Annabelle turned three!!!

I really can't believe that my baby girl has turned three. Three always sounds so old, like just a little kid, which I reluctantly have to say that she now is. I am so lucky to have had the privledge of being her mommy and watching her grow and change from a sweet and innocent baby, to a walking and talking toddler, to a three-year-old little girl. She is growing up so fast, I just wish she would slow down sometimes. It really does feel like yesterday I was taking her home from the hospital. My, how I love this little girl.

Sleeping Angel. Annabelle 3 weeks old, in her blessing dress.
1st Birthday
2nd Birthday
Notice the difference in ammount of hair she has at 1 year and 2 years.

3rd Birthday
We actually got very few pictures of her smiling. We have never had a big party for her but we decided it was time. Something that we didn't know about Annie, she is not much of a party girl. She spent most of her party pouting and throwing fits, which she rarely does.
She did this a lot...... Even though her dad tried desperately to comfort her.

Happy Birthday Annie!!! The past three years with you have been bliss. You are irresistible to fall in love with, even when you are frowning.

A New Post is coming...

Shocking, I know. But don't hold your breathe for too long... I am just desperately searching my house high and low for my camera cords so I can post some pictures. :)

Something to do when you're bored.

Here are the rules:Bold the things you’ve done and post on your blog!

Started your own blog
Slept under the stars
Played in a band
Visited Hawaii
Watched a meteor shower
Given more than you can afford to charity
Been to Disneyland
Climbed a mountain
Held a praying mantis
Sang a solo
Bungee jumped
Visited Paris
Watched a lightning storm at sea
Taught yourself an art from scratch
Adopted a child
Had food poisoning
Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
Grown your own vegetables
Seen the Mona Lisa in France
Slept on an overnight train
Had a pillow fight
Hitch hiked
Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
Built a snow fort
Held a lamb
Gone skinny dipping
Run a Marathon
Ridden in a gondola in Venice
Seen a total eclipse
Watched a sunrise or sunset
Hit a home run
Been on a cruise
Seen Niagara Falls in person
Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
Seen an Amish community
Taught yourself a new language
Had enough money to be truly satisfied
Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
Gone rock climbing
Seen Michelangelo’s David
Sang karaoke
Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
Visited Africa
Walked on a beach by moonlight
Been transported in an ambulance
Had your portrait painted
Gone deep sea fishing
Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
Kissed in the rain
Played in the mud
Gone to a drive-in theater
Been in a movie
Visited the Great Wall of China
Started a business
Taken a martial arts class
Visited Russia
Served at a soup kitchen
Sold Girl Scout Cookies
Gone whale watching
Got flowers for no reason
Donated blood, platelets or plasma
Gone sky diving
Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
Bounced a check
Flown in a helicopter
Saved a favorite childhood toy
Visited the Lincoln Memorial
Eaten Caviar
Pieced a quilt
Stood in Times Square
Toured the Everglades
Been fired from a job
Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
Broken a bone
Been a passenger on a motorcycle
Seen the Grand Canyon in person
Published a book
Visited the Redwoods
Bought a brand new car
Walked in Jerusalem
Had your picture in the newspaper
Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve
Visited the White House
Killed and prepared an animal for eating
Had chickenpox
Saved someone’s life
Sat on a jury
Met someone famous
Joined a book club
Got a tattoo
Had a baby
Seen the Alamo in person
Swam in the Great Salt Lake
Been involved in a law suit
Owned a cell phone
Been stung by a bee

Now, go forth and prove your life is more exciting than mine...

A Nearly Perfect Day

Sorry guys, this post is a doozey!

Most of you know that David and I have come to the realization that we cannot stay married. We really are just better at being friends than lovers. We have tried to make things work so many times but now we know and are both finally able to face the reality of it all. When we separated last time, we both still had hurt feelings and were still holding on to things that should just be let go. This time we are both on the same page about things and really feel it is best for both of us to be happy and just be who we are. We both love our children dearly and we know that we will always maintain a good friendship with each other for our precious angels. I do not regret marrying him and staying with him for nearly seven years. I have learned so much about myself, about him, about our children, about life that I might never would have had the chance to had I not stayed with him. The way that we choose to act, to learn, shapes who we are. We cannot control everything (one of many things I learned) but we can control what our experiences make us into. This whole experience has only made me stronger, and for that I am grateful.



Anyway.... The good day started last Wednesday when I got to surprise D.J. by taking the day off work and going to the zoo with D.J.'s class. He was so happy that I got to take him to school even, the whole way there he had a grin from ear to ear. Then I followed his school bus to the Hogle Zoo and got to be chaperon for him,his good buddy, Jose, and Annie of course. D.J. had so much fun showing off his little sister to all of his classmates. He is so sweet to her. We had just a little more than 2 hours to see all the animals. It was so cute just to watch D.J. and Jose hold hands "so they wouldn't get lost." We had a very speedy look at the animals but it was a blast. Then the boys got back on the bus and went back to school while Annie and I stayed for a few more hours. It was nice to be able to spend one on one time with her. Her favorite was the fox, lemurs, and pretty birds. It was so fun taking her to the zoo for the first time and seeing her watch all the different animals in amazement and wonder. Then David came and spent an hour or two with us. Then it was time to pick D.J. up and he again was so happy to see me pick him up. I really wish I could always be there for him, there is something that just fills your soul when you see your child light up when they see you, the perfect love. I am POSITIVE there is no better feeling. On the way home, D.J. just had sooo much to say (even more than normal). He said how much fun it was that I got to see him and all his friends. To be honest, I had a really good time too. When we got home, David came over and I made dinner and then we went to the park down the street. The kids went in their Power Wheels Jeep (yes I know, my kids are spoiled) and David and I went on Razor scooters. I really felt like taking a nap because of all the running about at the zoo, but once I went out I was happy I did. On the way there, the sun was shinning on my face, the wind softly blowing my hair. My kids were giggling a couple of yards ahead of me. At that moment, with my children giggling, my "almost" ex-husband tail-gating them, I just caught a glimpse of complete contentment. It took me by surprise, honestly. I just know that everything will be OK and that everything happens for a reason. I am so incredibly grateful for my children, I don't know what I would do without them. They are EVERYTHING for me. I don't know what I did to deserve them, but I feel so blessed to be their mother. Everything they are, everything they will be, everything they make me, I am so lucky.

Black Butt

So about a week ago D.J. was sitting infront of the sliding glass door fully clothed, letting the sun beat on him. "He asked "The sun will make me dark, right?" "Yes it will, but you have to show the sun your skin," I replied. I went about my business, doing laundry, picking up toys, etc. Then I came back downstairs and burst into hysterical laughter as I saw D.J. He was laying face down infront of the window with his pants pulled down past his butt! Keep in mind, all other parts of his body were completely covered. "What on earth are you doing D.J.?" "Trying to get my butt black, mom!" He said it so matter-of-factly, like 'duh--what else would I be doing.'

Just to give you a little background on his obsession with his butt;
When he was about 3 years old, he realized that he was a little darker than mommy. He was pretty upset and actually cried saying that he wanted to be white like mommy and not dark like daddy. I told him that his color is beautiful and that God made him that way because he wanted him to be cute. He still was upset about it for several months. Then one day he noticed that his hiney was really white. He said, "Wow, Mom!!! My butt is soooo white! I like it!" Then he was ok about it. A year or so later, he noticed that his cousins (who are half black) were nice and dark. Since then he has always wanted to get his butt dark like them... I guess he finally found a way!

Ok, I am not sure where Annie learned this, but she apparently invented her own little dance which she sings her name to! It takes a minute before I can get her to do it. It is soooo funny!

Lets try this again...

Ready, Set, Action!!! Take 4! Is that what we are up to? This is the last "take" in the Cardenas Family, lets hope. So many things have to be different. We have a long road ahead of us, but we are both willing to make the plunge again, whatever it takes, to make this work.

These pictures were takes at temple square during conference. Doesn't D.J. look like his daddy? Since the time D.J. was three, he has been asking us if he can go inside the temple so he can see Jesus. He thinks he lives there, which he is right, just in a different sense. There is nothing as beautiful as the innocence of children.

This is Annie chasing D.J. by one of the pools at the Temple grounds.

Not quite sure what Annie was doing, but it sure is cute!