HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

I turned 27 2 weeks ago! It has been a week or so of celebration. Friday was the official celebration went out with some friends to Takashi and to see the Dueling pianos! What a great way to celebrate my bday, thanks friends!

My amazing friend Ash made that cake!!

The group!
Tiffany and Me!

All of us at the Tavernacle watching the crazies enjoy the dueling pianos!

Me, Mark (friend from college) and Ryan!

K, blogger wouldn't let me post these on the other one so here ya go, only a few pics cause I didnt' know the people too well but you gotta love this one!!!

Flipflops in January and you all wonder why I want to move there?!?!

Well.....my sisters have been pestering for weeks now, threatening lets say ;) hehehe to make another post. I apologize to my many many blogger fans that are missing out on my amazing posts! I know I know, millions of you check everyday and I have failed you. for that I am sorry, hehehe but...I will make it up to you I promise here goes.

WHAT I HAVE BEEN UP TO:

I went for yet ANOTHER job interview in California on the 15th of january. To no avail I didn't love the job but I still had fun in the sun!! Got a trip to Disney out of it, how bad can that be? for those wondering am I moving to the sunshine state? At this time, no, with everything else in my life I am throwing the dice and seeing where it lands. So far it hasn't landed there ;) If anyone has seen those dice please let me know!

Here's some pics from good old Disneyland, it was fun cause I was able to ride all the adult rides. I rode Soarin over California atleast 5 times!! I love that ride, AMAZING!

Time to reflect...
sorry to post all at once, been meaning to catch up. It has been quite the last month for us, with our travles, christmas, new years and the passing of my grandfather there has been so much to reflect on. As I sat in church today, trying not to get too caught up in "Whoa is me" mode, I couldn't help but think of all the wonderful blessings my Heavenly Father has bestowed upon me. My life most definilty hasn't ended up the way I imagined and I feel a little lost in the single mom, dating world. I feel I've lost my sense of direction because before this I was a mom and a wife and it was what I love doing most. But I'm grateful everyday for the lessons the Lord teaches me, those that are difficult, those that I feel I can hardly bare and even better those that are down right funny. I do have so much to be thankful for and I want that to be my focus this year.
I have a wonderful family and group of friends that has carried me through this difficult time and I am soooo eternally grateful for them. To listen to me non stop, somtimes the same things. But mostly to laugh with me and share wonderful memories together.
I'm grateful for my beautiful daughter and for the love that she brings into my life. All she knows is unconditional love, and she showers it upon me everyday despite my short comings as a mother.
My Savior....this one is a HUGE one for me especially at this time in my life. He has shown me his incredible mercy and love and has truly carried me through. I know without Him I am nothing, and I am grateful that He atoned for my sins so I can be clean and be with my family and Heaven Father eternally.
Today in Relief Society they played the song "Thankful" by Josh Groban. I have heard this song a million times and never realized what is was about. A beautiful song I will put on my player and post the words here. It touched me.
I am not through the woods yet, I have so much learning and healing to be done but I am grateful for what I do have in this wonderful year.

Somedays we forget
To look around us Somedays we can't see
The joy that surrounds us So caught up inside ourselves
We take when we should give.
So for tonight we pray for What we know can be.
And on this day we hope for What we still can't see.
It's up to us to be the change And even though we all can still do more
There's so much to be thankful for.
Look beyond ourselves There's so much sorrow
It's way too late to sayI'll cry tomorrow
Each of us must find our truth It's so long overdue
So for tonight we pray for What we know can be
And every day we hope for What we still can't see
It's up to us to be the change And even though we all can still do more
There's so much to be thankful for.
Even with our differences There is a place we're all connected '
Each of us can find each other's light
So for tonight we pray for What we know can be
And on this day we hope for What we still can't see
It's up to us to be the change
And even though this world needs so much more
There's so much to be thankful for

Merry Christmas!!

We had a wonderful Christmas this year. Christmas Eve we spent with my family, doing the nativity, eating food and enjoying eachothers company. Kirsten spent Christmas day with her dad while I went to the Ohlsons(thanks for putting me up for the night was sure fun to see you all christmas morning!). She got lots of great stuff but mostly we are just glad to have spent this special time of year with our friends and family who we love so much! Thank you all for making this Christmas so special.

Christmas nigt spent at Nana's

Opening gifts with grandpa
Spencer helped grandma read the nativity story

Everyone as you can tell took their rolls very seriously during the nativity story

Especially Uncle Kevin!!

Kirsten and Addison were Joseph and Mary, they both are going to be in acting i'm almost certain they were so serious the whole time. Sweet children gotta love em!

Kirsten with her little mermaid cake
Emily gave kirsten a fun hello kitty makeup and hair do set and emily did her hair after. Best friends these girls are!

Grandpa and kirsten cheesin it!

The big 4 year old!

Morgan and Kirsten with Chucky!

This pic sooo describes my daughter! Sassy and fun she is!

Kirsten with the peppermint princess

Tea time with mom

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIRSTEN!

This post is soooo late, what a great mom I am :) We spent the weekend of kirstens birthday in california, had a job interview out there but they treated kirsten like a princess for her birthday. Took her to teddy bear tea at the Four Seasons Hotel in Carlsbad, it was a special tea party for kids at christmas. We had lots of fancy finger foods, hot choclate and she was able to meet the Peppermint Princess! WE also spend some time at Chucky Cheese with a few of our friends we met in california Kirsten and Morgan had a blast!

Headed home quickly sunday morning just in time to to have family over for cake and ice cream. I still can't believe I have a 4 year old. Kirsten is most definitly my bright and shining star. I look at her everyday and thank Heavenly Father for blessing me, despite sometimes she makes me want to pull my hair out. She loves to laugh and be silly, she's always got a "squishy" hug for mom or any of her friends and family. Every night she prayers for her family and cousins, she loves spending time with them and. I am so blessed to have her in my life!

Happy 4th Birthday my baby girl!

Adventures in post divorce dating??....

So I was talking to my sister and my friend the other day about blogs and how terribly boring mine is and I had a thought "maybe I should blog about my dating life?" All my married girlfriends, everytime we get together I end up talking most of the time because they are caught up in the latest guy, what he has done that is romantic etc. So..maybe I will start putting a few funny tidbits here and there...except my dad reads this so..dad will that be weird ;) LOL.
Like maybe I will tell you about I was hanging out with this guy, we were watching the jazz game and he laughed and farted and I just kept talking pretending I didn't notice although he said excuse me. All the time thinking, should I aknowledge it, if it were me I would rather them pretend they didn't hear. But you know maybe stories like that are inappropriate and not what you gals are wanting to hear. LOL K just tryin to be funny.
So I will ad a few tid bits here and there...but in with the funny, romantic stuff will come with frusteration. I have forgotten how the whole process works, like you go on a few dates, you like eachother you keep going on dates where does it end and when does it keep going? Silly stuff like that.
As some of you know I mainly date men I meet online "GASP" I'm sure is what most of you are saying, but seriously I have met 2 guys in real life who have asked me out and one was 42! Sadly I don't meet men in real life but I really have met some great guys online and suprisingly no weirdos. I am always careful, meet in a public place like starbucks for hot choclate, cafe rio, usually somewhere its quick so you can see if you really lke them as much as their pictures and on the phone. and then after that you make a real date. LOL so there is your online dating 101. And hopefully more to come.......
and if anyone knows any cute single guys from 25-35 hook a sista up!!!

Ahhhh......Christmas.......
I'm feelin the spirit of christmas! Kirsten and I got the tree up today, not decorated because her dad came to get her but we will finish up on sunday after church. We got the christmas cd's out today and soaked up the spirit of christmas! I feel it in the air and very excited about this time of year. Sipping hot choclate, bundling up to see the christmas lights, feeling the chill in the air. Gotta get the christmas shopping done, any ideas for my 8 year old nephew, and kirsten?
Christmas and Thanksgiving to me are such family holidays. Its been a hard adjustment just being Kirsten and I, but I am grateful for our little family no matter how small. I love to see her excitment about it being christmas time. I long to be a full family again and I know it will happen again, just takes a little patience and time.
I'm so grateful for this time of year, to gather with those I love and celebrate the birth of our Savior. I keep reminding myself the real reason for this season, I'm grateful for Christs love, understanding and mercy he has shown upon me. I'm grateful for the sorrows he has carried and for the love I feel from him!!
Merry Christmas!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!
We spent thanksgiving at my aunt claudias! We had a wonderful time with my grandma, sister hayley, and other sister Piper and her kids. It was a good meal and great conmpany. We missed Taylor, Kim, and Kara and especially mom and dad! Kirsten and I enjoyed Enchanted all by ourselves it was fun but both of us were very tired!
A few things I am grateful for:
1. my beautiful healthy daughter and the laughter, joy, and love she brings into my life.
2. my health.
3. my family, they support me no matter what sort of mistakes I make. I don't know where I would be without them.
4. my friends, they listen to my same stories over and over, keep my spirits up, and the laughter I need in my life!
5. the gospel, I know I would be nothing without it and can be everything with it!

6 things about me...
tagged by non other than Marilee

The rules of the game should be posted at the beginning of the post. Each player lists 6 facts/habits about themselves. At the end of the post, the player then tags 6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

1. I am a shopoholic, I love to shop!!! I do keep it to a minimum however there are times where I just can't resist and enjoy spending money on clothes and shoes for kirsten and I. Having a baby girl doesn't help either!

2. I hate writing about myself, which is why I only post pics on my blog these days.

3. I wear my emotions on my sleeve, which is why I am writting about emotions. hahaha it has been and up and down sort of month, good days and really really bad days! THats me :)

4. I love music, I really want to get back into playing the piano more. Growing up we always had great music playing or one of my sibblings playing the piano. I really miss that!

5. I love going out and getting all dressed up! I don't get to do it as often as I would like but I love going to dinner with friends or a handsome guy and get dressed up. Its so fun!

6. LIfe the past year hasn't been quite as I expected and its been the hardest time in my life but I keep telling myself that I will come out on top and I will be happier than I ever imagined (I've been told by people the more you tell yourself things the more likely they will come true)

sorry things are so random, I couldn't think of anything exciting.
I tag kara, Kim, hayley, sarah, lindsey and dawn. Course you don't have to do it but ..go ahead if you wanna!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

We came home from a tiring trip, a little sick but the day before halloween kirsten dressed up for school and I went out with my girlfriends. We had a wonderful halloween despite a few hiccups!

Twinkerbell as kirsten calls herself :)

THE BEACH!!!

Kirsten and I enjoyed the beach the sunday after we went to disney! It was a beautiful day compared to the day before when it rained. I wish I had brought her suit, but as you can tell by the last picture she was drenched in her clothes. She loved it and could not stop laughing!!! I loved to see her enjoy it so much and me and her jumped a few waves!
I think I might become a southern cali/beach addict!!!

DISNEYLAND!!!!
Kirsten and I ventured out all by ourselves last wednesday at 4am to take a 12 hour drive to california!!! I have to say I am giving myself a good pat on the back for a drive and trip like that all by myself. Can we say super mom? hahaha we just got back this morning at 2am after a flat tire in Las Vegas. We survived and had a grand time!! Here's some pics!

HERE I AM!

My sister requested a pic of my new hairdo :) Here ya go Kim. I really really needed a change, I'm a HUGE change person, I embrace I love it, especially when it comes to hair. So after 3 years of growing out my hair I just needed something new. I had an appt. with my regular hairdresser showed up that morning with a pic of Victoria Beckham and then realized I had gotten the wrong day ! well by then I was in haircut mod so I called a friend whos cousin cuts hair went to her and after debating about the cut said heck with it! And chop it off! Its really fun and cute, I'm happy I did it!

SOME SERIOUSLY TOTALY CRAZY FUN!!!!

Saturday I went with my friends Sarah, Lindsey, my sis Hayley and Sarahs friend to the Jamboree. I was super excited to see Dashboard Confessional but was pleasantly suprised by quite a few of the other bands! by the end I was DEAD tired, and my ears were ringing and I felt too old to be there with all the screaming teenagers but it was WELL worth it! Thanks girls for such a great time!

SO SQUISHED! right up front!

Thanks Linds for the peace sign. hahaha

With one of the singers of Limbeck (suprisingly so hot when he sings and perfomed!)

K, this is the BEST pic. We all thought this was the lead singer to Dashboard, I mean it really does sort of look like him, but we later realized it wasn't. NO CLUE who he was but we were giddy and excited and I'm sure he thought we were idiots! HAHAHAHA

Lead singer of The Format, SO GOOD!

the only decent pic I got of Dashboard, he is so hot!

MY BEAUTIFUL GIRL!!

I took these pictures of kirsten last week and had to post them. She is so beautiful, I think everyday how on earth I got to be so lucky to be her mama!

My growing girl....

Before haircut
After!!!

I cannot believe how much kirsten has grown up this summer. Its amazing how much she changes day to day. and even though she's getting a little Miss Thang attitude I love her. I am sooo lucky to be her mama, she makes me smile and laugh everyday.
My sister kara cut her hair today, we took off atleast 4 inches. I'm so glad we did it she looks soooo dang cute. not like she wasn't before!

Crazy!

I am doing a ton better from my little sickness! It seems though, eveytime I think I'm totally over something sneaks up and reminds me to take things more easy. Even 2 weeks later! I was just reading this about my syndrome and didn't realize how crazy, rare and scary it really was. Thought I would share!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemierre%27s_syndrome

So grateful.....

I just got home from almost 5 days in the hospital! Monday morning I went into my doctor after being sick for about 4 days and not getting better, my fever was 105 and I kept getting the chills, and just wasn't getting better. So they sent me for some blood work, then a CT scan and then to the hospital. For 4 days they couldn't figure out what was wrong with me, my temp held pretty low at 101 with iv fluid and some antibiotics and after 4 CT scans, 3 xrays and one ultrasound I found out I have Lemierre's syndrome, basically its a clot that forms in your pulmonary artery and gets infected and then spreads infection through your whole body. I never imagined my hospital stay being that long and I'm sooooooooo grateful to be home!! Although I still have to lay around and take it easy, its good to be in my bed and just to be home.
As I got my prescriptions today at costco I kept thinking wow..people never know when their health can be taken away like that. And we take it so much for granted. I want to do better at not taking my health for granted and be healthier. anyhow..there is my schpeal, I took some pics on my phone but I doubt I will post them..maybe... we'll see.
Thanks to my family for everything!!! I have no clue where I would be without them.