California with the F'rent Girls

One the happiest times of my life was when I lived in the "For Rent" (F'rent) House in Logan with these girls.  I was struggling with a boyfriend (I'm SOOO glad I'm past that point of my life), and these girls got me through it. They stood by me even though I continued to make the same mistakes over and over.  I am better because they are my friends.  We had some great times.  Sliding down the stairs on our mattresses, building snowmen, doing hula dances in front of the windows of our bedroom, heading to Hawaii with boxes of food so we didn't have to spend so much money on groceries, skinny dipping with the sea turtles on a private beach, going to the temple together, brainstorming ideas on a brown paper bag taped to our kitchen wall, watching each other move on with our lives and knowing that no matter the time or distance we will always be friends.

Well, Mindo (the go-getter) is heading to Bristol, England to pursue her doctorate degree and then off to Mauritus to advance the island nation's education.  (She not only sounds amazing...she is!) Through e-mails we decided that we wanted to get together one last time before it will take a trip around the world.  So we booked the tickets to California to stay with Mindy.  It was my busiest weekend, and I felt insane leaving when I did.  I left on Friday at 8 p.m. after my week getting ready for school to start and returned on Sunday at 11:30 p.m. just in time for a few shut eyes before the first day of school. I would do it again!  Although I stressed about it, I had the greatest weekend.

Sarah came from Oregon, 7 months pregnant, and still as positive as ever.  She has always been my example of everything I want to be.  I loved talking with her about how she survives being a mother of 2 and keeping her energy up. She says that there are days that she has a hard time with it too.  If Sarah struggles sometimes than I guess it is o.k. that I do too.

Maria, who is so constant and so wise, came from Salt Lake.  We live so close but never seem to get together. She's working so hard as a nurse at Primary Children's and I love hearing about her adventures.  She really has it all together although she doesn't think she does.

Kimball (I couldn't leave my nursing baby!) and I arrived in LA and my aunt Amy, uncle Steve, and cousin Miranda picked me up. They took me to their house and let me stay with them.  It was great to see them.  I got to pick a grapefruit from their tree for breakfast and Amy made me poached eggs.  I had never had poached eggs and I loved them! We stayed up late talking and looking at pictures.  Then in the morning Amy took me to Mindy's house in Redondo Beach; after a quick trip to get some delicious ice cream.

With the girls, we went grocery shopping, got some lunch, went to the beach with Mindy's kids (loved them...they are Carter and Kathryn's ages and they were fun to be with), talked and talked some more.  Saturday night we splurged and went and saw Wicked!  It was fantastic and I loved the story!  Sunday we went to church, made a big lunch together, walked to the beach, and talked and talked some more!  I loved being with them and catching up.

One of the songs from Wicked really touched my heart, especially about these girls...

"I've heard it said that people come into our lives for a reason bringing something we must learn and we are led to those who help us most to grow if we let them and we help them in return. Well, I don't know if I believe that's true but I know I'm who I am today because I knew you."

They were put into my life for a reason and they have changed me for the good.

Thank you girls.  I love you!

Bear Lake Round 2

August weekend trip #3.  We stayed at my good friend Edie's cabin at Bear Lake.  Is there such a thing as too much beach for the kids?  They enjoyed (of course) playing in the sand and the water.  Chris and Ryan got a little restless with the beach activities and decided to rent wave runners.  They were a blast! Carter got on and pushed the throttle~He had a definite need for speed.  Kathryn even enjoyed the thrill of speeding over the waves. I wonder if she is ready for the motorcycle now?  

It was fun to be all together. However 7 children under the age of 5 under the same roof equals a lot of crying!  What do you do to get the sanity with all the cousins? I guess they have to learn to be with each other some way.  We learned about pecking order this trip.  Dean and Carter had their moments with Blaise and then he would pick on Kathryn and then my little angel started pushing Julianna who would then try to steal Aspen and Kimball's blanket and/or binkie!  And the cycle continues! WHAT to do!  How did we all survive this as children? I'm glad that we were able to get together and create memories.  

And like I promised...the girls delivered with the entertainment.  Thanks to the bolt of hot pink lace that Grandma found in her basement, we were able to do a beautiful rendition of "Dancing Queen!"  The guys didn't appreciate it nearly as much as we did...but alas how could they have been in the mood without having the fun we did of preparing the number?

Mary's Musical Mayhem

Have you seen this movie?  I loved it.  

On our girls weekend, my mom, Kelly, and Melissa and I went to see this movie.  It was so fun!  We were laughing, singing, and dancing after it was over!  Wait for Bear Lake...we're going to have a performance that will knock your socks off!

I decided that in my world (when I get to create one), I will have choreographed dances to every event in life.  Changing diapers will have a song, rhythm and dance steps to make the task a little less redundant.  It will be mayhem for sure!

August weekend trip #2. Park City was very fun and very relaxing!  We brought the kids one day and they played hard. They loved being 

together.  It was fun to have Blaise and Aspen here from law school.  I miss them so much. The 

condo at the Canyons was beautiful and a great escape.  It was good to bond with the "sistas."  Grandma, Marsha and Mindy came up, too.

On the second day, Chris came and picked up the kids and then it was truly a girls weekend.  We went shopping at the outlets and literally shopped till we dropped.  My parents gave each of us a new purse with $100 dollars to go school shopping!  Thanks so much!  New school clothes are so expensive!

It can't be the end...

Fantastic!  5 Stars! An incredible, fast read! Stephenie Meyer has done a great job painting eternity with the vampires!

I loved the book!  (Spoiler Alert: I am going to talk about what happens, so don't continue to read if you aren't finished!)

I loved how eternity with the vampires is painted.  Usually when I get finished reading a love story...I'm in love with the character. Who couldn't love Edward?  But, this book was different.  I finished the book so thankful that I get to be with my love for eternity without having to become a vampire.  It made me excited for forever.  I loved that Bella got to experience being a mother, because that is one experience that makes eternity even more enjoyable.  I love happily ever after books!  I'm excited to see how my happily ever after plays out. 

I wonder though, do you really think it's the end?  The Volturi could make a comeback.  I'd love to read about Jacob and "Nessie" (I hated the baby's name) and how the werewolves respond.  Maybe I'll have to imagine my own Book 5!

"Whoodies"

To start off our August weekend vacations (we have one planned every weekend) we went camping with the Marchants to American Fork canyon.  We borrowed Chris' parent's trailer and headed up the tight, winding canyon.  It was an adventure finding a spot.  While searching for a camping spot, Carter said a prayer so that we would find one.  After the

 prayer he got all nervous and said, "Mom, I forgot to bless us to be safe while we're in BEAR COUNTRY!"  Needless to say we did not see any bears!  We camped at "Salamander Flats" in the middle of a field.  

We woke up on Saturday morning and went on a hike to Timpanogos Cave.  It was quite the challenge with 3 kids!  Chris carried 

Kathyn, I carried Kimball, and Carter trudged up the mountain.  It was only a mile and a half...but it is very steep!  The cave was interesting and informative.  I about had a panic attack when the tour guide told us that we were standing on the fault line.  Then Chris said, "So if there was an earthquake right now...."  I about screamed at him!  (I'm getting a little more anxious and panicky with age.)

The rest of the weekend was very relaxing.  Good friends, good food, good times.  

The kids rolled around in the dirt like they were little piglets, and we let them!  Hey, we're camping, right?

My fondest memory of the trip was when Kathryn learned how to say "Whoodie."  She was so proud of herself, and walked up to all the adults and said "Whoodie" and waited for our reaction.