Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

Once Upon A Time....

Journal Excerpts

August 2, 1998

"... David Kipp and I met through Carl Pantle. Last weekend 7 of us went up to Bear Lake for the Pioneer Day holiday...Wow! It was an awesome kiss... I mean he's totally gorgeous...."

August 6, 1998

"... David...he is so cool, I really like him even if he is a freshman and I'm a sophomore, and even if I am 6 months older than him...."

August 12, 1998

"... And then he said there was something he had been wanting to tell me. He said he was crazy about me."

August 17, 1998

"... I'm dating David and I know it's a fling, we probably won't last... But he's proven me wrong so far... In a lot of ways I hope he does prove me wrong... I've never enjoyed kissing someone so much... I have so much fun with him. I love being around him. We have the same sense of humor. Plus with David I don't have to worry about the big word-MARRIAGE! He still has to go on his mission!"

January 15, 2002

"I've gone out with David Kipp now twice. We have emailed and called a few times since he's been home from his mission. It was so nice to see him. We just picked up from where we left off. It felt so comfortable to be around him. He's so cute. We've both grown up a lot since we last dated.... I felt like we clicked. Plus I love that we just talk and talk and see so may things eye to eye. I feel like we have so many of the same likes and goals. I feel like I'm falling for him all over again, but at the same time in such a new way."

February 19, 2002

"Things are going so good with David. We are dating pretty seriously... We went for this drive through a ski resort and stopped at this look out point. We reclined our seats back and talked about everything. And then it just hit me as I was looking into his eyes. I knew that I had fallen in love with him. I had that feeling in the pit of my stomach that I have waited my whole life for. I knew that I loved him so much that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him. I realized that he's the man I want to fall asleep and wake up with for all eternity. I just knew that he's the man I want to marry."

And they lived happily ever after...

The 10 Minute Rule

When times get tough, which they inevitably do for all of us at some point, I have a little rule I like to apply. When going through hardships you get 10 minutes a day to: worry, cry, obsess, fear, rehash problems, be angry, state the obvious, drink an extra large Diet Coke....WHATEVER you need to do to expel some anxiety and/or sadness. You can do this at any point during your day, when you have time alone for yourself. Set a timer if you must. But 10 minutes is ALL you get. After your time is up that's it. You MUST pick yourself up and pull it together and get things done. Your problems can't define you unless you let them. Trials are just a part of your journey in this life. So hold on and enjoy....we don't get a "do over" for today.

Girls Day Out

Seery, Liam, and I took Aidan to school today. As soon as the sliding door to the van shut, Seery looked at me and said,

"Mom wouldn't it be fun to go get a hamburger at In-N-Out?".

With those big green eyes and eyelashes batting ever so innocently, I caved and said,

"Of Course!".

We pulled up to the restaurant and she wanted to eat inside. She picked a quiet corner spot with 2 stools at a counter height table. We ordered our food and sat down together. She is still so small. Her cute legs were dangling high above the floor. I just watched her cute pink suede boots swing back and forth. The sun was picking up the highlights in her hair. She was beaming from ear to ear when she said,

"Isn't this so nice? Just us girls out to eat and talking. I like this girls date. I like having alone time with you."

My heart melted right then and there and I thought to myself....how did I get to be so lucky?

The Kiss

Aidan came home today from school bursting to tell me his secret. He quietly whispered in my ear what happened. A little girl from his Kindergarten class kissed him on the cheek and said, "Aidan, you're my best friend!" Surprised and embarrassed, Aidan told his teacher, who then talked to this little girl. We talked all about this at dinner. Seery said, "Uh-Oh Aidan! Now you're in love with each other!". We all laughed. However, I'm thinking.... "Really? You're only 6! Turn back the clock!!!"

Saturdays are the Best

I love Saturdays. Except for the fact that David has to work. I let the kids watch a couple cartoons in my room. We cuddle and talk about our dreams from the night before. We usually don't have to get up and go anywhere. Being able to do this is almost  as good as sleeping in. We lounge around late into the morning in our pj's. Instead of breakfast we plan a special brunch days in advance. This meal makes things exciting, breaks up the routine, and gives us something to look forward to during our week. With all the hustle and bustle a typical week brings we all deserve a Saturday morning break.

Seery's Coloring

Aidan's Hair Cut Story

A Must Have

I started using MAC products back in 2001. The first time I used their makeup I was sold. Later, I started using their other products. If I had to pick one beauty product that I cannot live without, it would be MAC Fast Response Eye Cream. For $30 you get 0.5 oz of pure heaven. This eye cream instantly takes out the puffiness from your tired eyes. It has caffiene in it which works wonders. This cream is so smooth and moisturizing that your eye makeup even looks better when applied after using this. I have tried cheaper and more expensive eye creams and nothing can touch the way this eye cream makes you look and the way it feels. Try it. You will not be disappointed. Tired moms around the world will look a little perkier in the mornings. Let's face it, as mothers we have late nights and early mornings. When you look good you feel good.

Turning 30

I am a list maker and I have been ever since I could write. When I was 5, I would write lists of things I liked. I laugh when I think back to being 16 and writing a list of what qualities I would want in my "ideal husband". When I was 18 I wrote a list of names for my future children. Everyday I write a "To Do" list. Most importantly, as I grew older, I put pen to paper to list my dreams, aspirations, and goals.

Don't get me wrong, I think that 30 is still very young. I had some anxiety coming up to my 30th birthday because I realized I didn't do some of the things on my list. For example, I hadn't lived in Boston, I hadn't gone to Grad School, I hadn't traveled as much as I had planned, and I didn't have "the big city" job that I had wanted. I began to think that my life hadn't gone the way I had planned on those lists. And then I realized something, which stopped me in my tracks of going down that "should have, could have, would have" path. I did get to travel. I did go to college. I chose to turn down the East Cost job that was offered to me so my husband could finish his BS at BYU.

What I do have is the man of my dreams, 3 beautiful children that are sad to see me leave and happy to see me every morning. I have a house that fits our needs and 2 cars that function well. And most importantly I laugh, smile, and feel gratitude at some point every single day. So the fact that I get to turn 30 is a privilege.

You can have everything you want, but not all at once. What I do have is everything I need all at once. Life does not follow our lists. Isn't that wonderful?