Holiday Hugs

It's been quite a year; we can't keep up with time
It's hard to believe that it's nearly '09!

We've had a few updates, some big and some small
"The Man" changing jobs is the biggest of all.

In July he left home and to Maryland he went,
The commute isn't friendly and our patience is spent.

So now it's house-hunting; just where we don't know
Stay tuned for details at the blog down below.

As we close out this year and reflect on the past
Despite all the crazy, our blessings our vast.

Just what are these gifts? There are many to name
Being parents to two tops the list, that's the same!

There's also our health, our family and friends;
And the gift of our Savior, whose love never ends

At this time of the year, we wish you the best,
Many holiday hugs to our dear friends out West.

To everyone else; we wish you love too,
Our thoughts are still with you, in all that you do.

The Trouble with Turkey

Think eating turkey on Thanksgiving Day is tiring?

Try making turkey cupcakes for a classroom full of pre-schoolers.

It seemed like an easy task, but after a few mishaps and having to juggle "the help," I was ready to "Do the U" (that's head to Ukrop's, my favorite grocery store, for some of their cupcakes).

However, Granny K and I practiced for a day or two and the last batch of turkeys were pretty tasty.

As you can see below, the girls agreed...


Happy Turkey Day to All!

Twinkie and Mango

As I've mentioned in previous posts -- it's been a busy few months for our family. One of the most significant changes for us is that we've now got two more twins to feed!

Their names are "Twinkie" and "Mango" and they are the cutest fraternal girl kittens we've seen in a long time.

There were originally four kittens in the litter (all orange girls). Sadly, they were separated from their mom during a storm when they were roughly 10-days old. They've been bottle-raised and are the sweetest little kitties. They are great with the girls and we're excited to have them join our family.

While they haven't met Mocha yet, they're excited to get to know Rio. Of course Rio isn't too thrilled about the idea of getting to know them, but he's adjusting. Even with the new additions, he knows he's still the top cat in our family. =^..^=

Below is one of the best pictures I've taken of the "the girls." As you can see, they're extremely close, and almost always together. It's very much like two other little girls I know. :)

(Mango is on the left and Twinkie is on the right.)

Inspiring Words

Being the (obsessive) planner that I am, I often get caught up in the details. Occassionally, I'll find myself getting frustrated when things take a different direction.

I know some of you can relate, so when I stumbled across the following quote I felt it needed to be shared.

"We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned,
so as to have the life that is waiting for us."

~ Joseph Campbell

History in the making

It's a beautiful and historic day.

It's November 5th and I'm finally updating my blog!

What? You thought I was talking about something else? ; )

While that was said in jest, I would like to take a moment to say that I do (sincerely) believe that today is a historic day for our nation.

In consideration of my family and friends with differing views, and in light of the basic nature of my Blog, I will refrain from commenting specifically on candidates, political opinions, etc.

However, I would like to share the following:

I believe that every American should be proud of this country. Yesterday, each (law-abiding citizen) had the opportunity to vote for the candidates and measures they most agreed with. Ultimately, the voice of the "people" (the majority) was heard. Even if we didn't agree with the decisions made -- each of us was able to speak ("vote") freely! Can you imagine living in a country where those decisions are made for you? I could probably try, but after getting to know someone who has lived in a country like that; I REALLY don't want to.

So that's my two cents on America -- for now...

And here are my thoughts on this historic day for my Blog:

It's been a while, I know.

I'd like to blame Facebook, since that seems to derail some of my evening Blog time. But really, it's just that life is hectic and I have a hard time keeping up.

However, if you're willing to stick with me, I promise to get back to posting (semi) regularly.

Now, to those who keep stalking me in regard to my posts (DD, RF, ML, RM, SR, etc. - you know who you are!)...I heard your voices loud and clear and I'M WORKING ON IT! Consider this a start.

Stay tuned...

Mountain Sheep!

Since moving to AZ, we've taken a number of roadtrips. Most take us across Hoover Dam, where we spend much of the time looking for "Mountain Sheep" (our pet name for Mountain Goats).

The latest trip seemed no different as we passed through the dam without a sheep in sight. As usual, we kept moving and told ourselves we'd spot some another day...

Who knew that day would come so soon!

We were driving out of Hawthorne, NV (the town I called home during 6th grade), making our way around Walker Lake, when Granny K spotted something moving. It seemed fate was on our side as a turnabout appeared out of nowhere so I could whip the van around and take a closer look. Below is what we saw first...

Nothing.

And then -- they started coming down the hill.

Not two.

Not three.

Not four.

SEVEN! Seven mountain sheep!

We went crazy! I was able to capture five in one photo and as you can see, unless you have the opportunity to sit still and watch for movement, you'd easily miss them.

We stayed and watched for a long time -- amazed at the marvelous creatures and their agility. The baby, who barely had horns, was our favorite. Had he not been surrounded by his herd, I think he would've come closer to say hello (thanks to our box of Cheez-its).

As much as I wanted to pat his little head and hug him, I knew it was best that I not encourage any bonding with humans. *SIGH*

What's really funny is that my mom has been in Reno for over 15 years and this is the first time she finally saw mountain goats in person. The girls and I consider ourselves lucky for having to wait only two. It's a moment we'll treasure and talk about on every future roadtrip!

Happy Birthday, America!

As I've said in previous posts -- my girls think every birthday requires a celebration. The 4th of July was no different and they were decked out from head to toe in glitter, glasses and glam.

We spent the day on the road to Reno (be sure to check out my next post about "Mountain Sheep"), having a BBQ with Granny, Papa and Aunt P, watching the girls watch fireworks for the first time, and then drifting off to sleep.


It was an exciting day and a great way to celebrate the birth of the country we call home. We're grateful for the freedom we enjoy and the men and women who protect it at all costs.

Happy Birthday, America!

Binky and Bonzo - Fraternal Twins?

Crista and I have known each other for over twenty years -- and we've been "Binky and Bonzo" for the past 15.

With similar heights and hair color, parents who resemble the other's, a partnership in almost all VA church callings, and a few of the same ex-boyfriends, it's easy to see why we're great friends and often refered to as the other. At least we used to be...sniff!

Bink recently came out to AZ for a visit and we had a great time As you can see from the pix, we still ROCK. Make that, SHE rocks. (Note to self: try make-up and less squinting!)

The visit definitely wasn't long enough, but it's nice to know that despite the distance or time in-between visits, we always pick up right where we left off -- Monkey BFFs!

Love ya, Bink! Please come see us again soon -- my little monkeys miss you too.

Granny's Little Swimmers

When it comes to personal flotation devices, it's not about safety. It's about style!

Granny took my "Little Swimmers" shopping for some new pool toys and this is what they ended up with. From day one, they've been attached at the hip (pun intended).

Thankfully, we finally convinced the girls that "Mommy Ducky" and "Baby Hippo" were more comfortable living outside in the deck box. So far it's worked, but that's only because we visit them daily.

A few days later Cousin Deb sent the girls flippers. Another huge hit with my little fishies who often refer to themselves as "Mermaid" and "Dory."

Who can blame them for loving water out here in the 113 degree heat? As they (courtesy of Little Nemo) say: "Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming."

Sounds good to me!

What surgery?

I'm often asked if the girls are identical. It seems bizarre to those of us who know them well; but for those who don't, a quick glance at the coordinated clothing and similar height and hair color can be misleading.

From the moment I felt movement during pregnancy, I knew my girls would be completely different. I'd like to think it was my mommy-to-be intuition, but the constant action from "Baby B" (who ultimately pushed her way into "Baby A's" position), kind of gave it away.

Since then, my "No Fear" Claire has been on the move -- stopping only to sleep.

And despite the failed doses of Benadryl (kidding!), and the dental visits with sedation (not kidding!), I HOPED she'd surprise me and take a little down time after the Tonsillectomy.

I really should have known better...

After a wild "hulk-child" moment in the recovery room, and an afternoon awake and wiggling, she mostly acted like nothing happened.

I kept waiting for things to get bad -- the dehydration; the terrible pain, etc., etc. However, it never happened. Essentially, this was a good thing. Even though there was no rest for the weary (Granny Kay and me), it was an experience I'm grateful for. Considering all the other "crazy" going on (more to come on that), a speedy recovery from one tough little toddler is quite a blessing.

The picture in this post was taken shortly after we got into the hospital room, post surgery. Absolutely amazing!

Tonsils, Take-Two

It's deja vu around here, but such is the life with twins. After a toddler-sized Barium Swallow test, the doctor has decided that Claire's tonsils and adenoids have to go. They're huge, with only a tiny space in between. The result is that she's not getting enough air when eating or drinking, so she's choking frequently.

The surgery takes place next Wednesday and Claire couldn't be more excited. She likes to remind us of Syd's surgery by explaining how she was "too little" to go inside the hospital. When we signed-in for her test this week she asked me if her finger would get pinched ("pricked") and when she'd get a bracelet ("ID Tag"). According to her Going to the Hospital book (gotta love that Mr. Rogers), these are things that must happen at the "hos-pi-tal."

I doubt I'll have the same enthusiasm she does come surgery time. Thankfully, Granny Kay is coming to the rescue again and will be here to help out. Sadly, Curtis will miss the event because of work. As Forest Gump says, "That's all I have to say about that."

I took the picture in this post at Claire's test this week. As I previously mentioned, she LOVED the whole visit. I couldn't have been more proud of her.

Change is good

Diving into the world of "blogging" has been fun for me. I've been able to reconnect with some old friends, spend time writing "for fun" and to watch the reaction on my girls' faces when they see themselves on the computer screen. In short, it's been a pleasant addition to my to-do list.

However, it was only a matter of time before the hyper-focused inner me started thinking of ways to change my blog: center this, add that, etc. The list went on and on and sadly, beyond my technical expertise.

Thankfully, I stumbled across Darcy and Graphically Designing. She was able to make sense of my madness and create this beautiful new layout. I LOVE IT!

In the process, I decided that my blog - despite its short existence - needed a new name. "Sugar and Spice: Ingredients for a Happy Life" was cute, but I felt it wasn't capturing what I wanted to say or do with this blog. (Yes, I over-think just about everything.)

Why Roots & Wings?

1. The purpose of my blog is to share moments. The significant moments, and the not-so-significant moments in between.

2. My granny (my mom's mom), who I miss dearly and is often on my mind, had a favorite quote that she referenced throughout her life. I didn't understand it as a teenager, but it sure makes sense as an adult.

"There are two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One of these is roots, the other, wings." (Hodding Carter)

So true.

3. I like to think that our "roots" are established through the friendships we make, the places we live, and the experiences we go through; and that our "wings" come as a result of those experiences and relationships - ultimately enabling us to fly on our own.

So there you have it -- my over-thinking, brainstorming process in writing. Frightening.

In closing, I'd like to say thanks to Darcy for making my blog dreams a reality. She's talented, witty and very patient. Please check out her site if you're interested in blog tips or makeover services. She's great to work with and delightful to know.

Lastly, thanks to everyone who keeps coming back to check in with us. Truly, it means more than you know.

Forty-something

Let's get one thing straight - the man is forty-something, not me. Today was his XXth birthday, which actually puts him closer to fifty-something, but I won't go there.

The girls and I had a great time setting up for the celebration. Initially, I planned on cake and presents but upon reviewing the agenda with the girls, Little Miss Independent reminded me that birthday parties require balloons and party hats. And who am I to argue with that logic?

We baked a cake, signed cards, wrapped presents, and decorated the house with balloons. Little Miss Organized was so excited that she kept asking The Man to come downstairs before we were finished setting up.

Later, we enjoyed dinner at Claim Jumper, one of his favorite restaurants, and somehow managed to save room for cake at home.

In short, a great time was had by all. Kudos must be given to my little party planners -- they sure do make their mommy (and daddy) proud!

Happy Birthday, Sweetheart! -T

Missing Daddy

The Man has been traveling this month and the few days we had him home last week went by too quickly.

Every time the girls see a plane overhead or a red truck drive by they scream, "it's Daddy!" My heart aches a little bit each time that happens, but I know it's got to be worse for him being away from us.

We decided to get a Web cam for The Man's laptop so he could keep in touch with us, but's it's definitely not the same when it comes time for hugs and kisses. Although, it is fun to watch the girls kiss the computer screen when we're chatting with him.

The attached picture was taken last weekend. If you're reading this post, Sweetheart...HURRY HOME -- WE MISS YOU!

-T

An Update

I am now officially addicted to the Twilight Saga.

Somehow, I managed to finish New Moon (Book 2) and Eclipse (Book 3) in ONE WEEK (I know, I know -- IDIOT!) and I'm still just as mesmerized and in love with this series.

For those of you who have read the books, you know my heart is breaking as a result of the Edward, Bella, Jacob love triangle. What an awesome story line.

Of course the real heartbreak is having to wait until August 2 to read Breaking Dawn (Book 4). Rumor has it that it's the last in the Twilight Saga, although info from Stephenie Meyer, per her Web site, indicates that a Twilight companion novel called Midnight Sun could be on the way. Essentially, it's Edward's version of Twilight. Brilliant! I really hope that comes to fruition.

So just for grins, I thought I'd do a little poll on my blog for the ladies who love the Twilight Saga. Be sure to submit your answer before you go. I'm personally sticking with Edward, but Jacob is becoming tough competition. Did I mention that I HATE THAT? Poor, Bella. Poor, Jacob. Poor, Edward...Okay, I'm stopping now, I have got to get some sleep.

Night! -T

I love being a mom

There are so many things I love about being a mom.

~ I love the fact that despite how bad I look in the morning, the girls still think I'm beautiful.

~ I love being told that my kisses heal boo-boos ("all better, Mommy!).

~ I love hearing the same question over and over. When it starts to get irritating, I remind myself that it means the girls are persistent and that's a talent that will serve them well in life.

~ I love being asked to eat something the girls have fixed in their "kitchen" -- usually it's plastic pizza and invisible juice, but it's always good!

~ I love hearing, "I wuv you, Mommy!"

~ I love going out with the girls. One of our latest outings was a trip to Baskin-Robbins for 31 cent Scoop Night. The pictures in this post were taken with my camera phone as we waited in line.

I could easily keep going, but you get the idea. I love being a mom, even on the days that aren't so easy. Of course as luck would have it (being Mother's Day Eve and all) today was one of those days. One of those days when you end up feeling like a terrible mom, and you wonder if you've scarred your children for life. However, upon reflection, I realize that everything gets better and that love conquers all. It's one of those days that I wouldn't trade for anything.

Before I close this post, I'd like to say Happy Mother's Day to my mom.

Thanks, Mom:
For the strength that keeps me grounded,
and the love that gives me wings to fly.

Love, -Reen

I've been bitten...

There are several reasons I don't read for pleasure very often. Aside from not having a lot of extra time or energy, the primary reason is that I usually lose track of time and stay up past my bedtime. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE when good books carry me away, but it was a lot easier to "travel" before I became a mom.

That said, I'd like to take this opportunity to remind you that it IS important to "get away" every now and then; even if it's just by taking a trip to the couch with a good book in your hand. I'm compelled to share this reminder since I just took my own little "get away" with a book called, Twilight (Book 1 in a series of 3, soon to be 4), by Stephenie Meyer.

Even as I type this post with my eyes drooping, the lack of sleep was so worth the time invested in this story. It begins right here in Phoenix (which was really cool for me having just relocated) and it takes off to a place called Forks, Washington.

In a nutshell, Twilight is a love story between a human and a Vampire. (I'll pause for a moment, I can hear the gasps now...)

I know, I know. I don't do scary. I never have. I avoid scary books (sorry, Stephen King), scary movies, as well as the nightly news. So why on earth would I read anything with a Vampire in the main cast of characters?

For starters, Twilight is not scary, at least not really. I'd say it's more exhilarating than it is scary and if you don't believe me, just consider the tag line: "When you can live forever, what do you live for?" My heart is pounding...I LOVE IT! Additionally, you can view the movie trailer to judge the "exhilarating vs. scary" element for yourself.

(NOTE: I never recommend seeing a movie before reading the book, so promise me you'll view the trailer and then read the book, vs. viewing the trailer and then waiting for the movie. If you choose the latter, I won't allow you to join me on opening night. *grins*)

So, if you've viewed the trailer, read my plea, and STILL aren't convinced this book is worth your time, consider this...the author, Stephenie Meyer, is an LDS stay-at-home mom. I didn't know this prior to reading the book, but it sure made it that much sweeter.

Last but not least, I'd like to take a minute to thank Kathy C. for convincing me to invest some time in Twilight.I soooo needed the "get away" and I can't wait for the next one!

Enjoy! -T

thinking out loud

Being a parent is hard.

Being a grateful parent (24x7) is sometimes harder.

The following poem reminded me that each day with my children is a gift. Even the days that make me want to scream.

While today wasn't one of those days, I'm confident there's one just around the corner. :)

The poem was written by Sally Meyer, who has approved its use on my blog. Click HERE to access her Web site.

Thank you, Sally, for being a loving mother and an inspirational author.

-T

Just for this day.

Just for this morning, I am going to smile whenever I see your face.
and laugh when I feel like crying.

Just for this morning, I will let you wake up softly, all rumpled in your
flannel and I will hold you until you are ready.

Just for this morning, I will let you choose what you want to wear, and
smile and say you're beautiful.

Just for this morning, I am going to step over the laundry, and pick you
up and take you to the park to play.

Just for this morning, I am going to eat a huge breakfast, with bacon
eggs, toast and waffles, and you don't have to eat any.

Just for this morning, I will leave the dishes in the sink, and let you
teach me how to put that 100 piece puzzle together.

Just for this afternoon, I will unplug the telephone and keep the
computer off, and sit with you in the garden blowing bubbles.

Just for this afternoon, I will not yell once, not even a tiny grumble
when you scream and whine for the ice cream truck, and I will buy you one if he comes by.

Just for this afternoon, I won't worry about what you are going to be
when you grow up or who you might have been before your diagnosis.

Just for this afternoon, I will let you help me bake cookies, and I won't
stand over you trying to 'fix' things.

Just for this afternoon, I will let you put all kinds of barrettes in my
hair, and put lipstick on my face, and I will tell you how pretty you have made me look.

Just for this afternoon, I will take you to McDonalds and buy us both
a Happy meal so you can have both toys.

Just for this evening, I will hold you in my arms and tell you a story
about how you were born, and how much we love you.

Just for this evening, I will let you splash in the bathtub and not get
angry when you throw water over your sister's head.

Just for this evening, I will let you stay up late while we sit on the
porch swing and count all the stars.

Just for this evening, I will bring you glasses of water, and snuggle
beside you for three hours and miss my favorite show on t.v.

Just for this evening, When I kneel down to pray, I will simply be
grateful for all that I have and not ask for anything, except

just one more day.

Sally Meyer
copyright 1999

No portion of this poem may be reproduced without permission of the author.
Rainmom2000@aol.com

THE POOL IS OPEN!

It was pretty hot today so I decided to gather the girls and jump into the pool for a relaxing swim. We've been dipping our feet in the water for the past few weeks, but today was official -- swimsuits, towels, going under water, etc.

Although it wasn't as warm as I had hoped, it was still refreshing and my little fishies had a blast. The picture above was taken shortly after we got out. Here's how it went...

I posed a simple question: "Who had fun in the pool today?"

I got a sweet (and loud) answer: "ME!"

This is now one of my favorite photos of our bathing beauties. For those who haven't seen them in a while, Sydney's on the left and Claire is on the right.

Soooo cute. -T

Puppy Trouble

He's cute, he's furry and he likes to lick - a lot!

No, I'm not talking about Curtis. I'm talking about Mocha, the newest addition to our family.

For a pint-sized Pekingese puppy, he sure can create a lot of havoc at our house. Despite two crates, two visits from Chem Dry (the carpet cleaners), two adults arguing about who let him out last, and one cat who'd prefer he found a new address; Mocha still manages to win the hearts of our two little girls.

In fact, Sydney gave Mocha a pet-name this weekend. It was so creative and cute that it's now his official name: Mochapelli. That's MO-KA-PEL-LEE, like Kokopelli, a word she learned a few weeks ago.

To the left is a picture of Claire and our little Southwestern pup since I couldn't find one of Sydney.

Long story short: it's a good thing I love animals, not to mention Claire and Sydney. Otherwise, Mr. Mochapelli could have found himself hitching a ride back to Texas to live with my sister-in-law, Pam, who gave him to us this past Christmas. (Nothing personal, P, you know I love you.)

So despite the fact that he's a dog, he's officially part of our family. However, for the record; I want the world to know that when it comes to status, Mochapelli falls second to my Rio Cat. Because as Claire says (courtesy of a lesson from Papa Tamas), "Cats Rule. Dogs Drool."

=^..^=
Meow for now. -T

Goodbye, Tonsils -- Hello, Ear Tubes

It's hard to believe it's been one month since Little Miss Sydney went in for surgery. Recurring ear infections, mild-hearing loss, sleep apnea, and extremely large tonsils meant one scary surgery for our little girl. This type of procedure is extremely common, but due to her age it meant an over-night stay in the hospital.

We had lots of time to plan, so Granny and Papa were able to drive in from Reno, NV to calm my nerves, keep Claire company, cook dinners, do home-improvements, and assist with Syd's recovery. Their love and support was soooo appreciated.

The surgery took place at Phoenix Children's Hospital; a WONDERFUL place to have something like this done when you're a worried parent or a nervous three-year-old. The staff is superior (and so is our ENT, Dr. S) and the processes are top-notch from check-in to check-out.

Sydney slept most of the first day, at least until her pain medication wore off. By late evening, she was perky and wide-eyed. I've included a couple of pictures I took with my camera phone during our mommy-daughter sleep over.

Due to a severe flu season the hospital was on lock-down to anyone under the age of 12, so Claire was unable to come inside and visit. It was tough on her, but we tried to make sure she had some time with Mommy and Daddy outside of the hospital. She even sent a video-message to Sydney (her "Sissy"). You can see Claire's message at this end of this blog. *You may need to click the arrow twice.

It was the girls' first night apart from each other since conception (yes, seriously), but they did great. Drugs helped Sydney cope, and Daddy, Granny and Papa helped Claire cope. A sucker helped too, which can be seen in the picture to the left.

The first 5-7 days (post-op) were pretty rough on Syd, but the changes in her just one-month later are amazing. She speaks much more clearly, doesn't snore at all, and (knock on wood) hasn't been sick or even sniffled. Her check-up was last Friday and she passed with flying colors.

Claire, who also has extremely large tonsils, will be evaluated next month so we may be going through this with her as well. At least we'll have a better idea of what to expect. It certainly wasn't any fun seeing our sweet little Sydney wake up from anesthesia, but considering what other parents and children were dealing with in the hospital, we had it easy.

Thanks, Phoenix Children's and Dr. S, you do great work!

Arizona life is getting SWEET!

So I'm just about to change the tv channel last night when an upcoming news story grabs my attention...Krispy Kreme is coming back to The Valley!

It's a long story, but Krispy Kreme Doughnuts was here (in my area of AZ), and then they weren't. To add insult to injury, they were here when Curtis and I were house hunting, and they were gone by the time we got here.

I know it's not good to focus on food -- especially the fattening kind -- but Krispy Kreme has been a tradition in my family for years. As a teenager I sold dozens and dozens of Krispy Kreme doughnuts for a variety of fundraisers, and I swore I'd never eat (or sell) them ever again.

From that point on, I was a Dunkin' Donuts girl.

Years later when I was pregnant with the girls, Krispy Kreme started calling my name. I'm not sure if it was the doughnuts calling, or the 24-hour drive thru calling, but it was Krispy Kreme loud and clear. And it only took one (okay, maybe TWO) chocolate iced glazed doughnut, and possibly a glazed sour cream doughnut to convince me to dump Dunkin' and re-commit to Krispy Kreme. (Side note: it's too bad I don't transition as easily in other things!) Anywhoo...

A trip to Krispy Kreme is a real treat for our family (mainly for me and the girls) and has sadly been missing from our weekend travels. I'm looking forward to continuing the Krispy Kreme tradition with Claire and Sydney, although it may not include the fundraising part; unless it offers a discount on the doughnuts we purchase (grins). I hope they have a punch card -- WOO HOO -- life just keeps getting sweeter!

-T

The Details

If I've heard it once, I've heard it a thousand times..."Tamara, you're all about the details."

It's true. I like details.

Whether it's planning a party, or planning the weekend...I like knowing the details. Perhaps it's because I like making the most of my time, or maybe it's because I function better with some structure. Either way -- I certainly prefer details and organization, but life happens and things get a little out of control at times.

My work requires that I focus hard on the details of writing. My personal life requires that I focus hard on the details of wifehood, motherhood, friendhood, etc. and so on. Sometimes I get tired of the details requiring my attention, but generally speaking, I enjoy keeping my "i's" dotted, "t's" crossed, and all of my writing "typo-free." (Yes, the period does belong inside the quote mark. Please don't get me started...)

Unfortunately, after years of being an over-achiever, I've come to realize I'm not perfect and that some of my "details" have gotten out of control. For the first time in my life I'm not able to keep up with it all (does anyone really keep up with it all?). And while I've always known that some of life's details aren't necessary, I've still had trouble letting them go.

Well...that ends today (fingers crossed).

The quote "life is in the details" still rings true for me, but I've decided it's not the right title for this Blog (that's another story) and that time is passing by too quickly for me to be caught up in the details that are wasteful, worrisome and not worthy of my effort, tears, etc.

Without going into too much detail (pun not-intended), I've had some personal challenges over the past 18-months. I've focused entirely on my relocation (to AZ from VA) and my immediate family because that seemed to be much easier than dealing with the pain of leaving the home I knew and loved for 24-years.

I've ignored e-mails, phone calls and letters from many of you and it wasn't intentional. I just kept sinking further down and focusing only on the things required for survival. Again, in an effort to spare you the details and to avoid sounding dramatic, I'll just say that I'm doing my best to bloom where I'm planted, now.

If you've received an invitation to read this blog it means that you're someone very close to me and someone I've most likely been out of touch with lately. While the above explanation is brief, it's true. I never imagined how much I'd miss my home and the friends I considered family. I thought (being the over-achiever that I am, or was), that I'd make this transition in my life with grace and style. Yeah -- that sooo didn't happen out here.

So, to make a long post short, let me try to summarize my light bulb moment.

Life comes with challenges.
Thankfully, challenges come with blessings
(even if they're not recognized right away).

Or, if you prefer the toddler-friendly version, which links back to the title of this blog:

Life is filled with sugar and spice.
It takes a bunch of ingredients, and lots of trials
(and errors) to make an award-winning recipe.

So if you're interested in seeing what's cooking in this kitchen (a.k.a. life in the Wyatt Household) I hope you'll check out our blog from time to time. It will offer:

- Pictures and details about the family
- Pictures and details about our life and house in AZ
- Pictures and stories about the weird (and sometimes scary) wildlife that comes to visit (last week a rattlesnake dropped by!)
- Updates on Skitterskat
- Anything else I can think of to keep you coming back

It's no episode of LOST (or my old fav, Alias), but I guarantee it will be interesting.

Stay tuned.
Love, T