Day 27:

Wind; Air in natural motion.

Forecast for today,,, Sunny and windy, with a high of 73. Perfect. :) The morning time was a little hectic. Liz woke up a little late, so she decided to just catch the 9 o'clock train, and stay the morning! So she fed Ava, got everything ready for Anna, and i mostly stood around and drank some water. hahaha! No complaining here! So we dropped Liz off at the station, and headed off to school! What a beautiful day!!! It was a bit windy, but even the wind was warm! When we got home, i put Ava down for her nap, and decided to run on the treadmill! I ran one mile without stopping, and for me that is amazing! hahaha! I usually hate running passionately, but that was so nice! I had so much energy for like 20 minutes after i ran,, then i got way tired, but oh well, it was so worth it! Whew! haha! I can't believe it is Thursday already! This week has FLOWN by!

*moment* When i was picking Anna up from school, i totally biffed it on the sidewalk! And not only that, but when i did, i snorted subconsciously! In front of all the moms walking by! It was awesome! hahaha! I don't think i have laughed that hard at myself in a long time!

So we picked Anna up,, hehehe, and went home for some lunch! Anna ate a nutella sandwich and grapes, and Ava ate this sweet pouch thingy full of baby food! They are awesome! It was time for Ava's second nap of the day, and i just couldn't wait for her to wake up! There was no way we were spending this gorgeous day inside!! While she was sleeping Anna and i played a Fancy Nancy board game, and airplane! That was cute, and made time go by prettty fast! When Ava was finally awake, i decided we were gonna go to the water! The east coast beach! Because it is my favorite spot in the whole world!!! hahaha! And we did! Anna absolutely loved climbing with me on the rocks, and Av was fascinated with the waves, (she was fascinated watching them,, i didn't let her get that close, don't worry!) We were there for a long time, and it was my favorite part of the week so far! I love being outside,, wearing shorts,, with the wind blowing in my hair,,,. :) And i hear it snowed in Utah... pahaha. I shouldn't be too excited though, tomorrow it is supposed to be a high of 54... baaahhh. haha. But i will enjoy it while i have it! We went home and ate our snack, and then went to the alligator park as well! Anna insisted on wearing her butterfly wings again. She is so darling. So that was that, we went home, cleaned up a bit, and shortly after Lizjosh came home! Woot!

Oh, and p.s. i am going to be pocahontas for halloween, i am so excited!!!! The inner indian in me is calling out! haha!

Day 26:

Anew; In a new form or manner.

Happy Birthday to Ava! :) It is her 1st birthday! She has been alive for one year. I have been alive for over 19. That is a loooong time! haha! I woke up in a way better mood today too,,, so hoorah! lol! And when i woke up, i had this genius idea to surprise Liz and Josh, and decorate the house with birthday decorations! Plus, that would kill a lot of time with the girls today, AND it would be suuuper fun! Yeeeah. So i dropped Anna off at school, put Ava down for her nap, and started planning. First step was actually finding a place that actually had decortions.... hmmm..... i had NO IDEA! hahaha! So i made a mental note to actually spend some time getting familiar with the area! lol! When Ava woke up, we hopped in the car and drove around, looking for somewhere... i spend a LOT of time driving up and down Boston Post Rd... until it was time to pick Anna up. hahah! So we went home, ate some lunch, and jumped in the car,, once again! I decided to try the Stop and Shop. Money. This little store reminds me somewhat of Maceys at home. And,, just like Maceys, it has a birthday card isle, and.. bingo. Ribbons, balloons, tissue paper, and wraping paper. Time to get creative. hahaha! We went home, and got to work! It was so fun! We made streamers using the tissue paper and ribbon. Anna rolled up the tissue paper, and i tied them together with the ribbon and hung them up around the house. I blew up the balloons (Anna wanted to help, but her little lungs just didn't have the capacity, her face was a purpleish color when she was done trying to blow it up. haha) and she put them in a pile! Then we made a big sign (with the wrapping paper) that said 'Happy Birthday Ava & Anna'! Oh yeah, i forgot to mention, Ava was sharing her birthday with Anna... :) lol. So that took up a lot of time, we got done around 5! So we went to the park for a bit, Anna brought her scooter, and i had the stroller for Ava! Now,,, let me tell you about the weather. Okay, so in Utah when it rains, it is either pouring, lightly raining, or sprinkling. Well here i have experienced a new kind. I would like to call it 'Misting'. So we stepped out of the car at the park, and it was misting. It was like one of those misters at theme parks, but EVERYWHERE. And,, lucky me, i decided to wear my glasses this day. pahaha. They were full blown misted in like 1 second. hahaha. It was funny! We didn't stay for too long, because it started to legitimately rain, so we went home, drank some hot chocolate, and waited for Liz and Josh to get home. Btw, i just decided to call them Lizjosh. Okay? Okay. :) We counted to 100 twice, and they arrived! We turned out all the lights, and when they got to the door... SURPRISE!! And yes, they sure were surprised! Yay! haha! So they had brought home pizza, and the most delectable, scrumptious, phenomenal looking cupcakes i have EVER seen. OOOOHhhhh glory. lol! They got six different flavors,, one was the 'Pinkalicious' for Anna. Then there was Apple Caramel, Red Velvet, Blackout, Peanut Butter Chocolate, and Something de Leche (i forgot. haha). So Anna ate the pink one, then we cut up the others so we could try them all! Talk about delicious. You know how i loved the cupcake they brought back before? Yeah, doesn't even compare to these ones. Yup, my mouth is now currently watering. hahaha! Yum yum yum. Peace.

Day 25:

Frustration; Disappointed; Thwarted.

Blah blah blah. I don't know why, but EVERYTHING was sooo hard today. And i expected it to be a really good day, but that expectation sure slapped me in the face! haha! There was no school, so we set up a play-date with Lizzie for Anna, at 10, and went til 1. The morning time leading up to that seemed to last an eternity. Ava is teething as well, so she didn't want to be put down for two seconds, or she would start wailing!!! (By the way, that didn't change AT ALL during the remainder of the day.) So we sent Anna off to Lizzie's house, and went back home. Putting Ava to sleep for her first nap was a challenge, she wasn't eating very well either, so i was worried something was wrong... but anyway,, i eventually got her down! Phewf. Take a breath. I said a prayer to help me have patience, energy, and the strength to help me make it through the day. So,, that was good. So we picked Anna up and came home to eat, Ava ate a little better at lunch, which made me feel better, but she was so miserable from teething.. :( She kept grabbing at her ears, and fussing a lot. Man.. I wasn't sure what to do, so we went to the Harbour Island park, and i let them play around for a bit! They actually have baby swings at that park, and Ava loves them, she just laughes the whole time! It got a little chilly, so we decided to go back home. And after all this,,, we STILL had about 4 hours til they got home! Oh my glory!!! So we just played around.... a lot..... and everyone was ornery..... and it was a blast. A REAL BLAST!!! I wanted to punch something! I was so freaking grumpy!!! Baaahhhh! Actually, that was when i got a text for volleyball later on in the night... yup. yup yup yup yup. Definitely going! Just so i could hit something!! As hard as i wanted! Yay! hahahah! See how grumpy i was?! Geez. Grumpy the dwarf had nothing on me. lol! But in the end, it was fine! No worries. I was ready to get to bed and wake up to another new opportunity.

Day 24:

Distracted; Having the attention diverted.

A surprisingly smooth Monday! Alllll day i had other things on my mind, like home, family, friends, and i will even admit, boys. haha. Well, mostly just one in particular.. haha. But anyway,,, school, naps, food, they all went by in a breeze! Oh, except Liz accidentally took the baby seat for the car with her in the other car, so Marta had to pick Anna up to and from school! Anna wore her favorite dress and 'biggies' (tights) so she could be the prettiest one at school! And i am sure she was! My best friend Alex and i hopped on skype for a bit, and we chatted, he met Ava and kind of met Anna... lol! She was hiding! But that was way fun! After that we went to the park! Now, we didn't have the car seat,, so we walked. pahahaha. Its a LOT longer of a walk than it is a drive! lol! I was fine, but Anna rode her bike, and she had to take a lot of rests! Good thing we remembered to bring water! Everyone at the park wanted to take turns on her bike, so she got really frustrated and just sat by me and Ava for a while! The walk home was the worst though. There are lots of hills, and Anna hasn't yet mastered how to push her bike, so i did a lot of stroller/bike pushing, which i am sure looked so pathetic to the people driving by! haha! Actually, i looked so pathetic, one of the neighbors offered to drive the bike back to our house. Hallelujah! lol! We made a thank you card for her, and i am planning on making a batch of cooookies as well. :) So that was exhausting, and killed a lot of time! When we got home, we played a few games, and the parents came home soon after that! They had FHE, but i decided not to go, because last time, it killed my sleeping schedule, and i think thats what caused the mono again! So.. i will just have to manage my time better i think! Anyway,, what a day.

Day 23:

Remarkable; Worthy of notice or attention.

What an amazing day!!!!!!! I slept in, showered, got ready, and headed off to church! Today it was the primary program, which i always love, but today it was exactly what i needed to hear. I was tearing up through the whole thing... (shocker, i know, haha.) It was just so sweet to hear their testimonies stated so simply, but with such big meaning. Geez, it was awesome! The rest of the meetings were really good too! After church, i decided i wanted to go see the water! (The east coast beach.) Oh. My. Glory. I absolutely love that place! It was the Larchmont Beach thingy, i don't even know what to call it! But there were benches and gazibos (no clue how to spell that) and rocks everywhere lining the beach. It was a windy day again, but this time the wind wasn't freezing, it was brisk, but not bad at all! I sat on a rock and read my scriptures and thought about all the little lessons taught today. And of course i got emotional. lol! I LOVE my family, i LOVE my friends, and most importantly, i LOVE my Savior Jesus Christ, and my Father in Heaven. :) Way glad i went there today. lol!

Days 21 & 22:

21-

Cold; Having a relatively low temperature, having little or no warmth.

The sun decieved me. I looked out the window and saw welcoming sunshine, and thought, heck yes, its gonna be another beautiful day,,, and then i stepped outside. Bbbrrrrrrrr. I think the high was 58, which really isn't too bad, but the wind is what gets ya! You look up in the sky, and the clouds are moving so fast, like they are in a rush to get somewhere. haha! Friday's always seem to go by super fast! Even the last hour evaporates! I love it! All day was the same ole' routine! Anna played with Leon at the Harbour Island park, which was realllly pretty, but WAY too cold! I could barely stand to be outside! But, i suffered through it for the kids! lol! Ava was a good little baby all day, she went down for her naps like a champ, and was super happy when she woke up, which never happens! Oh!

*moment* Today Anna asked me if i could stay forever. I don't know why, but that made me so happy inside to know that she approves of me, and doesn't want me to leave. I felt like a winner, and i never want that to change!

22-

Today is saturday, and the best day of my stay here so far,,, wanna know why? Well its because its day 22!!! haha! My lucky number! lol! I cleaned up my room, and watched some t.v.,,, i should've done laundry, but didn't. haha! I wrote a few letters, went to the gym, and got all sweaty! I got my nails done. Basically it was a day for me. :) The event of the day was going to the movies with Ciera and Spencer! We went to see Wallstreet..... Big mistake. haha! That was the most boring movie everrrr! haha! I didn't understand half of what they were saying. The only good thing about it was Shia LaBeouf! haha! Really though. After that we went to eat at this place called Hubba... i think. ha! Its a ghetto little place that serves everything with chili on it, and it was actually way good! I got a chicken sandwich with chili and cheese, and it was quite the treat! After that we went to Spencer's house and watched Flushed Away, a MUCH better movie choice! I laughed so much at that one! Winner status. So, over-all it was a way good day! :)

Day 20:

Flutter; To wave, flap, or toss about.

Halloween is coming up, and Anna has gone from wanting to be a dinosaur, to a ballerina, to a bunny to a butterfly. And the end result is..... a pink butterfly ballerina girl! Ta-da!!! :) All day she wanted to wear her costume. It was a struggle getting her to wear normal clothes to school. haha! Right after school though, she barely stepped a toe in the door before she darted up the stairs and changed. And she did look beautiful. :) But she wouldn't let me take a picture for the life of me. haha. OH. I forgot. This morning when she walked down the stairs, she had a surprise for me. So i closed my eyes, and when she yelled, SURPRISE, i looked,,, and,,,,,,, she got her hair cut!!! Her mom did a fabulous job doing so! I told her she could use my shears next time, so it doesn't damage her hair... hahaha. Silly hairstylist coming out of me. So, anyway, back to what i was saying,,, every thing we did had a butterfly theme! Her food was caterpillar food, and her drink was sparkling pink drink that only ballerina butterfly girls could drink. When we played 'doggy and owner,' i went to the pet store and had to ask for a ballerina sparkle dog with wings, (her name was Princess, and apparently pink ballerina poodles named Princess don't walk, they are carried where ever they go... baahhh.) hahaha. Also, she insisted on wearing her outfit out on our walk, and to the park. Every little girl at the park came up and felt her wings,, she was on cloud 9! She loved the attention, and didn't want to leave! She was basically a celebrity pink ballerina butterfly girl! haha! Ava was a good quiet little gal today, nothing out of the ordinary to report with her! She isn't sick anymore, so she sleeps a lot more, and a lot better! Although she still poops like a maniac, i suppose that is normal! haha. So that was my crazy day! At night, i had institute again! It was absolutely amazing, like always! I am starting to feel like one of the crew now, so that is awesome! I love it! I can't wait to get even closer to them, and have a good time! It is also so nice to have a social life out here! I just need to remember to take care of myself out her, and pace myself! Oohhhh life. :) This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and i need to take it, and run with it!

Day 19:

Grateful; Warmly or deeply appreciative of kindness or benefits recieved.

Today is play-date day! Finally. haha! All morning Anna was jumping around giggling in excitement for it! She wore high piggy-tales in her hair, because that's what Lizzy always has. So we dropped her off at school, and went back home! Me an Av had a loooonnnng time together. :) I put her down for her nap, and cleaned up a few things! Then when she woke up, off we went on our walk! Because we had so much time, i wanted it to be long, and worth our while,,, and it was. :) We walked all over town, the sun was shining, with an occasional cloud here and there. They got this new dohickey for her stroller, it is like a sleeping bag that you slip her into, and she just sits there looking like a queen! haha! She fell asleep about halfway through the walk. By the end of our little stroll the sky was blanketed with a thin layer of gray clouds, and the wind was picking up,, perfect timing. We went inside and played around with the toys for a while, then it was time to get Miss Anna from Miss Lizzy's house! The drive there is way pretty because it is right along the water with all the sailboats floating. We picked her up, and she was in a grumpy mood because she didn't want to leave. :( Bummer. We made it all better by going and getting slushies! These things were incredible! They had like 20 flavors of slushies, like cotton candy (Anna's choice), chocolate chip, peanut butter cup, cookie dough (my choice), and keep in mind this is ice! They were so stinkin good!! Then we went back home, played with some good ole magic goop, and decided it was such a pretty day, we couldn't waste it all inside, so we went over to the park,, again. haha! We just love it there! Anna made some new friends, like she always does, and Ava wouldn't stay in her stroller for anything, so i walked around holdin her. :) We came back when it started getting dark, ate a snack, and waited for el parentals to get home! They did, and while dinner was being prepared, i got on good ole skype with my beccer-lou for a bit! Then i chatted and ate dinner with the family! When that was done, i called becs back, and surprise, Evan was there too! They were going to go to a movie. :) But decided i was important enough to talk to me for a bit! I loved seeing both of them. When that was over, i called my home, just to see if anyone would answer! And guess who did??? My Blakie Boy!! :) Yay! So i talked to him, and said goodnight! Love love love love. I am grateful for today.

Days 16, 17, and 18:

So sorry i have been slacking, i will do my best to get better!!!

16-

Ohhh Sundays. :) I got to sleep in!! Its a miracle! I slept all the way til 9! pahaha! I hopped in the shower, and got ready for church! It is nice to get yourself all dolled up, especially if it is because you are entering the house of the Lord! I was a little late, but made it just in time to take the sacrament! The meetings were all wonderful, especially sunday school! I forgot my teachers name... :/ i will work on that next week, but i love her! I am not exactly sure where she is from... but her english isn't perfect, but that doesn't even matter! She teaches so well, and with so much love! We are learning about Isaiah, which is confusing enough, but i still learn a lot! I think the spirit is co-teaching in there! So.. yes, after church i came home to a nice warm dinner, and went to bed!

17-

Mmmmmooooonnnnndddddddaaaaaaayyyyyy. <------ That is how long Monday seemed to be! I don't know what it was, but it dragged on for forever!!! Every activity i came up with seemed to last for about 5 minutes each, so,,, you do the math, i was stretching for more ideas! So... we went to the park! pahaha! They always know how to entertain themselves there! haha! Finalllly, Liz and Josh came home, and i went to FHE!!! It was amazing! It was at Graham's house, and that just so happens to be just down the street from me.... who knew!?!? haha! We planned out future events, and played a game, and ate chips/guacamole/salsa, and cookies! It was phenomenal! Once again, the church activity wins the 'highlight of my week so far' award! Lol! I got home way too late, and went to bed...

18-

Definitely regret going to bed so late. haha! I think the mono monster didn't like it either. Bahhhh. Another long day, and its only Tuesday!! haha! Oh well! The morning went by pretty smoothly, school, nap, walk! Oh, about the walk.... i walked a different way today, down Avon Rd, and dannnggg. Seriously the houses on this street were like mansion status. I felt like a lowly commoner walking around there! They were perfectly landscaped, perfectly groomed, perfectly situated, and perfectly huge!!! Freaking gorgeous! After school i talked to Marta, and we set up a play-date for Anna and Lizzy tomorrow! I told Anna, and she got sooooo excited. Maybe a little too excited! All i heard about for the rest of the day was "I AM GOING TO PLAY WITH LIZZY ALL DAY TOMORROW! SARAH, DON'T PICK ME UP FROM SCHOOL, I WON'T BE THERE, AND YOU WILL BE ALL ALONE. LIZZY AND ANNA LIZZY AND ANNA LIZZY AND ANNA! MARTA IS GOING TO PICK ME UP. I CAN'T WAIT, I CAN'T WAIT. CAN IT BE TOMORROW ALREADY, I WANT TO GO TO BED." Those were literal, direct quotes from the miss anna. hahaha! Sommmmeone was stoked. We played games, like little kids and their babysitters do, and then Liz and Josh came home! I was planning on going to bed SO early, cause i was so bloody exhausted, but then my computer started ringing.... it was from Scott Alanis! :D My dad was on skype!! So i chatted with him for like 30 minutes, and it was so awesome! I love my dad. Honestly, he is an amazing guy, and he's always been a hero figure in my life! Not to mention he is a hoooot! He even picked up Maggie and put her up to the computer, and i started to cry. Geez, i am an emotional girl. pahaha! But i miss my Maggielou. haha! So after that i went to bed, but couldn't fall asleep for another hour, so there went that idea. lol! That is all for today.

Days 14 & 15:

Warning: This post will be long. Probably. haha.

Thrilling; Producing sudden, strong, and deep emotion and/or excitment.

14- TGoodnessIF!!!! Today went by quite fast actually! Things went smoothly in the morning. In the afternoon Anna had a play-date with the most adorable little boy named Leon! I was supposed to meed his new french nanny, but she just dropped him off without saying much, and left! Then when she came to pick him up an hour and a half later, she didn't even say a word! It was a little awkward, but i am sure she is just getting the hang of things, and hopefully one day we will be friends! :) The evening was way chill, i got to talk to my bests Heather, Becca and a little of Sandy on skype! It was so good to chat with them! OH how i miss my girls!!! Skype is my new favorite invention. haha! After that i hopped in the shower, read my scriptures, and watched Miss Congeniality 2 til late in the night. (because i could! haha) BTW i love that movie! I was literally laughing out loud to it! Winner status.

15- Saturday is a special day.... and Brian is in town!! :) All morning we were coordinating when and where to meet up in the CITY! I was so giddy i was pacing in my room in anticipation to go! haha! And also i was a little anxious to ride on the train and subway by my lonesome! But Liz and Josh gave me good directions and advice, i was absolutely fine! haha! The train ride in was exiting! I saw a lot of grafitti, and i actually have this bizarre interest in it. There is a lot of (illegal) creativity and skill put into it, that i kind of respect! (not the illegal aspect, but talent for sure) Another thing i noticed was all the garbage. It is everywhere! It made me want to get a massive group together and just spend a day picking up the trash. Can you imagine what a difference that would make? Just a thought. So i rode right into THE Grand Central Station! Holy Moly. There were so many people!! Some walking fast, some slow. Some dressed to the nines, some dressed like they didn't care one bit. Some old, some young. Some with their noses in the air, and some begging with everything they have for some change. So many different nationalities, it was absolutely insane! Thats a lot to take in for one gal. haha! It was absolutely fascinating,, and that was only the beginning. I met up with Brian and friends on 59th and Lexington.... i think that is how you say it, i am still new to the street lingo! Its confusing as crap. haha! After i met up with them we went to this authentic New Yorkian pizza, and it was to die for. To die for. My mouth is watering at the thought. hahaha. After lunch, the rest of the crew went to Serendipity while Bri and i went to H&M and Dylans candy shop! So.... H&M. WHY in the world do they not have one in Utah??? What a freaking genius clothing store! Serious, i understand what all the rage is. hahaha. We got little fudges at the candy shop too, and they were a little piece of heaven! After that was the raffle. The raffle for what? Well let me tell you. It was a raffle to win front row tickets to see Wicked!!! And i can't hold this in any longer, THEY CALLED MY NAME, I WON TICKETS TO SEE WICKED IN NEW YORK!!!!!!!! :D Seriously the highlight of my life so far. So, i saw Wicked. Was i blown away? YES. Did i cry? YES. Did a guffaw? YES. Am i obsessed? DOUBLE YES. Honestly there aren't words to explain how absolutely incredible it was. I am so grateful to have won so i could be able to see it. I see it as a blessing! I am so happy. Sigh. So after that long and eventful day, it was time to ride back home, and here i am. So content, and so tired. But this post was too exciting to post. :) Love life.

Day 13:

Better; of superior suitability, advisability, desirablility, acceptableness; preferable.

This morning the foghorn woke me up..... they don't have foghorns in Utah. So i woke up thinking there was some kind of world crisis that everyone was being alerted about, so i peeked out my window,,, and didn't see anyone else in any kind of panic, so i decided to not think anything of it and be sure to ask Liz and Josh what in the world that was! haha! Not gonna lie, i felt like a strait up idiot when they told me. hahaha. So i decided i need to eat healthier, and cut back on the nutella. Although i think it is addicting. Seriously. With my new eating habits in mind, i thought about what i wanted for breakfast. I decided oats were healthy, and i heard somewhere that dry oats are even better. So i ate dry oats..... and felt like a horse. To spice things up i threw in a banana.... and felt like a monkey. Yeah, never doing that again. I would rather get fat on nutella than eat like a monkeyhorse for the rest of my life!! hahaha. The weather held up for a walk around the neighborhood for me and Ava, and later a bike ride around the park for Anna, then it started to storm! It rained so much! It wasn't a heavy rain, but it was a constant one for sure. There were puddles everywhere! The evening kind of went slow, so Anna and i decided to make cards for her parents, and we put them in 'magic envelopes'! (The magic was licking the strip and having it stick to the envelope! haha.) I was also way anxious to get to institute! Josh came home a little early to make up for coming late yesterday, so that was nice, and it gave me plenty of time to get ready for institute! Ohhh institute. I loved it! There were 14 people there! I guess that is an all-time record for them, so everyone was so happy! Ciera (my new fabulous friend in the ward) was there, and we chatted it up, i like her a lot! Too bad she is moving back to Utah next month to get engaged!!! hahaha. jk, i am happy for her! Everyone there is way nice, and they are sooo tight! I want to be tight with them, and i have a feeling i will! Brother Anderson is the teacher, and man. He is one cool guy. We learned about Doctrine and Covenants 19, and he just taught with so much passion, and he is bloody hilarious! We were talking about how the Catholics use the crusifix as their 'symbol', but we choose not to, because we don't focus on the death, but the life, and then he stopped. Thought a little bit, and said, "What is our symbol?......... Casseroles." hahahaha. I laughed so hard. All around it was a good time, and there were cookies, which is always a bonus. lol! Ciera is way close to Brother Anderson's family, and do you remember when that lady told me about that girl that was texting her brother in Utah? Well apparently, that is Bro. Anderson's son, who just returned from his mission, and i HAVE to meet him on Sunday.. hahaha. Tooo bad i just still like someone else! haha. But i am down for another friend! I got home, and the family left dinner out for me, they are the sweetest! I stayed up way too late, but couldn't fall asleep because of my stuffy nose. :( haha.

Day 12:

Challenge; difficulty in a job or undertaking that is stimulating to one engaged in it.

........ Today was tough. Okay, the ending was tough. The actual day day was good! School as usual, and Marta picked Anna up from school and came over to the house for a play-date here! Anna and Lizzie play so well together! They are the cutest of friends. They played for about three hours while Marta and i got to know each-other better! She is one amazing woman! Really, i admire her! It is fun to try and understand her english with her heavy spanish accent! Sometimes i just nod my head, smile and say 'really?' to what she says, when i REALLY didn't understand one word she said. hahaha. And i think she knows it too! haha! After that we went to the park and played some more! Ava and i had a good time there today, because she took her nap right before, so she didn't fall asleep! It is a challenge to keep her from eating little leaves though! lol! On the way back from the park, Anna and Ava both zonked out in the car, and usually when that happens for Josh and Liz, they just leave them there to sleep, and hang out by the car for when they wake up,, so thats what i did too! Av was the first to wake up, (she is way congested, and her nose was running alllllllll day, so she hasn't been sleeping that well either.) So we sat around the garage and waited for Anna to wake up. Ava started getting fussy and crying way loud, so i tried to hurry and calm her down and picked her up, and i think that was when Anna woke up... she woke up, and didn't see anyone right by her, and she was still strapped in her seat, so she got scared that she was stuck there. :( I honestly was there in like 2 seconds after she woke up, but she was hurt. She stomped in the house, and sat down and cried for almost 5 minutes strait. She wouldn't let me get near her to comfort her, so i just had to stand there and watch. When she calmed down, i called her mom (they asked me to if anything like this happened.) and Anna talked to her, and started crying again, which i think made Liz upset too. So... yeah. I felt the tension. And it felt like it was all targeted at me. Josh got home first (they both had to take the later trains today) and gave me a little fatherly lecture, and said to just wake her up next time so she isn't so terrified, and told me that he was probably handling this a little better than Liz was. (Which is understandable because she has that motherly protection thing going for her.) So yeah. That sucks! I was so freaking helpless, which is the worst feeling ever! All this caused a massive melt-down in the shower. haha. But i think those are healthy! I tried to call a few of my friends, but nobody answered. Then i decided to call home, cause i was pretty sure someone would be there... and blake answered. :) I was so happy to hear his voice. My buddy can always make me smile. We didn't talk about anything too exciting, but he made my day for sure. I learned a lot today, and i am grateful. I knew it wouldn't be a perfect job, and actually, things have been good in the big picture! So, its all about perspective. I know i am supposed to be here, and i have a duty to fulfill! But i will admit i am strait up homesick. Its like disease status. haha. But i will make the absolute best of it.

Day 11:

Dance; to move ones feet or body, or both, rhythmically in a pattern of steps esp. to the accompaniment of music.

This morning i kind of got in trouble... :/ apparently i wasn't feeding the girls enough in the day, so Liz and Josh told me to work on that. Sheoooot. Sometimes i have a hard time taking constructive critisism, so i will admit that i was a little grumpy. haha! But the more and more i thought about it, the more i decided that HELLO! They are the parents/my boss, so they know way more than i do, and i need to make a few adjustments! Nuff said!

*moment* I made Anna a bowl of cereal and orange juice, and gave Ava her baby food and a yogurt.

Today Anna was the 'snack person' in school, so she brought graham crackers and fresh apples to school with her, and she was so giddy about it!

*moment* While Anna was at school, i gave Ava her bottle of formula.

After school Anna just kept talking about how when you are the 'snack person', you get to be the leader, and everyone tells you how good the snack was, and she was just lovin the attention! haha!

*moment* After school, I made Anna some halloween mac-and-cheese, and Ava her peas baby food, as well as her sweet potatoe chicken dinner baby food.

In the afternoon, Anna had a ballet class because she missed hers on Saturday for her friend's birthday party! We got her all dolled up in tights and her leotard, and she even let me put her hair up in a bun! While we were waiting to go to the studio, i turned on some music and we danced our little hearts out in the kitchen! I was in girly heaven! After that, we went to the studio and she danced with the other girls while i stayed in the lobby and chatted with the owner's husband. He is such a nice man! He is probably in his early fifties, and just married Melanie (the owner of the studio) in Sept. They were college sweethearts for three years, then their paths in life kind of drove them apart. He skiied professionally, and she was dancing on broadway. Til one day (last year) she called him up and told him she was done living without him, and he flew out to New York from Texas, and they were married. Isn't that the sweetest thing you have ever heard!?!? Baaahhh. I love their love. When we got home...

*moment* I gave Ava a yogurt and her bottle and Anna an apple and a Mochi ball.

So after the snack Ava took a nap while Anna and i went through all my jewelry and we put my beautiful rhinestone costume jewelry on her so she could look 'beautiful' when her mommy and daddy got home! And she did! They raved about their little glamorous girl! It was darling. :) All in all, today was good, and i feel like i improved on their request. ;)

Day 10:

Long; having a considerable duration in time.

Yup, today was a looong day! As Mondays usually are, but today was especially long because it is Columbus Day, therefore Anna didn't go to school! I decided i need to get a little more creative with my activities, because we went to the park twice, and the other parts of the day we were either eating, or playing 'hay-ride'! haha! This morning Anna wanted to dress herself, and actually did a wonderful job doing so, she didn't exactly match, but her clothes coordinated well enough, and nothing was on backwards!! Well done Anna! haha! All day Ava ate like a teenage boy on a growth spurt, i was extremely impressed! So, well done Ava as well! haha! The park, (both times) was fun! Anna saw her friends as well as made new friends, she is actually really good at that! And Av slept both times, which was nice! For lunch i made Anna a smoothie, my first ever, and it turned out to be freaking tasty! haha! And for me, i wasn't sure what i wanted to eat, and i remembered Liz telling me that Josh had gotten these easy to make things that he didn't end up liking, so thought 'why not?' So i made it up, and it smelt way good, (it was a peanut thai thingy) and then i took the first bite..... I felt like i was eating a heart attack. It was sooo thick and spicy and fatty, i about gagged. haha! So that was the end of lunch. lol. Hay-ride, (or 'doo doo doo doo' as my family knows it as) is also reffered to as 'horsey-ride' or 'bear ride', basically it is Anna sitting on my back, while i am on all fours going crazy on the floor. haha. That was fun, but a.b.s.o.l.u.t.e.l.y exhausting! I now have a new found respect for my father. My apologies dad. haha, just kidding, i wouldn't trade that memory for anything! When the parentals got home, Liz made fajitas! I will never understand how she makes strait up organic food have so much flavor!! So... well done Liz! hahaha! After dinner i headed to the gym! This gym is one of the New York Sports Club gyms,,, (classy right? haha) and it was way legit! Everything was huge, and they have so many rooms, and its all around just way cool! I really liked working out there! Fun fun fun! But after that, i came back and fell asleep probably in like 12 seconds! haha!

Day 9:

Home; The place in which one's domestic affections are centered.

Sunday. Day of rest. :) And day of learning the gospel! The morning was just blah, ya know, getting ready for, and totally anticipating going to church! haha! I decided to fast, because i wasn't sure if it was going to be fast and testimony meeting (being as last sunday was General Conf.!) And sure enough it was! The drive there was pleasant enough, bunch o' crazy drivers everywhere,, but i imagine i will have to get used to that! haha! Again as i got closer and closer to the actual building i got so stinkin giddy! It is a beautiful building! I was a little nervous to walk in and sit down, mostly because i wasn't sure if i was in the right place, and didn't know anyone, but FIRST thing, the first counselor in the bishopric came up and introduced himself! He was such a nice guy, and before i knew it, the relief society president and the elders quorum president were by my side introducing themselves! I love the church. :) It was really sweet that i could be miles away from my house in Ut., but feel so at home in this building, with these people, (and the spirit of course!) ha. They were genuinely some of the nicest people i have met, and i am glad to be in this ward! Two of the YSA's came and invited me to sit with them and their families, Josie and..... something... i forgot. Dang it. But they were so cute, and friendly! I decided i should bare my testimony, it being my first time there, and that went just great, i didn't even cry! Shocker, i know. haha. But after the meeting Josie took me with her to the YSA sunday school class, where THE nicest YSA's all introduced themselves to me, and just chatted with me as well! Sheesh, everyone is just nice! They got my information so they could let me know about the activities that are comin up, that i am actually way stoked for! Sheeeoooot. I am excited to have these new friends! One of the older ladies in the ward stopped me in the hall after it was all over, and she told me that 'the young lady sitting next to her started to text her brother when i got up to bare my testimony, and she was telling him that a cute girl from Utah is here, and that she thinks we should hook up. And later, the same young lady was telling her mom that if it didn't work out with me and her brother, that they could always hook me up with Elder Sorenson!' (Elder Sorenson is a missionary serving locally here.... haha) Isn't that a hooot?!? hahahaha. People crack me up. Gotta love em. :) We had a nice, delectable sunday dinner tonight! Roasted chicken and potatoes, salad, and these awesome multi-grain rolls! It was divine. We were also joined by Josh's sister Shira, who is the cutest thing! She is living in Manhattan, by herself! What a studess, eh?? Yeah, it was a good time! I also got to talk to my family tonight!!! I needed it! I love them all, and realllllllly like our Sunday evening chats! And now it is time for bed! Gooooodnight. :)

Day 8:

Shopping; The act of a person who shops.

Day off! Oh my glory i needed today!! All in all, it was amazing. This morning, my body decided to wake me up at 6:00 AM. Naturally. That is extremely abnormal! Just ask my parents. haha. I tried to force it to sleep more, but 8:30 is the best i could do! So i decided to organize and tidy my room, (that has actually managed to stay very clean,,, which is also abnormal. haha) and clean up the bathroom, and start a load of laundry! While listening to the good ole Owl City. Quite efficiant, eh? :) Also, today i decided to take the time to almost look decent! This included straightening my hair, AND applying make-up, and putting a nice little outfit on! I will admit that i felt pretty. The family all went to a birthday party on Long Island for Anna's friend Jonah, so i was alone in the house for like 4 hours! To be completely honest, i didn't even know what to do with myself!! haha! so i went on another walk! And took a few pictures. It was sweeeet! I even took the time to watch me some t.v.. i honestly haven't just sat down and watched t.v. in a looong time! It was... nice. haha! I just forgot how much commercials bug me! lol! When they got back, Liz, Anna and I went to the city to shop!!! WOW. WOW. WOW. The city is.......... i can't even think of a word for it! It is so intense! haha! But i love it! I love the hustle and bustle! We just drove in, instead of using a train or subway, so it was a nice drive in! We didn't have toooo much time either, so we just went to the Nordstrom Outlet. Baaaahhhh. (drooling) lol. Honest, they had so many designers and sooo many clothes for SUCH good prices! Oh my gooosh. haha! Did i spend too much money? Mmmhmmm. Oh well. haha! what an experience! Seriously. I had a blast today, and i still just can't even freaking wait to go to church tomorrow!!!!!!! :D

Day 7:

Cupcake; A small cake, the size of an individual portion, baked in a cup shape mold.

Today is Friday, HECK FREAKIN YEAH!! :) I don't care who, where, or what you are, Fridays are always going to be an exciting day of the week! Today Anna had another play-date with her best friend Lizzy! And Lizzy's nanny Marta picked her up from school, so Ava and i had the WHOLE day to ourselves! We went on a looooong walk! Unfortunately i made a wrong turn somewhere, so... it went a little longer than planned. hehehe. But fortunantely, it was another stunning walk! Actually... i think i am in love. Yup. In love with the freaking landscaping aroung here. Gaahhhh. Like documentary worthy. haha. And all the stinking squirrels will never stop amazing me! Honest. They are everywhere! At first i felt like the dog on "Up", turning my head, and darting my eyes every time one of them moved even a little bit!!! haha. But i trained myself to keep my eyes on the road, especially if i was driving! I figured that was important. :) Anyway.. after the lovely walk we went and picked up Anna from her play-date, and i had time to have a chat with Marta! She is the sweetest Ecuadorian lady i have EVER come across! haha! She just talked and talked, and was just so fun. I just like her! I will get along with her juuuust fine! :) Josh was nice enough to give me a free week membership at the local gym! Exciting huh?? And Liz was nice enough to bring me home a cupcake! From the most famous cupcake shop in Manhattan, The Magnolia Bakery! And what a delectable cupcake it was! haha!

*moment* Josh told Anna that she had a birthday party to go to tomorrow, and when she asked who it was for he answered "Jonah", and she was verrrrry sad. Sad because it wasn't her birthday. This actually upset her quite a bit! So... wanna know what we did? We but 4 and a half candles in her cupcake and sang her happy half birthday, and she blew out the candles! Actually,,, it was darling. :)

Day 6:

Tears; A fluid appearing in, or flowing from the eyes as a result of emotion.

First day legitimately on my own, and another success! It is so funny how things just don't matter as much when you are taking care of little kiddlings. Like today for example.. when we were dropping Anna off at school, i looked horrendous. I would have NEVER gone in public in the good ole Utah County looking like that,,, but oh well. I don't know anyone here really, and have nobody to impress! haha! And most of the mom's are wearing comfy clothes too... Designer comfy clothes.... but comfy either way. :) After school Anna went and had a play-date (EVERYONE here calls playing with a friend a 'play-date'. But here it is much more official. You actually have to call and arrange a 2 and a half hour playing time with their mom's and stuff! Different..) with her cute little friend Rachael! That was in a completely different town, so i had to drive on the big bad freeway in NY! First time, and driving in New York is scary as crap!!! But i am alive and well, as well as the girls, so all is well. haha. Thank heavens for the GPS. My new favorite piece of technology EVER. I am most definitely getting one when i am grown up. haha. But anyway.. while Anna was at Rachael's house i had a bit of spare time, so i decided to find the church building that i will be attending next week!

*moment* As i was driving to the church building, i got more and more excited to see the house of the Lord! When i arrived... i couldn't stop the flow of tears. I had to pull in and park for a solid 20 minutes as i just cried. The reason for the tears? I was so comforted to see a building that the true gospel is taught. Where the Spirit lives. A place where my Father in Heaven and my Brother Jesus Christ live. Where saints, like me, gather to worship them, in this busy, crazy, loud city/state. There stood a building that represented everything that i believe in. I was suuuper overwhelmed; in a good way. I love the church. And i can't wait to go there on Sunday. Can you imagine what it will be like when i get to go to the temple here?? haha.

So after that, we picked Anna up, and the day was pretty routine from there! More imaginary games, and hungry, singing children! We even went to the 'alligator' park! Mostly because it was a glorious, sunny day! Tomorrow if the weather is the same, i would like to go to the water, not sure what water, because there are so many, but just water. :) When Josh and Liz got home, everything was phenom. Josh even showed me how to use the treadmill,,, score! haha! And miss Liz made a reallllly good tuna wrap (and i don't usually eat tuna..) , and broccoli soup. Life is good. :) Can't believe it is Friday tomorrow! What?? holla. :)

Day 5:

My most sincere apologies for missing days 1-4, but they were busy, okay?

Rundown.

Day 1:

Airplanes; a heavier-than-air aircraft kept aloft by the upward thrust exerted by the passing air on its fixed wings and driven by propellers, jet propulsion, etc.

Saying goodbye is my least favorite thing to do. I thought it would be easy, keeping the aspect in mind that i will be back for a visit in december... but, not so. I had to say goodbye to my girls, Heather, Kaila, Sandy, Becca, Amanda, Jew, and more of course, but every single goodbye didn't happen without a tear. Or multiple tears. AND then came the family goodbye's. Snap.

*moment* In the car, on our way up to the hotel in Salt Lake, we were having a nice chat, bringing up lost memories, about halloween, and other occasions. Then dad turned the music up, and we all listened for a bit, then the next song came up,,, 'Hey there Delilah'. Of course blake and i perked up and started singing, (because we know every word). When the song was ending.. i took a glance over at my darling little bro, and my heart hurt; there on his face were tears streaming down. He looked up at me and said.. "i think it just hit me you are leaving". Blubber.

So... my family sent me off at the airport. It was like a movie, as i was riding up the escalator, i looked out, and they were all waving with their arms high in the air. Love them.. <3 Also just thought i would mention, that i was kind of very sad all by myself waiting for my flight in SLC, and as i was looking around... i found an indian store!! And i finally bought myself a dreamcatcher.. winner status.

I arrived in Denver, and i was so hungry.. that was the only thing on my mind! So, i got an authentic (i think) Colorado sandwich! And it was suuuuper tasty. So with that out of the way, i took a seat, and got ready for flight number two! On the plane, i sat by these two young gentleman from South Wales, and they smelt like weed. Haha. But they were very friendly, and their accents were narley!

The Big Apple.
Flying over manhattan was absolutely breathtaking! The skyline is stunning, i have only seen places like this in movies. I think i need to get out more. Pahaha. The Lawlors then picked me up! Josh and Elisabeth are the parents, and Anna (4) and Ava (almost 1) are the girls! First Impression; Elisabeth is such a sweetheart, and absolutely adores her daughters. Josh is very nice, and also has a sweet love for the girls... He also has a very orderly way of going about things, ie. lists. haha! Anna and Ava, they were asleep. That was my first impression. lol. They drove me around the city, and local city's, expecting me to remember this stuff... ha. One day i will be a pro. Then to the house! Dannnngggg. First of all, all of these houses are the most phenomenal houses ever. Most of them were built in the 20's before the depression, so they have sooo much character! Absolutely darling! Anyway, the Lawlor's house is, of course, so charming. And my room,,, oh my glory. So i have a huge t.v., a little laptop, my own full sized bed, and it is decorated with my favorite colors, turquoise and yellow! I'm obsessed! Pictures will be posted, as soon as i recieve a card reader! :) So, i came here, and they showed me a few more things, and i went to bed. (yes, i was so unbelieveably tired. haha)

Day 2:

Apple; the usually round, red or yellow, edible fruit off of a small tree, Malus Sylvestris, of the rose family.

It is Sunday, aka, a day of rest. So i slept in until 9:30! Lovely, lovely, lovely! The family went out shopping for grocery's, they invited me along, but i politely said i will stay here and unpack! While they were gone, i snuck a few hours of General Conference in, while it was on, and did some note taking! Elder Eyring's talk was surprisingly exactly what i needed to hear! Trust in God. And do what He wants me to do. Simple, and perfect. Also, i had a thought, it really is so comforting that i am in an unfamiliar room, with unfamiliar things, in a house that doesn't yet know the spirit really, and i can still watch the prophet of the Lord, and the apostles of God and feel that warm comfort from the spirit. It is a good feeling! So, they decided that they wanted to go apple picking! They had this big orchard and setup up north somewhere, and they had a HUGE pumpkin patch, and rows and rows of apples! All you had to do was buy whatever size of bag you want, and pick whatever kind, and however many apples you want! And they are delicious, i might add. :) They also make home-made donuts there, that honestly melt in your mouth. Bbaaaahhhhh! They were so stinkin tasty! Haha! So after that adventure, we went back home, ate some dinner, and went to bed!

Day 3:

Bubby; The name Anna and Ava gave to their Grandma Lawlor.

So this morning, bubby came to help me! She will be here for 2 and a half days to show me the routine!

*moment* This is a big one. I decided make-up is overrated. I am not going to wear it during the week, because who do i have to impress?? No one. haha! I will wear it to church. But it is most definitely overrated. Done. haha.

First, off to school! Anna attends the WJC (Weschester something something... i don't remember) which is a jewish school for ages 2 to 4 i think! Basically it is a pre-school! So we dropped Anna off and went back home to put Ava down for a bottle and nap! Then bubby showed me more stuff, and we went through the schedule! I love this woman! She is so funny, so patient, and just stinkin nice! She knows so much about the girls, and is verrry willing to teach me and help me out! Bubby is a winner! So at noon, we go and pick Anna up! Then its lunchtime! Now.. Anna is a picky eater to say the least. Haha! So, that will be a party trying to feed her every meal for the next year... pahaha. But Ava eats like a teenage boy, so no worries there! lol! After lunch, bubby offers to watch Ava while Anna and i take a walk in the rain! FAVORITE part of the day by far. The landscaping around here is so gorgeous, it freaks me out! Who knew places and houses like this existed?! Not me. But it was drizzling a bit, and for some reason, that made it 22 times more enjoyable! Haha. We walked for about and hour and a half, and i took some quality pictures, that will.. again.. be posted asap. :) What a blast! After that, we played games like crazy! Mostly ones that Anna made up. And then el parentals came back home, and i did my own thing, chilled mostly! haha. And went to bed super early. Myyyy favorite. :)

Day 4:

Quiet; making no noise or sound, esp. no disturbing sound.

This day was interesting. The morning was crazy, Anna wasn't happy that her parents left before she woke up, but of course bubby helped her up and dressed! Thank heavens for bubby! Haha! Off to school, and all that jazz. That always goes smoothly! I like that school, they are very organized, and way nice. AND they all have thick NY accents! It is awesome, like Newsies status! Legit. When Anna got home, we played around,,, til she got mad at me.. :/. It was because i wouldn't let her draw on her dad's official office notes, so she spent a lot of time in her room.. alone... no grown ups allowed.... sooo.... that was cool. haha! oops.

*moment* I realized that days are oh so much longer when you get up early. Its new for me, okay? Don't judge. haha.

Finnnally we got her out... well bubby did. paha. And we played more imaginary games. You wouldn't believe these made up words that Anna comes up with. I will try and write some down in the future, so you can share in my amazement! haha! Ava, is just a little curious bugger, so she has to be watched allll the time! whew. ha! i am learning a lot, which is gooood! the biggest lesson so far...,,, patience. We decided to all hop in the car and go to the park! Yay! To be honest... i was probably more excited than the girls and bubby put together! There is just something about being outside! God created a GORGEOUS new york, and i got to play in it! haha! Anna brought her cute little bubble gum pink bike, and the stroller for Ava of course! Bubby walked around with Av, while i played with, and wathched miss Anna! When we were pretending, Anna was the mommy, and i was the daughter, and i had to be dropped off to ballet class, and stay there until she went around the block and picked me up! So... i climbed around the playground, and felt like a child again... but i was the daughter, so i figured that was okay. :) haha. Then me and Anna had some races, her on her bike, and me just a runnin! That was coool, but on one of the turns, she got a little competitive, and turned too fast, and to sharp and Wipe-Out. She needed a band-aid right away, so gome we went! We got her the sickest monkey band-aid i have ever seen, and it was alll better. Soo soon after that, Elisabeth and Josh arrived, and we ate dinner, (Miss Liz, is a divine cook!) and showered, and went to bed!

NOW we return to day 5!

Alone; Separate, alone, or isolated from others.

This morning after we dropped Anna off, Bubby left. :( I am on my own!! And... it went surprisingly well! They ate, played, sang, and went crazay! Haha! Anna is a little rapper in the making! She makes words rhyme like i've never heard before.. Haha! We played matching pictures, tickling wolf and baby, and magic goop of course! Lol! We just arrived from the school park, where Ava fell asleep, and Anna rode her bike allll around the playground! She only fell once too! When we arrived home... Surprise!! Liz and Josh are home!! And she is making a delish dinner once again! I am just living the life!! Haha! I love to nanny, and i am learning so many life lessons, it is f.a.b.