Man vs. Beast

Tonight was the 6 annual Mascot Bowl at Lehi High School.

What is that you ask...

It's were Man (8th graders) VS. Beast (Local/National Mascots) meet on there battlefield (a high school football field) to meet one's doom (the LOSER)

We look forward to this "battle" every year.

We were able to go out on the field and meet the mascots, get high fives, and take pictures.

(I was excited to get to play with my new camera)
There were lots of people there, young and old

TV crews, dancers, cheerleaders, and even the marching band.

So, why does a city get together like this (besides for a evening of fun,) 100% of all the processes go to the "Firemen and Friends for Kids" charity which was established to offer underprivileged children the opportunity to shop for presents during Christmas time.

This mascot bowl is a fun opportunity for families but also benefits many many local people as well.

So, all in all, Everyone is a WINNER in this game Man VS. Beast.

Why?

Friday Night is HERE,

so that means the weekend is right around the corner...

...so Dan thought, "Let's share our date night with the kids, it should be fun."

Famous last words.

We jump into the car and the fighting begins...

"Why are we doing this?"

We get to Texas Road House and the waiting begins...

"Why are we doing this?"

The kids need to use the bathroom...

"Why are we doing this?"

We get sat at our table and the wiggles come...

"Why are we doing this?"

Oh yeah, Welcome to OUR world!

Where there is good food, you will find US

Where there is chaos, you will find US

Where there is tears or cheers, you will find US

WHY???

Because it's Friday Night,

but most importantly, we are FAMILY!.

Gimme 5

Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom are now married (Really??)...

Freddie Prinze Jr. and Sarah Michelle Gellar are proud parents (Wow!)...

"Fame" is to hit the theaters (here's to another girl's night)...

Kayne West hasn't said anything dumb yet today (hard to believe)...

Flu Shots are now available (but I won't be getting one)...

I have a diet Coke in my hand (my saving grace)...

Dan is bringing home a paycheck (Yeah!)...

I am having a good hair day (always a plus)...

There is gas in my car (another plus)...

The Sun is shinning (gotta love that)...

The weekend is right around the corner (Whoo Woo)...

...It can only mean one thing...

It must be FRIDAY!

Enough Said....

Summer Lovin'

Gotta LOVE it!

Say CHEESSSSSE

Girls: "Mom, I got my school pictures today"

Me: "OK, Gimme Gimme, I wanna see them!"

Me: "Oh, I Love them!"

little Monster

Who knew that this "Little Monster"could have so much personality [and energy] before going to bed.

A Nana's Request:

"Please go out and take some pictures with the Sunflowers"

So, when a Nana has a request, I have learned to do it sooner then later, or she will keep buggin' you. When Nana asked for a request, it is not an idea, but more of a duty that needs to be done NOW...

....So, to keep Nana happy, (NO ONE likes an unhappy Nana) I took C&C out when the girls were at school for a quick (and I mean no more then 20 minutes; not my personal choice. I wanted to take more, but they were done.) photo shoot that cost me an afternoon at the park watching C&C go down the slide and Sonic drinks as a bribe.
Thanks to a Nana's request, I LOVE the pictures I was able to get from these two handfuls, but I have to admit, they are cute handfuls.

Doctor's Orders.

The Doctor says, "Propping your head up will help with the drainage in your head."

Well, I think Kenzie went around to all the rooms in the house and found some the pillows.
Here's to hoping she will finally get a good night's sleep.

with a little faith, great things can happen.

Today in primary, Andrea Smith gave a darling sharing time...
with the help of the kids singing extra loud, some of the Prophets of the Scriptures came and visited our primary.

The kids loved every minute of our special visitors; Ammon, Samuel the Laminate, Alma the Younger, and Moroni came to talk to the kids about the trails that they had to face way back when, but with faith and devotion to the Lord, they became Prophets of the Lord and were blessed.

By following the teaching of the Lord and following the example of our prophets of our past and present, we can can learn and gain many blessings.

Thou, life may not always be easy and we will face trails as well, it is up to us to make the right decisions and by doing so, we have been promised to receive the ultimate reward...eternal life.

Today is YOUR birthday!

9 years ago...I became a mom for the first time.

I gave birth to Mackenzie Joy and for that moment on, I knew that I had been given the best gift ever, Motherhood!

Well, it is crazy to think that my #1 is now 9!

Mackenzie only request was dinner was Chuck -a -Rama (all you can eat buffet) where she could have all of her favorites; mashed potatoes, cinnamon pull aparts, scones, grapes/watermelon, boiled eggs with ranch, and a mixed up icee topped off with 3 different desserts, and I couldn't say pretty much anything, except eat up and enjoy.

After dinner, she was dying to open her gifts and she was excited with all of her gifts. It doesn't take much to make her smile, she loved the fact that she was given cash. When people asked her what she wanted, she would say money, because when she wanted something and if mom or dad told her no, then she wanted to be able to reach into her pocket and buy what she wanted.

Also, I was told when buying her birthday cake, she informed me that she is now too old for cartoons on her cake. Really??? That has to be one of the signs of growing up and I don't want my #1 to grow up.

So, in honor of Mackenzie's 9 spankings (and her pinch to grow an inch) I will share 9 of my favorite things about her.

1. Mackenzie truly is our "Joy"

2. She is great help and is an example to many

3. She is affectionate and thinks of others

4. Mackenzie is very creative

5. She has a beautiful smile

6. She has a strong spirit and beliefs in the church

7. She is very organized; everything has its own place

8. Fast learner...knock on wood, school comes easy for her (Didn't get that from her mom)

AND

9. Mackenzie has a good self esteem, she can be herself and she is OK with that

Happy Birthday Kenzie!

Hope you live this next year to the fullest and you get the wish you made when blowing out your candles...you for sure deserve it!

Kids say the darnest thing...

Scenario: I am at the O.B. for my yearly checkup and C&C had to come with me;

Oh, this should be interesting...

Cassie: "Mom, why are you getting naked?"

Me: "The doctor needs to make sure that mom is healthy, now turn around, sit down, and play your nintendo DS"

C&C are so intrigued with what I am doing having to wear a paper robe and waiting for the doc. to come in.

Me: "What was I thinking to bring you two?"

Doc. comes in and the check up begins

Cassie: "Mom, what is he doing?"

Me: "Cassie, don't worry about it, sit down and play your game"

Carson: "WOW! This is better then playing the DS"

The doc. just smiles

Me: "Both of you, go sit down and knock it off!"

Doctor: "Go ahead and lay down" (I think we all know where this is going)

trying to make small talk with the doc because it is already awkward.

Cassie: "Mom?"

Me: "Not now Cassie"

Cassie: "Mom, do I need to tell dad?"

Awkward just became a total understatement with Cassie.

The Doc at this point gives a little giggle and I feel that I need to apologize.

Lessons learned from this:

* Kids never need to attend your OB appointment

* Cassie is out to get me

* Your OB appt. can even be more awkward

* A year won't be long enough till I have to show my face in the doc's office again

* Kids say the darnest things anytime they feel like it

(No matter what you are doing or what may is going on around you.)

Labor Day = A day of work...

Today being Labor day and the girls not having to go to school and Dan having it off as well, What could have been more fun then spending the day working in the yard???
Well, I can think of a few things like...

*Watching paint dry

*A visit to my O.B.

*Walking on broken glass

OR even,

*Plucking my nose hairs one hair at a time

BUT, we have played so hard this Summer and have always thought of excuses when it came to yard work, that Today, it had to be done!

See how the morning glory had taken over the flowers...

SO, with a little elbow grease and some good old hard work...

...TOGETHER we got the flowers looking good again.
(We had to bribe the kids with money for an upcoming trip, but hey, they were finally willing to help. Who said that a bribe here and there is a bad thing...)

We also worked in the back yard and got some of the planters around the trees cleaned as well, and yours truly even got the lawn mower out and took care of the grass. Yeah, you heard me right! I did it!

With the music cranked up in the garage and myself even breaking out a few dance moves, it was time to wash the cars.

Dan (with the help of C&C) got my car shinning and clean. I am sure it took Dan a little extra time to wash my car and got a bit more wet then usual, but hey, it was fun.

I love the sight of a clean washed car, that has to be one of my favorite things.

Well, after the kids watched Dan wash my "ride," they wanted to wash their own "rides". I guess with all this hard LABOR, they just didn't want to stop with all of this fun.
They kids did take pride in their work today and Dan and I were able to fill his truck bed with things to take to D.I. We both tackled the garage and finally got the side door area cleaned, where we can open and actually use the door...I know, impressive! (it was about time!)

As you can see, this LABOR DAY was a productive one for us and we are all proud of the hard work we did as a family, BUT I would have rather...
*Stubbed my toe and stepped on a nail
*Be chased by a robot who wants my brain
*Eat a bug on a stick
*Walk the plank off of a pirate ship
OR even,
*Be trapped in an elevator with singing munchkins
BUT, Hey, I guess I can't win them all and be too picky!
(Thank goodness this day comes only once a year)

Sunday is a special day...

... with all these smiles and some extra time before church, I wanted to snap a few pictures and stop time to remember that Sunday mornings like this are far from few...

...That we can make it to church without any tears and matching shoes, dressed in clean clothes and every one's hair is in place.

Like I said...Today is a special day.

***Also, I want to share that prayers are answered! Remember, that things happened because of the faith that one has and that miracles happen...somethings aren't just coincidence.***

An't no mountin high enough...

I Love being a GIRL!

Tonight, we gathered as girls (and even better, FRIENDS) to celebrate each of us.

We all are entitled to treating ourseleves to a good old pedi.

(Christina: Moral support, Andrea: Birthday, Eliza: Birthday and RAN her mile, Mindy: Having a baby any day, Me: RAN my mile, and Jamielynn: Birthday)

As Liza put it, this place is like the dimond in the rough. Totally getto from the outside (and maybe even alittle on the inside as well) BUT the magic that the ladies can to do our toes, feet, ankles, and legs was amazing (I would only know half...the lady totally for got to message my left leg and that is totally my favorite part...no tip for her. She will learn to not forgot that again.)

Ta Da! Pretty toes and relaxed feet.

I do have to laugh...after being in the salon and having the whole pedi experenice done, the ladies there didn't let me down. While we were soaking our feet, the ladies kept asking if we wanted other serives...

Lady: "You wan your eye wax?"

Liza: "No thanks"

Lady: "How 'bout your lip?"

Liza: No, that is ok"

Lady: "You wan design on toe?"

Liza: "Like what? How much extra?"

Lady: "oh, for you hon.........7 dolla"

Liza: (fighting back some giggles) "Ok, sure"

(Totally can relate to this clip from youtube. If any of you have had a pedi, then watch it and tell me just how true it is. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsWrY77o77o)

After we had our fancy toes, we had worked up some appitight for some good food, so going out to the cheesecake factory was a no brainer.

Being a girl is the best>>> spending an evening and having fun with friends is even better.

We are already planning for the next girl's night and believe me, we won't have to think very hard to think of an excuse.