Days 31-40

Trying to stay on top of my Days of Awesomeness.  Time flies!

Day 31.  Two days a month, Matt takes a class at work, so he is away from the office.  I asked him to take a selfie and send it to me.  He never does stuff like this...but being the sweet hubby he is...he made my day by sending this to me.  What a handsome fella.  I really am so lucky!

Day 32.  I don't know what happened...I can't find #32.  Facebook is so weird sometimes.  Oh well.

Day 33.  On February 21, my best friend Misty and our friend Destiny went to the Walk Off The Earth concert at the Venue.  It was seriously one of THE BEST concerts I have ever been too.  I danced so much I literally danced the curls right out of my hair!  I sung at the top of my lungs and just had the time of my life.  I SOO much want to do that night all over again.  I don't ever really get "girls nights out", and the hubster once again was the hero dropping us all off and picking us up and taking us out for donuts and hot chocolate after.  Sometimes life is SOOO good.   Can you see me in this pic?  (hint balcony-pink shirt, middle!)

 Day 34.  Sometimes Lauren and I are alike and sometimes we are VERY different.  Sometimes it is good and sometimes it is bad.  One way that our differences are good is that she LOVES green and yellow Sour Patch Kids and I love the red and orange ones!  It makes splitting a package SUPER awesome.

Day 35.  I keep this picture of my grandpa on my visor.  Call me silly, but it makes me feel like he is guarding over me.  Seeing him just like I remember him, just makes me plain old happy.

Day 36. Usually life is pretty awesome but sometimes I have rough days.  Yes..sometimes I fail to see the bright side of life and can be somewhat crabby.   Nothing can make me happier faster than this sweet little boy and his little smile. Here we are one Tuesday...in the car...waiting for his class to start.

Day 37.  February 26th...my baby turned 10.  Holy crap.  It is hard to even remember life before her.  She really is my best little buddy.  I love her more than she will ever know.  She can be sassy..fun..smart..sweet..cute..fashionable...daring...outspoken...quirky... I adore her.

 Pic Collage was TOTALLY bugging me this day..it kept leaving a picture out...grrr..so here are two options. I am REALLY into birthday pictures.  They mean so much to me, capturing a moment in time forever.  I love to look back at these old pictures and see how my baby has changed over time.  I remember each of moments so clearly..it makes me happy and sad at the same time.

 Day 38.  I have never had fish before.  I have to say that I do enjoy these finned friends.  I am impressed that these four have lasted almost 2 years! They have grown so much!  We had to invest in a larger tank.  I know Matt dreads cleaning the tank every week...but we have learned a lot about taking care of fish, and it is harder than you think.  We even tried to get some little Tropical fish for the smaller tank that the big fish had outgrown and they were doing pretty good until I brought home a suckerfish that I had INSISTED on having...which consequently gave ALL of the fish ICH and slowly killed them all.  I felt HORRIBLE.  I loved having suckerfish, but can't bring myself to get another one after that incident.  Well...Finn, Dash, Gulliver and Mr. T have done very well, so I just sick back and enjoy these guys.  They really do brighten my days.  Matt's too...and most mornings he usually is heard saying "HI FISHY FRIENDS"....he is the morning person NOT me.

Day 39.  February 28th...we had Lauren's FRIEND birthday party...for the 5th year in a row..at the Fitness Center.  This time we tried swimming.  It was fun to hang out with both of my sisters too!

Day 40.  We rang in March with a trip downtown to City Creek.  We had lunch at the Blue Lemon and walked around to check out the creek.  These three are my WORLD.  Such cuties.

Yipee for the hubbs!

So...this laptop is the first computer that has ever been mine, solely. When I got it last year, Matt told me I needed to have Norton's on it. So I bought a yearly subscription and I thought I was good. When I asked Matt for help because I finally got fed up with not being able to see other people's blogs...he took a brief glimpse at my computer. There were 109 updates that needed to be made on my system...and that no installs had been done, EVER. He was shocked, and so was I. I had no idea!! So..after about 5 hours. My computer is current, virus-fighting AND now able to view blogs. He is a freakin' genius. Well, compared to me, anyway. I can still take him at Rock and Roll Jeopardy though.

June 9, 1995

Let me tell you about a fateful day, 15 years ago today.

I was 17. Young with entire life ahead of me. I was in High School and on the Drill Team and that kept me busy and in decent shape. I had also recently decided to try my hand at jogging and I would run almost 3 miles a day. I had long permed hair and dark tanned skin. That day I had decided to wear a sundress with sunflowers on it on top of a cream short sleeved shirt and to finish it off, black sandals with a small heel. I had a HUGE zit on my nose that hurt SOOO much, grr, maybe it was from working at Arby's as a Cashier.

That day, me and one of my best friends, Nicky Hart, were going to see the movie "While You Were Sleeping". For some reason, my mom had snapped a picture of me and Nicky on this day (I wish I had a scanner to share this pic). I remember that it was at the Mann Theatre (5400 South and 2200 West). We had a great time visiting with each other, but Nicky had to hurry and get me home for my BLIND DATE that night.

Another one of my best friends, Jami Nelson had been dating this guy, Greg Lovato for a few months and I knew Greg had an older brother and I had been telling him that he should set me up with him. I had met Greg a few months earlier when he just appeared in my Religious Education class with his West Jordan High's Letterman's jacket and we had become instant friends...jokingly calling each other "brother" and "sister" because of our last names being the same. Greg called me on June 9th and told me that his brother wouldn't stop bugging him about going out on a date with me. We had agreed that the four of us would go out together that night. After Greg's call and before my time with Nicky..my mom and I grabbed the yearbook and checked out his picture.

When he pulled up, my mom was in awe of his car, a 1978 Camaro. He came in the house to meet my parents, he was wearing a dark green "Deer Valley" shirt and tight white jeans. My dad asked him what our plans were, he mentioned bowling and I told him that I better get some socks (remember, I am wearing sandals-and he thought that I was pretty smart for thinking ahead). We went to eat at a Pizza Hut in Sandy, which is no longer there-btw. Then we went to go bowling in Sandy as well. After bowling, we head back to their house. We watched "Malice", at least a little bit of it. I had to be home early because I was taking the ACT test the next day. It was a nice first date with Mathew Laurence Lovato, my future husband!! Who would have known!! There was so much about him that I admired-that he had a car, that he had a job (a Tire Technician at Grandma's Tires), that he was going to school up at the University of Utah, that he was CATHOLIC (a rare find). He was everything I wanted.

Throughout the years we have had our ups and downs for sure. But from day one, I know that he has always been there for me. We got engaged October 31, 1997. We called it off January 1998 but got re-engaged on October 31, 1998. We built our first house in May 1999. We were married June 12, 1999. We had our first child in 2004 and our second in 2007. We built our second home in December 2008. We have been with each other through hard times like losing his grandparents, his mother, our dog, my cousin. Yet there have been so many great times and great achievements, like us both getting our Bachelors Degrees and him getting his Masters. We have been by each others sides during promotions at work (figuratively and literally because we both work for the same company). I really can not imagine going through this journey of life with anyone else. He is my best friend, my confidant, my security, my hope, my dreams, the one who I would rather spend time with more than anyone else. He is a a great dad, a hard worker, an honest person who is independant, smart with money and who seems only to become better looking with age. I can't believe that it has been 15 years...but now I look back and can't imagine my life with ANYONE else, I can't imagine my life without him...and I hope that I never have to.

Matt, if you are reading this..here is to our future....for many more years to come..I know the best is YET to come. Happy 15th year of knowing each other Anniversary babe. Also...on Saturday...Happy 11th WEDDING Anniversary. I am still shocked about how time flies...but how some things stay the same-like how you are always "home" to me. I LOVE YOU!

So YOU think YOU can DaNcE!

If you know me at all, you know that dancing is my passion. I love EVERYTHING about dancing, I danced almost my entire life, I was on my high school drill team, I danced for the University of Utah's dance team, and I coached a high school team for two years. I even took an adult jazz class for a few years, until Jamie was born. Well, my dream was to become a High School teacher and to coach a Drill Team. So, things didn't go EXACTLY as planned...so now I sort of live vicariously through Lauren's dancing AND ALL of the dance shows on TV. This summer was HEAVENLY with three dance shows on. My most favorite by far is "So You Think You Can Dance"! I have watched faithfully since season one! I have seen each dance like 20 times each! Last year and this year some friends and I went to the concert when they came to town. It was sooo much fun! I really loved Season 5 and enjoyed seeing the dancers and dances LIVE. One of my favorites this year was Kayla (below): I also ADORED Brandon! He is SOO talented!

Randi, who is from Utah, was also an early favorite of mine!

My friend Shannon, was in LOVE with Kupono! Check out her cheeser just LOOKING at him! She didn't even know I was taking her picture...he he he!

The entire Season 5 Crew! It was such a great show!

So, I bought these tickets THE SECOND they became available back in July! When it came time for the actual show, it had been a hectic week! The kids had been in the hospital that week and then I was sooo sick that weekend. I was worried I might not make the show! I was grateful that my parents watched the kids for us so that I could go out to dinner with Matt and my girlfriends; Heather, Darla, Lindsay and Shannon. It felt good to actually do my hair and makeup after such a stressful, crazy week. I was not back up to speed for another week AFTER this. I guess this was the first step in my recovery! I wish that I coulda got a picture of the gang, I always forget to take pictures...grrr.

Well, I did manage to take a few. Here is a pic of my best friend Heather and me. She is such an amazing person. She is always there for me, no matter what! I can tell her anything and everything. I don't know what I would do without her! It is GREAT that she loves reality shows as much as I do..he he he!

I also got a pic of Matt and I. He was such a trooper! He put up with us four silly girls for a night, even riding in the trunk on the way there and back! Although he doesn't share my passion for dancing, I think that he was amazed by the talents of the dancers. I think his favorites were Ade and Jeanine. Thanks Matt for being supportive of all of my hobbies and interests. Love you babe!

The Best Dad

Happy Fathers Day to all you fathers out there. Personally, I have a great father that I could go on and on about..but I want to spotlight another great dad...my hubby Mathew! He is such a wonderful father to our children. He sacrifices a lot for our kids, and he loves them both so much and they adore him! I am so very lucky to have such a hard working, fun, and dedicated man to help me raise my little peeps! Here he is in action:
Riding the carousel with Jamie:
Lauren is definitely a daddy's girl!!!

I just love this picture. My three favorite people, doing one of my most favorite things, boating. Life is good!!

Happy Fathers Day Matt! You are the best!

October is Over?

I can't believe that October is over, man it sure flew! It was sure an eventful month. I will try to cram ALL of the pictures I may have missed in here, but in backwards order (sorry!). Well, the MOST exciting thing is that we will be closing on the new house in 3 WEEKS! It is coming along nicely and we are starting to see some finishing touches.

ALL stuccoed, and YESSS...Matt's truck WILL fit in the garage!
Our new address will be 5262 Torbay Court:

I am in LOVE with the bannisters...(they aren't stained yet, the stain we chose is called ROOTBEER)...cool, huh?

I forgot to mention one set back...later in the evening after this photo was taken, someone broke into the house and stole all of our tile, (not this tile because these were already stuck down, but the boxes of tile yet to be laid), it took a couple of days to re-order the tile and then when it came in...it was the wrong kind! This incident may set our closing date later...we will see. I do love the tile though...I can't wait to see it all together with the paint, the cabinets, and the carpet:

We have trim, and doors (we went with simple Craftsman-style trim...my choice!):

We have tile in the master bathroom:

We have shelving in the master closet:

On Halloween, the kids in costume. We paid a visit to Gardner Village to see the WITCHES:

At this point, Jamie was NOT going to wear the hat to his Lion's costume:

Jamie would not co-operate, and Lauren had to be called "PRINCESS" to have her look at us, I had obviously NOT said "Princess" yet. Now, where does she get her diva-ness??

Jamie dragging Dad through the Village. All of you in Louisiana, next time you visit, you gotta check this place out..it is the coolest place ever:

Dad and Lauren and the BIG WITCH that ran smack dab into the mill:

The pond, Jamie wanted to see the ducks:

This was later at night, right before heading out to go Trick-or-Treating, and YESSS we finally got Jamie to wear his hat!!! This was a perfect Halloween with great weather, I am so glad we got to spend the whole day together as a family. Lauren got a TON of candy, and Jamie stayed out with them the ENTIRE time! WOW!

Soon after arriving, Jamie began to tear into his candy. In true lion fashion! On a side-note, behind Jamie, you can see the tile that Matt is beginning to work on at our current house, there used to be carpet there:

After a LONG day, we made one quick trip to see Matt's dad and Tina: Look how cute he can be IF he wants to:

Lauren sleepily agrees that the entire day was a "Thumbs Up"! Thanks Matt for all you did to make our day so special! WE ALL LOVE HALLOWEEN!!!!

Okay, back one day to October 30th, Matt's 32nd birthday. Matt and I had the day off together, we went shopping for some newer, skinnier jeans for Matt and then we met up with the entire fam for dinner. Jamie, suprise suprise, was a complete disaster. Tina had to get a shot of the mess he became!! How exactly does one get barbeque sauce between the eyes? Probably the same way said barbecue sauce soon got all over my white shirt.

Mathew and his cake, Jamie thought the singing was hillarious!

Back up a few more days, Matt had to work the night shift at Discover, so I worked the day shift and took the kids to the park to play after work. Here is Lauren-Monkey!

AND Jamie-Monkey, he only wanted to go UP the slide!

Back up a few more days, on October 25th, I took the kids to the Pumpkin Patch.

If Jamie didn't watch where he was going, he would face-plant in the dirt! I shoulda waited to give them their baths AFTER getting pumpkins!!

Lauren, unlike her brother, was very co-operative during all photo ops:

Once she FINALLY found her pumpkin, she carried it all the way back to the car!

After a long day of pumpkin-hunting, the kids share an ice-cream. Priceless messes!

Matt says they are finally starting to act like brother and sister! In true sibling style they now fight with each other, and play with each other too, this is a "play" moment:

Go back a few more days, my little baby sister Sarah turned 18!!! We celebrated with lunch at The Spaghetti Factory, cake, and then my parents watched the kids so (Sarah and Ty, Ashley and Victor, and Matt and I) could go see the movie "Quarantine", it was so scary! I literally screamed during the film!!! It was cool to get to hang out with my sisters...I am so lucky to have them:

The Lovato girls; Sarah, Ashley, Mom and Me: