What's Illinois without CHICAGO?......Iowa

This post is long over-due, but a couple weeks ago, Ruth, Amanda, Chelsea, and myself went up to Chicago for one last girls night out before Chelsea moves to Utah.

We went to dinner at a restaurant called Bistro 110. The food was ok, the conversation was, like always, full of laughs and great stories. I don't think there's ever a second when someones not talking, especially Chelsea and myself. We talk a lot and we talk really loudly when we get together! Amanda says she can never get a word in! Which is pretty much true! Sorry...

Anyway, after dinner we walked around, taking pictures every ten seconds. Between the four of us we had three cameras shooting pics, I guess you could say we're all picture junkies, I love it!

We decided to take a carriage ride. The woman driving us was awesome. She stopped everywhere we asked her to and she would take pictures of us! Ruth got a little CRAZY with the horse whip, she is such a crack up!

After the carriage ride, we walked down Rush street. This street is famous for all of the bars that line the street. It's basically all windows, or really glass doors, that when the weather permits, all of the bars open up their doors and windows and it's a huge party! Although this night the doors and windows where closed, I think it was only about 55 degrees that night, so it wasn't quite warm enough. But none the less, the bars where still packed with people.

We stopped in a restaurant/bar called Gibson's? I think that's the name, anyway we went in to have dessert. It was good.

After dessert, we walked, and walked, and walked, in high heels to a bar called The Redhead. Inside there was a huge piano where everyone was gathered around singing along with the piano man. It was so much fun! The only down fall, other than the fact that it's a bar?? Is the fact that people can smoke! After we had taken in all the smoke we could stand, we left and walked back to the car.

It was a great night. I know I say it all the time but I just love these girls so very much! Chelsea, do you know how much we are going to miss you?

What's Illinois without CHELSEA???........................Crappy

"SIN-A- ROLLS" & ROLLER DERBY...

For those of you that don't know what "Happy Mail" is I will explain. Are you ever sick and tired of only receiving junk mail and bills, every time you get the mail? Well my girlfriends Amanda and Chelsea where, so they decided to start sending "Happy Mail." Happy Mail consists of things like stickers, cards, chocolate, really anything girlie, inexpensive, and meant to make you feel happy when you open that mail box! This is my latest Happy Mail gift from Amanda! Well, she sent the cards in the mail (Hand made by herself!!!) but the cinnamon rolls she delivered in person, also hand made by herself and absolutely DELICIOUS And SINFUL!!! Amanda thank you, again...

Anyway, As you may have heard, a very important "KEY PLAYER" in my happiness here in Illinois, is moving to Utah. Yes Chelsea (pictured above) is headed West, to the Promise Land, a.k.a. ZION- and she is leaving behind many woman who not only love her, but NEED her in their lives (Me especially!!!) It's hard to even write about this because it's making it more real!

So the other night (The 27th) Amy and Amanda, put together a Roller Skating party, in Chelsea and her families honor. It was a great way for other families to spend some time with them and say goodbye. They rented out the entire building, and invited many families from the ward to come skate.

It was a RIOT!!! Avery wasn't sure at first if he was going to even put the skates on, but with a little sweet persuasion, he finally gave in and we where off to the races! Well Kas and I where, Avery and Dad took it easy in the middle most of the night. Troy had never put on roller blades, so it was a little slow going for him! He was happy to inch around the floor with Avery, but Kas and I, and my (competitive nature) couldn't drive 55, so we started racing as fast as we could go! After a couple laps I was feeling a little "Show- offy" and I ate it HARD!!! I don't know what happen but before I knew it I was going down, in the splits I hit my knee first then I tried to soften the fall with my hand and ended up almost spraining my wrist!!! Then, to add insult to injury, the "referee guy" that skates around with a whistle, making sure everyone is following the rules, comes over and says "Are you ok?" (Dumb question!) Yes, I replied, (An even DUMBER reply!) Because I was not ok, I was hurt, especially my pride! "Then you need to get up off the floor. Get on your knees first then stand." I was like "Dude, my knee is what hurts the most!!!"

Thankfully, the crowd that had gathered around me, stopped laughing for a minute and helped me up! I think Kasey was more embarrassed than I was!

All and all, it was a great time. I'm still amazed at the "closeness" of our ward. It's just so different here, than it is in Utah. In Utah, you have your extended family to depend on. But here, it's like everyone is away from their extended families, so they depend on their "Ward Family" It's hard to explain how different it is, you really have to live on both sides. I think Chelsea will bring a really wonderful new DYNAMIC (relating to or tending towards change or productive activity) to her new Ward. I hope they realize quickly, how very blessed they are to have them!!!

The "30" something club...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KANDACE!!! My darling sis-in-law is celebrating her 30TH BIRTHDAY today! Welcome to the "30 something club" In this club you get to experience things you could never have dreamed of while in your twenties! Everything starts to change, sag, droop, ache, wrinkle, get bigger (Where you don't want it to) and get smaller where you REALLY don't want it to!!! It's a wonderful club to be a part of and no matter what, YOU CAN NEVER GET KICKED OUT OF THE CLUB! Well until it's time to "Cross over to the dark side" other wise known as "Your 40'S" Eewww scary... So to try and help you really feel a part of this club, I would like to dedicate this post to you!!! So here goes 30 years of life...

1. She is GORGEOUS!!!

2.She is genuinely nice to everyone

3.She was born at Cottonwood Hospital, 3-27-77

4.She has one baby, his name is Jett.

5.Hopefully she will get pregnant again soon!!!!!!!!!!!!! Jett needs a sister-HURRY!!!

6. And NO I will not get SUCKERED into getting pregnant with you again!

7.She writes a "TO DO LIST" every night, so she doesn't forget all that she has to do the next day!

8.Even though she does this, she is still LATE to most everything!

9.She has an amazing singing voice!

10.She started taking singing lessons at age 10

11.She still goes to the same singing teacher, Martha- she is such a great teacher! We all love her! Martha said that Kandace is at the top of her game right now, she said her voice has never sounded better! Do I still get to be your manager when you make it big?

12.She has sung in numerous singing groups. One of the groups was called "M-PULSE" One of the girls that sang with her in that group was named "Shar Jackson" a.k.a. Kevin Federlines X-Wife.

13.Another group was called CHOICE, she sang in this group with "PINK" (Before she was Pink) They toured with N'Sync
14.She won "Star Search" at age 17

15.She was a Cheerleader in High School

16.She was "Fixed up" with her Husband. Actually, Her parents and his parents lived right across the street from one another, they would always say "We need to fix Tyler and Kandace up" So one day they did, it was love at first sight!
17.Tyler proposed to Kandace at LaCaille

18.They married at LaCaille on September 29, 2001. This was a wonderful day for me also, I was working at her wedding, and I saw (and fell in love with) TROY!!!

19.She is 5'4 and 1/2 as you can see from the pic above, I'm about two of her! This was at a wedding in Vegas. I guess I got a little "too much sun?" But it was a great time! It always is when your with Kandace!

20.She inherited more than "beauty" from her Mother, she is also a (Clean Freak) just like her Mom! And for the record, My Mother in Law is the one who used the terminology (Clean Freak) to describe both of them!

21.She has TWO Rolex watches!!! Yes she is a little SPOILED!!!

22.She loves Mustangs- (Ford)Mustangs- What a rocker!!! Just like Troy!

23.Her best friend is Krista. They have been friends since the 3rd grade

24.She's an amazing decorator, every room in her house lookes like a "Show room" Honestly I don't know how they have a baby running around in that house? And two huge dogs!

25.She has TWO GREAT DANES, named Deisel and Turbo, They are bigger than her!

26.She has lived in many different places, such as Vegas, L.A., Pennsylvania, Guam, etc.

27.She always has her fingernails long

28.She works out almost everyday! AND IT SHOWS!!!

29.Her middle name is Brooke.

30.She is a REAL BLONDE!!!

Kandace, We love you so much! We miss you terribly, and we can't wait to see you in MAY!!!

You are an amazing woman, and I am so thankful for our friendship! Have a great Birthday, We hope you get all you wish for!

Love you Always and Forever...

"Papa, look at me!!!"

Yes, Papa was in town again this week. Sadly, we only had the chance to spend one evening with him! We met him for dinner at our (PAGODA) replacement restaurant, Benihanas. Now don't get me wrong, Benihanas is a great restaurant, but nothing, and I mean nothing is better than PAGODA!!!! (Chelsea) take note, Pagoda is located in the avenues, on E street. About five minutes away from your new house!!! Go there, order the egg-foo-young it's the best!

Anyway, it's always a good time when Papa's in town! Avery absolutely adores his Papa! All through dinner he would say, "look at me Papa" "Watch this Papa" he's so darling!!! And Avery's not so bad himself! Ha Ha

Kasey loves her Papa too!!!

Avery loves to eat at Benihanas. He sits in amazement, watching them cook right in front of him! He claps and tries to whistle, it's so funny! I didn't have anymore room on my camera, or I would have taken more pics!

When we were finished, we went out to the car, it was 66 degrees last night-BEAUTIFUL!!! So we stood at the car talking and Papa tickle-tortured Avery while he was locked in his seat belt! But he must have loved it, because every time Papa tried to leave Avery would say "Don't leave Papa!" Truthfully, we didn't want him to leave either! It's really hard to say good-bye over, and over again, especially when you know that person is going where YOU want to go!!!

Thanks again, Papa. We love you, and we love spending all the time we can with you!!!

See you soon...

Good mail, Good times!

We got some great mail today from Nana and Papa. Kasey is modeling her new sweatshirt, and showing all of the darling stuff they sent for Avery! Avery would be in the pic, but he is taking a nap. Thank you Nana, and Papa!!! We love it!

Then I received my very first "Good Mail" from Amanda and Chelsea! Thank you both so very much! What a darling idea, to send a little happiness in the mail! I can't wait to send out my first good mail gift.

Anyway, Our friend Jill has a little company called "Hips" She sells designer jeans (True Religion, Rock n' Republic, Sevens, etc...) at a fairly good price? (I mean for Designer Jeans it's a good price) I normally wouldn't spend that much on Jeans, because I'm a little tight with the "dough" or maybe it's because the "dough" is a little tight! But dang it, those jeans looked good! Or should I say the booty looked good in those jeans! So I bought a pair and had to convince my husband it was WELL WORTH IT!!!

So anyway, you can host parties at your house or wherever, and she brings a bunch of jeans for everyone to try on. So Chelsea had a party at her house last night and it was such a RIOT!!!

I can not believe how much fun I have with these girls, they are GIRLS GONE WILD (Well the PG rated version) especially T- _ _ and J- _ _ _ _ Some of the names have been changed to protect the innocent!!! These girls are TOO funny!

J- _ _ _ _ ?????????? Oh yeah!!!

I just hope we can continue on without our girl Chelsea. Honestly it's hard to even imagine her not being here! I don't think she even really knows how many hearts she has touched, and just how many of those hearts are going to break when she leaves!

I know, I know, there will be plenty of time to Eulogize Chelsea in a later post, but for now this might be one of my ALL TIME FAVORITE PICS! Amanda is praying for us all! Absolutely CLASSIC!!! I have looked at this pic a hundred times and I literally have to stop what I'm doing, so I can laugh! I love it!!!

What great memories I'll always have of this place! This flat, confusing, freezing cold place that we call home! (Temporary home, that is!) Seriously, I know I complain constantly about Illinois, but I am truly grateful for this experience, because of the friendships I have made! Friends that I will love forever! And I mean FOREVER!!!

Outside looking in...

A couple weeks ago, our Missionaries came over and asked us if we would take them to the Temple. They only get to go once every six months, and they wanted us to go with them this time. (because they love us!!!) and because we love them! Anyway, the plan was to leave Avery with Kasey but as you all know, it's still not easy for me to leave Avery and I again started freaking myself out about it. So I decided I wasn't going to go, and Troy could just take them. But then we didn't want to be apart all night, so we decided we would all go and while they went in, we would drive around or go shopping or something fun. Well there's really nothing to do around the Temple, and I didn't dare drive too far away because I would probably get lost???

So we got some treats, and we parked in the Temple parking lot. Avery slept for two hours, Kasey listened to her I-POD, and I laid my seat down and tried to sleep. It was actually a very interesting experience for me. As I sat there in the car, looking at the Temple and knowing that my husband was in there without me, I couldn't help but think how sad it would be if we weren't (able) to be together, say in the next life. I couldn't imagine knowing that the person I wanted to be with for Eternity, would always be just a little bit out of my reach!

Once Avery woke up we had to find things to do, so we walked around the Temple and took some pictures, and then got back in the car and ate blue candy, and couldn't resist taking pictures of "blue tongues" Fun, fun, fun...

Then we went to the LDS book store, so the ME-HE'S, as Avery calls them, could get some books and other fun things. The girls working there got a kick out of that! They could stop laughing every time he said ME-HE'S. We also got a few thing, including a book called, (Three Degrees Of Glory) Joseph Smith's Insights on the Kingdoms of Heaven. We are very excited to start reading. Troy and I are going to read it together, that way TROY will actually read it! I say this because, I read books all the time and then give them to him to read and he has a hard time "Getting around to it" if you know what I mean! So this way, it will get read!!!

Then we went to dinner at the Olive Garden. It was good (fattening) food and even better conversation! We love these guys so very much! While we were waiting for the check, I asked Troy to empty out Avery's old milk, that had been in his sippy cup since two o'clock, and fill it up with his new milk. He emptied it into his lemon water. So I dared Kasey to drink it, she said no way! Then I offered her 10 bucks.............She drank it!!!!!!!! It was soooooo gross, but worth the money she said!

Good times!!!

Cara, Happy Birthday!

It's my sister Cara's birthday today, Happy Birthday Cara!!!
So I thought it would be fun to tell you a few things about her. I decided I would write something for every year that she's been alive, this could take awhile, (ha-ha) so here we go...

1.She is Beautiful
2.She has three amazing,talented,and very smart children
3.She is a wonderful Mother
4.She loves PIGS! She collects everything, and anything that has a pig on it!
5.Everyone in our family has blue eyes, but Cara's "blue eyes" are the most beautiful!
6.In Utah, where there are mountains, the colleges display a letter on the side of the mountain closest to the school. That letter represents the school. Cara's first year of College, she and a few of her friends climbed up the mountain to "fix" the letter. They where suppose to use some kind of chalk, but whoever grabbed the "stuff" brought the wrong "stuff". Before they knew it was the wrong "stuff" they started throwing it on each other. Seconds later, they all started to feel their skin burning. It wasn't chalk they had thrown on each other, it was LYE!!! Luckily no one was hurt to badly.
7.While at college, Cara starred in the musical "South Pacific" She was Nellie Forbush, and she was AWESOME!!!
8.She has an amazing singing voice, but if you ask her to sing for you she won't! I don't know why?
9.She was also in a play at Lagoon, called "Sweet Charity"
10.When Cara was born she had a fight with the birth canal. She was very "beat up" In her birth-day picture, she has two black eyes, and bruises all over her little face. It's so sad! But she's still darling.


11.Our Dad has painted Cara in many of his pictures
12.On a family road trip (before I was born) Cara screamed in our Dad's ear. He says it's never been the same!
13.Mom said, Cara use to cry in every picture they would try to take? What a little brat! Ha-Ha
14.Cara and our other sister Darcie are closest to each other in age. Darcie use to tease Cara. She would hit her on the arm. Cara would hit her back. Darcie would again hit her (harder) and say, "Don't do it again, or I'll hit you even harder!" but Cara wouldn't back down, she would take hit after harder hit!
15.One time, when Cara was in Kindergarten, she didn't come in after recess. So the teacher called my Mom to see if she had gone home. Sure enough, she was outside sitting in the neighbors yard. My Mom went over to her and asked why she came home? She replied, "I didn't want to take a nap, and the milk they give us is sour!"
16.She cleans our parents house for them, every other week
17.Cara met her husband on a blind date. Our sister Colby had a friend that knew this guy that she thought would be perfect for Cara. So instead of your typical first date (dinner, movie etc.) they went to play Wally Ball with a bunch of friends, so they could "Size each other up," so to speak. They both liked what they saw, and they started dating!
18.Cara is 5'6 her husband is 6'6- they're perfect for each other!!!
19.She has a BOAT!!! I wish I had a boat!
20.She is an excellent water skier
21.They love to go boating on Lake Powell, who doesn't love to go boating on Lake Powell???
22.They boat at East Canyon more than anywhere else (because it's close)
23.She was married in the S.L. Temple
24.She has taught Gospel Doctrine!
25.She said that was a very hard calling!
26.Our parents said she was great at it!
27.She married a Utah fan!
28.She "supports" his love for that "red team" but underneath that sea of red, she still bleeds BIG BLUE BLOOD!!! Go BYU!!!
29.She played High School Basketball
30.I believe she also played Volleyball?
31.She is a good cook
32.She went on a mission to Australia, "Good day mate!" Have any Vegemite?
33.She currently serves in the Relief Society Presidency, in her ward.
34.She has a great love for this Gospel
35.She is very humble
36.She has ALWAYS been a great example of a righteous woman!
37.She has an infectious laugh
38.Before she was married, she dated a guy that told me he was Superman. I believed him! He also told me that if I wanted to fly all I had to do was put on a cape and run down the street as fast as I could. I tried it, it didn't work, and when I came back they had ditched me!
39.She use to lay-out all the time. She would ask me to spray her with the water bottle when she was on her stomach.
40.She REALLY loves her neighbors! ALL of them, even the AWFUL ones!!! Ha-Ha-Ha
41.She was born at LDS Hospital


42.She loves her In-laws
43.She use to be a Travel Agent
44.She is 10 years, 9 months, and 14 days OLDER than me!!!
45.We made it to the end of this list, Happy 45Th Birthday Cara! I love you and thank you for the wonderful sister you have always been to me! And just for the record, you don't look a day over 39!!!

Self Portrait, Tuesday...

This seems a little funny to be doing this but a few of the other "Blogger Girls" do this thing called "Self portrait Tuesday"
So I guess I thought I'd give it a go. So here I am...
Anyway, we just walked in the door, it's 9:30. p.m. The first thing I do is open the fridge? The first thing my husband does is pops in a WORKOUT VIDEO??? I'm sitting here at the computer typing, while him and our son Avery are working out? What's wrong with this picture? Why can't I just get up and workout with them? I want to! Really I do want to, but I can't! I'm too tired, and really I lied, I don't want to. I want to be skinny and healthy without working out!
What's that called?

Shave it ALL OFF!!!

Finally! My husband is home!!! I am so happy to finally have him home, and home for longer than two days!!! Anyway, he's been growing his hair out for about 5 or 6 months, and every single day he would ask me if I liked it! And every single time I would tell him that I liked it, but I didn't LOVE it. So finally, tonight he said shave it off! So we got out the camera and took some before, during, and after shots..............Enjoy, I sure did!!!

We asked Avery if wanted his head shaved? He put his hand on his head and said No-No! It was so darling, everything he does is darling!!!

Here he is, saved sides, a short Mohawk, and yes the duck bill...

Oh yes, that's a RAT TAIL!!! Rock on babe!

And here he is, the man I fell in love with. Sexy, short hair I LOVE IT!!!

Sick days, and lunch dates!

Sick of being sick!!! Yes everyone in this house is sick! Well actually Avery is almost completely better, but Kasey just woke up this morning coughing and complaining of flu symptoms! Great, so I'm sure Avery will get sick again, and I for sure will get it!!! And to add insult to injury, my husband won't be home until Sunday to take care of all of us!!! Ain't life grand!

Enough about that, let's talk lunch! Avery and I went over to my friend Amanda's house the other day for lunch and a little "girl" talk. It's always a good time with these girls. I don't know what I'd do without them.

"The three stooges?" No- I think more like "Charlies Angels!"

They don't make-em any cuter than that!!!

Anyway, thank you girls for loving me and supporting me through a very tough time!