I Hate January. (Officially)

Here we are seven days into February and I can already tell that the month is going to be far more kind to our family than January.  I can say for certain that I got a real test of just how hard it is being a working mother.  I had the ability to stay home with my children for seven years, so I have never had to experience just how hard it really is.  I can say right now that I have the utmost respect for those mothers that have known nothing different than being a working mother.  It is NOT easy. Not even a little bit.  I had it pretty easy being a working mom for the first four months on my new career path, but January showed no mercy to me in this area.  With January comes snow, cold, inversions, and above all... ILLNESS!   If its going around, you can bet that my family was hit with it in January.  Poor Sam receiving the brunt of it.  Being a working mom, accompanied by sick kids, and a job that has a lot of responsibility hanging overhead daily made for a very high stress month.  So high stress that I'll admit I had a meltdown.  Not just a minor scream and quickly pull it together meltdown, but rather a sink into a kitchen chair, look around at my house in shambles, glance and my super sick boy, and sob uncontrollably.  A meltdown caused by feeling so helpless and overwhelmed.  The lack of sun didn't make it any easier.  Bill and the kids sat back and watched this meltdown unfold and quickly came to my rescue.  Dishes got done, floor got vacuumed, and I relaxed a little.  Bill shared in the stay at home with sick kids duties, along with help from some awesome family.  I seriously wouldn't have made it through this month had it not been for those so willing to tend to my responsibilities while I was unable to.  My kids come first, Always, but when you have an additional 40+ kids who count on you everyday its really hard to juggle.  The mommy in me just wanted to be home with my boy, but the responsible teacher me knew that I had to make that sacrifice of leaving him with someone else in order to pull through for those students and paying parents.  What hit me the hardest this month was those times that I couldn't be home caring for my boy.  I felt anxious and antsy every second I had to spend away from him and not because I didn't trust those who were doing the tending, but because I know that it's just not the same as when Mom is there offing the snuggles and administering the meds.  I felt guilty with every passing minute.  I knew that these sick kids moments would happen, I just didn't anticipate it to the extent that it hit us in January.  Really, what kid gets Influenza, Strep, and Scarlet Fever in under a two week span?  It just wasn't fair.  All this now past us and everyone in the household on the mend, I have yet to reach the point of "look back and laugh about it."  Not sure I ever will.  January did not treat us well and now that I look back on all the January's I can recall I don't think they have ever treated me well.  I am sure many can agree that January is hands down the hardest month to get through, but I have never until now had that overwhelming hatred for a four week span of time.  I hate January, and I now think I ALWAYS will.  

On another note... It's now February.  Valentines day is creeping up VERY quickly.  What do you have planned for the loves in your life?  I've been pulling together several festive things in my world.  14 days of gifting for the kids and then their valentines for school.  They are coming together well and I CAN'T WAIT to unveil the finished products.  

What I've been up to...

**CHAOS**

Doesn't even begin to describe what my life has become.

I have found myself asking "What did I get myself into?", 

But then on days like today (we had a school fund raising carnival) when I am casually walking the school grounds watching my own kids play I am humbly reminded why I got myself into what I have. Why I chose this career path for myself. 

I was reminded that I don't just have 2 kids anymore...

I have a whole ton of them, all under the age of 5.

As I enjoyed this time with my own kids, I was frequently approached by my preschool kids with big hugs and big smiles.  I loved just how excited they were to see ME!

(as if I am someone special)

I'll tell you what, they sure did make me feel special.

Days like today put a whole new perspective on my job, my title, the role I play in these little ones lives... 

And it intensifies my purpose in their world, my world....

This world.  

I thoroughly enjoy being a teacher and interacting with such adorable, fun, crazy, little ones everyday.  I am learning a great deal about myself, along with my own children through this process as well.  Lessons that I don't feel I would have ever learned, nor appreciated as much as I do now.  I am learning what it really means to be patient and I am learning that I am totally capable of being patient.  I have gained a new appreciation for what amazing children I have and for the minimal time I now get to spend with them everyday.  The time away from one another has been good because we enjoy our time together SO MUCH MORE!  I enjoy being with my kids everyday, but not really being with  them.  We are at school together and it is relieving to know that though they have both embarked upon their own little journey's and gaining independence, I am still very close (Brenna's classroom is right next door to mine actually).  It's given us just the amount of space we needed without really having to be that far away from one another. They find comfort in knowing that I am there in that school somewhere, and I the same.  It is also fun to have those moments when we do pass by one another in the hallways and we get so excited to see one another.  I know that this excitement won't last forever, so I am soaking it in as much as possible.

People told me that being a teacher required a great deal of commitment, this I thought I understood.  I didn't really.  I wasn't quite prepared for just how much time, money, and effort teachers put in daily just to ensure that their students are getting the very best education they can give.  I was given my first assignment to lesson plan for two days.  I wasn't prepared for the fact that it would take me 5 HOURS to plan for just these two days.  Providing fun, engaging, cost effective, new, and exciting lessons really is difficult to do.  I wasn't prepared for that.  I'm sure that this is something that I will get better with in time, but this was 5 hours of unpaid time that I devoted to these children.  As I was planning these couple of lessons, I realized that I wasn't doing it because I had to, but because I wanted to.  It was fun and important to me.  Last night I was up until 1am because time got away from me as I searched the web for more lesson ideas.  I quickly became consumed by all the fun ideas I had flowing through my brain... 

I am SO EXCITED to be doing this!

 I haven't really ever felt "at home" in a job until now.  

Though I miss my free time, as limited as it was, I'm not quite certain I would want to go back to just being at home.  I've needed something different for awhile, I just didn't realize it until now.  Not that I don't love, or appreciate the time I did have as a stay at home mom... it was just time for a change and this is a change I think that we all can handle and benefit from.  

Due to the new demands that my job requires, my family has had to really commit to a pretty strict schedule.  The kids are very active in after school extra curricular activities, which requires that we all play a role in life at home.  The kids haven't really been too keen on the "helping out" thing, but I have really put my foot down on their cleanliness issues.  Before it was easy for me to just pick up after them, but now I simply don't have the time.  It's been hard to hold them accountable for their own messes, but thus far I have stuck to my guns and they have had no other option but to comply.  Their rooms have stayed clean and I have kept on them about having friends help clean up messes made prior to going home.  They are beginning to understand it's easier to encourage their friends help them clean the messes they help make rather than have to clean it up alone.  I have also held them to the rule that NOTHING happens after school until homework is done.  This they haven't argued one bit.  We walk in the door and the first thing we do is sit at the table and do homework.  This does become difficult though simply because all that extra curricular stuff we have going on.  Brenna goes to dance three days a week (Mon., Tues., and Thurs.).  School gets out at 3:45 and we don't leave until 4pm because I have to clean up the classroom and get ready for the next day.  Brenna's dance classes start as early as 4:30, but we have managed to stick to this homework rule even with the crazy dance schedule.  Tuesday nights she dances for two hours, but on Mon. and Thurs. she is only at dance for 1 hour.  It keeps her busy, but not too busy...

AND she loves it.  Sam is in Karate 2 days a week as well.  He goes Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings.  He also has the option of going Mon. evenings, but thus far I feel we just have way too much going on to commit to another night.  Though he hasn't been in karate long, thus far he seems to really enjoy it.  We are hoping that through this activity choice he will learn self control and respect more than what we have been able to teach him.  Our little Sam has quite the temper, one that gets away from him far too often.  I hope that he learns to better control that temper before it becomes a bigger problem for him and us.  I'm quite confident that he will gain this and much more from karate.  

On top of all our daily commitments we have had a whole lot of other stuff on as well.  My mom sold her house and had to move.  We spent all of last week helping her pack and then a crazy busy weekend getting her big house moved into a smaller, cozier house.  The weekend prior I also had the opportunity to photograph the 2012 Utah Buddy Walk.  I have still not yet found the time to edit and get these photographs posted, but in my defense we have a WHOLE LOT of new stuff going on in life AND there are nearly 500 pictures to go through and edit... 

I will however BE SURE to get this done this weekend and get a post done.  I can't wait to blog about this experience, it was truly amazing and life changing.  This is an event I intend to support in whatever way possible in years to come.  These children and their families are seriously inspirational and FUN!   

So, there is a very short run down of what I have been up to...

A whole lot going on and a whole lot to get used to.

Gotta keep reminding myself, 

CHANGE IS GOOD...

New Beginnings

Well,

This doesn't come as a surprise to most as I was so excited to announce my new job when the offer came through.

Though that offer came through verbally, 

I was still left waiting for a great deal of time for the official hire letter and schedule to come in the mail.

I went in and had my fingerprints done for my background check a few weeks ago and was left with that same anxious feeling I had after I interviewed for this new job.  

I am pleased to announce that my hire letter finally came and it's all official.  I even spent an hour on the phone this morning with the teacher I will be working along side with.

She filled me in on some of the procedures, what to expect, and gave me all the reassurance that I have been so desperately in need of.  It was nice to get to know her a little on a personal level too.  Of course, this comes as no surprise living in Magna, we have several acquaintances in common. Her son went to school with my husband so she is familiar with some of his friends too.

  

Let me just say, this is EXACTLY why I love this lil' ol' town... No matter who you meet, you are bound to have acquaintances in common.  The term "it's a small world" doesn't really apply in Magna, because everyone literally knows everyone or has ties to everyone anyway.  I'm new to all of this though, so the small town community feel this place has is something I am learning to appreciate about where I live and now work.

Though, I must admit there have been those few times that I have been completely caught off guard by just how much people you don't even know know about you. And then those awkward moments when people from your past (aka ex boyfriends/girlfriends) appear at the most unexpected times seem to happen far more frequently in little towns like this too.
Bill and I have both had those moments over these past couple years.

It does take some getting use to. 

BUT, I wouldn't trade living here for anything.


Okay, back to the "new beginnings,"
In more recent days, as I have become more focused on preparing myself and family for this change in our lives, I have become far more aware of just how much the idea of me having a job is effecting my family.  Brenna mostly.  I have been writing down all the days prior to them starting school that I have to work and focusing on babysitters for those few weeks.  I can just see the stress in Brenna's eyes when I mention just a few short weeks that I will be at work and they will be with a sitter.  I'm not sure why, but Brenna has always been stuck to me like glue.  She is totally okay going to school or playing at a friends house and having that time away from me, but for some reason knowing that I won't be at home where she is use to me being throws her for a loop.  Even if Bill and I talk about a date night and her having a sitter for just a couple hours gives her the worst anxiety.  I am really struggling with how to ease her concerns and anxieties as there really is no need for her to be upset by me working, but she is.  
We even began discussing what our daily routine will be when they start school.  I suggested that she walk to her brother's classroom, pick him up, then them both walking to my classroom together when school is out to wait for me to be ready to leave.  She didn't like this.  
She doesn't do well with change.
I was there to pick her up every day after school last year and she wants me to be there again, but I simply can't.  With this new job comes additional obligations, which really don't change a whole lot about how we did things last year.  I will still be at the school and I will still go home with them and life will be just as it was before.  The only difference is I won't be waiting outside her classroom, I will simply be right down the hall, where she has to come to me.


I think I have begun to ease her anxiety a bit.  We both agreed that I will provide a calendar visible to the whole family with the days she will need a sitter written down so that she can plan for it and get used to the idea of me not being at home that day.  
She seems a bit more at ease with this idea, but we will see when those days arrive... and they are creeping up on me quickly!


I start training on the 16th of this month followed by a couple weeks of meetings, classroom prep, and parent orientation.  I took a 90 day break from school this summer so I could focus on my kids and ensure that we got some good quality time in together before they are both in school full time.  It was a good decision.  I was told that if I took this time off it would be difficult for me to go back.  I refused to believe that at the time. However, I am beginning to see what those who told me that meant.  I had so much I needed to get done for school in those 90 days that I just simply didn't do.  No excuses, I just didn't do it.  After over two years straight of school with no break I just enjoyed my break far too much and lost sight of those important things I needed done.  And now I am starting a new job and feel I need some additional time to fall into a routine with work before taking on school again. (I also need to get those things done that I didn't do)  
I am contacting my school this week to apply for an additional 60 days of leave.  This will put me back in school at the end of October, but I need it.  I would hate to take on too much all at once and let myself or someone else down.  
I swore to myself that I wouldn't be that person that takes a break and then doesn't follow through with the plan to go back...  And I'm not that person, I just need more time.
(That's what they all say right?)
The only reassurance I can give myself that I am not that person is that I am totally motivated and desperate to finish my degree... 
Those student loans that are hanging over my head now are also pushing me to finish.  
And I will.  


Can you tell I am feeling REALLY guilty for extending my once 90 day break an additional 60? I keep having this need to convince myself that I am doing the right thing by making this decision, but let's be honest I don't think I will ever be fully confident of my decision.  I'm just living by the moment and at this moment it feels right.  Though I may have a different opinion a few months from now.  Who knows.  


My nerves are setting in as I sit here writing things down on calendars.  It seems to have become more real now that I am putting it on paper, if that makes any sense at all.
I am nervous that I won't be cut out for this job.  I'm nervous that it may be too much of a sacrifice for my family.  I'm nervous to let people down.  I'm even nervous about sitting in front of little 3 and 4 year olds, all eyes focused on me.  I know that sounds ridiculous, but it's real.  I'm nervous to interact with parents, and nervous of the potential judgments that could come my way due to my appearance.... Most of all though I am nervous of failure.  I have been working so long and hard for this opportunity and now that it is here I am totally caught off guard by all the emotions involved.  A dream that I have had since I was a wee little one in elementary is finally beginning to come true, and what if I'm not good at it?
THAT'S what SCARES me MOST!


What I hope comes of this is a long future of personal successes.  A long future of helping children succeed; influencing them and directing them to their own dreams come true.  
A long future of providing for my family and teaching my own children through example that a dream can be a reality if you work hard enough to achieve it.  
I hope that I am cut out for what my future teaching career holds.
I hope I am ready for it, cause my future starts right
NOW!

May Photo-A-Day Recap (Or in this case, Reveal)

It may seem as if I fell completely off the band wagon for the month of May Photo-A-Day fun, but in all reality I didn't. 

I just simply didn't blog my photo's.  I had so many crazy things happening in the month of May that I just decided, after having posted up to day 9, I would do one big post at the end of the month revealing my month in photos.  

In case you missed it you can see (and read the stories behind them) my first few posts of the month here, here, here, here, and here... 

Here is a quick recap of those days.

 



 

And Now for the NEW stuff...

May Day 10:

A favorite word

Simplicity... I strive for simplicity in life.  With two kids, school, mommy duties, wife duties, and of course everything else life throws my way I NEED simplicity in all I do.  Otherwise you may find me hiding in a closet, mumbling nonsense, rocking back and forth, pulling my hair out.  HA!

 May Day 11:

Kitchen

My little girl is seriously SO amazing.  She, at six years old, saw that the dishes needed done and took it upon herself to do them. I love her beyond comprehension.

May Day 12: 

Makes Me Happy

An early Mother's Day gift from my little man.  I love homemade gifts from my kids... they mean more than anything money can buy.  My heart is so full of love and happiness. 

May Day 13:

My Mom 

We got together at my moms house on Mother's Day.  It just so happened to be my birthday as well.    I spent the better part of the day at home with my little ones and husband.  I got an email from my brother that afternoon that said, 5 O'Clock, mom's house.  I couldn't just bail on the dinner plans Bill had made for me.  So I had to politely decline the invite.  It wasn't until a bit later than I learned my brothers had planned a little get together not only to celebrate mom's day, but my birthday as well.  At that point I HAD to make sure I didn't disappoint.  

I took my camera along because Mom ALWAYS wants a picture done with her and her kids, but for some reason it NEVER happens.  This day Sister Casey was doing all she could to not have to take a picture, but I put my foot down.... 

You can read more about my thoughts on Mother's HERE

and how I spent my Mother's Day HERE

{Along with some fun pictures}

May Day 14:

Grass

Spring Green.... I love to relax out in some shaded grass.

Spring weather is the VERY BEST!

May Day 15:

Love

This is an old picture, and maybe one you have seen before, but I love it.  

Bill is his usual dorky self, and I am blissfully in love with that man!

May Day 16:

I'm Reading

For Mother's Day/My Birthday Bill got me this book about how to run a successful photography business.  It's my current choice of reading material.  I have learned a great deal from it and have really enjoyed reading it.  I am sure it is a book I will refer back to quite frequently as I explore the photography business world.  

May Day 18:

Something I Made

Throughout the entire school year, each of the kids have had the opportunity to bring a poster board to school decorated with pictures and information about them.  Initially I believe it was suppose to be a weekly event, but somewhere along the line the teachers got behind.  It didn't seem to be quite as regular as they had initially intended.  It took them until the last week of school to get through all 20 something students.  Of course Sam's last name falls close to the end of the alphabet and he was one of the last ones to do his little all about me board.  It was only displayed in class for a few days before it got sent home.  I think next time I will just put together a little slide show that can be shared and then reused the next year so I don't have to spend a great deal of time on something that is only used for a couple days before it heads to the trash. LOL

May Day 19:

A Favorite Place to Be

BEHIND THE LENS

I love to take pictures... It's one of my "happy" places.  Bill has really been pushing me to start taking some nature photo's.  He thinks I would excel at it.  I personally like to photograph people... There is just something about a photo of a person that touches me, and inspires me.  I have said it before, but I feel that a person says so much about themselves without even having to say a word.  Hands, posture, wrinkles, clothes, facial expressions... all of it tells a story.  I personally like the story seen in every person.  Maybe, just maybe, I will take Bill's advice and focus a bit on nature as well, but my true passion is in the people.  

May Day 20:

Something I can't live without...

HA!

That's a given isn't it? 

My Camera.  

I would be lost without it.

May Day 21:

Where I Stand

FIRST: I would like you to take note of my awesomely awesome artistic abilities.  

These stick figures were drawn by yours truly....

Thank you, Thank you

(As I bow)

I am second to the oldest of 7 kids... Though we come from dis-function at it's best.  

Us older three girls have the same mom and dad...

Us older three girls and the middle boys have the same mom, but different dads...

Us older three girls and the youngest two girls have the same dad, but a different mom...

Are you following along ok?

You're lost aren't you...

Well, I guess the purpose of this post isn't to give you the run down of my family tree, but just to let you know where I stand...

So there it is, I am second to the oldest... 

OH! And BTW I also have 5 step siblings that are in the mix as well.

That's 12 kids in my family.

WOW!

WAIT?

Where are day's 22-27?

It was a holiday weekend, and friends came in town...

Give me a break! 

You can read a bit about our Memorial Day weekend and all the fun we had HERE

 May Day 28:

Today's Weather

Jessica Here, Reporting that today's weather was a bit cloudy, but beautiful....

SEE!

May Day 29:

A Number

My Favorite number to be exact.... Just in case you were wondering.

May Day 30:

My Personality

I did actually post about this day on my blog.  

You can find that post HERE

As you can see, I am quite the elegant, classy, wholesome individual.

Wouldn't you agree?

May Day 31:

Something Beautiful

We welcomed my newest Nephew, Wyatt Emerson Colton, into the world on May 31st.

The beauty of a new life is priceless, indescribable, amazing, blissful, surreal, exciting, precious...

You know what I mean...BEAUTIFUL in every sense of the word. 

I love this little guys so much already... 

CONGRATS SISTER KRISTIN AND FRED!

And there you have it...

MY MONTH OF MAY!  

I truly hope you all had as amazing of a month as I did.  

And in case you have missed it...

I started a blog series in May as well.

The story of my life,

(Told the way I remember it anyway)

You can catch my first few posts of

"Life as I Remember it"

HERE, HERE, and HERE

ENJOY JUNE EVERYONE!

May Photo Day 30: My Personality...

My Personality...

Or so I've been told.

And no, no one has ever told me I am a Ninja...

I am certain of it!  

Watch out for my crazy, wild, awesome, mad, Bikenjutsu Moves!

HIIIIYA!

Happy Mother's Day

In Honor of Mother's Day, I wanted to share my thoughts on what motherhood is to me. 

For as long as I can remember I wanted to be a Mom.

I had my future pretty much nailed down when I was in the 3rd grade.

When asked, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" I could answer without hesitation,

"A Mom and a Teacher."

They both really go hand in hand right?

First and foremost I wanted to be a mom.  I wanted to love and care for children as my mom did for me.  Never in a million years did I think that my childhood dreams, plans, and goals would ever REALLY be what my future held for me.

Dreams Change.

Plans Change.

Goals Change.

For most anyway...

When I met Bill I knew that he was the man I would have children with,

The man that would stand by me for the rest of my life.  I knew that he was the man that would make my dream of being a mother come true.  

On a Beautiful October day my whole entire life I had lived to that point had purpose.  

My future had purpose.  I had purpose.  

I became a Mom. 

I can honestly say that I have never in my life felt the fulfillment I felt on that day. 

I never knew the depth of love a mother has for her children until I laid eyes on our perfect little girl.  

She was ours.

I loved her unconditionally, forever, to the core of my being.  

After having experienced what becoming a mom felt like, I knew it was something that we had to do again.

As any mother can bare witness to, with the birth of my second child the emotions were just as overwhelming as they were with the first.  Fulfillment, a sense of completion, and an intensified purpose in life.  

Becoming a mom is my greatest achievement in life.  Nothing I had done prior in life, nor anything I will do in my future will ever trump the day I became a mother the first time or the second time.  There is so much to being a mom that I did not comprehend when I decided it was what I would be when I grew up.  I did not realize that I would be the one to be taught on a daily basis by the little ones I gave life to.  I did not realize that my heart could hold so much love for two little beings. I did not realize the lengths I would go to protect them from hurt, pain, failures, ridicule, all the not fun aspects of life.  I did not realize how much I would ache and hurt myself to see them even the slightest bit sad or hurt.  I did not realize that I would yearn to give them everything their little hearts desired.  I did not realize that I could love two people with every ounce of who I was.  I did not realize that being a mother wasn't just something I would be when I grew up, but rather it would be the one title that completely defines me.

 I also did not realize that becoming a mother myself would give me a new appreciation for my own mother.

Simply knowing how deep of a love I have for my children is proof enough of how much my mother loves me.  

To know that someone loves me the way I love my children makes my heart swell.  

I want my mom to know just how much I love and appreciate her today, and everyday.  I want to thank her for loving me with such depth, commitment, and unconditionally.  

A Mother is an Angel on Earth,

Mom, you are my Angel.  

I love you.

May Photo Day 7: Inspires me...

Man! 

This was a hard one.  

I have so many amazing, wonderful, talented, exciting, fun people in my life who inspire me and I can only pick ONE?  

Yeah, That's not gonna happen.

May Photo Day 7: Someone who Inspires me...

I tried really hard to pick just one, but in all honestly I couldn't.

For obvious reasons my children and my husband inspire me everyday to be a better mother, person, and wife.  I talk about them constantly... It probably gets old. 

 I am proud of them.  

I love them. 

They complete me. 

They are my reason and purpose in this life.

They deserve the very best, which inspires me to give them the very best me that I am capable of giving them.  I know I have a great deal of room for improvement, which leads me to my next source of inspiration.

SISTER STEPH

To me she represents everything a mother, wife, sister, friend, and person should be.

She is kind, strong, devoted, loyal, funny, creative, successful, committed, humble and really just AMAZING.

I look up to her more than she will probably ever comprehend.  I am sure her response to this would be, really? Me?  Why?

(Again, cause she is humble)

But really, anyone that can stay organized, focused, and committed to raising 6 kids...

And having all 6 of those kids turn out to be pretty darn amazing individuals deserves an Inspirational label in my book.  

I really want to be like Sister Steph when I grow up...

But really though,

Mom, Dad, Sunney, Bronson, Alex, Jaime, Casey, Shania, Skylar...

The list goes on and on and on...

Every single person,

Friend, Family, even Enemy

Inspires in some way.  

XOXO

May Photo Day's 4-6

May Photo Day 4: Fun

Brenna having fun taking pictures of me mowing the lawn...

I really do love mowing the lawn.

It's best in the summer, at 9 O'Clock at night after the kids have gone to bed, and it's just me and the mower...

May Photo Day 5: Bird

This little guy is so cute....

Don't Ya Think?

May Photo Day 6:  Me

Seems there have been a lot of topics that require self portraits...

MY APOLOGIES

I'm really not this self absorbed.

A Pre-Birthday Celebration

My birthday falls on Mother's Day this year.

This means I either get really spoiled or really jipped.

Julie/Mom decided to take me out to lunch and a pedicure accompanied by my fabulous, amazing, fun, beautiful sisters. 

I'm going with 

SPOILED

This year!

We all met up at Cafe Rio in Sandy for an early lunch.  The food was good, but the company was even better!  We sat, chatted, and just enjoyed one another.  

Sister Steph has a picture of us sisters, I'm waiting for that so I can steal a copy. (hint hint)

After lunch we headed over to the Walmart to get our DELUXE pedicures...

AND THEY WERE AWESOME!

(We missed having Kimmy with us for the pedicures, she had to head home after lunch to a hungry husband and lots of yard work)

Sister Steph, Mom/Julie getting started... Kristin just "soaking" her feet,
Little did she know, the soaking wasn't going to cut it with us!

Warming my feet in the blue water....

Question,

Is the water blue cause they put some kind of special foot stuff in it, or do they make it blue just cause it's pretty?  

I must say, nothing beats a good foot/leg massage...

I don't care who it is.

I don't have any weird phobias about people touching my feet.

I LOVE A FOOT RUB!

Now Kristin on the other hand was not having the whole someone touching her feet thing.  

She was NOT down for a pedicure, or anything that came with it.

Though the little lady at the nail place was hell bent and determined for Kristin to get her deluxe pedi too.

And she did...

AND OF COURSE SHE LIKED IT!

Kristin getting her pedi on...

We all got dipped in wax, rubbed up, and pretty fabulous toes!

Kristin and Sister Steph

I think it is safe to say that this will be a repeat event for us all... 

Including Kristin!

Me and Julie/Mom

THANK YOU
Julie/Mom and my sisters for spoiling me and spending the day with me!

It was so wonderful to have a day with you all.

I love you guys so very much and couldn't have been blessed with a better family.

XOXO

And aren't these some awesomely cute toes? 

May Photo A Day: Days 1-3

Kicking off the Month of May with three days in one post.  

Day 1: Peace

The peace in my day comes once the kids have been put to bed and I get to fit a little me time in.  Granted majority of my after bed time is consumed with homework, so those nights that I get to sit and read a good book, listen to music, watch T.V., or just snuggle with my man child are peaceful and well deserved I think. 

Day 2: Skyline

Sitting out on the grass, next to my handsome hubby, watching my son at baseball practice....

Beautiful, Blissful.... 

I am lucky to live in a place where the sky meets with the mountains, creating one of the most beautiful skylines I have ever seen in all my life.  

Day 3: Something I Wore

Take your pick!

Today was one of those rushed days where I was left with a messy mop of hair with a hint of yesterdays curls still present. 

So I pulled it up, into a different kind of mess...

Accented with a Bandanna.

Accompanied by my big zebra print sunglasses and monstrous earrings from our cruise to Mexico!

Introducing: Life as I Remember It....

So I was going through some boxes yesterday, just trying to get a little organized.

I came across my little box of keepsakes that my mom had kept for me.  It contains memorabilia throughout my entire life.  

Report cards, awards, cards, letters, baby books, milestones of my life, school work.  

You know those things that make a parent proud or life moments they want to remember.  I have boxes for my children that consist of much of the same type of stuff.  

I value what my mom kept for me, and I want to provide the same for my children.  From this moment I am going to kick it up a notch...

Every year on my child's birthday I will write them a letter.  Something for them to read when they are an adult, so they will always remember the pride they gave me throughout their life.  

While going through my box of keepsakes, I was hit with an overwhelming amount of memories from my childhood.  Things that I realized I have come to forget about over time.  This made me realized that I am not getting any younger and the more years that go by, the more I am going to forget my childhood.

I don't want to forget. 

I want to keep what memories I have left.

Those moments shaped me, those moments define me.

I don't ever want to lose ME!

I have already forgotten so much... 

I refuse to forget anymore. 

I want to be able to share those memories with my children, and when I am gone my children can share my Life as I Remember It with their children too. 

Which is why I am introducing to you.... 

Life as I Remember It

A blog series

Starting from Birth.

I hope for this little series to consist of not only memories of my own, but those of my family as well.  Moments of my life that made my parents proud... or even sad.  

Moments of my life that I shared with my siblings... some bad, many good.

I hope you will follow with me on my journey back through time.

A Pre-Welcome for Baby Pearl...

I had the privilege of hosting a shower today for a near, dear, and longtime friend.  By longtime friend, I mean a friend who has been a friend since we were in diapers.  Now here we are, me already having conquered the diaper phase and she just embarking upon it.  I was so honored to be a part of this with her and for her.  

She wanted a Hello Kitty themed shower, as that is the theme she is looking to make her baby nursery.  I looked and looked and looked for cute Hello Kitty themed baby shower decor and such, but just couldn't find anything that I liked that was really inexpensive.  Besides, it wouldn't be me to just break down and BUY all the party stuff now would it?  Of course I HAD to make it all...  I created the invitation on Powerpoint (that program is really amazing for things aside from just presentations) and then Amber and I sat one afternoon and added some ribbon.  They turned out really cute!  

I worked really hard on the decor for this shower.  I hand made all the little cupcake decorations (inspired by my Sister Steph's cupcakes from last weekends shower... HERE.)  I made the little pom pom balls hanging above the table as well as ones we hung outside.  I of course made the cake pops per Amber's request.  They were confetti cake, her favorite, just like the cupcakes.  I made the cupcakes as well.  I made her the little sign with her baby's name on it, but I had a friend make the cute little Hello Kitty hat. Last but not least I made the concentration/memory game as well.  I don't think that I could have accomplished the look I was going for if I hadn't made the decor by hand.  Amber liked the pink/white/black look and lets just face it.  Baby shower stuff consists of Noah's Ark animals and pastels.  

I feel that the decor/food came together really well, which was good because she had an amazing turn out.  She got a TON of great things and I really hope she is please with her overall day.  I had fun doing this for her and again was honored.  

My older sister was so kind to let us use her house considering she has more space than I do.  I didn't want anyone to be uncomfortably crammed, which was good as you can tell by how many came out in support of Amber, Armando, and baby Pearl.  

Amber and Armando are loved very much, Pearl will be too.