{A LITTLE CAUGHT UP . . . }

So I've gotten a little caught up in the fun of exercise. My friends and I all have memberships to the same gym and have fallen in love with the classes and instructors. So what does that mean you say . . . ?

Oh that means, 8 classes in 6 days! 

(my poor body)

So when they say that Sunday is the day of rest . . . I am going to take that very literally and try to rest this weary 28 year old body that I have abused this week. Hopefully I'll be able to control myself from here on out.

{ ZUMBA }

About 8 months ago my good friend Addy (who I've been gym buddies with since I moved here) decided she wanted certify in Zumba and teach it at the gym. For those of you who have never heard of it, Zumba is a relatively new form of cardio exercise in which you do a combination of Latin dances. (salsa, merengue, mambo, reggaeton, samba, etc) Seeing as "dancing" is kinda my thing, I was sold from day one. Once she was certified, she need to practice teaching so she could get ready to work at the gyms. She held a class 2 times a week at the church and I was definitely her biggest fan! I don't think I missed a class in the 3 months she taught there. Once she was ready, she got a job at 2 of the local gyms. 

She is a rockstar and I'm so proud of her.

Well about a week ago there was a master Zumba class down at a club in Salt Lake. It was a fundraiser for a single mother in our ward that just had a tumor removed from her brain. 

We loaded up the whole crew and it was awesome!

{Lacey, Wendy, Michelle, Anna, Addy, Me, Martha}

 The instructor is pretty high up in the Zumba world and she was incredible!

And she even pulled my friend Anna and I up on the stage during one of the songs!

I really love it, and I'm so glad I found a way that I still get to Dance a little!

{ never forget }

I was sitting at a baby shower with a few of my friends and some how we got off on the subject of the craziness that is my precious daughter Sophie.  They started listing funny experiences they have had with her and I realized that I am going to forget all the madness if I don't take the opportunity to write it all down. So here it goes:

*she put an entire container of pomade on her head

*she shaved part of her head with the clippers

*she spilled a drink in Disneyland and them proceeded to lap it up off the ground

*she put a whole roll of paper towels in the toilet and flushed it

*she dumped an entire container of oats down the stairs

*she climbs on the counter

*she was hanging off the counter one day, trying to drink up the milk she had just poured on it

*she puts my make up on (all over her hair and face)

*she took a whole patter of sugar cookies, smashed them up and rubbed them all over herself      as well as the entire kitchen

*she decorated herself with a cup of pudding and became the pudding monster

*she took off her poopie diaper and ran around the house chasing kids with it (multiple times)

*she has opened countless bottles of hair products and washed the furniture with them

*she climbs on the counter and steals a sip of my bev at any chance

*she has gotten into my mom's lipstick 3-4 times every time we visit

*she has figured out how to clog the toilet . . . and then get the plunger in hopes of unclogging it

*she gives her baby's baths in the toilet

*she climbs on the bathroom counter and washer her hands and feet in the sink

*she cleaned my friend's bathroom with shampoo

*she loves to get in my purse and either devour an entire pack of gum, or make herself "petty" with my lipstick

*she used to eat dirt

*she takes suckers and rubs them all over face and hands

*she takes a whole bushel of bananas, opens them all and squishes them

*she likes her shoes on the wrong feet

*she took a nose dive out of the cart at walmart because she didn't want to be in it

*she poured an entire water bottle out on my bed

*she gave my iphone a bath in Dr Pepper

And I'm sure there are many things I'm forgetting so if you've know of something I've missed, let me know!

Here's a funny story: At our friend's house the other day, Ayden fell off a stool and hit his head on the wall. He was tired so the whole event was just a little more than he could handle and he had lost it . . . crying and screaming. A few minutes into his fit Sophie walked over to the wall where he hit, smacked her head against the wall, thought about it for a minute, and walked away like  "what's the big deal?"  She's my tough one.

But this right here  . . . is why we just can't get enough of her.

Sophie, our lives would be boring without keeping us on our toes.

{ shout out to my peeps }

When Logan and I decided to move up North, we weren't really sure where we wanted to end up. I was leaning towards Kaysville/Centerville area just because I wanted to be closer to our families. But as we looked at house after house, nothing felt right. I still remember the day when our Realtor emailed me the picture of this cute little house on the corner . . . red shutters, and a crazy amount of stairs up to the front door. It wasn't exactly what I was looking for, but I knew there was something special about that house.

We made an appointment, and the minute we walked though the front door, I knew this house was made for us. Now, at the time I'm sure I fell in love with the layout and the cute decor of the previous owner, but there was something more to it. How could I have ever known the incredible people I would meet and grow to love as a result of choosing this cute little house with the red shutters.

In our 2 1/2 (almost 3) years at 58 west, I have made so many awesome friends! 

{Michelle, Texie, and Me}

Here we are at the Layton City Valentines dance! My friend Texie's Dad plays in a band called Midlife Crisis! The kids loved it! 

{Ayden, Madi, and Sophie dancin their little hearts out}

{A shot of the Birthday girl!}

Then Saturday night was the Stake Valentine's Dance!

{My talented husband creates many of the advertisements for ward and stake activites. He created this for the dance. . . isn't it gorgeous!}

 It was catered by Olive Garden and you wouldn't believe the turnout! 700 people! We ate and danced into the night with all of our closest friends. It was perfect!

At our table was . . .

{Ryan and Michelle Flitton}

{Chris and Anna Rogers}

{Kirk and Texie Brown} 

With that many people at the dance, there was a shortage of food, so we headed to Chilis after the dance for a little dessert! Yum!

{from left to right: Mary, Logan, Wendy, Todd, Steven, Lacey, Michelle, Ryan, 

Neil, Amy, Texie, Kirk, Brett, Addy, Anna, and Chris}

And I had to throw in a picture of Addy! She is one of my dearest friends! She moved here from Venezuela 15 years ago with $1 to her name. She always talks about how she is living the American dream and loving it! She is an inspiration to me and I love her!

So this is a special shout out to all my awesome Layton friends! I love you guys! You make my life so happy and I feel truly blessed to know you!

{lucky in love}

I'm jumping the gun on Valentine's day, but I'm just overwhelmed with love for this man . . .

(here in his "Twitch" glasses. Check out that dimple, he kills me)

Seriously, sometimes I look and him and can't believe that he picked me. I may have made some bad decisions in my life, but when choosing a spouse, I got it dead on. He is the love of my life and I would be lost without him.  

Jason Marez and Colbie Caillat said it best . . .

Though the breeze is through the tree

Move so pretty you're all I see

As the world keeps spinning round

You hold me right here, right now

I'm lucky I'm in love with my best friend

Lucky to have been where I've been

Lucky to be coming home again

I'm lucky we're in love in every way

Lucky to have stayed where we have stayed

Lucky to be coming home someday

To the man of my dreams.

{my beautiful sister}

My beautiful sister wrote an incredible post on her blog in which she included this quote. It really touched me, so thanks Laur. Love you.

"Both abundance and lack [of abundance] exist simultaneously in our lives, as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we will tend . . . When we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that’s present—love, health, family, friends, work, the joys of nature, and personal pursuits that bring us [happiness]—the wasteland of illusion falls away and we experience heaven on earth.” (quoted by President Monson in his talk Joy in the Journey, October 2008

{ Dad's website! }

My sweet Dad has created a website! He also has a blog, so check it out!!

http://richardrife.com