Mesa's Musings on life, mommyhood, family and friends

Sunday, August 31, 2008

My Mom

My mom passed away on Friday August 29, 2008 at her home in Las Vegas, NV at approximately 10:30 pm. I am grieving yet still in shock. It doesn't seem real to me I just saw her 2 weeks ago at my cousin Ali's wedding reception...The pain of losing her is unexplainable, she was my best friend, our relationship was not typical mother daughter, my grandma was the one that primarily raised me, but my mom was always there in a sisterly capacity, she was the one that taught me how to be a free spirit and to love music and to appreciate God through the beauty of Nature. So much of my favorite things are because of her, she taught me how to read, she taught me to love books and to use them as an escape instead of what she used as her escape, drugs...My mother was not perfect, she had demons that in the end she lost the battle too. But she had a huge heart, she loved animals, dogs and horses especially, she was always kind to everyone and if she saw a stranger in need more often than not if she could help she would. She was the one person that I could tell anything and everything to without fear, she never judged me or anyone, she only would do her best to understand every mistake and try to guide me in her own way. I miss her terribly and will for the rest of my life, my only comfort is knowing that she is no longer in pain and that she is with her mom and dad who love her just as much as I do. Rest in peace mom I love you.....

Sunday, August 17, 2008

My Cousin Ali's Wedding

I went back to Las Vegas a few days go to go to my cousin Ali's wedding, she was married Friday August 15th, to Josh Nilson at the Las Vegas LDS Temple. Josh's parents were nice enough to hold a family luncheon at the Olive Garden where we were able to spend time with the happy couple prior to the reception. The reception was tons of fun, I got to see ALL of my family for the first time in over a year and I learned that my cousins, James and Joe are about to open a bar/restaurant called The Bar (pretty original..hehe) its located off of St. Rose and Las Vegas Blvd. I also got to see my Uncle Drew, who is now a grandpa for the 3rd time...my cousin Andrea now has a little boy, along with 2 little girls :). The best part was just being with everyone and feeling like I belonged there, I was a little afraid I would feel like an outsider without my grandma there and because so much time has passed, but that wasn't the case at all, which actually made my trip bittersweet. I miss my family so much, while I love Arizona, my heart is still with them in Vegas, its where I grew up and even though my home is with my boys and now Pudge, Vegas is my roots. Here are a few pics from my trip and the wedding...Congrats Ali and Josh!!!

A stop along the way...

Hoover Dam.....

Brittany and I

My cousin Daniel asleep at Olive Garden..

Brittany's son Jake

My Family :)

Josh and Ali Nilson

My Uncle Drew and Brittany

My cousins James and Joe

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Random Nate and his new best friend Pudge pics

I could write lots of stories about these pictures, but as they say " A Picture is worth a thousand words".....

Monday, August 11, 2008

The End of Summer

Elissa went home yesterday...the house is somewhat quiet and empty feeling without her, Nate and Pudge are still wild, but somehow its just not the same without her. We had so much fun together, we went to the movies the day before she left to see "Sisterhood of The Traveling Pants 2" which was awesome and a few weeks prior to that we saw "Mama Mia", which was also awesome (I use awesome alot because she has rubbed off on me and that happens to be her favorite word). We did ALOT of cooking and baking and shopping. Along with all the fun my daughter taught me some very important lessons about life and also she taught me how to be a better mom. I realized that there are plenty of women that can give birth to babies and never know what it truly means to be a mom and there are also women who can't have babies but are born to be mothers. I was taught by this smarter than she should be 9 year old that being a mom means having all the answers even when your answer is I'm not sure, but I'll find out and that baking cupcakes for no reason is better than anything and that I am the funniest mom on earth because she gets my jokes and that no matter how hard of a day there is she forgives and loves me anyway. So, before I get even sappier I'll just post some pics of my girl and then do another blog..hehe..(I know I have slacked lately..thanks for the patience)..

Saturday, July 26, 2008

Pudge!

This is our new puppy Pudge, or as I call her Pudgerrific :). She is alot of fun, has tons of energy and constantly thinks that Nate is a toy..lol..he does a very good job of assuring her he's not by yelling at the top of his lungs a very affirmative NO, its quite funny :). Elissa enjoys Pudge too, most of the time...she is kind of afraid of her, but I'm teaching her that she's bigger than the puppy and to not be afraid. Well, thats all for now, time to take Pudge outside.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

New additions

We have been busy the last 12 days, I'll start with the 4th, we tried to go and see fireworks, but it rained...good old monsoon, so we watched the ones on tv in New York :). We have mostly been enjoying hanging out inside since the monsoon is upon us, it's not just hot its HUmid, makes it extra sticky outside. So for fun we have been acquiring new things, such as Mark's new motorcycle!

It's a 2005 Suzuki Boulevard and we love it! I finally got to go for a ride over the weekend, I forgot how fun it is.

***I have deleted the stuff about Dita, she is no longer with us, only a few days after getting her she got Parvo, which is deadly to little puppies, especially runts, it was a very sad thing for all of us to go through and she is greatly missed*** However we did get another puppy, she's a 9 week old American Bulldog and extremely healthy and FULL of energy! Her name is Pudge and I'll be posting pictures soon.

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Courage

I was recently introduced to a complete stranger's blog through my best friend, I have added this family's blog to my "Friends That Blog" list you can find it as A Moms Story. When my best friend (thank you Marylin) told me about this blog she prefaced it with "If you're ever in the mood to really cry" and then proceeded to tell me a bit about the story of a family who lost their youngest baby girl just a few weeks ago, she drown in the backyard spa that had just been put in. When Marylin first told me about the blog I wasn't sure if I would be able to read it, but I found myself tonight, not necessarily needing a good cry, but wanting to somehow share in this grief, its every mom's worst nightmare come true and this woman has the courage to put it out there for the world to read, she has the courage to let everyone in and as some might know writing is really good therapy, so she's sharing as her therapy...sometimes I wish I could do that. Reading her beautifully written words about her family and friends and Faith I have a love for this complete stranger that we should all have for one another yet most of the time don't. I felt compelled to share with all of you this stranger's story so that you may take away from it a deeper connection to those you love and also hopefully create a connection for those you don't know, that just might need an extra prayer or good thought passed their way. As Marylin said "If you want to cry" and I say if you want to cry but feel a love that goes beyond whats comprehensible..please visit A Moms Story...........

Elissa's 9th Birthday!

Elissa turned 9 on June 28th and for her birthday we enjoyed a morning of present opening (Nate was not happy about not having presents..lol..), an afternoon movie, we saw Wall-E which was a really good movie and then for her birthday dinner Mark BBQed some ribs just for her and I baked her some very yummy Vanilla sour cream cupcakes with pink vanilla frosting :) I would say she had a really good day!!!