May has come and gone. Just like that.

First and foremost I just wanna say that 7 years ago this Memorial Day weekend was the first time my husband and I officially "hung out". It wasn't a date really but he invited me with him and a group of friends to Lake Powell for some boating and fun in the sun, and by "friends", I mean him and one dude friend and a suburban full of hot girls. I didn't know any of them upon arrival so you can imagine how exciting it was for me. (Our first official date wasn't til the following week.) BUT. Memorial day does have some significance because after all, we sang karaoke Summer Lovin' for the very first time. (He pretended to be all spontaneous flipping through the song list and casually point that one out. Wasn't til later that when I was talking to his sister that I discovered the truth. Summer Lovin'?? Ugh. Jason ALWAYS does that song when we karaoke. Glad to know I wasn't the first and that he'd been singing "Summer Lovin'" with lots of dates and during his off time practicing it in front of the mirror.) And this weekend 7 years ago was the first time we spent one on one time together. I remember sitting across the table from him at Denny's late at night when we ditched the group... I don't remember what we talked about but I just remember us both laughing hard. And I was thinking to myself, This guy thinks I'm funny. I mean, he thinks I'm REALLY funny..."

Look at us here on the boat. Look at me, just a little baby 20 year old. Didn't know a thing about the world and still havin' a bit of baby fat on me. (Don't you think it's weird when people say adults still have baby fat? I do. I still say it, too though.) But that big strong man standin' next to me sure knew lots about the world...and lots about a lot of things and he decided that I needed someone older and wiser and that he'd take care of me. We may have sang that song, too.

Happy 7 years of gettin' to know you Jason. It still makes me very happy to make you laugh.

Okay. May, May, May. Lots of things to recount.

I woke up on Mother's Day to lots of banging of pots and pans. And then got huevos rancheros in bed. Happens to be my very favorite breakfast delicacy. Delicious. Thank you husband!

I thought you were bringing sunshine with you, May. But honestly, you've almost been as rainy as April was. Making me a little gloomy but also providing breathtaking greens that I don't know if I've ever seen quite so rich out our back window. So it's a love/hate relationship.

And while the lack of sunshine is worrying me about our tomatoes, the peas are coming in fine, thanks to Lucy. Her and that green thumb of hers. We're still waiting for squash and cilantro as well.

In May, we got family pics taken. And we can finally put pics up around the house that include Scarlett. Only took us a year. Thank you Amy. We LOVE you.

Speaking of photo shoots, one of my best friends Candice asked me to do some sassy blue steel posing for her.

I found this jacket at D.I. for 7 dollars. I love a bargain like a fat kid loves cake. Actually I love cake that much, too. And nutella. To see more of Candice's stuff, go here. Oh the talent!

A group of us NorthStar folk ran another 5k. I'm a regular at these things now I guess. Except this was my last one. For the rest of my life. Well maybe not. I still hate running though. But the races are kinda fun because people you don't know are rooting you on and holding out their hands to high five as you run into the finish line. I wish that happened with everything in life. Like, when I'm finishing a trip to the grocery store and have both girls with me. I'd like people to be lined up to hi-five me. Or when I go to return my books at the library. It happens in my dreams.

And there was a large owl sponsoring the event.

Wary of him at first...

But seemed to warm right up. We heard Lucia say, "He's a nice chicken," several times. This is when they were giving away all the awards. She stood up there with them for some time just like this. She just wanted to look like she belonged.

Another May happening, I'm planting raspberries for the first time this year. I'm ecstatic about it. I grew up picking raspberries at my grandma's house so it's all very nostalgic for me. Now, this is a bit random but let me show you somethin' that kinda weirds me out:

As I was preparing to plant my raspberry patches I came upon this how to website. And it has a legit set of instructions as far as planting and caring for all kinds of vegetables and fruits. And then, in the raspberry section, this is the picture they have underneath the instructions. I see the berries. I get it. They are red and juicy, and they make me want to follow these instructions so my berries will look just like that. What I don't understand is him. The cropped in individual whose presence makes absolutely no sense. Maybe he's the author of the article? And he wants some face time? Or maybe, the planter of these particular berries so he deserved some credit? Or maybe they want you to think if you follow their instructions he will come harvest your fruit for you. And pour a little sugar and cream over them and feed them to you? Which I don't wish to happen, so in that case, I won't follow the instructions. I just don't get it.

Lucy has been continuing to visit her personal jacuzzi for some rest and relaxation:

We'll think she's just using the restroom and then check in on her to find she has been sittin' like this for a good 10 minutes. Does this all herself. Soapy water and all.

Then when it's time to get out, she will not have a regular towel. She will only accept the mini hand towel hanging there.

And last but certainly not least, in May, some of us took our very first steps. It's a thrilling life.

How I love this little family of mine. Thanks for the good times, May. And Happy Memorial Day to you. Not directed to May, really. But to you, whoever is reading this right now. I'm thankful for this incredible nation to which I belong and all of the many many souls who have sacrificed so much in the name of liberty. I hope to thank each of you personally one day. Lots of love to all.

Start spreadin' the news...

I hope the title of this post puts a little show tune in your head that's been in mine for a solid 5 days now... and I haven't even tried to get it out. That's right, New York, New York! We got home Sunday night, well Monday morning technically... after waiting on the runway at JFK for a solid 2 hours, we finally made it into SLC at around midnight and got to Jason's parents house a bit after 1 AM. Of course we had to sneak into where our girls were sleeping to peer at 'em both for a good long minute... to size up the fattening that had occurred since we'd left them and to splendor in their delectable nature while slumbering... Then we gave 'em imaginary squeezes before we collapsed exhausted into bed ourselves.(and of course we snuck into Gma and Gpa's bedroom to stare at them sleep for a bit as well... but don't tell them that).

What a few days! Honeywell Security flew us out for a "partner appreciation" few days of bliss and indulgence. And lemme tell ya, we were indulged! It was my first time visiting the Big Apple and I really have never seen anything quite so splendid as New York City. Splendid, overwhelming, awesome, terrifying, magnificent, claustrophobic, thrilling, fascinating and inspiring. I kept looking around at all the hoards of people thinking, I can't believe all you people LIVE here! I can't believe this is your every day life! And then I would remember my little tiny crumpled-little-fisted baby sister Vanessa who will be moving to Manhattan this very summer... and was overcome with awe and solemnity and amazement. I really admire her. She sortof astonishes me; her and her big city thick skin. But not really. I mostly think she's insane. But in a good way. Oh shut up, you!

I also realized that while I revel very much in my doses of adventure, I think I might be a small town girl at heart. I don't mean small town as in 1200 people. I do like to be within a reasonable driving distance from a major airport. But I like my Utah open roads. And our .6 acre that didn't cost 10 mil. I mostly realized this when we were riding on the Subway and I got all bulgy-eyed and short of breath because I was POSITIVE that at any minute I was going to be witnessing a stabbing or a shooting. I knew it was about to happen. I just knew it. Well folks, thank goodness it didn't! Don't ever believe me if I tell you I received a revelation that I'm to be the next prophet or something. Because I'll probably realize it was just hormones later on. But that's how sure I was that someone was going to suffer a painful and horrifying death in my immediate vicinity on that subway ride. Later I realized it was just indigestion. Chili cheese fries will do it every time. Phew!

Thankfully I didn't witness a stabbing or a shooting, but I did see two hot dog vendors screaming and all up in each other's faces. I couldn't understand what they were saying, but I think it was something along the lines of, THAT'S MY MUSTARD!! AND WHERE'D YOU GET THAT SWEET RELISH!? That was pretty invigorating. I grabbed my honey's hand and walked away quickly. And I did see a Taxi cab run into the side of a building and completely shatter the glass window of a Starbucks. (Really, Jason took these pics, I didn't even pull them off the internet. We had just walked away from this corner about 20 seconds prior.) Everyone was okay. I'm first aid certified you know, so I had to throw some elbows to make sure. No big deal.

Poor guy is standing there having to deal with just running into the side of a building and people are running up posing by him and all that shattered glass for pictures. Thumbs up and smiling. I think I may have even seen a few people ask him if he wouldn't mind posing for a pic with them. And then I saw a guy ask him if he wouldn't mind getting back into his car, backing it up, and running into the building again... he was mad he didn't catch it on film the first time. Okay, that last one didn't happen. But you can imagine what it'd be like if it did, right? Right??

Oh and if you're living in New York and reading this, you think you're better than me just because I said I didn't know if I could hack it? You think I'm weak? Think you're better than me, Nessa?? You don't even know what I deal with living in Provo. You don't even know me. I'm gonna try growing raspberries for the very first time this summer, so don't act like you know adventure and I don't.

At any rate, I loved this city!! We stayed right across from Ground zero, I took this pic from our hotel room. Do you see the footprints of the original towers? They'll be memorial pools shortly. Seeing all of this construction and the building of the new world trade center made me so emotional. I was a blurry-eyed mess. Just walking around the area made me want to hug the construction workers and thank them. When I was missing my homeland while serving my LDS mission in Paraguay I used to get in the shower and belt out the national anthem with big tears streaming down my face. It made me want to do that again. The new tower they are building will be 1776 feet high. Wonderfully fitting, isn't it?? (The Empire State Building is some 1450 feet.) It will be a beautiful monstrous beacon to the world. I love this country so much.

Brooklyn Bridge:

China town:

St. Paul's church, where George Washington prayed after his inauguration:

Hardly any of these headstones are legible now, but the dates you can make out are all from the late 1700s. It was a sacred place to be, wondering about all of those lives and what life must have been like for all of those freedom loving people.

The second night there we went on a dinner cruise around Manhattan. Loved every. single. minute.

See the red white and blue Empire State Building? Jason and I re-watched Sleepless in Seattle a few week ago, so seeing that building made me feel all gooey inside.

Love that lady:

We caught a ferry out to Liberty Island and Ellis Island as well. Ellis Island was another tear jerker for me. Especially thinking about those mommies with their small babies making the voyage. They risked so much to come here.

This sculpture was salvaged from the twin towers. It was created to symbolize world peace. Damaged but not destroyed.

Here's the Wall Street charging bull. I was amazed at the number of people, americans and foreigners alike, gathered around the back side of this bull taking turns to get a picture with its testes. I love capitalism too, trust me. But I think maybe we love it in a different way. Or maybe they just love rocky mountain oysters. P.S. Sorry for using the word testes just now, it's an abhorrent word. Pretty much any word you wanna use referring to those... abhorrent.

Had to get a little bit of NYC shopping in there. Check out this D&G beauty, retailed at around $2300. Jason can't wait to wear it to church on Sunday.

Yankee Stadium! And even better, Yankees vs. Red sox game. This pic was pretty early on in the game, but that game was sold out for months. We were spoiled.

The next day we made our way uptown to 5th Ave and headed into FAO Schwarz. I would have stayed here the entire day. I took so many pictures in this place I didn't even know what to do with myself. I've never seen so much dollhouse loot in my life. Here are the pics I'll narrow it down to, because I was so mystified and smitten in the doll house section, being a dollhouse owner myself all my life:

Look at that miniature furniture. Look at the wee little' lamps and rugs and mini burberry bags, (top middle). It set something off inside of me. Didn't you read Indian in the cupboard when you were a kid? Oh man. It's all very magical. And I just kept thinking, My mom would have a fit here. Jason had to drag me away kicking and screaming. I'm gonna have an insane collection of these little miniatures someday. It's in my blood.

And don't even get me started with the Harry Potter section. A counter that says, "Quality Quiddich supplies"?? Another that says, "Flourish and Blotts?" Forget about it.

Jason picked out his birthday present this year too. A Barbie foosball table!! For only 25,000 bucks! He's SO excited to set this up at his office. The guys should all really love it.

Times Square: This place was mind boggling to me. Plus, it was all foggy and you couldn't even really see the top of the sky scrapers. Mystical, right? Tripped me out.

We even walked over and got a slice of pizza from our very favorite authentic New York pizza place, Sbarro.

And just before heading back to the airport, had to stop in at Serendipity's for the legendary frozen hot chocolate. The peanut butter one will be stuff my dreams are made of for weeks.

Stop judging my double jointed thumbs. Just stop it. That's not even as far back as they curl. Another day, another blogpost. Wait for that one. I don't wanna talk it up, but it's gonna blow your mind.

Okay, I've got to go. Scarlett should be waking up from her AM nap any minute now. Even though she's probably sick of me because I haven't been able to stop kissing her cherubic cheeks ever since we got home. It might not be so bad if I didn't kiss them with such force and such intensity but I can't help myself. They both get extra mauled for being such good girls while we were away. We pulled out their pictures no less than 3700 times. We're those parents, folks. And not ashamed.

New York, ya treated us real nice! Real real nice! We hope ta see ya again soon someday. Real soon. Thinkin' about our time together makes me giddy all over again.

Run down of April.

Phew. Big deep breath. Welcome, friendly May. I'm so excited you're here and you brought sunshine with you. And last night I slept from 9:30 til 6:30 this AM. That's right, 9 straight hours of uninterrupted sleep. It's gonna be a great month.

April, you were good to us but more like in the tough-love kind of way. You pretty much kicked my butt. You were a little bit like a drill sergeant at a fat camp yelling in my face a lot but then you'd sneak me a snickers bar on the sly. Since you've passed I've been pretty much in a coma staring at the walls going, "ba ba ba ba ba" like Goldie Haun in that scene on Overboard. Ya know, when the boys are throwing grapes at her face? Great movie. April, I'm more than thrilled about the family time you alloted me but get outta here with your snowstorms and frigidness. Get outta here with the rigorous schedule you had my little family on. And get outta here Scarlett's croup and mine and Lucy's head colds. OUT OF MY LIFE!!

In April,

We went to St. George for Jason's triathlon:

My dear friend Tamra came to visit us for a week from Houston:

Scarlett and I flew to Arizona for four days to be at my beautiful niece Elyza's baptism:

Our little fam flew to Chicago for 5 days to be with Nessa and Sam and company:

Met Eve Sophia for the first time: Can you even handle her?? Can you?! I understand if you stand up and start flinging things around your house because she's so blanking adorable.

{Twas the most GLORIOUS 5 days. It was freezing in Chi-town. But there was enough love in that student housing apartment to keep us all toasty warm. See what I mean?

Especially since Jason, me, Nessa and Sam all slept in the same bed. Think Willie Wonka... sigh... This trip will get its own blog post soon enough.}

Met the Easter bunny:

Our family friend Sara flew into town from Mexico and my mom came down for the week and stayed to spend Easter, my dad joined us for that as well. The girls loved her. Was a wonderful week indeed! So glad you came Sara!

Started planting in our garden. Planted tomato plants, and they're still alive! I've been running around screaming They're alive!! They're aliiiiiive!! with my eyes bugged out and a big pulsating vein on my forehead. Think Frankenstein. You get the picture.

Had two cavities filled and enjoyed some good laughing gas while in the process. Nicely done Dr. Steven D. Smith! Note the glazed over look in my eyes:

Only the best dentists can produce that in me.

Threw a killer family birthday party for Cathy, Scarlett and Brinley Jean:

Taught some dance lessons to a couple little girls:

(Okay let's be honest this little one teaches me moves I've never seen before.)

And... on the very last day of the month, I ran my first 5K. See that snow? Yes. I woke up early that morn to see about 4 inches. And said to myself tahell with runnin' in that crap and crawled back into bed. I would NEVER have done it had I married any other man. Love/hate him so much.

My mom was down here for women's conference and popped in to hoot and hollar: (and had to immediately burst into tears when I finished. OH marmie of mine!! I just love you! I came through the finish line and had to put her in a head lock and start jumping around when I saw her being all emotional. The adrenaline just sorta took me over.)

I have always hated running. (And runners not to mention.) It started back in 8th grade. Went out for track just because my super athletic BFF Brandi did, and thought we could goof off together during "practice". And believe you me, I faked an ankle injury every single track meet so I never had to compete. I think I might have pulled a hammy in there sometime, too.

The double arm fist pump is what made it all really magical for me.

*P.S. My sister pointed out the blaring red clock in the video to me, and I thought I should tell you it's the half marathon clock. Fortunately I was able to run 3.2 miles in under an hour and a half, but I thought you should know at any rate since this is my very first and it very well could have taken me an hour and a half.*

Anyway, I didn't hate it as much as I thought I would. I wasn't half as slow as I thought I'd be either, even though I was pretty slow. I still mostly hate running. But can see how people get kindof addicted to it. In a sick sort of way. And I will say that one of my favorite things might have been all the bagels and cookies and chocolate milk and other such loot spread out on tables just for me after I crossed the finish line. So I promptly started shoving things into my shirt and pants to take home. No pockets in these here runnin' pants.

Jason and babies were waiting for me at the finish line as well. Everything that matters to me in this life fits into this little 4 x 6 frame.

So there you have it folks. A whole month wrapped up in one itty bitty blogpost. Love/hate you April. Thanks for the good/hard times. So happy/relieved to see you, May. Peace out/see you next time ya'll. (Love you too, slashes. You're just so versatile!)

P.S. Is it just me or are we all a little down on blogging? Me and Ness were talking about it the other day... Is everyone over blogging? I haven't written anything worth much more than family history lately, so maybe it is just me. I'll try to be blogging back in full force soon enough. Let's all try together, eh? Whattaya say? We can save blogging if we unite. Or maybe you don't know what I'm talking about? Hmm.