GIRLS SEATTLE (AND FORKS) TRIP!

Kim drove us down to Star (near Boise, ID) in this little number of hers. We slept and my best Ricks College friend Allison's house that night. The next morning the three of us and Allison's friend in Star, Jessica boarded a plane at 6:30 am for Seattle, WA.

It was pretty down by the bay.


Ally and Nettie.

Pike's Place Market had so many beautiful flowers that smelled just as amazing as they looked!

The place where they throw the fish was so fun to see.

After that we split a plate of sushi (although we had to get it to go and ate it while waiting for the underground tour to begin.) It was the first time for Jessica and me.

This was very interesting.

I learned a lot.

I had no idea Seattle used to be several feet underneath where it is today!

Who would've thought!

Under downtown Seattle....

On the streets of downtown Seattle - right above the last picture!

The Space Needle.

Kim and I on the top of the Space Needle.

Gorgeous view from the Space Needle.

And another one!

One more!!

We rode the monorail back to the hotel.

This is the view from our hotel room.

And this was what the hotel room door looked like. (Ally found a great deal online - it was really cheap but nice - the only thing is it was a little to "artsy" for us mormon girls. We were glad our husbands or kids weren't there to see the "artwork")

Outside the hotel on the way to the Stephenie Meyer "Breaking Dawn" concert!

Before we entered into the concert! From left: Jessica, me, Ally and Kim.

Justin Furstenfeld (from Blue October) played the guitar and sang - he was so AWESOME!!!

Stephenie answered questions - she was so cute and funny and adorably entertaining!

I had the best time!!!

This is us waiting before we got our book signed! Jessica's shirt she made said:

"My heart belongs to my husband

My neck belongs to Edward!"

The next day we were up bright and early again to go pick up our rental car and head to the Pacific Northwest Olympic Peninsula! (If you haven't read the Twilight Series, some of these explanations won't make sense.) We stopped in Port Angeles and got a picture in front of Bella Italia where Bella and Edward eat together (well Bella eats...) in the first book.

The scenic drive was breathtaking!!!

Can we say RAINFOREST?!

Lucky for us, it never rained while we were in Seattle on Tuesday or here on Wednesday!

The scenes were awe-inspiring!

The city reminded me a little of Shelley, ID.

The writing on the 2nd window to the left in this picture says Welcome Twilight Fans.

Inside they have a Bella Burger - see it on the menu?!

With your purchase - what else?! But of course - free vampire teeth!!

Every store in town has gifts based on the books. I took a picture of this lady who worked in the visitor's center because she had a "I Love Jacob" pin and she grabbed the bumper sticker "Werewolves love La Push" for the shot!

!
Right outside the Visitor's Center was Bella's truck!

I couldn't get over all of these intensely-green ferns and moss-covered trees!

First Beach in La Push was so gorgeous!

I couldn't have imagined how unbelievable it would look in person!

We wanted a shot of us with the beautiful scenery behind us but the guy who took our pictures zoomed in! We should've known he was looking at something besides the water when he said "Oh yeah, this will be great for the boys at home."

Have you ever been to the Cheesecake Factory! I hadn't until Kim and I stopped in Boise on the way home. Hello! The Godiva Chocolate Cheescake there is out of this world!

ALLISON - THANKS FOR PLANNING ALL OF THIS AND FOR INVITING ME!

KIM - THANKS FOR GOING WITH ME!

JESSICA - THANKS FOR BEING ALLY'S AWESOME FRIEND SHE BROUGHT!

ALL 3 GIRLS - THANKS FOR A ONCE IN A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE - YOU ARE ALL SO WONDERFUL AND BEAUTIFUL ON THE INSIDE JUST AS MUCH AS THE OUTSIDE! I HAD THE MOST AMAZING TIME!!!

This Book Was So Good!

It seemed like I was never going to finish it because we had a busy week and I was at places I couldn't read almost everyday! But every night I picked it up and tonight I was finally able to finish! What a great last book to a great series! Thanks again Nicole for introducing me! I have to tell you that this book ended the story in a perfect way for me - even though I was Team Jacob all along! It just works out beautifully for everyone and it makes me happy.

Well I'm off to meet the author herself - STEPHENIE MEYER in Seattle next week!!!

I can't wait!!!!!

I Love My Family!!!

It's been awhile, but it isn't because nothing's been going on - of course it's quite the opposite! Here's some pictures of the kids, etc. that I've been needing to put up. I still need to do both my son's b-day and party posts in addition to 2 family member b-days (Melanie's and Sage's) that I missed last year right after I started the blog ... oh, yeah...

Happy 1st "Blog B-day to Me" - in April!!!

And of course I need to post a lot about our fun-filled summer we've been having. (Plus I never posted our fun in the sun from last summer - woops. I'm not someone who has to be on the computer every day so I do get behind on my blogging and checking other's blogs - but I'm sure I'll improve one of these days!)

Audrey had a great year doing ballet at Studio One! They put on Swan Lake this June and of course it made me cry. I have to admit her acting (she was in all of act 3 and did two dances in it and had to act in between) was exceptional! (She had acted when we were in the Nutcracker also and had a real knack!) She is such a natural! And of course her ballet was gorgeous - she's also a natural at that! The production was so beautiful! Unfortunately it required a TON of extra rehearsals btw. ballet and jazz- we were doing something for dance 1-2xs a day 4-6 days a week the last month - and it was too much. We found a different Studio called "Infinity" that isn't in to a lot of extra practices (hardly any) and also is 50% less expensive. We'll miss Studio One a lot though! Especially her teacher Miss Dantzel!!!

During her year at Studio One they did two competitions for jazz and one recital. It was to the song "Hit the Road Jack" (Sara Grant, I totally remember you doing your tap dance to that song in the Ward Talent Show!) She did great - that's her in the center doing the split - she's VERY flexible like me. They did very well and Audrey did this dance by herself in the school Talent Show (she had to try out in front of her whole class and be voted by the students as the one and only A.M. Kindergartner to perform!) A lot of parents came to me afterwards and commented on how talented she was!

This was in the paper on July 5th. That's Audrey the 3rd from the right on the Infinity Dance float during the 4th of July Parade! I think it will be a good switch - I love the owner already and Audrey's made new friends from being 0n the float together. She'll start the Dance Camp next Monday.

AND Audrey was in the newspaper again yesterday! (Kyle's in there too in the big group picture.) They had a professional storyteller come for storytime at the Library and he picked her to be his spider daughter (he was the father spider and he also chose a boy to be his spider son.) Yes that's her on the bottom right with two missing teeth front and center!!! She did so good at everything he asked her to do - I definitely see acting in her future.

And then there's Kyle - my big 4 year old! He is starting to be a really funny kid. He also is starting to be another helper to mom a lot of the time and is very good with his brother and sister (most of the time.) He is lucky because he's very good friends with Audrey and Kaden. He can play a lot with either one! He can still be very shy and unpredictable. But as always he is very cute, charming, fun-loving and he's always been my most affectionate (with me) and really the child that acts like he needs me the most (which can be good and bad!) He is starting to warm up to a people quickly at random times - just yesterday he started telling a stranger at the store all about his new backpack for preschool. He's funny because usually he can be so slow to warm up to new situations or people (getting pictures taken, swimming lessons, church classes, refusing to give talks in Primary or sing in sacrament with his peers for mother's or father's day, etc.) but other times he surprises you and doesn't act shy at all!

Kyle is growing up so fast. He's getting smarter by the minute and preschool will only be to assist him socially because he's already starting to read and write and do simple math!

These pictures were a challenge to get. As always, he is very slow to warm up at the photo studio! It took me almost 20 minutes just to coax him into sitting down where he needed to! Thank goodness I always get the manager, Kerry at Pennies Studio, to take his pics - she' so patient and fun and we're actually starting to form a relationship with her! (He's probably one of her hardest subjects to shoot!)

I probably should mention that, although it may surprise you, Kyle is a lot like how I used to be! Yes that's right - until around 1st grade or so, I was very shy and had anxiety about new things! Here's some proof if you don't believe me - these pictures were taken at home... because I would cry (at least Ky doesn't do that - he just won't budge) when my mom tried to get my picture taken at a Studio. My mom wasn't as stubborn as I am (big surprise) and just did them at home for a few years. By the way, I'm 4 here - do you see a resemblance btw. Ky and I?

OH and Kyle loves to color (paint, do playdough, anything artsy) and is starting to use as many colors at one time like his sister always does! He also loves singing, dancing, swimming and playing outside (and finally got on his bike after having it for a year and now LOVES riding it!)

And then there's my baby - who's TWO?!?!?! It's sad because he is so not a baby anymore!!! I mean he looks sooooo grown up in this picture to me! :(

This kid can hold his own in the family! He is a lot like Audrey was - very talkative, not a shy bone in his body and ready to take on the world wherever he is and whoever he's with! NO problems going into nursery, getting babysat by my friends, trying new things - he just says bring it on! No problem going from one thing to another -it's o.k. if we stuff in 4 or 5 activities in one day! He's outgoing and loves attention! And he is the FUNNIEST kid - he's always doing or saying something to make us laugh out loud - he has one of those clown personalities!

And although he is a lot like Audrey - even extremely communicative - which is not as common for a BOY - there are some differences. He is an extreme sports, daredevil kind of kid. Sadly enough I don't think those stitches he just got will be the only ones he'll ever get! Also, it's funny but he is actually more cuddly than Audrey ever was (she pretty much wasn't as a baby - but now she loves hugs and kisses - thank goodness!) Kaden still has an EXTREMELY good arm - he's changed from left to right (although he is still left-handed when he writes and colors.) His first loves are still BALLS and being OUTSIDE and I have a feeling those things always will be. Although he does love to sing and dance (and he will even act, too) like the rest of us!

Oh and I had to add this - it's out of one of Kyle's favorite books and one day when we were reading it he said - that looks like Kaden. Kaden is my best eater - he's never said no to ANY food (even jalapeno peppers) - except cotton candy! He eats anything and everything (unfortunately that still includes yarn.) It's funny because he's actually very small (REALLY short) for his age and the other kids (especially Audrey) have always been tall! But when he's done with his food - he has to throw it! (And put the bowl on his head if he has one!) Luckily, he eats a lot (usually more than Audrey and Kyle) so there's not that much to clean up!

SO, LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL AND I LOVE IT...A LOT!!!

The Not so Good and the GOOD

This song has really helped me since Thursday. You see, Audrey has SCOLIOSIS - it all happened so fast! A couple of months ago her dance teacher showed it to me - she was the first one to notice it! It's seemed like a whirlwind since then - off to the pediatrician, then to the spine specialist, onto the prosthetist/orthotist and now- since Monday - my baby girl has a brace to wear! You know that awhile ago I mentioned we were going to be getting ready to build a house? Well since then we've been approved by two loan companies for a construction loan only to have them both close down there doors on giving out construction loans weeks after - one for 90 plus days and one indefinitely. The thing is, I wasn't upset - I thought it meant maybe we were supposed to buy a house here in this same neighborhood and be able to stay in this ward and school district I and my family have fallen in love with! You see now that Audrey's going to be in a brace for who knows how long - I thought it'd be great to let her stay with all of the numerous, awesome friends she's made. Some of her best friends being boys who take care of her like you would not believe - who I know would protect her from anyone making fun of her! Plus her (and I) know practically every kid in her grade and many many more in all of the other grades. And to tell you the truth - from helping at the school 1-2 times a week every week, I know that there isn't one child that I've met that doesn't like the girl! Most really adore her! And if she came in with a brace next year, it would just be the Audrey they know and love, but with a brace.

But, buying a house is not what we're supposed to do right now and although I knew it and know it, when Kevin came home and told me the news Thursday night, I have to admit, I was devastated! You see, he told me another loan company qualified us and the contractor wants to break ground on Monday! (Our lot has been secured for quite sometime now.) I should have been happy, but I just cried and cried. It may sound silly but all I could think of was now Audrey will just be known as the girl with the brace. Not one of the new kids she'll meet will have known her without it! It really worried me and after many prayers, many scriptures that I read that really spoke to me about this and with a priesthood blessing, I was able to sleep a couple of hours that night. But, we were going to be getting up very early to go to the temple because we were supposed to sign the papers the next day at lunch. The 5am session was the only time we could go together before then. So at 3:30am when my alarm went off, the song "In Your Arms" by Plumb started. I sat there and listened to it intently for the first time (I've heard it before and loved it but never had a chance to catch all of the words.) I had such a spiritual experience through listening to it - I knew that there was a reason I woke up to that song. I was being comforted in knowing that Audrey, just like any person on this earth, will have trials but she can get through them and I will always be there for her. Also, more importantly, her Savior will also always be there for her, and as long as I keep teaching her that, she'll make it through any roadblock in her life just fine! Well after that we went to the temple and although it was so early, it was one of the best experiences I've had at the temple. I felt complete peace and I knew that we're all going to get through this and even more, come out better for it!

Another thing that has helped me through this is Audrey herself. She has not had any problems with this at all. She was just as excited to get her brace as she was glasses! And when she found out it's not the most comfortable thing- she's persevered. There really hasn't been a bad word uttered. Even if there's an "ow" here and there, she remains upbeat. (She's only wearing it for 2 hours a day so far, tomorrow she gets some pads and eventually it will be up to 23 hours a day with the exception of swimming, dancing and gymnastics - maybe sports to?) And like everyone who knows her has said "if it were to happen to any kid, it might as well be Audrey." You see, I honestly haven't met many children like her in my life. She really is one of the most friendly, social, fun, sweet, kind and loving girls around. (Not to mention the smartest Kindergartner I know.) There really aren't any kids (or grownups for that matter) who wouldn't consider her their friend! My mom has told me a couple of times that"This is not going to change who Audrey is, nothing could do that." And I really need to to remember that - she really does have a VERY special personality and especially where she's so young (and darn cute) any new peers should be able to see that there's more to her than a disability!

So there's been some things that are not so good happening around here, but even during our hard times, we can see the good. I know this will help us all in life somehow and someday we'll know exactly how!

And there are a million good things - if not awesome things happening

1.) Kevin's getting more customers at Teton Toyota and has been doing some great work in the Elders Quorum with the ward.

2.) I started doing Mary Kay classes/parties again and have new customers myself along with a new team member under me (and one wanting to sign up tomorrow.)

3.) Audrey is doing awesome at school - she's met her Accelerated Reading goal for the year (for the 2nd grade reading class she goes to) and was the winner of the talent show tryouts for her class and did awesome performing her solo dance in it. Also, a little sidenote - while at the the SLC temple square visitor center looking and the statue of Christ and hearing the voice speaking His words, she felt the Spirit, had tears and was able to bear her testimony about it at church - one of the most amazing experiences of my life!

4.) Kyle turned 4 and is cuter and smarter than ever. The other day I spelled talk out being secretive about something with Audrey (every day she says "mom can I m-i-s-s n-a-p?" And I said "we'll t-a-l-k later.") and he said "that means talk!"

5.) Speaking of talking Kaden talks all day now - he says anything and everything. He'll say what he wants to say when he wants to and communicate about all kinds of things, and also he will parrot things you say if he knows they'll be cute! Whenever I give the kids a choice on time for example "do you want to take nap now or in five minutes" he always says the latter because he knows it means more time.

6.) And it's Mother's Day and between beautiful flowers, cards, a great homemade egg mcmuffin for breakfast, chocolate covered strawberries and the message my husband signed on his card below, I feel very appreciated today - and that means the world to me!