Awww precious.....

My dad with his newest great-granddaughter, Zoe.

I like that her eyes are open. And even though she is only a day old, she looks like she's smiling.

This blanket.... kinda makes her look like she has a monkey tail!!!

Rest and Relaxation.....

Ok... so now I know I have mono. And my spleen is fine, but my liver is enlarged so I have to rest and take it easy as much as possible.

I'm thinking the best way to do that would be to go back to Kauai.

Just a thought.

I am sure I could get feeling really good if I spend the day by the pool again.... and walking on the beach.....

At least on the positive side (if there is a positive side to mono), I am already about half way through it because the first time my throat swelled shut was the day I got back from Kauai. (June 1). I'm in the "acute" phase (which is not so 'cute') and that lasts about 4 to 6 weeks in most people. (I'm not most people so with my luck this will drag on for months).

No, actually, I think I will be ok.

I have to rest. And eat healthy. Ok. I can do that.

I just hope George didn't catch it.

LOL

Mark and Angela got in a bind this morning and Mark called me at 6:15am (woke me up) to see if there was anyway David could babysit Melly Belly cuz she was under the weather and daycare wouldn't take her and the back up plan couldn't and he had to work the Sugarhouse store and Angela had 3 conference calls.

Well... David did not go to bed till 6am. But luckily.... I was off today so I volunteered.

It was fun. At first when she got here, of course, she didn't want her daddy to leave so she was rather clingy. Then she didn't know me from Adam so she wanted brother David. But I got down on the floor and played with her and won her over in about 15 minutes and she was stuck to me like glue for the rest of the morning.

I even got her to SLEEP!!

Poor baby. She is teething and she has a bit of a cold (runny nose) and that has to make anybody cranky and miserable. I found a teething toy and had David put it in the freezer for a few minutes to get it cold and she LOVED that. It felt so good on her gums. She was a happy camper.

Then after Angela picked her up, David and I went to see the new Shrek movie. It was pretty good. Not as good as the first and second but better than the third. A few parts of it were absolutely HILARIOUS --- "Do the roar!" is a line that will have you rolling.

Then I dropped David off at Marks and I am now home waiting for George to get home (to his Kauai home) and we will have our Friday night date night via telephone. We have committed to having a date night EVERY Friday night. It is tradition now and will continue after we are married. We have so much fun talking about just everything. Or reading to each other, or singing. Whatever strikes our fancy. We spend several hours on the phone on Friday nights. It's so good to always have a date night even if you are 3000 miles apart.

George sent me the book he wrote. It's 72 pages long. All written by hand. And illustrated. And colored. He is so proud of this book. I have read it 5 times. It gets better each time. It's kind of.... how shall I say.... "DIFFERENT." It is a "Spiritual Fairy Tale" and it is called "Enter My Kingdom".

It's a TRUE story about he and I. It starts in the pre-existence where we knew each other and loved each other and found out we were being sent to earth to different parts of the world and different families etc... and we were sad. Then it talks about how we were searching in our lives on earth.... that something inside of each of us was searching for the other... and how the Lord was watching all of this and through our lives he guided us on our paths so that we would find each other. It talks about how I prayed for my soul mate.... and how George prayed he would find somebody and how those prayers were answered. Then it talks about us getting married, and gaining exaltation.

It's a cool story. It rhymes in places, and um.... "tries" to rhyme in other places. George is SO PROUD of this story. He has read it probably 50 times. He wants me to have my kids read it. I don't care if they do, but because they don't really know him, our the real deep story of how we came together... they are gonna think it's a bit strange. But I think it's a wonderful love story and a really cool "spiritual fairy tale".

I have myself a really deep thinking man. I just love it. He loves the Lord very much and he understands many things about the gospel, even though he has not been taught about them yet. He JUST KNOWS.

I'm excited!!!

So people have been asking me why I don't post a photo of my engagement ring. Well... the ring I am currently wearing is just the ring that I could wear to show people when they say "Oh let me see the ring!" It's aquamarine and white gold.

But the REAL engagement ring is being designed right now and it's going to be sooooooo gorgeous. It's got 23 diamonds in it. It will be yellow gold. I'm really thrilled with it. It should be ready in a few weeks.

That one I will definitely photograph and post.


David and I are heading out to see the new Shrek movie. I'm waiting for my doctor to call me and tell me if I can still get my epidural injection tomorrow. Since my tonsils are swollen, and I am on steroids, and they don't know WHY my tonsils are swollen, he may decide not to do it.

I stole this picture off facebook from a friend of Michael and Bryttan. I'm not sure if Bryttan's sister took this or if the friend (April) did. But I LOVE it.


UPDATE: Well, Shrek was sold out so we came home and bought tickets on Fandango for tomorrow. And my doctor called me and told me that he will NOT do my epidural injection while I am on steroids. So I had to reschedule for next Friday. Hopefully I can get it off work.

My throat feels like the swelling has gone down slightly but it still feels like I have a ball in my throat. Not a golf ball now...more like a plum stone.

I ended up spending $290 on two new tires and getting the car aligned. Drives much better now and is less likely to blow out while I'm speeding down the highway. Me and tires.... just don't seem to get along..... *sigh......

Scouting is for boys who WANT to do it.....

None of my boys were really into Boyscouts. They did it for awhile, and then got sick of it. None of them got their Eagle and that is totally fine with me. My philosophy is this: If my son wants to participate in scouts... I am behind him 100%. BUT if my son does NOT WANT to participate, I am NOT going to force him. I am NOT going coerce him. I am NOT going to lay a guilt trip on him about it.

Scouting is not for everybody.

David and I got invited over to my old Bishop's house for dinner last night. We kind of wondered why... all of the sudden.... we get invited over. I figured they heard I was engaged and wanted to pump me for information. But.... actually they had NOT heard that news.

No........... we barely got in the door, and sat down to the table for --- I must say --- the BEST steaks David and I have ever had in our lives (Jeremy cooks a mean steak) -- when Bishop just jumps all over David about getting his Eagle.

It was uncomfortable. Because, I'm sorry.... but repelling down a mountain, and mountain biking, and hiking a 20 mile trail, and all that does not sound like a good time to me and it does not appeal to David either. If it did --- again --- I'd support it. But he doesn't want to do that. And these days with all the scouts that die while off on one of their activities..... I am not real thrilled with putting my son in that situation.

Besides, David doesn't like any of the other boys that are going and he will not be happy.

I knew though, there was an ulterior motive for having us over to dinner. And yes... I was right.

Man! Feel that wind blowing???

It's from all the tongues wagging over the fact that I'm engaged.

Who really gives a fig? I mean, my family yes.... but it just annoys me that the neighbors even care. I'm not close to any of them. What is the big deal?

The one I didn't really care to have find out.... did find out because Athalee ran right over to tell her.

So I got a text from this person and she was trying to be all "sweet" (but I know she is PISSED that she was the last to find out).

She says "Tell me all about your new guy."

I said, "I'll tell ya later."

And when I see her.... I am saying this: "The reason I did not tell you anything is because he is Mexican. And I know how much you HATE Mexicans."

Time flies

It's been two weeks since I left Kauai. I wish I was still there. It's a heck of a lot nicer weather than here in "Welcome-To-Winter-Revisited-in-June" Utah. Brrrrrr.

So, wedding plans are coming along. I have a caterer. I have a playlist for music and David says he will download my songs. I have decorations in mind. I have two places in mind to have it, but despite my reluctance at doing it at my ward building... I think that is where I'm going to have it. Because it is close, and it is cheap. LOL. My second place is the Town Hall in Herriman where they did the Kramer Family Reunion dinner. But that would require people to travel further.

I'm not expecting a ton of people. (I'm not inviting a ton of people).

Yesterday in Relief Society they made me announce it. The GASP in the room was hilarious. I wish I could have taped it.

My witchy neighbor was not there. So now the WHOLE ward knows and she does not. Do you know how pissed off she is going to be that she is the LAST to know and more importantly that I did not tell her personally??

LMAO.

Ask me if I care.

Thoughts to reflect on......

First, I was dying to finish my highschool and start college.

And then I was dying to finish college and start working.

Then I was dying to marry and have children.

And then I was dying for my children to grow old enough so I could go back to work.

But then, I was dying to retire....

And now..... I'm dying........

And suddenly I realized -----

I forgot to live.

"To make money we lose our health. And then to restore our health we lose our money...."

"We live as if we are never going to die, and we die as if we never lived......"

LIVE EACH DAY TO THE FULLEST!!!

Take me back!

Wow.... I miss the tranquility, beauty, peace, fun, and spiritual high of Kauai.

Take me back!!

I know why it is so expensive to live there. If it wasn't, then the whole world would live there. I know I would.

I have been reading Michael and Bryttan's blog. Cracks me up. My children are so talented. (Yes, Karin, I mean YOU also).

I love reading both Karin and Michael's blogs. Karin keeps threatening to quit. I hope she doesn't. I would miss it.

Ahhhh this picture.... this was our own private beach. (I say private cuz not another soul was on there even though it was right outside my hotel)

We stood and listened to the roar of the waves, and felt the sun, and splashed in the surf. The water was warm. This is the beach, though, where we got chased by the ugliest, fastest, creepiest crabs I ever saw. Some of them were HUGE. The size of my fist! I did not get pictures of them as I was moving too fast the opposite direction. LOL

Sunday dinner was YUMMY.

Crunchy Romaine Strawberry Salad

3 oz pkg of ramen noodles
1 cup chopped or whole walnuts
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup sugar
2 TB red wine vinegar
1/2 tea soy sauce
8 cups of torn Romaine Lettuce
1/2 cup chopped green onions
2 cups fresh strawberries, sliced

Discard the seasoning pkt from the ramen noodles. Break noodles into small pieces. In a skillet, saute noodles and walnuts in butter for 8 minutes over med-low heat. Watch closely because it will burn easily. Saute till golden. Cool.

For dressing, in a jar with a tight fitting lid, combine the oil, sugar, vinegar, and soy sauce. Shake well. Just before serving, combine the romaine, onions, strawberries and noodle mixture in large bowl. Drizzle with dressing and toss gently. Serves 8.




Peanut Chicken Skewers

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup soy sauce
4 garlic cloves minced
3 TB fresh squeezed lemon juice
2 TB brown sugar
3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes

4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (I used chicken tenders)

In a saucepan, combine the first 8 ingredients; cook and stir over medium-high heat for 5 minutes or till smooth. Reserve half of sauce for dipping.

In the other half, I rolled the chicken tenders and let them sit to marinate for a few minutes and then I grilled them on my George Foreman Grill.

You could bake in oven, or you could put on skewers and grill on BBQ. Or put in a skillet and cook in the sauce.

But I like my George Foreman. It does the job.

Paradise.... Oh Yes It Is.

So the news is out. George and I got engaged. Yep! He is one romantic guy. So very sweet. Oh I wish people knew him like I know him. He and I have so much in common and so many things that are just "ours".... like the smileys. And words we use together. And names we have for each other. And symbols we have for each other. I am "water" because of many reasons. One is that I am Aquarius which is the Water sign. But also I am DRAWN to water. I love water, oceans, pools, waterfalls, fountains, pictures of water, reflections off water.... I am water. I did not want a diamond. I wanted something simple. My ring is white gold with Aquamarine stone. (water).

We had so much fun. He proposed the night I got there. In the moonlight, by the pool, near the waterfall, with the roar of the ocean in the background. The moon was Full that night and that was also the only night it was visible. We both cried. We both love each other so much and we just know that this was meant to be. We were lead to be together. He treats me like a queen.



He is such a sweetheart. Everything is for me. Everything he does is for me. He is so kind and considerate. And he has been this way since I met him. He hasn't changed. He's still the guy I met.


He is a simple man. A hard worker. A good heart. He will treat me with love, kindness and respect. That is really all I ask. I don't care for money, cars, diamonds, jewels, or things of the world. Those mean nothing to me. All I care about is a man who will take me to the temple. A man who will love, honor, and work with me to build a wonderful life. That is him. He has promised me a mansion on high. Which is the only place I want a mansion.


The only things we take with us when we die are what's inside of us. That is where our treasure lies. Not in things of the world. But in things of the heart and the spirit.

I am truly happy. And I have been happy since I met him. And we have the best communication of anyone I know.

So now... we save up our money because we have several trips we want to make. We'd like to go back to Kauai or to Maui one day. We'd like to go to Florida to visit George's sister. We'd like to go to Texas to visit his daughter, grandkids, son-in-law, mother, and other siblings. We'd like to go to Vermont so he can meet my dad.


Lots of bright hopes for the future. He still has time he has to work over there on the island and he may go to Oahu also for another job. We've discussed it and although it's hard to be apart, the money he is making is really, really good, so we can endure being apart.

I'm happy. He's happy. Life is good. ALOHA!!!!