A Sleepover

Meet Kaileigh, She is Rachel's youngest daugher (3yrs). She has had a hard time adjusting to life without Jennie. She wants her Jennie and is so distraught when she can't find me. Whenever I do come over she has to be inches from me. If I am on the couch, she is on my lap. If I am cooking, she is on a stool next to me. When I leave there are LOTS of tears. I had signed up to work on my day off this week so I knew I wasn't going to have the Kaileigh time I usually have. To keep her from having a major meltdown one day--I told her she could spend the night--I may have created a monster.

After having Wendy's for dinner we went to the "hot pool". She splashed around for a little bit.

Next up--paint her fingers and toes! I do this every Tuesday for her.  She loves PINK!

Once it gets dark she knows it is time for bed. She had a cot to sleep on, but she wanted me to go to bed too. I wasn't quite ready for bed at 7:30, so after an hour I let her rest on my lap...and she quickly fell asleep! And she stayed asleep ALL night! YAY!

There is a little park behind my apt, so we went and fed the ducks, and then she played on a duck!

All morning she kept telling me she wanted to live with me- or have me come back and live with her--she's adorable.

Now Kamden and Kinsee are counting down the days until school is out so they can have a sleepover at Jennie's!

In other news: I did not get the 5 star employee of the month for the whole resort, but that's ok. Something to strive for! It was an honor to even be nominated!

Shout out to oldest niece (brother's side) for her performance in Pirates of  Penzance! Wish I could have been there!

I got to see Iron  Man 3! YAY!! SO.GOOD. Next up: The Great Gatsby, Star Trek, Wolverene, and Thor 2! Bring on Summer movies!

A new favorite

I know I am a little slow at "discovering" Stephanie Nielson, but I finally have. My friend Anji has read her blog for years.... I knew I wanted to read her book:

So I finally did. Amazing! She is an amazing woman. Someday I want a love like she and Mr. Nielson share...I also hope my faith is as strong when a trial comes.

It is the end of April. Slow season at the spa will come. Did you know I finally quit Massage Envy? I am so glad I was able to! Being at the spa 4.5 days will be good. This week-- I work every day. It's gonna be a long week. I'm already tired thinking about it.

I bought my flight to Philadelphia! I will be in DC for a week in July! I am super excited!!! Not sure what all I will get to do, but it will be fun!

This week I was nominated Five Star Spa Employee of the month! I was so happy! Tomorrow I go to a reception and I find out if I am the Resort Employee of the  month. If I am -- I get a $100 for one of the restaurants at the resort that I have really been wanting to eat at! Not the five star place, but a different one. 

My sister's daughter Kaileigh continues to be my side-kick and biggest fan. She can't get enough of me. I might create a bigger monster by having her spend the night with me :) She's fun.

In Which I Attempt To Catch Up

My fun week with my Dad and BFF Darlene in town was a huge success. We had so much FUN!!
Tuesday: Dad, sister and I went to the Temple. It was most lovey-- no pictures as--my side zipper busted and who wants a pic like that? Then we went to lunch...back to sisters... good times.

Wednesday--I worked, then went to sisters for dinner with Dad and family. We had costco orange chicken (favorite!) Then I went and picked up Darlene at the airport!

 Thursday-- I worked, Darlene spent the day with her cousin, we met back up and ate at Texas Roadhouse (YUM!). Then we met Dad, sister and family at the Mesa Temple for the Easter pageant!

Kaileigh and Kallen have to be with me at all times.

We had a great time. The kids all fell asleep before it was over--and we got lost trying to find Rache's car, but it was fun.

Friday-- I worked--Darlene had a spa day! I gave her a scrub, we had lunch together, then she got a facial, then a pedicure. She also got to lounge by the pool

Then we met up with my Dad to do an hour horseback ride!

This is called Koli-- it means corral in the Pima language

This is the resort from Koli

Meet Heny-- he is a While Stallion--wild horse that loves to come to Koli and hang out. He was so nice to pose for me. I have also learned that he is getting all the female tame horses pregnant. They will back up to the fence and allow him to do his thing! CRAZY!

We were on the sunset ride. So beautiful!

Didn't get a pic of me on my horse, but this was my view. She was a good horse.

We had a good ride. My knees were a little sore after, but not bad...my sits bone..yeah, that was sore for a day. Then we went and ate at Ztejas YUMMY!

Saturday-- Easter egg hunt with sister and neighbors. Then we went to the final Spring Training game for the Diamondbacks

Not a huge crowd, but still fun!

Must eat a hot dog at a baseball game!

Yes we were the last row of people so Kamden had to go to the top  for a bit.

Then we went back to sisters for a bit... then Dad, Darlene and I went and saw The Host. I thought it was good. As expected when turning a book into a movie.

Sunday--Darelene came to Sacrament meeting with me so I could sing in my ward choir...then it was time to say goodbye and take her to the airport. Then I went down to sisters and went to church with them. We had a yummy ham dinner. It was fun

Monday-- worked and saw Dad after work

Tuesday-- Hike South Mountain with Dad... We got to the trailhead at 8:30. I thought we would hike until noon and then go to lunch.. Dad thought we would hike about 8 miles.... turns out we did about 11!! We forgot sunscreen and I didn't have enough water. It was in the 80's which on the mountain is hot when there is NO shade. We stopped for maybe 10 min. total. It took us 6.5 hours.

This is the Shegoi or Creosote bush. It is the oldest living plant on the earth. It has a lot of medicinal value to it. It is a sacred plant to the Pima people. I use it everyday at work in a balm and mist.

See that mountain behind me? This is when I thought I was halfway done so I had already drank 1 of my 2 bottles of water.. but nope-- Dad and I hiked that mountain behind me too. 

That is smog--not clouds

It was a good hike-- I now want hiking clothes and walking poles. I could have really used both on this hike. I had a bad sunburn---and my calves were so SORE!! I am peeling--and itchy. It took me 4 days to not hurt. I learned a good lesson

And that is what I have been up to! Sorry it's long, but it was fun!

spring

I am enjoying a beautiful Spring day. It is in the 80's. We actually hit 95* this week, crazy. I am enjoying it today My home teachers came today so I didn't get to the library, I am attempting this post w my phone. We'll see how long it lasts. I got to see 'Oz, the Great and Powerful.' I really liked it. My Dad and my friend, Darlene, come next week, so I have been getting ready for that. Will cram as much fun in as possible! Work continues to be busy... Yay!!! My friend Carrie got to stay at a Sheraton on my friend rate. It is super easy to do, so if you are family or close friend and need a hotel, just let me know!! I can hook you up :-) Busy week ahead w church activities. Will have to post more later. A friend, Dale Elsik, passed away last week. Wish I had lots of money so I could have flown in for the funeral. Sent flowers instead. I taught both his daughters in church. Always had fun w him too. He will be missed.

I'm a Missionary!

Lots of changes happening now. My Spa boss had his last day... so SAD! We had a going away potluck for him. There is a guy that I work with that needs to open his own bakery because he is amazing!! He likes to bring goodies in and I like to eat them. I tend to help out "in the back" (putting away laundry, folding towels etc.) so he said he would make me something any time I needed--so I asked him to make a cake for the potluck. This is what he came up with:

This is our logo-- he made a yellow cake with blueberry buttercream frosting in between the layers. It was really good!! I am still bossless at the spa. Made for an interesting week. It was ok until Saturday when it was busy...

Not sure when Massage Envy bosslady will leave. But changes to come there too.

After living in my ward since Thanksgiving--I finally got 2 callings!! I am on the RS Activity committee and a Ward Missionary! I am really excited for both callings. Glad to finally have a calling really. 

I know I am a little slow---but I finally got to read Pres Monson's biography. I have had it for several years, but it mistakenly got put in storage when I moved to AZ and now that I am in my own place-- it came out of storage. It was really good. I just love him. I did not realize how impressive his memory is! I think time must slow down for him-- I don't know how he has done everything he has!! And-- I didn't realize the Germany temple was built "behind the Wall"! If you haven't read his story-- you need to. I hope to be a little more like him.

I get to see my Dad at the end of the month-- and Darlene is coming to visit! YAY! I am really excited. She and I are supposed to go to DC this Summer-- not sure that I will be able to due to finances. I hope to. We'll see. I am thinking of going to BYU Women's Conference in May. But then that costs money to get there too... Why can't I meet a millionaire that wants to give me his or her money? Hmmnn.

Karma

It has been a busy week in my world of massage. That is a good thing--means I can pay my bills! But it also means that I am tired and worn down. This week I was good to myself and got a 2 hour massage. Now, I hate giving them, but I don't mind asking someone else to do it! :-) My good friend did it-- she knows Cranial/Sacral work so I bet the first 30-45 min. was done with that and then a normal massage. Man, I felt so GOOD after!!! AWESOME! And yes, I tipped her well. I am going to need to go back to her soon.

This week I had Stake Conference--temple night was Friday. I was SO TIRED. It was a challenge to go, but I did and I am glad I did. I did initiatory work. I was walking like an old lady--body just so tired after a long day. Saturday was crazy too. I think I did 6 hours of massage on Friday. Saturday I did 6.5 hours. I was supposed to to 7, but someone didn't get out of a meeting in time (YAY!!!) I was so tired...even more tired than on Fri. I decided to go eat at Chick-fil-A (When do Mint shakes come out??!! St. Patty's is in a month!) Well, I wasn't paying attention and I realized I was about to hit a car. I saw it turning right--right into my lane--and then I looked up and realized my light was RED! I was running a red light and came within inches of hitting a car. Heavenly Father loves me-- I think I used up all my good Karma. So glad I didn't hit it. Totally woke me up! I got my food and went home.... and rested for a bit before my meeting.

I love Stake Conference-- and I really love it when there is a visiting general authority. We had Elder C. Scott Grow (yes, his name is a complete sentence LOL).  I really enjoyed the meeting yesterday and today. He asked the lady sitting next to me to share her testimony--she is John H. Groberg's daughter and he has known her for a long time. I asked her if she grew up in Tonga--she said she lived there when she was little--started grade school there, but no, grew up in Idaho Falls. 

I read Fahrenheit 451 it was ok. At least it was a short book. I have a hard time with "old style" writing. At least I can say I read it!

I went to FHE on Monday--we played Wits and Wagers. It was fun to play that again. I think I actually won, I just turned ALL of my tokens in on the last round and lost... but still over all I won :-) My brother should be proud of me!

I am in Haven withdrawal. I want to see season 3. I may just have to get on itunes and download them all instead of waiting for the dvd to come out... we'll see.

I did survive another lame Valentines- I just ate all the treats I wanted :-)

Much the Same

There hasn't been much of a change this week. I am still enjoying Haven. Sadly I am almost to the end of season 2-- all of season 3 has aired... but how long until the dvd is ready??!!

The diet-- I didn't lose a stinking pound my second week. The first time I did this diet I lost 10 pounds the first 2 weeks! I didn't think I was doing that much different this time. Ah, well. It was stressing me out to not be eating what I was wanting... so now I am be very careful about the carbs I eat-- and sugar (desserts) have been consumed. TYING to be better, and I have been... and I was better about exercising this week-so we'll see how it goes. 

Work has picked up. I just love the spa!!! I was talking to an English teacher--she said she loves teaching The Great Gatsby and Fahrenheit 451  I didn't read either in high school so they are now on my to read list. I really want to finish Gatsby before the movie comes out. 

I did go to FHE and Institute this week-- saw some cute guys, but didn't talk to a single one.... well one but I am 50% sure he was with his girlfriend... or maybe just a good friend as they weren't really a "match". Whatever. I am at least being seen. 

This is my table--notice the ratio between ladies and guys. So typical.

Still trying to get some family history done. Today I learned about indexing. My ward is going to start a contest between the men and the women so I need to step it up and figure this out!

I will do my best to avoid eating my way through yet another stupid Valentine's Day