Style

The girl I go to for pretty much all of my style inspiration has always been my sister.

She started a style blog that if you like all things beautiful for your bod, check her out.


HERE.

Child Labor

Someone is totally into washing the dishes. Wish I wasn't OCD and didn't have to put them in the dishwasher also.

And I had to leave the room while he was doing all of this. Then I just came in and cleaned up the mess after. Thankfully with a few strategically placed towels the mess wasn't that bad. I just kept repeating the mantra, "I will be a fun mom, I will be a fun mom." Over and over. Man, I hate messes.

Palm Springs

My wonderful husband was kind enough to let me run away last weekend to Palm Springs with a few friends. It was 2 days of eating, relaxing in the sun, reading trashy magazines and shopping! It was beyond fun.

Me, Andrea and Melissa enjoying the 82 degree weather.

Cambria and I in our matching Forever 21 rompers.

Dinner at Roy's, the food was AMAZING!

Melissa and her baby bump, me, Cambria and Andrea

I want to go back!

Wilderness Park

We spent President's Day at Wilderness Park. It's a little haven in the middle of Torrance with streams, turtles, wild flowers and we even saw some poison oak! I won't comment on each picture, they are all pretty self explanatory. It was a fun day, the children all got good and dirty! It was a fun escape for us city folk. Next time maybe we will go camping there! (OK maybe Landon will take the girls camping there ;)

Look What We Did Yesterday

Just to make all of you in your big houses in the colder and/or beachless parts of the country feel jealous!

Summer CANNOT come soon enough for me!! Baby steps to June.

Our Christmas

We were so excited to have Nana and Pops here for Christmas this year! We had sooooo much fun seeing movies, shopping and staying out of the rain.

On Christmas morning Santa sure spoiled these kiddos.

Here is Jolie enjoying her Wii that she has been wanting FOREVER! Complete with the Disney star karaoke game she wanted. Yay for Justin Bieber.

Here Beibs himself is singing along.

Lucy got a fabulous princess castle!

And Reese loves his new wheels.

Jolie couldn't pause for a shot with Nana and Pops.

Love Nana

Then off we went to my mom and dad's for the rest of the day for more presents and playing with cousins. For more fun shots from mom and dad's go here.

And naps, don't forget Christmas naps!

Fun Christmas day.

(Whew, now I am caught up.)

Christmas Eve

At Grandma Rasmussen's house this year we had our usual nativity scene. With some pretty darling angels if I do say so myself.

There were also some UNusual participants. Uncle Danny as the cow and cousin Parker as the donkey (I think!)

Some of us loved seeing Santa.

And some of us didn't!

One of the most fun Christmas Eve parties ever!

Anniversary

Happy 9 years to my man and me!

It's been an adventure, and I hope to have many more with him.

Love you Landon!

A Few Thanksgiving Photos

At our Thanksgiving this year we had:

beautiful tables

fabulous chefs

anticipation

lovely girls
(Jolie, Lynnie, and Camille)

food! (that cup is so making me nervous)

the bouncer

a happy boy!

Love this day!

Lloyd Rasmussen

As I sat down to write a few thoughts about my Grandpa I started crying, yet again. My 7-year old came up, put her arms around me and said, "It's OK mom, he's in heaven now!" And she is right of course, but it still hurts.

My grandpa, Lloyd Rasmussen passed away yesterday surrounded by all of his children and his wife. 

I feel so blessed today to have been the eldest grandchild of this amazing man. His life was full of more service, generosity, and happiness that just about anyone I can think of. He always had a big hug for me and wanted to know all of the details of my life.

He had such family pride!! I remember the day I told him I was pregnant with Jolie, his first great-grandchild. He was more thrilled than my parents! He was so proud of each and every one of us and all of our accomplishments. It felt so good.

It is a bitter-sweet time of year to lose him. Christmas reminds me of going to his house for Christmas Eve every year. I think I loved this night almost as much as Christmas morning! It is by far my favorite cozy Christmas memory of him, sitting in his favorite blue chair in the living room, reading the Christmas story while all of his antsy grandchildren sat around him waiting to open their gifts! And then on Christmas morning he and Grandma would drive to all of our houses to see what Santa brought. We couldn't wait to show him.

He was a wonderful bishop, stake president, mission president, temple sealer, and member of the first Newport Beach temple presidency. But he was my Grandpa first and I know he was proud of that above all else. I will miss his quiet, body-shaking laugh the most.

Love you Grandpa! I look forward to seeing you again someday.