easter beauties...all things spring

I love Easter!

I love the new growth and new life this time each year.

Destin is blooming and it is beautiful!

My girlies are growing. They are little beauties.

Spring is full of activity.

Tana and Kenne's track season is in full swing.

Tater & Bug are going strong in soccer.

Kenne was admitted to Beta Club.

In the words of Bob Wiley (aka "What About Bob?")

"I feel good, I feel great, I feel wonderful."

And I hope you do too!



and it still does

I just sat down to the computer to work on my current class, Strengthening Marriage and Family. Which I LOVE by the way! This was the first paragraph of my assigned reading:

In his book, Four Essays on Love (1971, p. 28), Truman Madsen tells the following story:

It was an anniversary banquet. A four-generation family gathered to honor their silvery grandfather and his sweetheart. It seems to me it was their sixtieth, but, as you will see, it doesn't matter which. This slight, hallowed woman sat, very close, I thought, to her husband. He was an oak, 81, and his body had the measuring lines and circles of his long, hard pull. You would say he was an ugly old fellow, except for the clearness of his eyes. He stood and made some comment about the flamboyant way love is advertised these days. Then he said, “When I was a boy, it thrilled me just to touch Lucy's arm.” He turned, smiled in her lifted face and said, most softly, “And it still does.”

Of course this made me cry! You'd have to be made of stone to not experience a little teariness from the tender expression of this husband.

Oh, baby! That is exactly how I feel about Dust. It's fun in the beginning of a relationship when every touch, every look, every everything releases a new batch of butterflies in your stomach. But I have to admit, I still get butterflies when Dust: winks at me with his beautiful brown eyes; when he tickles my arm, my hand, or my leg for hours as we watch TV and cuddle; and always when I recall sweet words he spoke to me the day before.

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

Dust, I'll love you forever!!

spring break, baby

Two weeks ago for Family Home Evening we made a list of all the things we wanted to do for Spring Break '12. These are the things the girls came up with:

"The Lorax"

Family Movie Night

Family Wii Night

Beach Day

Friends

1 sleepover

crepes and fruit for breakfast

Nana & Papa's for a BBQ

We did really well. We crossed off everything except our Wii night. We spent yesterday afternoon at The Track; we decided that was a good Wii night substitute.

I absolutely love having my girls home! I love sleeping in. I love not having to get up and race in the morning to get everyone ready and off to school on time. I love homework-free & activity-free nights.
Of course there's bickering. Of course there's chaos. I definitely need school days to make me appreciate the school-free days. And vice versa.

Tonight for FHE we watched "17 Miracles". If you haven't seen this movie you should. It's absolutely amazing, truly inspiring. As I sat surrounded by my family in our cozy, clean home with tummies filled with a yummy and healthy dinner I gave thanks for our many blessings.

Tomorrow the girls go back to school. Tatum and Ashton have soccer practice Monday & Thursday and games on Friday. Kennedy has track practice Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday and a meet Wednesday. We have a Beta meeting and induction for Kennedy, Young Women, a bridal shower Thursday, another checkup with Dr Thackeray for Tana's arm and all the normal ins and outs of daily life in a family of six.

Thankfully we have great pictures of Spring Break '12 to remember our fabulous days of stress-free living and enjoying time together. Yeah, baby!

Dust sportin' Bug's sunglasses after "The Lorax". I died laughing! He totally reminded me of either CeeLo Green or Elton John. You can't tell in the picture but the top of the glasses are embedded with faux diamonds. He looked fabulous!

Kennedy lost her last baby tooth. Braces are on the horizon.

 Bug left this on Dust's pillow. What a sweetheart!

Bug's bath. Complete with 51 Littlest Pet Shops. 

Bug playing in the rain. She is such a happy little thing!

Bug was terrified prior to our first Wild Woody ride. 

She decided she like it. 

Only nine more weeks of school.

The big three are dreading tomorrow.

Ashton's excited; she's "ready to learn".

one fine day

Today was a wonderful day!

For starters I slept for 10 hours last night. It was amazing!

I woke up a bit before 7am and felt completely refreshed and rejuvenated.

After getting the girls off to school I swept, dusted, cleaned the kitchen, and did several loads of laundry.

And then...I worked out for nearly three hours.

Believe me, that wasn't my intent!

But what started as a normal day's workout turned into a marathon just because it felt so good!

I am bound and determined to master countless balance poses in yoga.

My new obsession...seriously lengthening the duration of my handstand.

I will do it!

I'm sure there will be a few bumps and bruises along the way.

Tonight we went to the Miller's for dinner for Brody's 9th birthday.
He's such a great kid!

While Tana & Kenne were at church Dust & I took Tater & Bug to the dog park.

I think they'd both trade me in for a few new dogs if they could.

Crazy girls!

Tomorrow is the last day of term #3.

Friday is a teacher work day.

Next week is spring break.

That means after tomorrow we have no school until March 26th.

Yeah, baby!!!

c'est la vie

Since Sunday night the delightful scent of

mint chocolate

has been wafting through our home

thanks to our wallflowers from Bath & Body Works.

--We were previously enjoying Caribbean Escape.

I never actually felt like I'd escaped to the Caribbean.

But it did smell great.--

It has been dreamy!

However, my desire for treats has increased exponentially

ultimately causing an insatiable appetite for these...

This afternoon I just couldn't resist any longer.

Oh, chocolate chip cookies!

How I love you!!!

ski utah

Last week Dust & I went to Utah for a much-needed getaway.

We haven't had a trip without the girlies in years.

We were ready for a few days of grown-up time!

We flew into Salt Lake City Wednesday night. 

It was snowy, windy, and cold.

We were all smiles.

We knew the snow at the resorts was piling up

making for a great few days on the slopes.

Mom & Dad picked us up at the airport,

we drove downtown 

and ate dinner at Buca di Beppo. 

De-licious! 

Thursday morning we awakened to falling snow

...the weather was definitely cooperating!

The snow was amazing!

Hot chocolate at the top of the mountain mid-morning,

lunch in the Grill Room,

skiing with my man, Mom & Dad

all combined and created a perfect day!

My body is definitely a Florida body now!

I am no longer capable of staying warm without many, many layers.

I wore 2 turtlenecks, 2 vests, 1 coat, 1 pair of leggings, 1 pair of fleece pants,

1 pair of ski pants, a beenie, my hood, goggles and a fleece neck.

Hence my very puffy girth.

I was toasty other than my occasionally cold fingers & toes.

Friday morning we skied without Mom; she was working at the temple.

It was a BEAUTIFUL day!

Again the snow was amazing!!

Friday evening we had a fabulous visit with darling Grandpa Dan & Grandma Glo.

They're just as cute as can be!

Friday night we met Kesley & Madison and Chris & Shannon for dinner at LaJolla Groves.
We had such a fun time
talking
laughing
hanging out!
They're all fabulous and we wish we saw them more often.

We had such an amazing trip!

My parents are the world's greatest hosts!

Seriously the best!!

We hit all my favorite spots:

Cafe Rio, Magleby's Fresh, J Dawgs, The Grill Room.
(Yes, they're all restaurants.)

We skied at Sundance because there truly is not a more beautiful resort.

We went to two movies:

"Gone" and "This Means War".

Of course I ate kettle corn both times.

It's one of my favorite Utah foods and therefore a must!!

I wish our Destin theaters would clue into the genius of kettle corn!

At home we watched "Warrior".

It was Dad's eighth time watching it.

Other than Dust & Mom's hours of stomach bug misery

it was a fantastic weekend!

I can't wait to do it again!!

lulu. 'nuff said!

I am sitting at my computer breaking
the 10th commandment.

"Thou shalt not covet."

I am coveting a pair of lulu lemon pants.

Considering I don't get paid to be a: mom/wife/homemaker/cook/maid/tutor/

dog tolerater/errand runner/baker/etc

it will take me 6.13 piano lessons

(at $15 per lesson)

to earn enough money to buy these
10th commandment-breaking pants.

I might have to start charging for my services.

$5 per hairstyle

$5 per load of laundry

$5 per meal

(additional charges apply for complaining)

I guess I could just turn off my computer
and forget about them entirely.

I think that's a better idea....