Words to Live by

One of my great friends emailed this list to me. It's was written by a columnist in Ohio. I have never heard of her, but loved this list of "45 lessons of life", and thought I would share it. #10 and #22 are some of my favorites....enjoy.

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's,we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come..
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."
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confident borderline cocky

The other day I heard Soren schooling Sydney (the neighbor girl) on the ins and outs of basketball. He said "Here, you want me to show you how to do this because I'm really good at it...see how I do it. This is how it's done." He continues on for the next 5 minutes showing her his mad "skills" with the basketball while telling her how great he is at it. Luckily, this went on long enough that I was able to grab my video camera. I didn't get some of the really great lines, but you'll get the idea.

BYU Girls reunion!

While in California I snuck in a little girls reunion with some of the girls from the dorms my freshman year at BYU. It was so fun to reconnect with all of them and find out what is going on with everyone. They are all beautiful and amazing! It was such a fun time! I can't wait for next year! (Hopefully, next year I can stay the whole time!) Thanks Melissa for organizing everything!

All the Girls outside The Getty museum in LA


We're pretty sure this is a famous guy..on ER?

Dinner at the restaurant outside the museum.

There is no crying in Kindergarten

Above is what I repeated to myself as I took my kids to their first day of kindergarten. I had the official "team work" talk with London with regards to kindergarten ward-drobing and we were off. (not allowed to look homeless at school) Some kids cried, some kids held their parents hands and looked timidly around...my kids asked why I have to walk them all the way to the door...because and I quote, "mommy, we totally already know the way." They loved it and thought they were pretty cool stuff...which they are.(just a little biased.) Gone are the days of using kindergarten as a bribe or a threat.......now I'm on to Santa.

Rest for the weary

During Chance's wedding we stayed at a beach house in Laguna. After the wedding, Niles had to get back to work so my sisters, our cousin Leah and I (with kids in tow) stayed at the house for the rest of the week. It was beautiful and just what we needed. It was this great house right on 1,000 steps beach. Beautiful, but 142 steps from the top of the cliff where the house was to the beach. This may not seem like alot, but add a cooler, beach chairs, umbrella, towels, boogie boards, castle constructing equipment and 7 kids under the age of 6......it's not easy! Britt, who's 8 months pregnant thought it was great! (She's a trooper!)

The cousins played on the beach all day long, everyday. The boys "boogie boarded" or "surfed", which really consisted of them standing on the boards and waiting for the tide to rise up the beach to move them about 2 inches! It was hilarious, but kept them occupied for hours! We built numerous sand castles, took walks on the beach and ate lots of yummy treats on the beach...for the smaller beach goers ( Kirra & Grace) sand was the main snack food.

While we were there, we went and saw Noah and Twink's new condo in Ledara Ranch where they are moving next week. It is beautiful (15 minutes from Laguna) and I am so happy for them! Honestly, happy for me because visiting California is a bit more fun than Utah!
It was a wonderful week with my sisters! Thanks girls for a wonderful time!

The fabulous Watterson Sand Castle.

racing on the beach with the kids...my calves hurt for 2 days after!

Family picture on the big.

Tyler, Noah and Niles after a morning of surfing.

Twink with the kiddos after playing a game of football.

Mid football game.

Twink, Britt, me and Leah at the mini water park by Twink's new place.

Soren and Lovey warming up after playing in the water fountains.

Three boys taking a breather.

Ferris ride and ice cream cones at the Spectrum Center for Jake's birthday.

Ice cream cones on the deck.

Me and my sisters on the beach.

The Garfield family.

Noah showing the kids how it's really done...they were in awe.

Served lunch on the beach...mind, that was 284 extras stairs that I climbed....major mom points!

The boys and their boogie boards.

Lovey instructing Grace on proper castle building technique.

Soren "surfing".

Lovey and Kirra out cold!

Chance's wedding

We all headed out to Laguna Beach last weekend for Chance and Katie's wedding. She was beautiful and the wedding was great! Niles and I were just glad we made the wedding...we got lost and they had to wait for us to get to the temple to start the ceremony! (not our finest moment). I'm pretty confident that I apologized to the point of being annoying....and I still feel horrible.

The reception was done in an adorable carnival theme. The twins spent the evening gorging on hot dogs, cotton candy, ice cream, etc. London's favorite part of the whole evening involved either being glued to Aunt Katie or taking pictures of herself in the photo booth. She's a shy one, that London.

It was a wonderful day! We are so happy for Chance and Katie.