Taking a Chance to Breathe...

I experienced heaven on earth this weekend with one of my dearest friends, Lisa! We were treated like royalty by our families with a spa getaway certificate for Mother’s Day and redeemed it these last two days, with an overnight at one of America’s best spas’, Revive (in Phoenix). It’s amazing how refreshed we felt after being together; while being pampered with facials, a Turquoise Massage, and all the other spa amenities. I could get used to this lifestyle! Many times there was the gift of silence (a rare find in my life) and then there was the gift of total belly laughter and heart to heart connection. Lisa and I are so spa compatible. We’re already dreaming BIG for our next one (hint hint Kempiak/Keller husbands and kids), feeling like it would be a marvelous thing to do by exploring our horizons at all the other “hot spot” spas around Arizona the United States!

Seeing Through a New Set of Eyes

I didn’t recognize our Brinkster (Brinkley) when the groomer brought him out to us. WOW! Fortunately for us, his entire body language said it all, “I’m yours!” so I felt confident in bringing him home. I love the fact I can see into their dark eyes. Aren’t they so cute?!

(PHOTO TO COME)

Christmas in July...I Mean, August

What is it about time and how quickly it fleets from us? Our traditional “Christmas in July” was postponed one month later, to August. It’s a “good thing” that we set the “rules” and calendar for this mock holiday and don’t have pressure from stores, church, gift exchanges, holiday parties, and other outside commitments!

Today, the kids woke to Christmas music filling the air, our small tree up, and the smell of peppermint cocoa. You should have seen their mile-wide smiles. Merry Christmas! We began our day with a small devotional over breakfast of Christmas tree Belgium waffles then pulled names for our gift exchange.
After praising Him at church, with a name in one hand and $1.08 clung in the other, we each walked the isles of the local dollar store in search for the “perfect” gift for our loved one. It’s quite comical the things we can come find at that store. Upon arriving home, we had individual wrapping parties then proudly placed the gifts under the tree for the evening’s gift exchange.
(This silly eye glass/straw gift was to Jon from Baylee) (Baylee loves Root beer so I found Root beer Popsicle treats for her gift.) (Jon actually found a "keeper" for my gift. He gave me a poem on prayer!) (Nathan and Owen picked each others names! Nathan gave Owen a pirate set which he was ecstatic about and Owen gave Nathan a foam hammer.)
We took advantage of the hot outdoor temperatures and decided that it would be a great family fun adventure if we headed to Mesquite Groves pool in Chandler where high dives, twisty slides, a lazy river, water vortex, competitive lanes, an in-water play yard, and much more awaited us. I had looked forward to finding an excuse to explore this new pool.

Later, we had a traditional Christmas dinner, baked sugar cookies and decorated them, dipped strawberries, sang Christmas carols, watched Elf, and exchanged our gifts.

Fun times were throughout the day and night. We look forward to four months passing from now when we’ll be bundled up in much cooler temperatures, celebrating our Savior’s birth, once again.

Shaggy Dogs

So what do you think? My suspicions tell me that it’s about time for Zoe and Brinkley to get their hair cuts. I bet they will love being able to see the world without a hairy veil across their eyes. I can’t wait to see what they look like!

Aloha!

Hau'oli lā hānau

(pronounced How-o-lee Laa Haa-now…Happy birthday)
to one of my favorite people in the whole wide world,
an incredible Wahine

(pronounced wah-HEE-nay…woman),
Laura, my friend and cousin!
To help her celebrate turning the big
3-0,
we threw a luau much to her surprise.
She was surrounded by many of her lovely friends and family from near and far that adore her.
Thank you Lord for Laura and the heart you gave her.
What a beautiful person she is in my life and to the world.
She is well worth making a fuss over!

Isn't this the sweetest photo of Laura and her sweetheart Kasey?

First Day of School

My third grader and first grader, Baylee and Nathan started school today {sigh}. I have to admit, there is NOT a solitary ounce in me that’s excited about it. I miss them. I miss their random hugs and kisses. I miss their voices, their noises, and their ‘presence’.

Ahhh, when is 4:00 going to be here for Owen, Zoe, Brinkley, and I to go get them?

Praise God that Baylee was so comfortable with heading into her class line because Nathan wasn’t once it came down to it. Quite a scene happened when the emotions he was holding inside couldn’t take it any longer and he grabbed onto me as it was time to walk into the class. He kept sobbing (loudly) saying, “I want to stay home one more day and snuggle with you more…” over and over again. All eyes were on us…and I mean ALL! Now tell me, how in the world is a mommy to walk away from her child’s heart and comments like that? Boy howdy…it was NOT an easy task and I absolutely hated (big word, I know) peeling sweet Nathan off of me. He’s in great hands at school with Kelly Runyon, I know. But ahhh, so sad, so so so very sad!

(Fast forward...The day’s hours seemed to be as slow as molasses pouring out of a bottle but finally 4:00 hit and Owen, Zoe, Brinkley, and I were finally able to see our two BIG KIDS. Baylee and Nathan jumped in the van with beet-red faces from the heat, big Kool-Aid grin smiles from a successful, fun day, and lots of stories to tell over the homemade cookies Owen and I had waiting especially for them.)

Like it or not, we’re back in the trenches of it all…school schedules, more drive time, earlier bedtimes, packing lunches, and yes…homework. Oh Lord, I better brace myself.

Summer 2009, we already miss you! Thanks for treating us so well. Here's to a wonderful school year, I just know it. God blessed us with our heart's desires.

Cooking Up a Great School Year!

We’re just days away from a new school year starting so as tradition has it, we put together Baylee’s annual “Summer Just Because” party. On the guest list were girls from her class that Baylee either knows or wants to get to know better (Hannah, we missed you).

Baylee loves to cook so we figured a cooking party would be the perfect way to cook off a great school year for 2009-2010!

As the girls entered our restaurant, on the white board, I spelled out Mrs. Yeargain’s name, their “soon to be” teacher. Then the five gals collaborated, coming up with an acrostic on what kind of teacher/class/school year they will have.The chefs cooked up a yummy meal. They began with (non-alcoholic) Strawberry Daiquiris, then homemade salsa was next to follow that they named Senoritas Salsa. They jarred it and creatively put a label on it with the plans to give it to Mrs. Yeargain on the first day of school with a bag of chips.
Each girl chopped, sliced, stirred, and sautéed their little hands off to make tostadas and its yummy toppings. They had a blast making faces on the tostada shells, an edible canvas you might say. Then to top off the meal, they each made homemade ice cream and put them in their concoction of yummy edible cinnamon sugar dessert bowls. Ole!
(Chef "Salty" Savannah)
(Chef "Adorable" Abby)
(Chef "Baking" Baylee)
(Chef "Marinade" Maddie)
(Chef "Sauté" Sabrina)

Our three hours went fast but we were able to take a dip in the pool as well, splashing and laughing a whole lot.

Man alive do I enjoy listening to Baylee playing with her friends with glee shining through their excited voices of the school year to come. Entering 3rd grade and a brand new class doesn’t seem like such a mountain to climb anymore for Baylee, now that she has four other girls…I mean FRIENDS to do it with.

Cheers!!!! Here’s to a great school year!