oldies but goodies

date night

Mom told Dust while we were dating, "just keep Jess fed and you'll have a happy girl on your hands." It's sad but true! I become the worst version of myself when I'm hungry.

Friday night Dust & I had a much-needed, long-anticipated date night. I had my heart set on Ciao Bella for dinner. I was longing for gnocchi. Being the selfless woman I am (cue eye rolling) I offered up a few restaurant suggestions hoping Dust would know in his heart of hearts I wanted Ciao Bella. We somehow ended up at Fuji Sushi. Big mistake! Huge! It was disgusting. I was grumpy. We paid $35 for a junk dinner and my tummy was empty. Try as I might to pull myself out of my funk it took longer than it should have. Ultimately I was able to put on a happy face, cram my mouth with movie theater popcorn, sour patch kids, and enjoy a movie with my hunk, my favorite man in the world, my knight in shining armor. I love you, babe!

Next time, I'm picking the restaurant...

knee deep in the water somewhere...

"blue sky breeze blowin' wind through my hair

only worry in the world is the tide gonna reach my chair."

Saturdays on Crab Island are hard to beat~

girls' laughter. ear to ear smiles.

friends. family. fun.

if mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!

I completely agree with this statement! I have experienced it both as the child and as the mom and I know for a fact, "If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!"
Today I am happy! My girls are home from school; it's a teacher work day. I went on a five mile run at 7am, showered & got ready and took sweet Tana to our pediatrician. Tana has a cyst on the palm side of her left hand in between the 3rd and 4th knuckles. X-rays were taken and we were referred to Dr. Taylor, a pediatric surgeon. We'll see him in the immediate future. Dr. Allen (our pediatrician) thinks they'll either inject the cyst with steroids or remove it. Tana is very apprehensive about both options. Her big baby blues were brimming with tears. Side note: today Tana weighed in at 81 pounds and is 5ft 3inches. She's a long and lean thing!!
After Tana's appointment I took Kenne to her follow up appointment with Dr. Tenholder at Orthopaedic Associates. They did x-rays of Kenne's knee. We were thrilled to know 100% there are no broken bones and no ligament damage! She was cleared for full activity in PE & sports. Yay!! (Kenne was tripped at cross country practice just over two weeks ago. Her knee swelled to the size of a small cantaloupe. She was in a ton of pain and was devastated to miss the last two meets of the season.)
Our afternoon will now be filled with play dates. Tana's heading out and the other three are bringing friends in. I'm making broccoli cheese soup for dinner (despite the fact that our chilly weather has departed). Bug is doing Family Home Evening. She said, "Mom, no one can help me!" I have a girls' night out at 8pm for Susanna Reeves' birthday and best of all, I should be done with Statistics in 3.5 weeks!! Exam 3 is en route from BYU; hopefully I'll take it Friday. I've given myself until Thanksgiving to wrap up and, heaven help me, I'd better be done before that!!!

i love to see the temple!

I have loved to see the temple since I was a little girl. The temple is a place of love and beauty. It beckons to me. The temples evoke more feelings in me, more love and righteous desires, than nearly any other place on Earth. I love going to the temple. I long for the day I hear President Thomas S. Monson, or another prophet, announce a temple less than four hours from my home.

I have been madly in love with Dust since sometime in late 1995. When I fell for him I was barely 18 years old. By the world's standard I was a baby; I was too young to begin any type of permanent relationship. But I knew better. I knew I wanted to be with Dust forever. My heart was his. He was my dream come true, my happily ever after.

We've been married for 15 years and I can honestly say I am happier today, more in love today, more goo-goo for Dust than I've ever been. He makes me smile. He makes my heart skip a beat with his smile, his wink, and, oh baby, his kiss.

The thought of being with Dust for eternity makes my heart sing!

welcome to the hive!

I am not as busy as many but am busier than some. My weekdays typically follow the same schedule: wake up at 7am, get Tatum & Ashton ready (showered, dressed, hair done, fed, lunches packed, homework reviewed, Bug's library book re-read for AR), and out the door by 8.
Either Dust or I take them to school. Then round 2: get Montana & Kennedy ready and out the door around 8:30. I then work out, shower & get ready, clean up, and fill the remainder of my school-day hours with Statistics.
The elementary girls get off the bus at 3:21 and the afternoon rush of homework, sports practices, playtime, instrument practice, dinner prep, dinner, clean up, scriptures, prayer & bedtime commences.
Of course amidst all the regular stuff there are appointments, presidency meetings, YW responsibilities, volunteering, working at Footprints on Wednesdays, driving girls to/from school, grocery shopping (yuck) and making dinner (double yuck!). Squeeze in a lunch date with a girlfriend occasionally and some much-needed tv-watching time with my handsome hubby and I am one worn out girl.
Satan is a crafty fella and from time to time somehow convinces me it's not enough. I'm not good enough, smart enough, skinny enough, fast enough, or whatever enough.
I am thankful to know it is enough. I am so very grateful to know that my success in my home is more important than anything else I will do here on Earth. Although it is incredibly important to me to finish my education (thank you BYU independent study!) the greatest work I am doing is as a wife and mother. For I know "no other success can compensate for failure in the home." (President David O. McKay)

happy halloween tutu you!!

It's amazing how quickly time passes. Montana will be a teenager in December...a teenager...in December!! Ashton's juicy thighs (pictured above) are long gone; my baby girl's in kindergarten.

These beautiful girls are, to me, perfect! They are such good girls! They want to choose the right. They work hard in school. They love one another. They make me laugh every day. Of course, I'm me, so of course they make me want to scream too. But I love them. I love them with every fiber of my being. My heart beats for these girls. I love being a mom but I absolutely cherish being a mom because of these four. My fabulous four. My babies, I love you!