tuesday sunshine

{Hogle Zoo}

I need something to warm me up today.

It is May 24th and it is snowing.

My toes are cold

I have the sniffles.

And the fireplace is on.

It could be February, really it could.

Except for when the snow falls it falls on bright green grass.

And I am looking out the window this very second and I see sheep eating that bright green grass.

This reminds me that is really is almost summer.

The weather man says tomorrow-Friday in will be in the high 70's.

He has been wrong before...but not this time. (I hope.I hope. I hope.)

So I will not sulk. I will use today to get all caught up on the inside of my home.

Because tomorrow-Friday I will not be spending much time inside.

But outside laying in all that bright green grass.

baker birthday party

Ellie's Birthday Baker Party.

She was in heaven.

I asked her about going to college one day and she replied.

"I am not going to college when I grow up. I am going to Chef school and opening up a restaurant called the Sunshine Cafe"

So this party was the perfect fit!

Aprons
Cupcake decorating
lots of giggling
Cupcake walk
A Batter relay
happy birthday singing
a whole lot of presents from her thoughtful friends
ice cream cones.
boxes to take the cupcakes home
cookie cutters and sugar cookie mix
and 1 very happy 7 year old

It turned out so fun.
But I must say it was sort of a lot of work...phew!
I got some help on the aprons from a good friend or I probably would have thrown in the towel.
{Thaks Ali}

bowling

Little Lucy is the winner!
and she wants the whole wide world to know about it.

moab part three

Sandy Dune Arch: Arches National Park
This world is amazing.
So many beautiful things to see.
Far away...and lucky for me close to home.
If I ever hit the jackpot I really, really want to see them all.

Classic Quotes from our trip.

Canyon: When I saved his life by yelling like a crazy woman for him to stop running.
"Mom your being like a Mom".
What else could I be like?

Ellie: When she was told that the beautiful rock formations were formed by god, water, and wind.
"Wow!!.... I just can't believe how creative he is"
Nice observation Ellie. :)

Lucy: When she noticed the group of motorcycle guys were gone when we came out of the gas station.
"Mom.....where did all those pirates go?"
She was disappointed they were gone.
I think she wanted to sing her pirate song to them.

double digits

My little guy is 10 today. I can't believe it.

I get a little teared up just thinking about it....and him.

How when he came into the world he didn't make a peep.

Just looked around contently with huge wide open eyes.

It's funny how that description can still fit him today.

I was so in love with him......still am.

I love his tender heart.

His messy hair in the morning.

That he tells me who he has a crush on.

And will still give me a hug in public.

I love the brother he is.

His sense of humor.

and his dimple on his right cheek.

I love his sense of adventure.

love for the outdoors.

That he is a dreamer.

I love that when I really look at him....he looks back at me and smiles.

the same way he did 10 years ago when I saw that first smile.

Happy Birthday Canyon! I love you!

{Canyon, Spring 2010}

birthday flowers

Shane surprised Ellie with flowers for her birthday.

She was beaming from ear to ear.

Completely in heaven.

Just when she thought it couldn't get better

He made her a birthday card.

With her standing in her flowers.

She stares at it with a big smile on her face.

all.the.time.

I think he will have to buy her flowers every year

from here on out.

A new tradition.

She always tells me she has a secret.

Then I beg her to tell me what it is.

Even though I know what she is going to say.

Then she always whispers "I'm Dad's best girl...he told me so"

Every bit of her believes it.

There is no wonder why.

make a wish

I kissed and tucked in the 6 year old Ellie in bed the other night and told her not to grow. She did not listen to me. She went ahead and woke up a big 7 year old girl. She was filled with excitement down to her bones. She woke up earlier than she did on Christmas morning. 7:48 to be exact. This was the day. The day of her long awaited Baker Birthday Party (she wants to be a baker when she grows up ya know) and her surprise present she requested. I asked her what she would like for her birthday this year she told me "I want it to be a surprise but...I want it to be very special" Wow, talk about pressure....Geez! Thank goodness she was not let down. :) She told me it was the "Best Birthday Ever" I'm not quite sure how much weight I put in that phrase anymore. She says it just about every year. In fact she says it a lot about a lot of things. This is the best day ever, these are the prettiest shoes ever or Lucy is the prettiest girl ever. I sure will miss that little 6 year old but I am sure her big 7 year old self will be just as amazing.

Things to love:

She could not be a better big sister..Lucy is the luckiest gal to have her.

The way she notices all the little things in life. The small beautiful details others might overlook. Even if that means she notices and tells me how many days in a row I wear the same pair of earings. She makes up for it when she points out the smallest prettiest flower in the world on a hike that I would have never ever seen.

She gives about 100 compliments a day to others. This is perfect for my self esteem. :)

She gives the best hugs in all the world.

She is always saying the best, funniest things. She would be SO embarrassed if I told them all.

She loves surprises. She could wait a million years for a really good surprise.

She writes at least one really good love letter a day to someone.

She gives a mean massage.

Can be beyond silly.

She loves and lives BIG and it shows everyday.

I am still amazed she is mine. She is already better than I ever will be. I love you Miss Ellie.