good stuff

JuJu and I both found four leaf clovers last week. A first for both of us. Juliette's clover is HUGE...the size of a lemon. I found a tiny one, but it was just so exciting. I used to spend every recess looking for a four leaf clover...years of recess. As I was walking through Anna's pasture, I glanced down at a clover patch and thought, "maybe there is a four leaf clover down there." Reached down and plucked the first one I saw. Maybe it's given me good luck....we sure feel lucky, esp after the wonderful weekend we had!

Friday night I had a girls night out with Anna, Meredith, and Randi. Dinner, dancing...way too much fun. Let me tell you, every Mom needs to get out there and go dancing at some point....do it!

I spent the night at Anna's house and woke up the next morning to meet Adrian and the kids on the square for the farmers market. Amish rolls are the perfect cure when you've been out too late on your feet. I felt like I had run a marathon...nope, just danced too much. Not a bad problem to have.

We had lunch at our favorite cheap Mexican place....the kind of place where it's so fast and so cheap...you just don't want to know...ya know? But it was gooooood!

After lunch, we all had a nap and then headed to the lake for an afternoon of swimming and fishing and boating. Vaughn ate tons of sand and loved it. Juliette learned how to snorkel...she is getting to be sooo brave in the water, at last!

Randi called us and invited us to a BBQ in midtown that evening. We met so many nice people and enjoyed a delicious feast. Adrian and Anna took the kids to the park down the street. By the way, the weather has been a dream come true....freakishly mild and gorgeous for mid July.
After the BBQ, we headed to Anna's farm and built a camp fire. One of her kittens fell asleep in my lap. I thought I had died and gone to heaven.

Sunday we had a great day at church. I was asked to sing minuted before sacrament started. And so I did....that was interesting to say the least. Oh well. Juliette seems to love her new primary class. I am just starting to warm up to the nice people in the new ward, who are all very nice, I'm just a little less church social than normal. It may still take some time, but that's okay.

After church we had movie night at home.

Today, we are mowing and cleaning and getting ready to go see the AJ and Karla. JuJu is going to spend the night there. She and their daughter are going to have a sleepover. wooo!

We have seen more of Adrian than ever before....LOVING EVERY MINUTE!!! He has a great new schedule.

Good things are happening. We are having fun.
I love summer.

And...out JuJU!

with her besties, sophia and olivia
making music

julette making her debut performance for the spoken word camp fires....she made up a song. it went something like, "I like you so much...we love each other...our eyes and our eyes we see your eyes, and we loooooove everyone. I like you!" Applaud!!!! See the guy with the fro on the front row? His daughter came up and did a piece with JuJu later that night...so cute. Also, I ended up recording with this guy that week....turns out, he is signed with a MAJOR label...and he had me sing a few tracks for his soon to be released album. Studio time with Dirty D! He's going to have his daughter take art lessons with JuJu. I'm so happy!!!!

Pink hair. All her idea. When it washed out I asked if she wanted to do it again....she's over it now. Pshhhh...pink hair is soooooo 2001! Please! I haven't lost hope. I still have the pink hair dye in a jar...just waiting....

Her first Art lesson with Anna. This beats any dance or gymnastics class she's ever taken.

Juliette is growing to be the smart, doesn't miss a beat, creative, sensitive artist we all knew she would be.

SHe loves to inquire about earthquakes, and thanks to Adrian, can now recite the scientific explanation for what happens to cause an earthquake. Um....she also loves to catch any little creature she can find. She was really bonded with a grub recently, but he died. Grub heaven.

JuJu, being a cancer, loves to take care of people and animals. She is a nature girl...often prefers to go potty outside. Juliette is a very bright young girl...I am not worried about her one bit. Now....when she is a teenager....I will be institutionalized. No doubt. Love you Ju!

Vaughn Ed 10 months

Vaughn! 10 months....this post is a little late.

What is he up to?

Clapping....all you have to do is say "yay!" He'll have those hands together.

He is starting to talk in his wn little language, but I SWEAR wa have heard him attempt "Juyette," "Ga-muh," "Ahjrin," and Dodo." Juliette, Grandma, Adrian, and Dog. But for sure, we hear him say "yeah" on a regular basis. Yeah.

He stood for about four seconds recently while holding Juliette's bath tub recorder...he thought he was holding on to the edge of something like the bathtub...but little did he know that his legs were doing all of the work! We won't rush it though....we know better. Besides...he is pretty content with speed crawling. You mothers out there know what I mean....they are fast!

Here are a few pics from his ten month bday play day at Gymboree.

Oh...and I don't have a good photo yet...but Vaughn does indeed have RED hair...not only that...a natural Mohawk. It seems to be growing in a straight line on the top of his head. Aunt Trace captured it this weekend so we'll have to get those pics!

Lastly....I think it's safe to say that my some of you are right on....Vaughn looks just like John Bowles! That's right!

Ten months. Unreal.

Tina, rest in Peace.

Yesterday, our friend and neighbor, Tina, died. She was a young mother and a wife, who had her struggles but loved her children.. no one ever expected this to happen.

Out of respect for the family I will not go into details. I was one of the few people to see her just hours before she passed. I had no idea it would be the last time...no idea. That moment was brief, I was just returning an Ipod to her friend, so I was in and out of the door...but that afternoon we spent time together at a pool party...and we talked....

We talked about God. We talked about family. We talked about hard times and life not being fair. If only I could have seen what would happen...I can't help but wonder...I could have said something better...something more helpful....something else, I don't know.

Her husband found her around 5 am and attempted CPR, but she was already gone. My heart is broken...completely and utterly broken. Please send prayers and thoughts out for those who are most affected by this....her sweet family. Her little boy is one of JuJu's best buddies. Chase. Chase has been riding around on his bike as if nothing has happened, because he is so young...it has not really hit him yet. I know it will.

Larry, her husband, is a wonderful man. He will be a single father now...to teenagers and a six year old. There will be a service Friday evening. I know they would gladly accept donations of any kind. Funerals are expensive and this family has been hit by these hard economic times...like so many others. I know a few neighbors were asking for flower donations. Tina loved flowers. If you are interested in donating please contact me but do not feel obligated. This family has support from their church, which is a blessing.

We will miss Tina. She held Vaughn yesterday. She always loved to hold him. Tina was always there if I needed her. Like when Juliette tried to burn our house down via microwave and I had to rush the kids out of the house...Tina took them that night and never blinked an eye or wondered what kind of a mother would let that happen! (: I'm going to miss driving down that road and seeing her on her front porch...she always seemed to be in deep thought when she would sit there alone. I always wondered what was going through her head. GUess I should have stopped and talked to her more.

Tina had one heck of a green thumb. She was a talented gardener and I know that was her place of solace....I remember her saying, the night she died, "If all else fails I will just go live in my garden." She was making a joke, but there was truth in her remark...she found peace in her gardens. I hope she has peace now. I hope her family can find peace.

The circumstances of her death are very tragic. I can't imagine the pain her family is going through. Please say prayers. Many prayers. If you would like any more info on how to help just let me know, but like I said...no pressure. I just like to put it out there just in case. Thank you.