My Little Leprechans

...looks like they found thier pot of gold during breakfast!!

(BTW - Avery was super excited to get to wear her gold sparkle shoes to school today!!)

Happy St. Patricks Day!!

Happy Birthday to my big 4-year old!

So today begins your journey into the world as a 4 year old. Your new birthday outfit says it all as you really are "TuTu cute"!

From the moment you rolled out of bed today you let me know that you were now a big girl, who was 4 years old, and with words that sent joy straight to my heart, that 4 year old girls do not pee in thier panties (yes folks, we are still working on the P.T. thing, but maybe today will mark a change for this girl) I just know that you made me smile - like you do every day!!

You are the happiest little girl and you really do make us laugh with the way you take in all the things going on around you and try to be a part of it. Your quick wit and intelligence continues to grow in leaps and bounds and I have to admit your intelligence takes me by surpise at least once a day with how well you understand this whole crazy world we live in.

I love how you have a personality (and you are not afraid to show it) and an imagination that knows no bounds and how everyone one you meet automatically earns the title of your friend.

My favorite noises you make are the horse noises when you are playing with your my little ponies. If only I had a tape recording to share - you would think there were horses in the room - she is that good!

It still amazes me how much you can eat for one so small. We will always get a laugh at how if at any time you couldn't be found, the first place we would look for you was in the pantry and sure enough there you were, climbing on a box or on a shelf trying to get into something delicious.

You are my snuggle bunny and have been from the moment the doctor placed you in my arms. I love how you will run up to me and ask for a hug no matter the time of the day and how every night we end it with a super snuggle and a tight squeeze.

I love that you still won't go to sleep at night without Monkey by your side.

Thank you for coming into my life and bringing so much sunshine and love. You challenge my patience at times, but it's a small price to pay for the unlimited amounts of love, happiness and trust that I get from you.

Thanks for helping me throughout the day and being my little princess. Thanks for always knowing when to give a hug and for the wonderful songs you love to make up on the fly.

You will always be my little baby, even when you are all grown up!!

I love you K - HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

yah - it's been a while

I know I have about 10 other things I could be writing about and sharing with you, but I read this on a friends FB post and just wanted to share (cause it's quick and it gets me back into blogging) baby steps people, baby steps...

"Love is everything it's cracked up to be...That's why people are so cynical about it...It really is worth fighting for, being brave for, risking everything for ~ Erica Jong

Erica - I don't know you, but I like the way you think :o)

SLC Lights Adventure

So yesterday A and I had the great idea to take the kids to see the lights on Temple Square. We thought about driving, but after the snow storm that entered our little valley, we decided that neither one of us really wanted to drive and have to deal with other drivers, so why not take the front runner train down town.

The girls were ecstatic about the train option, especially K who is a really big fan of all things trains. I have to admit that her obsession with trains is a new thing for me especially since Ave never really showed this much interest in them, but I guess to each their own, and I should just enjoy her love of all things choo choo.

So we bought our tickets and off we went to board the train and of course found seats on the top level which Ave says is where you have to sit every time you ride the train.

Now I should also mention that along with the recent snow, Mother Nature has also treated us to a pretty sever drop in temperatures. So needless to say it was cold, and if you asked A how cold I am sure he would have some phrase remembered from his childhood about freezing the "B's" off some animal/person or whatnot and he would be right. Even being as bundled up as we could be, it was still really really cold.

Luckily we were able to warm up by first eating dinner at The Gateway and then by getting on to the Trax and heading up to Temple Square. The lights were beautiful, at least from the little bit that what we were able to see. There was something about being out in the cold that seemed to trigger little K's bladder and she ended up needing to use the bathroom more than usual. So after taking care of that little business a few times, just as we were getting ready to take our first picture with the lights in the background, they shut them off. Guess you could say we closed down the place.

Luckily for us there were still some lights left on in the plaza in between Temple Square and The Church Office Bldgs, so we were able to get a few pictures there and I have to say that the little floaty lights on the infinity pond were beautiful to see.

By now though the cold temps and the late night hour were catching up with the girls and there were tired and wanted to go home. K feel asleep the second we got back on the front runner and A got to enjoy a rare snuggle session with her as he was carrying her (I say rare because usually she won't let him do anything for her, it has to be mom) Ave feel asleep the second we got back to the car and so both girls were carried upstairs and tucked into bed once we got home.

So despite the cold temps and not getting to see all that twinkled and glittered, it was still a very good night!!

I am Thankful for Many, Many Things

My Life - This really encompasses so many things, but mainly the fact that I am alive, and have a healthy body, an active mind and that I have the chance to live in a land that offers so many freedoms to do whatever it is I want to do to improve myself, my family and my community. I also have to give it up to the men and women who work on a daily bases to protect those freedoms and I don't just mean soldiers (although they are pretty darn incredible at what they do), but also give thanks to the people who every day try to make a difference like police men and women, nurses, teachers. Without you my life would be a little less safe and so I am grateful to have you in it!!

My Husband - How thankful I am that we found each, even after all these years together. We have managed to get through some pretty crazy ups and downs that life always seems to throw at you especially when you least expect it or want it. I guess it's a good thing we both like roller coaster rides, cause we may be on one for life and I wouldn't want to be on it with anyone else. We have grown together, yelled together, laughed together, cried together, been afraid together and come out on the other side of things stronger than before. I love the time we are able to spend alone together and I hope we continue to grow in our love and respect and friendship in the years to come. What more can be said but that I love you babe!

My Kids - I promise not to make this the longest section of this post, but seriously, I am thankful for my two girls, for coming into my life and making me a mom (I was always afraid I would never get to be one) and for bringing so much joy and sunshine and laughter into my life. I know I will make mistakes and not always do things the right way, but I will always love you two with all that I am and I hope in those difficult moments my love for you will be enough. I love watching you grow and learn all about the world around you. You are my angels!!

My Friends (You all know who you are) - You give me strength when I need it the most and just by being in my life I am a better person. I love that there is never any judgement and there are always sets of listening ears to hear the latest news whether it be good or bad or just plain crazy. Thanks for making me feel like I have a place in the world where I can turn whenever I need a friend - life without you would be no life at all!!

My Family - Even though we live apart and never get together as often as I like, we are a family and whenever we do get together, I love hearing and seeing and watching all that you have made of your lives. I love seeing my nieces and nephews and all the cuteness that they bring to this family (seriously, we have some cute kids) and I love hearing about the struggles, accomplishments and moments in life that bring you happiness. I will always be here if you ever need anything and I know you will be there for me as well, through the good times and the bad.

Halloween pics - Yah, I know I'm late!

So it has taken me this long to finally download the pictures from my camera from Halloween and given that it is not quite Thanksgiving yet (I still have 5 days) I figured I can still share them and not run the risk of being TOO late and overlapping on holidays, Plus the pictures are too fun not to share, so enjoy!

A carved this pumpkin all by herself. She picked out the design and punched out the picture and carved it all by herself. I think she did an amazing job and she had so much fun. She even managed to make it through the "guts" part of the pumpkin.

The night before Halloween, we took the girls to Lagoon for the last time on our season passes (there was no way I was going to take them on the actual last day which was Halloween) for Frightmares. They had a blast going through the different Spook alleys and riding on their favorite rides one last time.

I have to admit some of the high school kids they had working there were more annoying than scary, but I guess that's what you get when 15 year olds run a theme park!

It was a little chilly for full costumes so we just painted faces and wore hats, but K was the best little witch and A was her trusty black cat. They loved the fact that they got their face painted (by yours truly) and they turned out looking pretty good, although I am really glad that K does not have those eyebrows in real life.

One of the spook houses ended up being a little more scary than we planned on (at one point I screamed like a little girl) and K was a trooper and just screamed right back at anything that jumped out at her that she did not like. Needless to say in the Haunted High School she did a lot of screaming at various and random creatures. I wish I could have had video of that as it was too funny. A just stayed really close and kept really quite, probably hoping that no one would notice her.

Calling all Princesses, Calling all Princesses - On Halloween Night we went to the little hot dog roast that a neighbor up the street hosts each year before heading out and trick-or-treating.

The girls pulled in some serious candy and this year we had to stop halfway and get a grocery bag from a friend to dump their pumpkins into as they (and the pockets on my jacket) were already overflowing and we were only about halfway around our neighborhood.

In case you can't tell, A was a Renaissance princess and K was a Parisian Princess and both looked beautiful. They loved that they got to wear mommy's make-up and have "sparkly" eyes (that was K's description of how she looked) A was especially proud of her gold sparkly shoes and dangly grown-up earrings.

By nights end they were both pretty tired, but you could tell they had a blast!! I think the picture of K and the smile on her face as she was trick or treating really says it all. She loved that she had a friend to go from house to house with, especially since her big sister keep taking off and leaving her in the dust (literally).

A loved that she got to spend the nights with her BFF M (the Zombie Bride) and J - the Egyptian Queen. They had so much fun just laughing and giggling and comparing what candy or treat each other got, it totally reminded me of the joys of just being a kid.

Hope your Halloween was as fun as ours was this year!! My girls will be eating candy until Christmas!!

US Virgin Island - St. Johns - January 2010

Duration - 7 days

Cost - **FREE** --> all expenses are going to be paid by A's company. we only have to bring our swimsuits and personal items, and maybe some $ for souvinours for the girls.

Why --> Because my husband ROCKS in a major way as he ended the year in the #3 position for sales in terms of $$$ sold in medical diagnostic equipment and reagents and they take the top 10 reps who each get to bring 1 guest on an absolutely incredible trip. Seriously, we are talking over 200 sales reps and he was #3. He ROCKS!!

I get to go along as his "+1" and I plan to fully enjoy my time there. I can't wait to walk on the white sandy beaches, swim in the turquoise blue ocean and bays and partake of all that St. John's has to offer during our stay!!

My mind is spinning with images of leisurely massages, snorkeling with shiny/colorful fishes and turtles, lounging by the pool, tons of great food and fabulous fruity concoctions, uninterrupted relaxation and oh so much more.