A Re Cap

Our summer, I think, is coming to an end.  With our last trip wrapped up (a wedding and anniversary weekend), its time to do back to school shopping and get caught up on laundry.  We have had a wonderful summer with so many great memories.  It will be hard to top it the rest of the year but things to look forward to: Addie starting 1st grade, Tysen in some kind of preschool, mom having some time to her self and Justin thriving in his job, Tysen turning 4 and today...celebrating 7 years of marriage!

Holy Crap...its been a while

I can't even begin to update everything, so to recap: Addie finished Kindergarten and misses her teacher and friends.  Tysen is growing up sooo fast and is fear less.  Justin continues to do well at work and I'm busy trying to pass the time for summer.  Our Summer began early in May with weddings, a trip or two to Utah, two trips to Michigan (one by my self and one while I type this), camping in yellowstone and who knows to tie up the last few weeks of summer...oh and another wedding.

"Because I'm worth it"

My Beauty bible is Allure Magazine.  I have been reading it for 12 years and I always learn something and it always ignites that passion I have for beauty and fashion!  I just read an article about the model for L'Oreal who launched the slogan "Because I'm worth it".  It was mainly a "what is she doing now" piece but I luuuuved the history of the slogan.  Penned in 15 minutes by a writer who scribbled it and handed it over because in her life she was tired of looking good for a man and wanted to look good for herself.  It reminded me of a date I was on and I was adjusting my padded bra and my date said to me "I know its padding, why worry"?  I looked at him and remember saying "what makes you think I do this for you"?  Since then my beauty routine (to your definition of course, hair, make up, diet, exercise...) and even my desires to have breast implants have been for me and me only.  It is the opportunity for me to express what I feel internally, externally.  I feel strong, sexy, smart, savvy, and any other "s" word that expresses confidence (don't get me wrong, if I couldn't have my little routine, it wouldn't change how I feel on the inside).  I love that I have these tools so that regardless of what any man, or woman, thinks of me I can be proud that I took the time to curl my lashes that day.  Because at the end of the day its my opinion and mine only that matters when it comes to me.  If you have the chance to flip through it while waiting to buy your groceries, do it, its a fun read!

A little update

I stalk everyone elses blogs to see whats going on and think "why haven't they updated it"? And here I am a month with out a new post!  Well the school year is coming to an end and I'm excited.  Adlen turns 6 next Saturday...yikes, where has  the time flown?!  Tysen is still doing great with staying dry at night, just the occasional accident.  I'm doing some work for my parents and recently went back to dark brown.  I'm having fun with the change but do miss the blonde.  Justin is doing really well at work and bringing new customers in all the time and his boss thinks so highly of him.  I guess thats about the only little update we have.  Just same old around here!

I do not like them Sam-I-Am

Just in the last few weeks Adlen has been reading "green eggs and ham"...almost every night. So in honor of St Patricks day I thought I would make green eggs. I did and it flopped. I'm so sad about it. All day yesterday I kept thinking that they would just think it was a hoot and I couldn't wait. Well, that's what I get I guess. These little people really have minds of there own!

In other news...we have one of our cars paid off!
Adlen has completed all of her Kindergarten requirements and is now reading 1st grade words.
Tysen is staying dry for most nights. Last night he walked into the bathroom then peed. It was on the floor but its tile so I'll take that over sheets any day.
Camping and a 10 trip to Michigan in July.
Our 7thy anniversary in August!

We have exciting things on the horizon!

No more Diapers

Remember that time i mentioned in September we were potty training? Remember how i didn't tell you that we "fell off the wagon"? Well I am happy to report that last week we tried it again and it stuck! We have been diaper free for almost two weeks! And we have had 3 or 4 dry nights, in underwear. I am so proud of Tysen, this marks the end of the baby phase for us and I'm excited. I have been changing diapers for over 5 years, as there was no break between Addie and Tysen!

I need a hobby...

I need a hobby. Before I started working about a year and a half ago staying home was a joy. I was busy, with nothing in particular but I felt productive. Since I have been staying home again I find my self bored, uninterested and lazy. I can't seem to get out of it. I was so excited to be able to go to the gym more often but I get there about once a week and can't seem to make it stick, Tysen challenges my temper, my laundry is in the same spot. I have had the chance to visit my friends in Utah, a few times, cleaned out the garage-even got the DI truck to do a pick up, painted the man cave and rearranged and organized the kids rooms. I just can't seem to get into a routine and I want to do more around the house but Tysen climbs or destructs or who knows. Any suggestions for my funk?

Happy New Year

The year has started off great and we are looking forward to all that it brings. But to highlight last year:

I was working full time as a wedding planner and trying to balance work, kids and being a wife, friend, family member and ward member...all of which I felt like we suffering. Towards the end of the year I decided it was time to stay home, and although I miss work and my beautiful brides I wouldn't trade it for anything!

Adlen turned 5 and started FULL day kindergarten so from 9-3:30 it was me and tysen.

Tysen turned 3 and has enjoyed time with mom with out big sister around.

Justin continues to work hard in a struggling economy but is having success that we celebrate as they are great strides again in a struggling economy.

Some things to look forward to this year:

Paying off a car, another RAGNAR-in AZ with my beautiful sister in law, Addie finishing her first year of school, starting 1st grade and Tysen hopefully finishing potty training and starting preschool, Justin to keep working hard and see benefits of hopefully a recovering economy.

Have a blessed year!

Ragnar Relays

Oh, what was i thinking saying yes!

I had a friend come down for the weekend who was running with a group to do the ragnar relays. If you are unfamiliar with them thats not a bad thing! It is a two day race where each runner takes a few legs to finish the course. Well they were down a runner and on Monday and asked if I could run. I thought i had the best reason to say no, I was working, but then they said they could cover the 1 leg I couldn't make. So now I felt like i should. Now I run but I'm not a runner, in track I was a sprinter, ok, go fast and hard for a short distance then be done. When I work out it is usually a spin class or a boot camp class, and I haven't had a regular work out routine in a while.

My legs were 4.5 miles the first leg and a pretty easy course, my 3rd leg was up hill 5 ,miles down hill 2 miles.

So I got up at 4 am on Friday to be at the course as it started in Lake Mead. My team however didn't show up tiil 6:30 so where I would have started 7 I started at 7:30. So as I'm running I'm enjoying the view of the sunrise over the lake and the mountains and playing around with my ipod, thats how I run in a race. Then I got home by 10:15, got a manicure, went to work from 2-9 then drove to my next area (11 pm), slept on the grass next to a gas station with all the other runners to be up by 2 to start our next 6 legs. I started my run at 3 and finished just before 5 (oh with a nice little throwing up around mile 4). Hung out to watch everyone run their legs, caae home again at 10:30 slept for an hour to get up and shower and go back to work by 2.

It was crazy weekend but I really enjoyed it. I love how my body feels today and kind feel like doing it again!

Potty Train

Last week Tysen was wanting to poop on the potty and on Sunday he tells me that he now wants to pee on the potty...it could not have been easier with this kid! And today he has done both and loves getting a little surprise when he does. We are still working out the kinks for night time but I am too excited about not having to change diapers anymore!

Addie Goes to Kindergarten

No tears the first week but this week we've had a few. She is doing really well in her class and has a great teacher. She goes all day so it has given mommy a chance to have some time with Tysen as well. We are so excited about this new phase in life for her...and us.

Europe or Bust

Tysen in Monte Carlo not justin

Pirate night at the kids center

It says that if you toss a coin into the Trevi fountain, you will return to Rome, so I was sure to do it!

Pompeii

Colosseum

Pisa-mostly Justin and I took inappropriate pictures with the tower but this one is cute

Who can be mad about celebrating your anniversary on a free trip!

One of the stops in Greece

Topkapi Palace where the Sultan lived, Turkey...it is now 3 different museums one of which has the arm of John the Baptist

Blue Mosque

Athens...loved!

We finally went on our trip of a life time and LUUUVED it! We saw so many amazing and beautiful things. We ate REAL pizza and pasta everyday and stayed up late and slept in...even the kids!

Things to come...

Just a quick update. I haven't been uploading pictures so I don't really have any to share but the summer is flying by and we've managed to enjoy some of it as a family. We've had quick camping trips and trips to CA. Sundays around town and plenty of swimming. However, I can't CAN'T wait for August 7th because our family will embark on a 12 day cruise through the Mediterranean. I can't wait and although the trip their will be a nightmare (24 hours of traveling with two kids), I know the time together will be much needed.

So, although there are no pictures now....just wait!

So many things to share

1st- Mothers day was great, my kids are ALWAYS so sweet to me and my husband always willing to help that when mothers day comes up, its not a time where I think "oh good I get a break and can sleep in till 10 and do nothing" because if that was really the life I wanted I could have it. So like I say that its always valentines day in my home, it is also always mothers day. So I spent the day interacting with my family and happy that I have these little blessings in my life.
2nd-Addie turned 5. I can't believe it! As excited as I am I cried because I feel this moment of her being just ours is coming to an end. Soon she will make new friends and be in school and around strangers most of the day. Soon we will be doing home work and this little family we have will begin to change. We have always tried to go camping or on little weekend trips or explore new things around town to create a foundation and habit of having quality time with each other because we knew one day our kids wouldn't be as mobile and I feel like we are there. For her birthday I thought we would do this huge celebration but after thinking about it we thought some thing more intimate would be the better way to go. A few months ago Justin and I spent the weekend at Lake Las Vegas at a hotel which had such great amenities for kids, a shallow pool with a slide for the kids. A basketball court for Justin, lounge chairs by the pool for me and great restaurants. So we got a great rate, took a cake and invited our neighbors and had a nice day of swimming.
3rd-Today my 85 year old grandfather passed away. It wasn't a surprise but it happened quickly. He went in to the hospital about 3 weeks ago and had a surgery on Monday which he couldn't recover from and he left this earth quietly and pain free this morning. He was my last grandparent alive and I've been grateful for the relationship over the past years. He has spent time with my children, which by the way he shares a birthday with Tysen, and have enjoyed the relationship they have shared with him. Although I feel sadden by the loss, I am glad he his with the love of his life who left this earth so young and almost 20 years ago.

heart attack in a crock pot

It seems everyone is posting about how crafty they are being...well, I'm not crafty or a cook but I do have a pretty nice dessert recipe. 1/2 c butter melted and added to one box of yellow cake mix, just the mix In a crock pot spray it with non stick spray layer the bottom with a pie filling (about 24 ounces), I like cherry but Justin likes raspberry, so what ever, just not apple Then dump on top of that the cake and butter mix. Cook low for 4 hrs or high for 2 Serve with ice cream and lots of milk...its rich, then go to the gym the next day. THERE I kept up with all you Jones's. In other news... We had a nice weekend. One of my favorite places to go and we haven't done enough of it is Big Bend state park in Laughlin. Its a nice little park the sits along side of the Colorado River but the best part is is you have sand, not like rocks but fine sand! And I love it, we take a blanket, lather up the kids in sunscreen drive about 1 1/2 hrs and enjoy! The kids make sand castle with daddy, mom soaks up the sun and we just have such a nice time. We stayed about 2 hrs, and since the kiddos were up early we were there from about 10-12 so early enough to be warm but not in mid day heat (as it is now around 85, but its still nice)!

We have been busy keeping busy! I'm still involved with the Blind Center as well as working as a planner at the chapel and of course, keeping up with the kids. Justin has been moved to outside sales, actually 's been there for a few months now...sorry.

But in our time together we go hiking, as the weather is improving...like 60's-70's, getting ready for our trip to Europe, all 4 of us need passports, working out, I've been called as a relief society teacher, Justin is still in Young Mens. We are registering for kindergarten on Tuesday and I'm excited for it!

Over all we are just happy being out little family!

picture update

Just some pictures

"Why are you giving this to me"

Yesterday while on my way to work I saw a little boy out on the side walk selling something. I rolled down my window and saw that it was candy, and asked how much it was and he said $1. I said ok I'll take two candy bars, then I asked him what he was selling this for, he then said to me "I'm just trying to buy presents for my brothers".

My heart just sank. I then gave him another $5, and went to work. When I went to lunch he was still out there, so knowing I had some gifts in my car for our kids I pulled over and pulled out the only "boy" item we had and I handed it to him, and he said "no its ok" but I insisted and then he asked "why are you giving this to me" I told him that everyone deserves Christmas.

I couldn't help but think about this the rest of my day and even after buying a gift card for that family I still feel like I didn't do enough.

I also thought about my Savior and how many times I make mistakes or fall short and I have even asked "why are you giving this to me", and I wonder if he would respond " because everyone deserves Salvation"

Merry Christmas

Tysen turns 2

I'll have to post pictures later but on Friday our little guy turned two! Although he embraced the role of terrible two months ago, he settled into the number quit nicely as we celebrated to a Toy Story theme party. He was thrilled to blow out the candles that it actually took us lighting them 3 separate times just to get a picture.

I love how sweet and fun he is. He is busy, talks all the time, sleeps in a big bed, loves to color, plays with cars, trains and planes. He is all boy!

We are so enriched every day to have this little boy in our lives.

I love you Tysen so much

Christmas List

I think there are 5 things a women should have on her Christmas list (no order, just as it came to mind)

1.a hot pair of jeans to make your assets look AMAZING
2.something that is a trend, I always go for jewelry only because it is a small investment for a trend.
3. new music/book
4.a new fragrance, my suggestion for this year would be D&G The One or Gucci Guilty, or wait Chanel Chance En Tendure (spelling is wrong on that last one but you get it)...luv!
5.Breakfast in bed