6:30 am ...

This is what my family looks like every darn morning. I'm usually crammed in there somewhere. Why can't I have kids that sleep until 9?

Ready, Aim, Fire!

One of Ella's favorite games to play is Ice Hockey ... on the kitchen table.

Waiting for a new puck ... the old one melted.

She's lining it up ....

Aiming .....

Whack!

My chica is so smart that she knew to close one eye to aim. Huh. I wonder where she learned that?

Here's my Bidu Jack. Cute, isn't he?

What's new pussycat? (whoa, whoa, whoa)

I feel like the last couple of weeks have been crazy! Here's a re-cap of some of our big events:

Jack got shots! Most of you know that I have issues with needles so there is nothing worse than having to strap my Jack down while the nurse shoves four needles into his teensy little legs! There was screaming and there was crying .... and Jack cried a little too.

Jack's blessing. Overall a great day. Gator did a fabulous job - I was bawling before he even started. I managed to struggle through my train wreck testimony ( I don't know why I ever think it's a good idea), and Jack threw-up the contents of his entire bottle the second I sat down. I guess he thought my testimony was a train wreck as well. Believe me, if I didn't think vomiting would have been extremely tacky, I would have been next in line. Besides that, the family was there, the food was great, and my house was clean for almost an entire day!

Me and my treasures! This is the perfect photo of all of us -- I look exhausted, Ella knows if she can force out a grin for 5 seconds she'll get a treat, and Jack, well, he always looks a little off.

Ella's first day of preschool!! Hooray for Ella and hooray for me! She was so excited to go. However, when I picked her up she looked a little disoriented and slightly frazzled. I asked how it went and she didn't say anything for about 3 minutes. Finally in the car she muttered with a sigh, "Mom, I had a really long day." Oh my sweet Ella, I know how you feel!!!

I've been caught!

Allie emailed me with one of those lists that you get tagged with (did that make any sense?). Anyway, here it is!

Two names you go by:

 1.   Lace
2.   Sweet Thang (just kidding!)



Two things you are wearing right now:
1.   oops! Give me a minute ………..   ok, red shirt
2.   black comfy pants

Two of your favorite things to do:
1.  read
2.  sleep!!!!!!!

 
Two things you want very badly at the moment:
1.   sleep!!!!!!!!
2.   red clogs, pants that fit, New Moon (work on it allie!), new
cell phone… oh, just two?


Two people who will fill this out:

1.  ummmm……
2.  still thinking ….


Two things you ate today:
1.   chips and salsa
2.   costco cake (I am throwing the rest out tomorrow, I promise!)

Two people you last talked to:
1.   Gator
2.   talked to or yelled to?  Ella ... long story ...


Two things you're doing tomorrow:
1.  Taking Ella to her first day of preschool. Hooray for Ella! 
2.  probably eat more costco cake...


Longest car rides:
1.  Utah to California
2.  Anywhere with Matt. He drives like an old lady!


Two favorite holidays:
That’s like asking me to pick my favorite child… which is
Jack right now… another long story...
1.   Thanksgiving
2.   4th of July


Two favorite beverages:
1.  Dr. Pepper   
2.  Water

Gator came down and asked what I was doing. For the life of him he couldn't figure out why anyone would tag each other with questions. I told him it was kind of a girl thing and he laughed and made one of those pfff noises (out of his mouth, sickos!) . So Gator, TAG! You're it!!! Email me your answers, hot stuff!

Our Ticket ....

We are counting on Ella to make it big. Click on the link to check out the progress.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yI2NCH-_R4


Click on this one too ....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yI2NCH-_R4

Oh, Bountiful we're proud of you ....

I have had a long time to think about my reunion experience and I have realized this - I never want to plan a reunion and I certainly didn't help plan this one. I am not going to say a whole lot about the reunion in itself -- I am still not sure I have the words to describe it -- so I will just show some pictures and talk about people.

Me and my peeps in the cafeteria ... yes, I paid 25 bones to eat in my school cafeteria.
Top: Kari, Jaclyn (not really my peep but I couldn't throw her out of the picture), Danielle Bottom: Me (not so flattering but oh well), Jamie, Amie, Kelly, Katie

This is Danielle. She practices law in California. She's really smart .... so is the guy behind her.

Leslie, Kari and Kelly
Leslie and her husband just bought a hotel in Roosevelt and it sounds like such a fun adventure! I never would have pictured her doing that! I also can't imagine a whole lot of people wanting to take a vacation to Roosevelt ..... Anyway, fun to see her!

Jason, Danielle and Nate during our "assembly"
Jason was our Sr. Class President. He was President of the Republican club at our school. He got a perfect score on his ACT test (or nearly perfect) and I think he went to Harvard. He now lives in New York and writes and edits for the National Review. Recently, Jason learned to make cookies that have a magical ingredient. I think he liked the reunion ...

Amie, Jamie and Katie
I haven't seen Katie in ages! Katie lives in San Fransisco ... she's reel purdy!

Jamie and Amie
Amie lives in Connecticut, married Nick Anger and has a baby boy who's name I dont' know. Jamie lives in St. Louis and is still working on her PhD (are you ever going to be done?).

Jason - one of the highlights of my night
After eating something like seven of his magical cookies, Jason decided to make an impromptu speech during our "assembly." For the life of me I couldn't get a clear picture. Either I was laughing too hard or part of his magical cookie rubbed off on me ....

Anyway, despite any sort of criticism I might have, I am glad I went. It was fun to see and catch up with so many people. I wish I had more photos of some of the other fun people!

p.s. thanks Jamie for the pictures!

What the .....

I am not sure I have the words to describe my reunion experience. The insanity of the whole thing has me in somewhat of a state of shock.... I think I need a few more days to process my feelings. More info to come, I promise!

High School Highlights

Tonight's the big night! I've got my clothes picked out, I've got a big pimple on my chin and I haven't had more than 4 hours of sleep over the last week .... hooray for big events! Despite my haggard appearance, I am actually really excited! I have been doing a lot of reminiscing about my high school experience and have realized what a fun time of my life that was -- although I'm pretty sure I didn't think so at the time. In honor of my ten years out of high school, here are ten of my high school highlights .... well, maybe not highlights but things that are coming to my worn down memory right now.

1. Jamie getting run over after the basketball state championship.
2. Mindy McDermott forgetting the words to the Star Spangled Banner during the Gov. Leavitt assembly.
3. Stomps - standing in line outside 7-11 for a slurpee and trying to make it home by midnight curfew (yeah right!).
4. Kari getting electrocuted in her shower.
5. Night school
6. Todd Bowen accidentally hacking a loogie (sp?) in the middle of a choir concert that landed on Kenneth Barber's back.
7. Sleepovers in the tree house.
8. Outrunning cops with Jamie.
9. Nirvana and Pearl Jam ... oh, and hours of U2 Rattle and Hum video.
10. Chapstick

And the list goes on and on. Well, good luck to me tonight -- I'm bound to have a few words to say when it's over!

Ella's New Do --

BEFORE -

Friday was my absolute last day of combing out Ella's nest that seems to appear every morning on the back of her head (wish I had a picture -- you would be amazed!)! Don't ask me how she gets it, but it's the cause of some major crying, screaming and hair-ripping every single day. So, with a little inspiration (thanks Keri and Kylee!), and a little coaxing, I packed up the kids and hit the local cheap-o salon. I am proud to say that I am the mom of this darling little fairy who now has more style than me!

AFTER! (Ooooh! Ahhhh! Ohhhh!)

Oh, my achy breaky heart ....

** WARNING: Show spoiler below! **

Kameron is a gonner. What a bust tonight's show was! So maybe he's not the best dancer on the show but I sure liked looking at him. So You Think You Can Dance will never be the same with out him ....

Oh, and Jamie's a gonner too ..... big deal!

The truth of it is .....

Parades make me cry. Not the boo-hoo, blow your nose kind of cry, but the grab your sunglasses so no one will notice kind. There are a number of things that are guaranteed to send my ducts into overdrive -- stubbed toes, vomiting, babies, bad hair, puppies (ok, not really puppies) -- and parades push me a little too close to the edge due to multiple bawl-worthy factors... especially the 24th parade ...

1. Marathoners - People running make me cry. Not the Kenyan dashing across the finish line hours before the fastest white guy, but the lady who doesn't look all that great in spandex shorts but feels good running in them. Or the guy with the hairy chest wearing a fanny pack and white tank top, drenched in sweat, with a little bit of pudge around his waist (not Matt, the other guy). And if I'm really being honest, fit and trim marathoners who actually look like they've done it before make me cry too. I am a big sucker for moments of triumph.. for big accomplishments.

2. Patriotism - I have never really considered myself overly patriotic. I love the 4th of July and I love cars with USA bumper stickers, but I am not one to call my family to sunrise devotionals and flag raising ceremonies (I leave that to Gator... just kidding ... kind of). What I absolutely love is when the flag is carried down the center of the street. I love watching Gator teach Ella to take her bright pink hat off and hold it over her heart. I love the quietness that happens for the first and only time during the parade. And I love the respect people show to the soldiers of our country. Goodness, I'm getting a little misty now!

3. Horns - whatever bozo came up with those lame-ass horns that every white-trash adult and kid under the age of 8 has to have makes me want to cry.

4. Pioneers - Stories of hardship and sacrifice always pull at my darned little heartstrings. This year's parade pioneers didn't really do it for me -- maybe they weren't dirty enough, maybe their smiles were too big or maybe they had a little too much meat on their bones (I'm all for authenticity), I don't know. You should have seen me the year of the anniversary! I was a chin quivering, nose running boob!

5. Portable Potties - So far I have never had to use one during a parade ....mostly because the thought of using one makes me want to cry.

6. Bag Pipes - Not really sure why this strikes a cord but it does ... every time. Maybe I've got a little Scottish burr in me bones after all!

7. Giardia - The sight of Jake drinking water out of the gutter makes me cry.

8. Peter Pan theatrics - if anyone was at the parade this year, you know what I'm talking about. I cried for everyone who had to watch that!

Well, there it is. I've never admitted this to anyone. A little embarrassing but I can't help it -- it's affected me for years! Hope everyone had a great 24th!

Me and Jack. Jack couldn't make it to the parade on the 4th .... that made me cry too.

My sweet Ella was tuckered out by 9:30 am ... not so sweet after that.

Some of the group

Averi and Ella

Once again Matt got a great spot. Way to go!

Welcome Home, Jack!

We were finally able to bust Jack out of that joint! We brought him home on Wednesday night. He's doing great and the medicine seems to be keeping him in line. Thank goodness! Ella is so excited to have him home. She is a good big sister and loves him a little too much sometimes.... I think it's going to be harder for me to adjust to Ella than Jack!

We went up to Primary's and met with the cardiologist on Thursday. It was a great visit and made me feel a whole lot more comfortable with the situation. He will be on medication for 2 months and then we will go back and re-evaluate. It's kind of a pain but at least I know his heart won't explode!

Anyway, we are so glad to have him home! I don't think we are ever having more kids - I'm not sure I can handle the stress!! Thanks to everyone for prayers and support. We appreciate it so much!

Our little Jack

Ella and Bidu Jack Ryan

Jack hanging out in his car seat.

Update -

I am cautiously reporting that Jack might be coming home on Thursday! So far he has gone 2 days without having a heart episode. We are hoping that this means the medicine dosage is right and we can keep it under control. We have an appointment set up with the cardiologist at Primary Children's on Thursday and the doctors said that as long as he doesn't have an episode between now and then, he can come home. This has been the longest and worst two weeks of my life ... keep your fingers crossed!

Happy birthday to you ...

For their 90th birthday, WCF let all employees out for the afternoon and had a big shindig up at Snowbird. The weather was perfect, the food was iffy, and the people-watching was fantastic! We had a great time!

Heading up to ride the Alpine Slide.


Heading down the Alpine Slide. Ella loved it!



Ella & her daddy



Us on top of the mountain. Keep in mind that I had a baby 2 weeks ago and still have some extra poundage to lose ....

She's my Yankee Doodle Sweetheart ...

Ella & Gator at the Kaysville Parade ... the best parade ever!

What could be better than cheesy floats, saltwater taffy and crazy adults taking each other down with water guns? Really, there is nothing better than the Kaysville Parade! B staked out a spot this year and we braved the heat for a taste of small town madness! Can't wait for next year!

Ella taking a little break. It was so HOT!


Ella & Gator

Gearing up for the water fight