Funny Comment

On Monday night during family home evening we were talking about eternal life. We were talking with the kids about things that Heavenly Father has given us to help us find our way back to him. We were asking the kids about the prophet and who he is and why he is so important. Brent said, the prophet talks to Heavenly Father and then shares with us what we should be doing. Ethan then said, oh so the prophet and Heavenly Father have talkie walkies? We had to smile, it is so funny sometimes to hear the first thing that comes to their mind. Our kids definitely keep us entertained:)

Monster Jam 2009

Well this is the second year now that we've gone to Monster Jam. The boys love it. Ethan and Kaleb's Papa bought them Monster Truck Ear Phones for the noise, and t-shirts (Ethan a Grave Digger and Kaleb an Outlaw). They were pretty excited. They both cheered for their trucks. There are so many people there. It is like a sell out every year, even the nosebleeds are full. And it is almost impossible to find a parking spot within a quarter mile, unless you arrive a few hours early.

.

This year, we rode the light rail from 7th and Camelback to the stadium to see what it was like. There were only 2 problems with this... For one, everyone else going to the Monster Truck show also decided to ride the light rail that night, too. I felt like I was back in Brazil, smashed in a sardine packed, butt rubbin "onibus". To make it worse, we had just missed the previous bus by about 20 seconds, and had to wait for the next. We blamed McDonalds for that one for making us pull around and wait for our order earlier. Well, right when we activated our passes, Ethan "has to pee." Of course... I should have known... He's like a little water fountain. Well, for those who are familiar... There's nowhere to pee...on or off the bus. So now we were in a rush to the stadium. But the bus wasn't. In fact, another one didn't roll around for about 35 minutes. Whoever says they stop every 10-15 is a LIAR. It's bad enough waiting for 35 minutes before the bus, but once you get on, the back and forth falling action (remember...packed house...no seats...rock and roll baby) over the next 10 stops to the stadium didn't help either. And of course, both kids want their Daddy to hold them, as he bangs violently against the metal wall of the bus in an attempt to stay on his feet. Oh yeah, nothin like good ole father and son bonding... I about had Ethan pee on "Levi Luvin Luigi" standing behind me who seemed to be enjoying the "sardine can" a little too much. And to make matters worse, I left the backpack with Kalebs diapers, a change of clothes for the boys (that's right, I was prepared), the waters, and the camera in the truck in our rush to get to the light rail. I just knew Ethan was going to let loose, and we didn't have a change of clothes with us. But, he amazed me. After an hour and ten minutes of torturous pain and crying, we arrived at the statium DRY!!! Someone was definitely watching over us and knew we had some Monster Truck action that we couldn't miss.
Can't wait til Monster Jam 2010!


B:

High School Musical on Ice

On Wednesday night we went to see High School Musical on Ice. We went with my Mom, Jennifer, and Kaylee. Allie and Kaylee had a great time. Om opening night all the seats were 1/2 price. We were able to get great seats for not a lot of money. Fabulous! The girls sang and danced. Allie kept telling me that she just wanted to see Gabriela and Troy. Every time they were not on the ice she was asking about them. It was a lot of fun. Kaylee is such a big fan she would stand up and sing the songs at the top of her lungs. It was great.

The girls got hats with their cotton candy and we let them pick one thing and they both picked these pink light up headbands.

Happy Birthday Grandma

This last weekend we got together to celebrate my Grandma's birthday. I don't ever feel like I am that much taller than her. I guess I am almost a head taller. Holly Molly! Anyways, Happy Birthday Grandma!

I wanted to list a few of my favorite things/memories about her:

• she is the one that taught me how to make the Best homemade strawberry jam!
• As a kid she would always tell us lots of nursery rhymes (she knows them all)
• I remember LOTS of fun family vacations with all the family
• she is the person that I call with my cooking questions
• always at all my recitals and concerts
• we would have fun sleepovers at her house (I guess I could probably still sleep over but now I come with a little extra baggage:)
• Always GOOD FOOD
• whenever my Dad or Grandpa would tease any of us she could always whip them into shape
  

Superbowl Bound

Yesterday was a great day for the Cardinals and their fans. We have church from 2-5pm. Which is a horrible time. Brent was really bummed because he was worried that someone would tell him what the score was during church. I assured him that in primary no one was going to tell him about the game. Well I was definitely wrong. There was several men in primary that were checking the score on their phones. The Cardinals won (WOO HOO) right before church was over. I was hoping Brent would just wait to find out what happened until we got home and he had a chance to watch it on our DVR. He caved! He had to know. Of course then he came home and watched the whole game. We are so excited that they have made it to the Super Bowl! Good for them! They have worked really hard all year and the deserve it. At our house we are going to think happy thoughts, and we know they can win it. Well we are hoping anyway!

Waterfall

The other day Kaleb decided that our bathroom needed a waterfall. Ethan had pulled the stopper on the sink earlier in the day and Kaleb must of thought, why not flood the bathroom. He was soaked form head to toe and the water was running off the counter onto the floor. He flooded the bathroom in a matter of minutes. We had to dump the water out of the drawers and totally empty the cupboards so that we could dry them out. Super! You can probably tell by the lip that he knows that he is in a lot of trouble. What a mess!

Back to School

Well, it's been fun while it lasted. I stopped my classes in October of last year, since I didn't want school to interrupt my holidays like they did in '07. So, I've had a pretty fun and lengthy "vacation from education". I think I have enjoyed it a little too much, actually. I have only been back for 3 days now and I'm already having sleep withdrawls. It feels like I have been going to school forever. I guess it's my fault for taking a 5 year break from the books. I have this weird feeling that by the time I finish my schooling, I'll be just about ready to retire.

For those who are unaware, I have a thing against racking up school loans, so I am taking class by class, here and there (3-4 per year) and paying it off as I go along. I don't know... I just have too many friends that have 30 year loans on their education and I refuse to do the same. I have around 12 or 13 classes left which should put me at around 2011 when I get that little piece of paper that tells hiring managers that, even though I already had about 10 years of technical writing and business experience, now that I have achieved this piece of paper my skill level is going to sky rocket and I'm going to become 200% more productive. Git'r Dun!

In a corporate world, I think a business degree is highly over-rated. I see to many young people in my department come in with a "piece of paper" and NO experience, but get hired on at 10-15K more than a colleague that has been doing the same job for the previous 5 years (no piece of paper). It makes no sense to me. Oh, well. Some day I'll get that "piece of paper." Dang, that piece of paper.

B:

Family Reunion

A couple of days after Christmas, Brent's mom Susan and his brother Tyler, came to town for a visit. They were here for a little over a week. We had a great time getting together. The Saturday before they went home Brent's grandmother (Nanny) planned a family reunion. She reserved her church and we had it there. We were able to see Brent's aunts, uncles, and cousins. It was fun to see everyone and see how big all the kids have gotten. We ate lunch and several people performed musical numbers. Brent's cousin Joe is gifted when it comes to the piano and he played a song that he wrote himself. I have never seen someones fingers move so fast. It was beautiful. Brent's family is so musically talented.

Tyler and Chase
Our family with Susan and Nanny

Uncle Darell, Susan and Kaleb, and Uncle David

They played their guitars and all the kids listened and sang a few songs

My boys, they are all so handsome

They kids listening to all the music

Jaymi and Rylie

Nanny and Susan

Happy New Year

January 1,2009

Happy New Year!

On New years day we got up and went to ride motorcycles and shoot 22's. It was a fun day. When we were done we went back to my mom and dad's and had a BBQ.

Dad and Kaleb

Christmas with Mom and Dad

December 25th

On Christmas morning we got to my mom's around 11:30. We had a great time exchanging gifts. This year my kids had gone to the dollar store to pick out some fun presents for my parents. They wrapped them all by themselves and were really excited to give them out. After gifts we had lunch and played. After dinner Scott called from Canada and we were so excited to talk to him. He comes home on June and we can't wait.

Our family
my parents with the kids

Brent and Chris playing some new wii games

Mom and Rylie

Loni and Chris

By the end of the day my Dad was pooped out.

Allie finally got her DS.