my cutie nephew "D"-boy!

I know I am biased...but this little guy is SO CUTE! I love to hold him and talk to him and have him smile and coo at me! He loves his Auntie Jen!...but, I don't know if he loves me so much when I am forcing him to have his picture taken...but considering the situation (110+ degrees outside and in my parents little front yard)...I think he did pretty good! Thanks little guy! I can't wait to do it again!

Okay...now you know that I am not just biased...he really is adorable huh?!

~fRiEnDs!~

left to right

Skye, Jami, Me, Angela

I got lucky and a few week ends ago I got to spend some time with three of my AMAZING girl friends (I hated it when I was a kid and my mom called her friends "girl friends"...sounded so gay!...but...now that I am old(er)...I do the same thing!) Anyhow....so a few weeks ago, us girls from the townhouses got together! :) Can I just say how much I MISS these ladies!

I met Angela and Skye our first Sunday that we went to church after Brandon and I got married. Skye and Angela knew each other already (from sorority)...Skye was married on Aug. 3rd 2000 and Angela and I were married on Aug. 4Th. We even went to the same place on our honeymoon...San Diego (so original huh?) ANYHOW....I became Skye's visiting teacher...and then she soon became my boss because she hired me to work for her at Lotions and Potions. We were newlyweds who loved to talk about married life and we did A LOT of that at work! :) Well...I was soon called to be nursery leader (gasp!...yes...I have been in that calling most of my married life) and I was blessed to have Angie be in there too! Then Skye got pregnant, then Angie, then finally me! It was so nice to have them to talk to and learn from! Well...when I was about 7 months pregnant, I got a little note on the wind shield of my car. Turns out that the townhouse next to ours that had been empty for so long now had new owners...and they wanted their parking spot back "or ELSE!" :)....a couple weeks later at an Enrichment activity...I met Jami...my new neighbor and writer of "the note" ...Jami and I became instant friends....maybe because our love of talking???? Either way...we had some great times in those little ol' townhouses didn't we girls? Baking zucchini bread at night together while our husbands were at school, letting the kids play in the grass over by the mail boxes while be checked out the grocery store ads, walking the girls in our strollers or in the wagons, swimming, helping each other pack and clean when we moved, painting....and basically just being there for each other! I miss those days!

Well, a couple weeks ago, Angie was in town (from Texas), and she booked a hotel room. I drove down and we all met up for some girl time! We decided on The Cheesecake Factory for dinner. That was a no brainier because it's where we always go (once a year....right Jami!? LOL!) Then we hit Target for some clearance shopping and snacks. We also got these funny eye mask things that I wanted to take a picture of us all wearing...but we forgot...but Jami put hers on in the car while we were driving home! It was so funny. We were trying to get the kid in the car next to us to look at her when we were at a stop light...I know he sensed us looking at him, but he just would not looked over! Anyhow....we got to the hotel and stayed up late talking, watching T.V. and eating too much. Then Jami went home and Skye who is narcoleptic and we didn't know it...continued to sleep...in between talking to us about things that didn't make sense! j/k :) I think Angie and I finally decided to call it a night when all there was to watch on T.V. was infomercials and things about Micheal Jackson!

The next day we ate breakfast, lounged around and then went to Ulta because that Bare Minerals infomercial perked Angela's interest! We tried out the make up...then went to In-N-Out for lunch...then it was over! I could have stayed and shopped and talked for another two days! This definitely has to be a new yearly tradition!!!!

I know I already said it...but I love these girls! They are SO FUN!

Okay...you know how it's kindda dark inside some resturants???? Well...it was dark inside The Cheese Cake Factory and when the waitress took this picture...I promise, the flash lite up half the resturant! It probably temporarily blinded a few people, including us! :) We were just trying to keep our eyes open here...and I was trying to not feel like a dork because of my cameras 1,000,000 watt flash!

Weston is talking so well now...for an almost two year old at least....and it's really working out to his advantage! Just now he came up to me with a bouncy spring in his step and very excitedly asked,

"I have popstickle (popsicle) momma!?"

How could I say "no"?

...get your hair wet!

Yesterday Brandon and I went with some of our nieces and nephews plus a few on his siblings and in-laws to the Temple to do baptisms for the dead. When Brandon told me about going, he asked if I wanted to go "help" and so I was thinking that I would be helping in the baptistery and not actually doing baptisms. I spent all day yesterday cleaning (with the help of my cleaning angel Carmen) and then I hurried and took a shower and did my hair. Dawniel was kind enough to stop by and pick up our kids...so we were able to get over to the Temple without too much stress. Well...we got there and people were asking me if I was going to do baptisms. I was already in the mind set that I was just "helping"... so I said "no"...and I had just taken a shower and done my hair...so I sorta wanted to stay dry. But then a few other people asked me if I was going to do baptisms...some even more than once...and I got to thinking that I better do baptisms! So...I changed and went and sat next to my nieces. I got into the confirmation room and Brandon was able to be the one to do the confirmations. My brother in law Travis was baptising, but right when it was my turn, they switched baptisers and Brandon was able to baptise me too. After showering off and changing...and running my fingers through my hair (since I hadn't planned to get wet, I didn't bring a comb)....I sat down in the baptistery and the thought came to me that I would have missed out on not only doing a service for someone, but the whole experience and I would have gone home feeling bad that I hadn't done baptisms and confirmations! It just got me wondering what else I/we don't do that is right just because we "don't want to get our hair wet". How many times to we hear something that reminds us of what we should be doing....but we ignore it because what we are doing really isn't bad....but it's not as good as what we could be doing. Do I even make sense???? I guess what I am trying to say is that I/we shouldn't let little (not wanting wet hair) or big things (whatever they may be) keep us from doing what we know is right. We shouldn't look at people who remind us to choose the right as being offensive...what we should do is LISTEN to them because if we do...we wont regret it. EVER!

So...I quit facebook yesterday... and it feels GREAT to not have that temptaion to waste my time anymore. I know it wasn't always a waste of time...I got in touch with some great people! I was SO excited to catch up with Crystal (used to be Morrison) from High School and find out that she's joined The Church and is doing great things with her life....and it's been nice to hear what my brother Sam has to say about things....but then on the other hand....I just was really having guilt issues that I was at the computer more often than I should be and that I was being lazy with some of my responsibilites...plus....I ain't gonna lie...I got my feelings hurt by someone deleting my comments and just thought..." This is silly! Bye bye facebook!" I might be "out of the loop" from now on....but I am okay with that!

ANYHOW!!!! I have to go get the kids ready for bed...but I have MUCH to post about!

The "D" Family...

Thanks you guys! I had a blast!

tHe 4Th Of JuLy WeEkEnD!

About 6 or 7 months ago...my Aunt Bev sent out an email asking if we wanting to have a family reunion this year and then asked for volunteers. I kept my mouth shut...but my cousin Jamie didn't and she volunteered us to be in charge! :) We set the date for July 3rd-5th and then just kindda casually made plans (to go camping in Heber) for a few months. Then all of a sudden...it was 1 month until the reunion....and the emails started flying back and forth! Then it was one week until the reunion and I was STRESSED...but trying very hard not to be!

So! Here are a few (okay...a BUNCH) of pictures from this weekend. I didn't keep my camera with me very often because I was busy...but I managed to get a few shots...and by the looks of them...people were having fun. I will say...for the record...my family is by no means perfect. We have our fair share of drama...I wouldn't say that the weekend was perfect...but no one was hurt physically and my kids had a BLAST...so I am going to call the reunion a success!

Oh...I have to tell you what Brandon and I did...just because we had SO much fun doing it...even though I didn't get pictures to prove it! So...some of my younger cousins decided that it would be fun to pull a few pranks Friday night. No biggie right? I believe those involved were Aimee, Brandi, D.J. and Garrett.....and possibly others who didn't own up to it! Anyhow...so these kids went out and pulled some pretty good pranks together. My twin cousins Ben and Cody who are 16 were asleep...which made them PERFECT make over candidates! They woke up wearing make up! Jamie's car windows were covered in multi colored post it notes, our van had something written on the back window about nacho cheese...(I'm still unsure about the meaning behind that)...and then there was the panties and bras in the trees. SO...all this went on while people were either asleep...or (in our case) up in the lodge visiting and decorating for the 4th of July. Well...Brandon and I took the kids to our tent sometime close to midnight and got them to sleep. We were trying to fall asleep too. Then I needed to visit the little girls room...and while I was walking back to the tent I saw D.J and Garrett by someones car and flashed my flash light on them. They took off running...so I knew they were up to something....so I went to investigate. They were T.Ping someones car. I admired their handiwork then went on my way. Well...I got back to the tent and was telling Brandon what they were doing and the two of us decided that it would be fun to go scare them. It was well after 1.m. by this time...but we put on our shoes and snuck over to their tent. It was hilarious because we were making SO much noise. Or at least it felt like we were. The rocks under our feet seemed to sound like boulders falling off a cliff! Well...we got to their tent and could hear them talking...we got close and then shook their tent and ran off and hid behind a bush. Well...they spouted off a few comments...but it wasn't the kind of reaction we were looking for! So we collected up a few small rocks and headed back over to their tent. We got with in throwing distance and I tossed my first rock and nailed their tent. (I was pretty proud of myself!)...we ran and hid a fallen tree...and this time...we GOT them! They came out and were saying things like, "That's it!"...and they took off towards the lodge. Well...Brandon and I STILL didn't feel like we had really scared them...so we followed them, staying behind trees and moving slowly. I guess the boys had thought that my Uncle Ryan (who was sleeping inside the lodge) was the one messing with them...so they went over to get him back! They banged on the windows and flashed their flash lights on him...and then when Ryan got up to get after them, they took off running...meanwhile, Brandon and I are behind a bush waiting for them...well... I guess you can figure out what happened next! They came running by and Brandon and I jumped out at them. I promise you I have NEVER seen someone jump as far as Garrett did! I don't care what he says! We scared him GOOD! :) Brandon and I laughed about that and how fun it is to sometimes act like a kids again until after 3 a.m.! But man...we paid for it big time all day Saturday and even today. We've been SO tired!

Okay...enough with my stories!
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This swing is SUPER fun! In this picture, Addie, Bradley and Porter or going for a ride! My mom and I went on it together too! Brandon and my dad got us going really high...and then they spun out swings. It was fun...until I got off and then I spent the next 2 hours sick to my stomach! Great times!

There was also a zip line. The kids LOVED it...and some of the adults too!

Yup...that's my mom!

My dad pulled my mom back to the top of the. He was saying "Heave-ho" the whole time.
He cracks me up! I love my dad!


Weston LOVED the kiddie swings! He kept telling me to "Push higher Momma!"
Look at that face! LOL!

Addie loved the swings too. She was going really high and then leaning back

as far as she could! Scared me to death!

My Aunt Marlene and Great Aunt Deanna were in charge of arts+crafts.

They planned them all around the "Christmas in July" theme. (Notice the Christmas tree). The kids had SO much fun decorating ginger bread cookies, star ornaments and stockings! Santa even came during the night and filled the stockings!

Aunt Bev, Aunt Kathy and Jordan...talking scrapbook talk!

Saturday night a group of us went to the Taylor Rodeo. Weston LOVED the rodeo this year! He was seriously mesmerized! (That boy loves cows! We got in the van to drive to church this morning and he said, "Mom. Cow's fun!") I just love going to the Rodeo on the 4th of July. It feels so American! I love to watch the rodeo queens ride around the arena holding the American Flag...and I love watching the crazy guys on the bucking broncos and bulls... and I LOVE the fireworks!

Oh, I should also mention that Brandon played in a soft ball tournament Saturday. Well...he only played one game. He was subbing for his brother Travis. Anyhow. He ended up getting slammed into by some guy who came sliding into home. His knee collided with Brandon's shin. Long story short...Brandon's at the E.R. right now. The swelling just hasn't gone down any and he's in a lot of pain. I am keeping my fingers crossed that nothing is broken. It's almost 11:30 p.m. and he's had an x-ray but is waiting for the doctor. I guess they've had some pretty serious stuff going on down there. Someone was burned really bad and someone else got their hand cut off. I am glad Brandon's injury isn't worthy of putting him on the top of the triage list!