Where My Heart is

I've been to so many places that I've loved, vacations and adventures abundant. But my heart and my soul are with people that I love. People that share my life, the ups and the downs, the silly and the solemn. It's in the comfort and wonderment of the colorful sunset and the landscape of my upbringing. Right now, both of my children and my sister whom I have had a big hand in raising, are all in Arizona. So right now my heart is in Arizona. I not only want to be there I want to run, abandon my responsibilities to work, school, friends, home and run to my family. I ache to be with them.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and while I am grateful all year long for the beautiful and blessed life I live, I can't seem to stop the emotions in me from creating ridiculous tears. I hate crying, but for the past say 36 hours, tear are brimming constantly, because I ache for family and love around me. Tonight, TONIGHT! I get to board an airplane and go be with the ones that love me most in this world, and that I love most. (Miller family in Colorado, I'm not leaving you out... it just is what it is. I love you all, unconditionally and beyond measure) 

Tonight, I get to go HOME! And no matter where life takes me, what adventure I am on, or where I receive my mail and lay my head down at night, home is Arizona! 

(Copied from my "single girl blog") 

Growing Up

Jonny started Kindergarten today. That's what seems "right" to say today. Unfortunately time has flown so fast that the accurate statement is he started MIDDLE school today. I can't imagine where the time has gone. 

He once was in my belly, so tiny. Then as he toddled through my favorite of years, I remember thinking this boy is going to be tall, and he is. At the age of 11 he wears a size 10 shoe and is 5'7" I can't believe my "little buddy" is towering over me already. 

He is so smart. In Kindergarten, his teacher didn't love him. She is the only warped teacher he has ever had. I say she is warped, because every teacher since has loved him, and praised him. This year is his first official year of schedules and lockers, and he is confident, even though he can't figure out his new lock. We went to the school yesterday for him to walk around and find each of his classes and his locker. My tall boy has a bottom locker, and if surprisingly just fine with it. 

I made him take a "start of the school year" photo. He made me promise it wouldn't go on Facebook. Not a problem, son. I'll put it on our blog. 

Extra Extra Read All About It

Okay, so really, just a quick update from the Miller family. Nothing huge or life changing going on. Which is probably a good thing, right?


Desirae Lynn was called and set apart and the Mia Maid President. It was really exciting to be able to be home to see her be set apart and hear her blessing. She is doing really well in her studies and has A's in seminary. Seriously, GO DESI! She is studying now for her learner's permitt and is going to take the test in a just a couple days. She is so smart, I'm sure she will do just fine! She is 15(and a 1/2) and growing into such a gorgeous young woman! She is working dilligently on a surprise for her grandma. It's fun to hear her get so excited about such a labor of love for someone she loves so much. Desirae is an amazing young woman. And look at her, she's just stunning!

Jonny is 11 now and in the 5th grade. He loves his new school. Anytime we talk about the future he tells me "I don't want to leave Bethany" The cool thing is, he doesn't have to. He can stay in Bethany schools all the way through high school graduation. He spent this last weekend with his dad and he got a hair cut. If you know Jonny Miller, you know this is ... miraculous! He looks very handsome and I'd show you a picture but he won't let me take one. (maybe I'll be able to grab one in a day or two) He is also expecting a new brother in the next few months. His dad and his wife announced today that they are expexcting a boy! So Jonny is very excited to have, for once, a BROTHER! :-)

I'm working hard to get this semester finished with and with great grades. We only have a few more weeks left and while I'm doing well now, I feel like I wasn't doing all that well at the begining of the semester. I am hoping to maintain my 3.89 GPA so that I can start to apply for scholarships. I am taking a full course load this summer it should be very easy and not very stressful at all, though. I have a total of 7 credit hours (6 being full time in a summer session) My classes are Painting 1, Photography 2 and a course that initially I was told I didn't have to take but now I do called Succes in College Life. It's 1 credit hour and it honestly sounds like a ridiculously stupid class but, if I have to take it, I'll take it.

With love from Oklahoma! 

Making Our House a Home

For anyone that follows our family blog, you know that we moved to Oklahoma last year. I stayed with some faantastic friends while I hunted for the perfect house. I prayed hard for a house that was in a good school district, a safe neighborhood, had little to no yard maintenance, 2+ bedrooms, 2+ baths, garage etc... We moved into our house in August and it was all that I prayed for. Unfortunately it has taken all this time to get the desire to make it our home. Typically making a house our home is very high my priority list. As soon as we move in I am hanging photos on the wall and helping children decorate their room(s). It was harder for us this time. We seem to move every single year. So we do all this work and then take it all down, and do it all over again once we move. Sometimes starting from scratch depending on new rooms, and the mood. 

Here in our "perfect little house" as we have been calling it for so long, I hung 1 piece of art in the kitchen that suits my perfect little family so much. It's a phrase we say to each other all the time, so I knew I had to order it and hang it. 

It seems after this went up we stopped decorating though. For a family that decorates, that is odd. Maybe we didn't want to put the effort into it when we knew we were just going to move again? I don't know. But a couple months ago we started decorating. We starting putting thought and effort and planning into our house so that it would become our home. While a lot of these were things we already owned, we also added touches to make it all work: 

Like the flowers on the step

 Front Step

we had all this in about 68 different boxes

 Entry Way

the table and frame for the temple in the loft

 Loft/Den Area

the fower pillow and euro pillow inserts for my bed in my bedroom. 

My Bedroom

I loved these towels instantly! 

 I found this photo I took to go with the fun blue towels and bathroom set!  

Downstairs 1/2 Bath

And Jonny's room is on it's way to be decorated as well. He already has most of his bedding, he is a simplist when it comes to decorating. He doesn't know it, but he'll have some euro shams and lumbar rolls by the time summer is up! BUT, he has picked a new bed that is on law-a-way and we should be able to get it off just in time for him to to go grandma's for the summer! He has great taste! 

So, as our cute little house continues to become more of our home we will share more. With love from Oklahoma.  

Torn, Tattered and Abused

We are a flip-flop family... Jonny is the most flip-flop lovin' kid I have ever met. He wear them in the summer, fall, and winter and spring. He wears them with shorts, jeans and even a Sunday suit. He wears them to school, to the park and to church. Late last spring we bought him the "perfect" flip-flops. They were squishy and comfy. He wore them everywhere and anywhere. They began to tear. I bought new flip-flops. Next thing I know he's back in these. It got to the point that I was hiding them to keep them off his feet. Consistently I would look down and there they were on his feet.

Finally in December I convinced him that new flip-flops were needed as his favorites were truly torn and tattered from the abuse of a 9 year old boy. I took the torn up shoes and asked the sales clerk to toss them. We left Famous Footwear with the new "all in one piece" flip-flops on his feet. He was quite upset that I had thrown away his shoes.

I went into Michaels and the kids headed toward Tilleys. When we met in the car Jonny had a smile from ear to ear. I looked at his feet and there they were... his old tattered flip flops.

Finally he is wearing his new shoes. But at times I look down to see his old shoes on his feet.

Resolved ...

To not make a New Year's resoluton this year... Till my Jonny came to me and said "Mom, my New Year's resoltion is to not miss a single day of school, and to get my Bear" Jonny chose some truly exceptional resolutions that will be invaluable to him as he continues to lean and grow in this life. He is also quite determined and makes his mom very proud!

Woah... I can't be stood up by my own kid!

Desirae decided she is going to work on some personal goals as part of her New Year's resolution. Her goals are inspiring to me. She is such an amazing daughter and I am so blessed to have this unique, intelligent, talented young woman to learn from each day! I stand in awe of her each day.

As a mom, I'm slacking! Look at these great kids that I have! They set such an amazing example for me! I musta done something right at some point...

Generosity of Others.

This Christmas was quite different from many from years past. Typically my children make a list and I go purchase the mast majority of the items on it. I carefully choose items that I feel they need and will mean something to them. This year though, my budget was significantly smaller than usual. But I was determined to make the best of it. I worked hard to earn the money I could and put true thought and prayer into what each of my children needed.

Soon I realized my budget was even smaller than I initially that it to be. I was devastated that I was not going to be able to provide the Christmas I was hoping for. I prayed my heart out, I asked for work anywhere I could. Next thing I know my dear friend Randy Love who was serving a tour overseas emailed me and asked what the kids wanted for Christmas. I was dumbfounded. Soon after I accepted a job which would give me a little money just before Christmas. I had things all set... but realized I was still short. My Jonny wanted 1 specific NERF gun and my Desi still needed a pair of pajamas. I got a phone call from my bishop who gave me a gift card to WalMart... it covered exactly what I need AND I got to fill the kids stockings.

Our Christmas was "perfect" according to the kids... Thanks to the generosity of others.

Desert in Bloom

Thursday November 4, 2010

Field Trip to Boyce Thompson Arboretum with Jonny

4th grade got to go to the Arboretum on Thursday, and I got the opportunity to be a chaperone. We learned about Arizona history, different plants that live in our desert climate, and got a great hike out of it. It was fun!

I got to get to know Sandi a little better and take photos, which of course was just the frosting on the cake.

Chain of Events

We adopted a Pit Bull named Paisley. She has grey and white marking and green eyes. She has more affection and love than most dogs I have seen. We took her home.

She instantly began to destroy my home. Eventually it became too much when I walked into my house and the arm of my leather sofa was torn off. Paisley was returned to the Humane Society.

I began looking for a replacement with the new house I was under contract in mind. Jonny was convinced we needed a red sofa. Every sofa he saw he would say "This sofa would be great in RED" I am however not so sold on the Cranberry Red Velvet sofa he loves so much.

Well I found a gorgeous brown sofa on KSL.com. We drove to Sugarhouse to see it and of course loved it in person as well. The lady selling the sofa, Polly, and I got to talking and next thing I know I am renting there home. It's gorgeous!

Thank you Paisley for making us look for new sofas!

Our house hunt is complete.

And a houses we will hunt

I should be a professional house hunter!!! Cause here we go again... So here's to all the possibilities!

A New Home

Closing, Short Sale, Mortgage Insurance, Addendum, blah blah blah

Are these words supposed to mean something to me??? I just want a home that is OURS.

We made an offer on a home. It's loverly. The original home was buily in 1900. It has been updated but still has the historic charm. I love it.

The Millers will have their OWN HOME!!!

It is a short sale, so we are waiting for red tape to be cut through... Pray for a speady process. :-)

Good Times

On Saturday night Jonny and I headed up to Kerrie's house in Syracuse. We had a blast with Isabella, Kerrie and Moy. I have known Kerrie since I was 14 years old, living in Yorba Linda CA. She has been a good friend ever since. Moy works out of town so we rarely get to see him. Jonny is great with little girls and plays with Izzy and gives in to her every demand. Even when he is tired.

We had some yummy BBQ chicken and talked and played till the kids were ready for bed! Izzy played with worms and Jonny joined in the adult conversation and played with Izzy.

Kerrie and I planned where to take photos of the kids in her back yard and that next time we go up we are going to catch frogs.

I love having Kerrie here in Utah!

I Now Dedicate this Space...

to family time. and only family time. and fun family time and shenanigans. and such.

There shall be a crazy quirky Sharon blog at another location. (http://sharonranae.blogspot.com)

But this blog is the Grand Adventures of the MILLERS not the Grand Adventures of Sharon. Though I do have some darn grand adventures. SO my family life HERE... my single crazy fun life... @

While many may wonder, isn't there 3 Millers??? Why does she only talk about her son?? My GORGEOUS daughter lives in Arizona for now. We miss her deperately and hope in the very near future her path will lead back home where she belongs so she can join in the grand adventures! :-)

Enjoy!

The Dance

Jonnny and I at 1/2 time

I was fortunate enough to be able to attend the #3 Playoff game Jazz vs the Denver chicken Nuggets last night with my most handsome date - Jonny. He has decided that he likes the Nuggets and the Suns, though the Suns are his favorite. As a boy who's heart belongs in Arizona I can understand his loyalty to the team.

The Dance

As we watched the game, I was in awe as I watched the battle for victory become a dance, that at times seemed to be as graceful as a ballet, and at other times as brutal as a common street brawl. The excitement of the announcer's tenor voice singing the name of a beloved Jazz member at each basket made livened the crowd.

Kyle Korver, Carlos Boozer, CJ Miles, Paul Milsap, Wesley Matthews, Deron Williams, are some of the names that were most heard last night and got a lot of play time. Matthews, a rookie played with gusto that would allow one to think he was a seasoned player. Milsap lead the team and played like his life depended on it. But this team in truly a team, and to watch them communicate and move and pass the ball almost as it was orchestrated is fascinating to me.

Hopefully Mehmet Okur will be able to return next season not only cause I like to look at him, but because I like to look at him and he is a great player.

GO JAZZ!!!!

A House Divided!

GO JAZZ

go suns

GO JAZZ

go suns

I am a Jazz fan! I started getting tickets here and there from work and started to get into the game of basketball. Typically with games on a school night I would take Red to the games. We had a blast, and typically some of the best seats in the house. The kids were fine with me going with Red. Desirae isn't into sports. Jonny doesn't like noise or crowds. So Red and I enjoyed quite a few great games and witnessed some momentous plays and legendary wins! I started to learn the players and really get into the game.

One morning Jonny informed me that the Suns were coming to town to beat the Jazz. I was a little surprised, to say the least, that he had even knew this information. I was also surprised that he was under the impression that they were going to beat the Jazz. I got 4 tickets to the game and we were set. As we settled into our seats after the game was already in progress, it was apparent to Jonny the Suns had this game in the bag! The trash talkin' began!

Little did Jonny know, the Jazz are a 3rd and 4th quarter kind of team! The Jazz pulled through and beat the Suns! I was thrilled, Jonny was sad.

Wednesday the Suns were coming back to the Wasatch Front and a battle for #2 was on the wood just minutes from our home. We had to be there and be witness to this dance! I had to watch my boys beat the Suns once more! Jonny had to be there when the Suns beat the Jazz on their own turf (or wood) to rub it in his mom's face. And the trash talking began. All through dinner, all the way to the arena... To hear our exchange of banter, you would probably have thought us to be 2 teenagers from rival high schools defending our teams. But no, just a son and his mom (stooping to his level of immature tongue lashings) in good fun.

For the record, I have never been to a Jazz game that they didn't win. I had my Jazz green on, I was revved up and excited to live in the victory of "my team" , I even posted on Facebook for all my Phoenix friends to see, that the Jazz were going to stomp the Suns! SLC vs PHX and dang it SLC was going to puff up our chests in grand victory and pride in the #2 slot.

Come the 4th quarter it was apparent to myself along with the rest of the attendees that the Utah Jazz were going to walk away with the #5 slot, not the #2 slot. The Suns were going to take this game. The ref's call were either absurd or non-existant and as the game dragged on the Jazz defense became weakened. The Suns triumped with a 20 point lead.

On our way back to the car Jonny continued to sing and shout and hollar at the top of his lungs THE SUNS WON!

Our house is a home divided.

GO JAZZ

go suns

GO JAZZ

go suns

...

go suns

The Help

I love to read a good book!!! I rarely read one that helps me realize the blessed circumstances I live in vs. those in different times and places. This novel is a page turner for sure. But this blog is not meant to read as a book review. This novel really made me think about things that I never really thought of the way I did after I read this.

In the late 1960's and early 1970's I wasn't even thought of. My mother still lived in her sheltered white suburban home in Palmdale California, with her Dentist daddy from Utah and her white society mother from Chicago IL. She was a petite brunette, pretty enough to make any man turn when she walked by.

My father a tall 6'4" blond hair, blue eyed all-star athlete in high school lived in his white home with his angelic mother from Blanding UT and his southern daddy from Virginia.

Both LDS households, both upper middle class, well educated and oppurtunities abundant.

In the late 1960's and early 1970's on the other side of the sheltered world my parents lived people were fighting for equality, and people were fighting tooth and nail to keep them in the place their ignorant minds felt these people with their dark colored skin felt they belonged. They claimed seperate but equal, but this claim fooled nobody. "Colored" people got whatever bone was thrown to them by white people. "Colored" people could go to college if they could afford it and have a degree just to work for a white family and shine their silver, and have to use a seperate but far from equal toilet in the cold garage or "out back". They would be beat if they used the wrong bathroom or sat at a lunch counter. A young colored girl's hopes could only reach as far as a "nice" white family to work for instead of one that made her bleach her hands instead of soap before touching their belongings. Ladies that would raise these white children and love them just to them torn from them later and have them call them "Nigger" as adults. Why? Because their skin was darker. They were differnt. Inferior. Less.

Can you only imagine? Have you ever stopped to imagine?

This really wasn't that long ago. 2 of my favorite men on earth are David Brown and Kevin Akins. They are both black men. 1 was born in 1969 and the other in 1970. What were their parents fighting for? Were they fighting to keep food on the table? Were they fighting to make sure their sons would be equal to the son's of the white men they worked for?

As the mom of 2 amazingly gorgeous children whose fathers are black I cannot imagine the racism and prejudiced against someone for having a different color skin. I look at my children an cannot imagine anyone on this earth not seeing that they are simply that, children. Children that are loved just as their own. My children have caramel colored skin, curious brown eyes, and curly brown hair. They are tall, my daughter like her dad's family my son like my dad's family. My heritage is not as liberal as my own soul on this issue. On both my mother's side as my father's side I have deep southern roots. But this is not something I can wrap my brain around. I cannot fathom treating someone different because they are different. Diversity is such a beautiful gift, why are peple so afraid of it?

Imagine each race using a different restroom in today's society. How absord would that be?

Food Please!!!

This has to be the worst practical joke ever! WHO in their right mind makes anorexia a side effect to a medication!?!?!? At first as Red and I were looking up the side effects to all my medications I was thinking SWEET! Maybe I will finally be thin for once in my stinkin's life!!! As a woman who loves to cook and equally or moreso loves to eat, this is absolutely torturous! I can't eat. It's baffling to me how I can't even drink a Pepsi!! I could typically LIVE on Pepsi!! But it taste funny. Not everything taste different, but soda does, anything with carbonation taste really quite funny. Food tastes blah! I have no interest in it. Not just no appetite, but the thought is nauseating! I can't bring myself to sit down in front of a meal! In the past 3 days I have eaten less than my son eats in 1 meal. I am at my wits end.

I need to figure what I can possibly do to get some food in me!

I am going to study my food for healing book tonight! But seriously this BITES!

10 paths I have luckily crossed

As I was driving to work today I thought of my sister-in-law and how blessed I my brother picked Candace to marry. So I decided to that tonight I was going to pick 10 people that came into my life that have truly blessed and enriched my existence. Now the gratitudes exercise is to "find" 10 things that I am grateful for, so it can't be the obvious people that inherit gratitude like my family that are born into my love and admiration for them, but people that have actually come into my life by other means.

Candace Combs Miller - Of all the women in the Denver metro area, I am eternally grateful he chose Candace! She is by far the most supportive, fun, accepting people on the face of the earth. I can talk to her about anything and with out a doubt I know she will still love me! Candace also has some seriously extraordinary hugging skills! When she hugs me I feel the pure genuine affection of the hug. She give the best hugs ever!

Sister Marsha Rawlin - Sister Rawlin was my Young Women's leader in Yorba Linda CA. She had a genuine love and concern for my well being and happiness. I could confide in her more than I could in anyone else. Not to cry the poor poor pitiful Sharon song but birthdays like many things sucked growing up. My freshman year of high school I was working 30 hours a week after school to help put food on the table. Sister Rawlin through a surprise party for me with some of the girls from school and church. We had cake and gifts and the whole shebang! I don't remember details but her generosity to try to make my birthday special when my own mom forgot about it meant the world to me, and will never be forgotten!

Blanca Sargent - I know obvious, but how do I leave her out? I have an undying love, admiration, respect and affection for Blanca and her sisters Esy and Lillia! (see that way I got to put 3 in 1! I am no fool!) These three sisters are a blessing to me! I know that I could pick up the phone or email anyone of them and they would be there for me, no doubt about it!

Shanna Kocherhans - Talk about a friend in the nick of time!!! When I was at lowest in my life Shanna was there to pick me up and make sure I landed back on my feet. She is just a BLAST! I could never imagine living in Utah without her! We have so much fun together and I am so honored to call her friend!

Brookie Roden Sibley & Katie Lee Brooks - (my bitches) Where do I start? I had to go on an Army exercise I did not want to go on! We had to go to a small po-dunk base in Wisconsin for a bio-chemical exercise and I was not excited! I had to miss Jonny's 1st day of kindergarten and I was ... mad! I met some of my favorite people ever on that trip and Brookie & Katie are 2 them! I met Katie first we wanted to find the shopette (Army term for gas station) and get some beer, well we ended up hooking up with Brookie who knew where the bar was!! They are now 2 of my favorite people! We just click! We can sit back and drink a beer or go shopping and grab a bite, or sit snuggled on the sofa crying on each other's shoulders! They are my friends and for that I am forever grateful for even if I did miss Jonny's 1st day of school!

Red - (no you may not know his real name yet) I know, I know, I just met him like 3 months ago, but hear me out here! I am grateful for him cause he makes me laugh! I have fun! I can put my worries behind me and just enjoy myself! I laugh so hard when we hang out that I get an ab work out!! It's insane! Also, (something I haven't even blogged about) he got me to the hospital! He didn't let me drive home when I was staggering to my car after my seizure, he took me to the hospital and took care of me. I can honestly see previous guys I have "dated" letting me drive home or just dropping me at the ER door. Red took me in, Red stayed with me and waited with me and talked to my family on the phone. I have a friend if nothing else, and to me that is ten million times more valuable than anything else!

Milk Dud Head and Blingy K - they are my people! Do I need to say a whole lot more than that? My "big brothas" I love them! No doubt about it, unconditionally, I love them and they love me!

I bunched a few together. And this has turned into a novel. You get the drift! I could list million people I am sure. I am blessed!!! Totally completely blessed!

Are you ready for some FOOTBALL!?!?!?!?

(gotta get the pictures from Red - they'll follow shortly)

Red and I went to Miami and had a crazy awesome blast!!! If I were to give the play-by-play account of my trip it would be a novel here so I am going to sum up the highlights!

Extraordinary Napping Skills - I literally can nap almost anywhere!!! I sleep exceptionally well on airplanes. I also wake startled to abrupt landings and captains voices on the intercom. Red laughs at this, and I ended up waking to him staring at me waiting for it cause he thought it to be so funny!

Sun Shine - It was brief but I saw it! I even got to wear flip flops for a little bit!!!

Hotel - Embassy Suites ROCKS! It was like a Spanish Hacienda and we had a little balcony with a great view of the freeway off ramp! But it was a 2 room suite and when we checked in we saw a white guy with PRO - picture of a football- BOWL shaved into his head!

Ali - Ok, I am sure I am spelling this wrong! But he was a middle Eastern man driving our cab on the first night out! We totally put on a show for him, and he ate it up! Best cab driver ever I swear by it!!!

Irish Pubs and Toasts! - We went off the beaten path! Heck we are off the wall, so it kind of makes sense right?

Shakey Hands - Not the best higlight but an important one. I am not sure why my hands shook like I had parkinsons disease on Sunday morning when we woke up at 1. (11 our time) Once I took my medication they settled down within 30 minutes.

VIP Tailgate Party and Corn in the Hole! - We got passes to this party that served free food and drinks and had music and games and stuff. I beat Red at Corn in the Hole. I am not sure what the game is really called but that's what they called it in Ohio on his mission. You through a bean bag at a board with a hole in it. I WON!

National Anthem - I just may be the biggest National Anthem sap on earth but they rocked it! One of my biggest irritations is when people talk and laugh and stuff during it. I still stand at the position of attention and instead of a salute I put my hand on my heart. Red sang with whoever was singing, then 3 fighter jets flew over head and I got tingles down my spine! I was so proud in that moment to be an American!

FOOTBALL!!! - It was a great game! We had great seats! SO MUCH FUN!

Great Guy - I am really dating a great guy. Now for all you out there that are wondering, NO, it is not serious, YES, I am completely 100% okay with that! He looks after me in his own way. He maked sure I ate breakfast and medication each morning, he knew where the VA was in relation to our hotel, he ushers me through crowds, when they are thick crowds he takes my hand and bull dozes through, when it's slippery he takes my hand to make sure I don't fall, he makes sure I am comfortable and safe when I am with him. He makes me laugh and lets me be me. It's a regreshing change!

Jonny and His Brain

(I wish I had a picture. I will have to go take one)

Tuesday night we as a family went to the Gateway mall here in Salt Lake City. Desirae got some gift certificates for Christmas and there were Redline sales at Hollister and Abercrombie. Now anyone with a teenage daughter knows the importance of a redline sale alone then you add the names of Hollister and Abercrombie and the stakes are raised significantly! Jonny also needed new shoes for the sake of my nose. Anyone with a young boy can appreciate this.

As a working mom I didn't get home till after 6 which put us at the mall close to 7:15 or so. First stop was for mom! Trade Secret for a new big round brush and BioSilk! Of course the extras were added on, a new light pink nail polish and travel sized shampoo and conditioner!

Next stop for mom's nose... errr I mean for Jon... Foot Locker! New Pumas and socks for Jonny! YAY! and pay no attention to the new white Nike shocks in mom's size! Pay no attention! :)

Next stop Hollister! (ok, am I getting old?? This store's lighting is really dim and it's smell of bad men's cologne is overwhelming and the music is loud and all the workers look like they just walked off the beach and... the clothes look sloppy...) Desi picked out her clothes and and got some really great deals! Good ole red line sales!!

Next stop was divided! We had limited time, and mom was running low on energy and patience so Des headed toward Abercrombie and Jonny and I headed toward Ben's cookies. (now Kodiak Cakes and Cookies but I refuse to change with the change) We picked out our bakers 1/2 dozen and grabbed 3 hot chocolates to sip on while we walked in the crisp cold night through the out door mall.

I basque in the presncce of my son and his brain, especially at a time in my life when I feel like my brain is not working properly (thanks seizure and vertigo disorders I hate you!) He comes up with the most unique and profound topics of discussion that just blow me away. So this few minutes I got to steal away alone with my boy were precious to me. As we were walking toward Abercrombie to meet up with Desirae the shopping goddess we walked passed the store Express and we took note of the manikins in the store that only had 1/2 their heads. Our conversation from there lifted my spirits and reminded me of the simple joy of being Jonny's mom. It went something like this:

Jonny: MOM! They cut their brains out!!!
Mom: Where??
Jonny: There look in that store! We need to stay away from that store forever! I don't want my brains cut out!
Mom: Oh that is a good idea son! We like having our brains in our heads huh?
Jonny: Shyeah! That's why I have all this hair, to protect my brain!
Mom: Aaahhh So you have a plan huh?
Jonny: Exactly! I don't want to look like that mom! That's scary!
Mom: I love you Jon!
Jonny: I love you more!

Maybe you had to be there. Maybe you had to see the manikins! Maybe you have to understand the silly conversations Jonny and I have regardless, it was a blessing to me!