For those still reading...

...I saw this photo today and just couldn't help sharing it with whoever is still reading.

This is Chef Franz. He taught Garde Manger in Culinary School. He's Austrian. And, yes, he looks like Sam from Guess Who. He was probably one of my favorite Chefs to work with, he was silent and kind and very willing to teach. You could definitely tell he enjoyed it.  

This is Annali. She was probably my closest friend in Culinary School. She's from Southern California and went to High School with Blake Lively (pretty cool, huh). She was so funny and totally put up with my weird sense of humor. We really had some great memories, including this one...where we made a cactus ice sculpture (go figure). 

Crafty

For those of you that know me, you know i'm not very crafty. I usually don't have time to do crafts nor do I have the type of mind that allows me the freedom to craft. Well, I found something simple enough that I could wrap my head around it and do it. A book page wreath. I'm proud of it, mostly because it makes my walls look less bare. I'll have to find other things to do now that I have accomplished this.

Life's Little Lessons

Today Lucas wanted to play outside on the porch which leads directly into a patch of dirt with some bushes. I was on the computer and could keep an eye on him from where I sat. I glanced over about two minutes after he went out and saw that he had scooped a bunch of dirt out of the bushes onto our porch. I told him to put the dirt back and went back to working on the computer. I looked a couple of minutes later and he had managed to spread around the dirt that was supposed to be put back, plus add more dirt. I told him, again, to put the dirt back. I watched him this time; it was like watching a shovel clear away an avalanche. His hands were just not big enough and he just didn’t entirely know how he was going to do it. I watched him for a while, wishing I could give him further direction but knew he needed to learn how to do it. After a while he looks up at me and says “Mommy, I need help please.” I looked at him and thought about my answer. I finally told him to wait just a second while I find a tool for him. I then got our little dust broom and showed him how to use it. He then started to clean up his mess. After a while I looked out and saw that all of the dirt was cleared away save for a few patches here and there, he looked up and said, “I still need help, please”. So I went out and helped him clear off the rest of the patches so that the porch was again clean.

What an amazing experience for me to witness. I couldn’t help but think of how Heavenly father must feel about us. We make messes in our lives, he gives us prophets to tell us how to clean it up. He gives us the Atonement to help us even more. And yet, we know that that’s not enough. It’s his grace that helps us clean up the last few patches left so that we can be clean again. In viewing this experience I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to utilize the tools he gives me so that I may make myself cleaner. I am grateful for my children so I can view these little life lessons through a different perspective, and therefore grow more from it. 

May 19th, 2012

Darci turned 9 months old this last Saturday. It's AMAZING how fast she's grown! She LOVES playing with her brother. She follows him around everywhere. She loves that he is more often than not the first person she sees in the morning. She loves to crawl around and loves to gab. She's extremely curious which means she gets into everything. She is ambitious and fearless which can be a good thing or a bad thing. She's smart and loves to study people. She'll look at you for a while and try and figure you out. I don't know where she gets that...

After church with Nona!

In her pretty Sunday dress!

With her cute pink egg!

And her pretty pink dress from Grandma!

Hanging out with GG!

Hanging out with her favorite brother!

And snuggling with her Grandma!

And crawling into odd places!

While waiting for merry go rounds!

And just being cute!

Oh yeah. I also turned 23 on Saturday. We went and saw The Avengers and then went to Buffalo Wild Wings afterward! I love my family and I'm grateful for their generosity!

Craig's Birthday

This year Craig's birthday landed on Mother's Day so we had a hard time trying to decide what to do on his birthday. We opted for doing nothing for either of us since it would have been too hard to decide. We celebrated his birthday the Saturday before by going to Red Robin and cashing in a free burger for him and a free appetizer for Mother's Day (I know, right!). Then we came home and had home-made ice cream cake. He got a watch and Lego Harry Potter years 5-7 for his birthday. 

We're so blessed to have Craig in our lives. The first thing you notice about him is his wit. As you get to know him you find out how kind and sensitive he is. He loves being a dad and can be just as child-like as the kids. He is extremely intelligent and has grown so much through the four birthday's we've spent together. We love you, Craig!

Give Oh Give Away

Lucas has been singing this song for the last few days, he decided that it would be ok to record him singing it. Enjoy!

Someday Jobs

If you know me, you know I love to work and have a PLETHORA of different jobs I would love to work. For those of you who don't know me, this post will be a little more enlightening as to what kind of person I am.

I want to be...

A therapist

A mailman

An ultrasound tech

A Papa Murphey's pizza maker

A grocery store clerk

An art historian

A librarian

A maid

A personal chef

A personal assistant

A personal shopper

A secret shopper

A crossing guard

A cake decorator

A baker

A school nurse

An oceanographer

A dental assistant

A dental hygienist

An actress

A book on tape reader

A restaurant critic

A concert pianist

A dog walker

A pet groomer
A veterinarian 

A pizza deliverer

A horse trainer/ border

A tap dancer

A fencing instructor

A Disneyland character

An interpreter

A show bartender

A stage hand

An Edible Arrangements arranger

A florist

A mascot

A stunt driver

I'm pretty sure there are more...we'll see if I add in some more later.

....and just because they're cute.