"Moments"

When Sean and I were married almost 7 years ago, we were so in love and giddy with excitment (of course, hehe). And since then, we have had some fun and crazy times... Some of my favorite moments have been those that remind me we are soul mates. :0)

My moments aren't usually earthshattering events. They are usually just a part of my everyday routine.

Here's a few of my favorites...

Once when we were preparing to go on a trip, I had overdone it. I am a bit particular about how we leave the house, and had a huge "to do" list before we left. When Sean came home from work, I actually had almost everything done. Soon, all I had was to pack the last few things for us to take...and, I melted. I was overwhelmed, tired and decided...it can't be done...I froze... Sean simply said, "hun, just take one step at a time." He quickly gathered our last items and arranged the bags by the door, ready for an early morning departure. It was quick, easy and we were able to get the rest we needed. It probably sounds silly, but I think about that night often. "Just one step at a time" - and I am reminded that Sean frequently comes to my rescue when I don't see how I can take that next step. :0)

Another moment... Sean's had some serious joint problems over the past 5 years. But, the past few months have been extremely difficult for him. The pain was so intense that he was barely able to walk with a cane. Luckily his Doctor was able to drain his knee frequently to ease the pressure. It was unsettling to see him struggle so much. One morning after discussing our options for the future, we tried to be possitive and get ready for the day. While I was doing my hair, he took me in his arms, and started dancing with me. He said, "Once I am healthy, will you take a dance class with me? I know how happy that would make you, and I love seeing you happy. :0) I would regret it so much if we never got the chance to do that." We laughed, cried and danced that morning in the bathroom.

A few more moments...

During one of our first dinners together, a sweet old lady came up to our table in the restaurant, grabbed both of our hands and said with the most honest smile, "I have been watching the two of you all night...and you...are...made for each other..."

We have both forgotten the topic of our few major arguments we have had as a couple.

We have both stood up for one another whenever neccessary, as well as help overcome our faults when needed...which has made us much better people.

We know when the other needs a few extra minutes in bed, and wake up with the girls, so the other can rest.

I love him! I am relieved to see him doing so well after his knee surgery and can't wait to see what "moments" we will have in the future. :0)

Oh, my little Joni...all grown up!

At the first of January Tawnya, Drew and I were able to escort Joni to Boston where she's living for the next few months.  She's a brilliant artist and has an opportunity to work with some great minds at a company called Fablevision.  She gets to live with our good friends Kim and Lester while she's there.  They are the sweetest most thoughtful hosts!!  I soooo hope we get to return the favor sometime.  :0)  Joni's definitley lucky to have them there.  :0)

We all had the BEST time!!  I can't remember the last time I laughed so hard.  Come to think of it....it's practically a miracle I didn't pee my pants (which rings true for those of u who really know me...hehe)  Anyway...I don't think there's anything like sister to sister (to sister) time.  :0)  

So, while out in the park one day we asked a lady passing by to take our picture, and this is what we got.  hahaha...  Picture this..."Hi there, would you mind taking a picture of us real quick?"  Her face...a bit terrified, replied, "Uhh..Oh..Kay.."  She then takes the camera...holding it at waste level...and dropping it...slowly...turning....more.....and.....CLICK!  Wow!!  Great picture!  Thank you so much!  ?????????  Needless to say, must be my favorite picture from the trip!  :0)

I just LOVE Boston!!  It's a fantastic place to be!  I love the sights, the people, the food...it's so much fun.  Good luck out there Joni!!!  I love you...and am so very proud of you!  :0)

Yeah!!! Boston pics! :0)

Christmas Day!

Well...I guess I need to finally write about Christmas.  haha...which sounds so funny to say since we had such a great day!  In fact, I've been dragging my feet because I can't find a single picture of our Christmas morning.  HA!  It seems so strange...post about Christmas with no pictures??  hehe  Apparently we had SO much fun opening gifts that none of us thought to stop for pictures.  :0)

The most amusing part of the day is that Sean is the one that woke up at 3:30 because he could not contain his excitement!  hahaha....yes, SEAN!  So, he woke up, rearranged our furniture around the tree to give us ample present opening space, he did the dishes, recleaned pretty much all the house.  Then, finally at 5:30 he couldn't wait any longer and WOKE UP SAMANTHA!!!  hahahaha...  Then they came in to wake up Kaity and me!  Crazy guy.  :0)

There were soooo many gifts under the tree that I thought that we might take so many hours to open gifts.  Just not rushing through them...and letting the girls open a gift and play with it for a while if they want...  But, once they got started, there was no stopping them!  There was paper ripping, laughing, cheering and crazy excitment for about an hour and we were all done and ready to go back to bed.  haha...not really.  We had a yummy breakfast and started cooking for dinner.

Sean, once again, cooked a yummy marinated vinjha dolch turkey...mmmmmm!!  It's a Portugese dish...very good (thanks Papa Cadina for that one).  Anyway, everyone came over to our place that night for dinner and it was really fun to hang out.  Sean and James got our family Guitar Hero World Tour for christmas, so we all just rocked out.  It was really fun!  I'm glad that we're all crazy in my family...not afraid to sing and rock!  :0)

Anyway, a great time, a wonderful year...  We really are so blessed.  :0)

Christmas Eve

We had such a fantastic holiday season this year!  We stayed in our new home and had a really great time with just our little family. Our girls were so excited for all the festivities...this may have been my favorite Christmas to date. :0)Sean cooked and baked and planned and made a huge feast for us. Ya...all of that for just us...3 adults and 2 little girls...hehe. :0) Once all the food was ready, we started a fire. It was the perfect setting, yummy smell of food and sweets, the fire cracking with the stockings hung and the Christmas tree lights glowing... Everything was absolutely perfect. :0)

Then, we began the festivities. Our agenda was as follows:

- Gather together and sang carols.- Made a plate of yummy food...eat, eat, eat...
- Gather for carols.
- Made a gingerbread house (such a fun tradition!!)- Gather for carols again.
- Lesson/activity on the symbols of Christmas
(star, candy cane, evergreen, presents)
- We ate food all along the way, but here was when we got our last snacks.
- Opened one present...just happened to be jammies a

nd slippers. :0)So, we all changed into our new snuggly pjs.
- I read Twas the Night Before Christmas.
- We said our family prayers and the girls went right to sleep.
Really...a wonderful night!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

We thoroughly enjoyed our Christmas holiday!! So much that we didn't get our letter out like we had planned. hehe :0) But, we hope you all have a very Happy New Year!! ...Much love. :0)



Just click on the picture of our Christmas letter and it will enlarge so you can read the text. :0) Happy Holidays!

We prefer to call it..."EXPRESSIVE"

Some may say that I am a very "EMOTIONAL" person...what with the CRAZY excited, OVERLY happy, EXCESSIVELY distraught, UNATTAINABLE expectations, OVERWHELMINGLY passionate, EXCEEDINGLY stressed, and a tad bit OBSESSIVE slue of emotions that I frequently feel and express. hehehe...
It was very applicable when I heard of a counselor that said, "We don't like to call it EMOTIONAL...we prefer to call it EXPRESSIVE."
I'm pretty sure it's ok to indulge in innocent obsessions from time to time and overreact to a movie, a book, a game, or an experience on occasion. And...though, I may feel low lows at time, it's worth those moments to fully enjoy the highs and satisfaction of feeling so much and loving so deeply. :0)

Twilight fix anyone?

So...every time I check my blog, I get all giddy when I see that "I'm an Alice".  hahaha...  I'm really feeling the need for a Twilight fix.  This picture is of the scene when the first arrive at school as a couple...with supermassive blackhole playing in the background.  UHHHH.....could watch this scene a million times!  hehe...  :0) 

I guess it's time to go see the movie again, or give in and actually read the portion of Midnight Sun that was released.  It's so funny how much I enjoy the Twilight series.  Haha...enjoy, obsess over...whatever...  :0)  

Hmmm...it does make me wonder though...what other great books are there out there???  By great, I mean...easy to read with a fun, captivating story line...preferrable one with an impossibly hot, immortal cabable of fullfilling my every whim.  hehehe  

I would love to read something that will sweep me away like Twilight.  Does anyone have any suggestions?  I will try to spread my obsessions (a little).  hehehe

Shout out!!

Girl time...there's so much to be said for that. :0) I lucked out yesterday and was invited to join a bunco group. :0) I was so excited to have some much needed girl-bonding time, and get to know some new friends. Everyone there is so nice! (so nice they even let me win....hehehe - cynical laugh - hehe) We ate super yummy food, chatted it up, played some bunco...it was way fun. :0)

"It is a sociological fact that women need women. President Gordon B. Hinckley said to us as a Relief Society general presidency that “our women need fellowship with one another in an environment that will bolster their faith." -Bonnie D. Parkin

Thanks for the awesome night girls!! Can't wait for next month! :0)

Belay...Belay On. Climbing...Climb on...

Sean, James, Joni and Samantha went rockclimbing yesterday at the Rock Haus. They all did pretty good I hear. Sean belongs there...so, I'm glad that he made it in. It's been a while. :0)

James and Joni had a good time. They had a quick refresher with an instructor there and then they were ready to go. James actually decided to get a month pass, so hopefully Sean and James get some good times in there over the next few weeks at least.

As for Samantha.... She rocked the haus!! (hehehe) Seriously...amazing climbing. Which is very cool and very scary from a mother's viewpoint. But, really, all my talking won't explain. So, I'm including a lot of pictures! :0) Enjoy!

Could she be cuter??

And she's off!

Sean is really an excellent teacher.


And she's off again...

Wow!! This is seriously my little 4-year old! eek!!

There really are so many other great pics that I'm going with a slideshow as well. You simply must see the shots of Samantha Flashing a bouldering route! YA!!! I KNOW!!!!! :0)

Kaity had a lot of fun too, but didn't feel up to doing much climbing...just getting all chalked up was enough for her. hehe. And Drew was just along for the ride...and loving it! haha

Good times...good times