Just Right

Just the right outfit.

Just the right atmosphere

Just the right babysitter

Just the right place

Just the right guy

Mini's

At least one decision has been made for a long time: we need a new car. make that 2 new cars. Ours were in bad need of replacement and as soon as there was some space in the budget we knew just what we had to buy. But deciding just what to buy, well that was another story entirely - this story:

So we all know that when it comes to cars, clothes, actually anything, Scott is all about function over fashion! (maybe most guys are?!) Then I guess it shouldn't have been a surprise that Scott was smitten by Honda's Odyssey Minivan. Which, sure is some people's dream vehicle. I mean really, the features are unreal when it comes to driving around small kids: the automatic sliding doors, the low floors that the kids can just climb in, the "hallway" that lets me walk back to my kids like a stewardess to care for their every demand, and of course, the dvd player - need I say more.

But as we walked onto the car lot and saw this incredibly functional vehicle, all I could think was "Ugh!! a MiniVan!" We test drove other possibilities, any other possibility, but in the end I had to agree with Scott, the minivan trumps when it comes to function! So slightly depressed we returned home from the car lot with the next decision made, we were going to get a minivan after Christmas. How anti-climatic I thought. Finally a new car! -- Ugh a minivan..

That night, in a moment of weakness, I blurted out what I'd been thinking for too long. "I guess it wouldn't be so bad driving a minivan if we also had a mini cooper!" I paused, wondering how Scott would handle my confession. "Yeah, that would be nice" he all-too-casually agreed, without really hearing me.

Or so I thought.

It was the night before the trek to Utah and all through the day I'd been packing our car up - "loading the sleigh"
I'd been cooking and cleaning - dreading the ride, counting the minutes till Scott would be there at my side.
When 5 o'clock came I rushed out the door, loaded the kids and put the pedal to the floor.
Outside of his work Scott anxiously spied, with a curious look in his twinkling eye.
"Where's your car?" I asked quickly, "we need to transfer our things." It's around here I'm sure, for it to work he did bring.
And then time stood still as he said with a smile, we're not taking that car, no, not one little mile.
Around the corner it came with a big bright red bow, not the minivan no, but a mini Cooper to go.
His face and mine filled with utter delight, as the reality dawned of what was in sight.
Just a symbol, that's all, of the love that Scott shares, ever convincing me that he'll always be there.
This moment is forever etched in my heart, the moment he gave me much more that a car.
In his loving eyes he said that night, fulfilling your dreams is the prettiest sight.

My mini:



His mini:

A Walk on the Boardwalk

(with my favorite stroller:
the Phil & Ted Classic)

Every time I walk the boardwalk I can't help but feel stunned by the beauty of
life's little creations.

These.

and these

Pinkalicious

In honor of our beloved pink holiday coming up and our favorite pink book, we decided to have a Pinkalicious Party this week.


And it was Pinkalicious!!

And she was in pink heaven

And so was I, watching them...

When all the pink magic wands were made and all the pink cupcakes eaten, and all our pink guests had gone home, I turned around and saw this...

I think she really is going to turn pink!




(for those of you mom's who have yet to discover this book,

check it out, it is great!)

We're Home

I hate leaving my family (although my dad always said, "we don't HATE anything!") and I loathe that inescapably long drive back to California and I ache at the intensified loneliness I feel for the weeks right after a long trip with those I love. And if I keep thinking about all this I might just start crying....

But what I do love about coming back home to California is this:



Our backyard...



And the way it makes our little foursome feel like a family



Playing, laughing, running in the sand (not the snow...)

I love Leah's squeals as she runs towards the waves. I love watching the delight in her dad's face as he chases, and races, and twirls her around. And I love feeling of being surrounded by the warmth of knowing that what we are building here in the sand is going to last forever. Because far away from those I love, in a place where the weather is ALWAYS nice, we are building our heaven, our future, our forever.

Why I loved Christmas this Year:

Because I get to be the mom of these two little miracles



How could you not be happy looking at this little face?



Having a baby at Christmas makes the celebration of the
birth of the Savior in Bethlehem much more special



Two absolute angels



A Christmas morning moment I will remember for a long long time



Tinkerbell!



Christmas Eve excitement!



"I just eat it mom, ok?!"

What I Wish I Would Have Known...

In just a few short weeks, my amazingly talented, artistic, charming, hilarious, and brave little sister is having a baby.

What could I possibly tell her to prepare her for the greatest adventure of her life?

I have a little collection of books that seemed to come to me at just the right time with just what I needed. This little library of mine is so much more than just good books, it is sanity.

So to my sister Lisa, and any one else who may be grasping for straws or pulling out your hair, here are my favorite paper friends....the last one is my current FAVORITE: (Each have been linked to the amazon.com page where you can buy them...some are pretty cheap too!)




This is the one for the hospital when you are trying to figure out the whole breastfeeding weirdness. I know, it's supposed to just be natural and wonderful, but honestly sometimes I felt like I needed 10 arms to make it work. This is great for helping you know what to eat too to avoid any crazy reactions from your baby. (But beware, it can be a little over the top about some topics!)



This one is miraculous!! It's not the book but the DVD. Read the book...not helpful. Watched the DVD....sanity saving! There is no other way to describe it. Rent it from the library if they have it, you only need to watch it once.



This one I would call my baby bible. It guides you through all the different stages of sleep needs your baby will go through. And when your baby is sleeping well, you are sleeping well, everyone is happy.




This is the book I read when the girls are about 4-5 months and it is time for everyone to start sleeping through the night. I just let them cry-it-out... painful, but worth it for baby and mommy.



Brilliant book recommended by my wonderful dancing friend Natalia Valerdi. Fantastic for curbing the whinny, have-to-be-held, demanding attitude that starts to develop around 5 1/2 months. LOVE this book - but you have to start early with it.




Last but NOT least... This book is truly magic. It is turning my terrible two year old into a civilized easy-to-live-with little girl. It is one we will use and reuse for years!! (ages 2-12). It's easy to do and totally fits my parenting style. Just be consistent and it will work wonders.