What you all have been waiting for.....

Okee - Dokee everyone! I am super tired and I must be honest...I had to fight the urge to just lay down on my bed and watch the news. Then I realized that updating everyone is so much more important...right? And so it begins!

(now would be the time to grab a drink or go pee if you need to!)

After the girls & I got back home from Moab on my birthday, things just didn't feel right at home. There was so much tension between me & Justin. We weren't talking and when we did it would just turn into a yelling match or an arguement. My best friend Tara had mentioned that she was headed to Mesquite the weekend after my birthday and invited the girls & I to tag along for one final excursion before school started. When I talked to Justin it was almost like he couldn't say yes fast enough! After Tika's orchestra "concert in the park" we were on our way!

It was cool and raining when we left and when we got to Mesquite the 106 degree heat was a nice change (yeah right...I seriously thought I was going to DIE!) The next day we loaded up and headed to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. What an AMAZING place! And you know, it was'nt as long of a drive as I thought it would be! We LOVED IT!
The next day we just relaxed in Mesquite and swam all day. Now when I say all day, I mean ALL DAY! Tara & I figured that we were IN the pool 8 1/2 hours! Too bad we weren't getting paid! That's more than a days work! And it was like pulling teeth with no novicaine to get the girls out to eat pizza for lunch! They're like fish!

When we got back home, the tension was still high...you could have cut through it with a dull knife! Justin told me he was going to move to the basement. That was weird. The following weekend almost had a mental breakdown. We were 10 days from celebrating our 12 year anniversary and Justin had announced that he was no longer happy in our marriage.

My Dad had a bagpipe competition in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and I decided I needed the support of my parents and that I was going to join them for the weekend. (Justin thought that this might be a good oppertunity to let them know what was going on with our relationship.) I left the girls at home with Justin and went to beautiful Jackson Hole.

The day after I got back, school started and we decided we would sit the girls down and tell them about the divorce over the following weekend. Tika is now going to the middle school and Carsy is in 2nd grade. They are growing way too fast! On the first day of school I had a meltdown. That was not too fun!

Then it was the world famous swiss days. (world famous? Can I say I have lived here for over 12 years and this year was my FIRST time? I am no longer a swiss days virgin!!) Melinda & Rod came up and ran the 10K and did an amazing job...and of course we had our boy!! :)

Justin & I sat the girls down and told them about the divorce. That was one of the hardest (well, probably the hardest) things I have ever had to do. I think the hardest part was that I did not want to get a divorce and I was sitting there explaining it to my babies. Justin and I sat down and split up the weekends throughout the rest of the year and let the girls just talk to us and ask questions. They are so amazing. I think that Justin and I are truly lucky to have been blessed with such strong daughters. I am so impressed witht their strength.

The next weekend it was "my" weekend. So I decided I wanted to take them to do something that we might not get to do very often, but something they would enjoy and remember. I took them to get a PEDICURE! Now for you adult women out there who LOVE pedicures like me...let me give you a bit of advice. Don't waste the money on little children feet. Save it for YOU! Just pay $7 for them to get a polish change! That was so much fun though!! I wish I would have had my camera to capture their priceless faces when the people were cleaning out their toenails!! Hilarious!

Need a snack or a refill on your drink? Okay, to continue...

A couple months ago Carsun asked if we could go to Zion for her birthday. At the time she asked, we were having issues, but not to the extent of a divorce. So we pretty much told her that she could plan on that for her 8th birthday. So it has been just sitting in the back of our minds for a while. I kind of thought that she'd change her mind because of the divorce, but no! She just wanted a "family weekend". What a sweet kid! Little did we know at the time that we would have gone to the mediator the day before and it would be such a hard thing to do! But thats when you bite the bullett and have a good time for your kids! And, I think for the most part we all had a good time. Since Carsun's B-Day fell on a Saturday, it was technically Justin's weekend to have the girls. So I spent the day alone (which was pretty nice & relaxing) and Justin & Jon took the girls canyoneering. We took Carsy wherever she wanted for her birthday dinner (Olive Garden) and guess what we did after dinner?? You guessed it- we went SWIMMING!

So- there is the Epps Girls update! ( I really want to say thanks to everyone that has supported the girls & I ...Justin too ... in this very difficult time! I love & appreciate ALL of you!!)

(okay I am having trouble with my blog & Photo bucket. I have typed this post 3 times and now my pictures won't rotate to make the slideshow. I am quickly becoming PISSY and I am tired. So- goodnight...I will do the slideshow of B-Day pictures tomorrow!!!)