Concert @ Soma.

I cherish any time I get to see my niece & nephews. They are such a bright spot in my life. I just can't believe how fast time flies. I think the last time I saw these two kids were on Father's Day! Now my niece is exactly my height. It makes me so sad that they grow up so quickly. But I'm lucky. I am so incredibly lucky because I appreciate the personal relationship I have each of them. I wish I could see them every single day but I'm lucky I can call them and they'll actually pick up, amongst the busyness of their exciting lives. 

I'm lucky and beyond blessed to be their aunt.

The Making of Simber.

A few weeks ago, my oldest nephew Sim got married! It was such a wonderful day spent with family. I had such an amazing time with my husband and my family all around. I enjoyed taking so many photos of the event.  I've gotta say, a lot of my favorite photos are found above.
I can't believe how fast time has flown by.  At the end of the night, I became very emotional because I took a photo of my 3 nephews and it set in, they're not little boys anymore.  How does the time just blow by so quickly?!?  I miss having all my nephews and niece under the same roof.  
It was beautiful evening! The food was delicious, the music was spot on and the company was delightful! I couldn't be happier for Sim.  I can honestly say, that I've never seen him this happy before. Congratulations Simber!

JUMP!

So a couple weeks ago, this happened....

I haven't had a chance to really blog about it, again.  My first post was a picture away from being posted, til I accidentally swiped it away and it all disappeared....forrrevvveerrr.  I was so heartbroken because it was all of my raw emotion from that special evening, and now I'll have to try blogging about it again. In the meanwhile, I leave you with this oh so funny photo of Sim & his wife with their wedding party. I LOOOOOOOOOOVE wedding jumping photos!

BIRTHDAY!

Dude . . . today's my birthday! 

I love today.  I love the love that abundantly showers me from all across the world, from such sweet, thoughtful loved ones.  I like counting my blessings on this special day of mine.

*I'm thankful for my dear sweet love of my life.  Being married to him feels like my birthday and Christmas combined, every day.  He makes my life so much more thrilling, funnier, fuller and special in each and every way.  I will never know how I got so lucky to find someone who loves me so much, patiently understands my quirky tendencies, and celebrates my talents & skills.

*I'm glad to have the relationship that I do with my nephews & niece.  They are such a bright spot in my life.  I have had the beautiful blessing of having a first row seat to their lives.  They are such tenderhearted and funny spirits.   I love them with all of my heart and I'm blessed to feel their love in return.

*Even though I don't see my parents everyday anymore, I'm grateful for all that they've done for me.  They can be the most selfless individuals in my time of need.  There are many things that they have taught me.  I can only hope that they've always tried their best to be my parents.  I know that I've tried my best to be a good daughter to them.  This is what life is about; learning to be our best self.

*I always wanted a sister growing up, I didn't know that I would find one in my sister-in-law, turned ex-sister-in-law, now sister.  She has taught me so very much.  She is a very good parent to her 4 kids because of the way she listens and observes their individual needs and talents.  She has a good heart and has always been the best cheerleader anyone would want in their corner.

*I'm grateful for my friends.  They accept me for me and love me so much.  Heaven knows I'm not perfect, but I always try my very best to be a very good friend.  I'm so lucky that I'll get to celebrate my birthday with a few of my closest oldest friends, this weekend. So excited!!  But seriously, I love them all.  They bring so much laughter to my life.  I love my friends who share their cultures with me and most especially the unity we always have over good food.  I'm grateful to always have a friend I can call up and say, "Hey, wanna go grab some tacos?" and sure enough, either one of us will show up late, but it's the fact that they showed up.  Love my friends!

*I love my home that I have with my husband.  It's cute and quaint and special because I feel like it's a safe haven of peace, love and laughter.  I'm sure it's because of who I share it with. :)

*I love all the blessings that I've received from my Heavenly Father.  I'm thankful for the talents that I have and the opportunity to cultivate new ones and share all of them.  Sometimes, I like to step back and think, "Dude, I just did that with my two hands!"  I love the pure knowledge and testimony that I have that He lives, as does His Son, Jesus Christ.  I'm not the best Mormon, heaven knows I have my downfalls, but I try my best to do good and be good.

*I love my life.  It's comfortable and happy and oh so funny.  Today, I love it 34,000x even more!  Happy birthday ME! :)

Life.....

I feel like time has been flying by so quickly. I feel bad because there's so much I want to blog about but by the time I get home from work, I just want to veg and chill and cuddle with the Hubs. Sometimes it still hits me that, dude, I'm married… I have a husband… I'm a wife! Although, a lot of the time, while at work, I don't feel married because I still have to go by my maiden name until I take care of everything that needs to happen with the name change. 

But right now it's 10:53 PM, I have to make some lunches for tomorrow, finish washing the dishes, and think about someday unpacking… Especially since we've been home for a week now.

Oh yeah, and it was my nephew's birthday yesterday… Still need toblog about that.

So until I find a little more time (aka: motivation) to blog I will end with a photo.

The Nephews & Niece.

What a great week it's been.  I mentioned in an earlier post that my two oldest nephews came down to visit.  Man oh man, I LOVED having them all in one place.  The awesome part is that in a week I'll get to see all of them all over again!!
I love them, I love them oh so much!  Sometimes my heart can't take it that they've all grown up so fast!!  They are some of my most favorite people on earth!  Heaven knows how much I enjoy being around them.  I know we've certainly grown closer together in the last few years.  I wish I could have them all under the same roof again.
I love the way we can joke around, tease each other to no end and laugh about so many funny family memories. I'm so grateful to know that I will have them for an eternity.  I just hope we get a deck of cards & Monopoly to enjoy for the rest of time.

Dear 2 Boys & 2 Kids,

Stop growing up.

Love,

Your dear ol' aunt.

NINE DAYS!!

How is the time flying by so SOOOOOOOOOOOO quickly?!?!? I feel like there's a lot to do and the time is just flying by so FAST!!

There's so much to blog about that I don't even know where to start...especially when it's now 12:02am and I should have been asleep over an hour ago.  It's so damn hot right now, I can't sleep in this heat!

What's on my mind.....

*Levi and I had my sister over for dinner and to hang out.  It was pretty great.  I think this is the most I've seen my sister in a week, since January.  

*My 2 oldest nephews came to visit and it was oh so nice having all my nephews and nieces in one place.  I love them all so much!!

*It was especially nice having Bub's wife here as well.  Heaven knows I didn't make it easy on her, while she was dating Bub.  I'm glad she understands that I was just overprotective.  My nephews haven't really just been nephews to me, I see them as my younger brothers sometimes.  I'm so grateful for them.  I'm also grateful to have Bub's wife in our family, as well.  Even though I gave her a hell of a time, she's always been so kind to me & my family.  I couldn't be any happier for Bub to have someone as caring as she, for eternity.

*My oldest nephew Simi got engaged on Tuesday.  I missed the proposal by a few minutes, but the video captured it nicely.  I hope he's genuinely happy.  Even though he's been here and we've spent some time together, I don't think I had a conversation with him, longer than 2 minutes.  I think I spoke with her just as long, too.  She seems nice, but perhaps we'll get a chance to talk a little longer than next time I come across her.

*I hate this heat.  It's just so miserable.  I will take the cold ANYTIME!!!  

*Ok, I'm getting tired and my eyelids are getting heavy.

G'nite.

Happy Birthday SimiSimSim!

Today, this kid turns 24! Seriously, TWENTY FOUR!! First off, I was just 24 and he was a kid!! How in the world is this lil guy:

now this man of twenty-four years?!

Time has flown by way too quickly! I don't remember much of his birth day, except that I remember going to the hospital to go visit him the next day (later that day?) to go see him.  I remember I was in 4th grade and was tripped out that I had a nephew! I was an aunt! I always felt like he was more of my younger brother, than my actual nephew.  However, I'm grateful that he's always respected me as an aunt, but treated me like an older sister. 
This year, I am touched by his birthday request.  He requested, via Facebook, that we all go out and do a random act of service for someone.  Seriously, that made me so proud of him! That touched my heart so deeply. 
I love my nephew Sim.  He's got a very good heart.  He truly does.  I know that he is always one I can count on to say something uplifting and to see the good amongst the muck of life.  My wish for him on his special day, is that he finds peace in all areas of his life.  He deserves it...and much, much more.
Happy birthday SimiSimSim! I love you!

Kalanster & the big 19!

Today, this baby boy.....

...who turned into this...

...and somehow quickly grew into this...

...is turning 19 today!

It's been such a pleasure watching him grow up, for all of his life.  I still remember the night I walked into his Mom's hospital room, in the Spring of my high school freshman year.  It was a school night, so I was thinking we wouldn't really be there that long.  I just kept thinking of how foreign it was that a new baby boy was joining our family.  For so long, it had just be "the two boys", his older brothers....what would it now be like with THREE nephews??  Such an unfamiliar feeling that there was someone new in our family.  I remember holding him and thinking how happy we all were that this baby boy was finally here.  I still feel that way to this day.

He's definitely become one of my favorite people to hang out with.  I can say just about anything and he doesn't freak out nor do I ever feel judged.  There's many reasons why I love this kid.  I've been thinking about some of those reasons today.  He reminds me A LOT of my Dad.  They both have the same tenacious (read: stubborn) attitude.  It's not a bad thing...I'm quite similar to my Dad in that factor.  Perhaps that's why Kalanster and I get along so well.  He can be very thoughtful and I've truly cherished the way he's been such a terrific older brother to his sister.  He is a talented young man, especially when it comes to music.  

I've never worried about Kalanster because he has always found a way for his ideas to come to fruition.  Such a great quality to have in life.  Of all the birthday wishes I can hope for him, I hope all his musical dreams are achieved.  The sky is the limit for some, but for him, there's nothing that can stop that tenacious spirit of his. 

Happy Birthday Kalanster!  

I love you more than you'll ever realize.  Hope you enjoy your birthday weekend.

And in case you didn't know, I miss seeing you every day. I love you buddy.

Life in the last 12 hours, via Instagram.

Meijo Sushi with my sister & the kids...

My new kicks, ready for this weekend!

I taught my 70+ y/o Mom how to text, last week. I'm so proud of her!