1. Ask me how much I yuv Koug? Can't wait to go to East Canyon tomorrow!
2. Scared of me buying Boca! Glad to be going more towards a healthy life style. Rock on Kaci!
3. Looori's home today! Feel better, Pookie! See you Sunday?
4. Sassy Sarah stopped by for 2 seconds today. Come back soon!
5. Shay, Zach and Cade came over for a play date. How lucky are we?!
On the B Side: Life will be evern better when Rebecca gets her bottom back from Cali and Shell quits galavanting!! Hurry home ladies!
On a day when I feel particularly yucky (you like that word, right?) this came into my life. I can't bring myself to fake it until I make it right now and wish I could stop crying enough to not look stupid at the office. How sweet and very endearing is she?
On the B Side: Amy, thank you. Thank you for being a friend, for standing as an example, for thinking way more of me than I really am and for being in tune with the fact that I stand painfully in need today. Can we hit the Temple together soon? I'm only a year late :( You are beautiful inside and out and I do so love you! I am a better person for having you in my life.
Fridays are officially dedicated to all things fabulous per one of my bff's! I've decided to dedicate today specifically to people in my life. While I will highlight a select few that is not to say that tere are not otherFive people in my life that are fantastic:
1 - My Father...he is alive, wonderful and amazing! He has had some close calls over the past year with his health and apparently the good Lord needs him here...and let it be known that I need him here. Each time I think I couldn't be more blessed to have him in my life he gives me even more reasons to be grateful and stand in admiration. He's a strong example of goodness and light. He's not perfect and he's no doctor but he does save lives! He's been my best friend forever and even though I don't always take your wise advice, I do always listen, Popsicle! I love you so much, Dad (and sometimes I even miss you sorry butt! xxox)
2 - My Momma-cita...predictable right? Wrong. We haven't always been this close. She moved her whole life across the country for me during my divorce. She's the last person I thought I would want near me (sorry, Mom!) but the very person that I needed the most! She picks Dayton up every morning and brings him home every afternoon. How helpful is this? We have 4 kids and both work full time. You find the empirical value of the square root of the hypotonuse to this equation!! She always helps when we move, when I'm pregnant or sick. She brings dinner and watches kids. She is a loving presence in our daily lives. I have no idea what I do do without her (and there are times when I don't know what to do with her!)
3 - Shellbait...the bff of a lifetime! I know, I know. Bff's everywhere. They come and go throughout different times and stages of our lives. This one I'm keeping. She is a staple in lives and is as family. Yes, my Sister of another Mister (except I'm not Mexican and neither of us pencil in our eye brows). Odd that she came into our lives as she did. Odd that she was the former girlfriend of my ex husband (yes, after we divorced) but she endeared herself to me with the genuine love she held for my children. So we've kept her for going on 3 years now and there is no sign of letting up...ever. She's strong, determined, full of life and energy and has a heart that more often than not extends far beyond herself. She'll always be my favorite porch monkey!`
4 - Adi...our tiny dancer! As the smallest and newest member to our family I feel compelled to share just how much we love this little lady. She is the most amazing blessing. True to Jerry McGuire style...she completes us. We are a full circle with her. She was the missing link and now this tiny little human comes and offers way more love than her small self seems capable of holding! She loves to stretch her arms and we always smile. She is always dancing her sweet little feet and we always smile. She watches the world around her and reminds all of us just how simple and wonderful life really is. She exudes love to everyone and everyone loves her. It's just that easy. How can you not express and feel love in such a Heavenly presence?
5 - BaFark...last but certainly not least. I do not profess to have a perfect marriage. In fact I can admit that there are times when we don't get along and I can tell you that some times we don't even like each other. If you are married and honest with yourself I am certain you could say the same. Marriage is a lot of work and you can't possibly understand how hard it us until you live it. If you thought a 1st marriage was hard I can tell you that a 2nd makes it look like a walk in the park! Ain't no easy, breezy, beautiful here! We work hard and that's what makes it even more satisfying. We're blending lives together and we remain committed. We're talking about mine, yours and ours. Emotions run high. Communication is more crucial than ever. Some times it feels like Mark and I are stumbling through it together and other times we feel in control, organized and almost flawless. Regardless of what day it is or what trial is upon us of this I am sure, I love my Marky Mark.
On the B Side: I love being surrounded by loved ones! I have friends and family that I love more than anything and that mean the world to me. I have people that love me unconditionally, people that I love unconditionally, people that rely on me and people that I rely upon. I am happy. I feel happy.
Today is the greatest!
I picked up Adi's car seat! It's so super cute and makes me even more excited! She dropped last night and so we're getting closer all of the time. On top of that I met up with Shell for dinner, had some amazing grilled asparagus/steamed brocolli, killed my urge for bread with oil & vinegar AND scored a killer pedicure!
Thanks Shell for the royal treatment tonight!! I can now rest assuredly knowing that my feet will be as cute as feet can get during delivery (and now with the new seat at least I know they'll let me bring her home!!!) Get ready to play some serious catch ;) 
Today Ellie had a birthday party for her favorite friend Hannah at Build-A-Bear. Hannah has an older brother Logan who is in Dayton's class so both kids went and it worked out really well.
The kids were super well behaved, polite and pleasant! They listened well and got along with the other kids. You just never know what you'll get so needless to say I was pleased as punch (whatever that means)! They each made a bear and had a lot of fun in the process.
The real pay off was the friends I made! Nicole is another little girl in Ellie's class who was at the party. She will be in Ellie's Kindergarten class in the Fall. Her Mom Vanessa is from Brazil and gave me her card so we can set up some play dates!
After talking with Hannah's Mom I was excited to learn that she also has a mine-yours-and-ours situation. While I know there's a lot of divorcees out there it was refreshing to talk to someone in a similar circumstance. Logan and Hannah are from her first marraige, she has a step daughter and a son from her second marriage. We chatted and are also going to try to set up some play dates which will benefit both Dayton AND Ellie. Double Score!
Let's face it, I was the real winner today! I love people, I love meeting people and I LOVE making new friends. With the kids there's an added incentive and makes it all the more satisfying!
On the B Side: I love watching the kids interact in various situations to see how they socialize and behave. I really was proud in a simplistic way to see them do so well! I also am so excited that I met some new people and made some new friends that will benefit all of us!
Last weekend my Clancy Pants and her family came down to SLC from IF and stayed with us. Unfortunately Mark had to work most of the time but we all had a blast. I'm sad that I didn't take any pictures.
On Saturday I was babysitting for some friends so we had a total of 7 children running around our home (compared to just 6 the rest of the weekend!). My Dad is also here from PA and keep in mind that my brother lives with us... we literally had a party!
Here's a run down of activities. Keep in mind the the children ranged from ages 2 to 7 and we had at least 5-6 adults here and 2 extras Saturday evening.
Potty Accidents: 3 (and two of them were Ellie...which never happens anymore!!!)
Kids sleeping in my room: 3
Boys: 4
Girls: 3
Hoot-n-Nanny Pancakes: 2 nine by thirteen pans Saturday morning
Casualties: 1 (Poor Kayla biffed it on the sidewalk)
Trips to the Park: 1
Christmas Cookies Made: 2 batches
Late Nights past 11 for the Kids: 2
Late Nights past 1 AM for me and Clancy Pants: 2
Movies Watched: 2 (Madagascar both times!)
Tears: Only a handful when I put the tubby toys away (Sorry, RoRo)
Loads of Laundry: 7 (these were all mine!)
Gallons of Apple Juice: 3
Gallons of OJ: 2
Gallons of Milk: 2
Instruments Played: 2 (guitar and piano)
Waffles: I have no idea how many there were but man were they flakey (Bad Dad!)
Highlight: Clancy signing 'A Long Time Ago' with Dustin's crazy Kata
We had no real squabbles, no injuries on the tramp, no runaways and no time outs!! TV time was minimal and the weather was beautiful! The kids were really awesome and played so well together. We were late for Church on Sunday but at least I had my lesson prepared ;)
On the B Side: I am grateful for the best of friends!
