Well Bless My Phoebster!

Does this picture not say it ALL???

Sunday was been so insanely busy. Bless Candace’s heart, she called and took Ella for a sleep-over on Saturday night, which meant that I didn't take her to SLC for Phoebe’s blessing. I have officially decided that this is the LAST time I’m driving to SLC before the new baby is born (f-a-t-i-g-u-e). I slept in after my alarm went off at 6:15 AM (used to go off at 4:30 AM, what the heck?), so Lance got me up at 6:25. I was out the door having woken Mia up and thrown a dress on her. We tried to stop for gas, but good ole’ Sam’s Club doesn’t have their pumps open early Sunday mornings. It would behoove me to learn their hours! I left on a prayer that we could skid in on time and on fumes.

Here's our family -those who made it!

After the gas light turned on in Centerville, I went to the wrong church (in Taylorsville). I found Granny’s van at the next church and mad-dashed in. The shush-ing lady from the back row scowled at me when I considered darting to the seat saved for me near the front --it was during the blessing, so I stayed in the back and caught ½ of it. I listened as carefully as I could to Dave as he gave a sincerely beautiful blessing to dear Phoebe Alexis. It was SO sweet.

Here's me (wearing a fabulous black/minimizing ensemble) and the Phoebes.

After church, Lexie’s and our family gathered at Rachael’s home for lunch. It was really nice to hang out with everyone. There is a lot of history with Lex's dad from when Dave and Lex first got together, but it all seemed so full of forgiveness and joy of the occasion. I was really touched by Lexie’s dad’s prayer for the lunch, and I think we all felt the peace that the gospel can bring even after all the circumstances. Overall, it was a lovely day.

Sarah took this cute shot with Lily and Mia! :)

...And I can't resist a cute pic of Mia (thanks for the new dress, Mom)!


Congratulations to Dave and your beautiful family.

Bracelets

Sarah took this shot, and it's much better than the one I had... Mine is the veiny hand with the wedding rings showing. Nice work, butch.

Ups and Downs

From this...

To THIS. ...Joys of motherhood, folks. Kids are so darn entertaining!

Just Because

My sweetheart surprised me with these gorgeous roses and a delightful donut yesterday morning. ...Does it get any better? Thank you so much, baby.

(Ella wanted to jump in to the shot! ...Teach 'em to love the flowers young!)

4-Fer Summer Birthday Bash!

Yesterday the family gathered in SLC in honor of the birthdays of four amazing women.
First we have Granny. Some of the kiddos have been good about calling her "Great Granny" now, but she's always "Granny" to me. My mom is "Nanny" to my kids, so it works. Granny is such a special part of our family. She has been very involved and an important piece of every birthday and holiday and get-together as far back as I can remember. Her role in my up-bringing is so significant -it's the kind of role I would hope to have with my children's children. I want them to know and love me the way I do her. Thank you Granny for giving us another wonderful year of your ever-present love.

The next birthday is Mom. Mom is indescribable when it comes to the role she actually plays in my life. …She’s pretty much my guardian angel -and has been for an incredibly long time. I can’t even fake my independence from her. I love that she’s so available to talk to. She always has an opinion (hmmm, wonder where I get THAT from), but is so careful to try to stay objective. I think mom understands me much better than I even give her credit for. I’m so grateful to her for her example -of education, of dedication and hard work, of limitless love and commitment, and most importantly of individuality. Mom is a free spirit, and I have so much of her in me, it’s really an honor. I love you, Mom.

For her birthday, Mom received (from Rach -good work!) a beautiful bracelet like the ones we all have... Ours say "sisters" and her's says "mother". ...It brought a few tears, as she's now a part of the 'club'. :)

It was Rachael's birthday too!! Rachael has long been among my dearest of dearest friends. Rachael and I have been pretty tight since I moved to SLC back in 1999. She is someone you can’t help but stand back and simply admire. Rachael either totally has it all together, or has everyone fooled really really well. I’m pretty sure it’s the first choice, as she is so black and white about right and wrong -I can’t seen her putting up much of a front. Rachael is my best moral-compass when I need an opinion and feedback. She is the voice of reason for me on a lot of issues -and her opinion is one of the most valuable I can attain. Rachael doesn’t have the first idea about how beautiful she is, as she gives so much of herself and doesn’t embrace the incredible beauty and example of a woman that she really is. …She just IS those things. Rachael is selfless and loving. She’s an incredible mom, wife, and friend. I admire so many things about her, I can’t begin to express how much she means to me -it’s an honor to be her sister.

Last and certainly not least is my lovely sister Sarah. Sarah is the ‘single-and-fabulous’ woman that still owns an envious piece of my heart! She has had some great career moves that have brought her back to school now to get her Masters in Social Work at the University of Utah. Sarah has seen a lot in her time as a social worker, and I can’t help but stand back in awe at what it takes to do what she does. I know that I am not built for MANY things, and working with the public (ahem, some of the SERIOUS dregs of society) for the better good is the LAST thing I feel I could have the patience and understanding for. Sarah has a very open, but determined heart. She has shown extraordinary strength and perseverance in accomplishing her goals, and I am nothing but impressed with what she has to show for it. She’s fascinating to talk to, she loves deeply and freely, and she’s an extremely devoted friend.

I wish each of you the happiest of birthdays, and want you to know that I am SO grateful to share your lives with you.

I love you ladies.

Happy 24th!

It's Pioneer Day, folks! The weekend was packed with family fun times, of course! Here we are at the parade! Above is my Mia-Babes.Chaedon hung out with us for the weekend -SUCH a sweetheart.

Mia really had a blast dancing and clapping for all of the floats!

Here's Miss Lynn -helping Ella see us shouting for her to wave! She was pretty in to the taffy that she was throwing and didn't notice us until we'd almost gotten out of her view! Great job on getting a few shots, Lance, I didn't think we'd get her!

I have a sincere appreciation for living in Utah. I love that I wasn't exposed to a lot of what is out there -and am actually grateful for the innocence I grew up with. I believe that it created in me a stronger conviction in what I hold dear. I believe that being amongst so many of the same kind of people can forge an individuality worth fighting for; and a character unique amongst others.

My hope for my girls is that they are as protected as I was... yet develop a beautiful individuality as they find camaraderie with others like themselves.

Grouchy?

I have no reason to be really grouchy.... unless you can actually sympathize with pregnancy. I don't know, man. Men don't get the hormone issues that rage within a body being taken over by another human being. I guess it's not as bad as I've seen grouchiness exist in nameless others, however, for me, I'm so tired of my own volitility! I was looking at our bank account balance a few minutes ago and let some words fly that shouldn't be audible by ears inside OR outside my body. Life moves forward and you take good with bad -I just wish that the bad didn't piss me off so much...

:)

Ella On Parade

This Friday is Pioneer Day. There is a fun little parade here in Logan that goes down center street and 5th west. Ella will be in it! Her darling little preschool "The Learning Train" will feature the students, and we're going!

*This is an open invite to all family/ friends who want something fun to do on Friday! Call me!*

Christian and "the list"...

Okay Okay Okay! So this pregnancy has me all in a tizzy over good-looking men. I'm SORRY. Rachael had observed lately that I seemed to refer to these scrumpy delights more often than normal, and I have to admit, it's true.
YES, I normally have my 'Lance-Blinders' on, and I still do see him as the sexiest touch-able man EVER. *LOVE you, babe!* However, "the list" still exists in my frenzied head.

...You all know "the list" of which I speak, and I don't feel it bears any explanation. Lance and I were watching "The Dark Night" this afternoon, and I couldn't help myself but to oogle at Christian (whom I have been pretty faithful to since his "Newsies" days) and appreciate the finer aspects of the incredible physical specimen that he is. Scrumpy scrumpy scrumpy.

Lance is awesome.
Thanks for putting up with my pregnant craziness. :D

I MISS IT!!!

This, my friends, is the BEST PERFUME EVER!!! I smelled it again on Sawa-Butch last time I was hanging out with my sisters and the sadness overwhelmed me again...

See, I'm out.

I have been through 2 bottles of this little gem of a scent, and have loved every sexy-smelling minute of every day that I wore it. ...A spritz of fabulousness every day... My heart is broken. I've been out for at least a month, and though I can ROCK CK's Obsession (not many can, and I don't recommend you try without some honest noses around to verify) and still have some left, it's not working for me right now with my highly sensitive pregnant olfactory senses.

:( I need a visit from the perfume gods. Juicy Couture, will we ever meet again?