a sleeping baby...

Now I understand that when someones says, "when you see a child sleeping, that is one of the greatest joys." I have never realized what that meant. I have always thought, oh, how sweet they look. They look like sweet little angels.

So, let me share with you the past 24 hours. My brother and SIL celebrated their 6 year anniversary this weekend. Early Saturday morning, they dropped off my adorable little niece, Brylie.

She is so much fun and we had a great time. We shopped, came home took a nap, shopped some more. She was a great sport! So, my question to all you parents out there...what do you do when you have to go to the bathroom and you have a 1 year old? I was in American Fork at Kohl's when this happened to me...So, I drove all the way to my house and went to the bathroom. I was so complexed...I had no clue what to do. Okay, now I am laughing at myself.

Later in the evening, we met up with Grandpa and Grandma for dinner at Bajio's. Then, it was off for a walk on a beautiful summer evening. Thinking that she might go to sleep on the walk since it was passed her bedtime...but, of course she did not. We read stories and more stories and had a great time. When she was ready to go to sleep...she did. So, now I understand what it means when you see a sleeping baby, that is one of the greatest joys. Ahh!!! So sweet!!! I am so exhausted. I did not realize how much a one year old does. Keeping her up was fun--but oh, so tiring!

This morning, when she woke up, she giggled and that was worth a sleepless night. She slept great...it was me. I worried over every little noise and movement. Crazy me!!

Bathtime was great!!! Water everywhere!!! Then, we watched Tigger and Pooh for quite sometime curled up on the couch. Oh, what a sweetheart. Thanks Shad and Jessica for sharing Brylie with me this weekend. It was LOTS of fun!!!

P.S. I borrowed this picture from Jessica's blog. My camera is acting a little shady.

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Stampaganza!


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Mom--You are incredible!!

Today is my Mom's birthday. Happy Birthday Mom!!! (I forgot my camera and Dad has the pictures--so, this picture of Mom will have to do). I decided to get off work and take my mom to lunch. She has been a tad bit sick, so decided that we would celebrate her day in a relaxing way. We went to lunch at The Olive Garden. Oh, it was mighty delicious!!! Who can beat Soup, Salad and Breadsticks with a diet coke and lemon? Yummy!!!

I have been trying to get my mom to experience a 'pedicure' with me. See, we both don't really like people touching our feet. Feet are yucky. But, today she just did not feel up to it. So, we did pedicures at home. Mom, I hope you know how much I love you--I would not do this for anyone but you. We exfoliated and lotioned our feet. Okay, I exfoliated and lotioned Mom's feet and then, I did my own. I just do not understand how people could do this for a living. YUCKY FEET!!!

It was a nice relaxing day...it was great to just sit back and talk and laugh. Then, for dinner we went to Winger's. Yummy deliciousness!!! I just love their Sticky Fingers Salad. After dinner, Jessica and I went shopping to pick up a few items for Mom's birthday. We had a great time and picked out the perfect gifts--2 Cricut Cartridges. Then, it was off her party...cake, ice cream, rootbeer floats and ALL of the family!!!! Happy Birthday Mom!!

Mom, I just want you to know how much I love you. There are so many things that I admire about you.

Just to name a few:
1. You have the hugest heart.
2. No matter what the circumstances, if someone needs your help-you are there in a flash!
3. You listen when it I need to "vent" or to "cry".
4. You are amazingly talented!!
5. You have a way with your hands that what ever you see, you can build or make.
6. You would do anything for those that you love--no matter what the consequences are!
7. You are great shopping buddy!!
8.You are 100% supportive!
9. You are so smart!
10. You love your family more than realize!!
11. You love to laugh!!
12. You are amazing at gardening!!
13. You are so creative!!
14. You are a great listener!!
15. You are just plain INCREDIBLE!!!

Mom, the list can go on and on...I just want you to know that I LOVE YOU!!! Happy Birthday to you!!!!

happy pops day!!!

I just read a quote that said, "Any man can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a dad!" My dad is pretty special and I am grateful that he is my dad!! He is one of those types of people that is very knowledgeable and full of lots of wisdom. He is one of those types of people that packs a million billion things in one day, but when called spontaneously to rescue one of his children, he drops all of it just to help. He is a very hard worker. One thing that he has pressed in our minds as we were growing up was that "all you need to do is do the best that you can do." Even if we fell short, if we did our best, that is all that is important. He is amazing. Dad, I am glad that you are my dad!!! Happy Pops Day!!!

....it is all about traditions...

Tonight, my family (well, only a few of us--others chose not to come) went to the annual firework show for Art City Days in Springville. I have been going to these fireworks ever since I was a little girl. In fact, I could positively say that I probably have never missed a firework show in Springville since I was born. Let me share with you something...I really do not like fireworks. My parents tell me that I use to SCREAM during the whole firework show. I think that the BOOM scared me and still kind of makes me cringe. So, you can see, I have never liked fireworks...BUT, I hope I NEVER miss a showing.

The reasons why I hope I never miss a showing are as follows...

1. My family is there and I love being with my family!

2. Traditions are not made to be broken...they are important aspects of life and heritage!

3. The loud noise of the firework exploding in the sky is not as bad as it use to be!

4. Mom always brings popcorn and licorice to eat!

5. The colors of the fireworks are amazingly beautiful!

6. The fireworks showing means that summertime has just begun!

7. The expression of excitement on little Brylie's face was worth the BOOM of the fireworks.

8. There is not any other place better to be on a summer night...then...OUTSIDE!

9. The finale...not because it is the end...but, the amount of colorful fireworks that go up into the sky is the most incredible sight ever!!

10. But, most of all for tonight's fireworks show, the best thing was the scream of delight and the clap of the hands from little Brylie when the fireworks finale was over. That is what I would call PRICELESS!!!

I am grateful for this particular tradition!!! I would have to admit...I do love a firework show because that means I am with the people that I love!!!

what a great Friday!!!

Well, this morning when I woke up, I was grateful that it was Friday. It has been a crazy long week and I am ecstatic that it was FINALLY Friday. Life has been way too crazy! But, today, Friday was even better than expected.


Side note: on Thursday as we were getting ready to leave work, we decided that we would have breakfast on Friday morning.


So, breakfast included a menu of chocolate milk, orange juice, raspberry rolls and these delicious things....





These are Scotch Eggs and they are the most delicious breakfast entree ever!! Dirk makes these for us when we are ready to be spoiled. They are heavenly. At first, they look like balls of sausage, but when they are ready to be devoured...they are cut in quarters and...

look like this...

Oh, they are so heavenly!!! Delicious to the taste!! YUMMY!!! Thanks Dirk!!!

But, then Friday continues to get even better...Nicole invited me to her house for dinner and scrapbooking!!!! It was a fabulous night!! Laughing, talking, eating, creating, laughing, and talking so more!!! We had a great night. When I looked at the time...I could not believe that I had been at her home for almost 7 hours. It was a great night!!!

Let's do the happy dance...

On May 29 at exactly 5:58 pm, I received a text message from my dear sweet friend, Sarah. She received what I call a 'hiccup' in her life earlier this year. She was diagnosed with leukemia. But, that has definitely not put her down. She has had such a positive outlook on this particular 'hiccup'. Anyway, when I received her text message, I screamed and did the happy dance...This is what it said, "Last chemo is complete!! YIPPEE!" I happened to be outside, walking down the street when I received the message. I, literally, screamed!! Of course, a few heads turned my way. But, hey, that is okay!! Then, of course, I did the happy dance!!! I am so excited for her!! She is one of those types of people that when you are in her presence, you feel a renewed strength. I am so excited for her!!! So, if you have a moment...do the happy dance!!! I did and it was great!!! (Who cares who was watching...maybe in their minds they did the happy dance, too!!)

The next happy dance happened last night....Last night,I was sharing creativity endorphins with my favorite stamp and chat friends when the telephone rang. It was my sister-in-law, Jessica. She said that my sweet niece had just crawled. YIPPEE SKIPPEE!!!! For all of you that have experienced the past while with our family understand that this is a HUGE milestone in Brylie's life. It is great!! Oh, I so wanted to be there to see her crawl...but in the meantime, I screamed and did the happy dance!!! YEA!! Brylie!!! You have so much to celebrate!!!

So, my question for you is...when was the last time you did the happy dance? Why don't you do it right now? No one is watching...ok, who cares if they are!!!

Life is a time to celebrate!!!

I have never made a roast...UNTIL TODAY!!!

Okay, let me share something with you...I, rarely, cook or bake anything out of the ordinary. I love to make cookies and of course, any kind of treats. But, to make something that is amazing...just lasts way too long. If I make a lasagna or enchiladas or anything that makes a lot, it lasts all week long. Not a big deal, but after eating it for a whole week, you get really tired of it. I wish that I was talented enough to figure out how to make small portions out of recipes that are family sized. But, hey, I can make a dang good hot dog. HA HA!!!

But, lately, I have been craving a delicious roast. Usually, I do not crave meat, but this past week at work, we had a Quesadilla Potluck and this guy brought a roast...Oh, it was absolutely delicious.

Since then, I have been craving roast. Crazy me!! I have never made a roast...UNTIL TODAY!!!! I did it and it was absolutely delicious!!!

So, this morning bright and early, the roast was placed in the crock pot on low. I added salt, pepper, a sliced onion and some garlic seasoning. We (my mom was helping me out with this new adventure) let it cook for 10 hours. About an hour before we were going to eat, we added red potatoes and carrots. By the time it was dinnertime....everything was simply divine and ready to eat. As for right now, I am excited for leftovers...as for tomorrow, I get to relive this yummy dinner AGAIN!!!!

a reflection on Memorial Day....

These past few weeks about being extremely busy with fun events and not so fun events. I feel I need to catch up with my process of thinking. Yep, my life is a tad bit crazy.


A reflection on Memorial Day....

Usually, Mom and I decorate the graves of our loved ones each year. I still remember the Memorial day weekend that Mom was confined to a wheel chair awaiting her reconstructive knee surgery. That particular year, we gathered all the flowers and headed to the cemetery. It had been raining and so, there was plenty of mud. Just a side note: cemeteries are not really wheel chair accessible. But, we did it. We only got stuck a few times, but by the end, I think I had more mud on me than there were on the streets and I think that I only got stuck (pushing Mom in wheelchair) approximately a billion times. We kept commenting on what it was like in heaven that day—seeing me push my mom around two different cemeteries in a wheelchair. I am sure that it created some comical relief.

But, this year was much easier and my dad was not working, so he came a long with Mom and I to decorate the graves. We don’t have a lot of loved ones that have passed on, but the ones that we have—we miss terribly. We first stopped by the grave of my Grandpa and Grandma (my mom’s parents). I miss them terribly. I miss Grandpa’s chuckle and his love for life. I miss my dear sweet grandma. I miss her hugs and her kisses upon my cheeks. Every time I saw my grandma, she would tell me that she loved me and that I was so pretty. For those that don’t know, my Grandma and Grandpa were deaf. One thing that I miss about both of them is that every time that you saw them, they would make the “I Love You” sign in sign language. Oh, I do miss them so much.

Then, it was on my Uncle Dale’s grave. One thing that I miss about my Uncle Dale is that when I was little girl, he would tickle me until I almost cried. I remember his big burly beard. He was taken from our family at a young age.

After visiting those graves, we headed to Provo to visit the graves of my Grandfather, my Uncle Larry and Aunt Laurel’s grave. One thing that I remember about my Grandfather was that he was a very stern man. One of my memories of my Grandfather is that he would show up each Christmas (on Christmas Day) with a box of oranges for us. We love oranges and so, it was a nice treat each Christmas.

I never met my Uncle Larry. He died of pneumonia about a year after he was born. His little grave is located underneath a huge pine tree. What a special little place for a sweet little boy. When we found my aunt Laurel’s grave and placed the flowers upon her grave, we could hear the faint sound of bagpipes. It was the coolest feeling standing beside her grave listening to someone play bagpipes.

As we moved closer to Shirley’s grave (one of my Mom’s dearest friends), the bagpipes grew louder. Then, we noticed a girl standing at a grave playing her bagpipe. It was the coolest thing ever. It just brought so much peace to the cemetery. I am grateful for a day that we are able to reflect on those that have past on. We do miss them terribly, but we know that they are in a much better place.

the winner is...

Thanks for all the participation that happened due to my 100th blog. I hope all of you had lots of fun reading and researching. I have some great friends!!! I used random.org to pick the winner.

And the winner is.....(drum roll please)....

Vieve!

She wrote...

I hope this is where I post it...

1. I love ice cream, but my all-time favorite ice cream flavor is? Strawberry

2. Check out my friend, Vieve’s blog. She, recently, got a new tattoo—what is it? Soccer Ball

3 My friend Gerb is featured in a certain magazine. Which one? Family Fun

4. My friend Carly’s favorite smell is? This one I thought could be many, so I'm putting them all: pumpkin pie (even candles) and cinnamon, the smell of chlorine/bleach

5. In my world-my sanctuary-my heaven—what is my stress relief? The world of paper, ink, ribbons and stamps

6. My friend Maleen went to a ‘lovely’ event and she recommends it to everyone. What is it? Time Out for Women

7. I shared a story about Brad during my college days. What was it about? Didn't know that you were on a date with him when you went to a fireside.

8. My SIL, Jessica, donated something? What was it? Her hair

9. Our friends, Maleen & Tyler host a “Crack-Off” each year. This year they hosted a couple of different ones. But, the one that the question is related to is on my friend, Ker’s blog. The question is: Which egg had to be undressed and race naked? "Mr.Sp"eggtacle"

10. There was a problem with my kabobs—what was the problem with them? The food was all shaped like circles

I'm-a win this!

Yea!! Vieve, I will get you your movie tickets as soon as you return from CALIFORNIA!!!!