[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!