I cannot explain why, but I woke up in an amazingly good mood this morning...a grateful mood, in fact. I was driving in to work at the ungodly hour of 5:30 am, watching the sun peak over the mountains, when it hit me how absolutely beautiful life can be! It may be difficult, there may be times when I just want to give up and stay in bed, but my God, I truly am blessed! If Today was Your Last Day by Nickleback came on the radio and I almost teared up! lol I am so blessed to have such a rich and wonderful life. It is full of the most amazing, caring, generous, loving people that have ever lived and I am so proud to be able to call every single one of them my friend!

My AMAZING husband, who loves me unconditionally, with all of my faults and shortcomings. Who tells me every single day how much he loves me, how gorgeous I am and has finally convinced me that I really am a beautiful person worth knowing and loving. I trust him with all that I am and all that I have, I will forever follow this man anywhere that life takes us and be happy in it, always, as long as I have him by my side. Our 9 year wedding anniversary is coming up in 3 weeks and, if it were even possible, I realize that I love him more and more every day!

My BEAUTIFUL girls. Strong willed, high spirited, smart, creative and gorgeous! As much as they challenge me and my patience...they are my life! I wouldn't trade them, or our experiences together, for anything in this world. I smile every time I see their adorable faces, even if they are crying, or fighting, or sad, or mad, doesn't matter! I see that wondrous mix of Adam and I in them and am amazed at who they are and who they are becoming. I know that one day they will grow to be astonishingly beautiful women with huge hearts and wonderful minds!

My WONDERFUL family, immediate and extended, including the in laws AND the outlaws! lol Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins that all love us, care for us and are always there for us! I have been given an amazing family, some by birth and some by marriage, but every single one of you is important to me, impacts my life in ways that no one else can. I am grateful for each and every one of you!

My friends... my caring, generous to a fault, beautiful, sweet and amazing..friends! What would life be without these people? The ones I talk to, whine to, vent to, laugh and cry with. The ones whose weddings I've stood in, funerals I've attended, babies I've held ..and who have done the same for me. The ones I've comforted, wiped their tears, fought with, yelled at and LOVED. The ones I call at midnight when I can't sleep, blame when I'm angry...or when I'm happy. The ones I cook for, entertain for and love to spend my time with. The ones that love me no matter what and accept me for who I am, faults and all. I know that I am FAR from a perfect friend, but I am a better person because I have you guys in my life!!!

My life is worth living because I have these people in it, the ones that love and accept me, regardless of the choices I make that they do not agree with. Regardless of my finances. Regardless of my mood! I know that they will always be there, everyone of them...to pick me up if I fall, support me up if I soar, to just hold my hand and stand by my side through all of life's ups and downs. How did I get so truly, truly blessed to have these people in my life!?

Love you all!
aLwAyS & FoReVeR,
Me!

1st Annual Autism Awareness Car Show

Well, I haven't posted in forever because other than the usual work, work, party, work, travel, work (party...hehe) and more work, we really haven't done anything worth writing about! lol Ok Ok...I just haven't had the time to write about it!
So, last Saturday, at the request of a friend, and to support a wonderful cause, we displayed the buggy that Adam built for Drew via the Make-A-Wish Foundation at the 1st Annual Autism Awareness Car Show in Ogden. We had a blast and met a lot of great people!


"Drew's Wish"
When Adam was contacted by Drew's mother she was grasping at straws trying to find someone to build the buggy that Drew had wished for. Drew is 10 years old and has Duschene's, a form of Muscular Dystrophy that affects young boys, is confined to a wheelchair and is unable to operate a buggy with the standard steering wheel and brake and gas pedals. Yet, that was what he'd wished for from the Make A Wish Foundation. Up until they found Adam, everyone had told them that such a thing did not exist and they would not attempt to build one. Adam, on the other hand, was up for the challenge! This is the buggy at the presentation ceremony...complete with elecronic joy stick controls...just like his wheelchair! The buggy has a gas engine and will climb around the dunes like no other! When asked what color Drew would like, he said, "Some flame stickers would be cool!" Well, we went one better, Kustom Illusions of Ogden, UT fabricated body panels, donated their labor and painted the whole buggy with realistic phantom flames...and in only two days! Wonderful people and they did an amazing job!

Here's a few pics from the car show:





1st Annual Autism Awareness Car Show







Sweet Little Ride!







I want it!!! lol







Loo! Drew's buggy is not a jungle gym! lol







Boo wants to go for a ride...slooooowly! ;)







"Us!"







What a great experience this was and a wonderful way to teach our children that life is not about what you can and cannot do mentally or physically, it is simply about living life to the fullest and loving every minute of it! Can't wait to do this all again!

aLwAyS & FoReVeR,
Me!

25 Random Things about ME!

Well...I was finally tagged for 25 Random Things...so here we go!

1. I got my first haircut at 25 years old! Yup, you heard that right, not even a trim till 25...now it's a short A-Line cut above my shoulders...dyed and high-lighted!


2. I got a tattoo and pierced my ears for the first time at 24...guess I'm a late bloomer!
3. I have been with my Hubby for 16 1/2 years...since I was 13.
4. My favorite place to be is outside sitting around a fire pit, surrounded by all my best friends and family. Doesn't matter if we're camping or just out in the backyard...that's where I want to be.
5. I've lost 65 pounds and kept most of it off for 2 years....only a crapload more to go! lol
6. We have 2 cats, 2 dogs, 6 fish and a Pacman Frog...just a little bit of a zoo! And now the girls want Hermit crabs! aaahhhh!
7. I LoVe to cook...but hate to clean! Would be more than willing to cook every night as long as someone else did the clean up! ;)
8. I'm a clutz! I get the dropsies ALL of the time...especially when we are entertaining and I'm under pressure..ughh!
9. My friends call me 'Martha'...don't ask!
10. I've given my kids more nicknames than they can remember, but they answer to every single one of them!
11. I am terrible at making decisions...don't even have a favorite color!
12. I am a Gemini...sometimes that evil twin gets me in trouble...that's all I'm gonna say bout that! hehe
13. I'm a packrat...and it drives Adam nuts!
14. I cannot, for the life of me, tell a joke....or participate in one. I tell them wrong or give it away every single time!
15. I love to read but never have the time anymore...less I neglect my hubby, house and kiddos! lol
16. After 29 1/2 years of life, I finally *know* that I am beautiful..and that my husband loves me more than life itself...Thanx babe!
17. My favorite food is sushi...or maybe Thai...or Indian...or Greek...or...dang! told you I was indecisive. I just LoVe FOOOOOOD! MMmmmmmmm
18. As much as I love my Hubby and kids, I love a good, girls only, weekend. Good food, good company, good margarita's ;) and nothing at all to worry about for 2 or 3 days...ahhhh...bliss!
19. My favorite time of the day is after the kids are in bed and the hubby and I hit the hot tub, even if only for 15 minutes...I'm so glad we bought that thing! :D
20. Sometimes, even on work nights, Adam and I will lay in bed with the lights out and talk until 2 am. I am so grateful that after all these years of being together we can still connect like that :)
21. I love watching UFC fights! Shameful, I know! No-holes-barred, bloody, brutal fighting...love it! Even took second place, over all but one of the guys, in our last betting poole...so take that! :p
22. Even with as opinionated, strong-willed and loud-mouthed as my two girls are...I still think they are the smartest, most beautiful, most wonderful little girls in the whole wide world! Wish I had more time to spend with them...
23. My husband is my Best Friend...and I wouldn't have it any other way.


24. My favorite drink is Rum and Diet...or maybe Grande Melon and Fresca....or a Strawberry Daquiri (our secret recipe!)...Crap! I'm doing it again!lol
25. I think the best way to explain me is as a contradiction in and of myself. I'm sweet and vicious, caring and ruthless, generous and selfish, nice and naughty...all at the same time! hehe

This is my Hubby, isn't he cute!? We have been married for 8 1/2 years but have been together for 16! Can you believe he's put up with me for that long? lol. He is hard working, generous to a fault, loving, caring, handsome and he's one strong-willed man! He is a wonderful father, loving husband and the best kind of friend...MY Best Friend, in fact. I just can't say enough good things about him! He is the life of the party, the instigator, the adrenaline junkie and the man everyone goes to for everything. He's the one you call at 2 am when your car's broken down and your stuck halfway home from Vegas. He's the one who takes time off of work to drive you 10 hours to arrange your father's funeral and attend to his affairs, just because he doesn't want you to have to face it alone. He's the one you can tell anything...anytime, day or night...he'll always be there and he'll never break your confidence...never. He's the one you call for help re-modeling your basement (although, we are calling that one in now, aren't we guys!? lol), fixing your 4-wheeler or just for advice on finding that next great deal. He's the guy that would stand up for any friend in any situation and defend his wife and children with his life. He's my Hubby, my Mr. Fix-It, my partner in all things, my Hero, my Best Friend, my Soulmate....MY LIFE! To my "Forever Valentine" Love you Hun.... Always & Forever!

This little cutie here is our cuddlebug "LoobieLoo"! She is sWeEt, imaganitive, creative and kind, just to name a few. Loo is almost 6 years old, will be next month as a matter of fact and is smart as a whip! She takes after her Daddy in that she loves to tear things apart just to see how they work, this can be a little trying at times, albeit, oh-so-cute! She is only 13 1/2 months younger than her sister (no...we didn't plan it that way!), but keeps up with her without a problem, she even learned to ride a bike before she did! She's our brave one, always wanting to go faster, jump higher and push harder...yet she prefers to do it all in makeup, high heals and a skirt! Loo is such a caring, generous, vivacious little girl...we couldn't ask for a better kid! We sure do LOVE her...our one-of-a-kind LobbieLoo! XOXO

Let's see...what can I say about our Boo? First of all, she's smart! Probably too smart for her own good cuz she thinks she's smarter than her parents! LOL She's funny, caring, compassionate and fiesty all at the same time! She's emotionally 7 going on 16, so that can be a challenge, but we get by! At least we'll be prepared for those teenage years! LOL She was born at 2 am on New Year's day and was the first baby of the year at our hospital. When she was little little and she would cry aaaallllll night long, the only thing that would calm her down was to lay her tummy down on your arm, put the Judds on and pace the floor...worked every time! She just turned 7 this year and is still convinced that the "ball dropping" and all the hooting and hollering at midnight on New Year's Eve, is all about her! She is such a smart, funny, generous, caring and determined young lady! Sometimes, I look at her and wonder where the years have gone, when did she get so big and how did we get blessed with such a wonderful kid!? LUV U BOO! xoxo