Nothing Like a Summer Wedding

The flower girl took her job very seriously.



The bride was beautiful (veil compliments of yours truly).



The audience was mesmerized.



There was a tense moment when the groom realized (s)he forgot the rings.



But it all worked out.



There was dancing which concluded with a fabulous dip.



Fruit snacks for refreshments was a perfect finish.



What a beautiful day for a wedding.

Signs of Summer

The ice cream man stopped by today.




Yes, that was Batman, minus the ears.

And the hedgie came out. Daisy doesn't remember it, but she liked it last year too.



Gotta love bubbles.



This is where I usually find Daisy...hanging on to my leg.

Nostalgia Lives On

My kids are too young. They don't even know who he is (was).

Teenagers probably think he is (was) fake, perverted, or bankrupt.

To me he will always be the King of Pop. I still know dozens of his songs by heart. I can picture my sister and I dancing and singing to his music.

Despite the way he decided to live his life, his talent is (was) undeniable.

If there is singing in heaven (which there should be), I hope we can still sing some Michael Jackson songs.

And do the moon walk.

So goes another legend.

A Peek Inside My Brain (Don't look too close)

Here are some of my thoughts at the moment in no particular order of importance:

I'm pregnant.

I'm still in that weird it-doesn't-seem-real-yet phase. I keep rechecking the little dollar store test to see if that second line is still there.

I am so excited.

I am sad to think that this pregnancy might make others sad (namely those who think that Tyler and I get pregnant looking at each other while they struggle to conceive). Sometimes life doesn't seem fair.

While I always thought we might have another baby sooner than later because Daisy has always been such a good baby, I didn't think we would get pregnant for a few more months (that was the plan).

I have no idea when my due date is. I haven't been to a doctor. I don't know how far along I am.

I thought my period was just late. It was late last month too. I wasn't even going to take a test but then I had to because we were trying to change some health insurance stuff.

We were pretty much denied everything we wanted to change in health care because we are pregnant. Awesome.

The supplemental insurance we signed up for a few weeks ago will have to be canceled because we were not supposed to get pregnant yet.

Life doesn't always go how you plan.

No, Daisy is not a year old yet.

My poor mother hasn't even finished the birth announcement for my last baby. I can't wait to tell her that she needs to do another.

Would I be happy with another girl? Sure. Do I want a boy? Sure.

June has pink eye—I know this isn't really related, but it is in my thoughts.

Tyler got that familiar smirk he gets when he finds out. I think he is happy too, minus the insurance stuff. I wish I could have surprised him with the news, but it was more like me peeing in the other room and him asking through the door what the result was. Sentimental, huh?

Five kids...that's a lot.

I feel like I lied to my sister. I did take a test in WA, when I was about five days late, and it was negative, so I told her I wasn't pregnant. Oops. (Note to self: this is not the first dollar store test that read negative at the very beginning. It might possibly be worth it to invest in something more reliable so as not to lie to family members, or myself, in the future).

Um...did I mention I'm pregnant?

This is my first pregnancy in my thirties.

I tell myself that this explains why I have been so emotional recently, but let's face it...I'm emotional all the time.

Those are some of my thoughts. I'm off to go do some calculating with the calendar and see if I can figure out when this baby would arrive.

Big Faker

I am in so much trouble!!

Let me explain. Ivory has nap time every day. I usually check on her sometime during nap time to see if she is asleep (she takes a nap 4 out of 5 days). She tends to sleep behind her dresser and kind of under the bed recently and that doesn't bother me as long she seems comfortable.

The other day I was downstairs cleaning in the kitchen and I kept hearing noises from upstairs. Some seemed to be coming from the vent (which connects to the vent which is behind the dresser right where she sleeps). I went up to check on her and she was sleeping. Hmm. I must be imagining things. Later, I heard more strange sounds coming from the vent. I went up to check on Ivory and she was asleep. I even checked on Daisy to see if I was hearing something strange from the baby monitor, but all was quiet upstairs. I had one of those 'Am I going crazy?' moments but I shrugged my shoulders and went back to the kitchen. When I heard the noises again, I vowed to get to the bottom of the mystery. I once again went up to Ivory's room and she was sleeping as before, but I thought I detected some movement. I went over and stood very quietly above her and waited. Almost a minute later, one little eyelid cracked open and Ivory peeked around to see if I had left.

WHAT A STINKER! SHE WAS TOTALLY FAKE SLEEPING!! And I FELL for it.

She laughed and I thought she was pretty funny too. Now I check very carefully during nap time to make sure she is really sleeping.

Fast forward to today. I had dropped the older girls off at the Scera for a movie and I was taking Daisy and Ivory home. I was giving her a bit of a lecture about cleaning up her room and putting her clothes away. I told her that first thing when we got home, I wanted her to clean up. We drove in silence for a while and when I looked back again she was asleep. Oh no, I thought, it is her nap time and she is so tuckered out from swimming and everything. I said, "Ivory, we are almost home, don't fall asleep yet," but there was no response; she was out cold. We were only a couple blocks from home and I figured I would take her right upstairs to her bed. I parked and carefully got her out of the backseat and carried her inside. She kept sleeping on my shoulder and we went upstairs. I put her gently in bed and she pulled her blankets up around her face and that's when I saw it. Was that a hint of a smile???

I closed the door softly behind me but now I was curious. I got Daisy out of the car and played with her for a few minutes, but then I crept back to Ivory's door and opened it slowly. There she was sitting on her dresser reading a book.

WHAT A STINKER! I CAN'T BELIEVE SHE WAS FAKE SLEEPING AGAIN. And I almost FELL for it.

She is three for heavens sake. She did not crack a smile at all in the car. I tell you, this girl is a pro. I am in so much trouble. If she can fool me now, can you imagine what she will get away with when she is older?

Life is Blogerific

Started this post seven times.

Nothing seemed right.

The point is that I am not in a blogging mood.

See you soon...

Oddly, I Left the Rain Behind in Utah

It is a fortunate individual who has more than one place where they are loved and needed.

—Maleen Cazier

I got back from Washington late Sunday night and they must have worn me out more than I thought, because all I did today was sleep. Supremely unproductive, but necessary.

Visiting my family was so much fun. There were some organized moments such as my Mom's birthday party that was filled with humor and way too many good things to eat (I might have to start exercising again, especially if I keep eating that box of See's Candy she sent home with me), but most of the time it was just hanging out with the people I love.

Tim and I got to spend some extra bonding time cleaning up the living room and taking down the Christmas tree (yes, my parents usually leave it up year round, but they thought they would take it down for a change this year). Tim, I apologize if I used the 'mother' tone of voice on you a few times; it comes naturally now.

Miranda and I ran lots of errands around town and I am thankful to have a sister. There is some kind of special bond between sisters which makes me happy for my own girls. Even if you don't always get along with your sister, (although Miranda and I usually do) you know you are never alone.

I got to see a few friends. I visited my friend Kara and got a bit homesick playing with her daughter. She is absolutely adorable.



I got in touch with Dalyn. She is probably better friends with Miranda now, but Miranda is nice enough to share her when I am in town.



Mom pampered me as always; she made some incredible omelets that I am still craving. Dad, I regret that we didn't get to watch anything. I am a sorry excuse for a daughter who flies all the way out there and then doesn't watch a movie with you. I'll make up for it at Christmas time.



And of course many thanks to my husband who made the trip possible. If he hadn't watched the kids I never could have come (stupid expensive airlines). He was wonderful...blogging, cleaning (wink), herding children, and only one of them was damaged when I came back...I call that a success. You are the best Dad too.

Plus, it never hurts to come back to messages like this one.