my happy girl

Ryan is currently on another trip to Argentina, which leaves me home with Josie. We're making the big move soon, so i had him take out josie's bed with him on monday, which leaves her sleeping with me. Of course, i don't mind a cute snuggle bug in my bed. This morning when we woke up, the first words out of her mouth were"WELCOME TO A HAPPY DAY"

I love love love this sweet girl. I often wonder if her sweet disposition is something that she was naturally born with, or can i credit that to me being such a happy person. Maybe some of both. My bad days come far and in between. I'm grateful that josie is the same way. She hardly ever has a bad day. She's just what i need. Lately, i've been stressed with various things.. i hate being stressed (of course i don't know who does like to be), (some of you know what's going on with me lately... but for the most part, i've really found i like to be private about myself.. if you ask.. i'll tell... but i absolutely hate posting about stuff like that). Anyway, i'm very very grateful for my happy girl!

Arches

This year for our family trip, we decided to stay close (by that, i mean in the state) and adventure in the beautiful utah! We only had a few days to get away, so we went down to Moab, Arches nat'l park, and Canyonlands nat'l park. Man, it is beautiful down there. When we got there, a lot of the scenery looks like it does out here. After driving for a few hours, we said, " Look josie, we made it to our adventure!" She said, "No, we're just at my home." We laughed because the landscape really did look just like where we live. We took some great hikes. I cannot believe my amazing husband. A few of the hikes we took were definitely not for kids, (which is why we brought the back pack for her.. but she is pushing that to the seams!), so ryan carried the pack on his back. I don't know about you but i certainly couldn't carry an extra 40 lbs on my back up some of those hikes! Yikes!!

Devils Garden:

Double O and Trepition arch, and a hole in the rocks. (we really liked Navajo arch too, but we didn't get a picture of that), and landscape arch.

she's getting really good with the camera!

look at that hike! I'm telling you.... he's amazing!

burr.... it was a cold, cold morning

so we tent camped.... in november.... yeah.... so pretty, but cold nights.

the famous 'delicate arch'.. i know we're specks... but we are there, if you look closely.

happy halloween

Halloween day was beautiful here, but once that sun dropped behind the horizon and the moon came up.... burrrrr, it was chilly. We had a fun time at our annual parade and chili dinner at the school. Then we did the trick or treat thing after. I was thinking this year, it's so nice of all these people that don't have kids at home to spend money out of their pocket to give all of these kids candy. I mean, some people that you hardly ever see leave their house were participating and wanted to give all these kids candy. it's kind of amazing to me that we do this on this holiday. I mean, we buy all this candy to care and share with our neighbors... even if you live by yourself, or all your kids are grown up. Kind of cool.

Enjoy some of these pics.

This is how I've been feeling lately. Yeah, a little crazy you could say.

no, she doesn't have to go to the bathroom here, she is showing off her cat tights

I love this! here she has all of this candy before her, and she wanted to play with the "tricks" (not the treats) she had gotten. She is playing with two small mice here.

man vs. pumpkin

Last week we carved pumpkins for FHE. After tracing, poking and cutting mine out very carefully, i was successful in carving a cute happy monster pumpkin. Ryan had other thoughts for carving... take a look.

Rotozip.... meet the pumpkin

Josieism2

Last night we were watching the rerun of "So you think you can Dance" auditions. This one guy trying out said he had 6 red bulls before his audition. Needless to say he was a little wired.

josie: wow! he's hyper

Ryan and I: laughing

Josie: yeah, he's hyper like me!

Ryan and i: laughing even harder

only because it's now about 10:45-11:00 at night. that's what late naps will do to you.

okay, i'm a little behind

So.... Labor was great. Besides working my behind off and feeling like a zombie, i was so glad when the day came when my family could come out and join us for this holiday. My 30th birthday happened to land right on labor day this year. Can i believe it 30! Yes, i can believe it. So, what do you give you wife for her 30th birthday..... well, since the sperm and the egg are not cooperating... . how about a motor boat! Okay, i'll take that. That's right, after looking on KSL for A LONG TIME..... we found one that we thought might work. It's old... of course, this is what happens when your budget is not high. It's a great little motor boat, perfect for us. Well, it's not that little. We had so much fun taking it out on our really awesome reservoir. After the holiday we took it out a few more times... and of course problems arose. Just maintainence, but expensive maintainence at that. oh well, that comes with an older boat I suppose.

Here are some pics of us enjoying that weekend.

the water was a little too choppy for me. Not because of the boats,(we only saw a few), but because of the WIND. OF COURSE. IT'S ALWAYS WINDY UP HERE. of course the next few days after that, were calm.

So, can you tell who is who? I'll let you guess.

sharing

This poem was sent to me by one of my best friends. She and I always have the best long talks, laughs and cries over nothing and everything. I loved the words in this poem as so many of them rang true to home. I'm sure in some way or another, they will touch you too. Thank you Monica!

There are women that become mothers without effort,
without thought, without patience or loss and though
they are good mothers and love their children, I know
that I will be better.

I will not be better because of genetics, or money or that
I have read more books but because I have struggled and
toiled for this child. I have longed and waited. I
have cried and prayed. I have endured and planned over
and over again.

Like most things in life, the people who truly have
appreciation are those who have struggled to attain
their dreams. I will notice EVERYTHING about my child.
I will take time to watch my child sleep, explore and
discover. I will marvel at this miracle every day for the
rest of my life.

I will be happy when I wake in the middle of the night
to the sound of my child, knowing that I can comfort,
hold and feed him and that I am not waking to take
another temperature, pop another pill, take another
shot or cry tears of a broken dream. My dream will be
crying for me.

I count myself blessed in this sense; that God has
given me this insight, this special vision with which
I will look upon my child that my friends will not
see.

Whether I parent a child I actually give birth to or a
child that God leads me to, I will not be careless
with my love.

I will be a better mother for all that I have endured.

I am a better wife, a better aunt, a better daughter,
neighbor, friend and sister because I have known pain.

I know disillusionment as I have been betrayed by my
own body. I have been tried by fire and hell many
never face, yet given time, I stood tall.

I have prevailed. I have succeeded. I have won.

So now, when others hurt around me, I do not run from
their pain in order to save myself discomfort. I see
it, mourn it, and join them in theirs.

I listen.

And even though I cannot make it better, I can make it
less lonely. I have learned the immense power of
another hand holding tight to mine, of other eyes that
moisten as they learn to accept the harsh truth and
when life is beyond hard. I have learned a compassion
that only comes with walking in those shoes.

I have learned to appreciate life.

Yes I will be a wonderful mother.

~Author Unknown