Just like old times....

After all the other kids had started school, it was just Emmie and I home during the day. Emmie was my best friend! I miss our lunch dates and our trips to Target together. Yesterday I kept Em home from school because she had been sick the day before. It turned out that she was fine. So Emmie and I "played" all day. It was just like old times. We babysat in the morning, ate lunch at Taco Amigo and then ran a few errands. I didn't realize how much I have missed that one on one time with Emmie. She NEVER stops talking. I loved it. I loved sweet conversations while driving, insights to what songs on the radio mean, discussions about her latest crush and

Emmie asking me to ask her how to spell "medium" words. It was a cold, rainy day that I ABSOLUTELY LOVED! Thanks Em!

"Haidyn is the best friend EVER!"

"Everyone hopes to find, one true friend whose the kind
you can count on for forever and a day......"

I hope Emmie and Haidyn remain best friends throughout their lives. Emmie was sick today. I mean sick! She threw up all night and a couple times this morning. This afternoon there was a knock at the back door. Haidyn had written Emmie this cute little note. Later, another knock. Haidyn brought these pretty flowers over for Emmie. When I carried them upstairs Emmie got the biggest smile on her face and said, "Haidyn is the best friend EVER!" Sometimes I wonder if Emmie and Haidyn realize how lucky they are to have each other. Where you see one of them, you see the other. These cute girls are always doing things for each other. They are the cutest little friends. They love each other so much. Everything seems so much better when you know you have a friend. Emmie and Haidyn are two are lucky girls.
I can't imagine life without either one of them!

A VERY LONG DANCE DAY!

Saturday the girls had a dance competition. We left the house at 9:30 am and did not get home until after 10 pm. It made for a LONG day. It was so fun to see each of them dance. I am loving the teams they are on this year. Amazing groups of girls! I was so tired of sitting by the end of the night. When the little girls did their last dance, I am not sure if at that point we were cheering for the performance or for the fact that we got to go home. They all did great and it was really fun spend the day with good friends. We are truly blessed to have such wonderful people in our lives.

....it was so tender....

Our friend Chelsea was married on March 26th. Congratulations to an amazing girl and a handsome young man! My lack of blogging about it has nothing to do with the importance of the event. I wish them all the best!

I wanted a picture of Chelsea and Lindsay together(Lindsay is to Chelsea's left). Lindsay is my friend Marnae's daughter and one of Chelsea's best friends. I have watched the two of them dance together for years. I had the privilege of being in the Temple when Chelsea took out her endowments. What a neat day. I watched as Chelsea came into the celestial room. So many people that love Chelsea and Mason were waiting anxiously for them to enter the room. (I imagine our reunions in Heaven will look something like that.) Something so sweet happened there in that room. I watched as Chelsea walked across the room to where Lindsay was waiting. I watched from the back as they embraced and whispered to each other. Something I have seen them do a million times and yet, some how in the Celestial room, it was so tender. I LOVE THESE GIRLS! I admire them for there strength. I love the women that they have become. I have watched them grow up. I have seen them both happy and sad. I remember years when one of them was not seen without the other. I have watched Chelsea and Lindsay whisper and giggle in many places over the years. That moment, watching them in the Temple, was simply the best. Thank you, Chelsea for letting me be part of the whole wedding.

A smile on my face...

Let me start out by saying, "I HATE CHANGE!" I know this about myself! (As do many others) It is another one of those things that I am learning to embrace. However, Heavenly Father knows me and loves me in spite of this. I know this is why I am lucky enough live in a place where I am constantly running into people I knew when I was young. I need that. I love that!!

Earlier, due to sunshine, I went running on the trail behind my house. As I was headed home, I ran into my friend Shannon. Shannon is a friend from San Jose. We still keep in touch. I love her and can't imagine my life without her! We have shared many things from happiness to heartache. We chatted briefly and then went our separate ways....I left with a smile on my face!

Cheryl......

This is a picture of Kristin and her daughter Lauren, me and my Ryanne, and Robynn and her Emily. Robynn, Kristin and I go way back. We "grew up" (hahaha) together in San Jose. Cheryl, their mom passed away a week ago. I am heading to California for the funeral in a minute and wanted to express some of my thoughts and feelings about Cheryl. She was diagnosed with MS years ago and just lost (another) battle with cancer. Earlier I was on the phone with Robynn and we talked about how her body is "whole" again and how happy she must be. Part of the reason I wanted to quickly blog is that I never want to forget what Robynn said to me. She said, "can you imagine the impact she would have had in this life if she had had a working body." That is so true. I will never understand why such a charismatic, life loving woman had to go through the trials she did. Cheryl really was amazing. She was my young women's leader for years and I loved her. I never doubted that she loved me then, or now. Cheryl made such an impact on people with the body she did have. I know that everyone that knew Cheryl is a better person for having had her touch their lives. I know that she is now happy and whole again. I know that she would want us all to be the same here. She would tell us all to never give up! I believe that Heaven is a better place with her there. She would want us to celebrate her life.

Obviously, Cheryl was not perfect. She had her moments. (I shutter to think of my involvement in many of those such "moments.") I mean she HAD to love her kids, but she did not have to love me! Yet, I knew she did! Now that I am a mom, I realize that she taught me many things that kids need to know. Like.....sometimes you just want to throw a shoe at overly obnoxious teenagers, that is really isn't okay to pee on your brother's pillow when you are 14, that you shouldn't pull over to pretend to pick up hitch hikers, that you should be nice when a little kid writes on the shower door in poop, no driving without a drivers license, etc., etc., etc..

Seriously, Cheryl was one of my favorite leaders. I still remember some of her YW's lessons and her sweet testimony. Today I was in a store and the lady helping me heard me say that I was going to California for a funeral. After I hung up, she asked where in California. I told her I was flying to San Jose and that the funeral was in Sacramento. She said, "Oh, I lived in Roseville (which is by Sacramento) for a long time." I replied, "My friend lived in Roseville for a long time." Long story short, she knew Cheryl they had been in the same ward. She told me a funny story about Cheryl that I can't wait to tell the family tomorrow. This woman loved Cheryl and her family.

To know Cheryl, was to love her. She will be missed!

Eternal Twins

This is a quick preface to my "Easter" blog. I can't remember where we all were, but Emmie and Haidyn told us that they were "Fraternal Twins". "You know," they said,"the kind that don't look alike." I called them "Eternal Twins," in my Easter post and wanted to make sure everyone knew why, and how cute they are!!!!!

Easter

Morgan put together a day of Easter fun for all the little girls. Ruby, Haidyn and Zuri had to be invited! Morgan made invitations, gave assignments, stuffed Easter eggs, and helped the Easter Bunny hide eggs. It was so fun. Morgan also made a couple of goody baskets for lucky neighbors. She is amazing. I thoroughly enjoyed being Morgan's helper. I loved hearing her idea's and watching her thoughtfully put everything together. I love that Morgan can serve others with a smile. Morgan has become a beautiful young women. I simply love her.


On lookers...

The Eternal Twins...

There is usually a fight over who "gets" to help Ruby.

Ruby "getting" Jaxson.

The party planner and Ruby

Ryanne helping Zuri.

Emmie, Zu and Haidyn

Haidyn and Zu


We went and had Easter dinner with my family at Kate's house. How I don't have pictures of that I will NEVER know. It was great food and so fun for the cousins to hang out.

More than anything, I have a hard time wrapping my head around all of my blessings. I loved every minute of today. I am deeply grateful for the atonement and the resurrection. I believe with all my heart that there was nothing better to do on this day, than hear from the Prophet and spend time with family and friends!

Happy Birthday Joy!!

Webster defines the word "friend" as one attached to another by affection or esteem. That being the case, Joy is truly my friend! I am attached. I can't imagine my life, my neighborhood, or my street without Joy being part of that picture. Today is her "29th" birthday and I think we should all celebrate! I love her and wish that everyone knew the "Joy" that I am lucky enough to know. Joy is amazing. She is, hands down, one of the best people I know. Joy is good at everything. She is a great wife, devoted mother, fabulous sister and AMAZING friend. Joy is an example of love, patience, kindness, determination, honesty, loyalty, faithfulness, and discipline. Not to mention, service. I rarely see Joy when she is not serving someone in one way or another. Joy is beautiful on the inside and out. I wish I could be more like her. She is truly "JOY" and I wish that everyone knew her the way that I do. Happy Birthday! I love you! :)

Annual Easter Party

Changes occur everywhere around us.....the weather, our hopes, our fears, friendships, favorites, hair color, clothing styles, hair styles, seasons, etc......
Two things are for sure. One, Michel will have a Easter party and two, the kids will absolutely love it. We have been attending this party for years. Rain or shine, new baby or not, in sickness or in health, the party always goes on. Generations change. The kids that were once little and loved the egg hunt are now the Easter Bunny's helpers. Thousands of eggs are stuffed and hidden. I am sure that nobody fully appreciates the time put into this party. Michel is a champ! Many things change. Many things do not......

The kids love the Egg hunt! It used to be Hanna and Morgan racing for eggs. This year, Hanna and Morgan helped Brookie and Quincy fill their baskets. I loved watching them help just as much as I once loved watching them run around collecting eggs.
Smiles! What more can be said. If you aren't smiling at this party, YOU have a problem.
A huge slide. At one point we had "adult time" on the slide. It's true, I did a front flip! I dominated!
Baskets of goodies
Friends and fun

Thanks Michel!!

It doesn't get better than this!!!

The other day I had the privilege of babysitting my niece. I had seen these clever Rice Crispy Treat eggs on T.V.(or in a magazine). Confident, Brookie and I set out to make them.

I know, they don't look that neat. Jaxson and Ryanne even tried their hands at decorating. We all had a good laugh! This was our finished product. The inspiring pictures I saw looked MUCH better. Oh well, I will always love the day I spent with Brookie making Easter treats. I am a lucky girl!!
Later, Ruby came over to critique them. She HATED them!!!!

I love that these little girls walk in our house and make everyone happy!