"This is your life. Do what you love, and do it often, if you don't like something, change it. If you are looking for the love of your life, stop; they will be waiting for you when you start doing things that you love. Stop over analyzing, life is simple.  All emotions are beautiful. Open your arms, mind, and heart to new things and people, we are united in our differences. Travel often, getting lost will help you find yourself. Some opportunities only come once, seize them. Life is about the people that you meet and the things that you create with them so go out and start creating. Life is short, live your dreams."

{ This Moment }

{ Happy Bday Addie!!! }

i never thought something out of our mouths could look gooddddddddddd!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 Addie, we love you!! We hope today was your very best birthday yet!!

{ Our Children... }

{Easter 2011}

... have the BEST Daddy ever!!!

Happiest Father's Day to our Daddy, Pap & Grandpa!!!

We Love You!!!

{ Grandma's Girl }

This darling girl is a cookie-cutout of her dear Grandma,

and I couldn't be happier about it.

Us girls miss Grandma. A lot.

{ Hurr Did }

{ Parking Lot }

obsessed. to put it mildly.

this kid can sit in a parking lot all day and point out the same model car in every different color.

in fact, we hung out for the first time with rachael for a few hours one day and in the next day or two we were waiting in a crowded parking lot and he said, "mom, that's rachael's car, but in red!" 

sure enough, it was a honda civic, rachael's exact car. he continued to point out about 5 more civics in different colors as "rachael's car" that day.

at 3 years old. {last year}

he loves to watch cars leave and asks me to stand and wait with him while people pull away.

he loves to watch people open & close their trunks.

he notices when things are different about cars he is very familiar with...

like the day mimi lost a hubcap, you bet he is was the informant with,

"why does mimi have one black tire?"

he points out everyone's car that he knows, both parked in lots and while we're driving. 

especially when he sees grandma's "white car that aunt andrea drives now" or "the black car."

he knows cars. it's definitely his thing.

in utah last summer, out little family lived with grandma and grandpa for most of the summer

{total blast}

uncle yoshi was visiting soon-to-be aunt jessica out in utah as well.

we were waiting for uncle yoshi to come over to grandma's house for a haircut and maddux was looking out the window for him. he says, "that's uncle yoshi's car!" it was minutes after i just hung up with him to arrange the haircut so i knew it couldn't have been him arriving yet. but, maddux was over at the window, pointing. i walk over and there was no way he was even close to seeing the driveway. here, he was pointing up at grandma's picture board and sure enough, there was a picture of jackson and in the far corner of it there was just the tire of the car uncle yoshi drives at home, that maddux hadn't even seen for months bc uncle yosh lives in va and we are in pa. yet, we were in utah and he was driving jess' car. he totally identified it, from memory. just turned 3 years old. floored me!

every time i just look at him and ask, totally amazed,

"how do you know these things!?"

he always responds, "i don't know!" 

he loves to stop and read off the numbers & letters on license plates, too. 

he currently loves vans and mini-vans and desperately misses "our old van" 

and tells me at least once a day that he "doesn't like our new S.U.V."  

you better believe he points out every nissan quest he lays his eyes on while we drive.

apparently, his dream car. ha he's so cute.

everything about cars he is all about.

neatest thing ever.

the car gene definitely runs in the family. on both sides.

he's double whammied with the gene!

i cannot wait to see what he pursues with his talents, abilities and knowledge.

of course, for now, lightening mcqueen and tow-mater are at the top of the list!

{ Got Milk? }

and, seriously, who eats any other ketchup but Heinz...

{ We're Getting There }

{ Mothers }

 

{ Full credit: 320 Sycamore: http://granvillehouse.blogspot.com/ }

{ Crazy for Blondies }

I sooooooo wish I was chowing this right now... too bad this pic is like 2 years old... dang.

{ Ingenuity }

 "I won't need lunch money all the way until 5th grade now!"

{ Over the Top }

{Feb. 2010}

~~ Royal wedding/Cinco de Mayo inspired ~~

{ Within }

"I wonder if you sisters fully understand the greatness of your gifts and talents and how all of you can achieve the “highest place of honor” in the Church and in the world. One of your unique, precious, and sublime gifts is your femininity, with its natural grace, goodness, and divinity. Femininity is not just lipstick, stylish hairdos, and trendy clothes. It is the divine adornment of humanity. It finds expression in your qualities of your capacity to love, your spirituality, delicacy, radiance, sensitivity, creativity, charm, graciousness, gentleness, dignity, and quiet strength. It is manifest differently in each girl or woman, but each of you possesses it. Femininity is part of your inner beauty."

{James E. Faust ~ The Church of Jesus Christ of Later-day Saints}

"Pretty isn't in a dress, a lipstick, or a perfect body.  Pretty radiates from a confident, feminine, comfortable soul.  Dress your soul in these qualities first, and you will look beautiful no matter how simply you are dressed. "

{Stephanie Nielson ~ NieNieDialogues.Blogspot.Com}

{ Showcased: Second Grade }

{Fall 2010}

Open House + Klingmans + Turleys + Rits'a Italian Ice = Open House Tradition

Unbelievable that third grade is just around the corner... .

Seems like just yesterday, at Roosevelt Elementary, I was in third grade in Ms. Skeddle's class trying to understand those darned fractions and playing 7-up if we were good...

living for recess and a great game of kick-ball despite my dresses and patent-leather shoes,

and scolded to quit writing notes to fourth grade boys!

Jackson makes it such a joy to be his parents. He is a happy kid. Loves to work hard and play harder. Is the best big brother around. Works on being obedient and teaches his mom and dad a thing or two in the process. We are proud of who he is and who he is becoming. And, most importantly, he is proud of himself.

{ Love a Full House }

{Late Summer, Early Fall 2009}

the time of year i. live. for.

{ God Bless the USA }

If tomorrow all the things were gone, I’d worked for all my life.
And I had to start again, with just my children and my wife.

I’d thank my lucky stars, to be livin' here today.
‘Cause the flag still stands for freedom,
and they can’t take that away.

{Independence Day 2010, Utah}

And I’m proud to be an American, 

where at least I know I’m free.
And I wont forget the men who died, who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,
{ God bless the USA }

{ Circle of Friends }

"Only once in your life, I truly believe, you find someone who can completely turn your world around. You tell them things that you’ve never shared with another soul and they absorb everything you say and actually want to hear more. You share hopes for the future, dreams that will never come true, goals that were never achieved and the many disappointments life has thrown at you. When something wonderful happens, you can’t wait to tell them about it, knowing they will share in your excitement. They are not embarrassed to cry with you when you are hurting or laugh with you when you make a fool of yourself. Never do they hurt your feelings or make you feel like you are not good enough, but rather they build you up and show you the things about yourself that make you special and even beautiful. There is never any pressure, jealousy or competition but only a quiet calmness when they are around. You can be yourself and not worry about what they will think of you because they love you for who you are. The things that seem insignificant to most people such as a note, song or walk become invaluable treasures kept safe in your heart to cherish forever. Memories of your childhood come back and are so clear and vivid it’s like being young again. Colours seem brighter and more brilliant. Laughter seems part of daily life where before it was infrequent or didn’t exist at all. A phone call or two during the day helps to get you through a long day’s work and always brings a smile to your face. In their presence, there’s no need for continuous conversation, but you find you’re quite content in just having them nearby. Things that never interested you before become fascinating because you know they are important to this person who is so special to you. You think of this person on every occasion and in everything you do. Simple things bring them to mind like a pale blue sky, gentle wind or even a storm cloud on the horizon. You open your heart knowing that there’s a chance it may be broken one day and in opening your heart, you experience a love and joy that you never dreamed possible. You find that being vulnerable is the only way to allow your heart to feel true pleasure that’s so real it scares you. You find strength in knowing you have a true friend and possibly a soul mate who will remain loyal to the end. Life seems completely different, exciting and worthwhile. Your only hope and security is in knowing that they are a part of your life."

{Bob Marley}

{ #perceptionISreality }

{ #AttitudeOfGratitude }