new favorite blog

are you bored? do you need another way to waste time entertain yourself? I found one.  Go to here.  You don't even have to read the whole thing, just the top part about the job listing.  That's my day today.  Now goodnight.  I'm going to San Diego tomorrow with this chic & I don't have to think about things like that for five more sleeps. 
mmmmmwah!

Tuachan Extravaganza

Earlier in the month, Susie kindly took a bunch of the girls down to St. George to see Grease & The Little Mermaid at Tuachan.  They were both awesome, but The Little Mermaid was like extra spectacular.  If you have the chance, I would totally recommend it.  Sawyer loved both shows, but she really wanted to meet Sandy but not Ariel for some reason.  I was a bit annoyed though at the underlying message of both shows.  Sitting there next to "my" daughter who is really just on loan to me from our Heavenly Father with the understanding that I will do my darndest to raise her in such a way that she can make it back home to Heaven, I couldn't help but be conscious of how each female lead wasn't happy until she had her man.  They both had to change & take some crap to please the people around them.  Clearly healthy relationships do not make for interesting story lines, but sheesh!  I'm sick of Disney telling my kid that she won't be happy until she nabs a man.  Okay, I'm being a tad extreme here, I realize that.  I certainly need my man.  It's fine.  Just don't get me started on Beauty & the Beast.  I have some serious issues with that one. 
It was great that Cydney was able to come with us too.  She stayed with Abram while we went to the shows.  It was fun to see Caroline, Cate & Grace follow her around like little puppy dogs & aske her beauty advice & whatnot.  I'm so lucky to have her.  Anyway, I am so grateful that I have a mother-in-law that I absolutely count as one of my friends.  She is so much fun to be around & gives fantastic advice.  Even without the fun trips, she is a complete rockstar.  Thank you Susie!

Operation Survive Matt's Absence- Day One

I'm chalking today up as a success.  Granted it was only a half day, but whatever.  Matt left today at four, after taking us to breakfast at The Original Pancake House in Sugarhouse & then coming home & packing & cleaning & prepping to go.  I'm so excited for him.  He really is studying like I've never seen him & this whole experience so far is very uniting for us as a family.  After he left we picked some take out up from Cafe Zupas & went down to the Wright's neighborhood party.  We didn't stay very long because one of my rules of OSMA is to get the kids to bed on time.  After I put Abram down, Sawyer, Cyd & I had some banana ice cream & then Sawyer & I read books & played horsey on the trampoline.  I really like hanging out with Sawyer.  She's really a cool chic. We knelt down for family prayers & she told me that "this cannot be family prayers.  Daddy isn't here.  It's just girls & Abram prayers."  So apparently I need to revise my list of OSMA rules to correct that terminology. 
Here they are-


The Rules of Operation Survive Matt's Absence
#1- no late nights.  Bedtime is 7:30 for Abram AND Sawyer.  She's a big kindergartener after all & starting Monday, we are going to have to get up at like 7:30!!! (I'm not ashamed to admit that most of the summer we have still been in bed at 9 am.  Ok, maybe a little ashamed)
#2- Mommy's gym time is sacred.  Don't even try to skip or else you'll be all stabby by noon.
#3- Once a week, get a sitter & go out.  With Cyd, by yourself, with friends, I don't care.  Just do it.
#4- Family Girls & Abram prayers every day.  Once a day at the very least.
#5- Personal scripture study & prayers twice a day.  Listen to something from the Gospel Library app at some point during the day & sit down & read real live scriptures in the morning before even getting out of bed. 
#6- Laugh.  Don't take yourself too seriously.  Generally it is Matt's responsibility to see that this happens, so I hope that I can do it without him here.
and last but not least
#7- do not be afraid to accept the help that is offered to me. 
I seriously have no idea how military wives or single moms do it.  GOOOOO them!
and go me.  ;)

love note

Matt sent me this email a few weeks ago. I've reread it nearly every day since. I really had no idea how good a choice I was making when I decided to marry him. Luck, a blessing, destiny? I don't know, but I'm ever so glad he's mine.