Magic

Let me just start off this post with the fact that I am Thrilled and so excited for my daughter and husband. Everything that I hoped would come to her is happening and I have an amazing spouse to make the magic happen for her. I have always dreamed that the things I wasn’t able to experience would be available for my daughter and that she would relish in the joy that can be had through dating and having parents that genuinely cared and wanted more for her than they do for themselves. I am delighted for her to have the experiences that I never had.

I guess the only sadness that I feel is the longing that I once felt. It truly hit me so hard. And it knocks me off my feet and then throws me for a loop. I thought that by giving what I couldn’t have that those feelings would disappear. I thought that by watching my daughter and having a small part in what I believed to be a magical night that I could have some of the magic too.

I guess in a way I am jealous. And it sounds so ridiculous to be jealous of my daughter. She has so much ahead of her and so many experiences that are coming that I never got to take part in, and never will. I suppose my heart wishes I could go back and fight for what I wanted and never had. I wished I had fought for acceptance from my Dad. And fought for him to love me and want more for me than he wanted for himself, to take responsibility to guide me, help me on the path of life. I wish I had a Dad that would have shown up at the door and asked me on a date just because he loved me. I guess that’s where it hurts. I spent my childhood making sure that the things that I wanted didn’t interfere with him and make his life miserable just because he had me. The one dance I got asked to I made sure that my dress was the cheapest prom dress I could find. (I loved that dress and used it till I couldn’t any more. A scrap still stays in my hope chest). I used shoes I already had and his girlfriend took me to buy jewelry. My wedding, the same. Although, my wedding was the most magical day of my life because it meant that the person I knew loved me and would go to the ends of the earth for me was covenanting to be by my side forever and love and support me forever. I sound bitter. Ugh.

I am so grateful for my spouse and am so happy for my beautiful, talented, loving daughter. Enjoy your magic!

Friends

My friend posted this on Facebook and I just think it is the absolute best!

Unconditional Love

While having dinner Gabe and I were discussing how sad it is when a family struggles showing unconditional love for one another. We asked Abby if she knew what unconditional love is. Of coarse Miss Know-it-All says Yes! So we said, "okay Miss Smarty Pants tell us what you think it is." She promptly said, "Unconditional love means that you love me even when I toot!" Yup she gets it. :)

Manners

Since returning to school I have had many experiences that I must say just irks me. What has happened to our youth. Did we forget to teach manners? And these are college students.
Simply holding the door open for the person behind you is a thing of the past. I have noticed if it does happen it has been by an older student. And when I hold the door open for you, say Thank you! I provided a service it may not have been much but I took that extra twelve seconds to hold the door open instead of slamming it in your face.
Shut your pie hole during class. I paid to receive instruction from the teacher. I didn't pay to listen to you tutor the person next to you while the teacher was teaching the lesson so save it until after class. Same as your most exciting weekend. I don't care! And once again if you enjoy wasting your money on such trivial conversations please choose a class I am not attending because I will speak up and you will hate me!
Pick up your trash in the bathroom and wipe off the sink if you splashed. I don't like walking out of the bathroom with TP on my shoe either so bend over pick it up and flush it down. If you miss while crouching over the toilet seat wipe it off, flush, and WASH your hands! If you miss the waste basket with your paper towel pick it up and place it where it belongs and don't kick it down the hall.
Be considerate in the parking lot. If you are parked next to me and we both arrive at the same time let me get in my car before zooming off and hitting me with your side view mirror.
I know there are places for you to smoke outside. I know that smoking is a terrible habit to break. But standing next to the door and blowing your cancer in my direction is not COOL! Please smoke in your area. I paid for your little smoking station, use it!
Bring cough drops. I know we have all have had them, those horrible coughing fits that just wont settle. Or when we swallowed and it went down the wrong pipe. Don't sit in the class hacking up a lung. Trust me, we are unable to hear the instructor just as much as you. Leave the class if you are unable to control your cough after a minute.
Walk on the right side of the hall. We live in America, we drive AND walk on the right side of the road and sidewalk. If you are in a big group and chatting side by side one of you needs to break the line beacuse your steamshovel of a stance makes it so the rest of us get pushed up against the wall or running into another person.
DON'T run out of class and stop in the middle of the hall. I don't drive out of a parking lot and stop in the middle of the street, why should you? Your little group just took up the hallway and left no room for others to walk. When I run into you don't give me a dirty look either, move your tush to the side of the hall or WALK in the halls or sidewalks.
When you are asked to be a part of a group project do not get to the meeting and talk about how hungry you are or how disappointed that you can't make it to a movie or get up several times to get something, you're there to work on a project as a group that means do your part and contribute to the subject at hand. If you are my group partner and you pull that garbage you better believe that I will not be sharing my information and your grade will fall NOT mine.
If we are at a table and a drink spills don't stand up and wait for someone else to clean it up even if you were not the one who spilled it. Get something and help clean it up. Things move quicker when there are more hands. Hence, the notebook or your notes will not be soaked and be salvaged to face another day.
These are just a few of my observances over the past year. I hope that I can teach my children these basic manners and be considerate towards others.
And that is my rant!

Midway through 2011

Yes, I have not updated the blog in FOREVER! Well at least since December. Perhaps it's because our lives are totally boring OR we have been so busy with stuff that I haven't found or taken the time to write.

I have started back at school and am determined to finish this time. I should be done with my Associates Degree end of May 2012. I really wish I could be done end of 2011 but alas I am not that good at math. GRRR! I thought woohoo I passed my last class...950 (don't laugh), with flying colors. So in my mind I can do anything, RIGHT? Well, I figured I would see how hard the 1010 test was and try to test out. HA..... I couldn't even fathom the possible outcome to any of the problems. So that sets me back a whole semester. UGH!

Last semester I took 13 credit hours and had a blast. I really do like school. And I was fortunate enough to pull out all A's. I screamed so loud my family thought I was nuts. The summer semester starts soon and I am so happy. I like a break and I NEEDED a break but these last 4 weeks I have been bored out of my mind. Abby is still in school and so my days consist of laundry, playing on the computer, Netflix, and yard work. Blah! Of Course I start back on Monday and Abby's last day is Friday. Go figure!

I am still doing Stampin' Up! and have my group of girls over once a month. I really do enjoy it and I love the ladies that come over.

Abby is doing well in school. She is on her 4Th teacher. We absolutely loved Mrs. Faux but since she had her baby the school hasn't been able to nail down a permanent replacement. Abby adjusts well and is still enjoying school. She is pretty smart and gets along with everyone.

Her competitive season of gymnastics is underway and she is amazing. But I'm the Mom so I can say that. Gabe and I were really banking on the fact that she gets stage fright so we wouldn't have to pay for next season of gymnastics. But she loves it and is having a great time. Her last meet she placed 3rd in the all around. We are so proud. Her favorite part is the bars but she actually does better on the vault and beam. Which she used to hate.

It makes me laugh to see her because she is not really that flexible, just daring, and that is how she is able to do all her stunts. She really looks cute in her leotard and her sparkly hair.

She has two more meets left and then I am not sure if they will move her up a level or keep her on level 3 for another year. BUT if she goes up the prices skyrocket. $250 a month plus $1000 extra for meets and we...her PAYING parents...have to pay to see her in her meets. I really hope that this is something she wants to do because I am thinking about dropping her out of competitive and getting her into softball or soccer and just the rec gymnastics program. I guess we will see how things pan out in the next few months. We really want her to do well and have plenty different and fun experiences.

Gabe's work has picked up. HALLELUJAH! Now we just need to get rid of our credit card and pay off his new MLC (Mid life crisis) and we are home free.

Gabe keeps thinking he is having a mid life crisis. and in order to satisfy himself he had to get a sports car. He has been talking about it for years. YES he is only 35! But, alas his car decided to die and so he came home with the new bright and shiny, cherry red, two seater, convertible, Mazda, Miata. He is so excited and believe it or not, Abby is too. She is constantly asking if Daddy can take her for a ride. And last Monday she got her wish. Daddy took her out for half a day and just had fun. They are so cute.

Gabe decided to participate in mustache May. UGH! It was horrible. He thought it was hilarious and got a kick out of changing it each week and seeing everyones reaction. He only lasted 3 weeks but trust me that was more than plenty. I hated kissing him and having those course hairs go up my nose. Gross! But I have my husband back and now I am sure he won't do that again for awhile.

Gabe's sister Josie moved in with us the end of January. She is back from her mission and working and looking for the love of her life. I think. We shall see.

So that is our life in a nutshell. At least the last few months. We shall see how the next pan out....

December 2010

Well this December we didn't do much out of the ordinary.

The fridge blew a fuse. That was extra frustrating since Gabe had to be at work nearly 2 days straight and couldn't fix it. And I am no good at electronic stuff. Thankfully, my neighbors the Paris' came over and saved me. We really do have the best neighbors all the way around. Aimee took our family photos this year. It was fun. We got some really good ones. She is a great photographer.

Our niece, Rebecca, turned eight and was baptised. We are so proud of her. She looked so beautiful and so happy. I know I felt the spirit there at her confirmation so strongly. That little girl is someone special for sure.
Me and Bonnie, my Activity Day partner, took the girls to the Utah Olympic Oval to go ice skating. I was out of gas and had no money to get some and no time either. I just said a prayer and cried on my way to the church that we would make it. Luckily, Karen, who I had asked to drive, pulled up next to me on the way out of the parking lot and yelled that she had room for everyone in my car too. So we all went in her car and had a great time. It was definitely an answer to my prayer. The girls had a lot of fun ice skating, Abby too(she didn't want to leave), and we did a gift exchange at the end. I just love those girls. They all have a personality of their own and they seem to get along pretty well. This is definitely one of my favorite church callings for sure.
Our ward had the annual Christmas party. It was the Polar Express. They made a replica of a train on the stage and had all the kids come in their pajamas. They each had a ticket and they had the conductor punch them as they boarded the train. They then were read the Polar express and Santa came and gave them each a jingle bell. It was really neat. A lot of work was put into creating the train and I think the kids and adults really got a kick out of it. Mylie was visiting her grandparents that day and came to play with Abby and we were able to take her along with us. Her and Abby had a lot of fun together. So much that they missed getting their pictures with Santa. Silly girls!


The Brown Family party was a success again this year. Grandma and Grandpa sure do make it fun for all of us. They made the cereal game a little different this year to make it fair for the smaller families. Grandpa read a poem and we had to follow the instructions. It was fun to see who would have to trade with who next because you never knew. We laughed a lot. Grandma made her famous scones and they were delicious as always. The party ended quicker this year. We started at about quarter after ten and everyone was gone by twelve. Not a lot of visiting this year because people seemed to have other things planned and had to get there. Sean and Colby both had to work which was sad. But I think we still can call it a success because we had fun and had good food.
The Utah Football team had their bowl game against Boise State. We knew we were going to lose. 26-3. Boise is a good team and they played well. We still cheered for our team. And we are excited to see how next year turns out now that we will be in the pack 12.

Gabe's work actually had a Christmas get together. Yes...it was at lunch, in the middle of the week but, family was invited and it was at a restaurant. No potluck lunch just employees. Yeah! Maybe this company buy-out will be excellent afterall. LOL

Christmas turned out pretty well. I was kind of sad this year and didn't quite get into the Christmas spirit like I had hoped. Abby had a lot of fun which is great!
On Christmas Eve Giselle called and asked if we would pick up a present for her kids and bring it on Christmas to the Johnson's. It was a puppy. I was reluctant from the start seeming that it was only 6 weeks old, not potty trained, and I was most likely allergic. Well, Gabe made the decision to go get it and it pooped, cried, and my eye swelled shut. Even after all that it was still cute and fun. The only problem was that I missed the fact that Abby gets attached really easy and the realization that she had to give it away was hard on all of us. She cried a lot Christmas day. She had to draw a picture when she got home, on her new easel, of the puppy to make her feel better. Then a couple days later I took her to the toy store to buy a stuffed puppy that looked like Giselle's. She is happy now!

New Years Eve was a blast. Although I had planned on having kids, all the kids I had invited ended up going somewhere else. So last minute Grandma and Grandpa Sessions took Abby for the night so she wouldn't be the only kid at the party. She had a lot of fun at their house. I packed her a box with lots of different games so they would keep busy and not have to worry about what to do all night. I still missed her.

We had Andy and Camille, Bill and Kimmy, and Peter and Connie over this year. What a great group of people. I think everyone got along and we all had fun playing the games. We played a new card game called Ratuki. We also played And It Came to Pass, Bezzerwizzer(a trivia game), and several Minute to win it games. We laughed so much and had a great time. usually when the clock gets to midnight we are ready for the ball to drop. But this time we almost missed it we were having so much fun and then after it dropped and we had our kisses we were back to the games until almost 2:00 am. It was a great ending to the year.

Well, on to 2011. I am hoping that it will be a great year!

October and November 2010

Utah football has begun!!! Gabe and I have season tickets and we Love to go! This year we had a great season aside from a couple of games(TCU, Notre Dame). And we barely beat BYU. I was going to go to the game but, I kept having a dream that I was giving my ticket to the Utah vs. BYU game to my neighbor. The day before I told Gabe what I was thinking and decided to send Gabe and Peter to the game. Connie and I watched at her house. We went to dinner at our traditional pre-game place (Chunga's YUM!) then the boys headed to the game. They had a great time as did Connie and I. A real nail biter. I almost can't believe we pulled it off. Now we are waiting for the bowl game against Boise. Ugh! Oh well party at my place Right? Halloween was a lot of fun. Abby chose to be a robber this year. She was so cute. We also had our annual murder mystery dinner. This year we did Chinese take-out. Bill and Kimmy, and Dallin and Cami joined us this year. Their costumes were fun. Gabe tried all night to sound like an old Chinese man. It was pretty funny. It was a lot of fun and the food was delish!

Our Neighbors also have an annual murder mystery dinner. Theirs is quite a bit different then the ones we have been doing. They go all out! It was amazing. She worked so hard on the decorations and theme and food. It was a 1920's mobster speakeasy thing. They have about 25-40 people there. Gabe was the Mayor and I played the mayors wife. I was a little intimidated. It has been so long since I had to full out play a character; and around people I didn't know. Maybe if we get invited next year I will be a little more relaxed. Gabe did really well. He played it up and had a lot of fun.

Abby entered the Reflections contest at her school. She chose photography as her category. I was so proud of her. She got 15th place in the whole school. This is her picture of the clouds.

Abby got a new dresser and she was so excited to put it together. She was all over the place as we were getting the pieces figured out. When we finally gave her some tools she was in heaven.

Gabe has been complaining about how the walls and the ceilings in our house are all the same color. He really wanted to paint the ceiling white. SO... while he was gone on business I purchased a paint sprayer and away I went at the kitchen ceiling. Thank goodness for the help of my grandparents or I never would have gotten it done in time. He was pretty surprised. I said that it was his Christmas present. I don't really notice a difference but, he seems to think its great.
I have the most AWESOME husband in the whole world! For my birthday he planned a trip to San Diego to see the Utes play. I was pretty excited. We drove the whole way so on the way down we spent a night in Vegas. I hoped we could do something fun. When we got there he told me he had a surprise for me. I had to see what it was before we got there or else I would figure it out. He handed me a piece of paper in the parking lot. When I opened it I screamed so loud everyone in the parking lot stared. He got tickets to see the Lion King! I LOVE LION KING! I was totally bummed when they came to Salt Lake and I wasn't able to see it. And when I knew it was going to be in Vegas when we were there I thought that fate was just torturing me. But lo and behold Gabe had the whole thing planned for months. And he kept it a secret! What an awesome guy. Lion King was absolutely amazing and I am so glad I got a chance to see it.

We went to parent teacher conferences this month too. I just love Abby's teacher she is so cute. Abby loves her too and is doing so well in her class. Gabe and I are so proud of Abby she made it on the Honor Roll for both academics and citizenship. Way to go Abby!

Our neighbors were headed out of town for Thanksgiving and asked us too keep an eye on their house. On Tuesday, when they headed out, a huge blizzard hit. They had to come back home. I felt so bad and wanted to do something for them. They said they would be able to take care of dinner. Wow in one day! I told Gabe that I wanted to do something for them and he had no idea what to do either. About 15 minutes later I got onto Facebook and found out that I had won $50.00 for a floral centerpiece for Thanksgiving. I called the shop the next day and asked them to make me two that would cover the $50.00. When I picked them up they were amazing! Our neighbors were so excited and I was glad I could do a little something to help with their impromptu Thanksgiving.
The tree is up and decorated and we can't wait for Christmas. We had our family pictures taken by our other neighbor who is a photographer. She is amazing. Although it was FREEZING we still got some really good photos. Abby's is my favorite!