Play date with Sophie

Sophie came to play with Berlin and their outfits coordinated so I hatched up a great photo op and they were perfect little models. Behold.. the two cutest little nerds this side of Mesa.

Little Miss Strawberry Shortcake turns 2!

Berlin you are my most favorite little muffin cake. I am lucky lucky lucky to have such a yummy strawberry shortcake dolly pop. You are Twinkles to Grandpa Bagley and Grandma's cupie doll. Ashley's little sister and the apple of all our eyes. XOXOXOXOX - mommy.

I love the mountains, I love the rolling hills, I love the flowers, and all the daffodills...

Dear Arizona,

It's not you ..it's me. Okay it is you. Your too hot for me I had to leave. You understand don't you? Much love - Leisel.

(No I am not dating this cutie pie. He's 16 but I am hoping he'll wait for Berlin because we both loved him!)

So the past several weeks have been action packed. I went to Lake Powell for 5 days followed by a Pine family reunion. Then straight back up to Utah for the second time in 2 months so that Berlin could spend time with the Decker's. She had a blast exploring the outdoors all week with her dad. I spent most of my time in Utah with my sister Heidi , Jean , and Jacque Decker. I made a few connections with some Utah friends and overall had a great trip. I wish I could have seen everyone I wanted to that week. I ran into an old friend in Utah who invited me to come celebrate the 4th of July in Montana with a large group of people who all have second homes in Montana. I refused the offer several times over thinking I couldn't possibly go out of town for the 6th time in approx 2 1/2 months. Too much time off work. Too much time away from Berlin. Well long story short after many rebuttals and an extended invitation to bring Berlin along with me I decided heck why not? It's not every day you get an invitation to step into lifestyles of the rich and the famous. O.k. that might be exaggerated but I can't even begin to describe how amazing this place was. Who knew Montana was so gorgeous? I didn't. The water was so clear and clean it looked like Carribean water. The weather was absolutely perfect. The colors in the picture of the sunset were not photo shopped. That is exactly what it looked like in person. Breathtaking! Usually when I go somewhere I have to leave Berlin behind and I was looking forward to getting to have several uninterrupted days of quality time with her. The cabin we stayed out was sooooo nice and right on the lake. Berlin and I had a blast on the boat, jet ski, and raft rides. It was an unforgettable trip and a lot of bonding took place. Since being home from that trip she has been so attached to me and she has never been a real clingy baby so I am enjoying her constant hugs since being home. Aaaghhh.. back to reality...

Lately there has been some issues with my cosmetics...

San Diego, Mission Beach, Coranado, Seaside Cliffs...

Ashley her good friend Cali and I rented a car and escaped for 5 days to San Diego. We rode beach cruisers on the boardwalk at night and basked in the sun during the day. We had free accomadations at a sweet lady's home from my parents ward which made the trip oh so affordable. My mom was incredible as usual to let me wisk away like a carefree kid while she took Berlin off up to the cabin the entire time I was away. I'm pretty sure Berlin didn't even hardly notice I was gone because she had a blast with her cousins up in the mountains. We discovered our new favorite yogurt shop called Yogurt Land and went almost twice a day. When we learned they just got one in Az we drove straight there on our way home from California because we were so excited. Vanilla wafer will surprise you. To die for! The highlight of my trip was one of the nights we rode our bikes to the yogurt shop with some friends we had run into from Az and as I am sampling yogurt flavors I behold this very attractive guy cracking jokes next to me. If I have a type this guy fit perfectly into it. He was dressed adoreable, tall dark and handsome, and for as little amount of personality as one could imagine showing in 15 minutes in a yogurt shop this guy seemed like a lot of fun. I was totally feeling a strong vibe but what the heck do I do? A. what are the odds this guy is even a mormon..B. He lives in a different state.. C. How am I going to get him to approach me? We keep making eye contact and then Kylie Minogue's song..It was loooooaoaoaooovvve at first sight comes on. This had to be no coincidence right? Well I knew I had to do something I couldn't let this dream boat slip through my fingers. What if this was my only chance at love? We finished sooner than him and his group so we lingered outside the yogurt shop as I am scrambling for how to get this guy to talk to me. So just then a bum off the street starts chattin it up with me and as this is happening the guy comes outside and is walking past us. I sence he is thinking the same thing as me.. dangit the oppurtunity is slipping past. He walks away and keeps looking back and just as he is almost out of sight he looks back and we both wave. What dorks! So then I get a brilliant idea. I scramble for a pen and paper scribble down my number and I tell the bum to chase after the guy in the plaid shirt that just turned the corner a few blocks down. He of course wants to know what's in it for him so I tell him good karma! Off he goes. I have no idea if he will even find the guy. So we get back to our friends condo and I get a call from him but of course don't pick up. "Hey this is Brian and I just wrestled a bum for your number! Call me." So of course I was so excited but a total chicken to actually go hang out with this cute stranger late at night. So we ended up texting a little back and forth. Apparently the bum gave him the peice of paper but then immedietly ripped it back and the guy chased him for a block and had to rip it from him again! I guess you shouldn't trust a bum to run these types of operations but hey it worked out. Well not exactly... he added me on facebook and the magic faded. As I was stressing about whether or not I should make my photo albums with Berlin and I private he was blocking all of his drinking and partying with girls pictures. We both saw the albums we were trying to hide from eachother before we could block them fast enough so the magic was lost. He wasn't looking for a mormon mother and he wasn't the boy of my dreams. Darn. Oh well it was worth the ego boost.

So the last few months have been a bit challenging.... juggling motherhood, work, and a few minor adjustments to my life. But just to calm your inquiring minds and hearts we are alive and well. Very well in fact. Not the put on a happy face and then cry on your pillow at night when no ones around kind of well. The doing so well you actually feel a little guilty and think maybe you should start bracing yourself for round two of a dose of hard knocks. But I'm not going to sit around and miss out on this time. I'm embracing it. I don't know why I am not more sad or discouraged but I figure there will be plenty of times in the future where I will have to feel that way so in the meantime I am just loving the here and now. Not to mention I don't think I need to point out to anyone how it seems like people every where are experiencing some of the most challenging times right now. There are personal tragedies happening all around me. It puts things into perspective and makes me feel very small. I can handle the hand I am being served right now. The deck could be stacked so much more against me. My burdens feel light and my problems seem small. I don't credit myself to much of the reasons why I am doing so great. Credit goes to my Mom for loving my child as much as I do. (seriously maybe even a little bit more those two are glued together) For helping me out so much. To a loving and supportive family. Members from both fams. They know who they are and they will always feel like family. The support from them has been the number one source of comfort through these months. To acts of kindness like a sister-in law who literally tries to fix lunch for me 365 days a year. Or another who made sure I didn't go without a fun gift under the tree at Christmas. Sister in laws who made my last birthday my best ever. The knowledge that I have generous and loving Heavenly Father that still wants abundant blessings to come in my life. I have felt less fear and sadness in the last several months than I have felt in years and quite honestly I am loving my life. Accurately I am spoiled with help and support. It's flawed and uncertain but for some reason I am having a great time with it. Alright alright enough with that. Here's a little of what we have been up to.

Kara's Birthday!

Kara you are beautiful, talented, and disciplined! One of these days I am going to learn a thing or two from you. This is one of the best cooks you will ever meet. Check out her blog at goodlookingcook.blogspot.com Becky always makes sure the birthday girl gets a cake that is one part beautiful one part delicious. Sophie and Berlin don't always fancy eachother but today I saw some signs of a budding friendship.


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