I'm Back...

o.k., so now that summer is coming to a end, I think I am going to have some time to sit down at the computer... well, not really, but I going to try to make time I guess.

Yesterday it hit me HARD that my somewhat simple life is sort of coming to a close, and I am not sure how I feel about that. We were on the go from playgroup, to school, to canning, to school, to birthday party, to soccer, to dinner at 8pm, to baths & bedtime, to off to work meeting, and home at 11:30.

Balance, right?

I spent a portion of my time at university learning how to teach others how to achieve balance in their life. Hoping I can apply the knowledge to my own life now.

when??

• When do you people find time to upload pictures and write about them on your blog???? I still can't seem to figure that out.
  I thought I would give this blogging thing a try because believe me I have the crazy stories, thoughts, pictures, words of wisdom, etc... to share, I just can't ever sit down to record them! If its staying up past 10pm to do it, then I'm afraid I will never succeed at this blogging thing. Like right now, I have at least 10 other important things that I need to be doing... like piles of laundry, cleaning/organizing the garage, preparing the soil to plant my garden, going to the tile store to order the tile for the fireplace surround, painting the walls upstairs, getting out my kids summer clothes and putting away the winter stuff, installing the chair rail up stairs, deep cleaning both bathrooms, sewing some gifts for friends, laying the brick borders around all the flowerbeds, ordering plants for the yard, making dinner, organizing the office--K, that's more than 10 and I have 5 more major things to add! So this is my problem...seriously when do you blog?

A Must

It has been so long since I read a book that I had nearly forgotten how... on Easter Sunday the kids and I were off to California in Janie's minivan. Not only was it a treat to not have to drive (thank you Janie!) but even more a treat when Carianne handed me this book saying "Read it, it will change your life". So I read...and read... and yes, it changed me. It took me on a journey I was not quite expecting, but needed. For many reasons it made me desperately miss my Ardeshir. I hate it that I have to spend the rest of my life wondering how he is, praying that he is happy and being treated right, and well just missing him. But that is the nature of my work, and well my life. 'A Thousand Splendid Suns' gave me insight beyond insight(if that is even possible), and forced me to express gratitude for all the things that I just expect and well most of the time take for granted: 1. my husband--my sweet, kind, good, thoughful, will do anything for you husband. 2. freedom. 3. friendships. 4. faith 5. An ability to overcome tradgedy.
Now that I am in the book reading zone, I need another good one... any ideas?? although I probably should clean my house first.

IN ALL IT'S GLORY

Remember when I mentioned 'seeing the mullet in all its glory'.... well this is it! LOVE THIS LOOK! Hope you enjoy it as much as I do each morning! But I must admit... pictures just don't do it justice.

Spring Snow!

This is what we woke up to this morning. It seems like everyone is annoyed that snow is here again, but for some reason it made my day (and it was birthday!). When the season changes from winter to spring, I feel energized and ready to LIVE my best life, but I would be fibbing if failed to admit that once all the snow has melted there is a part of me that misses it. So after a couple weeks of gorgeous warm weather, it was nice to wake up to a fresh blanket of clean snow. Plus it was all melted by the end of the day...and that I believe is the best part of spring snow.

making cookies... FINALLY

One of my favorite activities to do with the kids is making and decorating sugar cookies. We only do it around holidays and since we ripped out our kitchen on October 1st and have been living in the aftermath for the past 6 months we missed a lot of 'making cookie holidays'... halloween, thanksgiving, christmas, valentines... But not St. Patrick's day! Not only did we make cookies but we had a St. Patrick's day Party! The kids made cool hats, ate green food, learned all about St. Patrick, made leprechaun coin bags and coins, took a trip to story time at the library, and I saved the best for last...decorating cookies. But this is the best part... after friends left Elsa and Carter were helping me finish up the rest of the cookies. As you can imagine they were having a blast until... Elsa lost her balance on the chair she and Carter were standing on, trying to catch her fall she hit Carter who in the process of falling off the chair hit the cookie stand with all the cookies. Carter ended up on the floor with a frosted cookie stuck to the side of his head. Both of them in tears and all the cookies on the floor.... and I didn't get a picture!!! You gotta love those moments!

look who's here...

SPRING... Oh how I love you... let me count the ways:
1. Daffodils: They just scream spring and fun to me. We always had them in our yard growing up, but I became passionate about them in Hyde Park in London. We lived a block or two from Hyde Park and every spring the park was filled with daffodils... and not in flower beds-- they popped up throughout the grass in perfect little bouquets. I miss that.
2. The grill is out, and what a relief as I have desperately needed a change to my cooking routine. Grill= less mess and good food.
2. Elsa can finally wear short sleeves! While in Southern Cali. in January, we were spoiled with temps in the 80's. Elsa LOVES short sleeve t-shirts... and got to where them everyday there. Of course, once home we were greeted with more and more snow, which meant more and more tears as she pleaded to me (and to Heavenly Father) EVERYDAY for summer to come. Well, her prayers were answered b/c it was in the 70's all last week and that is unbelievably warm weather for March. She is thrilled and so am I.
3. Gardening: Last summer was the first time I planted a full out veggie garden. It was a lot of work, but worth it. This year it will be much bigger.
4. My birthday. Spring is the best time of year to have a birthday. This year my wards 'Relief Society Birthday' celebration is on my birthday. The enrichment committee asked for volunteers to decorate the tables. I signed up to do one and I have decided that I will be decorating a table to celebrate my birthday and only those who love me can sit at it. ha ha. I am sure some random person will wander over and take a seat... and that will be interesting.