Fall 2011

Fall 2011 brought us...our pool...what they said would take 4 weeks - took 5 months?!?! Brynn took a trip to Utah/Idaho (with Marlee) to check out BYU/BYUI Halloween...this is the only picture I took?!?! what was I thinking???

Summer 2011

Can you say INCREDIBLE SUMMER!! we went to Utah - then Honolulu and Maui...we feel VERY blessed!! Mark stayed in Georgia while we were in Utah...he had to work...we were so happy when he was able to join us!

End of School Year 3rd grade

Thoughts to Remember

I love reading a good quote...so I got the idea to purchase a bunch of $1 store frames and print out some of my favorite. I mounted them to the door with 3m adhesive squares - they have been on the door for over a year now and have not come off!! I love seeing this every time I walk out the door!!

New York Magic Secret Trip

Last May 2011, Brynn and Brooke had their Magic Secret trip to NYC.  They were getting ready for school and a special package arrived with a Secret Passport.  They immediately had to start packing as we left for NYC a couple hours later...we had an incredible time...we saw Anything Goes (my favorite), How to Succeed in Business, and Phantom.  We walked A LOT, shopped and dined at our favorite restaurants.  I LOVE my girls!!!

Spring Break 2011 (yes...last year)

We went to Washington, D.C. for spring break 2011(last year)...we had a great time visiting all of the museums and sites.

Magic-Secret Trip

Because I blog in binges I sometimes miss things... and I missed a BIG one!!
Mark and I decided we would take this year to surprise each kid with a Magic-Secret Trip. Jack's birthday is in September...he woke up all excited to go to breakfast with Mark - or so he thought! On the way to the airport he opened up 9 clues as to where he and his dad were headed...he was SO excited to find himself at Universal Studios/Harry Potter World. His dad all to himself an ENTIRE long weekend!! We love you Jack!!

Three Teenagers in the House

Brooke asked if she could take the day off from school for her birthday... so we went to the mall and on the way she placed a pancake on her face?!?! We did a little birthday shopping and then that night went to dinner at her favorite dining spot - Rosa Mia. We love you Brooke!!!

One year older and wiser too!

Alec's 15th Birthday was actually spent with the scouts, at a rock climbing wall. He was surprised a week later with a 'Magic/Secret trip' . He thought he was coming home from seminary to stay with Jack while I went to yoga...instead he was told to pack his bags. I placed him on a flight, by himself, and he flew to Utah to be with Mark for a long weekend of skiing!! We LOVE you Alec!!

I'm on a Basketball Team?

This year Jack tried out basketball. He did a great job on the team!! But as you can tell... when we got his team picture back he looked a bit surprised that he was part of the team or maybe he was just being Jack!

Seriously??

This is one of the SILLIEST, STUPIDEST, MADDENING things...
Mark travels quite a bit and somehow he ended up on a "Terrorist Watchlist"??? It has been a pain in the butt dealing with this thing!! Seriously??? YOU'VE GOT THE WRONG GUY!!! YOU'RE NOT EVEN CLOSE!!!

Cute... YES ********** Forgetful...YES *********** Terrorist...NO!!!!

What do we have here?

We got a nice 4-5" of my favorite stuff!! When you get this kind of weather in Georgia...everything shuts down! NO school!! I'm not sure we could even make it out of our neighborhood!! I LOVE IT!!

LOST

Mark and I have been married 20 years.  During these 20 years the question I've heard most is "Have you seen my wallet?"  The first years of our marriage I would react immediately and cancel his credit cards...only to find he'd found his wallet in some obscure place.  I have canceled his American Express card so many times due to this question, I am surprised they continue to send him a replacement!  I have learned to wait it out a couple hours when I hear "have you seen my wallet?" because he eventually finds it.  But today is a mystery... the question was posed once again and an hour after the whole family has searched, we have yet to find the missing wallet.  I can't judge him or get mad at him, because then the same thing will happen to me...it's karma.  So...where is that phone # for American Express?

Christmas in Utah

Snow is one of my favorite things in the world! It's one of the things I miss about living in Utah! We were so excited to stay at Sundance the week before Christmas!! We used the time to ski, snowboard, be together, eat and have a blast!!

The night we arrived at Sundance, we turned a corner and our car slipped into a ditch... we were stuck for an hour and a half. We called AAA for a tow truck and while we were waiting for it to arrive we were lucky enough to be rescued by a big tractor that was heading up to scrape Robert Redford's driveway.

We had some of the best snow of our skiing life at Sundance!! It was pure powder up to our waist!! It was awesome!! We had so much fun!!

We ate Christmas Eve dinner at Sundance. We had a special table right by a roaring fire to help keep us warm.

We left Sundance on Christmas day and went to Christmas dinner at Mark's parents. They were very thoughtful and invited my parents to the festivities. We had so much fun being with everyone!!

We spent time with my parents and my niece, Lacey. She brought over her little 13 month old son Davey... he is SO cute!! The only one he wanted anything to do with was his mom and for a few seconds Jack! My other niece Lyndsie and her husband Johnny came over a few days later...unfortunately I didn't take any pictures :(

Tamara came over with her girls and we had a good visit... although it wasn't long enough!! In a couple of the pictures you can see Jessica (the 6 yr. old) trying her best to give Jack a kiss...he's fighting her off but I think it's just for the cameras!! I'm sure he enjoyed every minute of the attention!

We want to make sure the Chase family knows how much we appreciate them letting us (and our dog) stay with them for a whole week!! We pushed people out of their beds, stayed up way too late, almost watched doggy porn...but we had a TON of fun!! We love you guys!! We love all our family in Utah, Washington and California!! We MISS YOU!!

Brynn took some beautiful photos while we were at Sundance. She has quite the talent!!

S & J Art Shop

Jack and Sophee have been friends since birth and they have been in the same class as each other since the age of 3. Right before Christmas they joined together for the Economics Fair being held by the 3rd grade classes. They each made bracelets, bookmarks, key chains, clay items to sell to fellow students. They did a great job working together and they sold all their items!! If he could only create the next Facebook or itouch...keep at it Jack!!

With a Little Help From My Blog Friend

Today my keeping room is featured on 6th Street Design School. I have felt so stuck and uncreative when it comes to decorating (and MANY other things). So I asked for help from Kirsten, at 6th Street. We love the warmth it brought to the room!! Brynn was able to contribute all the artwork in the room, her photographs and painting help complete the room with personal touches!! Go on over to 6th Street and check it out!! Thanks Again Kirsten!!

I want to forget this day!!

I would rather forget the following post... Jack came running in the house with blood squirting everywhere, he had gashed his arm on a mailbox (there was a screw protruding from the hinge on the door). We called 911 and took an anxiety filled, 90 minute ambulance ride, in Georgia rush-hour traffic. We tried to go to 2 different hospitals (they wouldn't take us at the 1st hospital because he was under 18. The 2nd hospital didn't have a vascular surgeon on staff and the EMT thought it was a slashed artery-it WASN'T). We finally ended up in Atlanta, at Egleston Children's. Jack had 11 internal stitches and 19 external, it took them over 3 hours to sew it up. He was a trooper!! He's FINE and thinks it was all an adventure...I obviously DON'T feel the same way!!!

School Year 2010-2011

Not sure how I missed Brooke and Alec on their first day of school... at least I got Brynn (and Marlee) and Jack.

Good Friends Lift you UP!!

Brynn's cute friend, Tori, had her delayed 16th Birthday party. She was able to take 3 friends on a hot air balloon ride. L U C K Y Brynn got to go!! We love you Tori!!

Time and Distance Don't Mean a Thing

While we were in Utah I was able to get together with some of my best friends...we were all roommates in Provo and we all worked together at Covey Leadership Center!!