Farewell Daybreak::Our trip downtown

{August 10th}

K, So this was actually our first time doing this, but we figured we better make a trip on the daybreak trax and go see the new Citycreek Center and stop at temple square.

We really are a bunch of home bodies, so I am ashamed to say that we barely made it downtown.

In fact, I am pretty sure we visited SLC way more before we lived there. Funny how that happens.

The kids were so excited to ride the train.

 Citycreek...Pretty darn awesome.

 Our favorite family, The Weiss's met us there.

Seriously, we love them. So mad that we realized just how sympatico our families were just a few months before leaving. They are awesome!

Miss them :( 

 The kiddos-baby Luke.

We are hoping this won't be our last trip to the temple with these kids...

Chase + Gigi

Lu+Tyler

Hey, it could happen :)

Farewell Daybreak::Wednesday night girls

{August 9th}

Us ladies started getting together almost 3 years ago. 

We all had babies together and didn't really know each other, 

but Nicole randomly called each of us asking if we wanted to come over and watch an episode of Oprah on the different baby cries.

We did.

We clicked instantly and for an entire year we met each and every wednesday night for dinner.

All of our husbands had busy wednesday nights, so we would rotate homes and bring all 13 kids over.

We laughed, cried, set goals together, and developed an unbreakable sister-ship.

Life got busier after that 1st year, so we weren't able to meet up every wednesday night anymore,

but we were all there to support one another.

This was our last dinner before I left.

We went out to the spaghetti factory and laughed til the wee morning as usual.

Amber. Sierra. Nicole. Meeee. 

I cannot even tell you how grateful I am for these girls.

They helped immensely with the move!

Sie even watched my kids for like12 hours twice!!

Every mom needs friends like these.

Farewell Daybreak::Young Womens

{August 8th}

I have to say that probably the hardest thing about leaving was giving up my calling in Young Womens.

I even asked our president, Marthe, if I could just stay in and commute. She gave me a nope. ha.

These girls are just amazing. Like really, each and every one of them taught me so much.

They truly are the kind of girls who go out into the world every single day and are examples of kindness, light, and strength. Plus, they are a lot of fun.

We never had any drama, and I enjoyed every single second working with them.

Quinn. Caitlin. Camry (Lady cam cam). Emma.

 Add Kaya with the cute suspenders.

Oh yeah, and this activity was dance dance revolution.

 Roma. Such a quirky, philisophical, awesome girl.

 Julie. baby luke.

(so fun to serve with leaders who are your friends...I didn't get pics of everyone, but they were all sh-amazing)

 Michelle. (first counselor) Misty.

 The dance off.

 Elle.

This girl did my hair every single day the last week I was there. Kicking myself I had barely discovered this awesome bonus of being young womens right before I left.

PS doesn't she look just like a Disney Princess. She is the sweetest girl too.

 Gigi's favorite person in the entire world...

Camry.

I miss these girls so much.

I am so proud of who they are, and I cannot wait to see what they do in life.

So sad I didn't get a pic of each and everyone of them.

Farewell Daybreak::the pool

*First of all, I have to say THANK YOU for all the sweet comments/messages from my depressed post.

Really. They made me smile, cry, and giggle. We have the greatest friends/family, and you totally lifted my spirits.

I am sicker than a dog right now (stupid flu), and Sonny has the kids out and about, so I thought I would try to tackle catching up on this thing.

Here goes...

{August 7th}

When we sold our home, I knew that I wanted to get some photos of our favorite places in our hood.

Unfortunately, packing is HE-double hockey sticks, and I didn't quite get to everything before we left,

but I did manage to capture some highlights starting with the 

Daybreak Pool.

We are big fans of this place, and just about every FHE night ends up at the pool.

I have to say one of the greatest things about living South is 

we get many more days of pool season which means

happy, tired, so hungry they'll eat raw broccoli as a snack kids.

Love it.

Lulu Celebrated

{August 3rd}

Late Night Extravaganza

Jammies
Red Rover

Snack bar

(licorice, rice chips, lemonade, and popcorn)

Taylor Swift dance party

lots of giggles

lip gloss

&

the Kit Kittredge movie.

One of the best birthday parties to date!

It helped that nieghbors showed up at the end with a huge bag of cotton candy.

The girls about died with excitement.

(Thanks Hendersons)

The house was completely trashed.

Like really. Those girls partied.

(probably worse that this event happened after everything went under contract. oops.)

Happy Birthday Lu!!

A Belated Birthday Letter

{8.02.2012}

7 years old 

Dearest Lu,

I guess I should start off by apologizing that this letter is not being written on your Birthday, but a few months after...then again, I guess that is a good lesson in and of itself for you to know...

Sometimes life doesn't go completely as planned and to not sweat the small stuff. 

I hope you know how loved you are. You are just the epitome of joy and goodness. You give off a light to our home that is just special and like always I am so grateful to be your mother. 

Here you are girl...YOU at the fun age of 7....

You have changed so much this last year. You really are entering a new stage...not quite a little girl anymore. Dad and I are both realizing that it just may be possible that we might embarrass you from time to time :) You are pretty "cool" and we are learning to respect that more and more. Your attention has turned from barbie dolls and dress ups to Taylor Swift and art. I just can't believe it either, because it seems like just yesterday you were prancing around in mama's high heels and your "Rella" dress, but we are learning to accept and appreciate the new changes. *sniff*

I think I said it in the previous post, but you have adjusted to all the changes so well. When we first moved here, we pulled in at 9:30 pm at night. You were starting your first day of first grade the very next day and the outfit that you had so carefully picked out was packed tightly in the moving van (we had thought we would be arriving much earlier), though this could be a great catastrophe in any 7-year- old-girl-going-to-a-new-school's life, you took it so well. I ran to target that night and grabbed a quick outfit for you and the next day you were on your way as positive as can be. You moved from so many dear friends and such a support system, but you have taken everything in stride and have adapted so well. I am proud of you.

You tumble daily. It is your passion. It makes me so happy to watch you do it too. You really are quite good and you work so hard. Any free-time you have, you spend practicing your back bends and round-offs. I find myself watching you with a goofy grin on my face all the time. I think, like any mother, I just love seeing my children excel at something. Especially when it is something I have never been capable of. Keep it up.

You have such a talent with people. Seriously, Lu. Everyone just flocks to you. For good reason too, you have an infectious little personality. You love life, you have a pure heart, and you brighten others. I hope you never let anyone take that away from you. Sometimes it feels like it isn't popular to be happy, good, and kind, but I promise that you will always be in the true "cool crowd" if you stay who you are. You are a great leader and a lot of people will need you throughout your life.

You LOVE animals and I mean LOVE. You ask for a dog on a daily basis and are saving up every cent you earn for a dog...I haven't quite told you that there are several places that only charge $free-ninety-free for one. Oops. I think you are up to about $14 and some cents. The other day you told me that you were thinking of bypassing me and Daddy and just asking Santa for a dog this year. Yikes! We had to explain that Santa still has to check with mom and dad. I could see the deflation in your face. We are waiting for the right time, but I think you will get your wish at some point and in the meantime it does you some good to wish and wait for something with all your heart. Maybe it will at least make you scoop the poop up a couple more times. 

You miss all your friends back at Daybreak...Natalie, Grace, Athena, Evelyn and Brooklynn just to name the ones on our street. Your constant playmates along with MANY others. It was sort of a dream place to live at your age, I suppose. So many girls the same age all in one spot. You have met some great friends here though...one girl in particular named Libby. You and her had an instant bond on the first day of school and were just tickled to learn you shared cousins (ivy and olive). You two play daily at school.

You love to read. We are reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory right now, and you are completely enthralled. I love that we share a love. I can hardly wait to introduce you to all the books out there. I was a little older than you when my mom (grandma Debbie) handed me over "The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe). My world changed reading that book. I can't wait to give you the same experience.

You have a testimony. You understand things so simply and don't question. It really makes me realize what the "child like faith" means. We get dumber as adults, and start to question everything. You remind me to just believe in things, because it doesn't all have to make perfect sense. You are attracted to goodness and you know who you are. 

You miss your cousin Kaylee. You love her to pieces, and talk about her constantly. You guys seem to be more like sisters than cousins.

You and your brother have been struggling lately like siblings do I suppose. But it drives me bonkers. Seriously, the two of you argue about everything and are constantly looking to get the other in trouble. I hope this passes soon. When you play, you guys do it well. You both adore Gigi, and neither of you fight with her...probably because you know that it would be a losing battle.

You and Grammy have acquired quite the special bond sharing the same school. It makes my heart so happy. Grandma's are just special. You have some great ones. Enjoy every moment.

You're beautiful. Sorry, I know I'm your mother, but your just a stunning, beautiful girl inside and out.

You are the easiest little thing to please. You love any gift or surprise and you let out the best giggles of delight. It is such a great sound and sends us all laughing. You don't get caught up in perfection and you often grab my hands when I am getting exasperated with the details of something and tell me "Mom, it doesn't have to be perfect!" You are so right.

You are obsessed with school lunch. Seriously, you get so excited to tell us what you had each and every day. It is so funny too, because a couple of months ago you were screaming and crying because we were making you eat school lunch. Mommy was leaving for Grandma Nita's funeral and you were all out of sorts with anxiety that you had to eat school lunch. You thought you might not be able to sit with Libby and that felt like the end of the world to you. When I got home from Boise though, you informed me that you actually loved school lunch and were never going back to Pb & honey. Ha! You know good food :)

You love to be entertained. You LOVE TV and movies. Seriously, this has probably made it to every single birthday letter, because you just adore that tube. I think your favorite show is Survivor too (yep, judge away.) Ever since your bread teacher, Dawn was on, you have become obsessed with the show. We actually don't let you watch it too often, but we have caught you sneaking out of your room and hiding around the corner watching while Daddy and I watch. Ha. You may have a future in reality TV...hope not...

You love sparkles, makeup, your ipod, Claire's, jewelry, pioneers, swimming, and playing.

Your favorite food is Hot Dogs still. Favorite color? turquoise. Friend? "all of them." Book? The BFG. Movie? Mirror Mirror. Singer? Taylor Swift or Carrie Underwood. Restaurant? Chuck-a-rama. Place? Disneyland and Florida. 

Well, I better go hun. Know that I love you with all of my heart.

Enjoy your 7th year! I have a feeling it's gonna be a good one!!

Kisses!

Love,

Mommy

Dang It's Bright out Here!

That's right people,

I am crawling out of my hole.

Not really because I want to (it's so comfy in there), but because some dear friends of mine have

kindly pointed out that it is time to get my act together with this blog, and frankly, life.

I haven't written for quite a while, because I will be honest (thanks for giving me permission tricia) 

I. am. struggling.

There, I said it.

For all the blog world to see.

(or just the people who happen to read this)

I would say that I am WAY behind...but I really am not, because I have hardly taken a picture since we moved here.

 I have had 2 kids start school, a girl potty training, moved into a house, been boating, played at parks, and went hiking to Dixie Rock...and not a photo to prove it...

which really sorta proves my slump.

Apparently, my camera and "situational depression" just don't belong together :)

I feel so guilty for feeling this way too.

I mean, I got a pretty darn good life.

We have health, happiness, love,

plus the new season of parenthood just started (can I get a woot woot??), 

but I have come to realize that change is hard for me. So very hard.

I am homesick and feeling a little lost at times.

I am going to pull out of it though, I promise.

And this blog is going to help me do it.

So if you are reading, Thank you. You are a true friend.

If you're not, then good, you won't see how ungrateful I am being and I won't be embarrassed the next time I see you.

Okay, enough babble...

::An Update::

(totally forced everyone out of the dark house and made us get 1 family pic on Sonny's lunch break)

The New Home::It's big. We moved into an older hood. There are seriously no kids here which definitely has it's pluses and minuses. I love that my kids depend more on each other as playmates, but oh how we miss the tiny little knocks all day long! We are adjusting to much quieter days. The house is about 45 years old. It is open, hard to clean, and Rockstar and Gretta's room has some awesome vintage (not in the good way) wall paper. It is dark. Not sure why, because there are a ton of windows. I realize just how dark it is every time that I go outside and nearly get blinded with the daylight. It disorients me every time...kind of reminds me of my younger years when I stayed in my basement for 2 days straight playing Donkey Kong. I ate 3 entire packs of fig newtons and when I finally came upstairs after beating the game, I was like "What?? Life is going on out here??" whoa. sorry, tangent there. K back to the house...It has tons of storage and spiders, and there are things we like and hate, but it's okay. We are making it a home and it is starting to feel a little more like that every day. 

Oh and the yard is AWESOME and the reason we chose this house to rent. We have a treehouse, swings, basket ball hoops, and a splash pad that works on and off. It really is a dream yard. (see, I can be positive!)

Lulu::Started school the day we moved here. She is in the 1st grade!! I know. What!!??? She adores school and she keeps me on my toes "mom, you HAVE to sign this tonight!" Ha. She is totally the responsible one of the bunch. She has a great teacher! Grammy got her into her same school, so it gives me so much comfort that she has someone there to rescue her if needs be. Lulu has also met some darling friends and I couldn't be more grateful for that. She has also found a passion in tumbling and goes to a great place every thursday to work on her back bends and round offs. I think her cheerleading dreams just may come true :) Lu is such happy girl and adjusts so well. We are so lucky to have her as a little leader for the family. Geesh. I am getting teary. Love that girl.

Rockstar::Had a rough go in the beginning and it really is all our fault. His life drastically changed when we moved here. Like, I said there are no kids around and with Lu gone all day, his days were long and hard. We started him out in a preschool 3 x a week. Every time, we dropped him off, I felt a little sick to my stomach. He was surrounded with 3 year olds, and we started to wonder if we had made the right decision in holding him back, so a few weeks ago we looked into starting him in kindergarten. It took some angels pulling some strings, but we got him in (a month late!) and it really has been such a good decision! He has been thriving ever since. I adore his teacher. She is just perfect for him. So grateful! We are going to see how the year goes and decide if we will have him repeat kindergarten or not. He hangs with Erberto and some boy "with a cool mohawk" which has made the Rockstar convinced that he needs some spiky hair! (yikes) He is patiently waiting to start up karate (totally stalling that one). Ha. Oh and he makes paper rockets all day long that resemble male body parts and puts them in envelopes to send to his friends. I don't though, because the resemblance is just uncanny. really. haha. eww. sorry for the image :)

Gigi::Oh this girl! She keeps us on our toes! I trip over her all day long, and I love and hate it. She is just too cute. With just us at home, we are two peas in a pod. It has been so fun playing baby dolls and going on shopping trips together. She has become a horrible eater. Only gogurts and string cheese and it is driving me bonkers! She loves Dora! Not all episodes just 3...baby dora, racing dora, and gymnastics dora...and she watches them over and over again. We go to a music preschool every wednesday with some other moms. She also started potty training last weekend. It started out AMAZING and I really considered writing a book about how to potty train effectively and efficiently. ha! And then that little angel upstairs that keeps me humble changed things up and the whole potty training has gone to crap. literally. Augh! SO hard!!!! Are there any potty trainers for hire out there? Anyone???

Sonny::Has been working a ton and mountain biking as much as he can. Okay, Seriously this is starting to sound like a Christmas card huh? Geesh, I don't even know what else to say about the man either...

Me::Umm...I watch a lot of TV and shop on ebay??

Sorry, it is all I got. I think I will start up yoga soon though :)

It has been an adjustment for all of us. Gigi asks on a daily basis "When are we going home to our purple house?" It is hard to think, never. But then again, Change can be exciting right. right?

I know that right now we are just in the transition phase and it takes a while to get a "new normal"

but I know it will come.

And in the mean time

we have health, happiness, love, and 

a new episode of parenthood on the dvr :)

xoxo

*this post took me approximately 4 hours to write. 

good grief. it may be rather fragmented.

or wordy. nooooo?