Spring Break

Two weeks ago we were able to go to Disneyland for spring break. I know that I have said that Christmas is my favorite time to be at Disneyland but I was wrong. There is something about springtime there, it's amazing. Living in Utah it seems like winter may never end but when you get to Disneyland you realize that there is still hope for good weather. It's warm and sunny and happy, not cold and cloudy and depressing. I think that my favorite thing to do while I am there is point out all the different kinds of flowers. My mom had an amazing green thumb (she got yard of the week in Orem 3 years in a row!) and was always telling me the different kinds of flowers whenever we would go anywhere. Seeing and knowing all these flowers makes me feel close to my mom and I know its cheesey but I hope one day Olivia and Harris will be somewhere and recognize a flower that I have pointed out and know what it is.

Harris was so funny this trip. He abbreviated everything! So here are the kids on Mr. Toad, Pooh Bear and Casey Jun Jun. I didn't get a pic of him on his favorite ride Pi's aka Pirates. Haha! Silly boy. We did actually get to do Casey Junior twice this trip! We haven't done this ride in years because the line is forever long but because we were there during the week it was pretty slow.

Since there are 4 of us we take turns with each other on the rides. Usually these are the two rides we end up doing the most ; Splash and "Autop". Splash is my favorite and Autopia is the kids favorite especially at night.

The last few times we have been to Disneyland my dad has come with us. I was sad this time that he wasn't going to be able to be there because we were going during the week. Well Wednesday morning he called and asked us what ride were on. I told him that we hadn't quite made it to the park yet but we were on our way. After I hung up I thought that was a weird phone call and then it donned on me "He's Here!". Sure enough when we walked into the park there he was leaning against a light post waiting for us. I was so glad he came the kids were too. They immediately started fighting over who got to go on what rides with him. It was a great surprise!

This is poor Harris on our way back to the Disneyland Hotel on the last night. He was so sad. He cried all the way back to the hotel that he "wished we lived at Disneyland". It broke my heart. Usually the kids are fine with leaving because they know that we will be back sooner rather than later. I think that he wanted to stay because it is a familiar place to him and New Mexico where we were headed "home" to was still very unfamiliar. Thankfully after a good nights sleep (and we promised we already had the next trip back booked.) he was fine with going "home".

 Goodbye Disneyland until next time!

Thankful

Two years ago today my mom passed away. I have had many emotions today; anger, sorrow, heartache, devastation, thoughtfulness, etc... However I don't want to focus on the negative. Although I am very sad today, I am also thankful. Yes, thankful. I am thankful for the 27 years of love and friendship and knowledge that she gave to me. She was the best mom and friend anyone could have asked for. I am grateful for the time that I did get with her. I have wonderful memories of a woman who still inspires me everyday. Thanks for everything Mom! Forever, forever!

I am also thankful for the 2 best sisters in the world! I know that I can call on them for anything and that they will be there for me no matter what! Thanks Jann and Linz! I love you guys.

I am thankful for good friends. For the good times I am able to have with them. (even if they are not a frequent as I would like.)Thanks for all the thoughts, notes and phone calls today they lifted my spirits!

I am also thankful for my loving husband, Chet. I don't know if I could have survived the last 2 years without him. He has been my rock, even when it meant putting his own grief aside. I am so blessed to have my best friend as my eternal companion. Always and forever Honnuh!

Most importantly I am thankful for the Savior. I know that through him I will get to see my mom again one day.

Draper Temple

Today we had the opportunity to go to the Draper Temple open house. It was amazing. The beauty and the spirit that are inside are breathtaking! It was especially neat because we took Olivia and Harris. It was neat to walk hand-in-hand with them and explain what the different rooms were for. I was especially touched when I walked into the Bride's Room holding Olivia's hand. I had the feeling that I would be doing this again someday. (I hate to say that because she is my baby girl!) When we got to the Celestial Room I had a strange feeling come over me. I felt my moms presence. (she died almost 2 years ago from ARDS) It wasn't necessarily that she was there in that room, but that she was close and in a "similar" place. I was a bit hesitant to feel that spirit because, honestly, my faith has wavered since she died. The other feeling that I got was that she was "working". I don't know why I got that impression but I did. It made me smile.
I just want to say that I am grateful for the work that goes on in the Temple, because I know that the work that goes on there will ensure that I will get to see my mom again someday.

Happy Birthday Mom!!!

So, today would have been my mom's 53 birthday. It was a melancholy day. In honor of our birthday lunch tradition, my dad, sisters and I all went to lunch at the Red Lobster, one of my mom's fave places. When our waiter came to get our orders, he asked what the special occasion was. We all sat there in an awkward moment of silence before I told him, then he had his awkward moment not knowing what to say to that. It was a nice but weird lunch. She should have been there with us.

My good friend Jana gave me a framed quote that says "If I had a flower for each time I thought of my mother, I could walk in my garden forever." Not all of you knew my mom so to remember her on her birthday I wanted to share some thoughts of her:

She was beautiful
She was an amazing listener, and would listen with genuine interest
She had more friends than anyone I know
She had a green thumb, she won yard of the week 3 years in a row
She was the fastest walker on the planet, none of us could ever keep up with her
She was an efficiency expert "if you are going up take something up if you are going down take something down"
She was FFA queen

She loved to get her nails done, OPI Bogota Blackberry was her favorite nail polish color

She never had her cell phone with her
She loved animals, and had good animal aura

She loved to go on criuses, Alaska was her favorite
We always knew when she had a migraine because she would do "the eyebrow thing"
She was always "on the up and up"
She loved to make up useful sayings

She loved jammy time
She always gave the best gifts
Her house was decorated with grapes
She was obsessed with Africa and always wanted to go on a safari
She thought she was a doctor in a former life and would often prescribe "cocktails"
She was fascinated by forensics
She loved Ralph Lauren clothing
She always and only wore Eternity perfume, every time I smell it I cry
She always stood when she ate
She could eat her body weight in lime sherbet (all 100 pounds of her)
She was a hard worker, she managed Musicland and Sam Goody in the mall for 25 years
She knew anything an everything about all kinds of music
Elton John and any smooth jazz were her favorite
Even though she worked full time she still made me breakfast every morning
She was an immaculate cleaner, her house was always spotless
She loved Pepsi, I have a picture of me with a bottle filled with the stuff
Her favorite breakfast was a can of Pepsi and a bowl of dry Shredded Wheat
She loved to eat ice but she had to let it "breathe" first
She would put a bag inside her garbage bag
She broke several teeth eating sour candy (another fave)
She was an amazing chef and always cooked like there were 500 people coming over
Her grandkids were her world! I know that Olivia loved her more than me...

Most of all she was my best friend! I miss her everyday and hope she knows that I love her "forever, forever".
Happy Birthday Mommy! I love you!!!