Chicago 2008: Monday

Despite the rain, we spent Monday at Six Flags. It rained on and off throughout the day, but we all had a wonderful time anyway!

This is the kids and I watching The Wiggles. Good times ...

This is a picture of the Raging Bull roller coaster, it was HUGE!

I think this was everyone's favorite, it's called V2

Here's us girls just hanging out

Here are the boys about to go shooting up!

This is John and I at the entrance of Six Flags. Behind the big pool is a double carousel

We bought a bucket of popcorn that was refillable for free the entire day, we surely got our money's worth out of it after filling it probably more than 10 times! They also had the souvenir drink that was refillable for free, now Mike and Melissa can take them back and refill them for a dollar when they go. What a deal!

Chicago 2008: Saturday & Sunday

We flew into Chicago on Saturday, and I was taken back with the beauty of the midwest. It was so refreshing to see all the green vegetation all around us. When we flew in there had been a tornado watch due to some severe storms looming around Chicago, and while we were hanging around the mall waiting for the rest of my family to fly in so we could meet them for dinner-- they upgraded the storm to a tornado warning. Can we say scary? They shooed us out of the stores and evacuated everyone in the mall into their tornado shelters. My knees were weak, and I wanted to cry because tornados are on top of my list of biggest fears. Thank goodness we had the little kids with us because I had to be tough for them! We didn't have to stay too long and we made it to dinner at Giordano's Pizza with my family. Relief! On Sunday we went to church and the diversity reminded me of Tucson-- it was awesome. We also visited Lake Michigan, the Medical School Mike attends, and some beautiful neighborhoods with amazing homes and lawns and fields.

Here is Tyra playing with a sand castle

Drake & Madelyn loved throwing rocks in the water

The sky was beautiful!

The water was FREEZING!

It looked like the ocean with the waves and water as far as you could see

It was so fun to be there with everyone!

Maggie's Dance Recital

Maggie has been working hard at Dance since Christmas. We've got her in an excellent dance class in a new Studio where she's really excelled. We've seen a major improvement and definately gotten our money's worth since her first dance recital (right, Kendra?)! Funny story about her costume: she got it while in class and when I went to pick her up the first thing she did was come and whisper to me that it doesn't have sleeves and she wasn't sure if she could wear it, so I explained to her that it would be fine for her recital and she'd look so cute and it would be okay. After we got home her and her little friend, Kylee, wanted to play in them so I told them they could wear them for about a half hour so nothing happened to them-- and not 5 minutes later Maggie came out of her room with her leotard WITH SLEEVES on underneath because she felt so awkward not having any! So yesterday after her recital we went straight to Costco and I brought her a dress to put on over the top of her costume and it didn't have any sleeves. She didn't even want to get out the car! She was so self-concious that someone would see her and she didn't have any sleeves on her shirt-- and then wouldn't you know, we saw my Aunt & Uncle, my Grandma from Idaho, and some friends from our ward! Anyway, she survived, and I told her that I'll remind her of this when she's 14 and wants to go out in her sleeveless shirts and two-peice swim suits! She did fantastic yesterday although she was a little nervous. I wish I could've got a video of Josie also dancing to the music, it was hilarious, but she was fascinated by all the dancers. If you know Josie, you'll know that she LOVES music and LOVES to dance, so she was in high heaven yesterday! We're glad Maggie is such a good example, I know Josie watches everything she does and will probably follow in all her footsteps. Isn't that what big sisters are for?


Maggie is second from the left on the front row.

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Johnny's 1st Grade Program

Johnny's "Firsts" in 1st Grade:
* Riding the Bus
* Having his classroom was outside of the school
* Playing Basketball
* Walking to friends' homes in neighborhood
* Reading Chapter books for fun
* Wearing a jacket or coat every single day
* Having to be on the bus by 7:25 a.m.

Maggie's Preschool Graduation

Mom: What did you learn this year at preschool?
Maggie: Opposites, letters, and I sat by my friends a lot.
Don't we all wish we could go back to preschool??

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Breaking Dawn

I have the smartest mother that was able to find this. Not only did she find the first chapter to Breaking Dawn, I'm assuming this will be the new book cover,(which I love, BTW) also not to be revealed until May 31st. I'm so excited to share it with all of you EARLY! So, ENJOY!


Breaking Dawn 1st Chapter

Interview with a Vampire Lady

I'm anxious to get these pictures up to share with ya'll fellow Stephenie Meyer fans out there! Last night was amazing, I was major star struck and tongue tied as soon as I had the opportunity to talk to her! I was so glad to be there with someone as excited to be there as I was. Patti and I had such a good time, we were there for MANY hours, but it was great to be among fellow fans, most just like ourselves, and we chit-chatted the night away! Big time THANK YOU to my M-I-L for getting the awesome tickets so we had the opportunity to go last night, and also to my B-I-L, Ben, for letting Pats stay so many hours with me last night after being gone all day yesterday too! We had such a good time! Here are the pictures, they were a little nazi about taking pictures on stage, so this was the best I came away with, not that great only because my camera batteries always die at the wrong time. The terrible thing is that I always think I should grab extras to keep in my purse and then I never do.

We teach our kids to share ...

Enough said??

Can you EVEN believe it??

Then ...

I didn't think I would be as excited as I am, but can you believe it? My favorite "boy band" from the 80's REUNITED! They performed this morning on The Today Show and it took me back in time to when the biggest worries I had was how I would earn enough money to buy their next tape! It was really hilarious, they were old, their dancing and singing was terrible, and I loved one of the signs someone was holding that said, "30 year old moms in California love NKOTB"! Does it get any better than that? Okay, maybe I should't even be admitting this ... but I already downloaded their new single, Summertime, from I-tunes, and I've already looked at concert dates! So, if there is anyone available on Saturday, November 15 who would like a date (because poor John is SO not into going with me), LET'S DO IT! Honey, I'm counting on YOU!!

Now ...

The Host

I finished reading The Host yesterday and it was AMAZING!! It was a definite page turner-- after I hit about page 250 I finished it the same day.
Here are some of the things I loved about this book:
1) I loved the ending! I don't want to give anything away, but I was so happy with how it all tied up and finished.
2) I loved Wanda's character, or soul, in this story. She was selfless and curteous, and so full of love for those around her. I was very inspired by her willingness to give and work hard to benefit those around her.
3) I am in awe of the different worlds and stories and histories from each world that Wanda lived on. There were names of creatures, transportation, money, shelter, medicine, cities, things that make this fantasy world turn. How did Stephenie Meyer come up with this stuff?? Purely fanstasy, exactly the reason she is compared to J.K. Rowling!
4) The action and suspense is always a plus for me. It was more exciting than Twilight was for me, and I didn't expect that at all.
5) I can't leave out the incredible love story that was a major triangle between many key characters, but it all unfolded and it was so deep and wonderful that it gave me butterflies inside.
6) And last, but not least, it took place in and around Tucson! I knew every place she went to from the Ina exit, to St. Mary's hospital, and every plant and cactus inbetween. We drove past Picacho Peak many, many times and looked over that very vast, desolate desert where this whole story took place.
I have to put this book as one of my favorites books of all time. I don't know how she does it, and I never imagined she could've come up with a story as captivating and wonderful as the Twilight Series, but she has. I may have loved it just as much!! I would love to hear anyone else's take on the book that has read it. Leave me a comment! I am so looking forward to meeting the author, Stephenie Meyer, on Friday. I'm happy to loan out my book to anyone interested in reading it, because YOU SHOULD!!

Happy Mother's Day

Mother's Day has once again come and gone. I just love my Mother and wish that I could've driven up and given her a hug and come home again. I am so grateful and so blessed to have two amazing mothers in my life. Their example far exceeds what I feel I can ever live up to. They are both very different but both have such strong commitments to living the Gospel, they both are super hard workers, they both are so caring and both always take the time to let us know they care. I love you so much!


My family is so sweet. I know it is hard for them having my birthday the same week as Mother's Day, but they are so good to me and it is a week that I truly get spoiled. I love, love, love the presents and cards the kids make for me at school every year, I will treasure them always. They are always so proud to bring me flowers and breakfast in bed and take care of me all day-- it is so sweet. I am happy because this year John gave me money for a pedicure and new running shoes. Yipee!

Catch Up Pictures

This is Josie's new favorite thing to push in her stroller ...

This is what Josie did to my bedspread last week. This is why my new one is still under my bed and not on it ...

This is where Josie sat after I saw what she did to my bedspread ...

These are the new pillows for my couches that my Mom made me for my birthday ...


This is Maggie & Sam. She is wearing a necklace her sweet friend from Tucson sent to her. She wants to wear it everyday now ...

Happy Birthday to ME!

I admit, I love my birthday! This year I got two days to celebrate because the Saturday before my actual birthday after I woke up John came in and gave me a Golf Magazine(??), and inside there was a card telling me to get ready and he'd help get the kids ready because his Mom was coming to take the kids to both soccer games and then back to her house for the rest of the day while we went to Park City to shop and then back down to the Cheesecake Factory for dinner. The Golf Magazine was for me, for him, to read while I shopped. Perfect!!! The card was also full of *cash* for me to spend! We had a great day, it was nice to be alone, and just get to be able to spend time together. The drive was beautiful, shopping was fun, and dinner was SO yummy! It was a perfect day. Then on Tuesday on my actual birthday John got up a little early so he could get Johnny ready and I could sleep in a little. around 8:30 a.m. I got a call from my AMAZING mother-in-law who had been up since 6:00 a.m. standing in line at Borders (in the cold, with a cold)to get me The Host and a ticket to see Stephenie Meyer!

I couldn't have asked for anything more, that was the ultimate. For lunch I met with her and 4 of my sisters-in-law for lunch at Chili's (my favorite).

After we got home Micki took Maggie to her house so I could get some alone reading time with my new book, and later on we had everyone over for
my favorite Costco cake, ice cream,

and some dance-off DDR action!

It was a great day, thank you all for the cards, gifts, and calls, and e-mails. Love you all!
Here are some of the things I got SPOILED with:

Can you get more white trash than this? I always wanted one when we lived in AZ, John went the extra mile and got me the JUMBO size! I'm always a little emberassed to fill it!

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Just wanted to wish you all a Happy Cinco de Mayo! I'm sure all our friends in Tucson (60 miles from the border of Mexico) will be partying hard! Also, shout out to my Mom & Dad, it is their 30th Anniversary today! Such great examples! I love them and always felt guilty that my birthday was the day after so they couldn't ever go on a trip, but now that I'm out of the house, they only have Tyra to blame, whose birthday is three days after!