Dream Laugh Love

Adventures in Toddlerhood - Words

2012-01-27T10:48:00.002-07:00

Our little Keaton is such a talker - I love it! He can say pretty much anything, repeats ev-ry-thing, and has great pronunciation for his age. It is so fun, but there are a few tricky words...
For example - We can easily tell the difference between "shirt" "sit" "shut" "sheet" etc, but a passer-by might hear him say any of those words & wonder we cuss a lot around our kid. Also, he is getting tired of the shopping cart these days & will loudly proclaim "walk" "walk" as we roam the aisles at the grocery store...no problem, except his "w" sounds a lot like a "v" & somewhat close to an "f" sound. So, you may guess that this can get a bit embarrassing for mommy! (When he decides he needs to walk at church, we pretty much make a quick exit to the hall...)
My favorite so far though - A few weeks ago I needed to plug the little dvd player he was watching into the wall to charge. (I try to not plug things in while he is around, because I don't want him to thing that putting things in the outlets is ok, but I didn't have much of a choice this time. He was distracted by "Babies" & I needed to keep the peace to keep cleaning.) So I told him I was going to plug it in. Of course he repeated what I had said...except his "pl" was a very distinct "f" and his "g" had a strong "k" sound... I had a reallllly hard time not laughing out loud! He got a little better at the "pl" sound throughout the day, but it still makes me chuckle inside, and we won't be saying "plug" or "plug it" in public for a while!
A few of my favorite Keaton words -
"Zelcome" or "Zor Zelcome" (You're Welcome)
"tSore-y" (Sorry)
"kee kee ka kee keekaboo" (peekaboo)
"keekle keekle" (tickle tickle)
"kit kit kitty cat" (kitty cat)
"I did dat" (I did that)
"tshyea" (yea)
"tshyes" (yes)
"shep" (yep)
"lair lit is!" (there it is!)
"la they are!" (there they are!)
"sure!"

Our Holiday Card

2011-12-14T00:28:00.000-07:00

Stationery card

View the entire collection of cards.

More Sunday Fun

2011-10-31T15:56:00.002-06:00

So, I hadn't intended to post this here, but just looked back & noticed that one of my last posts was about a crazy Sunday morning & it made me laugh. Not every Sunday morning is insane, mostly just the Sundays that I am teaching the RS lesson...

My FB post yesterday (can't figure out how to get rid of the highlighting - sorry!):
That moment - tired of feelin' icky, toddler has been fussy all morning, lesson doesn't feel ready, "to do" list seems unmanageable, house is out of control, trying to get ready for church on time, ready to run away to a land where you get to be right sometimes - Yea, that would be the moment when the toddler looks innocently into your eyes and ... pees on the carpet.
I have to add that he had rejected the cute bathrobe I sewed for him (which is the reason he was still running naked after his bath), when I broke down he cracked up laughing...maybe I cry funny??, then he discovered that playing in the toilet water is great fun. I guess I should be grateful that it took him this long to discover the toilet water, but ew!

Crafty Crafty

2011-10-27T23:59:00.002-06:00

My cute halloween project - http://craftingwithbaby.blogspot.com/2011/10/halloween-craftiness.html

The Chase - July 12, 2011

2011-08-14T17:08:00.000-06:00

Once again I neglected my mass of blog followers (haha) - but a month is better than years, right? I will copy below what I posted on facebook about my hit & run adventure of July 12, 2011 :) Good news is, insurance company wasn't too hard to deal with and the Pilot should be back from the shop on Monday. (Yay for no more little rental car - I miss my SUV!)

It all began as a trip out to run some errands. I had been driving around, making deposits, etc for a bit. Keaton was still asleep in the car, so I decided to give him a few more minutes & run over to Michaels. (I have been waiting for the foam brushes to go on sale again for a while & they finally are :) ). So off I headed towards the freeway.

As I was nearing the onramp on 9000 S, I felt/heard a crunch & looked left to see a small car moving back into his lane. There was no place to immediately stop (we were entering the ramp), so I kept track of the car & looked for a place to stop, assuming he would stop also. I started to pull over at a wide shoulder, but realized that the other driver was not stopping, so I continued on the freeway & as I got closer, he moved over into the left lanes. Are you kidding? The guy was trying to run!!

So I whipped out my iPhone & called 911 to report him & make sure that he didn't get away without paying for our repairs. At this point I didn't even know if we had any or much damage, but no way was I letting him get away. I stayed on the phone with dispatch & then with UHP, updating them on our location, as he continued at normal to fast freeway speeds. Sometimes there was a car between us, sometimes I was right behind him. Never thought I'd be in a car chase in my life! He kept on going & at one point I remember thinking "holy cow, I'm going to end up chasing this guy to Bountiful."

Finally, just before the 600 South exit to downtown, he started to pull into the right lanes. At about the same time a UHP trooper pulled beside me, then pulled behind the guy & pulled him over. I stopped behind the UHP car, spoke with the trooper & 2 troopers who showed up as well. The guy admitted he knew that he had hit me, had my paint on his car, etc. and told some story about how he was trying to pull of at an exit - LOL - one of these days I will count how many exits he passed, while I followed him in the LEFT (fast, non-exit) lanes.

I have to note here that I had a moment of slight panic, where I thought, crud, what if I followed the wrong guy. Haha. It was just the adrenaline making me worry though. I knew I had my eye on him the whole time.

So, reports, drawings, more questions from troopers, talking to John on the phone while filling out reports, etc... Keaton woke up about the time we pulled over. So huge kudos to him for being so pleasant the whole time we were sitting there!! While I was doing reports, John was apparently found out which trooper was filing the report, and called him to make sure the guy really would get a citation. Kinda freaked the trooper out that my husband had called him, lol. What can I say? Sometimes it helps to have law enforcement knowledge/connections :)

Anyway, the trooper had some not-so-kind words to describe the guy, told John that we had nothing to worry about, and told me that it appeared that his insurance was legit (whew!). So on my way I went. I was kind of tempted to stop & shop at Gateway or something, since I had found myself downtown unexpectedly. But I was still a bit shaken & didn't have shopping energy, so we headed home.

K got onery (can't blame him, after being in the car for-ev-er & being super hungry), and my phone was dying, so changed my mind & headed to John's parents house for some rest, food & iphone charger :) Thank heavens for great in-laws.

So, now we begin the next chapters of this unexpected adventure - insurance companies, car repairs, probably a few car-less days, etc.

And better believe there are some prayers of gratitude (for safety, for not being stuck with car repairs on our non-existant budget, etc) coming from my house tonight!!

Just another relaxing Sunday morning...

2011-07-07T05:18:00.000-06:00

So, Sundays are a little crazy at the Jacobs residence these days. I'm sure I'm not the only mom who feels like I need a nap by the time I get to church! Of course anytime that I have someplace to be, at a specific time, where K & I must both look presentable, it can get interesting. But, the 1 pm church thing is a special balancing act of making sure the kiddo gets lunch vs getting dressed on time vs not getting lunch on the church clothes... Did I mention that I am a Ward Clerk Widow? I'm tired right now just thinking about it :)
A couple of weeks ago we had an especially exciting morning, that I must record part of, for my own memory of the madness.
It all started with us going to a fireworks show on Saturday night (& getting home quite late), which resulted in me (like the perfect wife that I am) forgetting to wash John's white shirt & not realizing it until he was getting ready for his meetings. We had also forgotten to pick up his suit at the dry cleaner. Sigh.
So, already on a roll, the morning included all of the following (& more):
2-3 head bonks, 1 overturned Rider Rocket toy (stuck foot, head bonk), 50 or so coupons spread all over the dining room floor, 1 package of Smarties spread over the kitchen floor, several unsuccessful attempts at breakfast & lunch, 1 bottle of milk, 2 pantry door cupboards emptied onto the floor, several baby food jar labels removed, 1 empty wipes bin (which was discovered when 1 very poopy diaper change was already in progress...), quite a bit of screaming (it is quite traumatic when I walk to the other side of the room...also when I try to get dressed, very traumatic...), tears (from both of us), 20 new tiny dents in the dining table, 1 sofa saved from eyeshadow doom, 1 plea to "please don't throw up on me" - all while trying to pack a diaper bag, get us both dressed, and finish up/review my RS lesson...
Whew!

Remember Me?

2011-07-02T09:56:00.002-06:00

Probably not... I keep writing blog posts in my mind, but then I remember that John says according to this blog I'm still single. So I think about how I really should post wedding pics, etc, but I never get it done, and so the blog remains as it is - old news. (You all follow us on facebook anyway, right?) And, in the meantime, I have completely forgotten how to even add photos, so catching up should be interesting!

So, to humor John & get it out of the way of other exciting (haha) posts here you go.

We got engaged - on New Years Day 2009.

We designed my ring. I love it.

We got married on May 28, 2009. In Vernal. We missed a few people who couldn't come, but were so happy that so many could make it.

My dress had a beautiful red sash. And vintage-ish embroidery & beading. Love it.

And the shoes too. The shoes have a story - ask me sometime :)

We went on an Alaskan cruise.
Then came home & had a fun reception in SLC. I'll post reception photos another day.

On April 1, 2010, this sweet little guy joined our family.

He is hilarious & sweet & crazy & 15 months old. We love him!

One more - Cause I just can't resist his cuteness! :)

Grandkids vs Kids

2009-04-15T10:46:00.004-06:00

I saw a couple of vinyl signs online today - One says "Our Greatest Blessings call us Grandma & Grandpa" the other says "Our Greatest Blessings call us Mom & Dad." So...I'm just wondering, do you have to decide if your kids or your grandkids are the greater blessing? And, how do you decide? Grandkids are much more fun I think, since they come over to play & you can spoil them without paying for it later. BUT, you couldn't really have grandkids without the kids. :) Plus, I think my parents have pretty cool kids.

I think I'll make a sign that says "Our Second Greatest Blessings call us Mom & Dad" that can hang underneath the Grandparents sign. Not because I think anyone would really hang it, I just think it would be funny.

3 for 3

2009-03-23T14:23:00.003-06:00

The last of our terrific three - looks like he turned out cute too :) And with bright red hair I hear. Great-Grandpa Judd will be so proud.

Another Fun Giveaway!

2009-03-16T22:48:00.004-06:00

If you love Scentsy (like me), check out this giveaway - http://emlouisa.com

ps - my favorite scent for the kitchen is Lemon Lavender & I love Lots of Lavender or Lucky in Love for my room :)

Taste Test - Chocolate Cinnamon Bears

2009-03-13T11:04:00.004-06:00

So, I have heard many people rave about the Chocolate-Covered Cinnamon Bears, particularly a certain cousin who likes to buy them at the BYU Bookstore, but I had never tried them. The fact came up randomly at a meeting with my contact at Western Nut Company a few days ago. He of course was shocked and informed me that this fine treat is a Utah product...I think he said Sweet's Candy invented the cinnamon bear and later invented dunking it in chocolate... I do know that he said that it is Sweet's second best selling item, just under Orange Sticks.

As I left, he gave me a bag of the bears & I committed to try them. In the spirit of trying new things ("What is the last thing you did for the 1st time?") I opened the bag as soon as I had a chance and took a bite. I have to say that the mix of flavors is quite interesting, although not my favorite.

I took an unofficial poll by traveling desk to desk in the Marketing Dept and offering to share. I'd say that 30% LIKED the bears, 55% LOVED the bears, 10% REALLY LOVED the bears and come asking for more later, and 5% ate the head off and tossed the rest. (For the record I had to set the bear on the top of the PR Director's paper work & tell him that the bear would be staring at him until he ate it...so I don't know if he really gave it a fair shot.)

My conclusion - Chocolate-Covered Cinnamon Bears are definitely worth tasting, especially if you are a Utah native & enjoy trying local treats. However, I think I'll stick with Raspberry Sticks...

Yummalicious Giveaway!

2009-03-06T13:47:00.005-07:00

So, it's not my giveaway, but it is a good one. Check this blog post out & enter for a free dinner ofr SIX at yummy Sonora Grill in Ogden. A friend from Vernal owns it. Yum! Good luck...but I hope I win, hee hee! (Or at least put me on your list of 6 if you win!)

Babies!!

2009-03-03T22:43:00.009-07:00

Two new nephews - yay! And one more soon!

My new little friends are Korver Dade Hawkins, born January 28, 2009, and Caleb Derrel Wallis, born February 27, 2009. They are both cute & precious as can be - I'm so excited for two more kiddos to kiss & spoil!

The video is Brienna singing to cousin Korver just after he came home. The first pic is Korver & big brother Taysen. The next two pics are Korver at one month old - I can tell that we are going to be friends :)

The next 3 pics are Caleb, Caleb with big bother & (very tired) sister, and me with my birthday buddy :)

Fun Surprises for You!

2009-02-24T09:26:00.006-07:00

I woke up this morning to a fun blog post from my sis Amy, offering fantastical handmade gifts to the first 5 people who commented on the post, with the catch that they must post one on their blog as well. Since I know how fun Amy's handmade items are, I decided to participate - lucky for you!

I can't promise a handmade gift (after all, I have a lot going on right now...which you would know if I actually posted on my blog...maybe my gift should be 5 real blog posts, hmmm), but I do promise a fun surprise! You may luck out & end up with something handmade, or you may just get a fun card in the mail...you don't know, it is a risk...er, a surprise, haha. Anyway, a fun surprise is available to the first 5 people who comment on this post AND agree to some sort of pay it forward on their blog (or work or whatever) as well. You can decide what works best for you, doesn't need to be spectacular.

PS - feel free to say nice things about me in your comment, can't promise you'll get a better surprise, but compliments never hurt ;) Also, if I don't see you often, I'll probably need your address!

Just had to Share

2009-02-21T22:52:00.001-07:00

This blog is hilarious! Just had to share :)
http://myregisblog.blogspot.com/

Quote of the Day

2008-11-17T12:18:00.001-07:00

The roses, the lovely notes, the dining and dancing are all welcome and splendid. But when the Godiva is gone, the gift of real love is having someone who'll go the distance with you. Someone who, when the wedding day limo breaks down, is willing to share a seat on the bus. --Oprah Winfrey, O Magazine, February 2004

Me :)

2008-10-21T22:56:00.000-06:00

Brandon's "Dudes"

2008-10-14T17:14:00.002-06:00

Kids just say the funniest things sometimes. Brandon, with his multi-sylable words & clever reasoning, gives me a good laugh almost every time I talk with him. Last night I was over at Tiff's playing Apples to Apples with him - the adult version because he says he likes it better. As we were playing, I said "rock on" (who knows why...) and he replied with "rock on dude" then told me about how he & his friend Kyle are "dudes" because they "stick together". So, he says, "Kyle is my dude". Apparently Kyle & Brandon & his other little friend John are all dudes together. I think the quote was - "Kyle & John & I are dudes, because we stick together." Tiff came in about then & we both just laughed. She wasn't sure how she felt about her 4-year-old having "dudes", but I just thought the whole conversation was hillarious!

Skills Every Man Should Have

2008-09-26T09:46:00.004-06:00

I ran across an interesting piece today listing 100 skills that Popular Mechanics mag thinks every man should have. Take a look & see how many of these things you know how to do & pick a new skill or two to learn. Click here for the list, then take the quiz below.

DIY Quiz

2008-09-26T09:44:00.001-06:00

test_your_diy_knowledge

Tuesday's Interesting Reads

2008-08-27T09:51:00.002-06:00

An interesting commentary on the co-op spirit of church callings.
http://mormontimes.com/ME_blogs.php?id=1908

And a good laugh that all of the moms will relate to :)
http://mormontimes.com/ME_blogs.php?id=1905

Adventures in Babysitting

2008-08-25T22:09:00.004-06:00

Brandon was being quite a pill when I was babysitting Tiff's kiddos last week, so we had some frustrating moments. This conversation however had me doubled over laughing:

(I was finding a bowl for Brienna & she was rejecting each one)

LM to Brienna - "Hey you, don't be a Booger"
Brandon to LM - "You're a Booger"
LM to Brandon - "You're a Booger"
Brandon - "I actually eat boogers"

Of course Brienna soon echoed with "I eat booger" (ick!)

Ok, eating boogers is nasty, which I'm sure I reminded Brandon, but the things kids say crack me up. Brandon also had a break-down moment that night where he was sobbing & told me he was so sad because he still had all his sins. I told him he was too little, but he insisted that he was getting bigger & getting more sins. I just held him & we talked about repentance & being good. It was a cute little teaching moment, the kind I'm sure moms must survive when they have weeks full of days like the night Brandon & I were having.

A Few (More) of My Favorite Things

2008-08-04T23:03:00.002-06:00

I'm going to take advantage of some past posts to highlight a few more favorite things. It's like 3 posts in 1!

S'mores - http://dreamlaughlove.blogspot.com/2007/08/happy-smores-day.html
Switzerland & the Bern Temple - http://dreamlaughlove.blogspot.com/2007/08/i-was-offered-some-lindt-chocolate-this.html

My Favorite Things - Tomato Cheese Sandwiches

2008-08-04T22:34:00.006-06:00

I have been contemplating this series of posts for a long time. One of my sisters has a "Good Things Thursday" series on her blog, which I think is very cool. I have such a random crazy schedule that I can't commit to a certain day of the week, so my "My Favorite Things" series will be posted randomly among other posts.
To go along with my last post, my first Favorite Thing is - Tomato Cheese Sandwiches! I just ate a big dinner, and, as full as I am, thinking about fresh garden tomatoes & cheese still makes my mouth water...mmmm...
My family always had a big garden as I was growing up & I have fond memories of eating tons of veggies from the garden for dinner - squash, corn, cucumbers, radishes...and tomatoes. I think I had a tomato-cheese sandwich for lunch nearly every day (or sometimes just a fresh tomato from the garden, with a little salt, mmm).
Tomato-Cheese Sandwiches can be made in a variety of ways - open-faced, toasted, with bacon or a variety of cheeses - but my very favorite version is fairly simple.

PERFECT TOMATO & CHEESE
1. Toast 2 slices of your favorite bread. 2. While the bread is toasting, slice one fresh garden tomato & some thin pieces of medium or sharp cheddar cheese. 3. While toast is still hot, pile a few slices of cheese & lots of tomato on top of one piece, add salt & a little bit of pepper. 4. Thinly spread Miracle Whip on the other piece of toast & place on top of tomatoes. 5. Cut the completed sandwich in half. Best eaten with a cold glass of milk while the toast is still a little warm. Yum!!

It's a Tomato! (Yea, Another Veggie Post...)

2008-08-04T22:08:00.010-06:00

I definitely did NOT inherit my mom's green thumb, but I do dream of having a big herb garden someday (for cooking) and would like a nice little vegetable garden also...which absolutely MUST have plenty of tomatoes!
When I was little, we grew a tomato plant in a pot one year. We brought it inside when it got cold & had fresh tomatoes all winter long - yum! When I moved a few years ago I thought about that tomato and decided that our patio would be a great place to grow a tomato plant in a pot. I did some research & discovered the world of patio gardening. I contemplated growing cucumbers & squash & radishes... but stuck to a patio tomato & some herbs. They did well & it was fun to get to taste a few fresh tomatoes & cook with my herbs.
Unfortunately, last year I was a neglectful (busy) gardener & the patio garden suffered fatal consequences. I was worried that I would do the same this year, but decided to give it one more try. So, I was so excited a couple of weeks ago to see that not only had I not killed this year's garden, but I actually had some tomatoes growing - yay! The herbs look good too. I haven't been around too much to actually cook with them, but at least I didn't murder them this year!

Random Childhood Memory - Asparagus Hunting

2008-05-18T14:43:00.006-06:00

While I was in Vernal last weekend for Mother's Day, Jacquelyn & I decided to go get some asparagus she has seen. We gathered up little Taysen & headed down the road. Walking along with our knive & plastic sack reminded me of when I was a kid, before I knew that asparagus was a fancy food people ate with pricey meals or bought at grocery stores.
We reminisced about how there used to be tons of asparagus growing right across the street before they filled in the irrigation ditch, and back by the stream, before all the houses started going in, and in some fields...we knew all the good spots. Asparagus "Hunting" was something everyone in the neighborhood did I think, because you had to get out first or it would all be gone.
Funny how Asparagus Hunting is such a fond memory, because I don't think I was always excited about being assigned to "go get some asparagus for dinner." I do remember that I always LOVED asparagus though. yum! Now that I don't have asparagus patches growing nearby, I really wish store-bought stalks tasted the same as wild asparagus!
Makes me wonder what things I do that I will think are cool later, but are just part of life now. I think maybe packing fruit snacks in my church bag and not having to share them with anyone else might be one of them. And I think I am going to start looking out for those things & thinking they are cool now, instead of waiting until they are memories.

Goooo Cougars!

2008-05-16T20:47:00.004-06:00

Brandon has been a proud member of the Cosmo Kid's Club all year. He loved using his tickets to cheer on his team, and was only disappointed when he couldn't join in the football/basketball games with the team. I'm sure he owuld have been a very valuable player. He even claims to work for BYU. You'll have to ask him what he does at work, because it sounds like getting the team ready for the games, etc, keeps him very busy! He shared some of his tickets to this game in March, which we won - Go Cougars!

Happy 30th Birthday Pics (Finally)

2008-05-16T20:40:00.003-06:00

I had a great birthday, back in February... I'm a little behind in getting these posted! A little dinner & party with family, a trip to Cedar to visit Jacquelyn & hike in Zions with John, lunch with my grandma in St. George, and dinner with a few friends the next weekend all topped off with s'mores in my backyard.

Playing with Fire

2008-03-18T11:33:00.008-06:00

"We laugh at honor and are shocked to find traitors in our midst." -C.S. Lewis
I read an insightful opinion piece in the newspaper on Sunday - the writer proposed that a society obsessed with fire in movies, comedy, ads, etc would expect problems with people getting burned and not be surprised when high-level leaders become arsonists. However, we accept or ignore other potential dangers constant in popular culture today. We then wonder why we hear of political leaders, neighbors & family members falling into traps and scandals. He used this quote, which I thought was very fitting for the point he made. It is also a powerful truth that can be applied to many areas of life, including our everyday attitudes and priorities.
To read the piece, click here.

How to Give the Perfect Man Hug

2008-03-12T17:40:00.004-06:00

I found this online today, through a random news link...I thought it was hillarious & I should share - turn the music down & enjoy!

Another First - The Potty Party

2008-03-08T16:22:00.004-07:00

I was invited to a potty training party last week. Brandon hosted the celebration at Chuck E Cheese, where adults and kids alike had a great time shooting baskets, playing skee-ball, and gathering tickets. I'm definitly not the skee-ball master I used to be, but as far as I know, I did win the high score challenge - wahoo!
Afterwards a few of us headed to Tiff's for a computer repair party. Brandon ate a huge sucker on the drive home, and decided to use the extra sugar energy to teach us a new multi-player version of Tackle Brandon. He's a crazy fun kid!

A New Respect

2008-03-06T08:51:00.017-07:00

"What is the last thing you did for the first time?" It is a question Brandi was once asked in a job interview and one that I decided I should always be able to answer, even if the "something new" is as simple as trying a new recipe. If you stop & think about it, you'll be surprised how often you do new things.
In January, I made a first-time attempt at an Olympic sport. After talking about it for nearly two years, I finally went Curling! Yes, the sport invited by drunken Scots and now mocked by many, random, I know :) One Friday night, Laura, Brandi, Brent & I trekked to the Utah Olympic Oval for a lesson in the same place (and using the same stones) as the 2002 Olympians. Our "how hard can it really be?" attitude quickly changed as we put a slick shoe on one foot & attempted to lunge into a slide then release the stone across the ice. Much harder than anticipated! And running while sweeping? Let's just say it was a good thing we were all beginners together! Two hours later, I had a new respect for the sport (and an interest in watching a few matches on TV...really).
Just for the record, I did not fall while running on the ice, but I definitly did not discover a new talent either! Brent, however, was a natural, which saved him from Yoga class...for now ;)
The men in the photo are professionals. Any photos and/or video clips highlighting our lack of experience, which may or may not exist, will be used for blackmailing purposes only!

Hello February!

2008-02-01T16:40:00.002-07:00

February will be much better than January was. I can feel it! The month began this morning with a fresh coat of new snow, an introduction to what I hear will be a stormy weekend - perfect for cozy blankets and hot chocolate. I still hope to get back to my garage project, but we'll have to see how cold it gets! I have also started receiving little birthday gifts in the mail - all of the free dinners, desserts & $10 or $15 gift cards from restaurants & my favorite stores. Feels like a good night for a movie & dinner out, maybe some shopping on the way home. Yes, February is looking good!

Good Bye January!

2008-01-31T23:09:00.002-07:00

I had a strange urge to cling to Christmas this year & couldn't figure out why - I like snow, snowmen, the new year etc - just didn't want to let December go for some reason. I think it was a premonition…

January brought too many late nights and very early mornings at events & the office, long nights in classes, sad situations affecting family friends, and an ever-growing mental list of things I need or should do but don't have time. I felt burnt out, tired, unproductive, & had a tough time not being annoyed by silly little things. My last January weekend was spent at the hospital with John (ER chairs are NOT good beds!). I was excited to sleep in Monday (maybe even get "snowed in" at home by the blizzard), but even that turned out to be less than peaceful!

Eventually tough wears down. As I drove to work on Wednesday, I realized that, despite all efforts & solid reasoning, I had reached the end of my rope. The rope responded with a hole in my new nylons & a soda machine that stole my money…funny rope...

But then… The small crack in my office door widened, and in stepped, not a coworker with questions, but, a thoughtful John bringing caffine (to make up for the sticky-fingered vending machine), snickers, & a cool vase of flowers. He claimed that it was for helping him out with the surgery, but really I think he just knew that I was having a harder day than I wanted to admit.

To be fair to the month, there were some good things - a fun Olympic Curling lesson, awesome Pilates classes, Nintendo Olympics on New Years Eve, saving a homeless guy, and some fun with the Wallis & Hawkins kiddos... My friends Heather & Bryan took over my dance classes this term - so it will be nice to have that night open & great to know they are having fun teaching! And then, there was one nice evening, when I was home before 9, and decided to just stop, pull up my covers, and read a non-work related book (a luxury usually reserved for when I'm stuck on an airplane), just because, ahhh wonderful!

In the end, I realize there are always many people who have much bigger things to complain about than I do, and still others who will always whine about tiny things. I'm ok being in the middle. And with that, I bid "good riddance" to a stressful January, as I look forward to a better, brighter February!

Christmas

2008-01-11T12:46:00.002-07:00

I was in Vernal for Christmas this year (nope, still not Austria...maybe in 2009...) Those who listen to the Utah weather may have heard tale of the sub-zero Vernal weather, and the reports were true!! One night we watched the outside temp dip to 15 below before we stopped thinking about it, turned up the fire & settled into our movie. I spent as much time as possible INSIDE in my three new pairs of PJs, wahoo!
Christmas morning was fairly calm, with just Andrew, me, Mom & Dad. Santa surprised me this year with a serger (maybe next year he'll surprise me with a craft room!) Later Tiff & Jacquelyn's families came over & we had a great time watching the kids open gifts.

Just a few random pics

December Craziness

2008-01-11T12:28:00.001-07:00

So, I think December is crazy for almost every events planner. I had 3 holiday events, but my insanity mostly came from finals, volunteer events, and the 3 events I had to have ready for the 2 weeks of January…
The first Saturday in December, just back from Thanksgiving & Nashville, I woke up early to a wonderful world of snow outside. A perfect day to unpack & enjoy the snow with a hot cup of cocoa. Instead, I scraped 8 inches of snow off of my car & braved the trip to downtown SLC to set up for Ballet West's annual gala. Thank heavens for 4-wheel drive! After set up, I carefully drove back to my house & had a couple of hours to get ready for the formal evening. Just as I got my hair dry & curlers heated up, the power went out - yikes! I threw in curlers, gathered everything I needed to get ready & was headed out the door to get ready someplace else, when suddenly it came back on. I did end up there on time & it turned out to be a very fun evening & a lovely event. I'm holding a similar event at the same hotel in June, so this was a very helpful, though inconvenient, volunteer experience… The part at midnight where I slipped on ice in the parking lot, scraped my knee & ripped my new nylons was not as helpful! :)
The next weekend we had snow again, but this time I had a great day shopping & feeling the Christmas Spirit!
Also in December -
--My cousin Blaine left for the MTC. He'll be headed out to Armenia in a couple of months, a very interesting country where he may only have power for 2 hours per day. He'll be a great missionary & I am excited to hear his stories!!
--An introduction to Xanadu, a movie I somehow missed in my childhood. Great music, cheesy script, 80's special effects, an entertaining step back in time. :)
--Holiday events, more shopping, decorations, singing Christmas songs, a couple trips to Park City… etc etc etc...

November Part 3 - Thanksgiving

2008-01-08T09:15:00.001-07:00

We had a great Thanksgiving at Mom & Dad's this year. On Thursday, we all added our specialties to the dinner menu and had a great feast. On Friday, Andrew, Justin, Tiffany & were escorted to a prime Christmas Tree hunting spot by a tree expert - Dad. In about an hour we had spotted the perfect trees for each of our homes, chopped & loaded them & were headed back home. It was a sunny & enjoyable day.

Saturday we gathered all of our game watching food and our school spirit to watch the BYU-Utah game. It was a great game again this year...well at least it ended great! GO COUGARS!!! We are still waiting to hear Justin sing the BYU Fight Song, with all the "I lost the bet" spirit he can muster. If he would only start cheering for the right team... ;)

Unfortunately, the holiday ended on a slightly less cheerful note... With Tiff, Dad & I catching what we affectionately (probably not the right word...) call the Flu of Death. Yikes! I was very disappointed in my Flu Shot until our resident Pre-Med student informed me that it was not really a flu, but a virus. Either way, I have never been so sick in my life (at least that I remember) and I think it will be awhile still before I can really enjoy pizza. I was very grateful that John had come out for a surprise visit Saturday night & was willing to wait to leave on Sunday until I felt ok enough to travel.

November Part 2 - Texas

2008-01-02T20:01:00.001-07:00

My Nashville flight had a layover in Houston, so I got to stay & visit the Blands for a few days on my way home. I got a haircut, went to the So You Think You Can Dance tour concert, ate at Papasitos twice (yum!), went to the zoo, learned some new break dancing moves from Dallin and just generally relaxed & had some good fun.

Bangs!

So You Think You Can Dance

Monkeys at the Zoo

November Part 1 - Nashville!

2007-12-30T01:01:00.001-07:00

I visited Nashville with a team from SLCC, CEU & Weber to observe CIT 2007. The 3 colleges are co-hosting the conference in Salt Lake next year & I am heading up the steering committee (yikes). While there I visited the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Ryman Auditorium, a Charlie Daniels museum (in the back of a little souvenier shop), a few historic streets, a great BBQ place, & Hard Rock Cafe... In a great stroke of luck I happened to be there when the Grand Ol' Opry was showing at the Ryman, just around the corner from my hotel. Best of all was the last performer on the program - Josh Turner!! What luck!

November Highlights

2007-12-29T23:53:00.002-07:00

Yikes! I feel like I was out of town for most of November (can I use that as an excuse for being so behind??)

2 - DPS Awards Ceremony - John received a much deserved Public Safety Medal of Excellence for all of his hard work with the new POST curriculum - CONGRATS!!
6 - In Park City for MPI's Fall Seminar...and some shopping at the outlet stores...
10-14 - Nashville - To observe a conference I'll be planning next year, eat traditional BBQ & see a few sites (including Josh Turner @ the Grand Ol' Opry).
15-18 - Texas - Hair Cut, So You Think You Can Dance Concert, Zoo, Fun Kids, 2 trips to Papasitos...
20 - Dancing @ the MAC - I finally made time on a Tuesday to go west coast swing dancing again - yay! I'm so out of shape & I miss it tons! Why do I let myself get so busy?
22-25 - Thanksgiving in Vernal - Good Food, Fun Family, Christmas Tree Hunting, Flu of Death...
29 – Admin's Holiday Luncheon - The first of a few holiday events. I had the Culinary Arts students cater this one (YUM!). It was a fun event & fun to see a friend (Bryan) there working sound for the acappella performing group.

Ok, Ok...

2007-12-14T20:52:00.001-07:00

I get the point - you all want updates! Gotta start from where I left off, so here's October (quick outline style)

General Conference - Conference is always great, and Brandi & I had tickets to the Sunday Afternoon session this time. We rode TRAX & were grateful that the 5 kids running around terrorizing passengers were not ours!
Happy Birthday Brandon! - we had a fun party for this cutie on Conference Saturday (then attempted the Deseret Book ladies night...bad idea!) He also had a superhero party, which included appearances by Batman, Super Mom & Super Little Sister - Tiff's blog has pics!
Happy Birthday Jacquelyn!
Witches Night Out
Volunteered @ Taste for the Cure
Spent $10 to get my Flu Shot - then STILL got the Thanksgiving Flu of Death...I could have gone to lunch instead...
Happy Birthday Brandi!

Mmmm, Cocoa!!

2007-12-02T14:13:00.000-07:00

I decided today that, with the snow & cold & all, it is finally really wintertime and therefore time to get out the CocoaLatte - wahoo! If you have never heard of this amazing kitchen appliance, you are missing out!

I would love for ya'll to stop by my house soon for a visit & some yummy hot cocoa or a steamer.

Happy Winter all!! I think I'll celebrate right now with a cup of Godiva dark chocolate cocoa...mmmm...

Be Prepared!

2007-12-02T13:45:00.000-07:00

Recently my ward put 72-hour kit food together for enrichment night. We fit basic food for 3 days into ONE gallon ziploc bags. Here's the menu:

Day One
Breakfast - Nutragrain Bar, Hot Chocolate
Lunch - Beef Jerky, Train Mix, Fruit Cup
Dinner - Cup-a-Soup, Crackers & Cheese, Fruit Leather
Snack - Hard Candy, Fruit Snacks

Day Two
Breakfast - Oatmeal, Hot Chocolate
Lunch - Beef Jerky, Crackers & Cheese, Applesauce
Dinner - Ravioli, Fruit Cup
Snack - Hard Candy, Raisins

Day Three
Breakfast - Nutragrain Bar, Hot Chocolate
Lunch - Beef Jerky, Granola Bar, Fruit Snack
Dinner - Cup-a-Soup, Crackers & Cheese, Fruit Snack
Snack - Hard Candy, Raisins

Seems like a lot of cheese crackers now, hmm. You certainly wouldn't gain weight on this menu, but it fits nicely in a backpack and would keep you alive for a few days if needed.

PS - Utah experienced our first big snowstorm this weekend - wahoo!! I love the snow, but not so much the ice - I fell on some slick asphalt in my heels last night & skinned my knee, ouch!
I'm guessing that the power outage yesterday (which happened just as I was needing electricity to get ready for the ballet gala, haha) was somehow related to the storm, but I'm not certain. Things like that are always good little reminders to gather our emergency prepardness items!

For Heather :)

2007-11-28T16:28:00.000-07:00

I went dancing the Tuesday before Thanksgiving - great fun, but I am SO out of shape!!! While enjoying a break from the Murray Arts Center action, my good friend Heather accused me of being the worst blogger ever...ouch! I won't name names, but I think I could nominate a few better qualified candidates for that distinction. However, I also admit that I rank highly in the blog slacker catagory. I am promising to update very soon. Until then, I have added a new song to appease my fans (and the fans of hottie Josh Turner) and I'll post a link here to keep you occupied for now. This man is a family friend & his recent experience has stirred up some local and national attention and added interest to an already hot topic. http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=IMaMYL_shxc -the first part
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=9hfQspTM4tI&feature=user - the rest of it

It's that song again!

2007-10-26T23:56:00.001-06:00

Do you ever feel like a song is following you? Everytime you listen to the radio you hear that same tune? I always wonder there is some message for me in the lyrics or if they are just playing it so often that I happen to hear it every time I get in the car. Lately "Shadow of the Day" is that song. I'm hoping it is just some sort of crazy coincidence!
Not my favorite song at all, but I added to my blog playlist for those of you who don't listen to the radio...you know who you are! :)

Thought for the Day

2007-10-24T22:24:00.001-06:00

"Life always sends its lessons in ridiculous packages." - Joy's Mom
Ain't that the truth!!!

Interesting News

2007-10-15T22:39:00.001-06:00

I was listening to the news last week & heard a good quote. I can't remember what the story was at all, but they reported that someone's attitude in life was "Don't give up 5 minutes before the miracle." Good advice I think - hang in there, don't give up too soon!

Another interesting story that caught my attention (& made me chuckle) was about a 3-yr-old boy out cruising in his battery-powered toy mercades... He & his 2-yr-old passenger were out for a drive, on the street, with the real cars. Scary for sure. The funny thing is that he was obeying all of the traffic laws - stopped at the red light, observed the crosswalk, etc. Luckily they scooped him out of the road before he got hurt, but not before he successfully navigated an intersection or two! Link to the story.

September - Part 3 (Volunteer Crazy!)

2007-10-12T23:21:00.001-06:00

In my "spare" time, I'm taking classes to earn SLCC's Event Management certificate. One of the assignments recently was to volunteer for an event. I fulfilled the assignment by volunteering at the Utah Symphony & Opera's Royal Gala, where I helped with check-in, enjoyed the dinner & program, and was back out on the town in a couple of hours, in jeans & my fancy hair - John & I felt like a high school couple out after the prom.

At this point I think I caught a volunteering bug... I helped one of my instructors set up a spa night she was in charge of for her company the night before the event and got a great manicure at the event the next evening!

Then, one of my friends had joined the Clark Planetarium Gala committee for her assignment and invited me to participate. She & I sold 'opportunity boxes' throughout the evening. They were little boxes and each one had a prize. It was a great event - food stations set up by various restaurants all over the planetarium, great colors, silent & live auction, and an amazing jazz band, which we discovered was a group of students from The Music School in American Fork...

I also happened upon a listing in Salt Lake magazine for the Susan Komen "Taste for the Cure" event - what could be better than an event combining a good cause, food & an Iron Chef style chef showdown? So I sent an email. A phone call & a volunteer meeting later and my roommate, a friend, her husband & I, were all committed to an evening of fun in pink aprons. Brandi & I are assigned to a demo kitchen & the chef showdown -I'll let you know how it goes!

Finally, as part of my final project, I joined Ballet West's fundraising gala committee. This one isn't until December, but I'll be meeting & planning with the committee along the way, so I may have updates. I am planning to soak in plenty of tips & ideas for my events & fundraisers!

I'm not sure how much of this volunteering spree is to distract me from my current work situation and how much is just that piece of me that thrives on being insanely busy, but I'm having fun, making connections, and learning from each experience. In the end, I really do love event planning and I enjoy picking up tips & ideas, helping other planners, and contributing to good organizations. I've already accepted an invitation to join the Planetarium's planning committee next year...as far as 2007 goes though, I think my schedule is full!

September - Part 2

2007-10-12T21:35:00.001-06:00

Just a few pics from a recent event - It was a western-themed reception for the preview night of the Grand Theater's fall show.

We had lil'smokies & sarsaparilla, peanuts on the table in pails, mason jars with reeds & wheat, and this really cool fake barbed wire that I found on oriental trading - definitely a favorite find! Clive Romney, a good friend from years of Clog America and extremely talented musician, brought his guitar & his brother & entertained the crowd, which was a treat for sure & an evening highlight!

September - Part 1

2007-10-04T20:56:00.001-06:00

September was a busy month! I'll start at the beginning...

Friday Sept 7 I was invited to dine at La Caille with the Celebrity Championship planning committee. I had toured the beautiful grounds, but never forked out the cash for dinner. The food was a little heavy for me, but I did enjoy the ambiance & think it would be fun to hold an event there in the future.

I left dinner a bit early to catch the Ryan Shupe & the Rubber Band concert at Thanksgiving Pointe. We arrived just on time to catch the band AND the guy at will call had a couple of extra tickets, so we got in free! Wahoo! Since we didn't have to pay for tickets, I splurged for a t-shirt & stickers to demonstrate our fan loyalty.
The next evening I got to hang out with some of my favorite friends. Courtney was in Utah for a few days & some of the old gang got together in Provo for an evening of fun, food, and stories. It is always great to spend time catching up!
CORN DOGS! On September 11 the Utah State Fair had law enforcement day. Since I happen to know someone with law enforcement connections, I thought it would be a great excuse to check out the scene & participate in a great fair tradition - eating corn dogs. Yum! I'm not a real hot dog fan...but put one on a stick, dip it in batter & fry it and it becomes a wonderful treat (and the subject of a classic Ryan Shupe song). The fair wasn't quite as magical as I remembered from my 4-H days, but it was still fun to see the entries, eat some fair food, and listen to Uncle Kracker & the Grand Funk Railroad from outside the stands. To make sure that we fit in, and to complete the experience, we drove to the fairgrounds in John's old truck, Mater.

The Rest of August - Centerpiece Thieves!

2007-09-26T21:10:00.001-06:00

So, I'm getting closer to being caught up - wahoo! The the most notable event in the second half of August was Convocation. This is a grand tradition (both loved & hated) for 1200 full-time faculty & staff @ SLCC. The theme for this year was Focus on Student Success. We started out with a breakfast & main session, followed by dept meetings all afternoon.
My committee came up with great "student success" centerpieces full of school supplies for the breakfast, which we arranged to give away during the main session. Well...some people apparently decided it was appropriate to A) dismantle the centerpieces, B)steal entire centerpieces, or C)give them away... I ended up tracking down only 12 of 29 centerpieces, not enough to give away. We quickly snuck a note onstage to the speaker who was supposed to announce the giveaway & had her take that piece out of her speech. Just in time - whew! Yikes! Crazy centerpiece thieves!!
Proper etiquette - ask the event planner before you take anything!!! My note for next year - centerpiece security committee!!

Still Catching Up - Playing & Pictures

2007-09-22T13:49:00.001-06:00

We made a trip up to the Discovery Gateway Children's Museum while the Bland's were here & had a great time! The kids loved playing in the house, farm, store, water, riding little cars, delivering the mail & more, even the babies had a blast. We also visited the international kids exhibit, lifeflight helicopter, broadcasting station and seasons playroom. After the museum we met up with the guys to take some family photos.

Click the pic for more Photos

the view from the cheap (free) seats...

2007-09-16T14:19:00.000-06:00

I 'won' some free Bees vouchers at the B2B expo this spring, so one Saturday afternoon in late July John & I decided to cash in & go to a hometown baseball game. To complete the experience we rode TRAX &, while we did skip the peanuts & cracker jacks, honored tradition by eating consession stand hot dogs @ the stadium.

More Catching Up - 4th Annual Judd Family Campout Reunion

2007-09-16T13:11:00.001-06:00

The Judd Family Campout started out as a fun idea one summer and has turned into an annual July tradition full of tents & campers, 4-wheelers, canoes & fishing poles, river rafting, great food, tons of stories & good fun!.

Here are a few pics from this summer's trip & a video of Maliya demonstrating her expert "car-dancing" moves.

Finally ;)

2007-08-21T16:05:00.000-06:00

I know...Girls Camp was 2 months ago...I'm a bit behind!

Camp was amazing - of course! We were lucky enough to be at Heber Valley Campground this year & felt so spoiled in the nice cabins & kitchen areas! The effort that was put into planning that campground is evidence of the importance of girls camp & the effect it can have on young women (& their leaders).
We learned a lot this year - how to scare off black bears (with Lisa's "bear dance"), working together, facing fears, proper use of lighter fluid (use way more than you think), that I look 12 years younger in the woods... -& had tons of fun.

Happy S'mores Day!!!!

2007-08-10T15:47:00.001-06:00

As far as anyone can tell, this year marks the 80th birthday of one of my very favorite foods - S'mores. The recipe was 1st published in 1927 in a Girl Scouts book - of course girls invented this amazing treat!

S'more History
Hershey's S'more Page
Recipes, Info, Chocolate Shops

HOW GIRLS MAKE S'MORES

(1) Place Hershey bars on graham crackers.
(2) Toast marshmallows. (3) Place toasted marshmallows on Hershey bars to melt chocolate.

HOW BOYS MAKE S'MORES
(1) Eat Hershey bars.
(2) Eat marshmallows.
(3) Throw graham crackers at other boys.

Happy Nationalfeiertag Switzerland!

2007-08-01T16:23:00.001-06:00

I was offered some Lindt chocolate this afternoon in honor of Switzerland's "birthday" - Today is Nationalfeiertag, like the 4th of July in the USA. I could not neglect to wish one of my favorite countries Happy Birthday! Yes, it is expensive, but the scenery makes up for it -BEAUTIFUL!!
Bern (say Bearn), Switzerland is also home to my favorite temple. In 2003 a few of my friends & I experienced a small (maybe large) miracle as we found the temple with very limited directions, arriving only 3 minutes before the last session of the day. The language is determined each session by tally of attendees, ours was Italian, it was fun.
Switzerland also provided relief from the heatwave we had been experiencing in Italy. We drove through mountains still capped with snow, green trees, deep canyons & waterfalls - amazing, wow!
The Swiss celebrate the day with fireworks & bonfires - I'd suggest some Swiss Cheese & Chocolate - yum! :)
More info: http://history.swissroots.org/39.0.html, www.myswitzerland.com

Coming to a mailbox near you!

2007-07-29T23:25:00.001-06:00

Yep, that's her. You may be thinking that that girl on the front cover of the August Ensign looks familiar...if you think it is my cute sister then you are right!

It's kind of fun, especially for Grandpa Judd, who has enjoyed toting a copy around & bragging about his granddaughter on the Ensign cover to all of his home teaching families.

Zadok Knapp Judd

2007-07-26T15:02:00.001-06:00

About a year ago a fire in my stake center left my ward homeless. During remodeling we were assigned to a building in another stake. It is a few miles away, near the intersection of Zadok Lane & Judd Lane - an intersection I found by accident earlier last summer. I was quite intrigued, since Zadok Judd is a popular ancestor of the Judd clan and the subject of my Grandpa Judd's master's thesis.
I "googled" Zadok yesterday & found other relatives who think he is cool also. I discovered quite a list of websites & blog entries. On this one (click here) you'll find links to Zadok's autobiographies, grandpa's thesis, accounts of the Mormon Battalion, etc. Take a minute & read a bit, in honor of Pioneer Day & one of our own pioneer ancestors (who I think looks quite handsome in this photo...)

4th of July -- New Videos

2007-07-15T15:24:00.000-06:00

This year I celebrated the Independence Day with the Jacobs family at the Stadium of Fire in Provo. The concert was Brooks & Dunn - one of my favorite country bands. They were awesome, of course. I wasn't a huge fan of the Disney theme for the big fireworks show, but still good fireworks, and the patriotic firework display at the end was great! I'm not sure what it is about celebrating our freedom that makes us want to launch colored fire into the air, but I love fireworks...and freedom - God Bless America!

A couple of Videos, just for fun!

Off to Camp!!!

2007-07-09T16:34:00.000-06:00

Yay!! I'm off to Girls' Camp today! I'm so excited - I love the girls and the experience of camp, there isn't anything like it. I'm also excited to have no email connection, etc...not sure if that means I'm old or that I'm addicted to checking in on work while I'm on vacation...either way, I'm off to the wilderness, yippee! Wilderness with cabins & running water...even better!!
I must apologize for not getting my 4th of July update posted before I left, I fully intended to, but ended up dealing with some other urgent issues today instead. I'll explain in a future post perhaps. I promise to catch up on the blog posts when I return. I also promise some stories & photos from camp!

Let's Celebrate!

2007-07-07T00:36:00.001-06:00

I have a thing for random obscure holidays - I just find them intriguing - so today when I got an email from a friend informing me that it was National Kissing Day, I just had to look into it. I didn't find much about the holiday, but I did think an article from 2005 (click here to read) had some interesting information, and you can click here for a kissing quiz. According to the quiz I am a Kissing Expert - wahoo :) Try it out & let me know how you rate.

Need some kissing help? http://www.virtualkiss.com/ has a daily kissing tip, daily dating tip, kissing school & an e-kissing booth...take the quiz on this site too :)

Judd Family Reunion

2007-07-04T11:03:00.001-06:00

We had a great time at the Judd Family Reunion last weekend. It was in Provo this year, so we all met at my Grandpa Judd's house for some food, games, entertainment, stories & catching up!

Click to see all of my Judd Family Reunion Photos

Movie Review & a Story - Evan Almighty

2007-06-29T23:42:00.000-06:00

On Friday Brandi & I were in the mood for a good laugh & decided to see "Evan Almighty" at our nearby $5 movie theater. We purchased our tickets online to avoid the lines, and headed out. On the way we stopped to pick up some food (sandwiches @ KFC), which we of course stashed away into our purses, intending to sneak our dinner into the movie.
We chuckled a bit about the last time we tried to sneak food into the theater (Chili's chips & queso about a year ago - yep, ambitious), and how a power outage had delayed our movie several hours so we ended up eating our chips at home.
As we reminisced, we realized that once again something seemed a little out of place - everyone else was walking OUT of the theater. We inquired and, you guessed it, the power was out again! We wondered if the universe was trying to teach us a lesson about sneaking in food and headed to another theater to see the movie. On the way home we realized that the incidents were even more similar - the movie we were seeing last year, "Over the Hedge", had two of the same main actors as "Evan Almighty". Yikes! What are the chances?
So...Creepy? Coincidence? A message from the Universe?? Hmmm... I'm not sure, but I don't think you'll find me trying to sneak dinner into a Steve Carell or Wanda Sykes movie anytime soon!!
The Review -I thought "Evan Almighty" was a pretty good family flick. It was a little cheesy at times, but funny and pretty clean (rated PG), which is refreshing. There are some good messages about family & morals, a little bit of an environmental plug, but not over the top. Overall a good family-friendly laugh.

Happy Birthday Brienna

2007-06-28T21:17:00.000-06:00

Cute Brienna turned the big ONE last week & invited us all to a party at her house to celebrate. Everyone had fun eating, playing in the water, winning candy in the cake walk, playing pin the tail on the donkey and of course helping her open presents!

Cake is always a fun one-year-old adventure!

Tickle! I love Brienna's cute giggle!

Cute tutu & sunglasses :)

Click here to see the rest of Brienna's Birthday Pictures!

Super Brandon!

2007-06-27T14:17:00.001-06:00

Brandon is a big Superman fan these days - "Superman Saves the Day!" Click here for Super Brandon photos

Celebrity Golf Championship

2007-06-17T19:01:00.001-06:00

A few photos from one of my recent events - a celebrity golf tourny, pairings dinner & silent auction for the athletics dept. These pics - Alema, LaVell, Lori & Friends, Real Salt Lake Players... Please ignore the unfortunate 80's flashback my bangs were having on game day!!

Random Church Signs...

2007-06-06T23:09:00.000-06:00

Some advice from a church message board on Redwood Road I see everyday during my drive home:
"THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH - REPENT BEFORE PAYDAY"
Nice

Deep in the Heart of Texas

2007-06-04T23:13:00.000-06:00

It was so fun to take some time off & visit the Blands in Houston. I got to watch Maliya's dance recital, visit the zoo with the kids, eat some good ol' texas bbq, and just hang out :) Click the picture below to check out my vacation photos!

Texas 2007

Zoo Fun

2007-05-24T00:31:00.000-06:00

Family Guy- Shipoopi

2007-05-13T11:09:00.001-06:00

Welcome to my new blog - wahoo! Thought I'd start it out with a little Clog America style celebration - Enjoy!

Nickel Creek - Set Me Up With One Of Your Friends

2007-05-13T11:00:00.001-06:00

Nickel Creek played this song at the concert we went to last night - so funny! It was a great concert. Good times. Plus we ran into all kinds of Clog America-ians in the lobby after...and caught Davey flirting with his cute date b4 the show.... :)