Under the Weather.

I have been under the weather.  It has not been fun.  Not at all.  It always seems to come at the worst time, too... but I suppose there is never a great time to be sick in bed, now is there?  I know there are blessings weaved into my hard trials.  I know I need to be better at finding them, seeing them and learning from them.  I suppose what doesn't kill you, really does make you stronger.  Sometimes, I wish there was a less painful way to learn and build character and gain experience, other than going through difficult times (like laying in bed sick.sick.sick for 8 days)!

 

I am so thankful to be up and out of my sick bed today.  Thankful for my amazing Superman husband who took over all my jobs while I was down and out, and for his endless patience and who always takes such good care of me!  Thankful to my parents who called me everyday and cooked dinner for me and my family and delivered it twice, my healer brother and his beautiful blessing he gave to me, my bff for letting me cry it out to her and calling me everyday to check on me, my sisters who are always there to cheer me up (even though one said I looked really bad when we were on face-time on our iPhones - hee hee)... I am so incredibly blessed.  How do people get through it without such a support system?  I am a lucky girl, for sure.  Now bring on springtime and feeling good!!  Our health is truly our greatest wealth.  I hope I don't ever take it for granted. 

Today.

Reading with my little Shaye-Shaye.   Its a favorite part of my afternoon.   I watch her face.   She is beautiful.   She is smart.   You can almost see her brain learning.  She is my baby.   And my heart loves her so much.  Its a wonderful winter afternoon when I get to curl up with her and read a few good books on my big king size bed and let the afternoon sun pour in on us and warm us a bit. 

(Shaye reading to me - "If you give a Cat a Cupcake" - one of our favorites.)

Now off to finish the rest of my day, which includes:
~ cleaning up the house
~ picking up the children from various places around town
~ making dinner
~ listening to some of my favorite Christmas songs, while I work around the house
~ helping little Gabi with her science experiment
~ pondering on my upcoming talk in Sacrament meeting
~ bathing little girls and kissing them and tucking them in tight
~ starting another load of laundry, and thinking about the mounds to be folded and put away
~ doing another load of dishes
~ admiring my lovely Christmas tree glowing in the evening hours
~ and hopefully ~ curling up with Chad to watch Survivor from last night

How do you spend your afternoons?  Are you as blessed as me?

Feeling Creative.

I have been in such a creative mood lately!  My mind and body just want to create, create, create.  I have channeled some of that energy into redesigning and refreshing my blog!  I am loving my new look!  What do you think?  I am hoping to change up my flash header with new pics of my kids at every season.  Wouldn't that be lovely?

I also spent some of my weekend planting 300 spring bulbs into my front gardens.  Oh boy, I can't wait for spring!  My yard will be blooming with crocuses, tulips, daffodils and irises.

I am in such a nesting mood as well.  It must have something to do with the temperature dropping and the looming winter ahead.  The yard is almost winterized.  We have pulled out all the garden plants and put down our winter fertilizer.  The last few days, it has rained and rained.  This new cold weather has led me to:  turn on my heater, curl up in a blanket and watch some epic movies, make fall treats (so far we have devoured: chocolate chip pumpkin cookies, caramel apples and caramel popcorn - yum.), pull out my favorite sweaters and boots, and decorate my house for the holidays.

Yesterday was Sunday and it was FULL of inspiration.  I just love Sundays, don't you?

And here is a good example of why you should (or shouldn't) leave your camera out for your 13 year old son to find.  You never know what you will see when you download your pics...

 

Happy Monday!

Life. In Pictures.

(cute pregnant Adelle)

This is my sis.

She is about to give birth to her first son.

I have a birthday coming on Friday, and I am hoping he will make his appearance into this world on my birthday!  It would sure make my getting older a little easier for me to bear.

And wouldn't that be a great birthday present?

I think so.

Me and my camera are ready and waiting. 

And speaking of baby boys...

(cute, chubby Corey - pics from my blackberry)

I got to have this adorable little guy for a whole weekend!

He is my other sis Cindee's baby boy.

Oh man, did I love having a babe to carry around!

Let's just say there was a lot of kissing going on that weekend.

 

I am so lucky to have sisters and sisters-in-law

who will supply me with darling babies to kiss!

 

(my blue-eyed babe)

Especially since my baby is not so much a baby anymore...

But that doesn't stop me from giving her plenty of kisses.

How can you resist kissing those cheeks?

Now, off to make dinner and get a little work done.

PS.  I have been loving this song today.

I think Lee will win the whole thing.  Hopefully.

Progress.

OK, so I know I have been behind on blogging!  

I haven't forgot... just been super busy!

But I have been making some great progress!

We love progress, don't we?  Yes we do.

Progress on:

Some video work... (one video project took Adelle and I to St. George!)

Some photography work... (some very exciting news on this, soon to come!)

And most of all... Some Mom work... (my most important job, and the one that keeps me insanely busy!  But, I love it and am so thankful that I get to do it full time!)

Speaking of... here are a few pics of my little darlings.  

Happy February Everyone!

Hope you've made some progress, too!

Addicted Again.

OK I admit it.

  I have been sucked in.  

I am now addicted once again, to Twilight.  

I saw the movie last weekend, and LOVED it.  

I'm already wanting to see it again!

  

I loved reading the books, and I was afraid the movie 

just wouldn't live up (the movies are usually never as good as the books), 

but overall, I would say they did a pretty amazing job at bringing it to life!  

The actors played their characters really well 

(with the exception of Jasper... I didn't love how he was portrayed).  

Bella was perfect, and Edward (much to my surprise) was well, Edward.  

Need I say more?

One of my favorite scenes from the movie.... 

Oh yes, I will definitely be back to see it once again.

And, yes, I am enjoying my fall from reality.

Hope I can stay here for awhile.

:)

7 Things...

I've been tagged by my friend Jen, to list 7 random / weird facts about myself.  Important things you have always wanted to know, right?  So, here goes...

1.  I love getting into my bed at night.  I call it "my spot".  I like to build a fortress of pillows all around me, so that I am surrounded by softness, and oh yeah, I cannot sleep without covers.  I don't care if it is 100 degrees in the room, I always have to have covers on me!  And, I love to sleep.  If I don't get enough sleep, I am not a happy camper.

2.  I love exercise.  Weird huh?  I don't know why, but I always have.  I feel some amazing stuff when I am working out - powerful, strong, happy.  

3.  I am a sunshine girl.  The heat doesn't bother me.  I love being warm - I hate being cold.  My Dad used to call me a California girl.  I dread the cold, dark, winter months.  

4.  I love the ocean.  I find it fascinating and terrifying, all at the same time.  There is something about being on the water, or near the water that gives me huge amounts of joy.  

5.  I am a drink shaker.  If I have a drink with ice, I will shake, shake, shake the cup before each sip.  My family makes fun of me for it.  

6. I cannot watch scary movies.  No. No. No.  I get too caught up in them and my imagination runs wild.  They stay with me for years.  It's horrible!  

7.  I can't eat meat with bones.  Let me clarify.  I can eat meat that had bones, I just don't want to see the bones or have them on my plate.    

Now you know some random things about me.  

Instead of tagging other people, I'm just going to challenge anyone who reads this, to do this list on your blog, about yourself!  (c'mon, it'll be fun!)  If you don't have a blog, then what are you waiting for?  Create a blog and make this your first post!  (and then send me the link, cuz I want to read some random things about you!)  I like randomness.  I think maybe I just like the word random. Everyone say it with me... RANDOM.  It's kind of a cool word, don't ya think?