LUVnLIFEnHOLLYWOOD

time to take time..

2010-05-12T22:03:00.000-07:00

Okay, so life happens.

We get sooo busy, that we negate(newest word i use often, why, idk?) things we should do, but never seem to find 'enough time' to do.

So, somewhere in my cute lil mind, i figured, Hey, who cares if it's not the most eloquent post, spelled right, funny, or even intriguing..it's for you, it's for your children, and for whoever else cares to read on...

Time to take time to "catch up". Where to start???

How about, I'll just write a journal entry daily, and not worry if it falls into the present ...

enjoy...

Life is wonderful. I have finally accepted my place in this city of super bubbly, super happy, and super LDS world. Don't get me wrong..I'm LDS, I'm bubbly, and tend to be happy 98% of the time, but this world, where i currently live..it's a lil nuts!

I love it.

I've learned to stop picking it apart and comparing it to the place i still call home., but,... we are talking night and day differences.

Literally people! NIGHT AND DAY.

The culture, the people, the vibe, the styles, the diversity, the frame of mind, the energy, the creative randomness, the cleanliness, the food, the night life, the church life, school, work, neighborhoods....it's all very different. One not being better or worse, just different!

I 'hear' things here.. birds singing, wind chimes blowing, children laughing as they play. I see things with more 'opened' eyes. The beauty, the land.

I love the 'outdoorsy' part of UTAH. I go on a morning jog/walk/hike/stroll(depends on my mood) and i realize daily, my love of nature, and the beauty that Utah holds.

It's now Spring time, and all the trees are in bloom. My Nephew Osiris told me, with big bright eyes '"Auntie Noni, don't you just LOVE the Popcorn trees"? They are beautiful.

Pink and White trees lining well manicured streets. It's lovely.

In Los Angeles you see a lot of pretty colors in Nature as well. I remember our nightly walks on the Chandler path with the girls skateboarding, or all of us rollerskating, and thinking the same thing. The contrast of Greens in the trees and Palms, the brightness of pinks, yellow, reds, and oranges in the tropical lush flowers. All the colors both here and there are so pretty.

The Los Angeles and Salt Lake the Sunsets are pretty neck in neck in beauty. It's a different kind of beauty in each city. LA, masked by the city's glow. SLC the Sun sets on the Great Salt Lake, and the colors are indescribable. Reds, Oranges,Yellows, Blues, Purples.

My parents house sits up on the East bench, high on the mountain side, and the view from their balcony is AMAZING! Visiting i would spend each night at sunset, soaking in the beauty. Living here, i try to take it in as often as i can.

It's amazing to me how much you take where you live for granted. Visiting SLC i used to 'awe' at it's beauty. I couldn't take my eyes off the Mountains, the City at night, the Change in Seasons.

Living in L.A. I didn't take advantage of the beach as often as i should have. I didn't enjoy all the fruit trees, and all the different landscapes SoCal has. Now that it's not in my backyard, i crave it...like i used to crave Utah's beauty.

So, lesson learned, and applied daily....

ENJOY what's right in front of you!

Find JOY in all things...both big and small.

Love Letters from my love bugs

2009-04-20T21:55:00.000-07:00

Being a mommy is the most rewarding thing I could have ever asked for. My little ones. What blessings and challenges they are to me. Ti’are with her quick sense of humor. Tonight as were saying prayers, hers included blessings the aliens that they might be safe, and everyone in the whole wide galaxy. She blesses bugs, animals, people who are suffering around the world. Dogs, homeless people. She has such a big heart. 6 yr olds teach us a lot. They remind us of how simple life truly is. Tia asked if you get your favorite ice cream when you go to heaven. We were watching Marley and me, and she cried at the end, asking all kinds of questions about doggie heaven. Included in her prayer that she hopes all the dogs that go to doggie heaven will have their favorite toy with them., and that if they forgot to bring it that another doggie will be kind and share.
How amazingly adorable!

This is a love-letter she wrote to me on my arrival home from being out of town for the weekend… (I’ll write it word for word, in her 6yr old writing)

Hi Mom
Wellcome home!! I miss you a lot . I love you. Will do what you ask me to do. I wish that you would come and it came true. I couldn’t wate for you. I love how you do are close. I love how you do are hair. I relly mist you.
2009 Tiare(in her best cursiveJ )

How can you not smile from ear to ear, rejoicing in the love of your baby girl! That alone makes me the happiest mommy alive!

Kalei is really growing up. She is on the cusp of 10, and I’m starting to see the I’m-grown-up-now phase settle in. I have moments when I would love to keep her my baby forever. Not wanting either of them to grow. I try everyday to cherish what I have in front of me!

Kalei, what a beautiful child. Very careful of others feelings. Very protective of her sister. Smart and sassy. Funny and charming. Her big brown eyes blinking her way into everyone’s heart.
Ti’are, such a sweet, beautiful baby girl. Quick to dance, sing and perform. Always ready to ask a million questions, and really ponder the answers. Caring and kind.

I must say, I am lucky! Life couldn‘t get any better than this! I will bask in my glory of being a mommy to two such lovely, caring, and beautiful babies!
I love being a mommy!!!!

WICKED!!!!

2008-11-15T20:32:00.000-08:00

Wicked.

That was totally Wicked...

Did you see that Wicked pair of shoes?..

Dude, that was Wicked..

What a Wicked laugh...

Wicked ride..

many ways, many saying...

WICKED.....

This momma is PRETTY DANG WICKED if i don't say so myself!
That's right, i made it a point to take my love bugs to WICKED!!!

We have to soundtrack, (thanks Liv)...listened to is for months, the girls know the songs word for word...so how totally excited are they to go??.......Holy Cow, let's say flying monkeys wouldn't compare!

I shop'd online for tix. and got a WICKED deal!! 7 rows from the stage, in the center!! Basically, they were spitting on us as they sang!!

We dressed up in our WICKEDly best and made a night out of it. DInner at our fav. Thai restaurant, followed by photo opt, courtesy of Mommy dearest, who if you know me,u knows i LOVE me some photos..

THe girls were sooooo excited and the entire night was full of OOOOO's and AHHHHHHH's!! THe play was wonderful, and watching my love bugs faces as they saw a BROADWAY play was the best moment EVER!

IF you haven't seen it, u must, if you have,u know how WICKED it truly is!

xoxowickedstlye

Seriously SO Blessed

2008-11-14T08:07:00.001-08:00

I do this blog for you!! I realize you're not here, next to us, and i wanted to capture each moment that u missed...I try my hardest to be a good mommy. My day isn't complete till i feel like my love bugs are well fed, have learned their studies, have enjoyed an adventure, and are told by a million kisses how much i love them and how proud i am!!

My life goal is to be happy. To live in the moment and to embrace each person i meet w/ grace and kindness. I was raised by amazing parents, who taught me hard work, integrity, and love. I'm so blessed in many ways. I have amazing friends who make me laugh. I have Sisters who tell me the truth and remind me how amazing i am, when i have a hard time believing it myself. My brothers who are the ones in the fam that are always there to tease their way into your heart, and make you laugh.

Taylor and Quincy, who support me and make my role as a parent easier. THe Lewis's who have always loved me and Kalei as family and who have always been quick to love, and be great grandparents. Jessica, who is one of the kindest lady's i know. She takes care of my love bug with a sincere heart.

MY Daddy, who is the most amazing man you will ever meet! He has always been my hero, the one i look up to for his steadfast beliefs, his hard work and his undying love and guidance of his family. My MOmmy who, is easily the most amazing mom ever!! Raised 8 kiddo's who turned out pretty amazing. She'll take in anyone who needs love and a home cook meal, and she always finds time to show her grand kids how much she loves them!

I am so blessed!!

I have two amazing girls! Kalei is the smartest, most caring child I've known. She protects her sis. Makes sure she is living a life that is full of integrity. SHe reminds me all the time how i should be living life! SHe is talented at sports, in dance, she made the drill team at school and is so excited. Always practicing her marches and dance. SHe is smart and inquisitive. Eager to learn and ready to help. SHe is my Nano. My heart.

Ti'are is my lil drama queen. SHe has the kindest, gentle heart and big spirit. SHe tells you your beautiful the min she sees you. SHe hugs everyone we know. SHe dances and sings, no matter where we are. She is always smiling and ready to love everyone!! SHe teaches me how simple life is. HOw non judgmental you should be. SHe reminds me to take time to dance, sing, laugh, explore. She is smart, top in her class, but wants to read at Kalei's level, so every night she pulls out a BIG kids book and asks me to help her read. She is my T.T, my love bug.

WOW, i have some pretty great, amazing and beautiful children!!Thank you for being who you are in my life! Heavenly Father puts people in our life's for different reasons. Each one of you has a special place in my heart, and i love you!

ALoha Oa Ia Oe

Halloween Night, when the witches and ghost come out to play..

2008-11-01T19:59:00.000-07:00

Juno and Dead Hikers (Alli,Sean,Andi & Heath)

Da'Girlz

Kalei and friends from School

Ti'are and Friends from school

Our Jack o lanterns

Jonas Brothers house, they wern't home but had a life size poster of them out!!

High School Musical BOyz..Kalei was Excited!!

Outside of Mylie Cyrus house, the Jonas Brothers were playing Guitar Hero

The Girlz b4 TorT...

Our T or T crew!!

Scary Spider Girl and Gypsy Momma!

THe Header Boyz, being Headeris

Juno Alli&Sean

Sean & JOn

Check out the COOL makeup!!!

Halloween NIght,, what a FUN time...The girls had a parade at school, which was a blast to watch...of course my 2 were the CUT-IZ-AX!!! They knew how to work the crowd and make everyone not only shout their names, but explode with cheers!!!

Night time started at the Cooks, they live in the busiest, most wanted Trick or Treat neighborhood EVER.. Taluca Lake, where some CElebs live,(think Joanas Brothers...OMGoodness, r u freaking out/ Rick Dees..lol, most visited house for his HOMEMADE CARMEL APPLES/Hanna Montana..aka Mylie Cyrus!!! and let's not 4get the Great STEVE Carell(was handing out candy with his baby last yr, this yr only a huge bowl of candy on front porch)...more to mention, but who cares really?!?!

Cooks had a Pot Luck/pre TorT party,and than we hit the streets..Good times, big Group, kids everywhere, way cool homes decorated in the scary,gooly,even diplomatic ways..After about 2 hours of TorT, we headed over to another friends house up in Hollywood Hills for a Haunted Halloween Party.

Arrived at the Camballs to be greeted by the Valet Services, kind of cool for a house party,( if you've parked in the Hollywood Hills, or anywhere in L.A. 4 that matter, you get what i mean)!!..This house sits on top the Santa Monica Mountain Range facing the city with some amazing views!! They transformed their home into a haunted HOuse !!! I was Freaked out!!

Arianne had some cool games planned. SHe handed out Halloween pins that we wore, and couldn't say the word, PUMPKIN, if we did, we would have to give up our pin.. .the one with the most pins won the DOOR PRIZE!! So Naturally, JEss and I went to battle..

Most of the night, he and i bomb-barded everyone with tricky ways to get them to say PUMPKIN..we were neck in neck most of the game, and towards the end, he had me by 3...but his luck changed right at the end when he was whispering to his baby, let's go look at the PUMPKINS and some lady over heard him and stole all his 20some pins!!!..DANG IT JEss!!

THe night finished with Kalei winning the Mummy contest, Tia winning the Scariest Costume Prize(huge tin of cookies and a $50 Gift Card to Cheesecake Factory...yummy!!!) and i won the BEST OVERALL!!!!!!(Assort of Hot Coco's and a $100 Visa Gift Card)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!HOLY COW we racked it in!!!

What a way to spend Halloween night...Thanks to everyone who made it a FAN-Fab-ulous NIGHT!!!WHHHAAAAAAHHHAAAAHHHHAAAAAHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA(insert Dracula laugh)

Summer Lovin

2008-10-26T21:34:00.000-07:00

Summer fun...not so much, work, work work.. the girls are with their dad's, so i use this time to catch up my piggy bank..

Tia got to come home for some of her Summer break, Quincy was workin out w/ a Team here in Cali, so we got to share T!! It was a nice time, dinners, out tings and Tia always there to entertain us.

A few friends came to visit, and i took a few trips out of town to take advantage of the," No kids, mommys playtime".

San Fran was WAY fun.. Tia and i took the drive up the coast, Let me tell you BEauty Galore! Imagine Golden fields with Forest Green Trees that have JetBlack Trunks....it was breath taking! THe drive was Easy... Listened to Books on tapes and played ISPY..Stoped at this cute winery on the way and rode some rides and toured the wine country.

Arrived to Greet Miss Kalei, home (FINALLY) from the summer spent with Daddy in N. Carolina..SHe had grown a foot and was as smiley as the day i said," see you soon love bug"..

Stayed with Jessica's Auntie& Uncle in Palo Atlo, right by Stanford. Beautiful neighborhood, very Standfordish. Jessica's MOm, Cuz'ns, and friends welcomed us as family and we received home cooked meals, a place to crash,and a "home" enviroment...My mom and i were talking about how great vaca's are when you are taken care of by family! Makes it 100'xs better.

The girls and i explored the city, The Bay, Museums, The Bridge, Fishermans Warf, Trolly Rides, Tennis courts. Taylor gave the girls some great lessons in Tennis, his last of the summer, and Tia's 1st, the girls loved it! We played Basketball and talked story for the 2 night we were there.

San Fran is my new FAV city. Beautiful! It surprised me how much it looked like how i imagine NYC would look, a HUGE city all crammed into a island! BIg and Beautiful, esp when your looking at it from a the AMAZING REd Bridge...if you've never been, put it on your TO-DO list!Thanks Tay&Jess for the good times!!

Drive home was a breeze, had my TWO love bugs home again, What mommy wouldn't be ESsssTAaa TIC???

2008-10-26T21:18:00.000-07:00

Tia as Scary Spider Girl...(2 cute 2 b scary!!)

2008-10-26T19:33:00.000-07:00

Miss Hawaii, Beckham #1 Fan, Miss Utah, and Lil NOme Sarh

Pam & I won Most Creative!!

Da' Header Crew(L-R:Kris,Evan,Jon, Dan,Sarah,Josie, Baby T) Miss Kalei as V.Williams!! Rockin it Pro Tennis stlye

THe Beauty Queens & The Hippie's (Pam, Joel, Shell, Mmwaa)

Blue Eyeshadow/Flo-Pink Lipstick/The CLAW!!/THe Wings/GLoves=

80's BeautyQueen...... (all i can say is What were we thinkin??)

TRunk or Treat...2 Sum it, we all dress up, Decor our Car Trunks and Have a Chili Cookoff..ORgin by my BFF Alli(good job sista) and attended by all my other BFF's and those lucky enough to be in our presence.. just kidding!!

Good Chili, GOod times.. Crazy Costumes( check out below) and YEs Pam and I won Most Creative!!

Tia was a Scary Spider Girl (she made up the title, she's really into scary anything, kind of funny since mommy is a scardy cat!)..make-up was crazy cool (mmmWaaaa did it) and Kalei was showing her best V.Williams Tennis Improv. I must say i do have the most adorable chicks around!!

My fav's of the night, (look below) was Sarah in her HOME MADE, very Creative( holy cow girl, i'm impressed!), NOBE (dang is that how you spell it?) family..The lil people who live in Mushrooms...SHell Cooks totally GROOVY AFRO fam...she played the role so well, and Tia Loved the Treats(RINGS) she handed out..wore EVERY SINGLE ONE to church 2day....

Andy's HIPHOP MIley CYrus Style, and OFCORSE my GiRl Lisa with her #1 David Beckham Fan outfit..(YUMMY ON THE DB part!!)ooo ya & Maurine did a prefect Sara Palin number!!

GOOD TIMESS HELD BY ALL!!

New at this..

2008-10-26T19:26:00.000-07:00

Aloha..
!st entry..One of my BFF's told me about how easy and fun these are, so i thought i'd give it a try..A good way for the folks back home, overseas, and well, just about all over America to keep in touch w/ me and my lovelys!!
Dont expect much...hehe!!
WHere to start,, where to start....