soccer star

congrats to miss diva who made the Legends FC  team.  that is the club soccer team for chino hills.  i am now a club soccer mom.   our summer is filled with soccer tournament after soccer tournament.  we are very proud of her and her dedication to this elite team and at this elite level.  

My Everest

outing

when kelly was here we hit up the local gourmet cupcake house right here in chino hills.  it's our take on Sprinkles.  and i must say, we loved it even more.  and it's right here, not all the way in Newport.    just one of my great days while my darling sister was here.

talent show

last week Nico participated in our school talent show.  he was recruited by mr. smith, who is syd's teacher, THE MAN.  mr. smith does all the school productions and nico just happens to have his wife mrs. smith as his kindergarten teacher.  they are wonderful teachers.  so nico was recruited to be the "ring boy" and walk the round numbers across the stage to introduce each act.  there was 14 acts and he had to do 4 performances.  all 4 i also attended.  i had the show memorized by the end.  nico was wonderful, funny and charming.  everyone loved him, especially the 7th and 8th graders.  the yelled for him every time he came out.  sydney was excited because tons of people came up to her after and said how cute her brother was.  it was a good day.  i will post a video clip as soon as i can.  

nico the photographer

this is what you get when you give your camera to a 5 year old boy.  gotta love nico's magic eye.  kelly and i look fantastic.  

sadness

it is really hard living so far away from the people i love the most.  when they come to visit, i anticipate it for weeks.  we have a countdown for whoever is coming out.  and when they do, we have the most wonderful visit.  mr. g says i am my happiest during these visits.  i drink in every minute they are here.  then the moment comes when i have to take them to the airport, and it feels like the world is coming down on me.  and it last for a while.  i am one of most emotional ones, kelly is like me.  so she and i saying goodbye tonight was really hard.  i HATE them leaving me like they do.  it makes me feel so alone. abandoned.  i do get over it and am fine, but for that while it is the hardest thing to deal with.  my chest gets tight, i feel like i am going to hyperventilate, and i cry my eyes out.  i go into the ugly cry.  you would think after more than 5 years of doing this it would get easier.  but it doesn't.  i will be fine tomorrow and already looking forward to the next trip.  i just needed to vent.  

kelly- i love you and am so grateful you  wanted to spend your free time here with us.   thank you for lighting up our house for the week.  and i'm sorry about thursday.  i won't desert you again.  love, love, love you.

sweet visit

today my grandpa welsh and his wife carole came over to visit kelly and I.  they live in washington state and  come visit often.  i am lucky enough to have grandpa in my home every couple months.  he will always have the softest place in my heart.   kelly and i are the most emotional trost girls and of course today pulled at our hearts a little.  we cuddled and visited with one of our favorite people.  it was a perfect day.  we are so lucky to have such a wonderful man in our lives.  he exudes the most perfect love and appreciation for all around him.  in my entire life, i have never, never heard my grandpa say anything negative about anyone and never lose his temper.  i love, love, love this wonderful man.

Sister Time

Super fun week with Kelly coming up.  She is here visiting me for the next week.  My gidyness is over the top this week.  Pics coming.

Read this Twice

"For the happy man prayer is only a jumble of words, until the day when sorrow comes to explain to him the sublime language by means of which he speaks to God."

Alexandre Dumas

Author: The Count of Monte Cristo

I LOVED this quote when I read it tonight.  And the more I read it over the more it strikes a stronger cord in my heart.  How true that when all is well we just pray to our Heavenly Father, but when trial befalls us, we plead, beg, cry for his mercy.  When our prayers should always carry that same fervent gratitude even when it is good.  I think even more then because we can truly see the Lord's blessings in our lives.

A Quip

Yesterday Sydney came home from school. I asked her how her day was and she proceeded to tell me about how they were learning about Harriet Tubman and how she worked with the Underground Railroad.  She then told me:

Syd: Yeah mom she helped people get to the promised land.  

I'm sure Nephi and Lehi would be proud she took them to the promised land.

Direct Sunlight

New plants on my windowsill.   I love the direct sunlight they receive.  They bring a grin to my mouth when I look at them.