State Fair

I'm not a huge fan of the fair, but since today was opening day, admission was only $2 and kids 5 and under were free. So my mom and I took Hallie and Audrey to see the animals and eat lunch. I actually had way more fun than I thought I would. We wandered around looking at all the cheap crap they have for sale and mingling with the awesome array of freakishly strange people that usually hang out at fairs. The highlight for the girls was riding the miniature horses. Hallie was beyond excited and Audrey being the dare devil child she is got right on and LOVED it. I honestly don't think the fair is worth it to pay full price, but for $4 to admit us all and $5 to park the car - it was TOTALLY worth it!!!

Lake Powell

We were so lucky to spend the weekend in Lake Powell with our good friends, Eric and Holli Jones and their four kids. Some of the pictures we took...

Malibu ski boat and the houseboat

Dallin, Scott & Audrey on the watercraft

Hallie, Audrey, me & Scott

Scott wake-boarding

Kesley & Tazia jumping off the houseboat

Me enjoying the boat ride

Sawyer, Camrynn & Hallie

Jace, Dallin, Jenna

Holli and I

Eric & Sawyer

Kesley & Tazia

Swimming

We're Back!

Actually we got back late Monday night - really late, it was almost Tuesday morning. Lake Powell was great. We had some bad weather on Sunday, but the water temp was 81 degrees and the houseboat was beautiful. We were down in Wahweap by Page, Arizona. It was a very relaxing trip and we wish we were still there! No pictures yet - our camera batteries died and we took a ton of pictures with our friend's camera, but are waiting for them to email them to us. Hopefully sometime this week!

Friday FIVE

Since we are on vacation this weekend, these are my 5 top place to visit (in the US)...

1. Bahamas - OK, so it isn't really the US, but it's VERY close! Love the sun, love the crystal clear blue water, love the crazy taxi driver that almost killed me with his driving skills. LOVE the beach.
2. Florida - What can I say, I am a theme park enthusiest. Just DisneyWorld alone is enough to make my blood run quicker, but throw in Sea World and Universal Studios. I'm SO there!!!
3. Yellowstone/Tetons - Besides the fact that Scott and I honey-mooned here, I just LOVE this place. I love all the natural wonders and all the wildlife - and NO I have never seen a bear, dang-it!
4. Washington DC - I love the history in our nation's capitol. I love visiting the Smithsonians - you could spend a lifetime there. But don't go there in the summer - so freakin' humid (and crowded).
5. Southern Utah - Yeah, I don't have to go very far for this one. I love where I am this weekend - Lake Powell. Love our national parks - Arches, Bryce and my fav: Zions. Love hiking through these awesome formations. So incredible.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!!!

Oh, What A Busy Day

Isn't that the title of a Richard Scary book??? Anyway, I have SO much to do today, yet here I sit at the computer wasting time. Oh, well. Items on my list of things to accomplish today...

1. Laundry (mountains of it, actually) - this is actually happening as I type, so see, it's not ALL wasted time.
2. Packing - we are going to Lake Powell over the long weekend - WOO HOO!!!
3. Shopping - need several things for our trip and a few items for dinner tonight.
4. Cooking - people expect me to fix dinner around here, so there you go. Plus, I need to make a few things in advance for the trip.
5. Errands - need to return the DVDs that were due last Monday, pick up some shampoo from the beauty supply, and put gas in my car.
6. Tanning - yeah, yeah, I know. But I don't want to look totally freakish in my swimsuit.
7. Mommying - probably the MOST important thing on my list. So far we've gotten dressed, eaten breakfast, played Polly Pockets and now we are gearing up for a snack.

So what are YOU doing today???

13 years...

Happy Anniversary to us!!!

Got hitched 13 years today. Scott and I have known each other MUCH longer though - we met in 9th grade (Scott was 15 and I was 14). We dated on again off again through high school - but were always best friends. I wish I had a scanner to add some of our wedding photos - please suggest for Scott to buy me one for Christmas!

I just got a delivery to my work... a dozen red roses, a cute stuffed animal and a mylar balloon. My friends were jealous.

Friday FIVE

This week's five is a list of the top five things I always check when I log on...

1. MSN - I must know what's going on in the world. This is my homepage and I can quickly see any breaking news (which I also have e-mailed to me), national headlines, world news, entertainment gossip, sports headlines, and most recently - current Olympic coverage. Must be informed!!!

2. My e-mail - I can log onto my work e-mail over the internet and I check it often. I use it as a personal account as well. I probably should get a hotmail account, but I'm too lazy to check TWO accounts. Through my email, I also keep track of a yahoo chat group I belong to and I have each post e-mailed to me.

3. eBay - Gotta watch, bid, buy & sell!!! Those of you who follow my blog know that I love eBay. I am addicted and I don't care. It is such a rush to win a really good auction for next to nothing. I have scored the cutest clothes for my girls for fall and I just won a Batman costume for Dallin for Halloween - he's so excited!

4. Facebook - I'm pretty new, but it amazes me how many people I have reconnected to through this networking site. It's fun to build your profile and put fun and quirky things that represent your likes and interests. For example, I get daily quotes from The Office and from Friends. It makes me smile.


5. Blogger - Duh - I love to check on my favorite blogs and see the comments made on my entries. I also use my blog to connect to some of my other favorite links and websites. Technology is awesome.

Why am I so tired???

You could pick from ANY of the following reasons why my eyelids feel like they are made out of lead right now, but "lucky" for me all of them are true...

• Audrey is cutting some more teeth and is miserable, she can't sleep and keeps everyone up.
• Audrey just wants to be held about 4am and she screams, not cries, ScReAmS until I get her - which wakes up Hallie and then I have TWO whiney kids!!!
• I'm working 2 tens, meaning I job-share, so I am working 2 consecutive days out of our 4/10 workweek. They are killer.
• I keep getting hooked on watching the late-night Olympics!!!
• Scott snores - his medication makes him pretty much comatose, so I can't even get him to turn on his side. AHHHHHH!
• I have so many issues running through my head - I just can't turn it off at night.
• School starts in one week - so much to get done.
• My mom moves in this weekend - don't get me started.
• It was REALLY windy 2 nights this weekend and the noise kept me up forever.
• AND FINALLY.... I had another lovely kidney stone episode this weekend. Up at 3am in a hot bath trying to scald my pain away; then from 4-6am I watched all the good parts of Phantom of the Opera and PS I Love You . (I am a little obsessed right now with Gerard Butler).

Hope everyone else is sleeping better that I have been. Maybe it's time to break out the Tylenol PM.

Temple Square

We were so late for church today we decided to skip it all together and take the family to Temple Square. I felt kind of bad about it at first, but honestly it is just what I needed today. We sat through an awesome presentation on The Family. Everyone felt such a strong spirit, even Kesley cried. Such a great afternoon with our family, I'm almost glad we were slackers and missed our church meetings - don't worry though, it won't be a regular occurrence. :)

Friday FIVE

Today's five are my favorite things to do in my spare time - what, spare time? - yeah I don't even know what that is anymore. Anyway, here's my wish list of things I would do if I had a moment to myself!

1. Reading. I am almost done with Breaking Dawn and next on my list is Uglies and then Pretties. I'd also like to FINALLY read the Harry Potter series since we have them ALL and I have never picked them up.


2. Scrap booking/Card making. I am SO far behind, but I sincerely love sitting down and losing myself in this activity. I did get all of my pictures in complete order so all I have to do is get going, but it's a little overwhelming when you are five years behind. Still, I have so many cute ideas, so maybe this weekend I'll get on it. I at least need to finish Hallie's baby book and get STARTED on Audrey's book. Plus I need to make a memory book about my dad (one for me and one for my mom). And I owe Dallin a book of his first 8 years (he was baptised in March). See, overwhelmed!


3. Cooking. I love to cook and bake. I love to try new recipes. I even cleaned out most of my pantry cupboards yesterday and threw out things that have expired or I have never used. My little girls love to cook with me, so we have a good time. Night before last, we made fondue with the new fondue maker they gave me for my birthday. It was so yummy.


4. Taking naps. I love naps. I wish we had them mandatory every day. When I am chosen to be queen, it will be my first ruling. Seriously though, there is nothing like taking a time out and laying down in a soft comfy bed (or couch), pulling a blanket over yourself and closing your tired little eyes. Oh, love that. Until the little ones wake up and tiny sticky fingers are trying to pry your eyes open, "Mom, are you awake? Audrey's poopy."


5. "Working" on the Computer. Obviously. I always love to check 5 things when I sit down to the computer - you'll have to check back next Friday to see what they are...