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.

One Word!

1. Where is your cell phone?..................... table

2. Your significant other?.......................... none

3. Your hair?................................................ blonde

4. Your mother? ......................................... hugs

5. Your father? ............................................ supportive

6. Your favorite thing? .............................. food

7. Your dream last night? ......................... weird

8. Your favorite drink?.............................. coke

9. Your dream/goal? ..............................wedding

10. The room you are in? ......................... living

11. Your ex? ................................................ stupid

12. Your fear? ............................................. failure

13. Where were you last night? ............... date

14. What your not? .................................... boring

15. Where you want to be in six years?... MSW

16. Muffins? ..............................................Pumpkin

17. One of your wish items? ..................... house

18. Where you grew up? ........................ Corcoran

19. What are you wearing?........................ pajamas

20. Your TV? ................................................ tiny

21. Your pets? ............................................ zero

22. Your computer? .................................... clueless

23. Your life? ................................................ happy

24. Your mood? ........................................... groggy

25. Missing someone? ................................. Tricia

26. Your car?.................................................. Old

27. Something your not wearing? ............. makeup

28. Favorite store? ...................................... Express

29. Your summer? ....................................... fun

30. Like someone? ...................................... yes

31. Your favorite color? .............................. black

32. Last time you laugher? ........................ yesterday

33. Last time you cried? ............................ Hawaii

Becca

Mine and Becca's first meeting.  My hair has come a long way!

Me and Becca

Mom, me, Katie, and Becca

Ade, Jadeon, me, Katie, Becca, and Tori

This past week my Dad gave me the best treat!  He flew us out to go to Becca's eighth grade promotion.  It was so much fun to be there and celebrate with her.  She is such a blessing to our family and I love her so much and can't believe how grown up she is.  She is about to embark on her journey through High School.  I am so excited and scared for her.  She is going to learn and grow so much in the next few years.  I hope that she enjoys every moment of it and makes the most of being a teenager.  I want Becca to know how much I love her and how much I value my relationship with her.  I know I live so far away, but I think of her daily and look forward to every moment we get to spend together.  She is such a fun girl and even though I am sure she sometimes finds me old and boring we have fun together.  She is goofy like me and always laughs at me and with me.  Advice for Becca:  remember how special you are!  Don't change your values to fit in with the "in crowd".  Learn from my mistakes and don't make the same ones!  Do good in school, do all your homework and get good grades.  It will help you in college if you develop good habits now.  GO TO COLLEG and FINISH THE FIRST TIME!  You will never regret it!  Remember that your sisters love you and are available 24 7 365,  call anytime! I love you Doobie, thanks for choosing our family!

100 Random Things That Make Me Happy

1. Ava

2. Hearing the kids laugh when they are playing together

3. The smell of rain

4. My ipod

5. Hot shower after a long day

6. The smell of clean laundry

7. My new Aveda shampoo and conditioner.  I have soft hair for the first time EVER

8. New shoes that make you feel like a million bucks when you wear them

9. Old pictures that bring back memories

10. Clean sheets

11. Going to the movies

12. Working out

13. Getting a hard earned good grade

14. When Ava tells me how cute I am 

15. Katie

16. Hugs from my Mom

17. Watching my Dad with Ava

18. The random texts I get through out the day

19. Laughing on the phone with Tricia

20. Jamba Juice

21. Lemon Sour Cream pie from Marie Calendars

22. Money in the bank or my pocket

23. New clothes 

24. Home made orange rolls

25. Pizza

26. Girls night out

27. Savannah, Cooper, and Luka

28. Sunsets

29. Swimming

30. Pedicures

31. Bright Pink toe nail polish

32. Slippers

33. Reading

34. Hot baths

35. Church on Sunday

36. My upcoming trip to the temple

37. Strawberries dipped in sour cream and brown sugar

38. My new size 6 jeans

39. The amazing race

40. Hugs from Ava

41. My laptop

41. The smell of fresh cut grass

42. The smell of my grandma clarks house

43. The memory of the day Becca was born

44. Bath and Body Works

45. Christmas trees

46. Doing nice things for people

47. Baby smell

48. Cuddling with Ava

49. When Ava talks in her sleep, it always make me laugh

50.  Newborn babies

51. Emails from Chris

52. Pei Wei

53. Sugar Cookies

54. The beach

55. Pineapple

56. Cold Stone

57. Holding hands

58. Music

59. Going to school

60. Massages

61. Mint lotion on my feet

62. Summer nights

63. Hot Chocolate

64. The smell of coffee

65. Black shirts

66. Boy smell

67. Warm fuzzy socks

68. Cute pajamas

69. My hot pink chi hair straightener

70. Breathe Romance from Bath and Body Works

71. Satin Hands from Mary Kay

71. Quiet time alone

72. Accomplishing a goal

73. Diet Dr. Pepper

74. Marie Digbys Unfold CD

75. Cereal

76. Bracelets

77. The fact that I have finally quit biting my nails

78. Flip flops

79. Tahiti Sweetie lotion

80. Porch Swings

81. Pictures from Ava

82. Daisies

83. Makeup

84. Disneyland

85. Baby horses

86. The smell of fresh cut hay

87. My family

88. Dessert at the Dodo

89. Steal Magnolia's

90. Laughing

91. BBQ's

92. Sharon and Brad

93. Going for walks 

94. Sleeping

95. When my house is actually clean

96. Tulips

97. Summer

98. Singing 

99. Starry skies

100. Chocolate, duh!

Half Birthday

Today is Ava's half birthday.  Her sixth month pictures are my favorite pictures of her.  She would stick out her little tongue ever time she would smile at this age.  We laughed the whole time she was getting her pictures taken.  She was such a cute little baby and is still a cute little girl.  I can't believe how fast the years are flying by!

I'm Special

I'm Special

In all the world there's nobody like me.  Since the beginning

of time, there has never been another person like me.

Nobody has my smile.  Nobody has my eyes, nose, my

hair, my hands, my voice.

I'm Special

No one can be found who has my handwriting.  Nobody 

anywhere has my tastes~for food or music or art.  Nobody

sees things just as I do.  In all of time there's been no one

who laughs like me, no one who cries like me.  And what

makes me laugh and cry will never provoke identical

laughter and tears from anybody else.  EVER!  No one reacts

to any situation just as I would react.

I'm Special

I'm the only one in all of creation who has my set of 

abilities.  Oh, there will always be somebody who is better at 

one of the things I'm good at, BUT NO ONE IN THE 

UNIVERSE CAN REACH THE QUALITY OF MY

COMBINATION OF TALENTS, IDEAS, ABILITIES

AND FEELINGS.  Like a room full of musical instruments, 

some may excel alone, but non can match the symphony

sound when all are played together.  I'M A SYMPHONY.

Through all of eternity no one will ever look, talk, walk,

think, or do like me.

I'm Special.  I'm Rare.

I AM UNIQUE AND PRECIOUS...

And in all rarity, there is great value.  Because of my great 

value, I need not attempt to imitate others.  I will

accept -- yes, celebrate -- my difference.

I'm Special

And I'm beginning to realize it's no accident that I'm

special.  I'm beginning to see that God made me special for

 a very special purpose.  He must have a job for me that no

one else can do as well as I.  Out of all the billions of 

applicants, only one was qualified, only one has the fith

combination that it takes.

Happy Mother Day!

Aren't mothers seriously the greatest? I can't even imagine life with out my mother. She is the one person in the world I can go to and feel like everything is safe. She is the only one who can erase a bad day with just a hug and she always hugs me as long as I need, there is no time limit! She has taught me so many things, but most importantly she has taught me how to be a mother. I follow in her footsteps in so many ways with the way I do things with Ava. Of course I do a few things differently, who doesn't? My fondest memories of my mother are of her tucking me into bed at night. I even have a memory of being rocked in the rocking chair in the wigdal house. She would always do our special kisses with me (I still do them with Ava) and she would sing the most beautiful lullaby. It was our special time together. My mother has always known how to handle me. I was not always very easy to deal with and I think she knew that I just needed to be myself without being over bearing. I am so thankful that she never gave up hope that I would find my way in life one day. She always loved me! She walked with me through some of the darkest hours of my life and when the time was right she helped lead me to the light. Thanks Mom for all your loving guidance and all that you have taught me! I love you more than my luggage!

I am Ariel!

You Are Ariel!

Headstrong and fiesty. You have a mind of your own that's full of romantic dreams about the world around you. Exploring exotic places is your ultimate dream, and although you can be a little naive you'll realize that there is something to be gained from your family's wisdom.

Which Disney Princess Are You?

In my daughter eyes........

I got the cutest mothers day card yesterday from Ava.  The picture of her on the front was pricelss, typical Ava cheesy grin, and the pictures she drew on the inside so cute.  She drew a picture of me and her.  I love the way she is starting to draw people.  There were questions inside that she answered about me.  She did a pretty good job with her answers, she knows me pretty well.  I was quite impressed.  Here is what she had to say.....

1. My mom is 26 years old.

2. She is 8 ft. tall. (don't I wish)

3. She weighs 6 pounds (so glad she didn't say 600)

4. Her favorite food is ice cream, chicken, cereal, soup (hmmm all pretty accurate accept the soup, that is a little random)

5. She likes to watch TV at night, and go to the beach (both true)

6. She doesn't like macaroni and cheese, when I hit (I do like mac n cheese)

7. She is working while I'm at school

8. I like it when my Mom takes me to the sucker store (other wise known as Jardines, and we go at least once a day)

Then she did her version of her name at the bottom.  So cute and it seriously made my day yesterday!

A newborn's conversation with God 
  



A baby asked God, 'They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow, but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?' God said, 'Your angel will be waiting for you and will take care of you.'

The child further inquired, 'But tell me, here in heaven I don't have to do anything but sing and smile to be happy.' God said, 'Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you. And you will feel your angel's love and be very happy.'

Again the child asked, 'And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me if I don't know the language?' God said, 'Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak.' 
'And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?' God said, 'Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray.'

'Who will protect me?' God said, 'Your angel will defend you even if it means risking its life.'

'But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore.' God said, 'Your angel will always talk to you about Me and will teach you the way to come back to Me, even though I will always be next to you.'

At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from Earth could be heard and the child hurriedly asked, 'God, if I am to leave now, please tell me my angel's name.'

God said, 'You will simply call her, 'Mom.'  

Our babies are ALWAYS our babies...even when they grow older right along with us!   

Poor Baby!

Today we had quite the traumatic experience.  Ava got her toe run over with a shopping cart at costco and it took her big toe nail right off!  Her poor little toe was pretty cut up.  Katie and I took her to insta care where she had some x-rays to make sure it wasn't broken.  The Dr. said she didn't need any stitches and that she should heal okay.  She has no toe nail and it will take 8 months to a year for her new one to grow in.  She was pretty brave once she was over the initial shock.  I have to keep her toe bandaged for the next week and make sure that it does not get infected.  Poor girl!

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