Butterfly Update

So very early on Craig's birthday, I went to check on our butterfly and chrysalises. I found that one of the wings on the butterfly was actually stuck to the ground!! :( I felt so terrible for her. I didn't know what to do, but I decided to wet it a bit and then I very gently unstuck it's wing from the bottom. My surgery was successful, although her right wing was sadly permanently bent because she didn't come out of her chrysalis properly (which I guess is why she got stuck?) I felt so bad, but then I gave her some agave water and she ate with her proboscis!!





Minutes later, the 2nd chrysalis opened! I don't know how I missed it, because I was very nearby reading. I was determined to see the 3rd one open, and stayed watching. As soon as I walked away for 2 minutes, I came back and it was open!! These two opened perfectly and were very healthy and active. The girls were still asleep when they opened, but they woke up right after and were so excited to see them!

We made sure to give them their nectar. (Probably too much!) At one point later in the day, one escaped and Bella and Ceci got to hold him!!

It is so neat to have butterflies in the house. I've thought about keeping them for a week and then letting them go. It would be neat to see mating or egg-laying, but how do I know if they are male or female?

By the way, our first butterfly, never really thrived. She just didn't seem to be able to orient herself. So today, I decided to gently euthanize her by putting her in the freezer. I just didn't want her to possibly be in pain. I felt HORRIBLE about her and worried that it was my fault that she got stuck and had a bent wing (because she was on the ground, and not hanging) but many of my home schooling friends assured me that they've had healthy butterflies that had also fallen to the ground. I hope her spirit is flying somewhere!!

Happy Birthday to Craig!

What a fun birthday celebration. And we are so good at celebrating! We started with breakfast at Marston's in Pasadena. It was super-yummy. We got a big omelette and french toast and shared.







We then got the kids and went to the Science Center in downtown.














More than anything, we wanted to see the baby chicks and hatching eggs that they have there. The chicks are so tiny and cute! It makes us realize that our chicks are getting sooooooooooo big! Very soon they'll be chickens and roosters.












After wandering the Science Center, we went to see the IMAX 3D movie they have showing there called "Under the Sea." It was amazing!! The 3D part was incredible. There were times I seriously felt like I was snorkeling! I wish the girls had liked it as much as Craig and I. They got a little scared, took off their glasses, and towards the end, Ceci said she wanted to leave. Bummer. Because it was really great.







So then we wandered Exposition park for a while. The girls wandered this cool Earth day display and also around the big fountain and the rose gardens while enjoying paletas (popsicles.)











We then went home and gave the girls dinner. We sang to daddy one more time with super-cute cupcakes from Dots.























Then we took off to go out to dinner!! Craig had been wanting to go to this Argentine place in Pasadena on Green Street called Malbec. It was GREAT!! It had a beautiful, European feel with sidewalk seating. It was dark but all glowy with candles. Our dinners were fantastic! We started with delicious empanadas. Then Craig got a ribeye steak with mashed potatoes and sauteed spinach and I got a chimichurri marinated steak with grilled veggies. So good! The dessert we got was carmelized apple-filled crepes with ice cream. It was delicious and beautifully presented. We would highly recommend this place. It was a very fun day-- Happy Birthday Craig!! If you have to get old, you might as well enjoy it, right? I love you!

A Sweet Mother's Day

What a wonderful Mother's day! I was spoiled by this yummy breakfast in bed and the girls made these adorable cards for me!











We went to a nice church service where Grandma joined us. We took these pictures when we got home.





Craig made a delicious dinner for us. We had soft tacos with shredded beef, lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, salsa, tomatoes, cilantro and cheese with black beans on the side. I was allowed to rest and blog and play on facebook while he did all the cooking! (and later, cleaning!)

After dinner, Craig helped the girls make this beautiful bouquet for me!







Later, as I was walking by our butterfly nursery, I noticed that the chrysalis on the floor had opened up!! It was so exciting to see! The butterfly opened her wings a bit, but she's taking her time. I am just so grateful she survived!! I put some agave water on a tiny sponge for her.






Then it was time for presents. Grandma got some gorgeous cards from the girls and a beautiful lavender plant.







I got a pink ipod shuffle! So cool!! (Thank you soooooooo much Craig, I love you!) I also have this great t-shirt coming in the mail that I just had to have! I will wear it proudly because I really am a grateful mom, so thankful for the sweetest and most wonderful little girls in the world!! I am truly so honored to be their mamma.



THEN we sang to Craig because today is his birthday! Grandma made him a DELICIOUS lemon cake. YUM!! Happy Birthday, my love! We are going to celebrate today.

Happy Mother's Day!!

I just wanted to acknowledge my BEAUTIFUL Mother today. She was THE BEST! It's been almost 4 years since she passed away, even though she is not gone at all. Her spirit and presence live on, she is in my life every single day.

I wanted to share a beautiful quote about mothers by President David O. McKay that I felt my mother knew very well.

"The noblest calling in the world is that of mother. True motherhood is the most beautiful of all arts, the greatest of all professions. She who can paint a masterpiece or who can write a book that will influence millions deserves the plaudits and admiration of mankind; but she who rears successfully a family of healthy, beautiful sons and daughters whose immortal souls will be exerting an influence throughout the ages long after paintings shall have faded, and books and statues shall have been destroyed, deserves the highest honor that man can give."

I also thought I would post these verses from Proverbs 31 which also very well describes my mother:

"10: Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. 11: The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. 12: She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. 13: She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. 14: She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. 15: She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. 16: She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. 17: She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. 18: She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. 19: She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. 20: She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. 21: She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. 22: She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. 23: Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. 24: She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. 25: Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. 26: She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. 27: She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. 28: Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. 29: Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. 30: Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. 31: Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates."

Mom, I call you blessed!

To conclude, I thought I would post what I posted last year about my mother since I would probably write almost the same thing again anyway!!

HOW I LOVE YOU, MAMMA!!

Today is the 3rd anniversary of my mom's passing. Needless to say, I've been thinking a lot about her and have shed a few tears. Of course, I missed her on Mother's day, but I miss her every day! I just felt like I needed to post some of my feelings about the most wonderful person I ever knew, my mother.

My mother is the most Christian person I know (in the truest sense of the word.) She loved our Savior and sincerely tried to follow Him. She was totally dedicated to our family--loving each of us with so much devotion. My mother was a true Matriarch, a beacon in our home. She did so many things to help make our home a haven. She taught us to believe in God, to pray, and to live as we were taught by our Savior. She taught us to love, to forgive, to not judge, to be kind, to work hard and do our very best. Because of this, there was a lot of peace and happiness in our home. My childhood wasn't perfect, but it was pretty close thanks to her efforts. No matter what I ever did, my mother loved me and was loyal to me. And I did a lot of things to break her heart. But she never gave up on me, ever.

My mother was totally dedicated to serving people in all kinds of capacities. Of course, she was the PTA president for many years, and excelled in her callings in church, but she also loved and cared about every friend we ever brought over (even the somewhat strange ones!) My mother was not just my mother--she was a mother to many, many people. She had the biggest heart. She let countless people come and live in our home when they needed a place. And she would love these people as if they were her own.

As we started families of our own, my mother fell in love with each of her many grandchildren. She was the kind of Grandma that LIVED for the next time she got to see one or some of her grandchildren. She loved each of our children and when she was with any particular one, she seemed to love them best. But she loved them all the same--she was the BEST Grandma. (That's the part that hurts so much!!) I can't possibly express what a wonderful Grandma she was. Only my siblings could understand.

So now I have an angel. When I pray, I feel like she's listening too. And because she was such a good teacher, I feel like I always know what she would say when I need some advice. She was so practical, logical, unselfish, and wise. I am so thankful for having had the best mom in the world! I could go on and on, and tell tons of stories that support my claims, but you just have to trust me!!

I found this email that I sent out the day my Mother died and I wanted to share it:

My dearest friends,
I just wanted to let you know that my whole world will never be the same
again. My beautiful, devoted and angelic Mother left this world yesterday
at 1:37pm. She was surrounded by my Dad and all 5 of us children and we let
her go with a family prayer, a priesthood blessing and singing "Families Can
Be Together Forever" among other beautiful hymns and songs.

She had had a very painful and aggressive form of cancer called Multiple
Myeloma for over a year before it was diagnosed. The disease had literally
broken a vertebra, pinched a nerve and fractured her spine and 5 ribs. On
March 28th we finally found out what she was suffering from. She was given
chemotherapy the next day but by the 15th of April she was back in the
hospital with pneumonia. Her immune system had been devastated.

My Mother has spent the last 10 months in great pain and we are now so
thankful to know that her suffering is over. We are so thankful that she
lived a full and exemplary life totally dedicated to her Heavenly Father,
her Savior and her family. I know that she accomplished all that she needed
to do here and that it was Heavenly Father's will to bring her home to Him.

I know this life is a short testing period to prepare ourselves for
eternity. I know my Mother passed her tests with flying colors. I am so
thankful to know that she is now in the best place and that one day soon she
will resurrect in a perfect, healthy body. I know that I will see her
again.

My Mom had of way of making each of us feel like we were her favorite. I
will miss our special times together. I am so thankful that she was my
Mother. She was also my best friend.

I want to thank those of you (who were aware) that offered prayers in our
behalf. The prayers have truly carried us through this. Our faith has
increased and we feel more grateful than sad, just knowing how blessed we
were to have her. She made our home a heaven on earth.

I LOVE MY MOMMY!!!

Love,
Suzy

Here are some family pics--excuse the poor quality--some are pictures snapped of pictures.















Top Row: My parents engagement picture and Mom and I in the hospital :( 2nd row: My mom sharing her last Sundae from Twohey's with my girls and our last family picture with Mom in 2004
Bottom Row: Family picture without her, but her presence is still there!!

All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother. --Abraham Lincoln

A nice Saturday

Today we finally started building one of our raised garden beds. Our lives have been soooooo busy that we just have not had the time!! Craig worked very hard putting this 16' x 4' redwood bed together. We now just need to dig holes to put the posts in and then fill it in. We would have finished, but we wanted to rush off to an Art Festival in Studio City.

I wanted to go to this art festival for several reasons. First, because I LOVE art festivals! Second, because I had decided not to go to The Dead concert even though I really wanted to. But for some reason, I just kept feeling like I shouldn't go. I have not seen the Dead since 1990, and this may be their last tour ever. I almost bought tickets several times, but just couldn't. I finally decided not to go and then I felt very peaceful. (I truly feel the Holy Spirit was guiding me because I had prayed a lot about it.) So I went to the art festival to try not to think about the fun I was missing at the Dead show! I really needed it!




The third reason I wanted to go to the art festival is because I was going to pick up a BEAUTIFUL bracelet that I couldn't stop thinking about. A couple weeks ago, I went to an art festival at the Waldorf school. I saw a bracelet that was totally me, but didn't buy it. Days later, I was still thinking about it so I emailed the artist to tell her how much I wanted it! I didn't hear back from her right away and worried if I would. Almost a week later, she wrote back and told me I could come get it at the art festival in Studio City!! She is a glass artist and made each of the beads herself! She, Lucia, does the most beautiful work! Oh, how I love this bracelet, and what a fun time we had at the festival!!







We then went to the South Pasadena Art Fest to my friend Amanda's studio. She had some gorgeous sculptures on display. (The picture does NOT do them justice.) They are little boxes with hinged doors that open and close. They are covered in beautiful papers and together they have a quilt look to them. It was fun hanging out with Amanda and her husband for a while and checking out the art of all the other artists in her studio. It was a fun day, (even though I sort of kept feeling I was missing out on a fun concert!)