Meet Jim

I was at the gym today, listening to my nerdy pod casts. And trying to "plank" longer than Austin can... which will probably never happen but it's always worth a shot. And I was approached by a man for probably the third day in a row. I took my ear phones off and greeted him.

"Hi, my name is Jim." ...so, I introduced myself.
(mind you all the while I am thinking to myself, how I only have ten more minutes until my time is up in the day care, and I have a lot more things to get through.)
"I come here probably 3 times a week" he said , "and well my wife just died. Cancer. Probably the worst thing I have ever experienced."

... what do you say to that? I nearly cried. how selfish of me to not take the time to talk to this kind man the past few times at the gym, and to think for some reason my headphones were more important than taking the time to say hi.

Thanks Jim, for saying hi and for reminding me of how little I really know about anything.

Some Secrets Are Better

NOT KEPT, and spilled early at that...
The past few weeks all the Davies kids and I have been planning a complete HGTV style redo of a room in Becky and Mike's home referenced to as "The Barracks" which used to house a few sets of bunk beds and way too many boys.

I will give you an small Idea, picture forest green... yes forest green carpet, lab wall paper and JUNK everywhere. Needless to say this was no small feat. So, after one friday night of painting, moving, tearing up carpet, fixing molding, etc. until way past 4am, and a pretty long next day. We finished and replaced all the carpeting, the bedding replaced an old desk filled with things like games from the old Sega Genesis and school papers from 1992, with a nice new dresser, we hung drapes, and new closet doors... This was great. And probably one of the funnest presents I have been involved in.

Ps sorry I don't have any real photographic evidence of the forest green and labs, but they were both real and disgusting.

Harley

I took this photo last night at my brother's basketball game... And realized my child is looking not only adorable, but old.... Sad, but still so much fun! I can't get enough of this girlie.

Decorations

Are officially up.... Don't' think I didn't wrestle myself with this decision, on whether to wait for Austin to return home (Date still to be determined) And set it all up with him, knowing full well he'd probably make as big of a mess as Harley did this year. Or to just do it and have a nice welcome back visual gift for Austin, so he didn't even have to worry about it when, or if he ever returns home (sorry for being so dramatic) .... in short after crying, and probably being WAY too sentimental about this decision Harley and I set it all up in two days: this is including making three stockings... which I have put off for the past five years, finding the "perfect" tree, and talking Harley out of pulling down my set table and hung ornaments. Besides all the side notes, it looks and feels great! The smell of pine isn't half bad either.

Run, Run as Fast as You Can...

Every year Becky puts on a dinner, and all the grand kids make Ginger bread Men... She reads the story and "magically" they all run off the pan and hide. This is probably one of the most fun and cool traditions ever. I loved it even more this year, having Harley involved and not a newborn was a blast. I can't wait until she can run around with the group and find her own cookies.
Thanks Grandma Becky!

Thanksgiving.

Where to start?
I actually got to see my husband for an ENTIRE day! Thanks a whole heap Wads Bro.
I got to see and hang out with my families.... yes plural.
I got pie, and got to eat it more than once.
Harley ate more rolls than I did. Ha.
And I found a million more reasons to be Thankful.

Another Year

Harley is one today.

Even though it's only been one year, it's been the best one yet. Love you Lil' Harlow.

What's Better to do in Park City in 30degree Weather?

Take pictures of course.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Thing One and Thing Two

Have the cutest little girl...

I'm Going to...

DISNEY LAND!
First ride of the trip.

Time with Dad, a little past due.

First Merry-go-round ride

"Thumbs up" from Mike, must be a good day.

Winnie The Pooh
Aust be lookin' fly pushing that stroller

Harley's first pair of 3D glasses. Waiting for the Toy Story ride.Merry-go-rounds were her ride of choice

Austin promised these two cotton candy, just watching them made me want some of that crap.

Cool wall at an Anaheim mall

Izzy, smiling and actually convincing me she was excited to be in Disneyland.

One tired girl

No words needed in describing this face

Star Troopers... The whole time Owen sat in line he waved at R2D2 trying to get his attention... adorable.Tower of Tower

Got the whole back row on the ride home.

Sorry for the picture over load... Disneyland rules! Can't wait for another excuse to go.

Some Things Taste Better Than Others

I feared this day would come. When I would be hungry for another one, just like her.

Uh, Really?

This only makes me look like the worst mom ever.
Poor Girl.

She just learned how to go down stairs, and well long story short my confidence backfired. And after one very long SAD day we came home with this.

Strange.

(photo from Zach Davies' Fb )


It's pretty strange how quickly we can adapt to new elements in our lives. Like how I'm now okay with my dvd's and video games being pulled out and rearranged every few hours during the day. And how quickly the big change becomes normal, and you almost can't remember what it was like before it happend, like having a baby, getting married or cutting your hair. It's amazing.

Some months ago my sister in law passed away unexpectedly, and I honestly could not see how life could go on, or how we as a family could get through it. I couldn't imagine not having her funny little comments at a party, or the thoughtful thing she made for Harley, or having a cute card she sent me on my fridge. It's so strange how quickly that is part of the past.

Her two children have grown leaps and bounds since she passed. The weather has changed, and so has our family. Nothing can describe how amazing that is. I rarely spoke to most relatives throughout my week days, and would normally catch up on Sundays when I'd see them. Now it is rare to not talk to them throughout the week. And almost makes me sad that something this terrible had to happen to create that.

It is apparent to me now, more than ever, how crucial it is to cherish and nourish relationships. I am incredibly grateful for my family, not only for the love they so willing give to me. But, for all the support my brother in law has received. You are all great, thank you for making something so hard, a beautiful reason to be closer to those who are important, and for reminding me of the constant love the savior has for all of us.

Is It Me?

Or is this the cutest Wreath ever??

Check it

Ten Long Days

It has gotten tiresome seeing Austin every ten days, and I never have gotten used to it... Strangley I find myself going to bed way too late, eating only cereal (if that) and my evenings are filled with sewing and canning. Ha. I laugh because, for the tenth night in a row Austin asked me what I was doing, and I told him "sewing and canning"... he replied "Did I marry a pioneer?" oddly enough I couldn't respond. I felt complimented and now feel miles behind in comparison to those who have paved the way for us. Hats off to pioneer women who had a lot more on their plate than I will ever have.

9 Month Harley

9 facts about Harley

1 Harley could eat an entire Watermelon
2 She stands without help
3 Her favorite drink is anything she can hold
4 She loves anything to do with water; Stella's water dish, pools, bath tubs, toilets
5 She will wave until you return the favor, even if you are 100yrds away
6 Anytime she eats something good, she says "mmmm...mmmm"
7 She has four teeth
8 Her favorite toy is any puzzle piece she can find, and a tiny electric guitar
9 Feeding Stella is her favorite hobby

Summer Melons

Are probably some of the best things to eat, especially when you have access 24/7.

Dear McCall

You have been dearly missed... It has been 3 summers since I have plunged into that freezing lake, and it was 3 too many.

Top ten things I missed about McCall:
1 The smell
2 The single stop light
3 The Pancake house's Spanish Omelet
4 My Father's Place
5 Pine trees everywhere
6 Lilly Pads
7 My Family
8 Jumping off the dock
9 Skinny dipping
10 Roasting mallows on the beach

More Than Fingers and Toes

I'm 24. And everything seems the same. But, I have frequently been reminded this is my "gloden birthday" 24 on the 24th.... Here's to a great year! And another batch of Cajun Shrimp!