Reasons why I'm grateful we're in Cali

So, Emily can attest to my major WIMPiness when it comes to Texas weather because I would "frantically" (although TOTALLY trying to conceal my sheer fear) call their house during storms to track the tornados because our dang satellite would blow off the roof. Kya and I would have "picnics in the pantry" until it was safe--which was usually the entire time. Ha!

You can imagine how relieved I was to be in Cali when the tornado sirens went off today in our neighborhood! So how sick is that? We had a series of earthquakes last week centered right here next to our home (yup, here in our city) and I didn't even blink when I felt them! I used to love the rolling feeling as a kid. But heaven forbid I see another horizontal tree...

Doing the Happy Dance!

Hal has been pretty adament that he drive home instead of having his car shipped out. When I called him on Saturday (around 6:30pm) he still hadn't left Dallas and I began to seriously wonder if he was just going to stay there. He kept talking about how much he loved the home and friends and he wanted to do this and that before he left.

Well, he did end up leaving and showed up this morning around 2 am. Ya, something like 1400 miles by himself and a worried wife!! YIKES! But he came bearing gifts - How sweet is that? (And he did dang well)!!! The lamp on the left is my favorite and it will match the chair that has been in my mind for 8 months...I am SO EXCITED to have him home. We were MISSING him a ton!

Amy, thanks for the care package you sent with him!! You're the best!

Even though I was so jealous that he got to see so many of our Texan friends, I think the break was exactly what he needed.

Let's face it, Life is a ROLLERCOASTER!

Ya, this week was one of rollercoasters--lots of ups and lots of downs! We've been slowly encroaching on space here for the last two months and it was apparent this week. I exhausted myself trying to rope in our little orbiter here. "Don't go downstairs, don't interrupt, don't bug them because they have friends over, let's play this game instead, no, let's go for a car ride", and finally realized how pathetic it has gotten when I had her take her naps in the car.

I feel homeless! But then I remember I have a home that I love and still paying all the bills and managing it from afar! ha! I moved out with only two small suitcases of clothes. Yes, this is truly a travesty! I only brought winter clothes and a few t-shirts for Hawaii, one box of shoes (reality hit when I rolled over and saw that Hal had the same number of shoes as me), only a curling iron because I thought I could borrow from my sister, I've been wearing the same three skirts to church and the same one outfit to workout in for 4 months, realized I left my Costco card at home in my other purse, finished reading the only two books I brought by New Years (so I've taken MANY more trips to Borders between Hal's "book needs" and mine--I'll insert a plug here for Bhutto's Reconciliation), I don't have a printer, and I've had to start all over again fending off the heart-wrenching comments about when we'll have another child.

And then I remember my blessings. My favorite blessings...

This is my sweet baby. I took this shot of her yesterday at the salt flats and loved it. I got home exhausted not having slept much in 4 days but so glad that we could go see Hal's family because I LOVE my nieces (and nephews!) and I needed time with my sisters-in-law. It was a breath of fresh air! The stress of home sunk in last night as I was cleaning Hal's laundry and unpacking as I realized I still wouldn't see him until next week and I stopped, gave it all up, and check blogs. YOU GUYS MAKE ME SMILE!!! I totally forgot about the little pity party I was throwing for myself and cuddled with Kya in bed. I am so lucky to have the best husband and friends in the world. You all make my days brighter!

Then I crawled into bed for my nightly ritual when Hal's gone: video time. I pull out our little DVD player and watch videos because I hate going to bed alone. Last time Hal got home from his trip and raised a concerned eyebrow at me when he saw my titles: Pride & Prejudice, Emma, Sense and Sensibility ($5 at Target), Persuasion (could only find on TAPE at the library), One Night with the King, and Return to Me. So last night I grabbed the third season of The Office (now at Target, too) and literally started giggling every time the intro song played. Good times... I had to jump forward and watch the episode of Dwight's Initiation at his beat farm for Ryan and wrestling "Fear"...Good Times.

Girls will play while Dad's away!

Needless to say I was kind of bummed to have missed a great ski trip but everyone talked me out of doing it alone with Kya. Probably safer that way but it was still tough because I haven't been able to go skiing for three years and I really wanted to try one run with her on the slopes! So I decided to play with Kya instead.

Kya was SO excited to go to "Square Temple" and wanted to wear her favorite dress. We're all girl over here!

Our little poser...
Kya LOVED BYU. We ate at the Wilk, saw dancers practicing for their performance, bands playing in the quad, a few blow-up festivities, and students in the HFAC kept giving Kya free cinnamon rolls...safe to say she's ready to go to BYU now. I about died when I realized I had forgotten my annual Easter Symposium there with some of my favorite BYU scholars. I was kicking tires...
I love taking Kya to museums because she loves 'em! She played at the Church History Museum for hours (esp their little "I am a Child of God exhibit"). She was so sad to see the death masks of Joseph and Hyrum, thought the wagons and handcarts were "amazing" and loved the little pioneer dresses.

Easter Party/BBQ

Family First...

I came downstairs and saw this little scene when I turned the corner. How cute is this? Apparently, Hal took a break from work, carried all her tea stuff downstairs, and they were sitting quietly having a tea party together for lunch. Kya even dressed up and put on her skirt. All, without me even noticing.

Someone loves their dad and I think someone loves their little girl (Enough to sit in a tiny chair and drink from a purple tea cup). Meanwhile, someone else is always excited when he's home for a few days--even if he's glued to his laptop! (ME!)

Play, play, and more play

I can't tell you how excited we were than G&G could come down and spend time with us this week. They are two of my favorite people and since we left Calgary, we've missed them dearly. And dearly is a major understatement!

Here we're eating at Fuddruckers. This place is so good but I've gotten insanely sick after eating there every time so I opted for a pizza from next door. Sad, but true.
Here is our little group at the St. Patty's parade. It's a quirky little parade that is now about 18 baseballs teams shorter - wahooooo!!
Hal LOVES tractors and would one day like a gentlemen's farm. For Father's Day a two years ago I bought him an old-fashion tractor and he took it into his office the very next day and had a bit of teasing for it. But it's perfect for Hal. I think it represents his crazy great work ethic, his appreciation for history and character of a hard-working man back when life was a little simpler...

Anyhow, he was GLUED when the tractors came down the parade route!!

I was excited that Hal got this on camera. This is for Dad, although I don't think he reads my blog (or has any time to!) so I'll just tell ya about it. He leads the Integrity in Action committee (or something like that) in the city trying to build and recognize good character and I love this photo. When was the last time you saw teens carrying these signs?!??!! I'm proud of you, Dad! He was supposed to be in the parade but had to sit on a pannel for a multi-stake youth conference this weekend that sounded like a great event that our stake sponsored. They had Troy Dunn and Elder Nelson, too.

Ha!

I couldn't resist snagging this guy from Amber! I don't know about you but I'm really needing some brocolli now!

(Sorry - kill the music on the side)

Egg Update

Ok, my attempt at the eggs (below) were a total flop. I couldn't figure out the stenciled letters so I bought super cute alphabet stickers (thinking, "Just pull 'em off!"). Well, turned out pretty messy. War another failed Martha Stewart attempt!

THIS IS WHY I STILL NEED MY MICHELLE FOWERS AND MARE COMBO!!

Princess Party

Lorna took some great photos - the girls were so sweet!

I loved this shot because it's Gracie passing to her little sister.

Princesses MUST always jump together, I learned.
They decorated bonnets, ate, played games, jumped, and decorated little "egg" cakes. Kya had the time of her life and the girls were simply precious!

Trip to Muir

Have I mentioned that Kya loves to hike? She ran the entire hike just shy of two miles. She still had a truckload of energy afterward so Hal made her do laps before she got in the car!
This was an awesome spot/view of the Bay--we'll have to go back when I'm more "prepped for pics"!
I HAVE FOUND THE REASON FOR TRAFFIC IN THE BAY AREA! just teasing. This was a LOT longer than a five minute red light for our tunnel by the lighthouse. At least they warned us...

Stencil it up

I thought these were too cute! So I'm trying to talk Kya into dyeing some with me. I've seen cute ones done with rubberbands, too. So I'm collecting some fun ideas and YOU guys are ALL creative -- what else have you seen or done that's fun for Easter?

A Trip Down Memory Lane...

Oh - First kill the music up on the slideshow

It was 9 years ago that I went to a small cafe and saw Matt Nathanson first perform and bought his first little CD on the spot. I tried to take Hal down to another one of his when we moved to San Diego but the crowd was a little bit "crazy."

Anyhow, I still get chills as I listen to the music and my mind flashes back to that particular semester that I loved...Thought I would share it with you today! He's not playing up here any time soon, but I saw his Dallas show next week....hmmmm

Let's get the Party Started!

We decided to have a little dress-up tea party here in the backyard with a handful of little princesses. Kya has been dying for Friday to come--never soon enough. I'm sure there will be plenty of pictures to follow.

Oh, to be three again!

(I know my family is probably totally laughing at me now!)

I couldn't resist trying this one...

You are Elinor Dashwood of Sense & Sensibility! You are practical, circumspect, and discreet. Though you are tremendously sensible and allow your head to rule, you have a deep, emotional side that few people often see.

Take the Quiz here!

Capture the Moment

Today a certain Snow White joined me for a spontaneous picnic in the park--high heels and all. She danced with her ribbons and hummed and sung for an hour in her "garden." She laughed at the little kids from India that she swore were talking about her in "Spanish." As I sat there just soaking the moments in the sun, I wanted to capture this period in Kya's life forever. Maybe she won't grow up...