Mother, Mother, Mother's Day

"A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden fall upon us; when adversity takes the the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine deserve us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts."
-Washington Irving

I love Mother's Day. However as a child, I dreaded it. The Saturday night before my four sisters and I would scrounge through the cupboards looking for something to make for dinner for our fabulous Mom. She way always so kind to choke down our out-of-a-box macaroni and cheese and I'm sure she just loved our coupon book gifts. Did she ever collect on her coupons? Of course not. Who wants a 10 minute massage from a eight year old? or breakfast in bed made by a five year old?

Ever since I became a mother, I have so much more respect, love and admiration for my own Mom, and for my Mother- in- law. Both women have raised great children (can I call myself great? Why not, it's in the form of a compliment towards my mom), and have managed to keep a smile on their face to tell the stories from their young motherhood years. Just from hearing them both talk and tell their stories, it confirms to me that these women loved doing what they did best--being a mom. I hope A will feel that way about me someday.

We had a great weekend. On Saturday we celebrated Memor. We had a great BBQ, and had so much fun playing at the park. Memor is always one to bring new toys for the kids to play with, and this time it was a parachute. It brought back great memories from my childhood years in PE class when it was parachute time. Those memories of PE would soon be changed to square dancing with a boy at least three inches shorter than me...awkward! Thank you Memor for being such a wonderful Mother-in-law. I love the relationship we share, and I admire you so much. You are such an example of selflessness, and Christ like love. You are always putting others before you, and you are the definition of service. I am so lucky that I not only married D, but married into such a wonderful family. I truly feel blessed.

Sunday morning D let me sleep in, and then it was gift time. He is always so thoughtful. I love Kelly Clarkson. I know that categories me as a teeny bopper who wears hip huggers, but I really, really like her. I have seen her in concert two times, and D bought me tickets to go see her again in July! Wahoooo!! Not only did he buy me tickets, he had to join the Kelly Clarkson fan club so he could get really good tickets. We are on the 18th row! I can't wait! He also made me this shadow box. It isn't all put together yet, and he is still making A's footprint, but I want to hang it on my wall anyway...Saran Wrap and all! I loved the thoughtfulness behind his gifts. He is so good to me.



Sunday after church we headed up to my parent's house to celebrate GrandD. We tried to redeem ourselves from our younger years and made her a really delicious meal. We also were able to speak to my brother who is serving a mission in Philadelphia. It was so nice hearing his voice. My Mom is my inspiration and one of my best friends. She is the kind of mom every girl deserves to have and every ounce of goodness I have comes from her. She loves others unconditionally and I don't think I have ever heard her say anything bad about anyone. I hope that one day, A will have half the amount of respect for me that I have for my Mom.

This Mother's Day we were able to celebrate D's mom, my Mom, and D did a great job of celebrating A's Mom. I am one lucky Mom to have such a wonderful daughter, and have so many wonderful examples of motherhood surrounding me. Life is good.

Tribute (by D)

I know that this usually is M's blog, but I thought that I would post a quick note that tributes M because she is an excellent wife, mother, and friend. Here are a few reasons that I feel that she is the absolute best...
1) She sacrifice what is very important to her (food and sleep) so that A can be healthiest and happiest. Not only did she do this at the beginning, but she has done this continually for the past 2 years plus (pregnancy + motherhood).
2) She tells me all about the cute things that A does each day. She also writes them down in a little book that is really fun to read. This is a huge blessing to me because I love to hear how she is growing and learning (especially since I am not around A 100% of the time). This also helps me to guess what A is saying. At times I feel like I am playing charades and I would be hopeless if M had not told me about the day.
3) Because of M, A is a social little girl who has a ability to remember and associate names. If you give A one name she will say the other. For example, if you say the first word then she will say the second.... Meemor - Fafa, Dee - Guy, Wara - Ben, Mimi - Guk, Maygee - Ragun, Ayii - Ritz, etc. She also remembers specific details about events. A also knows many animal sounds and songs that she has learned from m.
4) She has taught A to talk on the phone. This is a huge blessing to me as I get to say hi to A while I am at school. This helps me to take a break from the fast pace school work by allowing me to talk to my sweet wife and cute little girl.
5) She sacrifices time and energy to get A to her modeling jobs and does not charge A. Yeah, she jokes that A has purchased her some new pants, but all of the money is set aside for A to use for her future education/retirement.
6) She is a great example of a woman with high values who values her family and motherhood. This is such a great example to both A and me. What more could we ask for.

M - you are the best wife and mother... we love and appreciate all that you do for us. Love, D

Hot? No, just puu-tect

Whenever A eats any meal, she will always spear her first bite of food with her fork, bring it up to her mouth and then stop. She will look up at me and ask, "Hot?" Then I will tell her, "No sweetie, your food isn't hot." She will then smile and say, "Just puu-tect". The temperature of her food is much like the temperatures we have been experiencing lately, just perfect.
Sunshine + Beaches + Family and friends = my idea of a perfect weekend. The weather was unbelievably perfect over the weekend. It wasn't too hot, not too windy, it was perfect outside weather, and we took advantage of Mother Nature's gift to us and basked in the sunshine all weekend. We took A on a bike ride and visited three different beaches in three days, all within a ten minute drive from our garage.
Beach #1 on Saturday with friends Ye-yy and Nim.Driving home from Beach #1 we had to stop and take and take a picture of the incredible view.
Bike ride outing on Sunday.
Beach #2. We met up with some friends this morning at this beach. Although city living can have it's disadvantages by not having our own yard, the perks are that we get to call places like this "our backyard".

A came home and took a nap, and then my sister came out to visit. We met up with friends at a different beach, but didn't take any pictures. You might be glad...there were lots of nakey bodies at the far part of that beach!

College Fund

A was asked to do some modeling when she was six months old. She has obviously changed since then, so she needed a new comp card...here it is! She has earned quite a bit of money working for Baby Gap, Gymboree, Mervyns, Janie and Jack, Shutter Fly, and Pottery Barn Kids. Being the responsible parent I try to be, I have started A a little college fund. However, she does take her mama out to lunch every once in a while. Thanks A, for being the breadwinner of our family.

1st Birthday and Hucks

Happy Birthday to sweet M! A's friend had her first birthday last week so we went to help them celebrate. There is something so special about a first birthday.

This morning we went to Treasure Island. Treasure Island has the most beautiful views of the city. The weather is so beautiful today and it was so nice to let the kids run around! Being the true city kids they are, they mostly just looked at the grass wondering what the heck it was. A has been obsessed with hugs lately, although she calls them, "hucks". She LOVES hugging peopler her size, and occasionaly she will sneak one in for me. We had to put a time limit on how long she can hug someone, or else her victim might not ever breathe again!

Huck #1

Huck #2

Help me!

Hucks for everyone!

My sweet baby.

My City Girl.

Her Daddy really is my Prince Charming

A loves Cinderella. She could watch "Lella" all day, every day. She loves the Bippity Bobbity Boo song, and watching Lella dance with the Prince at the ball. She always wants to hold the cover of the movie while she watches it. Yesterday she walked over to me and pointed to Price Charming and said, "Daddy". Again this morning, she brought me the cover and said, "Daddy". Instead of trying to correct her, I thought of her Daddy, and how much I love him. He is so good to us, he works so hard so he can provide for us, he is the love of my life. So I thought of our fairy tale life, and I replied to my sweet A, "You're right sweetie, that is Daddy."

The Power of Love...

Holy cow. I just had the most amazing weekend. Those of you who know me really well know I LOVE Celine Dion. In college, my roommates and I drove to Denver to see her in concert. Since Celine's Vegas days are ending in August, my college roommates and I decided to have a little reunion and go see her one more time. We met up in Vegas on kind of a last minute whim, and had the best time. My sister was kind enough to let us stay at her house, again! We went dancing, shopping (more details of our shopping adventures to follow), ate lots of good food (thank you S and B), and of course, saw Celine. The show was SO amazing, and I am trying to figure out if I can get back there to see her one more time. Vegas anyone?

Dancing queens

Out to dinner before the show. We had a great view of the Bellagio water show from that window. Happy Birthday MH and A!


Shopping. Ahhhh, the shopping. I have been trying really hard to live on a student budget since D started school, succeeding most of the time. Thank goodness for my roommate MH. She dropped some SERIOUS, SERIOUS cash, and I had SO MUCH FUN dropping some serious cash vicariously through her. D really, really appreciates that "vicarous" part. Her first purchase was a beautiful, beautiful Fendi purse. Did I mention is was beautiful?

MH's next purchase was a pair of Fendi shoes. We went to another Fendi store to buy the shoes and the sales lady there was so much fun. She let us play dress up! She would bring us dresses, shoes, and handbags and let us try them all on! We were wearing thousands of dollars of clothes, and feeling pretty darn good!

MH's final purchase came from Dolce & Gabanna. Another purse. Another beautiful, exquiste, fabulous purse.

Thank you S and B for letting us stay at your lovely home and eat all your food. Thank you A for teaching us the best dance moves ever, and thank you MH for letting me shop though you.

My little slice of pink heaven...

"A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, bankroll smaller, home happier, clothes shabbier, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for"
~Anonymous
What a joy this little girl is...

Easter

I love Easter. I think it is one of my favorite holidays. I know I say that about every holiday, but the meaning of Easter is truly my favorite. Knowing that our Savior rose after He was crucified, knowing that I too, and everyone else, will live after this life, brings me great peace.

We had a great Easter-y weekend. On Friday A and I went on an Easter egg hunt with some friends in the city. I should have had A practice, or at least prepped her for what was about to happen, because she didn't get the whole concept of getting an egg, putting it in her basket, and then moving on and getting more eggs. Instead she found one egg, opened it, sat on the grass and ate all the candy out of that egg before moving on to the next. No amount of coaching or coaxing would get her off her tush and looking for more eggs. Oh well, at least she didn't eat 10 eggs full of candy, only about four.








On Saturday, A and D decorated Easter eggs together. A was so used to cracking open eggs and finding candy inside, that she tried to find the goodies inside of the hard boiled eggs. After squishing two hard boiled eggs to smithereens, we decided that decorating plastic eggs would be best for our little A. Next came the sugar cookies. No holiday is complete without sugar cookies! A had so much fun rolling and making shapes in her dough. I think she rolled that same piece of dough 15 times.











Yesterday we went to visit Memor, Fafa and the gang. We had a great time eating LOTS of yummy food, watching the kids hunt for eggs, going on an adult hunt around the neighborhood, and being together as a family. A blowing kisses to her newest friend, Mr. Bunny.
I LOVE EASTER!

Blowing bubbles with the bubble gun. Obviously, she loved it.
Ride in the wheelbarrow from Fafa.
A and cousin N sharing the goods from their hunt.
More bubble blowing with Memor and Aunt Ritz.
We went to bed last night with tummies full of treats, and hearts full of gratitude and peace. What a great time of year.

I love Utah!

A and I went to Utah last week to surprise Aunt Mimi for her baby shower. We had a great time seeing family and friends, and of course eating at Cafe Rio!
















My sisters and old college roommates. My sister and friend are due on the exact same day! Aren't they cute pregnant ladies? I wished I had looked like that! They are both having girls and I can't wait for A to have more friends!



















We ate at Los Hermanos with my sisters and A. One of my favorite things in the whole world is spending time with my sisters. We have such a fun time together and they love my A so much, which makes me love them even more. I am sad my other two sisters weren't there...we missed you R and J. A made such a mess at the restaurant. Good thing she is so cute, or else they would have thrown us out!


















Four generations.


















Cafe Rio. YUM. This is one of my cousins that I have always been close to. Her little guy is exactly two weeks younger than my A. When we were pregnant, I swore I was having a boy, and she thought she was having a girl! We switched!

Thank you Star 101.3 (well kinda...)

Last November I made the biggest fool of myself. I was listening to the radio (Star 101.3, I love Don Blue) and they asked a question that I surprisingly enough knew the answer to. I called the radio station (A was being mystifyingly well behaved in the car...it must be fate!) and I was the correct number of caller, and I knew the correct answer so I won Josh Groban tickets! I was one of those really over the top winners, and I didn't even mean to be. I was yelling, screaming, you name it, because I was so excited about winning. The host on the radio even said, "Wow, you must be pretty excited!" She even said, "I wish people like you could win every day. You have so much energy." Don Blue told me he was exhausted after talking to me. Well, what do you know. The week before the concert (the concert was last week) I still hadn't received my tickets in the mail yet. I called the station and they told me they had no record of me winning! WHAT!! I told them I made a fool of myself on air and I very kindly told them I was very disappointed they "didn't have record of it". They were kind enough to give me two free tickets anyway (nose bleeds seats, but beggars can't be choosers) and we had a great time at the concert. Some of our friends bought tickets so we all went down together. It was a great night...In-N-Out for dinner, Josh Groban concert, and then Krispy Kreme donuts for dessert. Does it get better than that?



Mr. Groban singing, "You Raise Me Up". That is my favorite song of his. This was the encore number and he came back out wearing a San Jose Sharks jersey (he played at the Sharks Arena. Dad, this picture is for you.) Don't let this picture fool you. Our seats were not that good. I gave my camera to my friend, whos seats were that good!




Krispy Kremes! YUMMY!!! I do love those donuts, and those girls!