new york

(I wanted to add my NYC trip to my blogging journal.....)

New York - Loved it. loved it. loved it. Never been..it was my first time.....

We took a girls trip to New York in 2007. Me, Misty, Kim and Courtney.....

My first time heading to the Big Apple....All I can say it was E V E R Y T H I N G and more...

Courtney, me, Misty, Kim... We all decided we needed a girls trip so we booked a trip to New York...we had the times of our lives... (well almost.) I was the only one who had never been....(I know so sheltered right?! I'm a beach girl...)



Today Show...So fun to actually see the sets of all the productions you see every day on t.v. Matt, Al, Meridith, and Anne...(they are much smaller in person.....) WE went to the taping of the Mike and Juliet Show (go brie). It was surprising to see how casual the atmosphere was and how everything ran so smoothly. We saw Il Divo sing...( cute men with yummy voices...! and we listened to Geraldo talk and talk..). Misty and Courtney got interviewed by the show about past boyfriends and break-ups and then we all said hi to the hosts. So nice in person...

We also watched Good Morning America with Dianne Sawyer and Robin and we walked by the set of the Early Show. I was so amazed that we were in New York and everything was happening here...every where I turned there was something going on or someone famous right in front of you...I was literally star struck...





Wow. wow. wow. wow. wow... Seriously

Empire State's Building.... I have NEVER seen a view like this one. ...It honestly took my breath away. I didn't realize the Central park was literally right in the center of the city. The perfect rectangular lines were amazing....A complete 360 degree view of the city...the buildings never never never never never ended....




The city never stopped...24 hours a day...it was great....All the energy, the people, the lights...

Times Square......One of my favorites.

People, people, people everywhere. I just loved being in the center of all the craziness. I think I was swept up in all the noise, people, shops, billboards..etc. I sound like the typical tourist, but New York was amazing...

First thing I remember was looking up from the cab window and seeing P. Diddy's billboard looking down upon all his fellow New Yorkians....It gives you a feeling like no other...no wonder people l o v e New York.

Oh man we hiked those streets over and over. I truly believe we hiked 5 miles a day....We loved to walk the streets and take in all of the sights. We wanted to hit everything...Empire State's Building, Little Italy, David Letterman, Today show, Regis and Kelly set, The temple, China town, Statue of Liberty, FAO Swartz, Tiffanies, Mike and Juliet, Good Morning America set, Belly Deli, 9 11, ...etc. We walked and walked...

I loved seeing the Cathedral nestled in the middle of the city. It was so serene and calm to see such beauty and architecture....WE went inside and sat for awhile...I loved the feeling there....

We looked like the typical tourist....I found that people did not wear color! Everyone's clothes seemed to stay in the muted tones...black, greys, browns...I don't think I fit in to well.. I love color...
Trump towers...again the sights, sounds, colors, lights...craziness...I loved it.



My two pics: We ate at the famous Giovanni's pizza shop next to 911. Seriously NY had the best pizza (with a diet coke of course!) and I stopped to take a picture of Ry's work, Fidelity.

We spent the afternoon in Central Park...It was so beautiful...One of my favorite days....I was in awe that this park was in the middle of NYC..who would of thought you could escape to such beauty in minutes.....

Kim and I.....We have been fab friends for 7 years...we were introduced by my sis, M and we instantly became BF's. The first time I saw her, she was pushing a stroller towards my house with 3 kids and she was so put together with her Julia Roberts looks and all of her cute kids ....seriously the cutest mom and I knew right then that she was my kind of girl . We would become great friends....I loved everything about her and we hung out every day (7 yrs ago we had lots of little babies ( like 3!) so we were home ridden most of the day).... We share so much in common with our lives so it's fun to have such a good friendship.. thanks kimmers...

You hear about the fab Central Park but is so amazing to actually go in person and see it all for yourself. We walked around most of it and then we took little bike buggy rides. It was great listening to the tour guide pointing out all the famous buildings, famous movie shots, fun sights..etc.


WE hung out most of the afternoon and just took our time. The "friends fountain" was fun to see in person... Misty is here hoola-hooping to a guy playing the drums....it was great. It was a moment to remember because it was a happy warm day, we were all having such a great time and life couldn't get any better....(cheesy i know)
WE found the Manhattan Temple..It was so different to have the temple in an actual building..It definitely had its own special feeling..A temple in the middle of NYC...so amazing.... I loved seeing the Moroni statue standing in the NY skyline..


The subways were great to get across the city....Misty and I had no idea which ones to take but Kim and Courtney knew exactly what was going on.. WE just followed them.....So fast and easy..



Remembering 9 11. Words can't express the way I felt when I stood at the twin towers. I just cried under my sunglasses and remembered...... I felt that the museum honored the 911 victims so well. We all just stood alone and quiet, reading the sweet words and taking in all of the pictures and just remembering.......

In person, the sight is so much bigger than you can imagine. So many people, so many stories, such heart break, such sorrow. What I felt was out of the tragedy came so much good. To see the people of New York pull together and give their heart and souls to this tragedy was amazing to see. The goodness of humanity was ever so present. I left feeling such patriotism towards the United States of America and I was so proud to call myself an American. I love our country and feel blessed to live in it every single day.

WE went and saw Wicked. I have to admit I am not a Broadway junkie... I have only seen Phantom in San Fran and ummm...that's it! I. Loved. this. show. I can't believe the work that goes on to create a production. It was great....
Okay, I could blog on and on and on....but I better stop...Seriously this trips goes down in the books as one of my all time fav's. We all had such a great time and like I said, I was in awe of NYC...I couldn't get enough....I loved every single minute. We used every second of every day and stayed up late checking out all of the sights (and yes, we saw them ALL)...... I loved it and can't wait to go again with Ry at the end of this year...RY is a NY virgin too and it will be fun to see his reaction to the big city....

Thanks Misty, Kim and I (guess Courtney...long story) We had so much fun with! Love ya girls.....Till next year.....

Happy Meal love

In my lifetime (growing up), I can count on two hands how many times I hit a fast food joint like McD's or Wendy's. I went out to a "sit-down" restaurant with a server.. uhh.. o n c e. My dad announced in '88 or '89 that the house was payed off and it was a night to celebrate. We put on our finest clothes and went to "Chi-Chi's." All twelve of us, together..it was a night to remember.




WE did it for two reasons: money and health. My mom cooked a hot, healthy dinner every night at 6:00 (sharp). Hot, warm, food. Everybody-sit-down-and-EAT-no-complaining-eat. It was a constant rule in the house...Be home at six ... It was a way to stay connected and a way to check-in to life. As a mother now, I totally appreciate the amazin' hard work of my momma... a hot meal every night..(ahh, crazy!)....because there are days now that I just say: no way, no time, no energy, off to fast food. Anything I-don't-have-to-cook-myself-and clean-up. I must say that I try hard to cook every night, but some days are impossible...way to much going on..it is soooo exhausting.
Secondly, money. Ten mouths to feed at a restaurant?...no way.




So, anyways, my point to all of this is: Last night was not a slave-at- home-cook-night. Nope, it was a quick-pay-three-dollars- Happy Meal night. Yes, I love those nights. MY RATIONALE: I have kids every where, and every time I turn around, there are more and more....I swear. I just didn't have the time to cook dinner. So I made a plan.








FHE night...basketball shoot-around and then off to the happy meals. Kids were thrilled. We were thrilled. Life is good. When you get a "prize" and a frosty with your dinner, the kids are sadly in heaven. Darn, they make those happy meals so convenient. RY and I were thrilled to just go sit and eat. ($35 dollars later....geez.)

During our hoop's game, Mason was Scout's babysitter.....Yes I am still watching a dog...He is definitely the M O S T work of all.....

The kids loved being outside in the cold weather.....We can walk to the school in about ONE minute...we love living back in the valley. We are home...yay!
Thanks Wendy. (oh and tonight...Italian-herbed chicken, rice pilaf, and fresh asparagus....see I do try hard and I will make up for all of those greasy fries...!)

My Bachelor addiction....

Are any of you watching? Uhhh, yeah, the Bachelor phenomenon.... The handsome, sweet lovable dad, Jason..... and let's not forget his cute, little son, Ty.(for he makes the story so sweet...)
He has captured all the hearts of the women because of his sad story with Deanna and needing a momma for Ty. Sounds pathetic to many, but it's real goooood t.v. I know you A L L watch it...
Besides, he's a mustard man and we all know what that means.
Good bye Jillian, liked her. Thought they had the chemistry (sure looked like it)......nope.

Goodbye Naomi, really loved her and her hot Eva Mendes looks...I guess the mom burying the dove in the ground with the dad pushing religion on Jason with slot machines in the background...didn't help.

S C A R E D the guy away.....big no no.

So it's between Melissa: cute, perky, happy former Dallas Cowboy cheerleader. Soooo sweet to Jason and so cute to Ty..(the most important folks..finding a good momma!)

OR

There is Molly: boring, boring, and wait B O R I N G. you know my pick.

Who's your guess?

Having a Bachelor party next Monday at my house....come and find out.

BTW, there is a cliff hanger: They are bringing Deanna back for the finale. Jason better N. O. T. or every woman in America will no longer have the love for the mustard man.

Good t.v. good t.v. Go Melissa go.

Oh my...

Oh. my. gosh.




I am a mother to 7 children....




While Ry and I were off frolicking in the Bahamas my sis, Amber, was a mother to 7 children...... We did a swap-er-rooni. Now my sis is off frolicking in the tropics of Mexico on a 8 day cruise....And it's my turn.....man, payback is like umm, NO FUN peoples. (although, I do love the kids like my own) I still wish I was here:





Seriously no time for blogging..you should see my house: dishes everywhere, clothes thrown around, homework scattered, bathrooms to be cleaned, beds to be made......Oh, and wait I forgot to tell you: I have another child:




Yup, your looking at him: SCOUT. a dog. My sis's dog.

So wait, I am actually a mother to 8 children or more like 15 children because Scout has to be walked 3 times a day! Huh? 3 times a day?? Who has time for that? I swear this dog takes more time than my 4 children put together...But I will honor my sis's wishes because she changed Mason's poo-poo for 6 days. Yuck. Good swap.

So I get the pleasure of walking him and letting him go potty. I guess there is bathroom etiquette for a dog but I don't know it. He seems to peep everywhere on everything. Then he did his duty and I guess I walked away...My friends at girls night (thanks Ry for watching 15 children so I could go) informed me that I was supposed to pick up the poop...ummm, yeah, NO! Seriously.
So Scout will be going in his own backyard for his own momma to pick up..I'm not that nice.
So off to my day, off to run 5 miles, off to take the suburban in for a screw in the tire, off to fix my fraud at the bank, oh and off to a sis's birthday lunch..(yes, again) Much to do and never any time to do it all in. For I am now a mother of 15 children......

His one and only.......

It was July 20, 2008. It was my birthday. I heard a knock on the door and these were waiting for me:

Flowers! Flowers on vine......just for me. The card said, " To my most wonderful and sweet daughter, I love you, love your Dad." Flowers for me, on my birthday, from my dad. Oh how sweet!

With 5 sisters, my dad has to spread his love all around...(it would be exhausting really..) But today, was my day. I was his "one and only"...just for a sweet moment on my birthday......

So yesterday, I heard a knock on the door.....

It was my bro-in-law with these beautiful flowers in his hand. Huh? Was Tyler giving me flowers?......he said, " It was Amber's birthday last Friday and your dad sent her this beautiful bouquet.... We are going out of town and we were hoping you would be able to enjoy these while we were gone."

Yes, of course.... I smiled to myself realizing what my dad had done. I then thought of the sweet note he wrote to my sister and the way she felt when she was his "one and only" on her birthday. My eyes watered a little :).... "Of course, I would love them."

Now when I look at them, I think of my sweet dad and what he is trying to do for each of us daughters (and in-laws) on our special day. He wants us to feel like we are loved completely and fully....like we could be his "one and only."

Thanks dad, I love you. While you are on your 3 year mission, we all miss you and pray for you daily.(and yes you are only as far away as Provo but you are still not "here.") We can't wait until we can receive the flowers from you in person...!