[balloons]

.the banner was hung while red & white balloons bounced inside the living room.

as we anxiously awaited...
.elder A.
he's home! he's home! hooray! hooray!





my ever so handsome brother returned home from serving his LDS mission in winnipeg!

the long awaited hugs!

.apparently it was a long day for more than just me.



scott gave his mission report yesterday at church and did an outstanding job!
he was glowing! the spirit felt in that chapel did not go unrecognized.
he delivered a beautiful message speaking of his amazing conversion experiences, the people of canada, faith, charity, and invited all to come unto Christ.
"what do we have to loose?" he asked.
if we don't have faith, start with hope.
thank you brother for your stellar example!
.i love you.

[teaching our children to work]

lulu helping paint her new bedroom pink '05


i've been realizing lately how i tend to "just do it myself" around this joint.
i knew i signed up to be a maid when i got married... OUCH!
but in all actuality we take on certain roles as partners, and mine would be the homemaker.

i seriously could not wait to prepare menus, plump the pillows, oh so carefully fold our clothing and dote over my new hot little provider.
i even copied my mothers recipes on crisp new 5X7 sized cards with dainty deliberate handwriting while i was still engaged.

why do i look at my role differently now?
i don't need to think twice about this question... after three children, it's not so easy to stay a float!

what i need to be doing is teaching my daughters to be little my little worker bees.
in all reality, children want to learn.
.they are capable.
it's up to us to teach them how to take care of things, fix things, and take ownership and pride in their work.

my dear husband is so good at teaching our girls new tricks.
he takes the time (this is key) to explain, help and instruct them on all kinds of projects.
.this is what i need to work on.
instead of patiently tutoring them, i just do it myself.
this is a disservice to these little girls of mine.


The best time to begin teaching a child the value of working hard is in their youth. “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6).

“Teach your young children to work, and teach them that honest labor develops dignity and self-respect. Help them to find pleasure in work and to feel the satisfaction that comes from a job well done” (Joseph B. Wirthlin, “Spiritually Strong Homes and Families,” Ensign, May 1993).

these quotes were found in this great article: teaching Kids a Good Work Ethic

[baby shower bliss]

.celebrating life.

.the lovely new mommy.








.family . friends . food.

.it can't get much better than this.

.thank you kate for welcoming us to your incredible home.

.the first time new grandma.









oh, there is nothing like having a baby!
to experience childbirth for the first time is a once in a lifetime event that is unlike any other!
.i am a little bit jealous i have to admit, if i could only hit rewind.
the pure miracle is absolutely remarkable!
.that sweet little spirit you helped create.
.the emotions.
.the bond.

we're so excited for you sis!
good luck and best wishes with you and your new little family!

[self portrait]

okay maria, this picture is for you!

maria started self portrait sunday
she encourages all the women out there, like herself who are always "behind the camera" or who generally dislike their own photo to find ones they like and/or have more taken of themselves.

.our posterity will thank us later.

i think this is a beautiful idea & i completely agree with her...
i don't have very many photos of myself either.


as for my sunday spiritual spruce-up, prayer has been coming up a lot in my mind & heart lately.
i feel like i am being prompted to share this with you today.
no matter what religion we belong to or don't belong to, there is always prayer.
our lives and our world are full of so many obstacles.
i cannot fathom my life or my family's existence without hope, prayer, repentance and eternity.
i think i would be scared and depressed every single day by all the doom and gloom that surrounds us without my knowledge of the gospel.
may this be an enlightenment.

.the first verse of a favorite hymn.

Ere you left your room this morning, Did you think to pray?
In the name of Christ, our Savior, Did you sue for loving favor As a shield today?
Oh, how praying rests the weary!
Prayer will change the night to day.
So, when life gets dark and dreary, Don't forget to pray.

Did you think to Pray?


after visiting the church's website i was quickly reminded that june's ensign theme is all about prayer.
the first presidency's message is entitled, Prayer and the Blue Horizon, by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Second Counselor in the First Presidency

here are a few quotes i loved:

Prayer is one of the principles of the gospel that provides lift. Prayer has the power to elevate us from our worldly cares, to lift us up through clouds of despair and darkness into a bright and clear horizon.

One of the greatest blessings and privileges and opportunities we have as children of our Heavenly Father is that we can communicate with Him. We can speak to Him of our life experiences, trials, and blessings. We can listen for and receive celestial guidance from the Holy Spirit. We can offer our petitions to heaven and receive an assurance that our prayers have been heard and that He will answer them as a loving and wise Father.

Prayer, if given in faith, is acceptable to God at all times. If you ever feel you cannot pray, that is the time you definitely need to pray, exercising faith. entire article

. say a prayer today . be comforted .

[bridal head band]

. love . love .

[father's day gifts idea 2]

.here are two more last minute father's day gift ideas if you are still looking.

if the man or men in your life happens to be an engineer or computer geek
or simply enjoys a fun game this is right up their road!

i hear it's a hit with their friends too.
the scrumptious dudes that they are supposedly gather around in the office during "lunch" to play a quick game!

i wandered into Barnes & Noble and was able to pick a couple up.
discovery toys makes this game too; but i believe you have to place an order for it, unless your consultant has an extra.

now if they happen to appreciate "the arts" this book is really beautiful!

i purchased the grandmother's edition last year for my mom & she loved it (some of you will remember my posting).

i looked at this one while browsing through the bookstore and loved it.
my local barnes and noble still had quite a few.
make it easy on yourself and call before you head out...
they may be sold out :)

good luck!

[father's day gift idea]

last father's day my girls and i made these fun little paper weights from kaboose
for sam and our grandpas (papa rocks)!

it was a fun, easy, interactive & inexpensive craft for us to do together.
the girls thought it totally rocked!

.here's how to make them.

[awesome 80's]

.don't wait to tell someone you love them.

.here is my gorgeous grandma at her 80th birthday party last weekend.

.this is her stunnin g older sister.

.her glamorous younger sister.

.and her radiant sister-in-law.


don't they all look incredible?

.they are such charming & graceful ladies.
these women are phenomenal mothers, grandmothers and great grandmothers; so loving, compassionate and delightful.
all of which are marvelous cooks, with impeccable taste and have the most quaint & exquisite, yet inviting homes.

.they are best friends.
.they watch out for each other.

.my sisters and i kept saying how we hope to be just like them when we're 80; vibrant, healthy & happy.

.i love you.





.my cute aunt pulled out this dated barbie book my grandma read to her as a little girl.

it was down right hilar ious to read!
all the ladies gathered around and giggled over it!





.my cute parents.





.my sisters & silly brother-in-law.




.my uncle & cousin.

what a special night we had laughing, reminiscing and enjoying our family!

.thank you aunt laura and uncle richard for hosting such a fabulous party.

[rocking chairs]

.these are the great dark clouds outside our door the other day.


as the clouds rolled in, i could hear the distant thunder.
memories flooded back to my early childhood and my mother.
i remember her pulling me onto her lap as she sat smiling in the fine white rocking chair.


it sat on our porch and it always rocked best in the rain!

my mom wrapped me up and cuddled me close as we watched the raindrops fall.
we rocked and rocked while singing & humming sweet melodies.
the cool, wet air and little drops tapped our cheeks.
it was my bliss!
there is something so soothing about the motion.
.that unmistakable aroma.
just me and my mother together alone.
the comfort & endearing love i felt from her at that unique moment in time was sublime!
.i will never forget it.


in hopes to make the same charming remembrances with my daughters,
our rocking chairs were fully occupied with warm captivated bodies singing lots of little songs.
.i hope they remember.
i love the rain!

[garden gifts]

last week after reading .NieNie. i was inspired by her home-grown peony post.
she spoke about how much they cheered her & the appreciation she had for her friend's special gift.

i had peonies in my garden & have always l.o.v.e.d. them, but never cut them.
these gorgeous blooms had been peacefully basking in the june sun;
to their dismay,
i decided to take advantage of their

sweet smell and luscious petals and pick them!

once i carefully arranged them, i enjoyed them until i passed them along.
i try to be a thoughtful person, but i often get absorbed in my own little life, and forget to
"look around" for ways to "pay if forward".

it really is amazing how the small things can make such a huge difference in someone's day.

may i forget myself more, and nurture the "flowers" around me!

.happy gardening.

[puzZle perFect]

.this is a puzzle. .a sunday activity idea. .click on pic to see more.

la di da, la di da, i get up this morning and make myself a bowl of my favorite cereal, raisin bran crunch...

i don't even sit down to partake.

sam's snoozing away after a horrible night of bad breathing. for one reason or another, he's started having these small asthma attacks. he's had them in the past, but it's been quite a while since he's suffered from them.

anywho, i got up with the kids to let him sleep a little longer,
and proceed to take a spoonful here and there while coercing the girls to "get ready".

sabrina begins having flu like symptoms and so it was decided that i should keep her home in case of the swine flu... who knows right?
sam & lulu leave for church, and...

it's FAST SUNDAY!

"oh crap!" i blurted, "i forgot!"
sound all too familiar?
yeah, it happens, and we plan to fast next time, or "make it up another day".

what happened to "saturday is a special day, the day we get ready for sunday"? honestly, i did think about the fact that it was fast sunday last night, but it completely slipped my mind!

and get this, sam oh so hilariously informed me that i even filled out a check for our fast offering and it didn't even click! what kind of a moron (or mormon) am i?
my point is, our family really needs to "spruce up" our spirituality and set some new sunday routines! i feel we've become a bit lax lately with our sunday-ness.

what do you & your family do to prepare for the sabbath and how do you spend your time before & after church?

please comment... it would be great to have some input from you!
i'm sure others would love to read them too!

[princess tea party]

~ her gorgeous little guests ~
had a grand time sipping on their little pink drinks [pinkies up of course]
and playing like princesses!
oh to be four!