Visiting Utah: Dinner with Grandma Porter (Mar 13)

I'll admit it. I took these for granted when I lived in Utah. Attending the monthly dinner at Grandma's house was a chore and I definitely under-appreciated all she went through to make them special. The decorations. The labor intensive dinners. The after-meal activities. Really, Grandma? But this trip was different. This trip I saw that all these things equalled love. It's not Gma P trying to show off. It's just Gma P showing she cares. Because this is how she does it. If I were to give her a label I'd say she was a "Martha."

As I look back at all these pictures I cry. Because I don't have the red, white, and blue decor for the 4th of July. I won't get the rusty colors of late summer or the pumpkins in October or the turkeys at Thanksgiving. I won't get to sit at a table full of more than 20 people who I love with children running around and screaming. I won't get to stand in line for food and jabber with the person standing next to me while Grandma explains again that the small plates are for salad. I'll be first, maybe second in line for food and sit at a table without decorations and share my meal with just one of the people I love. And Grandma won't be there to put her arms around me, smile into my eyes and tell me that she's proud of me.

So bring on the parade. Grandma's is a place to know you're loved. She shows it in every single decoration and dinner. Grandma's dinner = I love you.

All the nieces: Kazia, Chloe, Brooklyn, Charlee & Jade.

My little princesses.

Oops! Lost one! Jade's probably off slaying a dragon. :)

My fabulous extended family.

Ya, we're a bit creepy.

He's ready for his closeup...

My Chlo-bear!

We celebrated my birthday since I wouldn't be there in April.
My mom made her delicious banana cream pie. Mmmmm! 

Me & Charlee.
Note to self: Get more one-on-one pics with each of the kids.

Visiting Utah: ME Day & Chuckee Cheese (Mar 9-12)

On the plane.

"Me Day" ...my before picture at the Dressing Your Truth Salon. I was SOOO excited for this visit!

The after. I LOVE my hair!!! Still do. I don't trust anyone to color it out here so I'm saving my shekels for another trip to Utah. hehe ;)

I'm told Charlee looks like me? What do you think? Either way, she is adorable!

And her gorgeous older sister, Brooklyn. I miss these girls!



Ya-ya at Chuckee Cheese (hell on earth for adults but a child's paradise)

And this is how my brothers do Chuckee Cheese. (I'm just mad I didn't bring any of my toys!)

Moms chillin' at the Cheese. Erin, Brenda and Cooper.

I love my brother Mike! This pic says LOADS about his personality.

My newest nephew Cooper. I might be biased, but all my siblings (and their spouses!) make the cutest kids ever!

Grandma and Kader.

Jade is such a character! Just like her dad!

Finally Mike caves to Jason & Jon's example. Where's my headset?!?

It's good to see family and spend time with the kids. I miss everyone more than I thought I would (no offense! lol). It's especially hard to see the kids growing in leaps and bounds between my visits, knowing that I'm missing out on all their experiences.

Dinking Around Ellicott City

Ellicott City is a little city of really old buildings with cute shops and restaurants. Just for fun (because I'd never been and I LOVE old buildings) Joe and I decided to head down there with our friends the Cechinis.

I loved this sign so much I had to snap a picture. An attitude of gratitude. Every time I see the pic I smile. :)

Feeling the Love!

I am so grateful for the wonderful family and friends we have in our lives. Thank you... and I love you dearly!

Heart-attacked by my friends Altheda, Claralyn, Erin and Sara.
Thank you ladies! 



They came last night and decorated my front door.



I love you too! SOOOO much!

Then I got these awesome Valentines in the mail from the Burns kiddos.
They ALWAYS take time to send us holiday wishes. Thanks for making us feel so special!

From Ashley.

From Sarah.

From Charlie.

From baby Sophie. I love the hand. SO cute!

As if that wasn't enough love, my friend Chantel stopped by to spread more love (and goodies!) Mmmm... the cookies were delicious! (No pics... I ate them too quickly).



She made this beautiful decoration for me! It has a perma spot on my desk!



And she MADE this GORGEOUS necklace for me. She is SO talented.
Thanks Chantel! I LOVE this!!!! It adorns my neck at this very moment!

YUMMY cookies from my friend Meagan. Seriously. I ate half of the plate before remembering to take a picture!

Don't worry... I left a FEW for Joe!

Spending some Valen-time with my sis, Erin via World of Warcraft. We had a romantic picnic together in Orgrimmar. hehe

For one "Love is in the Air" quest we had to get slammed (Xy got so drunk she puked 3 times!), spray ourselves with perfume, throw rose petals over the cockroach vendor, Jeremiah Payson, and then give him a big kiss. It was awesome. Or maybe you have to be a gamer to understand? The best part... turns out I can hold my liquor. Wonder if that transfers into real life, lol? Guess I'll never know.

My chick, Chippiie, is on the left and Erin's gal, Xylanriah, is waving on the right.
(I thought I got some better shots of the two of us but apparently I was hitting the "insert key" instead of "print screen." That's like keeping the lens cap on while taking pictures.)