What a difference a day makes

Gertie last night helping me pack. She was in the middle of all the action.

Gertie this evening after her little hysterectomy.

It takes all her energy just to open her eyes.

2 Weddings & a Baby

Last week was a busy week, but one that I will cherish FOREVER. I was happier last week than I have been all summer. It felt so good to be with close friends & to be celebrating the happiest moments life has to offer with them.

Tuesday 10 August
The Woodrows! The day was perfect & I cried so much (happy tears). I am sure that this time with Bre & her family is some of the very best of my entire life.

Oh hello Woodrow's!

Ashley & me, we were inseperable

The 3 Amigas!

Welcome to the fam John

Thursday 12 August

My middle child from the mission was married in the Salt Lake City Temple. I apologize for no picture due to a dead camera, but believe you me, she was STUNNING

I had to leave Haylie's festivites early because I got a phonecall from my best friend Laura saying she'd gone into labor!!! Since I missed her wedding due to being in New York, I promised her NO WAY would I miss out on this!

Friday 13 August

The boy is born! I cannot think of a more sacred experience than that of welcoming a brand new beautiful life into this world. Laura was so brave & hopeful & loving through the whole process. I am proud to be her friend.

Beautiful Mama with her son

Me with the most precious boy in the world 

Attention all NYRM-RM's

We have a new blogging buddy, Laura Day. We all know she was our favorite on the mission (heck, Saxon & I even paper-rock-scissorsed for her on transfer day!) & now we get to continue to enjoy her post-mish. You may visit her at laurannday.blogspot.com & encourage her to keep posting with your enthusiastic comments :) Love you all. Especially you Day.

Thunder in the Grand Canyon

My favorite weather is thunder (actually it's the sun, but I don't consider that "weather" I think "weather" is what's out of the ordinary & since I'm from fabulous Las Vegas...sun's normal). Ok, back to THUNDER.

When I see a flash of lightning I hold my breath & start counting til I hear the thunder. I remember when I was little & my big bro would tell me the angels were bowling in heaven- I mean, who doesn't like to bowl? We'd sit on the living room wall & he'd keep a fake score for me so I wouldn't be scared. What a guy. Nowadays, thunder doesn't scare me. It's a little embarrassing but a good wind storm will freak the bijeezies out of me, but  thunder causes me to smile as I listen to the sky shake my bones.

This morning at work we had an AWESOME thunderstorm!! The rain came in hard- so much in fact that we couldn't see the Canyon wall not 10 miles away. The lightning flashed & I couldn't think to start counting before I heard the crack of thunder overhead. It was breakfast time, overcast, with the smell of rain, just a few guests & my family...life doesn't get much better.

Sunburns hurt

I am 25 years old. You would think after this much time I would learn that my fair skin soaks up the sun like a sponge. Have I learned yet that a layer of sunblock saves a few days of hurt & aches & OUCH?? Nope. Now, after just a few hours of fun at Toquerville Falls,  I'm in bed with HOT tomato red skin. But I know I'll like the look of the tan it turns into tomorrow & so will inevitably do it again next year.