#19. fabulous co-workers...friends and family, all in one.
#20. time on my own at work
#21. the discovery of "cake pops"
#22. leftovers for dinner
#23. Amazon.com deliveries (this one contained a travel potty, piddle pad, and seat covers)

#16. tiny pigtails that curl like corkscrews
#17. singing potties that announce pee-pee
#18. Gymboree

#11. snuggling in bed next to a really cute 2 year old who is super squirmy
#12. frozen waffles and the last few drops of syrup
#13. Mom, whose birthday is today
#14. Mom, who gives up her own time each week to watch our sweet girl so that I can work
#15. a "like" from little brother, even from the other side of the globe

1,000 Gifts

"So this is the thing, friend: What if finding love is as simple as recording 1000 gifts? We may be women weary. We may be women wounded. But we are women wooed. What woman doesn’t long to be loved, to be treasured, to be showered with gifts? A thousand — more!"

I've been out of things to blog about lately. Sure, I've had things on my mind, but not things that need to be shared with the world or written about publicly. I've come across several blogs lately where people are coming up with "1,000 gifts"...1,000 things they have to be grateful for, gifts from their Maker. I've decided that maybe this will keep me looking to my Creator and will help remind me of all that I have been blessed with. I'm also helping this will remind me to "love the moments" and notice what is right in front of me! I doubt I'll post daily and I doubt I'll finish anytime soon, but I'm going to start.

#1. laying in bed with my eyes closed for an hour, enjoying peace and quite.

#2. reading stories to my sweet girl that speak of her worth and value

#3. new friends that aren't really that new anymore

#4. laying on the grass, enjoying the breeze outside

#5. 3 hours of Ariel underpants and no accidents

#6. hubby battling the ever-present ants

#7. crazy curly hair hanging in her face, resting just over her eye

#8. mindless entertainment in the form of "words with friends"

#9. art in the form of "hangers on dresser" discovered long after the fact

#10. purple crayon artistry on both sides of the front door and on the walls

I found a book that goes along with this concept and have placed a hold for it at the library. I could use some positive input and some focus in my life...it's been so long since I've read a book with purpose and use...

What a day...

Well, to say that today was not what I had hoped/expected, would be a bit of an understatement. Here's why:

We've been planning to spend today (which happens to be my birthday) at Sea World, just the 3 of us. The day started out with an hour of extra sleep (which was so appreciated) and a quiet shower that I got to enjoy without interruption (this does not happen often around here). I discovered upon getting out of bed that I had pulled a muscle (or something) in my back/hip and had a hard time bending over or lifting anything. (I felt like an old lady) The shower seemed to help though so I was hopeful for the day. Jaye and Hope showed up with donuts for breakfast so that was a fun surprise and a yummy way to start the day!

We finally made it to Sea World around 12 or so and made it to one of Hope's favorite shows, the pet show. Within minutes of leaving the show, Hope fell asleep in her stroller . Jaye and i took advantage of her naptime, found a nice quiet place to sit, and enjoyed some lunch and relaxing. She took a great nap so we figured we'd have a happy kid the rest of the day! We stopped and grabbed her some lunch on our way to see another show that we thought she'd enjoy. Shortly after sitting down Hope puked a lovely shade of light blue ALL over me. Once I got her cleaned up and got myself wiped off, she seemed to be okay and was happy about the show. She was glued to the show and really seemed to like it. I figured she must be feeling better! Rather than smell like vomit all day, I opted to visit the $10 and under store and found a pair of shorts to wear. They weren't very stylish but at least they were clean and didn't smell like puke!

Hope seemed fine still so we played a bit, went to the Shamu show, saw the penguins, went on the Elmo ride and just let her run a bit. She seemed to be doing well. After all that we figured Hope would be hungry since she hadn't really eaten all day (well, besides 1/2 of Shamu cookie). We found a place to eat with something she'd enjoy so Hope and I staked out a table while Jaye waited in line. While we were eating Hope started being clingy and asked to lay in her stroller. I had a feeling she wasn't well and that feeling was right...she puked EVERYWHERE. Her stroller was covered, she was covered, her special blankie was covered, her other blanket was covered, her clothes and my shoes/legs were covered. At least it wasn't blue this time. Thank God for babywipes and napkins. Thankfully she missed MY clothes this time as I really didn't want to buy any more Sea World clothes! But, she was a different story. Thankfully I had packed a towel and pajamas so we had 1 last outfit, but they weren't warm ones...just a little nightgown. Back I went to the $10 and under store to find clothes or a blanket or something to keep her warm. I decided on a blanket and hiked back to our table and got her cleaned up and warmed up. She fell asleep almost immediately once back in her stroller. Jaye and I finished dinner quickly and decided we best head home.

We drove home in silence...I think Jaye and Hope slept the whole way and unfortunately, there weren't many good radio stations so I just channel surfed until we got back to our area where I could find some music to listen to/sing along with. 2 hours seems like forever when you are driving in silence and it's nighttime!

We made it home though...As soon as we got home I covered Hope's bed in towels (just in case), Jaye sprayed out the stroller in hopes of removing the vomit, and I got our load of pukey laundry going. Fun huh?

So, needless to say, my day was not at all what I had envisioned or hoped for, but oh well. We did have some fun moments though and at least we were able to enjoy a few shows and some sunshine in between rounds of vomit! And to end the day, I found a fun present waiting in the mail for me! And now it is time for a shower and most definitely bed!

Up, Up, and Away!

A couple weeks ago Hope, Jaye, and I head down to Temcula to witness a piece of their hot air balloon festival! Jaye and I have talked about it for years, but it's always just past or we have something going on that weekend. This year, we woke up bright and early and hit the road to catch a glimpse of the balloon launches on Saturday morning. We had to leave the house by 5:45am! Hope still talks about how Mommy got her out of bed to see balloons, a month later!

We weren't really sure where to go or what we'd see so we just pulled over once we found a spot on the side of the road. It ended up being a great spot to watch the balloons!

The only character or shaped balloon was Smokey the Bear...Hope did not like him at all!

At one point there was probably 15-20 balloons stretching across the horizon...it was so amazing! It was so hard to get good pictures with our phones and camera...wish I had a professional camera so we could've captured the beauty of it.

The balloons took off from all over and landed all over as well. This one landed fairly close to us and it was interesting to see the process of actually landing and then deflating the balloon and packing it up.

These three were right above us for awhile...someday I am going to get myself up in one of those balloons! I don't have a "bucket list", but if I did, riding in a hot-air balloon would be at the top!

I am still kicking myself as we had the opportunity to go up in a balloon when we were in Kenya. We had a chance to go up over the safari area or game park, but I think we opted out as it was a quick ride and LOTS of money. I wish we would've done it. Oh well, I'll get up somewhere else someday! I am determined!!

BROTHER!!!

On Thursday my little brother graduated from high school. I am such a proud sister!! The last few days have been the start of an incredible journey for him and I am so excited to see what God has in store for him and for his future!

As always, the pictures are in reverse order, but I'm not going to stress about it. At least they are all here! Above is a picture of our whole family, including Grandma...I love it! I love too that my sweet brother is all snuggled up to ME! I have loved that kid since the moment I first saw him in the NICU on the day he was born! I vowed to myself back then that I'd be involved in his life and that we'd be close...I think it worked!

I love this picture of the 4 of us! We have added members to our family now, but this is still the core of who we are! I am so grateful for this family of 4, for a brother who I get to share life with and that I did not grow up an only child (well, at least after 12 years old)! I love that I've been able to watch Aaron grow and mature and become a man of integrity and character! He is disciplined and determined and has such a kind and loving heart! He's just an all around good kid!

I've always teased Aaron that he would be Hope's favorite...even before she was born I used to tell him this. Well, this last week that has definitely become the case! Aaron is going to China this summer for 6 weeks on a mission trip and his team has been practicing out in Riverside. He stayed with us on Wednesday night and Hope was so excited. She had a hard time falling asleep because she knew he was coming and asked about "Uncle Aaron" first thing when she woke up. On Thursday we all drove out together to the graduation and Hope wanted Uncle Aaron to sit by her. She searched for him during the ceremony, and was so excited to talk to him after he finished. In the picture below she is telling him all about the graduation!

It's been so fun to see Aaron warm-up to Hope lately too now that she is bigger and can interact and talk with him. He is so good with her and she adores him!! We are definitely going to miss him while he is in China this summer, but I am so excited for him to venture out and take this step of faith/independence! I know God is going to use him mightily and I have a feeling his heart will be changed as a result of his trip!

I am so proud of my little brother (who I think may actually be as tall as me now!). I can't wait for when he comes home and will be living right down the street from us! We are so excited to have my family live close and to be able to spend more quality time with them!!