SORRY MOM!!!

The other night, I went in to help Cassie wash her hair. She likes to use my shower, and LOVES to play with the extra hose. ANYWAY.......for whatever reason, the shower sprayer got away from her at EXACTLY the same time I opened the shower door......and YEP!!! I got SOAKED!! It seemed like it took her forever to finally catch the flying hose......and I of course was yelling....she was panicking......and then......she caught it, the spraying stopped....she looked at me SCARED TO DEATH - as if I was going to KILL her......it was silent for a few seconds, and then we BOTH started laughing our HEADS off!!! Needless to say - Cassie thought it was MUCH funnier than I did - but we both got a good laugh out of it. This is the picture she drew so we could remember the experience. Ahhhhhhhh KIDS!!!

Ostrich Festival

Cassie and Joel had SO much fun at the Ostrich Festival. Cute Cassie - with all of her elderly friends in our ward went around asking people if they were able to go to the Festival, and telling them how much fun she had. I don't know what it is about her - but she is really drawn to the older members of our ward. She always has been. In our first Mesa ward, for whatever reason, all of the Widows and Widowers.....and there were several.....would sit on the long back row in the chapel. She would go one by one shaking their hands and talking to them....and she would sit and visit with them until church started. She LOVES them - and they love her. Anyway.....these are just some of the pictures from the festival.

Just one of those days........

It's 9:30 pm...and I am sitting here at my computer - in an empty house. Today has been just one of those days. We got off to a good start. Got up, went "garage sailing" and found some GREAT deals - which I always LOVE. About an hour and a half in - I got SICK.......REALLY sick - so nauseated that I wanted to just PUKE.....but I didn't. I had Joel and Cass get me home - as fast as possible.....and I went to bed - and slept for almost 5 hours. I have been really fighting with a nasty head cold gomboo thing - and now the stupid H. Pylori Bacteria and MASSIVE antibiotic treatment.....(which is what made me sick oddly enough - weak stomach that I have). Cassie and Joel were great. They were VERY quiet while I slept - and Joel did the grocery shopping for me - because he knows I hate it -and he knows I wasn't feeling up to it. ANYWAY....Saturday is Daddy Daughter Day - so Joel decided to take Cass to the local Ostrich Festival. It's an annual thing for us - they have gone every year since we moved here - so it's a tradition. It closes at midnight.....and we have late church - so I don't expect them home any time soon. I OF COURSE will be waiting up for them - I can't sleep until my family is safely home. So I am sitting here at my computer - have looked at every ones blogs......looked at Facebook and STILL don't understand why everyone likes it so much.....so got off it almost as quickly as I got on.....I am watching some stupid scary show on TV which is DUMB since I am in my house ALONE. I do have Shiloh here who is sitting at my feet - licking my toes - WHICH FREAKS ME OUT!! I am thinking about you all - how grateful I am for my life - thinking about my upcoming surgery - feeling apprehensive but excited......wanting to go to bed - and am looking forward to church tomorrow. So - it has been "one of those days". but I really am glad to have had it.

My Best........FRIEND!!!!

I have a best friend. In fact, we actually call each other "friend"......rather than our names.....when I call her I say - HI FRIEND.....and she does the same. I am thankful for my friend - EVERY DAY. Why I love my friend - well - mainly because she gets me.....she REALLY gets me. She understands all my moods - good and bad - when I am FREAKING out - and acting like a crazy woman - she KNOWS that it's best to just LAUGH...not take it personally. She is there for me ALWAYS and NO MATTER WHAT!! When I call to find out what she is making for dinner....to get some ideas - she shows up a few hours later with dinner for ME. She comes to my house when I am out of town during the holidays - brings her kids and takes MY Christmas decorations down - because she knows how hard it will be for me to leave my family and come back to AZ and see Christmas still up. She brings me a Cherry Coke from SONIC....with the good ice - when I don't feel good, when I am in the middle of a project, or on the days that I just NEED a Coke!! She makes me laugh - like almost no one else can. For whatever reason - when the two of us get together we LAUGH!! (And she will KILL me for the pictures I have posted). She reminds me of what is important....and lives her life thoroughly and loves INTENSELY. She is LOYAL to those who are blessed enough to have earned her loyalty. She cries - ALL the time - with everyone who is crying, and for whatever reason there is to cry. Which makes me laugh - and sometimes cry with her. She loves to sit with me at the park and be the park "Moms". Making sure the kids are ALL getting along and behaving themselves (the LANGUAGE!).Speaking off Moms.....she is ONE OF THE BEST!! She is DETERMINED to raise her kids to be GOOD STRONG UPSTANDING people.....and they are WELL on their way!! She loves her husband FIERCELY......and truly adores her "lovey" She has a great testimony....and works hard to live the gospel that she loves - she wants to be a better person, tries her best to be a better person every day, and makes me want to be a better person. Did I mention that I am not just lucky to have her for a friend.....she is my COUSIN!! I grew up with her....I am grateful EVERY SINGLE DAY that I was blessed to have her in my life. I want her to know that. She is my friend for ALWAYS and NO MATTER WHAT!!! Love ya FRIEND!!!!

Birthday Thank You!

I just want to thank EVERYONE who sent me a Birthday wish....with the DARLING songs from Neices and Nephews......and songs from their parents (while lovely....not quite as cute). From Holli's family calling at 7am To Sarah's beautiful rendition of the Primary Song......in all the languages no less......to Joe, Debbie, Pam, Mom, Dad, Brendan, Leslie , Kendall and ALL of you who emailed, called - or sent love in all the amazing ways you love. Holli - thank you for an AMAZING Birthday Lunch......who could ask for a better friend!! Joel, for the Roses, the email, the phone call.....and for the love you send me every day. Cassie.....for all the birthday hugs and kisses......and for the wonderful home-made card/present - best gift EVER!! Thanks to my Visiting Teachers - who brought me flowers and bubble bath - what a GREAT combination!! Thanks to Liz whose words were PERFECT.....Thanks to Brendan for reminding me I'm OLD......Thanks to Mom for giving me my life - and for making it good!! Thanks to EVERYONE of you who bring meaning to my life - and who remind me once again.....how BLESSED I am to have the life I have......so today, I celebrate my Birthday with ALL of you.....THANK YOU for loving me.....and for reminding me how GREAT it is to be blessed to have had another birthday!!! I LOVE YOU ALL!!!

It's my party and I'll CRY IF I WANT TO!!!

Anyone who knows me knows how much I LOVE Birthdays. I don't usually tend to be a half empty kind-of gal.....But - I HATE Birthdays and I HATE New Years.......why you ask - because for me it's another year gone - memories that will NEVER happen again - good and bad. Time spent with those we love that will never be the same, things I wish I had done, and didn't do, one less year with my "baby girl" - as a "baby girl". Time just passes way to quickly for my happiness.......and yet....I have decided to TRY to feel differently this year. I am trying to re-fill my half empty glass.......I was blessed to have another WONDERFUL year here on this earth. I was blessed to make some wonderful forever memories with my friends and family. I saw some amazing sunsets, some amazing night skies, some amazing mornings, and had some WONDERFUL mornings sleeping in. My testimony has grown, I have learned a lot, I love my family even more if that is possible.....I have shed many tears - but BOY it feels good to have a good cry sometimes. We have our health, we have a job, we have been blessed with SO much.......SO - Even though I hate Birthdays, it makes it MUCH easier to think of all the amazing and wonderful things I experienced this year - and think of how blessed I am to hopefully be blessed with another year - full of unexpected and wonderful new experiences!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!! (And of course to the best birthday present I ever got - my brother Joe....Happy Birthday Bozer!!!)