last minute trip

Well as most of you know, the stress level in my house is like 10 + most of the time.

Last week my parents were on their way down south to visit my sister's family. Nephew was having a birthday & getting the priesthood. I was quite jealous because I totally miss my sis and just wish we lived closer to eachother. (Tara - that does not mean I am moving...) I also really miss her kids. They are TONS-O-FUN!
Last weekend was Justin's weekend with the girls so I thought it might be fun just to look at ticket prices. They ranged in price from $500 - $2,100. So for a couple day trip, that was NOT worth it to me. Then my best friend told me that I should check out priceline & name my price for a ticket. So I listened to her. I went on priceline and named my price at $120. The computer pretty much rolled off the desk laughing at me. I just raised my price $10 at a time and finally at $225 it accepted my offer! WaHOO!! It was WAY last minute, but everything worked out. The next morning I was on my way to the airport. There is always something fun to do at my sister's house.

Here is some of what I did on my last minute trip!...
(and a few pictures to prove it!!)

• I played Guitar Hero
• I ate BBQ
• I ate down home cookin'
• I took a REALLY deep sleeping nap
• I cried
• I laughed
• I went potty a few times
• I went sailing on the ocean
• I was involved in a sailboat crash
• I saw Hurricane Ike damage
• I was a FUN AUNTIE
• I went to a museum type place
• I went on a movie-ride that made me feel like I was going to VOMIT
• I played the game LIFE
• I was a cool Auntie
• I did some laundry
• I made a joke
• I ate at Red Lobster
• I was a dental assistant
• I watched neice paint liahona
• I took lots of pictures
• I was a fun daughter
• I played with magnets on a wall
• I did the dishes
• I played Pit
• I took a few showers
• I went to Wal*Mart
• I watched nephew eat 55 shrimp scampi
• I ate Malt-O-Meal & Ice Cream....mmmm
• I cried
• I listened to neice sing songs
• I vented
• I played
• I met some really fun & amazing people
• I talked to my kids every day
• I painted a mug
• I played with and sang to some dogs
• I saw penguins
• I slept in
• I met a weirdo or two
• I played on the laptop w/ photo booth...SO entertaining
• I ate Malt-O-Meal & Ice Cream again!! mmmmmm
• I watched movies
• I relaxed
• I did not swim in the beautiful pool
• I thought
• I totally missed my kids
• I was a fun sister
• I played at a birthday party
• I ate some of TomTurkeys feathers
• I ate a half-quart rootbeer float over a 4 day period
• I saw a trash can full of trophies
• I watched my sister cover a snake cake with individually cut pieces of fruit leather scales
• I looked at a house remodel
• I called my house
• I had my flight cancelled & got to stay an extra night because of tornadoes

I HAD AN AMAZING TIME!!!

Chop-Chop

As I stood in front of the bathroom mirror yesterday, I wondered why I got my hair cut 3 times in the past 4 weeks. No more pony tails for me! Well, at least for a while! I found a picture that was taken of me 4 weeks ago, and the I had Tika snap one of me yesterday morning. I'm missing a ton of hair!

4 weeks ago...

2 weeks ago...

This week...I never thought it would be so hard to get used to a hew hair cut! (any suggestions?)

GO UTES!!

I know, I know...I'm turning into a sports fanatic! Well not really, but it might seem that way...football 2 days in a row?!
Tara had an extra ticket to the UTES homecoming game tonight, and invited me to go! It was a ton of fun! I only had to ask her what was going on about 10 or 15 times. I'm not too good at what ~ means ~ what when it comes to sports!

I feel like I can ask Tara anything about a sport and she won't look at me like I'm crazy...you see back in high school Tara asked me: "Who do you think is going to win the world series?" I looked at her and said: (with confidence) "THE 49ers". Yeah, I need help in the sports department!!

The game was so much fun. The guys behind us were a bit loud and had potty-mouths, but were funny to listen to. We were sitting there and one tapped me on the shoulder and said: "Excuse me, may I take your picture with your camera?" I said: "Sure, that would be nice." I turned it on and handed the camera back to him. He sat there looking really confused. I looked at the camera and told him he was holding it upside down! Anyway, little did he know, he helped me document an excellent night with my bff!

The final score was Utah 37 ~~ Weber State 21

GO UTES!!!

Thanks Tara for a great night out!

My Secret Love...

I have a secret love.

Some of you may know I truly LOVE Toby Keith. He is one of the HOTTEST men on the face of the planet. I went to his concert last night and guess what...for the first time I didn't feel guilty when I was imagining myself making out with him backstage after the concert. (and swatting his tight behind) Okay, maybe more than you wanted to know...but it's true. I love the man!

Tara and I are truly obsessed with him and how beautiful he looks and how sexy he sounds!! Toby Keith "BoomTown Tour" was the first concert Tara and I went to together our Junior year of high school. Ever since then, he has been a true favorite of ours.

A while back Tara got us 4 tickets. Originally (back in June) we were going to take Justin & Tara's brother Eric. But since things are a little rocky in that department, it was all up in the air until last Tuesday when Tara called me and told me that her uncle's memorial service was on Saturday and she would not be able to go at all. She was just about in tears. (about missing Toby) It was actually pretty sad.

A Toby concert without Tara? How would I survive? Simple...I took MELINDA! I knew she was a fan of Toby Keith...but I think that last night I might have convinced her to join mine and Tara's "obsessed with Toby" club!

Since I had 4 tickets I decided that we'd have girls night out. It was my weekend with Tika & Carsy and I thought they might have a fun time. I'm sure they didn't enjoy it as much as they would enjoy Hannah Montana, but it was suprising how many songs they knew!

And it gave them a look at what alcohol will do to a person! Tika was pretty entertained with all of the drunks running around singing off key and slopping their beers all over themselves! Carsy just kept saying, "uh...he's drunk!"

We picked Melinda up and went to dinner at a super yummy place I highly recommend it (and so does Melinda!!) It is called the SmokeHouse Barbeque. Yum! We had our waitress document our dining experience. (who knows how often we'll be able to do this??!)

Then we headed off to Usana. We took ponchos in case the weather started to act up. The lightning was pretty amazing. (nothing like the Derby though!)

The first group that sang was called "Trailer Choir" they sounded allright. Then "Montgomery Gentry" did a few songs and then the Big-Dog-Daddy made his apperance. I get butterflies when I see him! I love his face and his hair and his body and his voice and his arms and his hands and his rear end and....well you get the picture! I LOVE TOBY!!! The girls were so sick of me saying how much I loved him by the end of the night I'm sure! Melinda just agreed with me. (probably thinking I'd stop saying it!)

Anyway, although Tara had to be in Idaho, we had a great night. Melinda and I decided it's a must go to show for next year....and Tara cannot miss out!

Here are a few pictures of my Secret LOVE!!! I know most of you won't enjoy them as much as I do....but ENJOY! :)

Honestly if he asked, I would kiss him!!

easily replaced!

Last night after we tucked the girls in bed, Justin went out onto the deck and talked to Jon. For those of you who know Justin & Jon, their phone conversations can last HOURS! And on the same token, if you know me, you know that I don't even have to hit the pillow & I'm OUT! Well when Justin was done talking to Jon, he came upstairs and realized that he had been replaced!! I just looked at the pictue a bit closer...look how my mouth is all open and the SHEETS DON'T MATCH! Oh Lordy, I cannot believe that I am putting this on the blog! I can see Justin putting it on here as blackmale...oh well. You've gotta make it fun-right?

you want to roast what?

I've heard people talk about roasting more than marshmallows over a campfire. But me, myself stick to what I know. Over the weekend on our camping trip, Eric convinced me that there is something just as fun as marshmallows....STARBURST!!! They brought "tropical" flavors, but I am almost certain that "original" would be just as delightful! So you stick a candy on the end of your roastin' stick and put it over the flames; turning frequently. After just minutes the outside is a bit soft. Because it is so hot, take care when removing it from your stick. Then when you pop it in your mouth, the outside is almost crispy and the inside a delectible gooey. Good Lord... That is an amazing treat. It might even become as important as making sure we have hot dogs to roaston our next camping excursion or even our next fire pit night!! If you have ever suggested to me to roast starburst and I looked at you in disgust...I do sincerely apologize!

An extra day

Above is a slide show of some one-on-one time I got to have with Reid this morning after the girls were at school. We rolled the blue ball back & forth and then he discovered Genevieve's wugga! We had a great time in the cool morning air!

Charlie got to stay an extra night!! Yesterday there was a high speed chase through Parley's Canyon that caused Melinda & Rod to have to wait in traffic and then be diverted back down the canyon. I decided that since they had been in the car forever that I would just take Reid home to make Melinda & Rod's life a bit easier. Well that's what I get for thinking! As Tika, Carsun, Charlie & I ate dinner, normally I would be saying, "k- guys hurry up - we've got to get baby home". Well something kept telling me to slow down & relax.

After we ate, I got everything all loaded up and as we sat in the driveway my car registered that I only had 1/8 tank of gas. I was trying to figure out how that would work when Saturday night I had 1/2 tank. I called Melinda & told her we were on our way, but we had to stop to get gas. As I got to the stop sign @ the end of our street the gas gauge moved to 1/2 full. WEIRD! So Instead of getting gas I just headed down the canyon. I felt completely relaxed & unrushed. I realized a couple times I was going under the speed limit, but there was no one behind me, so no big deal.

As I got to the Wallsburg turn off I looked at the clock and realized it was after 7:15 and almost stopped to call Melinda and tell her I'd bring him down in the morning, but instead of turning, I kept going. The girls & I were chatting and laughing at the funny sounds that baby was making and all of the sudden, there was 2 lanes of completely stopped traffic. No movement - so, we waited there for a few minutes and when there was a break in the traffic headed up , I decided we'd turn around. I called the Merkley's and explained what was going on and how I had felt prior to leaving, they understood me not wanting to sit in traffic for who knows how long, and said that Charlie could stay another night. As I lay in bed I saw on the news that there was a fatal accident in Provo Canyon.

All I can say is that there is a reason that we took our time and did'nt rush to get down the canyon. Who knows if we would have been part of that horrific accident? Someone was watching out for us.

(...thank you...)

S'more FUN

Last summer we bought a portable fire pit for our back yard. We have loved having it. Last weekend, Justin, the girls & I decided to hop on our bikes and ride to Day's Market to get stuff for S'mores. When we got back our neighbor's the Titcomb's and the Naylor's were all outside so we invited them all over for some marshmallow roastin' fun!

It was a late night... but way worth it! mmmmmm....s'more's ~ one of my ultimate favorites!

Crusan + MAY 15th = 7 years!

Okay - all of you know that I have a pretty good memory. Like, what I was wearing the first time I met Justin, my phone # from Price, names....anyway, I remember things. So I am congratulating myself on something.
7 years and 7 months ago, when Justin and I were smokers, he got up one morning (October 24th to be exact) and said, "I'm quitting today, are you?" I said "probably not". And he went to work. I went about my day, went to the gas station, got a 44 ounce Dr. Pepper with extra ice and a pack of Marlboro Lights. (My usual...every day) When Justin got home from work I was out on the back porch smoking. He came out and said, "did you quit?" I remember looking at him with a burning cigarette in my hand like, "DUH!" and said, "No." He took my "smokes" off of the counter, got our scissors and CUT the ENTIRE pack in half. Okay, I guess I quit. (I kept thinking, I just opened that!)
So 7 months went by and my brother was in a horrible bullett bike wreck. He was mangled and it scared me & stressed me out. (I was very close to my brother then) I ended up having to pick up one of my parents' cars so they could just drive one car home from the hospital. On my way home I broke down and bought a pack of GPC's.
I'll never forget the feeling of disappointment in myself. With shaky hands I sat on the front lawn and smoked one. Ugh, did it hurt! I was MAD at myself. I don't even think I smoked 1/2 of that cigarette. I decided right then I had to start over. So Justin and I celebrate our "Non- Smoker" Anniversaries on seperate days.
I just wanted to announce that I am a 7 year NON - SMOKER as of May 15th!
(**I was going to put a picture of Justin's "non-smoker" cake I made him last year, but I can't find it...it was 7 twinkies that I frosted to look like cigarettes and in frosting I wrote "7 years & counting..." so I guess y'all can use your imaginations!**)