Count Your Many Blessings

We should feel grateful. We have our health and just as I thought of last we we live after the manner of happiness. You throw a few gray clouds in the mix and all of a sudden it is hard to be grateful. I'm excited for Emmy getting to go to the Priest/Laurel dance this evening.  We watched a bit of the movie the great Gatsby for costume ideas for the roaring twenties theme. She will have steak there for dinner and I believe there will be a speed dating activity involved.

Since getting her wisdom teeth out last week she has been wanting real food. I noticed avocado is about the only thing she normally eats that would be considered soft foods. Emmy had a post op dental appointment when they rinsed out some steak she had while going out with some friends. We are so blessed to go out and about so much. Last Saturday Emmy and Spence and I went to Folsom.

We love the outlet mall and I'm really into Eddie Bauer outdoor collection. A way to be warm with thin clothing, genius. With my shorter hair my temperature seems to be lower than normal or lower than I find comfortable. So, scarves and Eddie Bauer jackets are my clothing choices lately. The last couple of days we have had beautiful clouds out. I haven't taken the time to capture them, but they have been beautiful and I'm thankful for the rain in the mountains.

So the end of February finally came. That is birthday time for my sister, tax refund time and time to decide what college Emmy will attend. She has chosen BYUI from the acceptance letters received.There were three of them, some with scholarship. I am happy for her and anxious to learn more about the school and the area. I feel a trip to check it all out coming soon. I'm glad he departure date wont be until mid September. We love having her around and I like all of us together. This will be a year of changes, but I hope and have faith it will turn out great!

Wildlife Preserve

Wildlife preserve. I couldn't believe we were gated out and the wildlife was untouched ,free. It was beautiful. I climbed up on a step used to use binoculars and took a few pictures from over the fence. There was a beautiful white crane, some sun bathing seals and beautiful, colorful coastal movement. The cypress trees there are native to Monterey area and now have been transplanted elsewhere. I'm so glad they are around. I love the beauty of those trees. It was a little bit stinky in this area, usually it smells wonderful with the pine trees and the ocean smell, the animals I think is what caused it to be a little stinky. I feel so blessed to visit a place I have never seen before that was so aw inspiring. We saw many seals on this trip, some owls, cranes, dolphins and sea creatures. Im glad these areas are being preserved.~

Our Little Getaway

I had never been to Monterey so it was a real treat when Brian suggested we go there and bring Spence along overnight! Spencer always stays home even on date nights with the kids so this was a real treat for him. He loved everything about it. The car rides, the ocean the sensory of feeling the sand and sea. He also loved the view of seals while eating dinner with a view and going to the private beach attached to our hotel. the first day was so nice seeing cannery row, checking in, relaxing at the beach and spending time together. I couldn't believe how clear the water was and how beautiful everything was. I'm so glad we got to go. Spencer was so happy we worried he would sleep that night, but he did a great job, so well behaved and such a trooper.

Day Number Two

We slept well at the gorgeous resort and I was so happy to check out the roof top Jacuzzi in the morning. We ate breakfast on the veranda. yummy hot chocolate and the fire and water nearby made for a great morning. We wanted the walk the row some more, but Spencer was all about going to the water. He loved putting his feet in and just being near the lapping waves. We relaxed and them checked out and went to see the great views down the coast. We went down the 17mile drive to pebble beach and then Carmel and then the Big Sur, so lovely!

A New Day

Welcome February! I am not one for over scheduling or keeping my self busy with so many tasks, so January was a little fast paced for me. I did see and hear much at Emmy's Speech and Debate tournament (we brought Emmy's friends; Jocelin and Nancy) that made me grateful to be dedicated to motherhood and the family. These students are so amazing and their sad stories of the life as they see it are depressing and real. Drugs, suicide, depression, self harm, bullying, detachment from others, chronic medical conditions, and death are some of the issues brought up in these speeches. I believe that more of societies problems could be resolved with kindness, charity and strong families. I heard these bright students echo this and it brought me hope for the next generation. They seem to know relationships with people and being there for one another is better than busy distractions and worldly pursuits.

Emmy did a original prose and Poetry piece this time. She is in the novice category, but still got fourth place with a new speech she had not preformed before. I was supposed to be judging while she was performing, but as blessing would have it I had opportunity to go and see Emmy. She did and excellent job It is a long day of hard work and anticipation on those tournament days. Emmy did go to Winter ball too that day. She wanted to go and found a date somewhat last minute so I'm happy it all worked out. We like Craig, he is a good kid.

Celia has been super cute lately too. She has been asking Brian on Daddy Daughter dates to get ready for the dance. They had a great time although she still got sick form eating too may sweets like last year and they came home early. She loves pink and sweets and being out, but its cute how overstimulating it can all be then its time to call it quits.  Celia has been snugly with me lately too. She loves the robe Brian and her picked out for me for Christmas and is always saying how soft I am. I like all the hugs. I was however surprised when I went down the hall to find a piece of pink construction paper with a note that said "Best Mom Ever"!! She had also cute hearts cut out from paper. Each had a letter on it and the message lined up read "I love Mom".  There was also a large cupcake sparkly sticker with the message. What a great way to start off February feeling the love. I love my family so much and and glad I get to spend so much time with them!