My Passion

Recently Phoebs and I rocked Scottsdale on a girls long, extended, whatever you want to call it, weekend.  The staff at the resort we stayed at are required to list their "passion" on their name badge.  We were fascinated by peoples' passions, my favorite being the friendly hostess at the restaurant who's passion was butterflies.  She wore butterfly hair clips, jewelry and even a butterfly belt.  One morning, Phoebe asked me what my passion was.  At that very moment, my passion was sitting by the pool, enjoying free drinks, sun soaking and spending time with the besty. Upon further reflection however, my passion is being a wife to Kel and a mother to my four children.  Being a mother is one of the greatest blessings in my life. I'm passionate about nurturing, caring for, entertaining, teaching, guiding and inspiring Lizzy, Rosie, Max and Drew. Being their Mom occupies my time, mind and energy. I can't think of a passion I'd rather have. Happy Mother's Day, especially to my sweet Mom, Mom-in-law and Grandmothers who have made my passion possible and have taught me so much about how to be a great Mom.

Hi, My Name is Sarah

Dearest ones, I apologize for my lack of communication as of late. I regret to inform you that I have been otherwise engaged with the following:

Head Camp Counselor at Cousin Camp 2011

Enjoying my beautiful new niece, Lily

Hosting Best Best and Family for Park City, 2011

That was just July, stay tuned for August, September & October!

A Constant

One thing in my life has been certain:

I have always been blessed with wonderful friends.

As a child, those friends were three little brothers and a blond haired girl cousin named Romney. Luckily, those early relationships have matured into life long friendships.

In school, there were many friends at times and just a few at other times but, there were always fun times in those days! One friend stands out amongst the crowd of childhood playmates. The first to visit me during my 3 week stay in the hospital at age 11 (thats another post), the girl who passed notes from me to my 9th grade crush Ted, the one who got her driver's licenese first & with it came a CAR sophomore year, the first shoulder I cried on over a dumb high school boy, who's Mother felt like my Mother, the girl I introduced to her future husband, the one who watched me mature and fall in love with a boy named Kelly,.......the list goes on and on. Brenda is a friend who is more my Sister.

San Francisco's treat to us was forever friends. Some who were more than twice my age! Women who jumped in to be my Mother, turned out to be my closest friends, still. It was there that I met Phoebe. A beautiful, stylish pregnant girl in water aerobics. We became instant friends and I have loved her ever since. Time, Miles and Babies have not come between our friendship. I relish in her style, wisdom and humor and wish we lived closer. She has taught me in the ways of being a good friend.

Back in Salt Lake, I turned to friends to help see me through my days as a new mom/apartment manager/residents wife. There I met a pretty red-head, also pregnant. Beth's practicality and kindness became a life saver to me during hard times. Hearts were shared, and I appreciate her candour and advice still. She has watched me raise our 3 babies, and I her. She is a source of encouragement to me I can always count on. Happy Birthday Beth!

Now in present days, I am surrounded by wonderful friends who I have learned so much from. I feel blessed to be among them. They have selflessly gave of their time to me and have made me feel so loved here. As this post is getting lengthy, I will have to save my ramblings on this subject for another post.

Thursday I will be reunited with my Phoebs. She has not come to visit for 2 long years. We have much to talk about, shop for, beautify and laugh over. Time will fly by, I must make the most of it. So, with that, I sign off for a few days, fly under the radar so to speak, to enjoy one of my lives constants.....a close girlfriend!

Creativity at it's Best!

So, if any of you are in the market for some amazing, creative and fun gifts for a loved one who is turning 30, may I suggest the following:

A hand-made scrapbook full of 30 things you love about that person (with funny pictures that person wishes you didn't have).

A hot-stone massage!

A turning 30 survival kit full of things like: A 'signature scent', A more 'mature style', Calcium chews, etc.

A birthday poem, 30 mints, 30 hand-made cards, and a 30 mile away trip for a night out!

And, the gift that keeps on giving, 30 days of cute gifts representing things you love about that person. My favorite was a toss up between a darling mug and hot chocolate (my favorite morning treat) and a Jane Austin Classic DVD!

But, don't underestimate the power of words in a well thought out note, birthday card, e-mail or well, a blogg http://pbemett.blogspot.com/2008/05/big-30.html

I encourage you all to try one of these! I can no doubt guarantee complete success!

Catch-Up!

Spa Sarah was Simply Divine! Here's a quick recap:

Day 13- Went straight from the airport to BurgerVille which has the greatest Strawberry Shakes EVER (I have been dreaming of them since my May trip last year). I was so happy to count that as Day 13.

Day 14- Mani-Pedis- Don't they look great!

Day 15- Shopping 'Serendipity' as Phoebe described it! We shopped it all from Walmart to Anthropology and I dare say found killer things at both.

Day 16- Ate at one of my favorite places to go with a girlfriend! Who doesn't love a good chat over some chips & salsa. I love Phoebs because we always have great chats!

Day 17- HOT STONE MASSAGE, need I say more?

Day 18- How perfect was it that I came to visit Phoebe on the Temple Marriage lesson (she serves it up in the Y.W.'s)?? Awesome! We went to church and then enjoyed a fun walk down by the river; it was the perfect backdrop to savor my last day there. Thanks to Phoebe, I was able to check many things of my 30 days list! Thank you Phoebe & Family for a wonderful visit, can't wait for next year!

Day 19- Had a great reunion with my family, came home to a clean home and relaxed for the rest of the day, not unpacking a single thing!

Day 20- Turned off the Phone and played with the girls and Max!

Monday Monday....

Monday Monday, so good to me,

Ok, the cats out of the bag! I love Mondays for one reason....it's good for me! As a rule, I try to never go anywhere on Mondays. I stay home. I read the paper. I try and be a FlyLady and "Bless my House". I nap my little ones...on time. I cook dinner. I try and prepare Family Night. I reflect on the week. And, I enjoy a nice long chat with my Phoebs.

Monday Monday, it was all I hoped it would be

And it was! Oh, I have been tempted to leave and go out! Good friends and family will call with invitations that are so tempting that I almost sucumb under the pressure. However, giving up my one stay home day is far more diffucult then it may seem, and I hear myself asking these beloved family and friends if we could go on Tuesday?, Wednesday?, Thursday?.

Oh Monday morning, Monday morning couldn't guarantee

That Monday evening you would still be here with me.

Then, in the evening after the dishes are done, kids are asleep, bills paid and laundry folded, I take a long bath and smile at a job well done and a Mon-day enjoyed. Yes, I look forward to Tuesday when I can get out of the house and have fun with our kids and loved ones; but by the end of the week I am craving a good round of Monday again! So dear loved ones, don't take offense when you call and I don't answer or you invite and I decline, just know it's Monday!

Firsts

NUMERO UNO:

• When 'best best' extended the invite to join her and her darling crew for a celebratory weekend in Boise, I was excited, but nervous. Could I drive their with the girls and Max alone? Would we be able to handle all of the kids by ourselves....and still have fun? Is there anything fun to do in Boise???? Yes, No Problem, Tons of it, and Surprisingly Yes:

Driving there was easier than I anticipated, thanks to a DVD player, patient girls, a sleepy baby and a tasty caffeinated beverage from the golden arches. Once we hooked up in Boise, we rode around in Phoebe's tricked out Mini and danced the day away to 'Phoebe gets Funky'.
The crew was very well behaved-
then again, we did spend 4 hours at Boondocks one day.

Boondocks wasn't the only thing we discovered in Boise.

We had a very exciting afternoon at Cabella's! Neither one of us had ever been there before and let me tell you it was an experience. The kids had a great time looking at all of the wild life (Rose still thinks they were real). Phoebe and I had a good laugh because her mini-van was the smallest car in the parking lot!

Boise also has a very nice mall that we did drag all six of our flock around. It is amazing how well kids behave when See's Candies are involved. I loved the thrill of this adventure and would do it again in a heartbeat-though it must be said that our husbands did fly in Saturday to help drive us home; a very kind and smart move on their part as we stayed up much to late chatting each night. I simply adore my Phoebs and relished the time we spent together. My road trip to Boise earns ****!

NUMBER TWO:

• Rosie recognizes her cousin's doll as Ila's cousin and insisted on us taking a picture of them together......twinkle sparkle. We have never had a child or met a child who loves their baby as much as our little Rose. She was so excited for Ila to have a play-date with her cousin.