Bitter-Sweet

Why are vacations so bitter-sweet to come home from.. well, we all know why they're bitter. Coming home to this wintery wet madness is one thing. Sweet, why would it be sweet to come home from vacation?

1. The memories.
2. Remembering the precious time spent with family.
3. Being able to go eat at The Sweet Tooth Fairy!

Those are my favorite reasons. Especially #1 & 2.
I have been thinking the past couple days about all the fun we had and the memories we made. I had a real problem on the ship the first 2 days. Summer was SO DIFFICULT. She was always tired, unhappy unless she was doing what she wanted to do and running laps around the ship. I was stressed.. SERIOUSLY STRESSED. I thought she was going to run right off the ship or that we were going to get kicked out of the dining room or that she was going to run right into some strangers arms in Cabo and I'd never see her again. I realize that she was out of her zone and super tired from the trip.. and my family was a super big help with her. But still..

It was bad.

So Monday, after we left Cabo. I went on to the top deck to relax (mostly to get away) and read my book. Little did I know, I sat down by the most talkative couple I'd ever meet. (They were not LDS, just so you know before I go on..) So they proceed to tell me about them, and I told them about me. Blah, blah, blah. The husband was telling me about his 4 year old girl they left at home, she's a big, bigggg daddys girl.

And he tells me:

"how much he misses his girl.

He tried to get her on the ship at the last minute, but couldn't afford it.

He misses her a ton.."

..did I mention that he told me he really missed her?

I'm sitting there thinking.. 'Are you freakin crazy? I would love for my daughter to be at home with my mother in law right now. The only time Sums happy is when she's not with me. I wish Summer was home..' Basically complaining to myself! I told him that my almost 2 year old was on the ship and that she wasn't being very good, and that I basically wished she was home.

And then he tells me "Family is the only thing that really matters, you know? It's all that is important in life and all that you need."

I instantly wanted to slap myself in the face. Of course I knew that! Our church is based around family. I know how important family is. How many times do I need to be reminded? And here is a random 30 year old man from Minnesota, who knows nothing about our religion reminding me! How often do I get to spend this much time with all my family, and here I am, throwing our precious time away. What's the saying, "When mamas unhappy, no one's happy".. ?

I kept running what he told me in my head over and over again throughout the week. And when I had images of throwing Summer overboard (just kidding) I just remembered what he said. I instantly changed my attitude. Became a less stressed mommy. And ultimately had more fun the rest of the week. I am so grateful for this reminder, I felt like Heavenly Father prompted this man to remind me to relax, have fun, and to remember to put my family, not myself and my attitude, first.

As much as it is bitter-sweet to come home, memories last

a lifetime, and this is definately one that I want to keep.

15 Cruise Memories

We got back from a crusie to the Mexican Riviera this past Saturday. What a big bummer to come home to freezing cold/wet/snowy/windy weather.. boo! I couldn't believe how much bigger our townhome seemed. I felt like I walk walking into a huge mansion compared to the tiny room we had been staying in for a week! : )

Here's my top 15 favorite memories of our trip:

15. My little sister got engaged on Lovers Beach in Cabo (her fiance came with us on the cruise.)

14. Summer heard everyone calling me by my name, so she decided that my new name was "Sinny" instead of "mommy".

13. I had my most embarassing moment of my life on the ship, if you ask, I won't tell! : )

12. Summer spilled ketchup all over my new white sweater at dinner the 1st night at dinner, I was already stressed to the max, which resulted in a full on balling melt down.. embarassing.

11. My mom forcing Scott to get a henna tattoo.

10. Sum was deathly afraid of the waves coming in on the shore.. poor girl would freak out if she even looked at them.

9. Sum falling asleep in her high chair at dinner.. It was one of those wodden ones that you use at a restaurant, so it has no support!

8. Summer said her name at dinner for the 1st time. She says her name is "Suh-muh" : )

7. I learned that zip lining is NOT on my to do list ever again.. everyone else liked it. I was fighting back the tears. SCARY!

6. My grandparents were able to come from Virginia. We hadn't seen them since Thanksgiving!

5. Abbey ordering 5 pina coladas, 2 strawbery daqaris and who knows what else.. all on my parents expense! haha

4. "The people that sell their junk on the beach in Cabo are like Seagulls, once you show interest in what they are buying they all flock to you.."

3. NOTE: if you go on a cruise during Spring Break, you WILL end up going with a ship full of disgusting drunk college kids that pee in your hallway, knock on your door at 2 a.m. and hit on you with you husband right next to you.

2. Summer got her picture done professionally, her hair had a gallon of sunblock in it and her little boobies were hanging out in the pics.. nice!

1. I think I gained 5 LBS. off souffle, made to order omletts and waffles, and chocolate crossiants.

0. I had to add one more.. Scott bought me my first really nice watch! Thanks hun!

Cupcakes & Snow

So I went to The Sweet Tooth Fairy to pick a treat up for a friend because she's helped me by watching Summer lately. Anyways.. remember my post (2 posts ago) about how Sum will do anything for a treat? So we go into the bakery and Summer just freaks out: "Ohhhh mommyyy, yummmm, I want a cupcake, mmmmm! Mama pleaseeee? Cupcake? Yummmmm! Pleaseee mommy?" I probably would've ended up buying her one just because she was being so cute. But there was a lady in front of us, she turned to Summer and told her that if Summer was with her she would buy her anything she wanted. The lady turned to me and said "You daughter is so adorable can I please buy her a cupcake?" : ) I thought it was so sweet and cute of this little lady to buy my pleading daughter what her heart desiered. So 10 seconds later a fetti-ferry cupcake was in Summer's happy hands. Here's a pic of her on the way home..

She IS adorable, isn't she?! : )

Later that night it was a flippin blizzard outside. Summer loves snow.. so what did we end up doing? Playing in the snow! Summer doesn't have snow clothes so she ended up playing in her raincoat, zip up jammies and suede boots.. nice.

4 x 4

Kendra tagged me.. here it goes..

1. Four Places I Go:
-Gym
-North Ogden
-Church
-Target

2. Four Favorite Smells:
-Summer after a bath
-Springtime
-Muffins in the oven
-Carmelized Pear candle

3. Four Favorite Movies/Shows
-Glee
-Vampire Diaries
-Off the Map
-Dirty Dancing

4. Four Recommendations:
- Don't pray for patience
- Always be working on a book
- Have "ME" time every day (mine is at the gym or in a book)
- Don't complain, it just gets everyone down and is plain annoying!