no more pestering, teasing, or harsh tones ANY MORE

so it is official.... i am going back to school!!!! horray, or something like that. i finally got it all together, and with MUCH help from Erin, i am going to finish the two classes that i need to graduate. unfortunately i have taken both these classes before, but because i am an idiot and because of lymes, i didn't finish. so here i am retaking them.... perfect! anyhow, i wanted to let you ALL know so that there will be no more pestering, teasing, or harsh tones about the fact that i haven't finished yet!! okay, brant, scottie, mom, sky, and anyone else who has ever felt the desire. you'll just have to think of other things to bug me about!

More photos

This is my sweet 20 month old, just eating some cheese and being really happy about it!!!

Erin, sky's mom, or rather Ernie to the grandkids, decided to take everyone fishing at the fish farm. Zoia did not quite grasp the concept!

This is Alie, who is about 9 months older than Zoia. But the two of them absolutely love each other. There are literal screams of joy when they see each other. They do tend to beat up on each other now and then, and i have to admit that it is mostly Zoia doing the beating, but they both handle it really well.

Ernie, with all the grankids, and all the fish!! Kole just turned 5, Alie is 2, Zoia is 20 months, and Sophie is 10 months.

I just had to add this little seductive photo for you all to see. I told her I was taking a photo and this is what she did. hmmm....

and some photos....

The slide at hogle zoo. really the only thing she loved, until she had a major collision with Jared, and then she was done!!! (thanks suzie for the trip....3 months ago.. we LOVED it)

our little family at the beach. for some reason i did not plan ahead enough, go figure, so zoia and i were left without suits. hence her drowned rat look!

she LOVED the ocean. it was in fact freakin freezing water, but that didn't stop her. i think she needed a little break though, to contemplate the waves...

gratitude....

yes, i know it has been awhile since i have written and if i have any readers left at all it will be a miracle. truthfully i have been extra mega-busy since the move.... and there really has not been a lot to say. not to mention, that as most of you know, i tend to be a rather pessimistic individual as of late (yes, feel sorry for my husband). so all i could think to say were complaints. than today, as i was running through some quick emails and such, i took a look at a blog that i stalk and realized just how grateful i should be for my life. the blog is a beautiful photography blog, and a smattering of wonderful thoughts. i really just enjoy her viewpoint, her children, her photos... anyhow it seems that her last few post have in some way, been in honor of the remarkable women in her life. some have experienced tragic loss of a spouse, some have battled with horrific illness, or terrible accidents. and still others have left behind grieving families. i broke down into tears at my own selfishness. how could i possibly be pessimistic when i have so much. my daughter is the most amazing, wonderful, priceless gift and i can't imagine why i was so lucky to have been blest with her. she is perfect. she is funny and beautiful and crazy and simply the happiest little spot in my life. my husband.... i know he loves me. i know he tries so hard. i know i make him crazy and yet most days he puts up with it. he is wonderful. my family is such an amazing support system. we all are struggling right now with this and that, but at the end of the day there is nothing that we wouldn't do for each other. and i really mean nothing. i am healthy. i don't have cancer or diabetes or trouble conceiving or even heartburn. i have friends, that despite our lengthy separations and busy lives, truly love and care about me. what more could you ask for? i am so terribly sorry for these women who have struggled to simply be alive. i am so sorry for their children who have had to watch them in such pain. i am sorry mostly for the fact that i don't show enough gratitude to my heavenly father for my blessings. but i am, i truly am so unspeakably grateful.

we are moving...

yes, it is true... we are moving. long story, but i have been consumed with that for the last few weeks and will continue being consumed with that for at least another few weeks. so no posts from me for a while, sorry. but just as a taste for what is to come, me-hiking timpanogas (sp?) scary, moving, going to ca (hopefully), and probably lake powell. all these things will happen before i have time to blog so just think of the pics and the fabulous posts you will be able to read. HORRAY!!! until then, i hope you are all well and i hope you are having a GREAT summer!

when she is good she is very very good, but when she is bad she is HORRID!!!

yes, that is right... i am talking about my sweet, beautiful baby girl. the apple of my eye. the happiest thing in my world. my tiniest little best friend. who also happens to be the meanest, nastiest little piece of crap that ever walked the earth. on Saturday, while shopping at the local grocery store, where i see at least a hand full of people i know, my adorable little zoia says hello to everyone and waves and is just as sweet as can be. and then, suddenly, i pick her up out of the seat and she proceeds to flail about, doing all in her power to punch, poke, pinch, etc her unassuming mother. with keys in one hand, she clocks me in the side of the head with a full wind up and then grabs my mouth with the other hand and simultaneously pulls and pinches cheek until she is shaking and i am bleeding. yes, bleeding. and all the while the folks from my neighborhood are standing there, watching my 18 months old act like a wild animal. yeah. it was that fun. any parenting suggestions because my pleas and occasional yelps of "NO", "please, no", "don't" etc seem to fall upon deaf ears!!! maybe it's because she is cackling with such evil she can't hear me!


how can something so sweet be so bad!!?!

i want to be the kind of person that remembers!!

okay, so i fail miserably on a constant basis when it comes to remembering birthdays. seriously. i know i just missed felicia's and stacie's is like today, and i am certain that i have missed several other birthdays already this year, i HATE being that person. so PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, leave a your birthday date in the comments. PLEASE. that means you. everyone, anyone. i am truly trying to be a better person and this is one of the ways that i want to do. so help me be better. comment your birthday (and better leave your address too, so that i can send the bday card that makes me the good friend that i want to be)(but if the address is too much, just the bday day will do). THANKS. (do it now, or you will forget. your crying child, or hungry spouse, or tv show will wait!!!) thanks