Tyler and Ava

A few weeks ago we went to pine view for a night of boating with the young women. Tyler and Brad came up with the boat. Ava and Tyler has fun covering each other up in the grass. Tyler is always so good to Ava and plays with her whenever we are all together. She adores him!

I'm gonna miss this!

I know that we are supposed to enjoy every stage of life for the good that each offers, but I can't help but feel a little sad. The summer has flown by so FAST! It has seriously been one of the best summers I have ever had. I think that I was able to spend more time being a "mom" this summer than I have had since Ava was just a tiny baby. I have really loved every minute of it. Last week were sitting in the living room eating lunch together at her princess table and the thought occurred to me just how precious those moments are. It is not very often that I get to spend the whole day from start to finish with my sweet girl. It was seriously the best gift that I could have been given this summer and I am truly grateful to the gift giver! I am so excited to be back in school and have a busy schedule again, but I know that I will always miss this time in my life one day too. I am so thankful for the opportunity that I have to be going back to school. The way everything has just fallen into place is truly a miracle (at least in my eyes). There are definitely days when I wonder what the heck I am doing but I really know that I am doing exactly what I am supposed to be doing right now. I just wanted to post a few pictures of some of the "highlights" of our summer since I was kind of a slacker with my blog this summer. For now I will try and enjoy each day for the good that it brings because I know that one day I will look back and miss it! There is a song by Trace Adkins that says exactly what I am feeling! Here is the chorus:

Your gonna miss this, your gonna want this back
Your gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast
These are some good times, so take a good look around.
You may not know it now but your gonna miss this.

Check this out!

I have decided to copy Katie and my Mom and take the picture a day challenge. Yes, I know it is not January but in my early 20's I decided that I would set new goals for myself on my birthday every year. So, if you want check out A Day In My Life go HERE

Happy Day!

My cute new book shelf!


Ava and Elomy (Emily)


Look at that serious look on her face!

I am 27 today! I feel a little old, but still in my twenties so its all good for a few more years at least! We went out and celebrated my birthday last night with dinner at Benihana's. Sharon rounded up the whole family and it was so fun to be with everyone! Ava was very impressed with having her dinner cooked right there in front of her. They even had special chop stick for kids! I even got the special singing that come with Benihana! They have a big drum and a tamberine they beat while they sing to you (Katie and Carly can laugh about this!) and I even got my picture taken. We had a good laugh cause it looks like I was all alone for dinner in the picture. We came back to my house for my all time favorite, lemon sour cream pie from Marie Calendars. Ava has now requested that we go there for her birthday, she was very impressed! Thank you Sharon and Brad for making it such a special night! Now I am off to school - I have class from 9 - 3:30 today and I am actually very excited about it. I have some really good classes this semester!

Where does she get it from?

Most of you who really know me know that I am not one who loves cleaning. As a child I used to tell people I was allergic to work (meaning house work). I am messy and not so organized when it comes to keeping things tidy. I am getting better and learning that if I stay on top of things I can keep my house clean. Ava on the other hand doesn't mind helping out. She loves to wash mirrors, mop and vacuum. There has even been tear shed over me not letting her vacuum long enough! I had to laugh yesterday when she brought all her shoes out to the living room, lined them all up and proceeded to clean every pair! She even resorted to scrubbing some of them in the sink with soap and a scrub brush. I don't know what gave her this idea but I know it was all her own because she has never once seen me do it. She never ceases to amaze me!

My cute girl!

Ava and I got to go boating twice this week! Ava was nervous about getting in the boat the first time and said she wouldn't do it. But, we got her in the boat and she LOVED it! Bryan (chris brother) let her drive the boat, you should have seen the smile on her face! I was so sad I did not bring the camera on the boat :( I did get one of her driving with Brad though!

Ava's home!

Ava got home last night after a two week stay in California. It is so nice to have her home! Her plane came in 20 minutes late so I was very anxious by the time she was in my arms. She was actually happy to be home and didn't cry this time. Last time I picked her up from her Dads she cried in the air port for almost an hour. After picking her up we wen to Katie's so she could see her cousins. That is always the first thing she asks to do when she gets home. It is always so cute to see how excited they all are to see each other again. After we wen to Katie's we went to neilsens for some ice cream. By the time we left Chris and Ava were dunking their fingers in their ice cream and trying to get it on each others face! Then Chris taught Ava how to catapult her ice cream off her spoon! It was a fun night and it is so nice to hear her cute little voice in the house again. I miss you so much when she is away!

River Trip

Katie and Ryan go on a river trip every summer with a group from Ryan's work. This summer they invited Becca, Nick, Chris and I to come along for the fun.  We had a blast!  It was so much fun to be with my sisters and create more memories together.  I look forward to any time that we get to spend together and have a good time and we always manage to have the BEST time together!  We all took a turn throwing each other off the raft.  Katie and I went in twice together, I got Becca three times (she never got me back either!), Nick pushed Ryan over board and Ryan managed to push me and Chris in.  We cliff jumped, and got a good laugh when Ryan got dumped out of his duckie and we had to rescue him. Thanks Katie and Ryan for such a fun weekend!

Lesson on Love

Love.  It is a strange thing.  I don't think there is one way to really define it.  There are many types of love we experience through the course of our lives.  There is the love you feel for your friends, your neighbors, your family, your children, your spouse.  There are the emotions of "falling" in love and being totally consumed by love.  There are just so many wonderful ways that we can experience the emotion of love through the course of a lifetime.  There is one very specific moment in my life were I really feel like I new what love was.  Ya know the kind of love that is enduring, requires sacrifice on behalf of another, is completely unconditional, and lasts truly for a life time.  I will take you back to the day.  August 10, 2002.

This is the day my niece Savannah was born.  I was living in Long Beach at the time and was not going to miss this event for anything in the world.  My sister was scheduled to be induced that day so I started the drive that morning.  I barely made the big event.  She was born way faster than I anticipated.  I ran into the room just in time to be apart of such a beautiful day.  The thing that stands out to me the most about this day is the spirit I felt that day.  It was a gift, because I was so not worthy of it.   A gift that will always hold a special part of my heart.  I just remember watching my sister and thinking that she was the most amazing person I knew.  I went home that night and of course couldn't sleep, but I remember laying there are thinking, WOW that is what love is.  Love at first sight. The love between a mother, father and there child.  The first look that you will never in your lifetime forget.  There is just no adequate way to truly describe it!  Today that special girl turned six!  I can't believe it.  I have had the experience this love twice since the first time six short years ago. But still today Savannah is so very special to me.  There is nothing like a niece and I love Savannah to death.  Happy Birthday sweet girl!  I love you.

Finally ready to go public.......

I have the best news and for some reason I have taken way to long to share it!  I met some one! We met online in February and emailed everyday until we met in person in May.  Remember the trip to Hawaii?  Well..... pretty much the reason for that was to meet Chris.  He was living there waiting to be discharged from the military and I grew impatient with not knowing for sure when he would be back in Utah so one day I jokingly asked Sharon if she wanted to go to Hawaii.  She caught me off guard by saying yes.  We were able to find a price that was right and went.  So we saw it each other twice while I was in Hawaii.  It was so exciting to finally meet him, and yes a little nerve racking too.  Chris came home, to utah, two weeks after I got back from Hawaii and the rest is pretty much history.  I felt like I was in love with him before we actually met, but now I know for sure.  It was so weird to be feeling those emotions without having ever been in the same room with someone, but I was just so drawn to him.  Ava loves him and he is great with her!  I could not have imagined that relationship to be any better. So....... life is wonderful!  I am happier than ever and feel like my life is a little more complete with every passing day.  Ava has take all the pictures of us together so they are not the best but you can still tell how cute he is!

Memory Lane!

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together.  It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!  (Ade or Josh)

2.  Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you.  It's actually pretty funny to see the responses.  If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.  If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.

EVERYBODY PLAY!  I want to see what memories are out there!

Girls Camp!

I have not been a blog slacker on purpose! I went to girls camp last week!  It was so much fun and I feel so lucky to have been able to go (thanks to Katie watching Ava).  The theme was H.E.A.R.T.S for hear the Savoir.  Everything was amazing.  It was stake girls camp so we went to Piuta.  Each ward had there own them to go with the HEARTS theme and we were the Cardia Crew.  Our camp director did an AWESOME job.  We all had matching scrubs that we wore up there the first day. We had badges with our pictures on them, our own Dr. name (mine was Dr. Jules, original, right?), we could write prescription for people and take them to a pharmacy to be filled (with candy of course, the best medicine) and IV's hanging by our beds!  It was so nice to just get away from the hustle and bustle of the world for a few days and grow closer to the cute girls, the leaders and of course to my Heavenly Father.  Every morning there was early morning seminary and the lessons were amazing.  They were all on the parable of the ten virgins and how we need to be prepared and make sure that we have enough oil in our lamps.  The last night some of the youth leaders did an amazing program about the parable and each sang beautiful songs.  It was definitely a testimony growing experience.  I managed to sleep to most of the party that took place all night every night and even got a nap in everyday!  And of course the best part was the camp fire every night and toasting marsh mellows.  I have been craving that little treat for quite some time now!  Yes, I was a complete slacker and didn't take any pictures worth posting :(  All though it was nice to get home it was even nicer to get home!

This was my favorite spiritual thought from camp

Therefor look gently on men

And even more gently on women.

Do not condemn them.

Above all consider not merely what they have done, 

but why.

God alone has the power to look into the human heart,

to judge actions and motives and regrets.

He alone knows not only what one has done and why,

But what one has resisted doing and why-

Man's responsibility is to forgive: only God has

the authority to judge.

-Robert Burns

My Cute Grandpa!

This is me with my cute Grandpa Harris after the temple last week end.  He holds a very special place in my heart.  He has always been so good to me.  I remember when I was a little girl having sleep overs with my cousins and he would always to fee fi fo fum from jack in the bean stock and make us giggle uncontrollably.  He used to jump rope and do the coolest tricks!  I lived with my Grandpa for six months after Ava was born.  We were both going through very difficult times.  My Grandma died a month before Ava was born and he was so heart broken.  We both needed the companionship of another.  We had some good cries and some good laughs together. I will always be so thankful to him for opening his home and his heart to me and more than anything for helping me to start on the road to finding happiness again.  Love you Grandpa!

My Parents!

I love this picture.  To me it is priceless.  It is not very often that I get to be with both of my parents.  It was oh so very special to be in the temple with both of them.  I have been thinking a lot about the importance of parents and family.  I am so blessed to have grown up in a home where my parents taught me so many important things.  I have been reflecting on how my relationship with each of my parents has changed through out the years.  In my childhood I thought that were perfect and new everything.  I looked up to them and thought they could do no wrong.  As a teenager I thought they were a little embarrassing and had no clue about anything (because like I most teenagers, I knew everything).  I though that they just wanted to keep me from being happy and doing what I wanted to do at the moment.  I couldn't wait to break free of them and have my own life and my own rules.  It wasn't until I was faced with being a parent myself that I finally "got it".  My parents don't know "everything" but they sure now a lot more than me.  They have great insight and experience from there own triumphs and failures in their own lives.  I learned that they love me more than words can even explain and that all they have ever wanted for me was to be truly happy.  I am so truly blessed by there love and hard work as parents.  My parents have taught me some very important lessons!  They taught me the gospel.  And when I wasn't choosing to live by gospel standards they still loved me and most importantly they never changed their standards.  They just prayed for me and were ready to help me change when the time was right.  They taught me the importance of being a hard worker, setting goals, and never settling for less than being the best I could.  They taught me to have fun, how to serve others, how to love, and how to forgive.  They gave me my two best friends, Katie and Becca.  I have to learned that despite their faults they are both wonderful people that I could not make it without.  I have a very different relationship with each of my parents.  I love them and give thanks for each of them everyday!  I am so blessed by having both of them in my life.  

Sad Day

Today I am a little sad.  In fact I have been sad all week.  For the past year Ava has been going to Gail's while I work and go to school.  Sunday night Gail told be that she got another job and will not be watching kids any longer.  What?  I was completely speechless!  She watched Ava all of this week, but today is Ava's last day at Gails.  Day care is the trial of my life.  When that isn't working out, nothing else seems right.  Luckily I work from home so Ava can hang at home with me, it just makes my job a little stressful.  I do need to find someone by the end of summer though for when schools starts.  I know that everything will eventually work itself out but I am still so stressed.  I loved having Ava at Gails.  She loved being there too.  I never for one second worried about her while she was there and I fear that I will never find that kind of security again.

A Perfect Day!

I went to the temple today!  There really are no words to express all that is in my heart right now. I just want to thank everyone who has helped me make it to the temple.  There have been so many people who have influenced my life for good.  It was so special to be in the temple with so many of them today.  Every person who was there with me today has touched my life in a very special way!  I can't think of any other place I would have rather been than there with my family and so many friends today.  It was a wonderful experience!

Right now......

Right now I am really missing my girl!  I did talk to her this morning though and she sounded great and was full of questions for me as usual.

It's gone and its never coming back!

In February I decided it was finally time to shed a few pounds.  Katie inspired my to join weight watchers online with her.  I love it!  It has totally worked for me, along with working out.  I started with swimming and was going at least 3 times a week.  I had forgotten how much I love to swim!  It has been such a great way for me to relieve stress and get in shape!  I think it would be safe to say that I am in the best shape of my life!  As of Monday I have officially lost 20 pounds!  My goal was 25 so I have a few more weeks until my end goal is accomplished!

Me before

This is me today in my "chubby" jeans (above)

And me in my new "skinny" jeans (below)

Typical Ava

This is the typical Ava cheesy grin.  LOVE IT!!!!

Cute Girls!

LeaRose, Megan, Eva, Kallie and Jenny

These are most of the girls in my Mia Maid class. They are all so awesome and unique in there own ways. They are so cute and I feel honored to be part of there lives. I have been the Mia Maid advisor for two years now. I can't believe it has been that long! I love my calling and have learned so much from the girls as well as the other leaders that I get to work with.