Happy Birthday Greg & McKay!

Surprise!

Natalie and Andy made the trek from Arizona to surprise their dad for his birthday. It was the best present Greg could have received. A big thanks to them for making their dad's day. I also wish Greg a very Happy Birthday...you are definitely an integral part to our family and we feel very lucky to have you part of it...lots of love to you...

The Big 18!

A little bit scary to think that McKay is 18 years old today. ha. Seriously, time is passing by way to fast. Happy Birthday son...looking forward to the months ahead and watching you develop into the person you want to be...love you lots....

Whewwww!!! Two birthdays in one day...it could be a challenge...

here's to hoping they both know how special they are to all of us.

Reality Check

Today was my second Friday home in a row...

Last Friday was the first day home from work in 2 1/2 years when my kids were at school. Due to the economy work told me that they can't pay me as much so they need to shorten my hours...hence I now work Monday through Thursday. When I am able to not stress about less income I am able to rejoice in being home again one day a week. Last Friday was surreal...today was just plain awesome.

So this morning I decided it was time to tackle the kitchen...with no one in the house I thought maybe it would be fun to blast some pump it up music (you know to make cleaning the kitchen more fun)...so I got on my kids i tunes...I saw a play list titled workout...perfect...I knew this meant some up beat music...as 'Just Dance' by Lady GaGa & Colby O'Donis blasted I could not help but think...empty house...I then glanced over at the turned off TV and saw that it created the perfect mirror for me to watch myself bust out some moves...so I started moving to the music smiling and thinking as I was looking at my reflection, "aw yeah" I can still kind of dance...I also had the thought that maybe I could start working out and it would not be bad...

This all came to a screeching halt 15 SECONDS later...yep that's right, due to shortness of breath and breaking out in a sweat.

20 MINUTES later, after sitting at the kitchen table, I was finally able to start cleaning the kitchen...could not help but think of the phrase one step forward 10 steps back...

I kept the music blasting but this time I am busting out the moves in my head.

I believe that is what you call a reality check.

8 Seconds

A night at the PBR!

Greg and I spent a night this last weekend with friends at the PBR (professional bull riding).
I just happen to have a good friend who knows everything there is to know about bull riding. In fact she was a closet PBR fan for awhile...it has just been in the past few years that she has come out of the closet...and since then those of us who never tuned into the PBR are now familiar with all things bull...well sort of...I know that the cowboy needs to stay on the bull for 8 seconds for his points to count...and ummm...okay, so maybe that is really the only thing I know for sure when it comes to scoring the bull ride...but what I do know is that the PBR puts on one heck of a show...they have fire, a very funny witty clown mc dancing extraordinaire named Flint, loud music that makes you want to rock, gorgeous bulls, some cute cowboys...definitely a little different then the only rodeo I went to in Manti, Utah when I was younger...

Amy...our PBR expert, coordinator of fun night, awesome friend

The night started with a blast of fire...
Having a good time with friends and bulls.
Flint
Fun group to be with...but looking lame in this photo.

Ouch. This was my thought watching the bull riders trying to stay on as the bull bucked the heck out of them.

Thanks Amy for sharing your love for bull riding with us...it was a great night. We look forward to doing it again next year! And next year we just might come a little more informed... because maybe we just might tune into some bull riding events on tv too...

A Sacrament Meeting note

From Kendall

To Me and Greg

I especially like the 'awesomeness'.

Thanks Kendall.

Valentines/ Presidents weekend recap!

I love a long weekend...

Highlights:

**Starting the weekend with a great dinner with hubby which was accompanied by roses and cupcakes.

**Getting pedicures.

**Gregs kids came to town. We love it when they come to stay.


**Kendall's basketball team won their FIRST game of the season by 2 points.

**Just hanging.

**Eating Baja Fish Tacos...a favorite.

**Watching Greg's reaction to random boys writing on his car windows. Or should I say boys reaction to Greg's reaction.

**Eating sushi...(okay the eating sushi not my favorite, but being with fam as they enjoyed their sushi is fun).

**Greg saying the closing prayer in sacrament meeting for me...he's awesome.

**Loving that it rained on my day off of work Monday, good excuse to stay at home.

**Ending the long weekend at Tommy's burgers.

Saying good bye to Natalie, Andy and Steve always hard, especially for Greg...the time flies when they are here...already looking forward to their next visit.

The Last of the Basketball Pics...

Well at least for now...

Kendall is on an NJB all-net team...She has a great coach who just happens to be the high school girls varsity coach...he is determined to make Kendall a great player,in hopes that she will play in high school...It is yet to see which sport Kendall will end up playing, but in the meantime she seems to enjoy any team she is on...

This team is a work in progress...they have not won a game...but they seem to have a good time regardless...because of Kendall's height (5'4")the coach plays her the whole time...it is fun to watch her play...I especially love that she still looks at you when she is playing if she does something good or bad...and when she does look at you it is always with a smile...(I rarely get looks from the boys when they are playing their sports)...



Kendall has had a lot of amazing blocks(her defense is great) and when she does look to score she usually is successful(she is usually passing it to someone)...but I think one of her biggest gripes about her season is NOT that her team has not won a game...but that her brothers never come to watch her play...especially since she has been to many of their games...so this last Saturday her brothers came out to watch her...and as to be expected they had A LOT of advice to give her during the game, "acting" like they were bored during parts and smiled when she was being her spectacular self on the court...

Kendall's rip roaring fan club...

And maybe Kendall got a little ornery right after the game ( her team I believe ended with only 8 points)...and maybe she felt like her brothers were making fun( no way would they do this)...but all in all it was great to have them support their sister...


Thanks boys for coming...next weeks game is at 3pm...see you there?

More Basketball Pics...

A typical Saturday is filled with at least a couple of basketball games...

Sandon's game was in the morning...his team, (how do I say this gently) has had trouble winning games...but not this past Saturday...oh yah...they won their second game this season...when Sandon takes a time out from gaming...it is fun to watch him play...he has a natural feel for the ball and sees the court very well...he plays with confidence and has a presence on the court...when he is in the game he definitely makes things happen...yes...***I am an expert on all things basketball, so I know these things...his team has been improving so maybe we will see another win before the season ends...

***What makes an expert of basketball??? I believe when you have attended HUNDREDS of basketball games, then you can call yourself an expert...even if you don't actually play yourself...yep...thats how I see it.

Winter Formal Pics...

Just a few pics from Winter Formal...

I had told McKay that I did not think he would get asked to Winter Formal. (this is a girl ask guy dance) My reasoning is because dances have been no big deal to him and he has only been to one dance where HE asked a girl...but I was proven wrong...one of his friends asked him...

Personally, I think these school dances are way too much money for the little time the kids actually SPEND at the dance...but I do have fun snapping away at the pre photo op party...

Highlights for me are...trying to get at least one photo where McKay actually smiles...wondering if the dresses the girls wear will have any "malfunctions"...seeing how many photos I can take before I start annoying McKay...realizing that for the girls a dance IS all about the photos...watching the boys trying to figure out a "safe zone" where no camera is nearby, loving that McKay and Lindsay decided to do NO corsage/boutonniere exchange...