Summer Fun

Hailee's looking rather grown up on the horse. She was so excited because she can now reach the rings!!!!

Mia has fun going down the Red Wagon slide in Riverfront Park.

Riverfront Park

So cute! I can't believe she is almost 4!

The perfect strawberry!

Mia found one too!

Hailee was a great picker and was ready to make jam!

Mia's strawberry face showed she ate more than she picked!!!

Off to the raspberries.

We had to wait awhile for the berries to be ready here but they were definitely worth the wait! We make tons of jam that will last the year through!

Thought I would post some shots of some of summer fun! There will be lots more to come. . .

Dancer Girls

The girls pose before their recital.

After the long recital day.

She is growing up so fast!

Sisterly love!

Hailee's ready to go on the field to dance.

Unfortunately I didn't have great seat and was so far up but Hailee is down there on the orange Toyota marker. Maybe next time I'll spring for better seats!

Both of the girls love to dance and have been taking dance class this last year. They performed in their recital a few weeks ago and it really warms my heart to see them both enjoying themselves so much. Mia was in a Tap/Movement class and had so much fun! She did such an awesome job at the recital! I catch her doing her favorite move the "boogie woogie" all the time around the house. Hailee was in a jazz class and has really come a far way since her beginning dance days in Oregon. This week she had an opportunity to go to the Spokane Shock Dance camp and then perform at half time of the football game. She has so much fun and was in tears when camp ended. There was not a nervous bone in her body, just pure excitement and joy. It doesn't phase her at all to be in front of thousands of people. She is braver than I ever was! I'm proud of my girls' desire to try new adventure and all their hard work! I'm a very proud mama!

35

Today I turn the big "3-5". What a year 34 proved to be! I'm looking forward to this coming year because I think I'm due for some good times rather than the crappy ones I have had. Don't get me wrong, I feel very blessed to have my health (for the most part), my amazing girls, family and friends that will do anything for me and a job that I am having fun going to everyday. There are just some things that I didn't think I would have to face at 35. For one, I never thought I wouldn't have my mom with me. I feel like there is so much for me to learn and experience in my life and I never imagined that I would have to do it without her. Although I know she is with me everyday I miss calling her and getting her advise. Never would I have dreamed that I would be starting over at this age. But I guess it's time for me to step out of my comfort zone and live my life. I feel that I have let most of this last year go by without taking much time for myself. So I'm making it my birthday wish to do things for myself that will not only benefit me but also my girls in the long run because let's face they are who I live for. Here are my goals for my 35th year:

1. Go back to school to begin my master's degree.
2. Get more active.
3. Make life style changes that will allow me to become more healthy.
4. Take care of my varicose veins which are becoming a health risk.
5. Don't live in the past but look forward to the future.
6. Honor my mom by making the most of myself.

Here's to another year!

Lessons From Mom

This Mother's Day I have been reflecting on the lessons my mom taught me over the years. It's like I hear my mom whispering in m ear anytime I am faced with a situation she spoke about. I'm sure I don't follow them all but I will strive to do a better job. Just like most things in life we have to try things our own way first and when that doesn't work we rely on what mom told us because "Mom's are always right!" I hope I listened enough to what she told me so I can pass the lessons along to my girls!

Lessons From Mom

1. Love your family with all your heart and soul.
2. When you want something bad enough you need to work hard to get it and you will appreciate it more.
3. Don't sweat the small stuff, it all will be okay in the end.
4. You are never given more than you can handle.
5. Always take the higher road!
6. RESPECT everyone!
7. Let those you care about know you appreciate them.
8. Always send a thank you note.
9. Pick your battles!
10. Accessories are the key to every outfit :)
11. Take care of yourself so you are able to take care of your family.
12. Be a person of honor and integrity and don't forget to SMILE!
13. Make your home warm and welcoming so your children will always want to come back home.
14. Forgive others, even though it may be difficult and take time.
15. Your work is a reflection of who you are so no matter what you do give it you all.
16. Education is a must!
17. Count your blessings.
18. "Rib and Rigatoni" recipe. Yum!
19. I am worthy and deserve the best.
20. Most important of all, always say, "I love you!" to those you love.

My mom taught me well and I miss her so much! Mother's Day is so difficult without her but by following her lessons she will live on forever!

Happy Mother's Day mom, I love you so much!

Letter To Mimi

Hailee's letter to Mimi. "Roses are Red, Flowers are Blue, Candy is sweet and so are you. I love you Mimi and always will". (That's a picture of Hailee and Mimi holding hands.)

Hailee and Mia preparing to release the balloons.

Up, up and away.

The little white dot above the house are the balloons.

The last few months have been difficult on everyone in our family. Hailee was very close to my mom and her passing has been especially hard on her. I felt it was important for Hailee to have someone to talk to so I asked her school counselor with speak to her. She meets with Hailee every other week or so. After one of the visits Hailee told me about a book the counselor read to her about a little girl who lost her grandmother and was sad. In the book one of the characters suggested the little girl write a letter, attach it to a balloon and send it to heaven to her grandmother which made the little girl feel better. Hailee came home after reading this story and wondered if she could do that as well. So she wrote the letter, we attached it to balloons and released them. Today was the perfect day to do this. After all Mimi is in heaven spending her eternal life with Jesus and today is Easter, the day we celebrate His rising. I felt my mom with us all day today. When we got into the car to go release the balloons the first song on the radio was, Alan Jackson's "Remember When", the same song that played at her service. The song brings back a whole lot of emotions but I every time I hear it makes me feel that my mom is talking to me, letting me know that she is here. I asked Hailee how she feels now that she sent her letter to Mimi and she said, "I'm happy now mom, I know Mimi is reading my letter and she will always know I love her." Such a sweet girl!!!!

Water Park Fun

My best friend, Stacy, and I decided to have a little fun with the girls. She had a coupon to this place called, "Triple Play" in Coeur d'Alene which is basically an indoor water park. We have never been there and didn't know much about it so we looked into what it was all about. Come to find out there is a hotel attached and that they are running really good specials right now. So Stacy, Hailee, Mia and Koryn (Stacy's daughter) and myself loaded into the car on Friday afternoon and headed east. The girls had no idea where we were going and were so excited when we arrived and saw the huge water slides. It's not a very big water park but a good time was had by us all. We swam, went down the water slides and had a great big sleepover. Everyone had a lot of fun and needed good naps when we returned. Too bad I forgot my camera!

Just a Thought

I'm the type of person who thrives off of routine and for the most part planning that routine. Up until about 18 months ago my little structured life was running just as I planned and I really enjoyed it. I like predictability, knowing what to expect and most of all control. Events that have occurred during the last 18 months have altered my since of routine and structure that I once felt so secure with. For the most part I think I have dealt with this catastrophic shake up relatively with ease. I have tried to take things on a day to day basis knowing that God will only give me what I can handle. However, at times I just want to shout, "I CAN"T HANDLE ANYMORE!" I think I feel that way mainly because I don't feel like I have that sense of structure and control that makes me feel so secure. I have come to the conclusion that I need to stop relying on others for my sense of security and that I am responsible for it. It's time to start thinking about what I want and how to achieve it. Even though I don't know what's going to happen in the future I do feel comforted in knowing that I have two wonderful daughters who look up to me and will follow my lead. It's up to me to show them that it's okay when things don't go just as we have planned and how to learn and grow from that change.