My Mother’s Day

I slept in. Woke up to two cute girls in their birthday suits. Was lovingly brought a homemade and very thoughtful card made on pink paper with a printed elephant on the back.   We had a delicious breakfast and went off to church.

After church we went to the cemetery to visit  Dave's Mom grave as well as other loved ones who are buried around her.  We decided it would be good for Anna to start to understand her death a little more and have a connection with her, since her middle name is after Grandma Karen. I talked with her about how Grandma Karen’s body is buried in the ground, but her spirit is in heaven.  I used the “glove analogy” and she seemed to really get it.  It is a solemn experience to go to the cemetery, we don’t go very often, mostly because Dave would rather remember her in other places like the cabin, our home and especially the temple.  I rarely ever see my husband cry, but in those moments of pondering and visiting one cannot hold back the tears.  Dave’s mom was a beautiful women who loved her children and served others constantly. I cannot wait to be in her arms one day and thank her for raising the man I love.

Visiting Gram Burton and her family…

Anna wanted to take some photos…

We visited with JoJo for a VERY brief moment.  One that both girls were being cranky so I felt bad.

We went to the country club for our annual Mother’s Day Brunch.  This is a tradition we have had my whole life.  It is a present from my Grandma to us all, but mostly to my mom so she doesn’t have to cook on Mother’s day.  It was fun to finally have all the cousins together in their matching Easter outfits.

We struggled with trying to get a good family photo. Anna wanted to choose the spot and then Maddie wasn’t being cooperative.  So I think these turned out quite good for what we had going for us.  The last one is with my 94 year old Grandma! She is amazing.

I’ll be honest and admit I didn’t really enjoy the dinner since I was running after a crazy 18 month old and had done the same thing the night before.  I actually cried on the way home, feeling frustrated that I couldn’t figure out how to control my cute little one and not get frustrated with my defiant 4 year old.  We arrived home and I rocked my Maddie to sleep, feeling grateful to be a mother, despite the sometimes difficult journey.  It was in this quiet moment that I offer a prayer to my Heavenly Father thanking him for what I have, but asking for his help and guidance.  The spirit spoke to me that I need to be more fervent in prayer, inviting the spirit in our home.  So this week I will try harder to be a better mother through help from on high.

Foodies in Jamaica

Dave and I ate and drank our way through our vacation and loved it.  I think we were probably the ONLY non-alcoholics, but that doesn’t mean we didn’t frequent the bar.  We had plenty of virgin strawberry Daiquiris, Peña colada’s, Fruit mix shakes, super congas, banana mamas, Copacabana's, and many other yummy drinks.  Here is a taste of what (and where) we drank as well as some of the restaurants and their yummy food.  I am truly sad I didn’t get a photo of the jerk chicken! It was to die for, minus the spicy jerk sauce.  Though I guess the way they chopped it right before they put it on your plate, probably wouldn’t look very appetizing in a photo.

Start your drooling… (though we are not food photographers and our little camera doesn’t work well in the dark)

We got drinks by the beach bar the first day, but this is the only photo to show you all about it.  We are too white and unflattering to put in a full body shot. ):

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lunch @ the Plantation Restaurant

Dinner @ Mammee Bay Steak House

Swim up Bar near Plantation  (Some people should not wear revealing swimsuits… and be in other’s photos)

This is where we ate Breakfast every morning and dinners most of the the nights…

Our favorite things to eat were made to order crepes (I loved with coconut and bananas….mmm…), hash browns, made to order omelets, French toast, and of course all their breakfast smoothies.

For dinner we had anything we wanted from pizza to a whole roasted pig, head and all… I quickly walked away. Our favorites were the jerk chicken, fish, steak, (yes we love meat), rice, fresh fruit,…… but the salad bar left MUCH to be desired. MY favorite was these little rolls that we drizzled with chocolate sauce. mmm… They were much more of a dessert. Speaking up dessert, they had a full dessert bar with some goodies we devoured, but most of all we loved the Mango ice cream (but leave off the awful stale sprinkles).

A view from our seats at breakfast…

Inside the St. Ann for dinner (and yes, my husband is hot!)

Night time dinner music, Jamaican style!

Dinner at St. John our last night.  This was  a cute quaint little restaurant, but the food was glorious! We had a few surprises on our plates, especially Dave’s octopus appetizer!

My salmon salad with cream cheese filling, it was okay.

Dave’s interesting appetizer. Octopus. Yuck.  Dave did try the head.

Jamaica has a funny view of sizes.  I think my spoon barely fit in the bowl!

The Main Course was beautiful and delicious

 

Drinks by the Mammee Bay Pool Bar

Cheers to Jamaica and their yummy food and drinks!

Yeah Mon!

Dave and I just spent 6 days doing mostly this….

Here…

…in Jamaica.  More to come, but I thought I would let you know we had a fabulous time!!!

My Horrible Book Keeping

*All weekend whenever we looked for something it took forever to find, because my lack of organization. I NEED to be better, and keep up with a better system. It’s no wonder Dave WANTS to do the bills, instead of leaving them to me.

*Today in trying to finish up some old blog posts I realize I have been horrible at keeping updates on Maddie. Sorry second child! I doesn’t mean I don’t love you, just physically love and hold you more rather than be on the computer. (:

*I FINALLY found my old Driver’s License from Michigan that I thought I lost last November.  I “Knew” I had put it in the car. I LOOKED there a million times, but when it came down to it I thought perhaps it fell out somewhere. I spent countless hours calling lost and found departments, getting a hold of Michigan, finding various documents to get my new Utah DL and having to go get new certificates.  I almost had to take a drivers test (luckily that didn’t have to happen).  Dave just scrubbed down the car last week and still didn’t find it.  Then today, I saw something in the door pocket, reached in and THERE IT WAS! It had gotten stuck to the side of the pocket somehow. Whew, glad I found it, but frustrated that because I was too much in a hurry in the first place to put it back in my wallet I had to go through all of that.

* I had to pay the babysitter and thought I had a $5 in my purse. I looked and looked. But after not finding it and not making it to the bank or store in multiple days, I broke into Anna’s piggy bank and “borrowed” a  $5 bill I knew was in there.  Then I couldn’t get the cap back on, so all week I have been cleaning up the money Anna has been counting.  Then today, there it was right in the middle of my messy purse.  a $5 bill! Dang messy Heidi!

So here is to being better, taking time to correctly put things away and being more organized… I hope.

Arthritis

   

   

Maddie’s best friend, cuddle pillow, leftover eater, and hair stylist,

Anna’s favorite dog, pet to yell at, and tag player,

Dave’s wrestling partner, official greeter at the door, and face washer,

& My running partner, foot warmer, and 3rd responsibility to keep alive and well

HAS ARTHRITIS!

My poor doggie, Mia, has arthritis and she is ONLY 5 YEARS old! I know she isn’t on her death bed, but it makes me so sad for her! She has been struggling to get up sometimes and isn’t my usual good running partner. I have wondered and felt bad pushing her if she was really hurting, so I took her to a Vet.  Sure enough she is overweight and has Arthritis.  We can give her some medicine and vitamins, but it is inevitable that she will get worse.   She had to get a few shots and Anna was so worried about her all day.  She wanted to sit by her to read her bedtime books and told Dave to be careful with her because, “she had to go get shots!”

She still runs like crazy in the back yard and barks at those who goes by (much to my dismay), but she is getting slower.  We were just saying a little while ago how we thought we had only about 5 good years with her and had to live it up! Especially with the girls, who adore her.   Maddie is more excited to see her everyday than anyone else.

It is amazing how pets become such a part of the family.  I admit there are days that I loathe her hair, her licking, and her barking, but all in all she is wonderful to have around.  She is patient with our craziness and so loyal. 

We love you Mia and hope you can get a little better!

P.S. if you stop eating all our crumbs and such you wouldn’t be so fat!