Conversations with a 7 year old...

So, this morning I met up with a couple of my friends at the Jordan River Temple for an early (6 a.m.) morning session. I thought this was the perfect plan. I could slip out and be back before my girls wake up for the day.

I arrived home as Krystian was waking up... she looks at me dressed in my Sunday clothes and says, "so, where have you been all night mommy? You're getting home really late... what time is it anyway young lady?"

She was completely serious.

I had no response...

A water balloon fight and some pictures to go with it....

My girls and I just did the most fun photo shoot I have ever been a part of! My longtime friend, Joanna Taylor, is this AMAZING photographer and she had this ever so fun idea for a photo shoot... we had family photos taken and then ended the shoot with a water balloon fight. I absolutely LOVED the idea!!! Joanna is the master of capturing relationships and candid moments. Follow the link to see some of the photos she took of us. This really was the most fun I have ever had while having my picture taken!!!

http://joannataylorphotography.blogspot.com/

Sharing the sun with a friend...

Krystian LOVES, LOVES, LOVES play dates...
I love play dates too because it means that we schedule time out of our crazy lives just to play!
Krystian's little friend Sydney came to swim the other day... what a way to spend the day. I affectionately referred to these two as "my little fishies"... I think my favorite part was them trying to splash me by doing "cannonballs"... um, they both weigh practically nothing, so the splashing wasn't too successful... thankfully!!!

A buzzzzzzz in the air...

5 tickets to the Bees baseball game = $83
3 nachos, 2 hot dogs, 5 sodas and 5 snow cones = $$$
cha-ching, cha-ching, cha-ching
A warm 4th of July evening spent chillin at the baseball game with my babygirls and Brad= sweeeet...

B~rad and me...

Krystian and her mommy...

Me... really, really excited to have Krystian taking my picture... again! :)
Brad and little missy...

Krystian waiting and waiting for a foul ball to come our way... I'm kind of glad one didn't considering that Krystian insisted on being the one to catch it!
Beautiful Kayla...

Finishing off the evening with a snow cone and fireworks...

Well and Healthy... or not.

So, a lot of you have been asking for an update on me... the mom of the bunch!
I think I may have forgotten what it feels like to be the normal healthy me. I'm definitely not as sick as I was when I first got sick back in April, but as I was talking to a friend the other day about all of this, I realized that I'm so used to feeling this way that I don't really remember what I felt like before.
The illness is definitely making its way back into my life. I woke up a couple of days ago and had a really hard time getting out of bed... The tremors and dizziness are back too, which is just more annoying than anything serious. I think what I notice the most is the constant pain and weakness in my arm and legs. I'm managing it all the best I can. I've found that as long as I work through the pain rather than staying in bed... the better I do in the long run.
So, what's in store? As promised, I plan to return to the neurologist before the end of summer. I'm letting him run ONE more test... the lumbar puncture (aka: spinal tap). I can't decided which version sounds better... they both give me the creeps!!! Apparently it's painless (unless they hit a nerve)...

Well and healthy, or not... sometimes you just do the best you can and make the best of less than desirable conditions. :)

It's My Birthday... YAY To Me!!!

My babygirl, Kayla turned 14 on the 26th of June. She is growing up WAY too fast... When did this happen? Seriously!

Kayla is such a fun~loving, outgoing girl. Her favorite things right now... sleeping in, boys, text messages, cherry coke, friends, swimming, violin, dance/cheer and running.

Happy birthday babygirl!

We celebrated her birthday a few days late. Kayla got to spend her birthday on the Pioneer Trek this year... she turned 14 just in time to attend youth conference! They celebrated her birthday on the trek (pioneer style) and despite all the grief she gave me before going, she had a fantabulous time!!!

Kayla is my "traditions" girl... she loves to celebrate traditions, as well as make them up along the way. She started a birthday tradition a while back where everyone writes a birthday wish on one of the birthday girl's balloons and we send it off into the sky. Most of Kayla's well wishers commented on the fact that in only 2 short years she'll be driving a car. Um... I'm not really ready to accept that yet okay!!!

The family helped us celebrate. Cammy just had to smash a cupcake on Kayla. Lucky for Kayla she's pretty quick and Cammy got her shoulder instead of her face! Good try though Cam...

My friend...

A week ago today a close friend of mine lost her 7 year old son in a tragic accident. I can't even imagine the pain of losing a child. I remember receiving the message from my friend saying that her angel Landon had been involved in an accident and was dying. I had to read the message several times and even still, it didn't seem real. I later received a message saying that they were taking him off life support that evening. How heart~breaking! That was the night I cuddled up to my own 7 year old and held her tight all night long. I didn't sleep well... I just couldn't stop thinking about my friend and what she must be feeling. The funeral service Monday was a beautiful tribute to her angel. I was so amazed by my friends composure... she is by far one of the strongest people I have ever known.
Penny has been such a good friend to me... I wish that I could somehow return even a portion of the love she has shown me over the years. We've only known each other for about 8 years, but have been through quite a lot together. She was my temple escort when I went through the temple for the first time. She was there for me the night Matt left. She was my shoulder to cry on and my constant source of strength throughout the entire divorce ordeal.
Penny and I were meant to find each other I think. We had been friends for a while when we discovered that we each had been praying to find a friend. My prayers were answered... she truly is a wonderful friend. I love you Penny!