where to begin

I'm not even sure where to begin. I have lots to share from the past several weeks, thoughts I've had, events that have happened, bloggers I've seen, projects I've worked on, etc. So today I figure I would just give a recap of photos from my sisters visit and share the stories in the days to come.

swimming

miniature golfing

It was particularly funny watching Megan play. She would hit the ball toward the hole, grab it most times while moving, and then place it next to the hole where she would precede to hit it in. As I figure what a great way to play...you are always assured 2 par per hole.

Library

Children's discovery

I ran into a blogger while there...none other than Claudia herself. I probably would have been more shocked if i hadn't just seen her at the blog party. I wish I had got a photo of us, but nevertheless it was fun to see her.

amusement park

While going on the skyride with my mom she leaned back and said, "life is good!". I'm really glad she can recognize what she has.

And look who stopped by my parents house on Saturday

Darling Mindy. It was fun to see her and talk a while.

inseparable

It has been a crazy couple of weeks. Like I said my sister's been in town and pretty much life shuts down. I'm never home and when I am I just want to get out because the stuff that needs to get done just overwhelms me. I have piles of laundry to do, overall cleaning of my house, bills to pay, etc...not to mention all the stuff I want to do that doesn't get done like blogging and/or reading. Despite all that I walk away from I really enjoy getting away from my normal routine and taking this break. It's something I look forward to every summer.

One thing I don't want to forget during this little break and hopefully they won't either is just how much Tess and Alan enjoyed each other. Always looking for the other and wanting to do what the other is doing. They play so good together and I'm sad for them to have to part ways. It's depressing to have family living so far away.

So although it's a crazy couple of weeks, I really wouldn't have it any other way.

mini vacation

My sister's in town and so my mini vacation begins. We are headed for St. George for the next few days to enjoy an even hotter climate. What are we doing??? I don't know, but at least we will have a pool and a really good air conditioner.

The best part about her being in town, other than just being able to hang out with her, is to see how excited the kids are to spend time together. It makes me so sad that she doesn't live here, but I'm so grateful she is willing to spend her summer vacation coming to see us. Maybe someday we will live close, but for now we will make the most of what we have.

solo

Yesterday went way too fast. I pretty much scrapbooked until Adam came home and then went to a dinner and a movie. It was nice going out on a week day without having to worry about taking care of the kids. We saw "Evening" a huge let down. We both agreed it looked good based on the trailer, but it was way way slow. The sad thing is it could have been a great movie if done right. Anyway, I guess there was one scene that made it kind of worth spending 2 hours watching it and of course it was nice that it was dark and cool.

Today I hit the town and went shopping. It's exhausting, but once again nice to do it by myself and come home and lay down in peace. I got a few things for the girls for the new school year. Not a lot of warm stuff out yet and since I'm not one to buy fall and winter separately I stuck with pants and shoes. I was also able to hook up with Crystalyn for lunch since her mother-in-law takes her older kids on Fridays. It has been a great afternoon. Thanks Jill.

So now I'm resting waiting for Adam to come home so we can pick the girls up. You know I must say I'm looking forward to it. It is nice to have a chance to miss them.

As promised here are the layouts I did yesterday. Click here to see them larger.

2 days

Jill has graciously offered to have my kids over for another sleep over for the next two days. Dare I say she misses them! I'm grateful for this opportunity because it's one thing to go on vacation without kids, but it's an entirely different ball game to be home with all you stuff and no kids. Adam asked me last night what I was going to do with all my time and I wasn't entirely sure. Usually I'm scrambling about trying to make all the time count, but getting today and tomorrow I've relaxed a bit. I was up by 6am showered, eaten, and posted before 8am so I'm right on my way to making the most of this day.

The other day while I was working on my Europe photos Bella and Tess pulled out the scrapbooks and started looking through them. I love that they're enjoying them because really it's the reason I started doing it in the first place. Unfortunately, I haven't been scrapbooking as much as I would like and quite honestly it makes me sad. I love documenting life in such a way and it's proving to be a great way for us all to relive those moments. I am grateful that blogging has helped me to remember times, thoughts I've had that would have already been lost, but I miss the act of it. I love creating in that way.

So today I think I will stay at home, be a home body if you will, and scrapbook. Tomorrow....maybe shopping. Still not there yet.

enjoy your thursday!

three

The day we've been talking about in our home for months now. I think it actually first came up after Bella's birthday (March) and hasn't stopped since then. She has been so excited for this day to come, literally she has asked about it daily. So she woke up this morning glassy eyed as if nothing were different. I sang to her, gave her loves, and celebrated her day, but it seemed I was celebrating on my own. Somehow we went from being very open and ecstatic about a birthday to very shy almost casual as if she didn't care. What?!? She's doing the same silly thing Tess does on her birthday, craving attention, but can't handle it at the same time. A mystery!

So I went with the punches. We had breakfast and then started decorating her birthday cake, which I must say she was thrilled about and told me it was the "beth cake ever!". Can't tell you what that did to my self-esteem...i love that girl. My mom called to wish her a happy birthday and she wouldn't talked to her only listen. Again WHAT?! That's all this girl does is talk, but apparently not on her day. Her Dad called, same treatment. The whole thing is too funny for me.

I'm not sure what I can share about this delightful girl that I have not already shared. She is certainly one of a kind. A little girl who can have me crying and laughing in the same breath.

1. She does say "I love you" on a regular basis, but every now and then she will say, "I like you". I will always come back with "I love you Megan" and her response, "I like you a lot." Cracks me up every time.
2. She changes her cloths all the time and when I ask her about it she says, "I just changed my mind."
3. We trade off between swimming suits and ballerina outfits daily.
   
4. One afternoon she got out a sucker and asked if she could eat it. I said "no" because there wasn't enough for everyone. She stopped and said, "I don't want one for everyone."
   

Got to love her and her persistent ways.

self proclaimed reader

By the looks of this photo I am a serious reader when in fact I am not. I guess you could say I just look serious when I read. HA!

I've never fancied myself a reader before. It's not that I don't enjoy reading, but there's always something else more inviting calling my name, usually something creative. There have been times in my life when I read more (novel types), where I have to have a book going constantly, but it's been a while since I've been on a reading kick. I guess you could say I'm in one of those right now.

Since my trip I've read 4 books and I'm working on my 5th. Yes they have been more of a lighter read, but I am slowly working my way in from the romance teen novels to the tragedy that most fiction and non-fiction alike eventually take you...a journey I have been reluctant to go on that I am now willing to experience. Go figure, I'm changing my ways. Individuals who know me should be very proud.

Right now I am reading The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell. A book Adam told me about years ago that sounded so fascinating that I am now giving a chance. It's a book about how little things can make a big difference. On of the back sleeve it reads, "...it is a road map to change, with a profoundly hopeful message..." Sounds like a concept I can get behind. Anyway, I guess I'll let you know what I think when I'm done.

Thanks to Michelle O., up next I will be reading The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. I just bought it on Amazon the other day and am really looking forward to sinking my teeth into a tragedy because really a memoir without tragedy...well those books don't get published.

What are you reading this summer? What is your favorite book(s)? I'm looking for ideas.

2 weeks and 2 days

I've thought about the best way I should share my trip. Sixteen days would make for a lot of info and one that I think you would find particularly boring. I mean really when you think of it what makes up a trip? For me its the experiences that were shared. The laughs that were had while telling story after story while cruising along the Mediterranean. The experience of getting stuck in Houston and loosing our luggage for 10 days. The many individuals we met that kept us laughing. The inside jokes shared. Sitting and talking for hours each night while all the other passengers got drunk. What can be said than we had a most excellent time. It truly was an amazing trip and one I won't soon forget.

I wrote in a journal while I was there so the small little details, each place we went, and my thoughts are all written down...really glad I did it and would encourage you all to do the same. So instead of recounting it all, like I said you may find it all boring, I will share with you a few of my favorite photos. In my book it's the best way to really experience a trip you didn't go on.

I must say it was very very difficult to choose and I didn't want to make this post too long so you can check here for more of my Europe photos.

Eze France

Monoco France

Florence Italy

Athens Greece

Kusadasi Turkey

Naples Italy

Santorini Greece

Rome Italy

Mykonos Greece

I'm listening

The last several days I have been once again going through photos and getting photos printed. I've order over 400 prints just from this year. I always enjoy doing this because I end up finding gems, like this one of Bella. I was just talking about her eyes with my sister in law Amy today and then I stumbled across this.

sept 2006

She really is beautiful and the kindest heart you will ever know.

Anyway, seeing this reminded me of a conversation we had recently. She approached me with her sad sad face and I wondered what was on her mind. Usually it had to do with someone not sharing or what not, but this time it was different.

b: "mom, you know how we stayed at Whitney's for 2 weeks and 2 days"
m: "Yes"
b: "Well, lately I've been L_O_N_E_Y (misspelling it as the tears started to swell in her eyes)"
I must admit I was shocked by this since she is constantly surrounded with little girls to play with I would think she would love to be alone. After giving her a big hug the conversation continued.

It was a tender moment, one that sounds simple enough, but sadly doesn't happen too often. I feel the older she has gotten the more she keeps her emotions close to her. I've feared it's a part of her she didn't want to share with me, but this gave me a glimmer of hope that she does want me in her life this way.

I want nothing more than to have the best relationship with my girls and hope they know I love them and will do the work it takes to show them I'm here.

I'm listening.

my love

public train on the way to Monaco France 2007

I have this man. This wonderful wonderful man that deals with my crazy on a daily basis. A man who is patient with me. A man who loves me enough to be as honest as a person can be to one another. A man who constantly thinks about my happiness. A man who supports me. A man who is willing to do what it takes to understand the person that I am.

Last week I woke up to this... I am a lucky lucky woman indeed. I don't know how I deserve him, but I am doing everything I can do to live my life so that I can be for him what he is for me.

summer nights

everything I remember.

I have loved experience them all over again with my girls

it could be a very different day

self portrait Eze France 2007

Adam and I went to bed last night realizing it could have been a completely different evening one with unfathomable saddness.

Adam almost lost a front wheel while driving on the freeway yesterday. His car started to shake progressively until he pulled over. He checked everything and it all looked fine so he got back on the road. After reaching freeway speed once again his car was shaking violently so he called his friend who owns an auto shop. He told Adam it sounded like his tire was about to come off. Adam was certain that wasn't it because he had just checked all four tires, but despite his doubt he pulled over once again. As he got out of the car he noticed the tire on the front driver side and couldn't believe what he was seeing...three of the four bolts that were holding his tire on had come off. Luckily he had extra bolts to fix the problem so he got the jack out and raised his car to put the tire on properly. As he raised the car the tired fell off before he had a chance to take off the remaining bolt. I shutter at the thought of what could have happened had his tired actually come off at 65 mpr.

I went to bed last night and woke up this morning and am utterly grateful for how mundane and normal it all is. I am grateful we were spared what could have been a very tragic day. I am grateful he is still with me. I am grateful our prayers of safety were answered.

Ok so as not to end on an intense note. I just want you to look at that picture of Adam and I, take it in for a minute, and realize that that was the outfit we wore for 10 days before our luggage actually showed up. Ok so to be fair, we were able to get it laundered every night and I did eventually buy a couple of skirts (7 days in). All I have say is had I known that I would have most definitely chosen different. I suggest next time you go on vacation think about that when choosing your outfit for travel, oh and always travel with extra cloths.

:)