@]@ Wild women and Butterflies @]@

Day two of our girls gone wild vacation....

We headed out to the party hardy place called "The butterfly conservatory". It's actually a really cool spot. It is surrounded by a gazillion miles of gorgeous gardens...well they would have been but it was the wrong time of the year...so we skipped them and went into the conservatory.

Now my SIL's were thinking it was a place with a bunch of butterflies pinned to some styrofoam...and you just looked at dead bugs. They were thinking I was bat crap crazy and not the best tour guide in the world....but oh much to their surprise!

This place has some of the most amazing plants you'll ever see....exotic Tropical plants and stuff that doesn't even look real. And it's FILLED WITH BUTTERFLIES...the little critters are flying EVERYWHERE!








click to enlarge some of these...it's like the plants were growing butterflies!







So now who's the greatest tour guide in the universe.....that would be ME! Do I know how to show people a good time or what?

After cooling off from our vigorous butterfly extravaganza...we headed back to the good old US of A.....only after my mom totally flirted with the hottie at the boarder crossing booth. He wanted her passport...not her phone number...sheeesh mom! ( dad...I embellished that for blog reasons...you understand)

After checking out the American side...and YES Canada...YOU RULE the falls for sure. We headed back to Massachusetts....we needed to get a good night sleep...for tomorrow.......

LOOK OUT NEW YORK CITY!!!!


And look...two great blog awards from the coolest people!

Cindy at "just another day in paradise" gave me a GOLD CARD! THANKS CINDY! I've had the pleasure to get to know Cindy over the last 2 months and I must say she is one very special person! Smart, funny, and she does the most thought provoking posts...plus she has an adorable Grandbaby...go check her out!

And Lisa at "lisa's spot" gave me this award If you haven't visited Lisa's blog then you really need to. She has the most amazing pictures of the cutest raccoons who visit her house. And she takes the most amazing photos of the beautiful scenery! And...she's an amazing person too...THATS alot of AMAZING!!

**HEAVEN SENT**

I wasn't going to do a post on this....I figured I'd already done some mooshie posts lately and everyone would think I was going soft....and it seemed kind of silly because I knew Steve would never see it. But then I realized that if I can blog about something as trivial as dog spa day, or refinishing a bench....well then I ought to take the time to blog about the most important things in life. So bear with me........

We celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary the other day. It probably doesn't sound like much to you ladies who have been married for decades...but for me it's pretty amazing. See I've got a pretty miserable track record when it comes to "living happily ever after" I won't go into the details...but lets just say I'm not the chick you'd want picking out your next "husband to be". I finally came to the realization that I had the love sense of an amoeba...and decided to remain single forever. Let's face it I didn't have the luxury of involving myself with another person, when it was my kids that would suffer the consequences of the next disaster

.... fast forward 10 years or so. And I meet Steve. Now how a guy who lives in Massachusetts and who has never been to Utah....and a girl who lives in Utah who has never been to Massachusetts....find each other is a mystery ... or what I like to think of as fate. I think God was up there shaking his head over the mess I'd made of things....and decided to cut me a break. And I thank him every day that he did. After 4 years of long distance dating...and Steve patiently waiting for my last child to start college....he lured me across the country and convinced me that he would make me the happiest lady in the world if I only married him.

Boy was he ever right! This is a man who loves me even with the additional wrinkles and pounds. This man had me make a list of the 10 things I'd always wanted to do or see...and then moved heaven and earth to try to accomplish them.

This man has made me smile and laugh out loud every single day we've been together. He has NEVER raised his voice at me...and is rarely ever frustrated at my stupid mistakes and dopey ideas. He buys me flowers and chocolates...just because.
These are from 2 days ago...when he came home from Florida...Schakolad---my FAVORITE..and look only a few are gone...I'm being a good girl....for now.....

He tells me he loves me every day...not once or twice...but practically every time he catches my eye. He is a marvel...and I wonder why he loves me so much...and then I just cross my fingers and pray he never stops. I am blessed beyond all measure.

I LOVE YOU STEVE!

~~4 Chicks go traveling~~

The journey begins in Bradley airport in Connecticut

As you can see, I was lucky to even find my family in this crowded, bustling place. To be fair it was late at night...and my family is coming from Arizona, Utah and Alaska...I guess people coming from normal places arrived earlier in the day.

Because we are PARTY GALS we went to bed as soon as we got back home. Hey I'm old and I tire easily.

The next day we threw some overnighters in the car and we headed to Niagra Falls! Along the journey we had to stop in Palmyra, New York. For the rest of the world...there is nothing in Palmyra...but for people of our faith it's a pretty cool place. We stopped at the Palmyra temple, visited the Joseph Smith house and got to spend some time in the sacred grove.

Thats my sis-in-law Joy, my mom, and my sis-in-law Jody. And where am I? Hiding behind the camera of course...Heck somebody has to take the pictures! Notice that gorgeous blue sky....we had the BEST weather the whole time!

We made it to Niagra Falls, the Canadian side, and checked into the Embassy Suites Hotel...it advertised as the closest to the Horse shoe falls. And they weren't lying! I know this is gonna be hard to believe...but this picture was taken by Jody through our hotel window. She is a semi-pro photographer...and any really awesome shots you see in these vacations posts are gonna be by her. We didn't think this would work through the glass but it turned out gorgeous!

After checking out the view we walked down to the falls. Now I try really hard not to walk anywhere....really I would be grateful if God had given me wheels on my feet. Because walking and me are not good friends. Look how far away the falls are from here! And for my old out of shape body...this was a WALK...and there were HILLS people! And where was I in this photo...I was across the street in the park trying to not pass out from exhaustion. I tried to steal a walker from this old dude, but his wife hit me with her purse.
I love it when my dear mom looks happy!

Jody kept climbing up on the wall to get the good shots....it's a LOOOONG way down and I was trying to figure out how I was gonna explain a missing wife to my brother! Ummmm bro...I lost your wife...I think she went fishing...Ya might want to try calling Canada.........



After we got done gawking at the pretty water spillage.....I tried to hire a couple of big burly guys to drag my sorry butt up the Mount-Everest-type hill...but I had to make it all the way on my own. Lets just say no "land speed records" were set that day. Tomorrow we were heading to the Butterfly Conservatory....didn't I tell you we were party gals!!!!!

***ON BEING MOM***

First and foremost in my life....I am a wife and a mother. The mother part has it's highs and lows...it's happy times and it's sad times. But I wouldn't trade one minute of it for the world. (ok if I'm being honest...there was a couple moments during the teen years that I would trade for a new car). I'd like to introduce you to my little crumbcrunchers. Who sadly grew up before my eyes and are now pretty amazing adults. It's hard to think of them that way...it just makes me squinch my eyes shut and chant....THEY ARE STILL BABIES....BABIES DAGNABBIT!

I love you Jared-bearad-wear-and-tear.....Lindser-binzer-bonzei-buns....and Lacey-lubbers-mommas-ma-goobers! You guys are my world! ......Now GO CLEAN YOUR ROOMS!

And although I only gave birth to three of them....I'm taking credit for Jessica too. She may be my daughter-in-law...but she is the kind of lady any mother would be PROUD to call her own!


This came from an email so I don't know who did it or who to give credit to...whoever is responsible Kudos to you!

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO PLAN TO BE GREAT MOMS.....THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE GREAT MOMS......FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE GREAT MOMS....AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAD GREAT MOMS....THIS IS FOR YOU

Real Mothers don't eat quiche; they don't have time to make it.

Real Mothers know that their kitchen utensils are probably in the sandbox.

Real Mothers often have sticky floors, filthy ovens and happy kids.

Real Mothers know that dried play dough doesn't come out of shag carpets.

Real Mothers don't want to know what the vacuum just sucked up.

Real Mothers sometimes ask 'Why me?' and get their answer when a little voice says, 'Because I love you best.

Real Mothers know that a child's growth is not measured by height or years or grade... It is marked by the progression of Mama ...to Mommy... to Mom

At 4 YEARS OF AGE - My Mommy can do anything!

At 8 YEARS OF AGE - My Mom knows a lot! A whole lot!

At 12 YEARS OF AGE - My Mom doesn't really know quite everything.

At 14 YEARS OF AGE - Naturally, Mom doesn't know that, either.

At 16 YEARS OF AGE - Mom? She's hopelessly old-fashioned.

At 18 YEARS OF AGE - That old woman? She's way out of date!

At 25 YEARS OF AGE - Well, she might know a little bit about it.

At 35 YEARS OF AGE - Before we decide, let's get Mom's opinion.

At 45 YEARS OF AGE - Wonder what Mom would have thought about it?

At 65 YEARS OF AGE - Wish I could talk it over with Mom.

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides. The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole, but true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows, and the beauty of a woman with passing years only grows!

I only hope that I have been and can be half the mom that my mother has been to me. I feel truly blessed to have learned from the best!

~FOR SHAME PEOPLE...FOR SHAME! ~

I truly wanted to pull together a post about my vacation. But I've been so blasted busy catching up on all of the posts that I've missed, that I simply haven't had the time. It's all YOUR fault really...If you people weren't so dang interesting I'd have not gotten caught up in reading your blogs, and I would have time to get my crap together. I hope you all will take a moment to hang your heads and repeat after me......"I (state your name) will try to be less interesting and not so distracting". Now send me cookies and all will be forgiven...unless there are raisens in them and then you'll be in BIGGER trouble than you are in now!

Since I already pulled this post screen up...I guess I can fill in some of the space.


Ya know how everyone is doing that "crapper snapper" thingie. You know...ya go to somebody else's potty and take creepy pictures of yourselves...then Sheila the dear one gives you an award for being weird....errrr....brave. Well I'm sure not gonna be left out! There was only one little problem.........

HEY is it my fault the mirrors are so freakin high in New York..they must think I'm a center in the NBA...I tried...really....it's just not my fault I'm vertically challenged. Do you think Sheila will give me a pass on this one? Probably not since I was too worn out by my WHIRLINGDERVISH MOM to even comb my ratty hair. How pathetic is that! But I was exhausted and I barely had enough strength to hold up the camera in my chubby little hands. *SIGH*

Now on to more serious matters. Check out this cool award. Artie and Cindy were oh so kind and bestowed it on me! YAY!

Now I know you all know Artie over at "Color outside the lines" He is one very cool, very classy guy. Just having him know who I am makes me feel special. If you haven't been to his blog...oh wait that was just silly ...of course you have, everyone goes there! But in case you're just not that hip and happening...you should go say "hey" to him. You'll fall in love with him just like we all have! And maybe if you're really lucky he'll put you into one of his hysterically funny stories! Thanks so Much Artie!!!

And Cindy at "just another day in paradise" is another one of my favorite bloggers. Not just because she has a wonderful blog and does these really thoughtful posts that make you think, and not just because she sent me these really cool Utah Jazz pens I use everyday at work, but it's also because she is kind and wonderful and I consider her my friend even though we've never met. Go visit her and you'll see exactly what I mean.

And then Tracey over at "I am me" gave me this award. Tracey is an animal lover like me. Although she has about a thousand cats and I don't have any. She takes these wonderful pictures of her sweet pets and I always look forward to seeing her blog. She's kind and has this really big heart...and she makes me smile! Please run over there and check her out! Now I've already gotten this one before...but I'm greedy and will be more than happy to take it again.

My Hunka Hunka burning love

I'm back....I so missed you all. Dang if blog withdrawal isn't a pain in the patoot! My family is back home safe and sound. We had such a great time, but it's gonna take a few days to gather up all the pictures and make a real post. I'm hoping my sister-in-law will email me her photos because she actually knows how to take a great picture. They wore me ragged....sheesh those women have some serious energy!!! It really bites when your 72 year old mom can run circles around you! I'd be totally embarrassed but I'm too tired to experience emotion at the moment. So until I can catch my breath and get some sleep....I'm gonna rip off Penny, Sally, and Raxx and who knows who else... and do their post about the men in our lives.

So heres a sneak peek at what makes my hubby tick. And lord help me if he ever sees this!

That not-so-happy face is because he was contemplating making me eat the camera when he saw I took his picture! And there is still some question as to which end of my body was going to do the ingesting.

1. He's sitting in front of the TV; what is on the screen?
A Dodger game, a Utah Jazz Game, a Rams game (how embarrassing is that this year..the Rams suck big time...I have to close the drapes so the neighbors won't see!) or the science channel.

2. You're out to eat; what kind of dressing does he get on his salad?
Low fat vinagrette or Italian (he's not a chick I promise!)

3. What's one food he doesn't like?
No red meat. (I'm telling you he AIN'T A CHICK!)

4. You go out to the bar. What does he order?
Sparkling water (WOULD YOU GET OFF THIS KICK OF THINKING HE'S A GIRLIE MAN...SHEEEESH)

5. Where did he go to high school?
New Jersey

6. What size shoe does he wear?
10 1/2 (and he doesn't wear heels)

7. If he was to collect anything, what would it be?
(I'd so love to say dolls just for haha's but if he ever reads this I'm a dead woman) Trains...he has a miniature train set that he's been building for decades.

8. What is his favorite type of sandwich?
He doesn't eat bread....or for that matter he won't eat anything he has to touch with his hands (I'm not making this stuff up)

9. What would this person eat every day if he could?
Pasta or brown rice with all sorts of sick stuff on it. He'll put beans, barbeque sauce, and salad dressing on rice and then mix in some brussel sprouts...ewwwww.

11. what would he never wear?
sweaters or a vest.

12. What is his favorite sports team?
The LA Dodgers ....he's watching them right now...which gives me a chance to type this without him getting a peek.

13. Who will he vote for?
McCain , but not without wishing for a choice #3

14. Who is his best friend?
I can seriously say it is me....really...and I'm not even being my usual delusional self.

15. What is something you do that he wishes you wouldn't do?
Stay up so late blogging. I think he secretly wishes the internet would implode.

16. How many states has he lived in?
there are alot. Paris and London (I know they aren't states) Hawaii, New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts....there might even be more but I can't ask him because he would totally freak if he knew I was doing this post.

17. What is his heritage?
His mom is German and his father is Norwegian or Dutch....I think....who cares...he's a hottie where ever he came from!!!

18. You bake him a cake for his birthday; what kind of cake?
If I baked him a cake he'd pass out from the shock that I turned on the oven!!! But the only kind of cake he'd ever eat is cheese cake.

19. Did he play sports in high school?
Baseball and he looked awfully darn cute in the uniform!

20. What could he spend hours doing?
Going through his favorite sites on the internet...mostly sports and news......talking politics.... and working...he is the hardest working man I've ever met.

You're the best my funnyhoneylovebunny....I adore you!!!


I'd like to give a special thanks to my dear friend BJ over at "sweet nothings" for this really freaking cool award.

Ain't it a beauty. It's called....
THE WYLDE WOMAN AWARD

The rules of this award are:

1. You can give it to one or one hundred or any numer in between - it's up to you. Make sure you link to their site in your post
2. Link back to this blogsite (http://www.tammyvitale.com//) so Tammy can go visit all these wonderful women and remember the Purpose of the Award: To send love and acknowledgment to women who brighten your day, teach you new things and live their lives fully with generosity and joy.

Thank you so much my friend. It means even more coming from you!!!

I'd like to pass this on to an amazing lady...she is the daughter of my best friend in the whole wide world. And she just happens to be a very smart, funny, classy lady just like her mom. She makes me laugh, she is a inspirational mom, and I would be proud to have had her for one of my own daughters. Her name is Randi and you can visit her at "just keep swimming" It's an adorable blog and you'll enjoy the visit!

My house is sparkly...my body is revolting!

WHEW! Nothing like a whole freaking day spent cleaning every nook and cranny. I guess if I actually did a periodic cleaning this wouldn't have been such a chore. I'd like to say I've learned my lesson and will do "frequent cleaning" but I just can't lie to myself like that. It's a good thing people come to visit or I'd be living in CRUD CENTRAL! But I gotta say...things are pretty squeaky and shiny! It would feel pretty dang good...if I wasn't numb from head to toe. Even my leg hairs are tired!!!


And....with the help of my super hero hubby....who didn't even say a word about the multiple massive holes I bored into the sheet rock.....my bathroom looks pretty dang cheery. He came home from work and took one look at my sad face (ok...I admit I practiced it in the mirror quickly before he walked in the door...shhhh) And he offered to use his rippling muscles to help me finish the job. This was my dilemma...


I had this idea to make small curtain rods to box in the sides of our neo-angle shower. We don't use this to actually shower ...it's just a place we wash muddy dog paws before we let them in the house. But I wanted to add some fabric and softness to the stark shower. My hubby wouldn't let me drill any holes in the ceiling (can't imagine why) and a REAL neo-angle shower rod is $160...are you kidding me...for a shower nobody uses...I think not! I sort of rigged up this concept for a semi-shower curtain... My first effort was a "major"..no make that "General" disaster! It flat out didn't work and I had the holes to prove it! Then I made a mad dash to good old HOME DEPOT and bought a plumbing flange and a threaded nipple (yes that's what it's called) and created my little half rods.

I bought two porcelain knobs to cap off the end of the hollow closet rod I used to cover the ugly nipple (sheesh I feel kinky just typing that) And VOILA' a semi-demi-shower rod!

So lets re-visit the before.........
And AFTER...........

BEFORE...........

AFTER......... The door by the shower leads out to the pool...so I wanted a kind of bright, happy, beachy feel.




I loved these little wall hooks...I figured they'd be great for hanging up beach towels and bathing suits.



It stills needs some tweaking...but I'll have time for that after my family leaves.

So this is it...my mom from Arizona, my SIL from Alaska, and my SIL from Utah will be here tomorrow night. Which means that I'll be away from blogland for a WHOLE WEEK...boy am I gonna go through some serious withdrawals. I'll miss you all...but I'll be back with all those boring vacation pictures that I can torture you with!

STAY SAFE! And I'll see you all in a week!