Sad day.

Josh's mom passed away this morning. Words can't express how sad we all are. Thanks for all of your kind words.

The one where I flipped off mother nature!

ok I know its not very nice, but come on, neither is snow after 60 degree days!!! I am saddened by the snow this morning but the beautiful blue sky is lifting my low spirit.
Well not to just complain, we had a nice weekend and now I am taking a break until friday from posting, mainly because I hate my computer, and Josh's laptop is being fixed so ta ta for now!

ps. i will still be checking all of yours so don't even think of taking a break or my mood might worsen!!!

The one with a few words to (try) to live by.

The other day I had a long list of "to do's". It was mainly stuff that needed to be done out in the yard. While I was toiling away at some raking and much needed pruning I got the bug to plant some spring pots. I had a garden to weed and till, a perennial garden to thin down and weed and rake, and a rose bush to cut back, but all I could think about were those dang pots! Then the motto or mantra that Josh and I have tried really hard to live by popped into my mind, "Do what you have to do, so you can do what you want to do!" Now this may not sound profound to you but it is something that runs through my mind on a daily basis. My brain says I want to run to target, the mantra speaks to beds needing to be made, breakfast dishes needing to be done, and on and on and on!!!! Of course there are times when I shut it out of my mind, but for the most part this little saying helps me achieve a lot in a day. Anywho on this particular sunny day in the yard I did all that I needed to do and then rewarded my self with pretty spring pots! And I must say that I was happy I waited because I took my time and decided where to put each little flower(instead of rushing like I usually do)!

Well, I would like to add pictures of my accomplishments but the mantra is chanting and there is a load of wash to be changed and another to be folded and.............

The one where its not all dresses and eggs folks!(though it appears that way)

Happy Easter everybody! I hope it was great for all! We had a really fun day! It started with a treasure hunt for the easter basket, yes one basket for all to share! It was full of fun items for spring i.e. jumpropes, sidewalk chalk, bubbles, nerf football, a movie, and a couple of new books! The kids seemed thrilled, small and simple people! Then a chat reminding of the real reason for easter, they did pretty good! Then on to 9:00 church, we heard some really great talks today and I gave the Easter lesson for our primary class and taught the importance of the real meaning of easter, I really hope my kids understand that, maybe we'll start doing easter on saturday. Do any of you do that? Then it was off to my dads for an easter feast and egg hunt then to my moms for another easter feast!(having divorced parents is completely underrated! although I don't suggest it!)

All in all it was a very fun day. I hope all you you had a good one and that we can all remember our Savior on this and every day. I am thankful for his sacrifice , the resurrection, and the knowledge and comfort that brings. Wow kind of heavy for a blog but I just thought i'd share:)

The one where we had a great trip!

Day 1. make overs at club Libby Lu and Disneyland!
Day 2. California Adventure and lunch at Ariels Grotto with the princesses!
Day 3. Competition! and Disneyland!
Day 4. American Girl Doll Store! and Wicked!
Day 5. Hang'n at Huntington Beach and traveled home!
What can I say, a couple of days of antibiotics and I am a new person! Now I can report on our trip! We had such a great time! It was so fun to go with my friend Sandi, especially because her girls are the same age as my girls and our moms our old friends!!! We ate, played, competed, ate, shopped, ate, went to WICKED!!! and played at The American Girl Doll Store!!! We really had a blast and can't wait until next years nationals!! Oh I almost forgot, our girls came in 2nd in both divisions! They beat bountiful in the hip hop division and that was a really big deal because they beat us at state. The boys had a great time in Phoenix and I will post their pic's soon!


ps.Thanks for everyones concern, I guess i'm on my way to a tonsilectomy:( I'm not quite sure when i'm going to squeeze that in!

The one where.....

got home. got strep. blog later.

The one with the simple abundance.

A project completed. ahhhh.sigh.

My new sconce, it is too divine not to share!

A doll "set up" completed by an adorable 4 year old.

A sunflower from a friend....thanks Trish!

Flip Flops! A sure fire sign that spring and summer are right around the corner!!!!

A clean pile of clothes, nicely folded and waiting to be packed! This usually means something fun is about to happen!

Have you ever been puttering around your house, doing the daily grind, and started to notice all of the little things that make you happy? That happened to me today. I love a book called "Simple Abundance". It has an inspirational thought for each day of the year and I usually start it every January but for some reason I didn't this year and i've missed it. It talks about simplifying, and being happy with what you have and many other great topics, but the title stuck in my mind today so clearly as I looked around at the simple abundance in my home. I hope you can do the same. Here are just a few....

ps. if someone could teach me how to do a lay out that is not all jacked up and also how to make my typed paragraph go before my pics that would be great. thanks.