kahakuloa relay

in mid april my athletic & super runner friend, krista, invited me to run the kahakuloa half marathon relay with her. i had to contemplate the offer for a good 48 hours but i finally said yes. and i am so glad i did. i'm not a runner. i think running is cool, but it just isn't my thing. i've never been able to get in to that groove that some runners reach. oh no, with each & every step i'm feeling every piece of my body scream & i'm wondering why the hell i'm out there & how much further until the end. but i do appreciate a good challenge & i was definitely lacking motivation to get up & moving. so thanks to krista's constant encouragement & motivation i went from dragging my aching body through 2 miles to confidently & comfortably (well, relatively comfortably) completing 8 miles. yes, i ran 8 miles at one time & didn't die.

the race was awesome. definitely a highlight of things i've done on maui, actually it is one of the coolest things i've done in my adult life. the race was a half marathon & since we did the relay we each ran 6.5 miles. it began at d.t. flemming & ended at kahakuloa. i thought i was smart offering to take the first leg but i was so off. the course was 80% hills & i had the three biggest inclines. but i did it, & again, i didn't die. the views were incredible. sure, i've driven that road a few dozen times but running it was a completely different experience. i was able to really take in the beauty & feel of that peaceful & pristine piece of maui. after running my leg i opted to finish the last mile of the course with a few friends. meeting my boys at the finish line was my favorite part of the day. after years of chearing todd on it was pretty cool havin the roles reversed. this was an amazing first, & probably last, race. i think it's time to hang up my nikes. 

dirty 30.

can i get a big, hell yea for turning 30 (like two months ago, but hey, when you turn 20 you kind of quit counting)! woop! here's to another decade under my belt & the start of something great. 20's were definitely a whirlwind. i did more in 10 years than i really ever hoped. i earned a bachelor's & a master's degree, married the man of my dreams, birthed 3 healthy happy children, & miscarried 1 tender soul. traveled all over the usa, & moved to paradise. i saw so many amazing ups & a few difficult downs. i worked hard & got my hands dirty. i dressed up & enjoyed some fancy parties. i met so many inspiring people & crossed paths with a few people i'd care to forget. i saw true love & devastating heart break. i fought some foul fights & ran from a few. i laughed, i cried, i almost died. i'm in the best shape of my life, mentally, physically, spiritually, & emotionally.

20 things i learned in my 20's

1. when you feel grateful show it. never hide the good in the world.

2. when you make a choice own it. it doesn't matter if you make a good choice or a bad one. once you've done it, it's yours. if you were wrong, admit it, apologize. learn & grow. if you were in the right defend your decision. never hide. never slurk.

3. a smile & a good laugh can cure anything.

4. hold tight to good people. it's so rare to come across them. 

5. set your expectations high & never settle. you'll never regret the junk you missed out on but you will regret compromising yourself.
6. you really can't ever be over educated or over dressed. always better to over achieve than risk under achieving.
7. being kind is a million times better than being right.
8. a smart mouth isn't smart at all. in fact, it's rude.
9. the true keys to happiness are service, love, & dedication to family, friends, & the Lord. if you aren't happy you probably need a little more of these in your life.
10. quality over quantity every time.
11. moderation is always the best, except when it comes to family, friends, & the Lord. in those cases, give it all.
12. never return an empty plate.
13. homemade is the way to go. except in the case of shave ice, then ululani's is no ka oi.
14. when life gets hard, as it inevitably will, slow down & take time to revel in the simple things.
15. everything is better with chocolate & children.
16. don't compare or envy. it will only hurt you. if ever you feel insecure just compliment those around you. uplifting others is the best way to feel uplifted about yourself.
17. every person has something unique & beautiful about them that no other person in the entire world possesses. search out that bit & admire it, both in yourself & in others.
18. if there is something about your life that doesn't make you happy change it. you can do that. whether it's where you live or your job or a personal characteristic, it is never to late to change.
19. the ability to do better & be better is limitless. never stop progressing.
20. time & love are the greatest presents. they are the only ways that stick with us forever.

we celebrated my 30th with a little staycation to ka'anapali. and it was just what this ol' gal needed. no cooking, no cleaning, swimming from sun up to sun down (well, way way past sun down), and the company of my four favorite men. all the perks of a vacation without all the hassle. plus, let's be honest, i live on the greatest island in the world, why would i want to go anywhere else? honestly, though, i didn't even want to go on the staycation. in my mind the perfect birthday entailed a day at the beach with my boys, a nice dinner, & an endless flow of desserts. luckily, my husband knew just what i needed & totally disregarded my wishes.

 the boys loved the pirate ship, the park, the slides, & the bathtub-basically everything water related. mylo was a maniac in the pool. he would insist on jumping in the water sans floaties then he would float in the water looking at everything until finally reaching for help to surface. he swears he can swim. tj could have gone down the slide a billion times, actually, i'm pretty sure he did. coop is so much like his mama. he wanted nothing more than to float through the massive pools playing fish. todd had a pretty rad & somewhat life-threatening experience with a moray eel (more on that to come, later).

29.

it's my birthday. yay. i've never been into big birthday celebrations for myself (obviously, i don't feel the same way for my babes). normally, i do something small & fun with just my boys. but this year i get an extra special treat. for the first time since i've known him, todd will get to spend my birthday with me. i could not be more excited. my birthday celebration will include a stop by the gazebo for some broke da mouth pancakes-white chocolate macadamia nut, kimo's hula pie, if the weather permits a haleakala sunrise or sunsetm & of course, the beach.

(what you can't tell from this picture is that this was the only decent picture taken by cooper in a series of about 50 pictures he shot while we were sitting on the ground on the lanai playing with playdough. thanks tothe magic of afterglow's crop tool & b&w filter it looks almost decent.)

i like to use my birthday as time to reflect. i think about where i am in life & where i want to be. and now that i'm entering my final year of my 20's it's perfect time to think about what i could do better & how i can be better. it's about time a jot down my thoughts. just so i have something to remind me & set me in the right direction.

what i want to be--

as a mommy: comforting, patient, nurturing, loving, strengthening, protecting, trustworthy, ispiring, fun, reliable, joyful, encouraging, unconditionally loving, enthusiastic, attentive, open-minded, positive, uplifting, a good example

as a wife: loving, a friend, respectful, forgiving, tolerant, generous, dependable, enthusiastic, thoughtful, sincere, respectable, selfless, serving, gracious, supportive

as a person: loyal, happy, spiritual, kind, humble, honest, selfless, thankful, gracious, reliable, compassionate, hospitable, sincere, healthy, enduring, giving, positive

saturdays

saturdays are possibly my most favorite days. on saturdays todd works all day, literally, 10am-10pm. so the boys & i have all day to party. and party we do. the second daddy is out of site we start cheering because it's mommy/son date day! (i know this sounds mean, so let me clarify. we cherrish our time with todd. i think turning our days without him into a party makes it easier to cope with the fact that we won't see much of him.) we spend the entire day doing anything & everything our little hearts desire. i pack swim suits, snacks, and plenty of water. then we are off! the boys get most deciding power (i reserve the right to over rule when necessary). sometimes we stop by the beach, sometimes we visit the ocean center, sometimes we go on a little hike, occasionally we tour something historical or cultural, and we almost always make a trip to walmart (coop's choice. he still has $20 from his birthday & he loves buying a little something each week). every week we go to ululani's for our favorite shave ice. coop loves trying new floavors. so far our favorites are melona, coconut, watermelon, & passionfruit orange. we chat about anything & everything. cooper & i tend to talk about his latest curious questions, geography, animals, ninjago, power rangers, or the people we miss. most of my conversations with tj revolve around whichever form or transportation is currently on his mind. and mylo & i usually just smile & coo. we tend to wrap the day up with a movie, snuggling, & our favorite dessert (fresh baked chocolate chip cookies, vanilla ice cream, & chocolate syrup. yum). i love these days. sometimes i pretend that i'm their babysitter & i don't have to enforce all the normal rules. i don't worry about whether they eat healthy quantities of nourishing food or if they put socks on or if they stay up late. saturdays are devoted to stress-free fun for all of us. the boys love being in charge of the day. and i love watching them & listening to to them. i am often (like 10 times a day) asked how i can do so much alone with 3 boys. honestly, my boys love getting out & burning energy. they are much happier on the go.

(i wish i had more pictures from our saturdays. my hands are a little full managing 3 boys so i often forget to use my camera.)

on a side note: sundays are basically the complete opposite. again, todd works all day so we are on our own. we start the day off with 3 hours of church. we tend to fit in a little beach time. occasionally, we go to the park. but for the most part we do very little. and believe it or not, the boys are much more difficult on these days.

me, too.

since i am most often the person behind the camera it is a rare joy when i am actually spotted in pictures with my boys. that's why i was beyond extatic when i came across these candid photos todd shot unbeknownst to me. they truly capture my relationships with my sons (i hope we can snag some similar shots of mylo & i). i love & adore those little men. they are the essence of my happiness.

28

a few weeks ago i turned 28. on my birthday i was contemplating how so many  ladies dread turning 30 & wish they could be frozen at 21 forever. i, on the otherhand, have no qualms with aging. i embrace my age & see no problem with the monumental & unavoidable day when i reach my 3rd decade. this may stem from being the youngest child. i look at my sisters who are 6, 8, & 9 years my senior & they are all so beautiful, youthful, energetic, & fun. nothing to fear. in my own experience i would have to say that 28 is so much better than 21. reasons why: i am more confident, more aware, more educated, less naive, more trusting, more self-reliant, more intune with myself, less judgemental, & less jealous; i no longer battle acne, insecurities, hormone imbalance, or fears of what others think; i am more physically fit (even after 3 children) & emotionally stable; i have a better idea of what matters & what does not. i am by no means perfect. i still struggle & have much room to grow. but i am on the right track. if i've managed to come this far in just 7 years, i cannot wait to see what the next 7 bring. so here's to growing, gaining, & aging!

me. 28. all natural. not gorgeous but not bad. and i'm cool with that.

10 years...

(YCHS class of 2002 graduation. 6.6.02)

really? has it been 10 years? i can't believe it. it seems like just yesterday i was eating frozen hoho's & dr. pepper for breakfast in mrs. priddy's 1st period english class, cruising the streets of yuba city in my '97 mustang to the sweet sounds of aerosmith, & tormenting sonny at the local 7-eleven. i can't say i miss it. my high school years will always hold a fond place in my heart but they weren't the highlight of my life. oh, no. college was much better. and parenting puts them both to shame. i have had a busy 10 post-high-school years: earning a bachelor's degree, living in hawaii, living in utah, earning a master's, getting married, birthing & rearing 2 (3 any day now) children, amongst many smaller feats. had you have told me 10 years ago i would have accomplished so much i wouldn't have believed it (especially the almost 3 children part).

shower.

i was treated to just about the most fantastic shower i have ever witnessed (i only wished i would have taken more/better photos). i am so blessed to have such thoughtful & creative friends. there were so many to-die-for details that just made my crafty heart swoon. it all started when this box showed up on my doorstep.  yes, a box. who sends shower invites in a box?!

i was surprised with a special treat on the day of the shower when a private chef showed up. and let me just say, the menu was above & beyond. my mouth is watering just thinking of it.  oh, & there was so much cake; cake pops, tiered cake, & cupcakes. yum. the theme was little man & the decor was focused on bow ties. adorable, right?! there were so many bow tie & little man details. even the napkins were tied like bow ties & the take homes (boxes filled with see's truffles) featured ties. amazing. 

 the weather decided not to cooperate so our lovely party was forced inside at the last minute. there were so many gorgeous decorations & plans that weren't used (the smore's bar, the beautiful game tent, & all the lantern lighting.) the games were my favorite (& the over the top prizes. who wins a $100 gift card at a shower?!). i could not stop laughing through the entire affair. my friends are hilarious. 

i am so blessed to have so many wonderful thoughtful & downright awesome people in my life. thank you anna-banana for throwing me & my little man the shower of the century. and thank you all for helping me celebrate our newest addition & the grand finale to our family. 

sew lovely.

my 1st hand sewing attempts for the newest little jock.  

i know they aren't perfect.  but i kind of love their imperfections.  i don't measure anything or plan ahead.  i just cut & sew & hope it turns out decent.  this is my new favorite hobby.  i am a multi-tasker.  and i can sew in the car while waiting for cooper to get out of preschool, or while i wait in the lobby at my doctor's appointments, or while watching my favorite shows.  it is sew fun.

success.

this has been a week of seemingly small but rather astounding accomplishes in my world.

1.  t.j. is talking up a storm.  he added 3 words to his vocab just this week.  he now says mommy, cookie, & doggie.  he takes after his brother (or bruh-bruh as t.j. likes to refer coop).

2.  cooper is taking up spanish.  since monday he has learned to count to 10, say hello, goodbye, yes & no.  we are so proud.  (does anyone know of a good language learning program for kids?)

3.  i grilled for the 1st time.  nothing major.  just tri-tip.  but even coop was proud.  he said, "wow, mommy!  i didn't even know you could do that!  when did daddy teach you?"

4.  i sewed all by myself.  i took a sewing class & loved it.  i was a bit overwhelmed but excited nonetheless.  the next morning i sewed an adorable red & white striped paci clip for t.j.
5.  i gave my 1st relief society lesson.  and walked away feeling pretty good.  the only problem is now i've been called to speak in sacrament.  oh.  geez.

all-in-all, we are feeling pretty good.  i love learning new skills & seeing my boys pick up new things as well.  there is still so much for us to conquer!

my job.

let me start by saying that i love my job.  it's the best in the world.  and i'm constantly striving to do be better at what i do.  i mean, hello, i have been trusted with the lives of 2 (almost 3) extraordinary beings.  what is more important than that?!  so i wanted some feedback on my performance at my job.  i decided to get an evaluation from 1 of 3 my bosses (cooper).  we discussed what i do well as a mommy & what i should do better.  here is an overview of our conversation:

things i do well as a mommy:

1.  play with him

2.  teach him how to cook

3.  do crafts with him

4.  play games with him

5.  take him to the park & fun places
6.  snuggle him
7.  tell him good job when he is doing good things

things i need to work on as a mommy:

1.  letting him play mario kart more

2.  taking him to texas roadhouse more

3.  helping him dig for gold more

well.  alright.  i'd have to say that in the eyes of my 4 year old i'm doing a pretty swell job.  i asked coop what kind of a grade he would give me as a mommy & he said, "14, 899, 721, 331, 489."  i don't know exactly what that means but it sure sounds good.

muchos gracias.

it's been quite a while since i've posted a favorite things list.  and with the approach of the holiday season my mind has been heavy with gratitude.  my life isn't perfect.  no one's is.  but i wouldn't trade my ups & downs, strifes & celebrations, trials & tribulations for anyone's.  the Lord knew what he was doing when he gave me this life.  so here are a few things i've been especially grateful for lately.

1.  my God.  do you know Him?  He rocks!  i owe Him every thing.  i am so grateful for a Heavenly Father that knows me.  i am grateful for His love & mercy.  i'm grateful for this life He has given me & His plan for my existence.
2.  my family.  i say this every year.  and they are still #2 in my book.  my little men make my entire being sweet.
3.  america the great.  don't get me wrong.  there are other fantastic countries out there, that i would love to visit.  but when it comes to a permanent residence, i'm so grateful to have this as my home.
4.  baking.  i know your wondering why i'm grateful for something that involves physical labor.  but i love baking.  and i love eating baked goods.  so it's a win/win.  if only the Lord would bless me with a husband that enjoys eating sweets.
5.  phineas & ferb.  this just may be my favorite cartoon since dexter's labratory.  it is pure awesomeness.
6.  anthropologie dresses.  i enjoy most everything about anth but i truly have an obsession with their sensibly stylish dresses.
7.  pizza.  i love me some pizza.  lately, i just can't get enough of that dough, cheese, & pepperoni combination.  my favorite pizza spots?  melo's, amici's, & tomatinos.  yum.
8.  dr. pepper.  this is an absolute essential in my life.  i cannot/will not live in a world that doesn't include d.p.
9.  mail.  i adore mail.  nothing brightens my day like getting a little note or a package delivered from my friendly postman.
10.  mario kart.  love playing this game with my little man during the baby's naps.
11.  safeway cartoon shopping carts.  i try to restrict the amount of t.v. my children are exposed to.  but when it comes to grocery shopping with the least amount of fuss i am all for turning on mickey mouse clubhouse to save my sanity & the sanity of all those in the store.
12.  sisters.  ok, this really should be higher on the list.  but i'm not re-numbering all the bullet points.  i adore my sisters.  they are my best friends.  they inspire me, teach me, hold my hand when i'm down, & make me laugh to no end.  they are amazing.  i don't know who i would be without their influence
13.  apple.  i am addicted to their products.  they are the best.  hands down.
14.  costco.  i love a store that i can get all our household essentials, & then some, all while my children gladly sit in the cart waiting for the next free bite size snack.
15.  classic cars.  you may wonder why i am grateful for something that i don't even own.  well, i will...one day.  when i'm all grown up i will have a '69 chevy camaro.  it will be metallic maroon with black racing stripes.  and i will love it.
16.  music.  i love me some good tunes.  we constantly have some form of music seeping out of our speakers.
17.  modern medicane.  seriously.  where would i be without this one?
18.  chocolate.  what list of blessings is complete without mentioning the single greatest invention ever?  i prefer my chocolate in the form of milkshakes, frozen hoho's, hershey bars with almonds, peanut m&m's, & of course, cake & frosting.

oh my.

on my mind today:

1.  i never thought the day would come when i would catch my rough & tough son playing with my makeup.  at least he wasn't trying to beautify.  oh no, he was attempting to camoflauge his face so he could join the america's army.  yep, that's my little patriot.

2.  nothing is more funny that watching my almost one year old strain to touch the ceiling.  seriously, how does he even think that's possible?  it is absolutley hillarious to watch him stand on his tip toes & reach his hand as high as it will go (which is only about 1 inch above his big round head).  the best part: he grunts.  yea, he is working so hard that he seriously grunts during this attempt.  he doesn't give up even though he still has a good 9.5 feet to go.  that's my little go getter.

3.  photoshop is insane.  i don't think i'll ever get it.  sure, in an ideal world i would have plenty of time to sit down & sift through the countless informative tutorials out there.  but that just isn't the case.  i'm lucky to get 5 uninterrupted minutes in front of the computer (like right now, tj's drinking a bottle & coop is cleaning his room which allowed me the 3.5 minutes necessary to type this petite post.  yea i'm a fast typer.).  so i'll just have to stick to my current routine of randomly clicking buttons & hoping it has my desired effect on my photos.

4.  why isn't there a jason's deli in the bay area?  or anywhere in northern california for that matter.  do you have any idea how much happier i would be.  hmmmm, i wonder if they franchise...

by me.

i finally felt inclined to visit my thesis.  that poor little thing must have been so bored collecting dust in the basement of the csus library.  i felt such a surge of pride looking at a bound book with my name on it.  if ever you are looking for a good read can i suggest stopping by the csus library & checking out Potential Risk Factors that Contribute to the Vulnerability to Entering into the Juvenile Justice System Among Women : A Retrospective and Exploratory Study.  it is just as interesting as its title suggests.

27 things you should know about me

i am officially 27.  i had a lovely birthday in new jersey with my favorite men.  it's been a little busy between the chaos behind ms. irene's pending arrival, giants practice/pre-game schedule, & my mom's departing flight today.  but somehow the boys & i managed to squeeze in a little celebration; shopping, dinner, & a beautiful walk down washington st. in hoboken & my 1st train ride alone with both boys (it was a success!).  to top it off we grabbed dessert from none other than the world famous carlos' bake shop.  it was delish.

here are 27 things i think you should know about me.

1.  I have no problem with aging.  It's natural.  I am a firm believer in the  sayings, "Age is nothing but a number" and "You are as old as you act".  I plan on acting & feeling young for a long, long time.  So bring it on big 27!

2.  I love being barefoot.  If I am outside then chances are good that I am barefoot.

3.  You will probably never find a dirty dish in my sink.  Used dishes lying around really gross me out so I try to allows keep such filthy items either washed or tucked away in the dishwasher.

4.  I chew "half-a-stick" of gum.  A whole stick is just too much for me.  

5.  I am a firm believer in the power of honesty.  I think it may just be part of maturing.  I understand that a lot of people don't agree with a lot of my beliefs, ideas, thoughts, and actions but that's okay with me.  I'm fine with being a little different.  I try to make good decisions that I can stand up for.  I make mistakes but I don't try to hide them.  I apologize & try not to mess up again.  I say what I mean & I mean what I say.  If I tell someone that I will always be there for them, then I always will.

6.  I am obsessed with the beach.  I wish I could live in a tent on the sand forever.

7.  I loath reality t.v.  I think that it breeds bad behavior & makes celebrities out of fruit-cakes.  I mean look at Kim Kardashian.  Yuck.  She only became famous after she was willing to make & sell a sex tape.  Isn't it sad that we allow disgusting individuals like this to become "famous" & prosper from their sick behavior.  I prefer sitcoms & gameshows.

8.  My favorite things about my life are my children.

9.  I have three go-to outfit types:  dresses, t-shirts & jeans, or sweats.

10.  I wish I could convince my husband to let me adopt a baby.

11.  I truly enjoy baking, cooking, & decorating desserts.

12.  I try to live without regret.  Life is short.  I don't want to look back one day & wonder "what if?".  I've done that & it sucks.  I don't want to do it, again.  I try to make good decisions & live life to the fullest.  If there's something I want I go out & get it.

13.  I claim to eat healthy but I am a sucker for sweets.

14.  I cannot stand when people mistake kindness for weakness.  Just because I try to always be kind & giving does not mean you can take advantage of me.  Don't try it.  You will regret it.

15.  I am a snuggle bug.  I love love love physical touch with my dears.

16.  I have a very ecclectic style.  A dear friend once told me, "we are too grown to shop at GAP now."  I laughed.  I shop where I want to shop.  I buy what I want to buy.  Today my outfit consists of an Anthropology dress, Cole Haan shoes, Louis Vuitton bag, Old Navy belt, and Target cardigan & necklace.  I do not believe in limiting my selection based on brands but rather based on quality, design, & appeal.

17.  I am truly a hopeless romantic (that's why Todd and I balance each other out so well). 


18.  I hate good-byes.  They are so permanent.  So unnecessary.  So sad.


19.  Everyday I strive to become a better person...don't judge me based on who I was in the yesterday because I am a better person today & I will be an even better person tomorrow. 


20.  I dream of one day appearing on a game show.


21.  I am stubborn.  Call it a burden.  Call it a limitation.  I call it a blessing.  My stubbornness has helped me to stay true to myself, stick with my convictions, & avoid peer pressure.  


22.  I am LDS.  I love my church & I truly do believe the gospel they teach is true.  


23.  I love bacon.  Bacon makes everything taste better.


24.  My priorities in life are 1. my God 2. my boys 3. my man 4. myself  


25.  I love white dishes.  Food just looks more appetizing when it is served on white dishes. 


26.  I live with passion.  And I love it.  Some times my life is a roller coaster of emotion but I'd rather that then a flatline of feelings.  Oftentimes people are admired for being "even-tempered".  I think that's silly.  I want to really experience life.  I think that if you are a really in touch with your emotions than you experience all emotions to the fullest.  I get really mad but I also get overwhelmingly happy.  I get very sad but I also love passionately.


27.  I have a firm belief that God gives us trials for a reason.  Everytime He hands me something difficult I try so hard to keep faith & learn the lesson that He intends me to learn.  At first it is very hard.  But with time & prayer I always end up grateful for the experience.  I love my Lord & He loves me.

hobbies

i am a busy-body.  i like to be doing things not watching things.  so i am very excited about my newest hobbies.  

hobby #1:  the cricut.  watch out!  i will be cutting just about everything that comes within 10 feet of me.  vinyl, fabric, paper, none of you are safe!  the craft possibilities are endless with this bad boy.

hobby #2:  the cake cricut.  just when i thought life with a cricut couldn't get any better i got this.  it is amazing.  my desserts are going to be out of this world.

hobby #3:  photography.  todd finally bought me a fancy-shmancy dslr camera.  it is a dream come true.  i've had it for about a week & i have finally figured out how to turn it on & snap some shots.  i still have much to learn about aperture & exposure & angles & all that jazz but i will get it, one day.  i intend to use this bad boy to take some quality photos of my family out & about (in between our regular family photo shoots with lacey c, of course).  and the best part...this is the only one of my hobbies that can travel with me on all of our adventures!  i am in love.  here are some of my first photos (unedited-i'm not ready for all that, yet).

delightfully droid.

don't you just love phones these days.  they truly are impressive.  my first phone (back in 2000) was cool because it had tetris.  (yea, tetris.  do people even play that game anymore?)  then, i was absolutely amazed when i got a phone with a color screen in 2003, and a camera phone in 2004.  wow, things really have changed in just the past 10 years.  now, i am in love with the selection of apps available.  it's hard to imagine my life prior to these addition of these useful gadgets at 4g speeds.  my personal favorites are:

word feud: i dare say that i'm addicted to this game.  i constantly have at least 2 feuds running with my parents.

 b of a: banking by phone?  yes, please!

gospel library:  now, i can read scriptures while on the go.

google maps:  i tend to get lost a lot.  this gadget keeps me right where i want to be.

pandora:  i love music.  right now i'm rockin' out to some aerosmith, thanks to this awesome app.

runkeeper: i would never track my workouts without this nifty tool.

talking gina:  i love this little gal.  she is fun for the whole fam!  she makes the boys (& me) laugh when we are out & about & i need to buy some time.  & i have fun playing her patty-cake game.  

facebook:  i rarely have time to keep up with fb via computer.  this app allows to me to stay social wherever i am.

p.s. i took this phone via my evo while we were in the city on monday.  i am still in awe of the amazing photo quality phones produce these days.  i really have no need to carry a camera.

bliss

i absolutely adore days like today.  i've been going & going from 7 am until 10 pm.  my day was jam packed full of good.  i am not at all the type of person to sit down in front of the t.v. for hours so a busy day is a happy day for me.  

today i:  weeded the front & backyards, cleaned the kitchen, visited with neighbors, ran 3.5 miles, hand a dance party with the boys, jumped on the trampoline with cooper, took the boys to the splash park, played with my nieces & nephew, worked on numbers & letters with cooper, did some sudoku, scrapbooked 3 pages for t.j.'s baby book, caught up on some friend's blogs, made a chicken alfredo dinner, played & read books with t.j. & coop, chatted with the missionaries, ordered new drapes, had a tickle-fest with coop & t.j., went on a walk with my family & now i'm snuggling up with todd for some quality laughs with ron bergandy.

today was truly a beautiful day.  i can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!  

i'm feeling so sari

recently, i had the amazing experience to be a bridesmaid for my bestie, mrs. harkirat nelson.  the weddings were beyond beautiful, the bride was the picture of perfection, & the food was delish.  this matrimonial experience was especially amusing for a cultural enthusiast such as myself.  why?  because the lovely mrs. nelson is indian & despite spending the majority of my life in a city with a rather high indian population, this was my first full-on indian experience.  i got to wear a sari & bangles, eat naan & dal, & dance bollywood style.  i loved every minute of it.  many congrats to greg & harkirat.

he loves me, he really really loves me!

i'm not one to brag.  i think it's tacky.  but this weekend my handsome hubby did something so beyond thoughtful i can't not mention it.  my dearest dear made a 10 hour road trip straight down to las vegas & back with the selfless desire to buy something special for me.  and boy, oh boy did he accomplish that!  is it my birthday?  nope.  anniversary?  nope.  he did it just because.  isn't he wonderful!  everyday i thank the lord for blessing me with such a remarkable man to spend forever with.

(my special surprise.  isn't she lovely!)