our cruise and not look like white freaks Adam and I decided to go get mists. Instead of killing ourselves and ruining our skin in the tanning booths, we opted to be mystified. I was really nervous at first, but the woman who owned the tanning salon said they have come a long way. Instead of painting color on your skin now it's a solution that reacts to your skin and forms the color. It only lasts 7 days or so depending on how quickly your skin sloughs (sorry couldn't think of a better words) off so we wanted to try it out first just in case it looked horrible. We weren't able to see the results until we woke up because it took about 4-6 hours to develop. I wasn't able to tell that big of a difference, but when Adam came home he said he could tell, and of course I can see a big difference in the side by side photos. I am pleased with the results, though there are a few places that don't looks so great, but they are not obvious. We are going back on Monday right before we leaves since it will be worn off by then.

So today my favorite color is tan. What do you think?

I'd like to thank Adam & Tess for these lovely photos. I really can't believe I am publishing them.

summer is here

School got out on Friday and we have been trying to make the most of it until we leave on vacation next Tuesday so Adam and I took the kids to the pool on Friday night. It was a perfect evening, plus it was not busy at all. I think we will have to do the evening swim more often.

Oh and we have been doing a lot of rolling down the green hill and riding our scooters in the parking lot across the street. Playing with cousins. Going to the park with friends. Having friends over. End of the school year party. Elders Quorum Social at our house last night.

What activities do you do in the summer? I think I'm going to need some ideas. One weekend and one day in and I'm already spent. Thank goodness I'm leaving for vacation...I already need a break.

like I said...

I've been playing more than I have been doing the things I need to do this week. Part of me feels like I'm making up for missed time.

Here is my latest project. (click to enlarge)


I saw these at my local scrapbook store and knew I just had to make them for my "inspire" vase. Apparently it's doing it's job...I'm inspire to create more and to recognize the beauty in life every time I look at them.

edited to add: I will get instructions as soon as I can, but honestly it probably will have to wait until I come back from Europe.