shadow play

after a long day yesterday, it was nice to have a relaxing sunday today. the weather was so beautiful that we even got to play outside a bit.



the sun was shining so brightly and it was casting shadows everywhere. i decided to capture them on camera. i love this one of the branches on our apricot tree.



these were shadows from the railing on our back porch. the lines made an awesome pattern, especially on the steps.



this is my favorite. it is kate swinging on the swingset with bryce standing on top of it. i love how in the shadow you can even see the details in kate's hair.



these last ones were just some cool pics of my shadow, one on the couch, and kira all wide eyed. how was your sunday?

Funeral Moments

the funeral service was beautiful, my favorite part was the violin solo that my sister played. it always amazes me how music can just reach past everything and touch your heart so strongly. it was so fun to see everybody and catch up a little bit. my little kira had a really hard time, she was very emotional through the whole thing. i think that she really understood what was going on, even in her little 6 year old mind. you know, while i miss grandma, i know that she is in a wonderful place meeting with friends and family who went before. i believe that most of the mourning that takes place in my heart is for those of us left behind. for grandpa and me and my kids who won't have her presence in our lives for a time. what a wonderful person she is. i'm grateful that she is my grandma.

kate is my sincerely sweet one. today she taught me about truly sharing what you have to make others happy. there were two cookies left, which were both hers. her brother and sister both wanted one, so i gave them to her and let her decide what to do. it only took her one second to think about it before she handed a cookie to each one of them. what a sweetheart. i love you kate



we played outside today for the first time in FOREVER and bryce was loving it! he stamped around in the snow and played in his car. what did you do for fun today?

the last few nights have been rough. i stayed up until 3:ooam on wednesday night working on my grandma's funeral program. i was so honored when my dad asked me to design it, but i also stress way to much about my designs. i wanted it to be just right. got it all printed off yesterday and it turned out great. then my oldest decided to take a nap yesterday on the way back from salt lake, so she was up until 1:30 last night. i am dead on my feet. so i slept in a bit this morning while dad got them all a healthy breakfast of cookies and milk. we're off to a good start today...um not really. but it's looking up, school and naps are coming and then hopefully i can take a nap. don't you just love sneaking in a nap once in a while. we've got a busy day ahead of us tomorrow with the funeral. back to salt lake and then the burial in nephi. but it will be good to be with family. now if i could only get my oldest to clean her room...she will clean the whole house with grandma, but can i get her to clean her room? NO WAY! it is such a fight. but i will just focus on my upcoming nap to keep me sane. yawn!

One Sad, One Glad

One of my favorite blogs is The Lettered Cottage, written by Layla and Kevin Palmer. Layla is such an inspiration, not only when it comes to remodeling your home, but she is just such a positive person that I love to read her posts. Today's was especially nice and so I wanted to share part of it with you.



By Kobi Yamada

I love the line that says "she turned her can'ts into cans and her dreams into plans". Isn't that what life is all about. It makes me want to get up and do something great. Thanks to Layla for sharing that - she was a "day maker" for me:)

On a sad note, my Grandma passed away this morning after a short battle with cancer. She really was doing badly, so it is a blessing to have her go. I have been thinking this morning about her life and about the things she passed on to me. Here are some of them: a love of pink and white circus cookies, drinking orange juice out of little glasses, giving from your heart makes you happy, cheesecake ice cream is delicious, watching the UTES play basketball at the Huntsman Center is one of the best things in the world, dressing up is fun - even if it is a mink scarf with the face still attached, hanging mistletoe at christmastime is tradition, sleepovers in the guest bedroom at grandmas are enchanting, and that family matters most. I always knew she loved me because she was so willing to give anything she had to bring me happiness. She is that way with all of her grand and great-grand children. What a legacy she leaves behind - and although I will miss her, I know we will see her again someday and that brings peace to my heart.

It is a BEAUTIFUL day. The sun is FINALLY out and it is just shining down its happy rays. It warms my heart. What warms your heart this Monday?

Finding My Voice

I've lost my voice. I don't even have any thoughts in my head to express. I've suppressed them for so long that I don't even know where to find them. How do you give a voice to something that isn't there? I have always hidden behind the fact that I am shy, but I now realize that it is really because I am terrified of being rejected. I don't let people in, I don't let people know the real me. Because of this I've lost who I am. So, I've started this blog as a journey. A journey to find my voice, myself. Here goes nothin'!