made me smile

[click here for original note]

Dear Daddy,
I love you Daddy because when I hug and kiss you I feel happy about me.

I found this note from Tess to her Dad while cleaning out a stack of papers. I don't know how old it is, though her handwriting makes it look like it was written at least a year ago. It made me smile when I read it, in fact, I got a little chocked up.

You can never really underestimate the power of being loved.

I hope and pray she will always feel this way and know, no matter what's going on in her life we are always waiting in the wings ready to give her hugs and kisses.

When I asked her what she thought about turning six she said, "I feel awesome".

When individuals from my past meet Megan the first thing out of their mouth is, "she's you". And while I agree with them on so many levels, she has a confidence about her that I've never known. Confidence that has Adam saying, "She'll either be signing our pay checks or we'll be dead by her hand". I think we both agree this girl is going places.

She sees the world in terms of her. We joke that it's all about her, and while I don't want to believe that, she goes and reminds me I'm wrong this afternoon when I asked her to take all her toys down to her room and she said, "it's all mine" in a very Dr. Evil way.



It's that funny, unique sense of humor that has you forgetting she sees the world in terms of her. She has a very mature witty style that you can't help laughing at. Even when you're exasperated and you've had enough of her way she can still make you walk away with a smile on your face.



Sometimes I call her Stinky and here's an example why. When I asked her to come out with me this morning to take pictures she said, "how many are we taking?" And I said, "a few". Then she said, "a few is three, so we're taking three" (not a question). I came back with, "no, we'll be taking more like 100". And then she said with an exasperated look, "I'll give you a few".



This girl of mine has a fondness for me like know one else I've seen. I mean I completely understand why, who wouldn't...right? ;) It was hilarious when I looked through her school journal and saw that each picture was of the two of us and titled something simple like, "I love mom". When Adam asks, "what about dad?" she tells him he's hairy and mom is smooth. I can understand her logic.



Miss M has taught me a lot, but of this she has taught me tremendously...life should be enjoyed. And boy does she enjoy it.

Happy Birthday my darling Meg. I love you to pieces.

"pajama" birthday party | photos

While the all the kids were arriving and we were finishing up breakfast I had them make chalk art. Adam drew this picture of meg, but all the kids help color it in.


Balloons all ready to go for one of our games. Like the way they looked covering the ground.


mmm...breakfast. The kids were quite confused by the waffle cake.




We tied balloons to everyone's ankle and told them to pop each others...you know the game i'm sure. Admittedly, I was a bit nervous as to whether or not it would make anyone upset, but luckily they all had a blast.


Relay potato sack races...


I can't tell you how fun this was to witness....the kids were so competitive. P.S. the sacks didn't last the morning. Don't you love the good sticking out?


Megan got her very own bike from my parents. I thought it was funny how much it matched her pjs.


Hot potato "orange squishy" style.


I ended up getting this photo because Adam made them laugh.




The question of what I would do for a cake had plagued my mind for most of the week, but it finally came...phew. So grateful for those moments of inspiration when they come right when you need them. I took a gamble and cooked the cake batter in the waffle iron. Turns out it worked perfectly except they were really fragile. I eventually figured out if I dumped the cake waffle out instead of trying to pull it out it would stay intact. I made frosting to look like pats of butter and Adam drizzled nutella on for the syrup. I loved the end result.



things I learned...
01. Being outside at 9am in July is still sticky hot. Seriously where was the cool morning? I was sweating the entire time.
02. Sitting by the birthday girl is the best seat in the house.
03. With multiple six year olds, you're bound to have someone who gets their feelings hurt.
04. Always have a party with Adam, he has such a way of entertaining the kids.
05. The earlier the party is, the earlier it gets over. We had fun, I'm just saying, it sure makes the rest of the day a little more relaxing when your done by 11am.
06. Never spend your time stressing about a party, it always go off without a hitch...kids are easily pleased. And even if there is a "hitch", no one knows but you.

swim team

Bella & Tess started swim team June 8th, the first day of summer. I didn't sign them up for the swim meets, rather, I just wanted something that would help them develop their swimming skills/strokes. Luckily I found a beginner team that started at 9am so it wouldn't put too much pressure on us in the morning, though I am finding there have been days I've had to wake Tess up.

I stayed for their first class and realized they have a lot of work to do. I knew that though, going into it. I knew the majority of the kids had been swimming all winter long and that my girls would have to practice hard to catch up.









5 weeks later I went again and was pleasantly surprised by their progress. Especially with freestyle, they both improved drastically. They actually put their face in the water while doing the stroke and turn to the side to breath. They still have more work to do with the other strokes, though I don't expect the butterfly will ever be perfected...that is one hard stroke.

Swimming is tiring and tough, they come home wasted and hungry (especially Tess) everyday, but I've been so impressed with their attitude. They go knowing they will work hard and consequently they are getting it...and are even enjoying their time in the pool. Just goes to show you, you're only good at what you do everyday. I'm not sure it will fit into our fall schedule, but we'll definitely be doing it next year...hopefully then Megan will be able to join them.


Now I'm off to put the finishing touches on Megan's birthday party that's tomorrow morning.
Have a great weekend.
xoxo

delicious summer nights....

I shall never tire of you.

12of12 | July

[click here to enlarge]

01. I didn't sleep well, instead laid in bed thinking about making a book about my time in Jerusalem (who knows why). So I stopped torturing myself, got up around 4am, and looked through the photo album. For whatever reason it worked, I went back to sleep and was able to get a little bit more rest.
02. I watched my two nieces while my SIL is on vacation. It's so nice that the three of them are close in age and all get along...for the most part.
03. When I got back from my run around 7:15 the sun was just hitting the tips of the mountain. This is the view from my bedroom.
04. I'm on week 8 of P90X. It was a yoga morning.
05. For FHE we all wrote notes to send to my nephew Landon who is at Scout Camp this week. He is so good about always leaving us notes and sending email that we all wanted to show him some love.
06. I've been growing my own basil this summer.
07. We had homemade pizza for dinner. Turns out pineapple is the condiment of choice.
08. Along with my nieces I also had my friend Jenica's 4 littles here as well. My 3 + my 2 nieces + my friends 4 = 9 kids. Did you know that is a whole loaf of bread? Luckily I wasn't alone for long. Jenica came back and we spent a good portion of the afternoon talking.
09. I love globes.
10. Tess had a chance to sneak away from the chaos for a bit and paint.
11. Drew drops from the morning sprinklers. It's amazing how spider webs capture water.
12. Adam ended the night by reading with the girls. I love seeing them this way.

When I woke up and found Bella in the kitchen making her breakfast I went to grab my camera and she said, "Oh, so it must be the 12th." I just looked at her and smiled. I wonder, do your families have you figured out?

Hope it was another enjoyable day. Make sure to share your link so we can all see.


Have a good one.
xoxo

reminiscing

It was the first summer in this house and we were still getting use to the changes that the warm weather brought to our routine. In the early hours of the morning Megan, who was almost 2, crossed the 3 foot gap that separated my room from hers and scampered to my bedside, kitty in hand. It was what she did every morning and the sound of her feet quickly became my wake up call.

Most of the time she would climb up and cuddle next to me and we would slowly face the day. Other times she wouldn't have it and our day would begin the moment she came into my room. After she woke me from my slumber, I would open my bedroom door to let in the fresh summer air and we'd sit on the porch lazily, waiting for the other girls to wake up.

Eventually she'd get antsy and make her way to her room where she'd scour her drawers for her favorite swim suit...it became her wardrobe of choice that summer. I would sit and wait with my camera ready. I had, for the past 9 months, been religious about having my camera around at all times as I was desperate to practice and learn all I could.


[Megan | July 2006]

And then I would watch, watch as she explored her world with her precious kitty.

Eventually the other two, then 6 & 4, would join us on the porch eager to start their day. It's crazy how I remember those days like they were yesterday...My three littles running around outdoors while the morning coolness turned into warmth.

Life is good.
xoxo

sunday thought

There was a time when church was hard for me, when it felt like so much work to get everyone ready and out the door, when it almost felt like an obligation and not something I truly wanted to do with my Sunday. Instead of coming home uplifted and ready to tackle another week, I was worn out, frustrated that I hadn't felt the spirit. I can't say it was like that every singe week, but a lot of the time it was.

I hated feeling that way, not wanting to go to church on Sunday, when I know how strongly I feel about being a member of The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After praying and pondering about how I could find more meaning in my Sunday worship I received the answer that what I wanted was within my grasp and relied solely on me. The word attitude moved around in my head until I understood that my attitude towards going to church is what needed to change.

Since that day I've made a special effort to prepare myself & my mind each Sunday for worship. I pray each week that I know there is a reason why I'm going and ask that I'll know it when I see/hear it. I also take notes to help keep me focused and participate as much as I can. The result: I come home feeling edified and uplifted, I feel ready to tackle my week and recharged to face my struggles, but the best part, I come home knowing why I went to church that day. I will hear it in a lesson, a talk, from one of the primary children, or talking with one of my neighbors. Sometimes it's an answer to one of my prayers, sometimes it's recognizing a service I can do for one of my neighbors, sometimes I hear something I think will be valuable to one of my friends. Whatever the answer I always leave knowing why I was there and have a better understanding of my purpose.

It's another lesson to me just how much I can learn and grow by changing my attitude and seeking the guidance of the spirit.

Here is a quote from Elder Holland that stood out to me today. The entire talk, Lessons From Liberty Jail, is fabulous as well if you have some time and would like to read it.



"Regarding our earthly journey, the Lord has promised, “I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up” (D&C 84:88). That is an everlasting declaration of God’s love and care for us, including—and perhaps especially—in times of trouble." ~Elder Holland (Ensign | Sept. 2009)

Have a great Sunday.
xoxo

**************************************************************************

P.S. Just a quick reminder that tomorrow is the 12th and you know what that means...another month of 12of12. Looking forward to another summer installment. Happy shooting and remember it's never to late to begin.

caught my eye

I love being out, anywhere, with my camera, seeing what catches my eye on that particular day. I think each day our different moods and thoughts cause us to see things differently. We may one day finally see something that has always been there, but for whatever reason it speaks to us then. It's like reading a book...it can mean different things to you at different stages of your life. It's one of the reasons why I think the 12of12 challenge is a great glimpse into your everyday life and can be so different from month to month. While your life is similar from day to day...you are not. (the 12th is coming up on Monday btw)

On this particular evening with Adam we went to two very familiar haunts (Z-gallery & antropologie), like we do. Here are a few things that caught my eye.

thoughts on a friday afternoon

I'm in my studio deep in thought, watching the birds outside my window ravaging my cherry tree like it's purpose of bearing fruit was for them. Now I understand why one day I look out and see delicious cherries growing on the tree and the next day they're gone. Even though I wish there were some cherries left for me I do love to see the workings of mother nature.

Mother nature did a number on me yesterday and helped keep me in bed feeling lazy. I can't blame her completely, I wanted it, I really did and I could take it because my girls were at Jill's house so I had all morning for me. I started reading Eat Love Pray by Elizabeth Gilbert, thanks to my friend Amy who suggested it and lent me her book. I'm enjoying it so much the hours in the morning got a way from me and before I knew it, it was lunch time. I'm a bit mad at myself for deciding years ago that this book was not for me. I'm not sure what I was thinking, I suppose I listened to the wrong reviews, but I was never interested in this woman and her stories from her travels around the world. Perhaps I wasn't ready years ago, but I'm ready now.

Her words speak to me and NOT because I want to change my life the way she did or run out and find answers in other lands, but because she figured out what she wanted and didn't let anything stand in her way to get it. (Please don't get me wrong when I say that, I don't agree with all she did, leaving her "good life", being so self destructive, and having it be all about her. I don't think you ever truly find happiness by being selfish. With that said, I can't judge her for the decisions she made and the place she was in when she made them. So when I said, she figured out what she wanted and didn't let anything get in her way I'm referring to when she made the list of things she wanted and moved on from there.)

Anyway, I've been thinking about that lately, what I want. And not in the grand scheme of things, I know that, but in the small day to day activities/experiences that will help me become the woman I want to be and take me where I want to go. For instance, reading more biographies, volunteering at my girls school, going to the temple several times a month, learning Spanish, going back to school and learning design, taking a lighthouse tour on the east coast, etc.. For a long time I wasn't sure exactly what I wanted, but now I have a clearer understanding. So I know the what, it's the how that seems to almost be the bigger question and a very easy road block to put the blame on because if I know one thing, it's knowing doesn't make it any easier.

When we know, why do we hold back? I think because changing is uncomfortable. It's safer where we are and frankly we know what to expect. It takes a lot to evaluate your life and have the courage to take a leap of faith and do what almost doesn't feel natural. It's always worth it though. Whenever I find myself on the far side (operative word) of change, I'm always grateful I made the difficult choice and pushed through to the other side because the blessings are far greater than if I had stayed (so easy to say when you are not going through it).

After all, we are meant to change, we are meant to move.

**Have you made a list of things you want?
**Have you made a bucket list? (i still need to sit down and do this)


Now for a harder question...what's for lunch?

Enjoy your weekend.
xoxo

Happy Birthday Jill!

summer nights

I think what I miss during the winter months is the long warm nights. There is nothing quite like sitting on my porch with the best company watching the world go by while enjoying the natural flow of a conversation with someone you love.

independence holiday || photos

parade + face painting + breakfast + swimming + fireworks from the backyard = one good holiday

Oh, say can you see...

There's nothing quite like over hearing my three girls stand at the edge of the yard watching fireworks from around the valley while belting out at the top of their lungs the National Anthem. They gave me chills tonight. I know they don't completely understand how fortunate they are to live in America and have the freedoms we enjoy, but with their gusto and proud voices trailing into my bedroom window they certainly reminded me how truly blessed we are to live in this great country. I am proud to be an American.

Happy Independence Day.

first ride

She never had the desire to ride her bike, in fact, she seemed perfectly fine to ride her scooter for the rest of her life. It wasn't until we went to Walmart this morning to get a new tire for Tess' bike that her interest was sparked.



She came home, grab the bike closest to her size in the shed and took it to the road. There were no stumbles, no falls (at least not at first...getting off the bike was a bit trickier). She started pedaling and off she went.

Here's a 14 second video for kicks. I call it first ride, first fall (sorry it's a little jumpy I'm walking while filming)...


The one thing I've learn about kids and bikes is you have to wait til they're ready. I guess you could really say kids and anything new. When they want it, suddenly it's easier to do. Apparently that lesson extends far beyond my kids. Attitude is everything. I wonder when I'll stop learning it for myself?


Have a great Holiday weekend fellow patriots....cannot believe it's the fourth of July already.

a lazy summer day

[taken at 7am this morning with my iphone using incredibooth app.]

It was the first time in a very long time that I spent the morning uninterrupted in bed. I still woke up early (6:30a), my body is on a schedule after all, but I spent my time in bed reading while falling in and out of sleep. It was a delicious way to spend the morning.

I wish I could say it stopped there, but my laziness has trickled into my afternoon. While I am getting stuff done around the house (reducing my paper trail, bills, etc.), I'm still in my pjs and taking my day at a much slower pace. I'm loving it.

Isn't this what summer is all about...lazy warm days? I could get use to this.

randomness

*My minds awake, but not my body. I hate that. All I want to do is climb back in bed and wake up slowly. Sadly it's one of the first mornings in a long time where I don't need to get up early and I'm up.

*On my list today...making rolls. I have an assignment to make 6 dozen rolls for our Stake Trek which is next week. I thought long and hard about going again. Adam's going this time and thought it would be a great experience to have with him. Apparently so did everyone else. I was told, there are too many adults going, so I'm out. Admittedly once I remembered the hard uncomfortable moments, I wasn't let down.

*I received the kindest most thoughtful email over the weekend from a blog reader. Thank you Karli for reaching out...your words have made a difference.


*My skyline.

*Last week I was involved in a focus group for the Strength of Youth pamphlet. We were discussing photos/photo ideas which I could talk about all day long. It was crazy when Charlotte, who was at the meeting as well, recognized me and asked if I was related to Jill. It always surprises me when I run into individuals from the blog world, but I love it. She's related to Michelle and has participated in the 12of12 challenge. Once she told me that I recognized her immediately. Crazy how small the world is and how close our connections. So nice to meet you Charlotte.

*I've got 3 extra bodies at my house today. Robyn's kids are here and thankfully so far no injuries and everyone has gotten along. I feel lucky that they enjoy playing together so much that it's easy. In fact as long as there's extra food in the house you're good.


*Last but not least...a photo from father's day morning I'm fond of.

Have a great Tuesday.
xoxo