Concert, Ears & Old Friends

I post once a week and quite frankly this week I have been sitting on my fannie in front of the tv watching the Olympics.  I love it!  I knew I was addicted when I found myself getting heavily involved in a curling match!  Seriously, what an awesome time.  I cry daily while I watch the incredible stories of people with WAY more determination than me.  I am so pumped we get to watch for one more week!  When I did pull myself away from the tv we really did have a great week.

Taesha had a jazz band concert.  It as dark and I didn’t have my camera, so I apologize for no photos!  She had a solo during the concert and did GREAT!  She is really talented at the trumpet (and about 12 other instruments)!

Jord decided a few weeks ago she wanted her ears pierced.  I just kept waiting for her to forget, but she did not.  So, I caved and we headed into the mall.  She did great (well mostly)!

The bottom photo was after we were all done!  That fit lasted about one minute but I am so glad I captured it.  Classic Jordan!!

On Saturday Jeff took all 3 kids to ski lessons so I could go to a wedding shower of one of my old friends.  I totally enjoyed the break.  I am so grateful for Jeff and the help he provides.  Jord did have one meltdown prior to lessons but she pulled through and went!

My good friend is getting married and it was so fun to spend time with some of my favorite people whom I don’t make time to see often enough!

Valentine’s Fun!

What a great day.  What a great weekend.  I have come to love Valentine’s day, some people believe its just  societies way of commercializing relationships!  I say… Let the commercialization begin.  Fun parties, sugar cookies, cards and flowers, what’s not to love?   Both Taylor and Jordan had class parties and a school Valentine’s Tea.  I love when the girls bring home their Valentines from school! 

Sweet Jeff was out of town.  On Friday night these were delivered to my house!  We had already had an incredible date the weekend before!  I am totally spoiled.

Jeff is always so thoughtful, even when he’s away.  I am so blessed to be able to spend my life with him.  Seriously, blessed!!!

On Sunday we had everyone over for Valentine’s Dinner.  The kids all got spoiled as usual.

Super Fun Super Bowl

I love the Super bowl.  I love watching with my family and friends.  Several years ago my parents started a “game” we play where we guess points scored and can win prizes each quarter of the game.  It is so fun and because none of us are competitive (NOT) it makes the game so much fun.  Jeff made our score predictions and we won 2 of 5 times!  Way to go!!  I didn’t get very many photos but here are a few.

How cute is Ryker? He is growing up so fast and SOOO much fun to be around.  Anders of course is always so fun!

Even with all the prizes, yummy food and great company my favorite part of the event was Kim.  As most of you know she often can’t control her impulses and we will be at the mall, at the musical, at a restaurant, at a sporting event and see this….

Yes, once a cheerleader always a cheerleader.  She still remembers EVERYTHING!  It always makes me laugh so hard.  Check out Lance in the background of the photo on the right!!  Even funnier check out Shea in the photo on the right, he is totally used to this behavior!!!

We skipped skiing this weekend and relaxed a little.  Taylor wanted to make breakfast as a requirement for her Faith in God award to make a meal..  She did such a great job.  Then we went ice skating.

At the ice skating arena they have what they call “ice walkers.”  They help stabilize the little kids so they can skate on their own.  Look at Jordan, can you say Fern?

Close Enough to Heaven….

You are all probably tired of all of my blogs about skiing, but seriously…  For me this is close enough to Heaven.  Yesterday most of my favorite people in the world were there.  I said MOST..  Kim and Jill dont’ be offended!!   I was lucky enough to spend the morning with (from left) Jeff, Shea, Jen, Ryker, Lance and Jer.  I seriously think that Jer is one of the funniest people on earth.  I got a lump in my throat skiing with Jenny because it made up such a large part of our childhood and we have not skied together for probably 10 years.  It is so great now that all the kids are old enough to join us!

 

What a cutie!!! 

From Left:  Kaleb, Taylor, Mitch and Hayden. 

Samantha and Luke at their lesson.  I snuck a photo.  I rode the lift with Samantha one time during which she promptly scolded me for “not concentrating while in line, which is very important.” 

Thanks everyone for such a fun day! 

Happy Birthday Ryan!

Today is Ryan’s birthday.  He is the big 3 0!  I can’t believe it.  You know you are old when your much younger sibling turns 30.  Ryan is always the life of the party!!  Just yesterday we had a party for he, Lance and Jeff.  I wanted a picture of the 3 birthday boys and Ryan refused to move from his chair!  Check out his hair, he refuses to cut it in the winter and it gets seriously shaggy, but he someone pulls it off.  For a trucker he’s pretty cute!!

 

Ryan is never afraid to be heard, ANYWHERE!  Here are a few photos that I love!

Ryan loves his truck!   Do not eat, drink, move or breathe on it.  As much as Ryan loves his truck he loves his family more.  He is an excellent father and husband.  Check out he and Kenny,  one in the same!  Some of my favorite memories about Ryan include:

Frequent public outbursts

Ghana:  eating bones

Cell phones (he has at least 7 a year, either lost, dropped or thrown across the shop back lot.)

Softball:  Ryan and I used to play on softball teams together

Saturday Ski days:  Ryan is a fantastic skier

San Francisco:  Thrown Football=Stalled Trolley

Socks to the Knee:  THANK YOU JAMIE

Hi Ugly

Spiders:  Let’s just say Kendall kills the spiders at his house

Black jeans and shirts with NO collar

I feel so blessed  have grown up in such a great family.   Ryan is so fun and always willing to help.  He is a such a hard worker and makes me laugh all the time.   Thank you Ry for countless laughs!  Love you lots!

Happy Birthday Jeffrey

Tomorrow Jeff will be another year older!  I sometimes tease him about his age because he is a few years older than me, although he does not seem it.   I usually mention that Chase was born about the same time I went to Homecoming  in high school, or that I was in 5th grade when he went on his mission.  OR THAT… Ok, thats enough, he is only 8 years older than me. Seriously, Jeff has blessed my life in so many ways it is hard for me to even create a post that is fitting!

Here is  a photo from Jeff’s birthday last year.  We do so many things throughout a year it’s hard to know exactly what to add.  Here are a few of my favorite!

Jeff is such a hard worker, he travels a lot but because of his hard work we are able to make a lot of wonderful memories doing wonderful things.   We have had so much fun over the last several years and I absolutely look forward to so much more.  I am so lucky to have found someone who makes me laugh but also understand my goals and “intensity.”  I feel like with Jeff I got his kids whom I love dearly and I have also been able to make super meaningful relationships with friends.   Jeff is selfless with his time and always being thoughtful. 

Jeff may kill me for some of the photos placed on here (i.e. the cookie eating one) but each one carries a special memory for me.

Thank you Jeff for taking such good care of each and every one of us and sharing your life with.  I can’t wait to celebrate your birthday and I love you dearly!

AND… to make Kim, Jill and especially Jeff laugh, this is how it all got started!

CHEEZER!!!

Birthdays, Weddings and Game Night

Today is my oldest brother Lance’s birthday.  I have posted on all my siblings birthdays (except Jill, Kim had to do it because my computer was down!!).  Lance is SOOOO funny, super caring and keeps me laughing all of the time.  I often get overwhelmed to think about how blessed I am to live within 10 miles of ALL of my siblings and my parents.  Here are a few “Lannie” highlights.

Lance helped put up my swing set, he shows up with the incident management truck AND wearing Dickies!  LOVE IT!	I love Saturday Ski Days!  Lance is an excellent skier and makes me tired while the kids are in lessons!
Every Christmas we give Lance a gag gift, these are his “jean sweats.”	Sleeping with Baby Anders…

So all in all I am so lucky to have such a great big brother.  Best memories include the massive fights as children (that we can now laugh at), the massive laughter as adults, numerous vacations, ski trips, numerous "arguments” with Lance ALWAYS playing devils advocate, even to the point of ridiculousness!   And a few phrases that will only make my family laugh:

Old Fart’s Friend

Elbow pop in ear

Doggie Bites

Friendless Ick

Come get these kids

You know you are adopted

If I touch this button the car will blow up

10 echo 10

April Fools joke in Lake Town

There are so many more!  I love you Lance and am so lucky to have such a great example and friend!  Happy Birthday!

On Saturday we had a wedding shower for my cousins fiancée  Katie.  She is such a genuine, nice person (how did you do it Brent?).  Here are a few photos.  I absolutely love getting together with my extended family.  The top left photo is priceless to me.  That is my Grandma Gayle and her only living sibling Stella.  Her other sister died as a young mother.  I am so blessed to now live with the same ward with her daughter and her children.  So fun!!!

Finally,  in this super lengthy post I wanted to document out game night.  I am THE WORST at organized family night.  We have started making a point of having dinner together ever Monday Night and then doing something.  We had an impromptu game night.  We should have done a puzzle, played a board game, but not use.  We played a serious of games on iPods, iPhones and the computer!  Check out Jord’s Pjs.  I love that girl!  Jeff got WAY over involved in some game it was super funny!