A Slow Sunday

No pictures for this post, surprise!! I started this blog for my little family and so I must include what is said, not only what is seen...

Last Sunday as my family sat on the pew in church during Sacrament Meeting, Bella leans up to my ear and whispers, "Is it fast Sunday?" I replied with a quiet no. She was quiet for a few moments and then responded, "So, it is a Slow Sunday?"

I do love my babies.

P.S. For those of you who are not of my faith, the LDS Church asks each member that can, to fast for two meals once a month and then donate the money that would have been used towards food to the Church Humanitarian Fund. It is also a day to bear our testimonies.

A Picture Says a Thousand Words

A truly phenomenal photographer, and friend, Jennifer Ashby took pictures of April's "Veeps" (Vampire Peeps...) as a gift to April and her family and friends. I have to make it clear that I fell honored to be included in these pictures. April has so many friends and loved ones, they are endless - really. I had so much fun at this photo shoot and laughed so hard, my cheeks hurt when it was all said and done. It is a memory I will always treasure and I am so grateful to Jennifer for capturing it all. My favorite quote is "Laughter Through Tears is my Favorite Emotion", it really seems to fit this group of awesome women (not to mention BEAUTIFUL).
Clockwise from top: Angie Wilding, me, Kelli Pabst, Chris Nelson, Natalie Day, Kim Munson, Annie Sager and April in the middle.

Oh my!! Look who just HAD to tag along... Edward! Shouldn't you be stalking a dog or something right now?

This is my favorite... Doesn't it look like Edward's hand is on April's shoulder?

These are our sexy poses. Apparently, Kim's sexy pose is her just her natural look. Good for you girl, I gotta' wear a lot of makeup and crack out the red high heels for "sexy"... I think Edward was impressed with us, he sure hung out long enough.

I am proud to admit I love to arm wrestle - it started with my Book Club Girls (I'm pretty good), but now I feel the need to arm wrestle everyone, everywhere. I thought Natalie would be a no "muscler", BUT IT WAS A TIE! She weighs like a buck o'five and I still couldn't take her.

FYI- these are no longer professional photos, but you would never know it by looking at those eyes...

April and Kelli

April and "The Chosen One", Annie.

April and Kim

April and Angie

Bella begged to come with me that night and even allowed me to dress her to match our pictures. I have no idea what she thought of us nuts, but when we got home she made me do all these crazy poses while she photographed me. (Don't worry, I won't post them)

Angie was so sweet. While we were all getting pretty giggly, she took time to sit down with Bella and read her a story. It really says a lot about Angie and it left a little imprint on my heart. Thanks Angie.

The red heels were a hit that night, how good it would have felt to stand up after arm wrestling in those babies and declare Victory, but alas...

Until we meet again, tough girl.

That night also happened to be my 35th birthday (ouch) and the girls all chipped in for this great gift. It says almost everything you need to know about me: A 32 oz. Chevron cup, a Chevron Gift Card worth 5 refills, a free refill and a Gift Card to my very favorite store, Maurices. There was even more, thank you ladies, I love to feel spoiled...

Seriously, I love these women. I have been blessed to have the most amazing friends. I don't know why I have been so lucky, I must need a lot of help and am in need of good examples, but whatever the reason I am grateful everyday for each and everyone of them.

To Jennifer. Thank you. Your gift will truly last a lifetime.

My Book Club Girls

I have had the utmost PRIVILEGE to to be friends with five fabulous women for going on 6 years. We started as a book club - and believe me - we take ourselves seriously, I'll post our reading list one day, but we are now... much more. The word "friend" doesn't quite capture our relationship, sister is a better word, I think. I love each and every one of them for who they are and the examples they have always set for me. We have been through the thick and the thin, and I am so grateful to have them in my life.

At our last book club, I wanted to take a picture of each one to post, but they all freaked out... I swear, it is our age. Instead they caught me on camera opening my birthday gift.
I had seen this picture at Costco and wanted it so badly I cried, I did. But on my current budget, it was not an option. So, my sneaky little brain came up with a most clever plan. I called Susan and told her how much I loved it and it would be a great birthday gift, if everyone chipped in. (Now, the one I told her about was an 8x10" canvas on an easel) My tears are due to the big surprise of a larger framed print. Thank you, Susan, Ami, Jodi, Tiffany and Cyrina. The painting is titled "Perfect Love", a fitting one for this occasion.

My dear, dear friend, Susan allowed me one picture. I love you!! Susan and I go way back - into our 20's!! (We think we are so old right now) She has always quietly stood by my side and held my hand. We have laughed together and, maybe, even cried together more. She is my eternal friend and I love her and her family with all my heart.

Isn't the quote, "Hands to Work, Hearts to God"? Well, that defines this bunch. If they would have allowed individual pictures, each one may have gotten an impressive paragraph like Susan's. Too bad.

Um, I really don't really know what to say about our feet. "We never walk a lonely road"? I don't know, it was getting late!
To my Book Club Girls, I love you, thank you.

Touching the Temple...

Our new bff's, Elder "D" and Elder "K" invited our family to tour the Boise Temple grounds and have a lesson/discussion after. It was a beautiful, spring day and it was actually the first time I had walked the gardens.
Bella was very excited when she learned she could "touch the Temple", but Maddy scared her a bit when she told her it was Heavenly Father's home - Bella snatched back her hand and made it clear she wasn't ready to see Heavenly Father in the flesh.

The flowers were almost as beautiful as my babies...

Thank you for the sweet day, Elders, and thank you, Katie, for taking this gorgeous picture.

The Blessings of the Temple

Most of you know my dear friend, April, and her precarious heart condition. She lives life to the fullest, even though her body will not do all the exciting little things her mind wants to. She is also a very determined lady. She decided she wanted to attend an endowment session at the temple, (it could be her last...) For those who haven't been through the temple , an endowment session lasts about two hours long and is a very symbolic, spiritual ritual and a special way to worship our Lord. It can be tough on the healthiest of persons, but when April decides to do something she does it - so we all packed in Chris's suburban and off to to the Boise Temple we went. I was on the phone most of the way, talking with the temple matron explaining our special circumstances. We not only had April, who could have a "heart episode" at any moment , but we also had our Annie, who is pregnant and managed to fall down the downstairs and break her tailbone. We had to make sure we were seated in a certain order, with April up front and Annie on the large bench to sit on with her donut... I can't even imagine what this dear temple worker was thinking.
She made it!! April did have to pop a pill or two, but she did it. We can all learn a bit from this lady.

April and Cindy Birch. Cindy is the only person I know who ALWAYS has a smile on her face, I mean it, ALWAYS.

Sometimes I think April is faking her illness because she looks so dang good!!

April and Kelli Pabst. Thank you Kelli for crying with me the whole time. I was starting to go into the "ugly" cry, not good... Kelli was right there with me and even lost the ability to tie a bow at one point. The rest of the gang are quite cold hearted and don't cry - Thaaaank you, Kelli!!!

Hi, Friend. I love ya like a vampire.

Afterwards we went to lunch were we celebrated the gender of Annie's baby. I have already dubbed him Hank. Annie was so hungry she ate french fries off the floor. I am so glad I am not pregnant.

This is what really cracked me up: April's Heart Healthy Meal. Deep fried potatoes and and some oily fishy something. Awesome, a good reminder to those who bring dinners in, apparently April eats what she wants now. Good for you.

Thank you, April, and all the girls for such a wonderful day. My love to you all.

I'm Bringin' Home the Bacon...

For those of you avid readers who don't know, my hubby has been out of work for quite some time. He was in construction for 17 years and when the building market crashed, Pat's family business was hit quite hard. At the same time we also found that Pat has extensive nerve damage to his hands, wrists and arms do to repetitive motion while on the job. So, to make a long story short, we have been without work and steady income since last summer. I began to babysit more and tried to make extra money with my vinyl lettering business, but this only goes so far... Dang it. One morning, I prayed for other opportunities to bring income into our family. That very day I was contacted by a very sweet friend from our ward who wondered if I might be interested in a temporary job at her husbands Orthodontist office. I stumbled a bit at the thought at first, I wasn't planning on having to leave home during the day, but this seemed like a direct answer to a prayer. I was contacted later in the week by the office manager and after three interviews I landed myself a temporary job through the summer as a front desk receptionist. (Which is a miracle in itself, because I have been out of the work force for 12 years, and never have done work in the Ortho field, period.) Now I find myself working full time M-F for a DR. PAYNE... Don't let the name fool you, he is a wonderful orthodontist.
Now, remember, I still have a baby at home. Ok, not a baby, but my baby, and Pat is going to take over my babysitting duties (isn't he just the sweetest thing??) So, of course, I had to leave a 5 page note on how to care for children. I could have written much more, but it was about 2 a.m. when I started this one on the night before my first day. Has he read it? Don't know, but for my sake I hope he pretends he did. It is a hard thing to leave your babies for a job. The only thing that has made it ok for me is that Pat is the one looking after my little ones while I am gone.

After reading my blog, my mom said there were a lot of pictures of myself. Well, Mother, it is my blog. So to continue in the same fashion, on my first day at work, I had Teresa, the Office Manager, take my picture. It is a fabulous, state of the art office with computer technology I am very scared of...

PERKS OF WORKING AT AN ORTHO OFFICE: Instant blackmail... Smile Susan!! You are on my blog. HA. HA. She was muttering something to the effect that she was going to get me for this...

Katie got her braces off today by sweet Janet. She was one happy camper. (Note: this was, like, my second day on the job and I am ignoring my front desk duties to take pictures...)

Smile, Beautiful!!

And to Dr. Payne and his AWESOME staff, thank you for the best job in the world. Also, be looking forward to more pictures, I have to get one of all of you...