One year from a mental breakdown

Yesterday was my birthday.

It was delightful.

I'm 29.

I celebrated with friends and family at Liberty Market and had a fun time & great food! (Hey pecan bar, I dreamed of you last night.)

I love my friends so much. They truly are a part of my family. There were alot of faces that weren't there but Im so fortunate to have so many people that care about me and my little family. I truly am blessed!

Dustin did a great job suprising me this year. He keeps me on my toes. He came in with a giant box and a Harley Davidson card to which her wrote, "you rev my engine!" He made me cry in front of everyone. You'll see what I got further down.

Wesley, Devin & Krystal





Crissy




Matt & Tanj Sarah & Jay





Issac & Natalee

I'll admit, I was feelin' pretty foxy.

Elisa & Jake

Me & Megan

(Mcphee sorry you have a giant face but it's the only pic I got of you)

buddy, buddie & buddi

This was at the end of the night.

I really feel old and the bags under my eyes is the proof

I was treated to quit a few things this year. I was treated with an afternoon out via Crissy. I got some great gifts including some MAC chapstick (my old lover) a cardigan, some jars, a book and some great vintage pieces.

And my big gift from Dus was a dress form.

(its not this exactly but now you know what a dress form is)

Sarah's great-grandmothers silverware (this pic x 50 pieces)

Holiday Coke pack that belonged to Crissy's grandmother

I loved my birthday, thank you to all for making me feel so special!

Honer Home

This month has been long...and hard (that's what she said). I have been a busy lady. Here's some pics of things I've done around the house.



Here's the little wall right by my stairs, in the family room. It's not fully done, I don't know what to put above my "family" cards...

Here's my fall centerpiece on the table.

(don't judege my blue walls...any inspiring paint choices? throw them my way)

I FINALLY set up my office space. Before I was working with a pile of things in the middle of this table. My kids (aka Saylee) constantly got into my things and it was frustrating, but not anymore...

my map with pins in all the places I've sold to

(almost ALL places...it's a pretty small map!)

my vintage yarn, thread and bias tape in jars

--jars, jars, jars...I'm all about jars right now--

I finally buckled and broke the bank to buy a silhouette, my poor fingers couldn't take anymore Xacto knife, so I've been messing around with it, here's some bunting on the door.

Here's a wreath I made...I love it & it's not holiday specific

(tutorial here)

total project cost me about $6.00

I've already made 2 and plan on making more!

The reason I be so busy is to keep my mind off temptation. I did HCG with a buddy of mine and I've lost 13 pounds. Im happy but still have alot more to go to reach my goal of pre-baby weight. I cut some bangs to match my "funky fresh mom" vibe.

(Ignore my mile wide smile)

And the best for last

My family is blessed. I witness it everyday. After 2 1/2 years of unemployment, my husband has finally found a job! I am happy and a little lost. I am currently mourning the loss of Dustin because suddenly the guy is NEVER around...I secretly love it & hate it...like I said Im a little lost!

like bother-like brother?

How often does this happen??

two brothers fall asleep side by side lying in the exact same position!

gotta love it.

365 days of...slow down

whoa whoa whoa

You mean my baby went from this...

to this?...

My little guy turned one yesterday. I love this boy so much! He is "such a Hon" it's not even funny! His little personality bring so much joy and laughter to our family and his brothers and sister love him soo much! I really can't believe it's been a year already! I feel like each year is flying faster than the last. We started off with a rough morning (by morning I mean 2:30 a.m.) when Emry woke up with a fever, but he felt well enough that night to P.A.R.T.Y.

Trying to get a pic of his shirt I made turned into an inpromptu shoot

He's ready for the good stuff

We scared him when we sang happy birthday(that's not the first time my singing has drawn tears from my children!)

Saylee enjoyed the cupcakes...a little too much!







He enjoyed his treat. I didn't let him get too messy, perhaps Im growing wiser with age.

Here's a close up of his shirt I made. I hope you can tell it's a one!

Happy Birthday Emry! We love you and can't wait to see what you will do this year!!

Hallow's Eve 2010

Halloween came and went. We hit up our ward trunk or treat and had a blast. Dustin made chili for our annual "cook off" and he spent the whole day in the kitchen making a mess and getting juice from a habanero pepper all over his face. He almost died...seriously. We were 5 mins away from calling poision control! Crissy moved back home so we we're lucky enough to have her and the boys come along.

The kids did VERY well- like patiently waiting for their food for 40 mins. Emry had been feeling pretty sick that day but did great and Saylee was a little overwhelmed but no major meltdowns!

We put our costumes together in about 45 secs...

Bronson, Brody, Preston, Grady, Saylee

'A Luigi!



Snow White



Mario



and my little calf!

Devin and Krystal showed up and helped out. The kids love them so much, they're alway's such a blasty blast!

Me and me lady



And luckily enough, I was blessed with a miracle that same evening...

My husband did the dishes!

silver lining of a lady

"Every cloud has a silver lining"

I dont really get that.

I've never seen an actual silver lining on any real cloud. I mean, I get the whole "cloud" analogy but wouldn't it just be easier to say, "every cloud has a sun behind it somewhere"

hmmm-doesn't flow as well as I thought, nope...silver linings good.

We all have our own personal "clouds." Some people's clouds are gloomin' AZ style (once in a blue moon) and some of us have a Seattle style cloud, it feels as if we'll never see the sun again. I feel like it's constantly raining in my life, well, not really mine- but her's...

my little silver lining.

It seems unfair that this sweet little spirit has to try so hard to be a kid. It seems unfair that in the first 4 years of her life, she's had to overcome more than I'll ever be tried with. She has to TRY to speak, she has to TRY to listen, she has to TRY to fit in... it's heartbreaking.

As bad as I think my situation is, I know it could be alot worse. It makes me sad that alot of times when I talk to my friends about Saylee it's more complaints than praise. It's always, "Saylee spilt Nesquick all over the floor...again." Instead of, "Saylee picked up her own mess today," or "Saylee can count to 20 and can sing twinkle twinkle faster than humanly possible!" She's my little lady that sometimes moonlights as a wild boar but she's mine still the same.

it could be alot worse.

So here's the silver lining in my silver lining. Her smile.

Never waivers, never fails.

I know that at the end of a turrible day, I can still make her smile.

I know I can make her laugh, and she'll make me laugh

She loves me, and she knows how to show it.
How could I ask for anything more?