MOVING MOVING MOVING

My house is utter chaos right now, there are boxes in every room, in the hallways and filling the garage. Dinner has been provided by McDonald's, Chick-fil-A, Digiorno and General Mills for this week, although I did make homemade salsa last night. Lexi is off to Girls Camp for the week so Grace is the "Helper" while I pack, call to cancel milk delivery (very sad about that) and finish editing pictures from recent sessions, she is doing quite well with the exception of locking her brother in a room so he couldn't run off while she was "watching a show".....hmmm perhaps she is onto something.

I have been an emotional wreck, but I hold the tears for sad songs, commercials, television shows, taking down pictures, or when I stub my toe on the stupid chair for the 10th time..... It's also easier to cry when no one is looking so I don't have to answer questions about why I am crying. Moving again after only 2 years in Colorado has been a tough and because we have known for a while it's been a slow unravelling of denial. It just felt like we would have so much time to spend with friends and family, then I became SO sick with this pregnancy ( now18.5 weeks or 4.5 months) that 3 and half months went by where I saw no one, did nothing and now it's time to move. We leave in less than 2 weeks and all of my minutes seem to be taken up by packing, thinking about packing or discussing packing. Because this is a rental, the management company has been here quite regularly showing the house to possibles, so we take breaks to move the boxes and then just stare at them as they find their way through the labyrinth...good times.

On the upside we know where we will live once we get to Utah, so that is a good thing and we are excited about the house. We will have lots more space and the neighborhood seems quiet and filled with young families. The bonus is that I already have a few friends that live in the area and Jimmy and I both have family around, which makes it easier.

My heart aches a bit to leave all of the AMAZING friends I have in Colorado, I will miss book club, girls nights, birthday celebrations, play dates at the park and Monday, Wednesday Friday at the gym! These women welcomed me so completely when we got here and it just feels I haven't had enough time with them, they have stamped my heart and life with their service, love and laughter. I wish I could just put them all in my pocket and take them with me but I hope to get to come back for visits.



Moving brings out all my insecurities. Will I make friends? Will my kids make friends? Will they like their new schools? How long will I have to use GPS and google maps to get around? Will people like me even if I don't have blonde hair and a Bump-it??? Will I learn the language??? Huge questions that you just don't know answers to until you get there.

Even though I KNOW this is the right thing for our family, it's still hard....well these boxes won't fill themselves.

Sunday Scripture: Faithful Friends

Mosiah 18:8-9

8 And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;

9 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—

In life there are tremendous trials, burdens, struggles and pain. These difficulties can overtake us and discourage us, and in His magnificent wisdom, the Lord will use those around us to build us up, to keep us afloat while the storm rages. There has been more than one instance in my life where the Lord has placed just the right people on either side to sustain me in my weakness. Perhaps that is the reason in which I feel the deep need to love, protect, keep up on, encourage and befriend those around me. One never knows when the Lord will need you to step in and be His arms, His help, His love, so I try to keep myself open to those promptings of when to be that listening ear or shoulder to cry on. I try to be the friend that has often been given me.

Today I give thanks for all those that have stood as my friend, my support during the storms of my life, who will continue to be so and I pray for the opportunity to be the same for you.

All My Love

Happy Sunday

Feeling NAKED!! & GUEST POST

Today I am featured on Queen of the House of Boys , I am pretty excited about it since it is my first time guest posting on another blog! So go check it out!!


Being as that photography is a love of mine I feel pressure to have all my pictures edited to perfection before they make it to my blog/facebook. But hey for a minute lets pretend I am not a photographer and I will show you some pictures in the "buck", their "birthday suits", all kinds of naked, just so that I can get them on here before next summer!! and go ahead judge me all you want :)

Lehi, UT part Uno! (bet you didn't know I was bilingual)


We spent the first few days of our trip staying with my friend Janelle! She and I met in a not so ordinary manner, I will tell that story later on. Her aunt and uncle have a pool so we went up and spent an afternoon letting the kids cool off in the water! It was ESPECIALLY HOT the week we were in Utah, it could have been due to my presence, but I'm not bragging or anything.

These girls became instant friends, much like their mothers!!

(the ever cool Alexis)

Janelle became very ill while we were there, so one afternoon I took 2 of her 5 kids and went to downtown SLC to the Children's Discovery Museum at Gateway! It was great because my membership to the Museum in Denver was good for the museum in Salt Lake so we got in for no cost! Before the museum we enjoyed pizza and ice cream, and I envisioned my life with 5 kids ages 11, 8, 6, 5 & 2, not too shabby!! We also met my good friend Kim at the museum with her 3 boys, it was great to see her and get to chat for a few minutes! (I didn't get any pictures with Kim though :( )

This here BEAUTIFUL woman is Janelle, she and I initially came into contact when I happened upon her blog while looking for a picture of my cousin Hilary Weeks (the LDS singer). She had done a post about her, and I swooped the picture from her blog leaving a little note saying hello, I believe she responded back with a little note and that was that. Then 6 months later I was at BYU Women's Conference in Provo, UT and as I came out of the Marriott Center I noticed a cute group of women taking pictures, I just made a mental note like "Oh they are cute." A few weeks after getting home I was searching through blogs and I decided to check Janelle's again when what would appear but this picture of women at the BYU Women's Conf. it was the same ones I had seen, so I couldn't help but leave a comment. From that point on we began keeping up with each other through our blogs and facebook. We have since discovered other connections and when I decided to make a trip to Utah she said we could stay with them! I was thrilled to get to meet her in person after a year and a half of communicating online! Some might think it odd but I just KNOW we were meant to be friends, she knows it too ever since I told her!! :)

(the above picture was edited a bit to crop out the peanut butter on my boob)

My visit to Lehi also brought a dream of mine come true!! I had tried the MOST AMAZING FRUIT TARTS from a place called Kneaders over a year ago and had been CRAVING them ever since so my first day there Janelle and I made a trip to get some, they did not disappoint!!

(the above picture should have been edited)

This is me in Heaven after my first bite into the tart of all tarts!!
(I did share however, I didn't want to keep heaven all to myself, ok I did, but I decided to be good)

Flashback Friday! New Beginnings

9 years ago this month I Graduated from Aesthetics school! I can't believe it has been that long, at times it feels like yesterday! I was a young, divorced/single Mom, hoping this would be a new start for me and my little girl. Going to school was the longest 4 months of my life, it was Tues-Sat, 7:30am-4:30pm, stuck in a small room with 20 other women, but it truly was a blessing. Becoming an Aesthetician gave me confidence, independence and the ability to support my sweet baby working just a few days a week! While I no longer have to go to a "job" outside the home, I will always be thankful for the education, and the opportunities that came from my years in the "working" world.

I would have gone more insane without these 2 ladies!! (great friends to this day)

Some of the women in my class, we came from all walks of life! (Oh and I got to change into a different shirt for graduation)

A Dream!

I have the craziest dreams, they are very detailed and seem soooo real, I wake up most mornings thinking "What the crap is wrong with my brain!??" and then I realize there is more than one thing wrong with my brain all of which have very little effect on what I am dreaming about.

Well I recently had a dream that Jimmy and I went out with some of our friends and at some point in the evening our friend Rob started pretending to be the Little Mermaid, flopping around on the floor and wearing cups as shells! It was so crazy.......








....perhaps it wasn't a dream after all???

Just In Case You Thought I Have Been Sitting Around Eating Bon Bons......

Things have recently gone into hyper speed around here, not that we were bored before, but just when I was getting good at keeping the portions on my plate at a healthy level I decided to add a little more here and a little more there and now it appears to be OVERFLOWING! Sheesh, will I EVER learn?? So a run down of everyone and their busyness!

Jimmy- Working hard and earning a nice raise and insurance (coming soon thankfully), devoting many evenings to his website to get it poppin, working out with his friend Rob and getting in some deserved time away with a Guys night (he's making friends, we are so proud!! ), and still rockin the nursery where all the little girls seem to heart him!




Marylin- Still doing laundry, cooking, cleaning, started training for her first race (a 10K), enjoying her calling in YoungWomens (getting ready for New Beginnings), working on 7 different sewing projects, participating in the ward cooking and book clubs, pausing for girls nights, bathing and sleeping, and only one small nervous break down!

Met the sidewalk up close and personal after slipping on ice while running, good times!

Alexis- Loving 5th Grade, part of the reading club, getting straight A's ( a blessing), enjoying her friends, getting an allowance (when she does her chores), great big sister, messy room keeper, missing her Grandma & Grandpa Holler, and getting way too tall!




Grace- Working very hard in Kindergarten and making tons of progress, attended several friends birthday parties, roller skated for the first time, tags along with Lexi and her friends on occasion, loves to torture/play with her brother, also getting allowance with completion of chores, and making all of us laugh on a daily basis!







James (Buddy or Dude)- Decided that 1 was way too boring brought 2 in with a bang, mural drawing, new words everyday, still sleeping in his crib (amen), loves watching Matilda and Mickey Mouse Club House, finally growing into his size 24 months clothing, eats cheese like a mouse, thinks he is the funniest thing since his Dad!






Whisper (the cat)- 8 years old and lazy as ever, loves her family so very much (especially her human mom), enjoying the new family members Coco, Chanel & Princess!!



Family Update: As a whole we are all doing well, we still LOVE Colorado and the area we live in! We welcomed 3 baby Dumbo Rats into our home a few weeks ago, they have made for great pets, and the kids LOVE them! Jimmy will be signed to a new contract (in May) at the base so we will be here for at least one more year (hoping for more), we are healthy, happy and feeling at HOME! Oh we also LOVE visitors so come one, come all!!

Sunday Scripture ; Needed a Boost, and a Boost I Got!!

Yesterday was a very roller coaster day of emotions! It started off with a fun family photo shoot and then, I came home to an empty house because my sweet husband had taken the kids with him to get the oil changed in my car and a trip to the park. It was wonderful because I was able to get my house all clean, well then they arrived home sooner than I had thought and Jimmy says "Can you come clean up the throw-up in the car?" Turns out that Grace had gone on the tire swing (that she has already had "issues" with) and then got in the car and well you know what happened then. So needless to say I spent a little time cleaning that up and then a trip to Costco and Wal-Mart to get things for my "Girls Night".

I returned home and cleaned some more, prepared food and changed out of my nasty clothes. As I was getting ready, I received a phone call from a very good friend, but she had some slightly depressing/discouraging information and once we got of the phone I had a slight meltdown. Jimmy was kind and tried to encourage me to finish getting ready for the night. I did, and man, by 6:05 I was feeling no pain, my friends were arriving and suddenly laughter was abundant, we talked about EVERYTHING under the moon and then some!

The night had really given me a boost when I was in need, and I am so grateful for a Heavenly Father that knows what to do and when to do it. Today I received another boost when I was officially called as the 2nd Counselor in the Young Women's Presidency! I have served in this calling once before and had been sooo sad when I was released, so it is just very EXCITING to be working with the youth again!

Then tonight I was reading on LDS.org and I replayed a video on the home page entitled "Create", it hit me like a boulder this time and once again I was reminded of how close an eye the Lord has on me. I am grateful for the blessings which I have received, for the strength that is added in my life and the ability to ask for guidance and encouragement on a daily basis. This video is such a great reminder of why we must remember who we are and who loves us.

The Clark Family

Tonight I had the pleasure of shooting some family pictures for our friends the Clarks' , it was so fun! Thanks guys! Oh and the pizza and ice cream after wasn't so bad either :) more here

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!!

Two weekends ago I went with some of my fabulous new found friends up into the mountains for a girls night! We all pitched in a little doe and rented a fantastic cabin, my friend Kari was the master mind! We all brought food and spent the evening eating, playing games, talking, dancing and laughing to the point of peeing ones pants, I won't mention any names!! The midnight oil was burned and the clock said 4:30 am the last I saw before falling asleep on the floor! It was a great way to bond with these amazing women, many of whom I had not yet had the pleasure of meeting! There were 21 of us in all, a few had been forced to back at because of other conflicts and they were missed but boy did we make some memories!! Thanks so much for allowing me to take part in such a great night!

Loading up the cars to head to the cabin

"The Hot Seat" This was a game where each person spent 2 minutes in the seat and the rest of us could ask them anything!!
I was smart and went first before the questions got too spicy!!

The next morning some had to leave pretty early to head back into town, but a few of us stayed and spent the morning eating more, thanks again Kari, and talking! I even went on a walk with a few of the girls, it was a beautiful morning in the mountains! The best part was that even though we had expected snow we had been spared, while the entire Denver area was blanketed with the white stuff!! When we returned home it was only 18 degrees outside brrr brrr brrr! It did take me several days to recover but it was sooooo worth it!! Let's do it again k ladies!!

Sunday Scripture! Just and True Friends

Today our lesson in R.S (Relief Society) was entitled

"How Glorious Are Faithful, Just, and True Friends"

From the teachings of Joseph Smith

True friends ease one another’s sorrows and remain faithful even in times of adversity.

Joseph Smith wrote the following about the family members and friends who visited him on August 11, 1842, while he was in hiding: “How good and glorious it has seemed unto me, to find pure and holy friends, who are faithful, just, and true, and whose hearts fail not; and whose knees are confirmed and do not falter, while they wait upon the Lord, in administering to my necessities, in the day when the wrath of mine enemies was poured out upon me. …



I bawled through most of the lesson as I had already been feeling the effects of Home sickness today and so when the discussion was about friends who have stood by you through even your darkest hour my mind was flooded with the friends who have helped me in my darkest hours.
I will never forget the friend that came to visit me when I was pregnant with Alexis and just 19 years old, she just came to visit with me and to be my friend. No judgment in her eyes or disappointed tone in her voice, she just sat and talked with me as a friend.
Or the friend, who after my second miscarriage came when I called and just sat on the bed and wept with me, brought lunch for my other children and my favorite ice cream. Her compassion was exactly what I needed in that moment.
And the time that a friend who brought my family dinner for no reason other than she could tell by an earlier conversation that I was not at my best. Her love and service taught me so much.
I really could go on and on about the times in my life where my friends have stood beside me and at times pulled me up from the deepest depths of pain and just held me until I was stronger. I pray that each of you know how much your friendship means to me, and know that I would go to the ends of the universe to help each and every one of you in your time of need. Your support and love have taught me and strengthened me many times and there truly are no words to thank you enough!



Love to you

Sunday Scripture! A Ruby!

Proverbs 31:10,11 & 12


10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

Our lesson today in R.S (Relief Society) was on Unselfish Service. It touched me because lately I have struggled with where I belong and I really felt like this lesson was just for me! The scriptures we used were in Proverbs where it talks about how Virtuous Women are needed! It made me realize that there is no amount of notoriety from the world that could equal the feeling we can receive from serving each other, our families and our communities! No amount of money can be paid for the talent that women have to inherently serve those around them. It might go unnoticed by some but not by those being served. The small things do matter and can change the lives of those being blessed by our service, our time and our talents, as well as, change us, change me!

I know that I have become closer to the women whom I have served and I love them more. I also know the deep affection and gratitude I feel for the women who have served me in my times of need. There have been numerous times that I have been blessed by others who were in tune to the spirit and I pray everyday that I might also here the promptings to know those in need of the gifts that I have to offer!

Happy Sunday to you

THE BIG 30!!!

I know a girl who turns 30 today and I think she is FABULOUS!! I have known her for 18 years and we are just getting started!! I will never forget when we met in 7th Grade sharing an English class and our lunch time, we just bonded right away and in 18 years I don't think anything has ever come between us. We have been through so much together and I feel blessed to have her as my friend and in so many ways she is my sister! I can be myself around her and she with me, we can read each others minds, we share so many interests and leaving her was one of the hardest parts about leaving Vegas!!

Marissa, I am proud to call you friend, you are talented beyond talented, thanks for teaching me, loving me, being a true friend. We have done so much together, Hawaii, Sedona, AZ, Womens Conference, sewing nights, photography excursions, football games, lunch, trips to JoAnns, birthday parties, baby showers, baby blessings, weddings, funerals, girls nights, I could go on and on!! I love you, miss you and hope you know I am thinking of you today on your day!! Happy Birthday!!
When we were 16 my sister married your brother and it meant that now no matter what we are stuck with each other, but I can't imagine being "stuck" with anyone else!!

But if you don't come to visit, all bets are off!!! ;)











Love to you,