New blog

Hello my fellow bloggers.

I have a new blog and will no longer be posting on this one. Please add the following blog to your lists of reads ;)

http://www.maurasstories.blogspot.com/

I hope to see you all over there. Thanks for keeping up with me!!!!

So Happy!

Really what else can I really say? I am so incredibly happy. I love my handsome loving husband. I love my beautiful children. I love my wonderful family. All of them are the light of my life and I am sooo grateful to my Heavenly Father for allowing me to have them in my life. Each one of them makes me a better person just by knowing them!


I am in Heaven on earth!

Its almost here

FOUR DAYS!!!!!

I am so excited to have all my siblings here, I'm so excited for girls night on Friday (me and my sista's) I'm so excited to see his face when I walk down the isle and I can't wait to go on the honeymoon.


I just can't wait to be able to tell the world that he is my husband!!!!

YAY!!!!!!!!!

COUNT DOWN

9 DAYS!!!!

we are in single digit days here people!!!! SINGLE DIGET DAYS!!!!!

11 Days

Only 11 days left people!!!

I'm sooo excited!


I love and adore him so much its sometimes hard to breath. I can't wait to be with him for the rest of my life. I can't wait to be able to tell the world that we are married, that he is mine and only mine!

I can't wait to be Mrs. Snyder forever

Thats pretty dang cool

I go on Failblog a lot. Mostly is funny/stupid people doing funny/stupid stuff but sometimes they will put a WIN on there...of someone doing something awesome. This is one of those people.

http://failblog.org/2010/08/19/epic-fail-video-street-performer-win/

check it out. I think this guy is pretty awesome.

Awesome!

The kitchen and sink in particular faces the road. So you can look out and see people walking or cars roaming.

Yesterday, while doing dishes, Brian and I saw something Awesome. A dad jogging....with his obviously struggling, too young to be in this kind of condition, over-weight little girl. She had to be around 9-10 and she was easily 90-100 pounds. She was red faces, panting and hating her father from the looks of it.

I just thought it was great! how many of our youth are horribly over weight and how many parents not only ignore the issue but contribute to it by allowing poor eating habits and inactivity to keep up, thinking 'the schools will fix it' or 'I don't have the time or money to fix a healthy meal' or 'they are happy...why push it if they are fine'

-Schools should not take the place of parent...they are a tool not a solution.

-It takes about 30 minutes to sit in line at a fast food restaurant get home, unpack the food and eat it. Takes about 40 minutes to bake chicken, green beans and rice and beleive it or not...probably cost less then a night at McDonalds

-They are not happy...they don't' know the difference and it will just keep getting worse.

Breaks my heart to see an elementary school kid breathing heavy just getting to the play ground let alone running around with the rest of the kids. So kudos to this dad...who is doing something about it in his daughters life! I applaud you!

1st day of school

So Monday the 2nd of August my girls started school. Five years ago I knew this day would come. I knew I was going to be a blubber face watching my child take one more step away from me and into the world....little did I know it was going to be timsed by three. Three little cuties I walked to the door and let go of their tiny hands. Three angels I gave a hug and kiss goodbye and three little voices said "I love you mommy" as they happily took on the challenge of starting a new thing. I won't lie....as soon as I got in the car I cried for a solid five minutes before I even turned on the engine. I'm getting emotional just writing this. Its really quiet silly actually but there it is.

Juliet, Bethanie and Breana. They really do love each other when they want too! :D

Picture with daddy before he left for work. *side note: can I just say he is just so stinking handsome!!! I can't even stand it. ....ok back to the girls.

Me with my girls. Don't know if you can tell....my eyes are already red. But look at those faces! they are soo excited!

SISTERS! really? is there anything better?!

Breana :)

Bethanie

Juliet...she insisted on posing...such a goof.

I just love this picture. Bethanie, Breana and Juliet.....My three big girls.

wahhoooo

One month and five days till I marry the absolute love of my life!!!!
Three days till school starts for the girls and we don't have to pay day care anymore.
About seven months till I'm done with consumer credit.

That will be an extra $1200 a month I will be saving...yes people you read that right, close to Twelve Hundred dollars I am spending currently on day care and consumer credit. I have no idea how I've survived....the Lord that's for dang sure!

I can't wait to start being able to save instead of living paycheck to paycheck. I can't wait to be with my love for the rest of always....to buy a house with him, to have babie(s) with him, to raise our family the best way we know how!

I'm so very glad I have such wonderful parents to use as an example. They are simply fantastic!

I'm just all around in a great place. :)

Why Juliet will never have to eat frogs leg's.

background: in our house, you have to at least try whatever is put in front of you before you say you don't like it. Its a rule I will always enforce (side note: I will never make my children eat anything I wouldn't consider putting in my own mouth)

I like to egg my kids on.....ask them why a billion times when they are trying to explain something and what not...Its fun and I'm the mom so I get to do that. Most of the time they will just get frustrated with my game and just laugh or say 'Mooooommmyyyy' in that 'please stop talking' whine. But occasionally they will come up with a perfect answer and stump even them best of them...aka me! ;~)

The following conversation took place last week while driving home:

Mom: Aunt Rina is coming over to watch you. And she is getting pizza
Juliet: YAY
Mom: oh but the pizza isn't for you, you get to have frogs legs
Juliet: seriously mom? that's gross
Mom: Yes and how do you know they are gross?
Juliet: cause my mouth told me so
Mom: have you ever tried them?
Juliet: umm..NOOOO
Mom: then how do you know you wouldn't like them if you haven't' even tried them

(dramatic pause)

Juliet: Because that is how Jesus made me.


Well you can't really argue with that now can you! And that my friends is why Juliet will never have to eat frogs leg's...at least not at my table. To bad she didn't save that awesome answer for spinach or green beans. :D

Best thing about sisters...

Sleep overs! :D even if it just in each others room.

Beach Day.

The Musgroves (family friends) invited us to go the lake on Sat. They went up early and got an awesome spot. We came up later after my class and the girls got right into the water!

We stayed up there for six hours! It was super nice. Sun was hot, water was cold, food was yum and company was wonderful. I hope we do it again soon!


Juliet, Bethanie and Breana....cute aren't they?

Juliet... who is usually terrified of the water went up all the way to her neck and even paddled out on a little raft all by herself (not to far, but far enough to get a nice dunk if she were to have fallen off - hence the constant presence of arm floaties!)

Breana. :) her little arms are almost none existent with those arm floaties. I kept having flash backs to The Christmas Story and how Ralphy's brother couldn't put his arms down.

I didn't get an individual picture of Bethanie. She seemed to want to be difficult in regards to taking a picture for me. O well...maybe next time.

Having a bit of a snack. Gotta stay fuelled for all the beach fun! I love Breana's face (in the middle)...pay no attention to the whale at the bottom of the screen.

This has to be one of my favorite pictures.

Me and my hunny. I just love this man!


When we got home we grilled up some hot dogs, washed off sand residue, watched a movie and then we all had a really good nights sleep!

Love summer. :D

Mommy eyes

Juliet is not one of those kids who dances around what she wants to say. She rarely is embarrassed and strait out tells you what she is doing or thinking if asked and sometimes when you don't ask.

Yesterday I was drawing a bath ....ha that sounded so early 1900's....anyway I digress, I was drawing a bath for the girls when I walked in the bathroom to check the water for the girls and Juliet is on the potty...of course commanding her sisters to do something (even from the potty with her naked hiney she is bossy!). I tell the twins to go find jammies for after the bath and ask Juliet what she is doing (meaning why is she bossing her sisters around)

"Poopin" is her answer. At this I do notice a nasty little oder and say "hecks ya you are thats stiiiiinky!" So then she tells me to "turn on the gross air sucker upper" (meaning the fan). I hear giggles behind me and with out turning tell the twins to go find their jammies.

They are amazed by my skill to know exactly what they are doing (love those mommy skills) when I hear "how did she know that?"

I walk out, flip on the fan, tell Juliet to hurry up. I'm halfway down the hall when I hear "cause she's got back of the head mommy eyes under her hair...now go find jammies" in that little bossy voice coming from atop the toilet.

1: Juliet comes up with the funniest things to say.
2: how on earth do children not have more nightmares when we are telling them we have eyes in the back of our heads....The vision that comes to my mind when she said that was terrifying. I wonder how I didn't' go running from my moms head every time she turned around. Crazziness.

Ask and ye shal recieve...

My previous post was me freaking out about child care! well yesterday I got a call back from the school letting me know that they have a special program through the boys and girls club. They can be registered there at 5 if they are registered at Sun Vally Elementary. Awesome... then I get a text from my sister who says she's got a friend who can do it as well. Nice.

so I have a main plan and a back up plan. Yes!

Then I start chatting up the school lady...and she tells me that they have uniforms this year! hallelujah! I am all for uniforms. I think all schools should be in uniforms. Yes children should be able to express themselves but if we take away the ability to express through hoochie shorts and baggy pants then maybe these kids would start expressing through art, music or writing. I fully believe on putting everyone on a level playing field, make everyone equal and then go from there. It will be far easier for everyone to come in and know they are wearing the same things and not be judged on clothes, name brands and style.

So all in all....I'm a happy mom so far. We will see what the school year has in store for me. Last year I was preparing one child to go to kindergarten. Now I'm getting ready to see three start their little lives off as big girls. I won't lie....its going to kill me! I'm going to be a wreck!

Before/After School Care

I'm sure this is yet another reason I should be a stay at home mom....but just can't be that way.


Why is it sooooo dang hard to find before/after school programs. Especially for Kindergartners. They are typically 5. 5 is old enough to start school....but apparently not old enough to be able to be watched in before/after school programs. All the ones I've looked up are 6. And I love my girls dearly but they are all the same age so anywhere I do find that might take them at 5 will cost us an arm and a leg. We are talking about four hours here people! It shouldn't be where parents have to get two jobs just to afford care!!!!!

I am going to talk to a member of our ward who is currently watching Juliet and see if she will be gracious enough to watch them for us. I'm not sure if it will work or if I'm going to have to miraculously change my works schedule to meet this outrageous need.

The Lord will provide if I keep the faith......doesn't mean I can't get a bit frustrated along the way.

Juliets Eye

Last night I came home from my book club and Juliet kept saying her eye hurt. So I took her in the bathroom and tried to look at her eye. She had it shut so tight I thought I would need the jaws of life to pry it open. I finally have to tell her to hug my waist tight so she'll leave her hands away from her face and pull her eye open.

Ok so I'm thinking maybe an eyelash or something....no a huge clump of stuff animal stuffing. I won't lie at first I thought some worm or something had got stuck in her eye. I had an internal battle with the little girl me who wanted to slap at it, scream and run away and the the mother in me who desperately wanted to save my child's eye and whatever other evil might come from this nastiness. Luckily for Juliets face and my ego...mother me won, calmed down and realized it was stuffing and not worms.

I pull out piece by piece...some come out easily some don't. I wanted to pull all of it out at once but one she kept clamping her eye-lid down (I dont' blame her I would too) and two I didn't know if it had started to wrap around anything and didn't want to inadvertently pull her eyeball out (cause then scardy cat little girl in me would have won...hands down!).

I pull the last piece out and then run her open eye under water. It was red and swollen and she said it only hurt when she closed her eye. I explained that it was probably scratched. Then I asked her how the heck she got stuffing in her eye. She still has no clue. Ya that's my kid!

This morning I ask her how her eye is and she says good, that it no longer hurt. I pulled her to me and started looking for myself. I pull her eye lid open and examine it like a mother should.

"Are you sure it doesn't hurt" I ask

"Well if you dont' squish it!" she replies in a heeeeelllllooooo voice.

Brian and I both started busting up. Ya...she's def my daughter.

June 18th, 2010

Today is a Friday. Nothing unusual about this Friday. It was sunny, warm and all around pleasant. I worked all day. Had lunch with my handsome husband to be and laughed a lot with co-workers

I feel the need to say its a very important day. Could be important to different people for different reasons. If its not important to you...make it. :)


That's pretty much all I have to say about that.

Engagement Pictures.

While my sister was in town, she took some engagement pictures of Brian and I. Here are a few of my favorites. We only picked three for the invites so I'm posting the rest that I really liked.

Hope you like them. :D

This is one that I picked for the invites. I love it.

This is the main picture for our invites. :D

I just think this one is darling.

I absolutely love this one. We have so much fun together!

Kissie face! this one also shows of my bling. haha

I like this one cause Brian was making fun of me and totally over-exaggerating his face. Probably cause I kept saying "be happy, be happy....be happy hunny"

This is the one we ended up using on our invites.....or one very similar to it.

Another one were we are laughing with/at each other. Aren't we cute?! haha.

This is just a cute one I think.

I love Brian's "Ya, I got it" look and the way my hair is flying around.

Almost used this one for the invites....but didn't. Absolutely love it. Totally shows off my eye color. :D and isn't he handsome!!!???!!!!!!

Well there you are. Me and my handsome soon to be husband. I can't wait to start my life with him!!!!!

Thanks Didder (Deborah) for capturing those wonderful moments for us.

Getting closer.....

The wedding is getting closer (as you can see from my awesome countdown at the top of the screen. hehe).

Things that I've gotten done so far.

Booked Church
Booked Bishop
Booked Photog
Printed up invites
Done engagement pics
Bought Dress
Brides maids have picked out their dresses
Figured out Flowers
Figured out Dinner
Figured out favors
Figured out Center pieces

Things that still need to be done.
Final cake/cupcake decisions.
Start buying dinner/centerpieces stuff
Plan rehearsal and rehearsal dinner
Have bridal shower/bachlorette party
Buy Brian's ring
Get tux
Get dresses for girls
put together music for reception

and I'm sure there are smaller details I still need to figure out and handle. Luckily for me I have some fantastic family who can help me do all this and know that I'm going to get all stressed out and still love me! :D

I'm sooooo excited to be getting married to Brian. He is everything I've ever wanted and needed. I love him sooo much!!!

A story by Juliet Duke

The following is a story Juliet told to Deborah and I. She simply cracks me up!

There were two birds. The girl bird has stinky feet. The boy bird told the girl bird she had stinky feet. The girl bird said "I don't' have stinky feet...its my shoes". "No" said the boy bird. "Put them on your feet and your feet will stink too" said the girl bird. So the boy bird put on the shoes and they figured out that the shoes made the birds feet smell. So then they became girlfriend and boyfriend because they both had 'snanky feet'.

no joke...she actually said - stanky- and she held the 'a' for a second or two to put a little umph in it. It was HILARIOUS!

Love her stories.

Good and Bad of Reno

I moved to Reno a bit ago and I absolutely love it here. I love my job, I love the city, I love being in the thick of it. Course its not as big as I would like it to be...but it will do.

I've always been a big city girl at heart...when I was little I dreamed of moving to New York. I would still love to but that just not feasible in our life plans.

the down side of living in Reno...besides the traffic in the evening ;) is missing out on my family. They live in Carson. My sister recently surprised everyone and came into town. I'm used to seeing her all the time when she is here and this time it has been different. I live 45 minutes away so its not like I can just pop on over and then be back in time to get children ready for bed and be in at a decent hour. Cause lets face it, when I get with my mom and sisters....we talk! :D

I love them very much and I do miss them tons! but I love it here. Its where I'm suppose to be!

I just hope my family knows that I still love and adore them and I do miss being able to drive around the corner to have a chat or spend lots of time there when some of them come to visit!

Dunked

Brian...the absolute love of my life became a member of the LDS church on Saturday May 15th. He has been coming to church with me since a few weeks after we started dating. He took the lessons on his own and decided to get baptized.

I won't lie, it made me super super happy! I think he has the potential to do great things in our church and uphold the priesthood to its fullest. He says he would like to take me to the temple one day. I hope that is a goal we can achieve someday...because there is nothing more I would love then to be sealed to him and our children forever!

I love the Gospel and the blessings we receive if we do what we are asked to. The joys far out weigh the sorrows and I am so very grateful that Heavenly Father saw me worthy enough to gain an eternal partner such as Brian. I am truly blessed!

My girls.

So with this new marriage of mine coming up...I will not only be gaining a wonderful partner in life but also two new daughters.


Bethanie, Juliet and Breana.....my beautiful girls. Aren't they cute?! And all 5 by the way.

Breana, Bethanie and Juliet....they love Tata (my grandpa). Apparently they thought he was cold or something. hehe.

I'm excited for this new adventure in my life. I'm happy to have met my love and to have gained two sweet girls. There will be some tough times (all three of them starting driving lessons and dating around the same time...not looking forward to that so much. hehe) but I think the wonderful times will far out weigh!

Silly Man

Brian and I were talking about wedding plans the other day and I got a tad frustrated because he didn't seem excited or like he wanted to help.

"I hope you get more excited about this as it gets closer"
"I asked you to marry me, not to be part of the planning"

Good point. He didn't ask to be part of the planning... he did ask me to marry him and would be perfectly happy doing it tomorrow in the Bishops office. :)

We are planning on making the wedding super small, the more I think about it the smaller I want it....but it still needs planning! Silly man. I love him!

Kid day

Ever have one of those days you just want to do fun kids stuff all day. Its soo nice here in Reno today...finally, after weeks of teasing sun and then freezing temperatures!

I looked out the window at work and said "man I want to be out there"

Things I wouldn't' mind doing today:

Sitting on a swing
Riding a bike
Eating ice-cream bought from an ice-cream truck
Rolling down a grassy hill
Taking an afternoon nap in the warm sun
Running through the sprinklers
Drinking from the hose
playing with side-walk chalk

some a few things I remember doing as a kid that just got lost in the growing up process. I don't know why...they are still fun things to do. :)

what are some things you would do if you had a 'kid day'?

Just curious

I find the following conversation a bit on the annoying side:

"So, your engaged...set a date yet?"
"Yes, December 7th"
"wow, you have a date already? quick"

um.....just curious. Why did you ask if you didn't think I actually had one? Its like asking a hugely pregnant woman how she's feeling and then be suprised when she says tired or she feels huge. ugg.

I'm Engaged

Ok so most of you already know through Facebook, phone call, e-mail or seeing it first hand....but I have to blog about it anyway! :D

Brian, the absolute love of my life, proposed to me yesterday. The day started out with me going to get my wedding dress (yes, I got my dress before I got my ring. but I knew it was coming and I fell in love with the dress so had to get it) Brian went and got the ring while I was trying on my dress for the alterations girl. (course I didn't know all this until later. hehe)

We got home after about a billion more errands and we fell into our routine of the girls playing and Brian and I on our computers. He set up a spot for me at his desk so we can both sit together while we are working on various things.

We had gotten some gelato ice-cream at the store and Brian asked if I wanted some. Sure I had replied...I was busy looking at bridesmaids dresses and flower arrangements. He came back and put he ice-cream at the end of the desk my my chair. I was still enthralled in my search and said I was thinking about tulips for my bouquet. He said 'tulips huh' I said 'ya'

Then I hear "Maura?"
I turn with a "ya baby" and there he was on one knee with my ring in his hand.
It simply took my breath away. My hand went to my chest and my breath hitched.
"will you marry me?
I do have to admit it took me a minute to answer...but only because I was overwhelmed with emotion, excitement, love ....you know pure joy pretty much.
I said yes of course and then we hugged, and kissed and cried....well I cried a lot and he cried a little.

We went outside to take a picture of my ring in the sun. The pictures don't do it justice...but that's just me being partial. :D

I'm absolutely in love with it....I"m absolutely in love with him. I just can't even tell you how happy and perfect my life is.
I get to marry the love of my life, I'm going to gain two daughters and a life time of wonderfulness.

This is the beginning of something so great!

Um...Moooommyyy?

You never know what will come next when you hear the nervous little voice that comes from your child. The 'moooommmyyy?' that is both feeling you out to see how you might react to whatever situation they got themselves into and pleading for the help only a parent can give.

Last night was a classic one. We (Brian, Breana, Bethanie, Juliet and I) were sitting on the couch watching a show after dinner when I hear that fateful plea.

'yes baby' is my usual answer to it.

" I just pooped in my pants a little bit" is what came next

"um why?...." as I look at her with wide eyes...I mean the girl is 5. She should know by now when she needs to poo.

"I thought it was a fart, but it tricked me and poop came out too"

"well go to the bathroom and we'll get you cleaned up"

ok I was barely hanging on to my 'mommy' face (trying desperately not to laugh) but what she did next blew all that out of the water. She gets up off the couch and duck-butt waddle runs to the bathroom. Both Brian and I started laughing. We couldn't help it. I was still laughing when I helped her clean up...heck I'm busting up even now as I write this.

I know that this is probably not something she wants written on my blog to live forever on cyber space....but I just cant' help it. It was hilarious and I'm allowed. I'm the mom. :D

Juliets 5th Birthday

I know it was almost two weeks ago but better late then never! :D


Here is all her guests and her after building thier bear. She has a few friends. :) hehe.

Me, Mom and Rina....oh and Ruth there in the back ground. :D

Here are my three Bethanie, Juliet and Breana course all you see is the back...but the front is just as cute. lol

Here is everyone putting love in thier bears

Seth couldn't make it so we built him a bear....Frank.

The birthday girl! She has a real tiera from Grampy and Granna....her bangs are barely growing back, but she's still the prettiest March baby I've ever seen!

And here is her Tinker Bell cake.

I was working on the finishing touches when I realized I forgot to put the filling in! we just brought it with us and scooped some on the side. :D

Pretty good if I do say so myself.

She is five now. My darling baby. Not really a baby anymore, its bittersweet. I love that she is growing into a happy, healthy child but time just flys by and I feel like if I blink she will be all grown up and I will have missed it.

Love you bunches babygirl! Love Mommy

Changes

Here are a list of things that have happened in the last few months.

I am still dating one of the most wonderful men I've ever had the privilege to know.
I started my new job on the 8th of March and absolutely adore it!!!
I moved out of my house and am renting a room from some very good friends so i can save up money.
Juliet will be starting school in September at Reno Christian Academy
I fit into a size 8/10 shirt. Still 10/12 on pants and dresses...but I was stoked
Juliet is getting bigger and smarter everyday
and I'm pretty much loving life right now.

Changes are hard to handle...even if they are for the best. I still have a little fear of the unknown but Faith it will all work out for the best.

I'm sorry I haven't posted in a while. I've been so incredibly busy.

I'll try to keep up with my new life and the adventures that are coming my way.

Me...a home owner?

I am going tomorrow after work to look at a condo in Reno. It is near the school I want Juliet to go to and a short distance (thanks to freeways) from my new job and of course its near my hunny. which is a bonus. :)

Its two bedroom, two bathroom 919 sq ft condo listed for $18,900...not to bad right?!

I'm so excited. I really hope it turns out to be something I can get into. the payments would be less then rent and I would own it in about 5-7 years. Me? a property owner? craziness!!!

wish me luck.

My turn

Last weekend I went to Brian's families get-together. I met his mom, her boyfriend, his grandma and grandpa and his sister, brother-in-law and niece.

We spent the weekend hanging out at his moms house in Fallon. She's got like 60 dogs all pure bred and so cute. We went for a lot of walks and even went on four wheeling a bit. It was fun.

Of course I was nervous out of my mind, but by the end of the weekend I was beyond great. The girls had fun and I enjoyed meeting his family.

Life is good. :)

My new favorite candy

Ok people, I'm sure I've mentioned before that I love, love, love Lindor chocolates! YUUUMM! but I think they are tied or slightly overshadowed by my new obsession.

3 Musketeers - Truffle Crisps.

Oh my heck are they good!!!! I the nougat has been replaced by a crisp candy (taste like astronaut ice-cream) and then a layer of creamy truffle. heaven!

They are only 170 calories so not as bad. I try to stay away from them but its my new weekness.

Join the dark side and try one...they are davine.

It was bound to happen

Almost all kids try it. Mom does it...so it can't be that difficult right? Scissors, hair...try to make even. Well this is what Juliets results where. She hid it for a good hour cause she wore a headband.

I was upset but couldn't help laughing about it later. At least she did the bangs only and not snip off her braid!!! nor did she cut Breana or Bethanie's hair...thank goodness!



Side view...almost looks like a prison photo



So mom and I were talking and she looks like her uncle Keith. :)


Silly face even in the depths of getting in trouble. Why does that not surprise me?! Man I love this child!!!!!

Apologies

I would like to apologize to all my friends and family for my actions lately. I have never been in this situation before and I think while I was excited and giddy, I was causing uncomfortable or ignored feelings.

Although I would have liked to have known about the feelings I was causing everyone sooner...they are out and now the healing can begin.

I will be more aware of my actions and words in the future and try to find a balance that will be ok for everyone around me.

I love my family and friends dearly and do not like that I caused annoyance or hard feelings.

Just wanted to get that out there.

:)

Quote of the day

I have this nifty new app on my iPhone. Every day a new quote comes up. I love qoutes. I love how profound, loving, funny or crazy they can be. Today's qoute was great and so incredibly true.

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out. Anton Chekhov

Day to day living. Getting up to early when you fell asleep too late, getting kids ready who are still tired and cranky, trying to battle traffic to get to work on time and work for a company/boss that on occasion appreciates you but for the most part either strives to forget about you or make your day not so great, battle traffic to get home and find the house that you haven't been in all day in need of cleaning, dinner, dishes, laundry, take care of the animals, get the kid in bed, catch up on facebook and then off to lala land to start it all over again.

I don't know about you but that can wear a person down. I'm glad I have such wonderful people in my life that are able and willing to brighten my day! Its people like that...friends, family, special someones...who make the day to day stuff not only seem not that bad, but well worth the effort.

In her head

Juliet has been giggling to herself all night. She laughed in the bath, while brushing her teeth, cleaning up the toys and then getting dressed for bed.

I thought she was just giggly...it happens to the both of us. We just laugh and nothing and everything sometimes.

But when she got in bed and was still giggling. I finally asked her what she was giggling at. She says:

My head keeps telling me funny jokes.


hmmmmm.....I told Brian about it and he said it was both funny and scary at the same time. I have to agree. But notice how it doesn't surprise me...she is my daughter after all. :)

waiting...

Ever had things go so incredibly right in your life that you want to look over your shoulder because you just know something has to be wrong?

Yes I've recently gone through a divorce and it was not a fun time in my life....but so many things have happened to make me smile and be thankful for.

-- Jason and I are still on awesome terms. We talk like friends still and he seems to be in a good place in his life as well. Which makes me happy for him!
-- I'm finally losing the weight that has dragged me down for so many years and I feel so incredibly awesome. I have more energy and self esteem.
-- I've made a new friend. She is wonderful and I can talk to her about anything! I really needed an LDS girlfriend who has been through a similar situation as me and could understand the woman/LDS/young single mother side of it all.
-- I've met and am dating an incredible man. He makes me feel pretty and puts a smile on my face. He's so patient with me and the decisions I've made and want to stick to in my life. He's such a great person, responsible, loving father, funny and treats me like I'm the greatest thing that's come along since his kids. He's wonderful.
-- My cakes are taking off and I was just offered to take overflow request for a mini cruise liner up at Tahoe, starting this summer.
-- Juliet is healthy and happy and growing more beautiful every day. She is such a blessing in my life. I love talking with her and having giggle fits with her. She has been such a strength for me.
-- My family is one of the most supported and loving families you will ever meet and I am so happy to be a part of them. I appreciate what they do for me and the trust they have in me to make the right decisions in my life.

I'm sure there are more but for now, that's all I can think of. :) I just hope it lasts. I'm not going to waste time waiting for it to go away. I'm going to enjoy every second of happiness I've been given!

I'm a lucky gal.

Brian and his girls (Breana and Bethanie) came down for dinner on Sunday, since my parents were out of town, I was in charge of dinner. We had breakfast burritos...they were yummy. Anyway, After dinner the four kids were playing (Breana, Bethanie, Eric and Juliet) so Rina, Melisa, Brian and I played a few board games. Then of course the laptops, Ipods and phones came out. So I had Melisa take a few picks....I didn't know she was taking this many until I heard the clicking and grabbed the phone back. But the pictures were cute and so I kept them and now I'm sharing. :)


This is the original picture I wanted her to take. Us posing all cute like. :) I obviously thought she was done cause I went in for a smooch.


I would have deleted this one...my face is all funny looking but I love the way he's looking at me so I had to keep it. Its now one of my favorite pics.

Don't look dad...I'm kissing...eek J/K ;)

This is about the time we heard the clicking of the camera going off some more. I'm grabbing the phone away from her, but she got one more in. I like this picture because Brian never does a full smile for camera's. He says he doesn't like the way he looks in pictures with it. But we caught him with one. I love it.