Chad and Kim Tie the Knot

(Is it bad to say finally?) ;)

I know we have joked about hiring me to be your wedding photographer before, but come on, this is a great picture!! Right?!?!

No?? Well it is the only one I got of the Bride and Groom! (And who made you the expert on picture taking anyway?)

Lucky for them, they had a REAL photographer. So I took it upon myself to do the candid and family shots. And I actually did pretty well. I am not going to upload the 150 or so pictures I took, so here is a selection that includes some of everyone, I think!

Kim and Warren - and their family A.J. and Marcus

Becca and Felipe

The three HOTTIES! (Yes, I am the queen of Hotness!) It was about this time that I started to realize that maybe, just maybe, I was little too blond - and possibly, the sunglasses didn't need to always be on my head. (Although they were pretty much always present during this phase of my life because I found that you look less tragic if you put on sunglasses while you cry!)

The girl cousins. (Yes Adele, I know I should crop, but did you want this blog updated or not!)

A.J. - I like this picture because - well, you know me! 'Nuff said!

Gage and Lili - In a contest to see who can break a bone first!

Jake - he is pretty much always in trouble.

Maybe because he is a U of U fan.

Jeff was the "Grill Master" (so was Beau, notice him sitting in the background!)

I had to do this picture of Jeff because we didn't do a couple one or a family one because he is so grumpy about pictures that I don't even ask anymore. Then he gets grumpy because we don't have enough family pictures. Bi-polar much? (I can say that because I am pretty sure he doesn't know I have a blog - I am not even sure he knows what a blog is.)

Alex (almost 3 years) holding Marcus (not quite one)

I love this picture for two reasons:

1) I can't get enough of Alex, he kills me

2) Again, you know me, and I am sick (who is going in on the therapy fund? Kim?)

That is my grandma in the background - and the only picture I got of her. I am such a loser!

Xander

He was so cute blowing his bubbles. I am not sure he ever actually made a bubble, but he tried and tried!

My only picture of Gavin. Hey Beau and Alicia - maybe you could spend a little more time with the family? Just sayin'!

Sarah really wanted to be part of the first dance!

(Now that is a cute picture! I am not a complete failure! - Hire me!!)

And again, the reason for the post. Here is the cute family! Congrats to Chad and Kim!!

Jake's Birthday

I can't believe I failed to blog this - such an example of the awesomeness (that's a word right!) of my motherhood!

We did a "Science Experiment Party" but I didn't get a ton of pictures because with 16 boys it was soon chaos!

We opened the party with "Build the Biggest Best Sculpture" with marshmallows and toothpicks.

Then we got ready for our "messy" experiments. I wanted to get lab coats, but I couldn't find them. When you only plan a week in advance you can't order supplies off the internet. But don't you fret, I am AWESOME and came up with an excellent plan B.

I bought rain ponchos - in two packs - at the dollar store - yes, I'm that good! Then I used cd labels and printed the radioactive symbol on them. We completed the outfit with gloves and goggles (also 2 packs at the dollar store!)

Our messy experiments were Rockets - made from alka seltzer and water a film canister. Who knew you could get alka seltzer from the dollar store?

Then we did lava lamps with oil and water in water bottles (yes - I pounded 16 bottles of water in one day - you didn't really expect me to dump out perfectly good store bought water did you?) To make it bubble, you just use a little more of that alka seltzer.

The party wouldn't have been complete without doing the Mentos and Diet Coke experiment. I did this one, and they just watched. (Okay - so not diet Coke - but you know, dollar store diet soda!)

Jake asked me to make the same Ice Cream cake I had made about a year ago for something else. So I did.

But I totally broke my spring form pan in the process. Crap!

Happy Birthday to Jake!

I Hope You Dance

Last night we went to my cousin, Jacob's (and his new beautiful wife, Summer's) wedding reception. We got there just as the dancing was starting.

My Jake busted a move - if there was ever a move to be busted! Me really does get his rhythm from me :S - and he LOVES to dance, he actually always has.

All the kids favorite dance was when they spread out a roll of bubble wrap and danced on that! Huge hit - you should all try it!

Aunt Kim was dancing the bubble wrap dance with them so when Jake came and asked me to dance I said "no way" - thinking he was just trying to get more people out there. I didn't realize that everyone had partnered up for some couples dances, but undaunted, he just kept asking and luckily Grandma Lois realized that he was looking for an actual "partner" and she said YES! (Good Job Grandma!) They dances many songs together (so cute!!)

Family Picture Photo Shoot

So we went to Wheeler Farm with Tiffy and her family to do a photo shoot of our families. I took over 100 pictures so I really need to sort and crop but I will leave you with my favorite one. (Okay - probably the only one you will see of me - for real, when did I start looking like I was in my 60's?)

Oh Let's Go Fly A Kite

Gage got a kite from Kim last Sunday and decided that today the weather was just perfect to go fly it. He put it together himself and even got it flying by himself. I almost did the crazy stalker pictures through the window again, but at the last minute decided to go outside and help him. (I am sure my neighbors are still in therapy from me running around outside in my muumuu (or is it spelled moomoo ;P) bathrobe. - But in fairness, it wasn't even noon yet!)

Family Time= Priceless??

I tried to sign the kids up for off track bowling, but due to a series of crazy happenings and miscommunication between the rec center and the bowling alley, I decided it wouldn't be worth the money, and that I would do some other things with the kids for off track - including just GOING bowling.

Well, our off track turned in to lots of time at doctor's offices and hospitals and the bowling trip kept getting pushed off (as well as all the other fun ideas I had in mind). So since Jeff went back to work on Wednesday and didn't need my (super fabulous) nursing anymore, I decided we should have a make-up bowling trip on short day Friday.

We didn't get going right after school, as I had planned, but closer to 5. I figured that would be okay though, because I had decided to drive clear to the bowling alley that had Pizza Factory Pizza. Kim, A.J. and Marcus came with us.

When we went to pay for our game, they informed us that the bowling alley had been rented for the night so we only had an hour. We figured that was fine for one game, so I paid for the 7 of us - at a rate of $54.oo. So we went to get started and Kim went to order pizza. The guy at the Pizza counter said that it was less expensive to get the package with bowling. So we went back to ask and the lady said that because we had split up to play on 2 lane (so we could get done before THEIR rental) we couldn't do that deal. She ended up paying $40 for the pizza. Just FYI - the deal was 6 people bowl, pizza, salad, drinks and bread sticks for ... wait for it ... $54.99. YIKES, what ever happened to customer service. It was almost enough to ask for a refund and leave!! (But we drove over 40 minutes to get there, and it was the make-up game for our earlier misadventure.)

(The agony of defeat!)

(The fake thrill of victory - just posing for the camera)

(The actual thrill of victory!)

(Just Dance!)

Yes, I actually posted a picture of my rear end - why? Because it was the "good" picture. I always thought FAT made you look younger - why then do I look like I am 65?? (FYI I totally won the game too!!)

(Mr. A.J)

(Marcus - who is never alone when my kids are around!)

We didn't feel like an hour of bowling was really worth the time and the effort we had put in to the evening, so we started batting around what other "family fun" we could have for FREE!! Kim remembered Wheeler Farm was nearby so we decided to go there.

All the kids

The kids had about 1000 times more fun here than bowling!!! My total cost at Wheeler Farm = fifty cents for a loaf of day old bread! (Why do I even try to do big things - this is what they love anyway - I guess family fun is priceless, and cheap!

A New Pet?

So this evening Jake came running in the house saying he needed a paper cup. Then he left, and came back a few minutes later saying he needed a bowl.

He came in a few minutes later and said that he and his friends had found a lobster in the canal.

About 10 minutes after that he came back and said that they found another lobster, but it was pregnant so they left it in the canal.

By this time it seems like every kid in the neighborhood is gathered in my front yard to see the "lobster".

Then Gage came in and said he had made it a home, could he keep it? I said - probably not, but decided I better go see what he had. It was a crawdad, but a pretty big one. I tried to convince them that it would be happier back with its family.

(Just a quick side story on that - Yesterday Brooke and her friend found some baby birds. After they "rescued them" into a box - they walked about a mile back to our house to get a medicine dropper to feed them with. When I said I was too lazy to drive them back to where the birds were Jake said to Jeff and I "We are talking about four lives here, four baby birds lives!! What would you say if those were your kids?" - Have I mentioned that we live in a drama free zone - Yikes)

So I tried to convince them to put the "lobster" back. But Gage just couldn't bear to part with it, and using some sand from the new sandbox he "built it a home".

After he went to bed, I went out and got some pictures. (Not to be gruesome, but I am pretty sure these pictures are post-mortem!)

And how do you like that "house"? I have set that stupid thing out by the road about 15 times so the real owner could take it home, but it keeps finding its way back to my garage. (My youngest girl is 10!!)

The Sandbox (alternate title - I am a member of the paparazzi)

So we have this strange little patch of grass in our backyard because Jeff has a "thing" for concrete and as the basketball court has expanded, it has left this little patch all by itself. I told Jeff that this would be a great place to have a sand box. Well I think Jeff's philosopy for life is "Go Big or Go Home!". He didn't think that little spot was good enough for a sand box. So he decided that we should use some space in the vacant lot next to us (no one will be using it any time soon - we are fairly certain).

He had his friend (and business partner) Mike come and smooth out a spot for the "sandbox" and also a garden spot for me - Hey, I said no one else was using it!! Then he called for a load of sand.

As you can see, this was not a pickup load of sand.

This is where the alternate title comes in. I realized that there was a huge dump truck of sand being delivered as I got out of the shower. I didn't know how long it would take to empty a load of sand so I decided I needed to hurry and take some pictures. So I stood in my bathtub (yes still naked) an stuck my camera lens through the CLOSED blinds to take pictures. (I felt like the exact opposite if the paparazzi (not that anyone would ever want to take naked pictures of me, I just thought it was funny that I was taking pictures, while naked, through the blinds) I guess you had to be there - only you are probably grateful you weren't there! ;)

I will shut up now. Enjoy more pictures, and know that every kid in the neighborhood is loving the new sandbox!

And just a word about boys and their toys - those two guys in the distance are the delivery men, and one is holding a little remote control box that he moves around that chute thingy with. Boys never grow up, they just get bigger toys. ;)

Perspective

I am actually going to update twice because I don't want this at the top of my blog ;) - it is important to me to be funny (even if it is only fun in my own mind) and this was in no way funny! On April 22 Jeff was told he had Bladder Cancer. We then got to spend 4 long days before we knew anything else. These were days filled with tears, fear, praying, fasting, questions. I think there should be a law that whenever a doctor gives you news like that, he should have 48 hours to give you as much information as he possibly can. He should not be going home and hanging with his family all weekend like he didn't just shake the foundation of your world to its very core! So Jeff had a CT scan the next Monday, but again fabulous Dr. referenced above didn't call us with the results. He has surgery scheduled for Tuesday afternoon. The Dr. came in about 10 minutes before the surgery and said that he wouldn't be removing the whole tumor because it was through the bladder wall and on the urachus. Which is an umbilical cord remnant (which is something most people don't have). He went ahead with the surgery to do basically a biopsy because he hadn't done that the first time they had been in there. (hindsight is better, but we would have done some things differently with this information) The good thing about the way things happened, is it finally jolted me in to action. So while Jeff was in surgery I called the Huntsman Cancer Center and got some recommendations for doctors and made an appointment for 3 days later. This new Dr. was about a million times better and he had the same sense of urgency we did. So a week ago - yesterday, surgery was performed and all the cancer was removed. It was all contained inside the urachus and the portion invading the bladder was able to be removed with clear margins. It was also not found in any lymph nodes. Before the surgery we were told it was a very rare urachal adenocarcinoma (which is less than 1% of all bladder cancers). Googling this was not a good thing at all. This cancer has a very bad prognosis. However, once the pathology came back, (last Thursday) it turned out not to be that kind of cancer. It is an even more rare type of cancer (which has made google not really informative, which I have decided is a good thing). The Doctor is leaning toward no further treatment at this time. However because of how rare it is he will be presenting the case to the Huntsman Tumor Board. This board meets twice a month to discuss rare cases and recommend treatment plans. He is holding off making a final decision until he gets their input. The doctor did tell me, though, that he feels fairly confident saying he doesn't think it will return because it started in the urachus and all of that tissue is now gone. Jeff did get to keep his belly button - which we weren't sure would happen when the surgery was first discussed. I am not sure if he is happy, or disappointed by this - everyone needs a claim to fame! ;) This has brought some perspectives into our lives and we will be spending more time making memories - and hopefully I will be better about taking pictures (maybe the quality will even improve). It has also strengthened our testimonies of fasting, prayer, and temples. We have already started letting go of little concerns and cherishing moments more. Thank you to everyone who participated in fasting, praying, and sharing good thoughts with us, and giving time, food and other service to us. I believe with all my heart we have experienced divine intervention.

Brooke's Orchestra Concert

Last night was Brooke's Orchestra concert. The kids did a great job. The teacher picked mostly music from popular movies and TV shows so that was really fun. The concert was only 35 minutes (big plus).

Now - you can enjoy all the lovely pictures I took, because yes, I am THAT good of a mom!!

(if it helps you, she is just about dead center in the picture) I am available for weddings, births, and any other special events you would like documented!

Who is in charge here, anyway?

So the kids woke us up this morning all excited about the fort they made and how we just had to come and see it. So this is what we found in the living room:

Normally this kind of mess would put me over the edge, but you know, Jeff coming home and telling me he has cancer has sort of changed my perspective - who the heck cares!! Right. I could clean this up in about 5 minutes if I really wanted to so "Let them be little!"

My Grandma is 80

My grandma Von (Yvonne) turned 80 April 10th. We had a big family party for her. I chose not to attend, because it was the same day as the funeral for my friend, but I thought I would honor her with a blog post and some pictures that Brooke took at the party.

(Isn't it great to have kids that are old enough you can give them jobs. Now I just need to find her camera.)

This is the gift idea I had for my grandma - Kim helped a lot with the actual execution of it. We framed it in a black frame.

Easter

So contrary to popular opinion - I am a really bad mom!! I was so lazy this Easter because we ended up not going camping (grrr SNOW!!) that I barely got around to doing anything traditional.

The Easter bunny usually comes to us on Saturday - but she was extra busy (or hadn't gone shopping, I forget which) so instead he came to our house on Sunday. However Sunday we awoke to - you guessed it, more snow - so it was a good thing we had left the door unlocked so he could come in and warm up. While he was warming up, he hid our eggs and baskets downstairs.

Now to the really bad mom part. I told my kids we would color our eggs between conference session. Then come to find out I had no coloring - but they had already forgotten by the conference break. I had already boiled the eggs so I thought I would make Deviled Eggs to go with dinner. Surprisingly enough, I was too lazy. Then - I thought - I really should let Gage color them, but other things kept distracting me on Monday (it was a sad day - but that is for another post). On Tuesday when I took Brooke to orchestra at 7:30 I decided to run by Wal-mart to see if they had any good Easter Clearance. They had these COOL egg spinners. So for $2.50 I was all in!

Then the rest of Tuesday morning - I was lazy so Gage and I still didn't get around to coloring. Wednesday was busy with appointments and such, but I am leaving town tomorrow (Thursday) at noon - so finally at 8:30 at night - right before bed I said, let's color these eggs!! So I brought out the spinner and we went for it.

Courtney is super gangster - right!

I was going to fake this post and back date it like I had done this actually when I should have, but what would be the fun in that - and you know me too well anyway!! (And don't you just love the way I cropped those pictures and made them all cutsie for you - I will be offering classes soon!)

April Fools/Courtney's Birthday

So, my sweet little Courtney was silly enough to let me do her birthday party on April First - crazy kid!!

We had lots of fun! First we played stick the booger on the nose.

Then we played take a dare or pie in your hair. (She really did choose the pie in her hair!!) It was a shaving cream pie - I am too cheap to use whip cream.

Then we had a crazy menu dinner at Chez Andrez. It was quite the menu, but I can't share it here just in case I want to use it again - I don't want the key floating around out there. But I would be happy to share it if anyone is interested.

We finished out with a lovely "cake" made by Aunt Alicia. This was actually made with Courtney's Giant Cupcake Mold, but it was actually rice crispie treat so she couldn't really cut into it. Pretty funny.

**Just a side note: Last year for April Fools breakfast I made giant ostrich eggs for breakfast. That was marshmallow cream and a peach half. So this year I went the opposite and did tiny eggs made with melted white chocolate and a yellow M&M - Way fun!!

***Yeah and FYI Courtney is now 12 and enjoying YW. (Mom is a little freaked out!)