Monday, May 31, 2010

Skating Out


No trip to Sun Valley would be complete without skating on the outdoor rink. So today after sitting in the hot tub and reading for a little while, we headed over to the rink where Darlin was breaking in a new pair of boots and waiting for one of her students to teach. I love skating on the outdoor, as I have mentioned before, there is nothing else quite like it. And even though it was raining a little, we still had a great time. It was just what I needed to rejuvenate.

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Colbie Caillat Concert

Sun Valley By Day


I slept in again today and then Darlin and I went for a hike with her dog Brewster after breakfast.

And Sun Valley By Night!

The Stars were shining even brighter tonight! As Colibe Caillat came out to play her guitar and sing. She sounds even better live then she does on her records.


Joy, Neil, Darlin & Jan


I enjoyed her concert even though Darlin's friend Joy was saying that the accoustics weren't very good. I guess the amphitheater they built in Sun Valley was catering to the symphony that regularly performs there, so that is why vocals don't sound as good, according to her. I couldn't tell any difference, I still thought it sounded amazing. Darlin gave me the tickets to the concert so I wasn't complaining. What a fun night. Thanks Darlin. xo



Saturday, May 29, 2010

Late Night



Even though it rained on my drive up to Sun Valley last night it was clear as could be when I arrived there. And when I stepped out of the car I couldn't believe how bright the stars were shinning. Amazing the difference being out in the country rather than the city. I didn't get in until after 1 a.m. since I waited to leave until after Max's double header. His team won the game against the Dodger's which put them into 3rd place, and I was glad that I had stayed but it was a long drive at night by myself. I had my iPod cranked and stopped to get some licorice along the way to help keep me awake so I was fine.





Max pitched for two innings and did a great job of throwing strikes.

Since I didn't get into Sun Valley until so late I expected my sister Darlin to be sound asleep and in fact she had texted me on the way up that she would leave a key under the mat, but when I got there, she was still up and we stayed up talking for 2 hours. I slept in until 10:00 this morning! I don't think I have ever done that before, I must have been tired. Then today Darlin had taken the day off to spend with me and scheduled an appointment at the nail salon for pedicures for both of us.


Then we took her dog Brewster for a walk along the many paths that are all along the river up there. It was cold but beautiful. We took a picnic and just sat and ate and talked. So relaxing. 

 


Then we went shopping in town and she took me to see her new office.



She has started her own company selling skate wear. It is doing really well, and she needed to have a place to store all her inventory as well as do her shipping.


She spent too much money (that is why she has the pained look on her face!) on a new outfit at this little boutique/flower shop ...




but the outfit turned out great. I love her red shoes...


She wore it when we went to the Health and Wellness festival and then out to dinner tonight at her boyfriend Jan's, new restaurant (well, he is part owner anyways) The Cornerstone Bar & Grill. It was a fun night out on the town.

Friday, May 28, 2010

Field Day


Some photos from field day yesterday. Even though it was a little bit cloudy out, Max and Markus still had a great time getting wet and playing outside. The BBQ was good too. Fun day of "school". :)

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Amanda's Graduation

Rhett, Dorien, Amanda's grandmother, Amanda, Adam, Breanna

My student Amanda graduated from Lehi High today and she invited me to her ceremony this morning at BYU. She is such an amazing girl and I am so proud of her. Since her mom is addicted to drugs and her dad left her when she was two, her Aunt Dorien has been raising her, along with her 5 other children, Adam, Alicia, Breanna, Jackson and Rhett. She is such an example of christ-like love.  

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Beautiful Boy


Hooray...Connor was able to go home without his oxygen today!!!



He came down this morning for his check-up and his heart is doing so well, he only has to be on the O2 at night now. He weighs 16 lbs. and will have another doctor's visit in about 2 months. Great news for that beautiful, beautiful boy!

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Carpe Diem

My friend Kathy sent me this email:


Too many people put off something that brings them joy just because they haven't thought about it, don't have it on their schedule, didn't know it was coming or are too rigid to depart from their routine.




I got to thinking one day about all those women on the Titanic who passed up dessert at dinner that fateful night in an effort to cut back. From then on, I've tried to be a little more flexible.



How many women out there will eat at home because their husband didn't suggest going out to dinner until after something had been thawed? Does the word 'refrigeration' mean nothing to you?



How often have your kids sat down to talk and sat in silence while you watched 'Idol' on t.v.?



I cannot count the times I called my sister and said, 'How about going to lunch in a half hour?' She would gasp and stammer, 'I can't. I have clothes on the line. My hair is dirty... I wish I had known yesterday, I had a late breakfast, It looks like rain.' And my personal favorite: 'It's Monday.' She died a few years ago. We never did have lunch together.



Because Americans cram so much into their lives, we tend to schedule our headaches. We live on a sparse diet of promises we make to ourselves when all the conditions are perfect!



We'll go back and visit the grandparents when we get Steve toilet-trained. We'll entertain when we replace the living-room carpet... We'll go on a second honeymoon when we get two more kids out of college.



Life has a way of accelerating as we get older. The days get shorter, and the list of promises to ourselves gets longer. One morning, we awaken, and all we have to show for our lives is a litany of 'I'm going to,' 'I plan on,' and 'Someday, when things are settled down a bit.'



When anyone calls my 'seize the moment' friend, she is open to adventure and available for trips. She keeps an open mind on new ideas. Her enthusiasm for life is contagious. You talk with her for five minutes, and you're ready to trade your bad feet for a pair of Roller blades and skip an elevator for a bungee cord.



My lips have not touched ice cream in 10 years. I love ice cream. It's just that I might as well apply it directly to my stomach with a spatula and eliminate the digestive process The other day, I stopped the car and bought a triple-Decker. If my car had hit an iceberg on the way home, I would have died happy.



Now...go on and have a nice day. Do something you WANT to.....not something on your SHOULD DO list If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call you could make, who would you call and what would you say? And why are you waiting?



Make sure you read this to the end; you will understand why I sent this to you.



Have you ever watched kids playing on a merry go round or listened to the rain lapping on the ground? Ever followed a butter fly's erratic flight or gazed at the sun into the fading night? Do you run through each day on the fly? When you ask ' How are you?' Do you hear the reply? ??? ???



When the day is done, do you lie in your bed with the next hundred chores running through your head? Ever told your child, 'We'll do it tomorrow..' And in your haste, not see his sorrow? Ever lost touch? Let a good friendship die? Just call to say 'Hi?



When you worry and hurry through your day, it is like an unopened gift....Thrown away...... Life is not a race Take it slower. Hear the music before the song is over.



It's National Friendship Week.. Show your friends how much you care. Send this to everyone you consider a FRIEND. If it comes back to you, then you'll know you have a circle of friends.



To those I have sent this to... I cherish our friendship and appreciate all you do.



'Life may not be the party we hoped for... but while we are here we might as well dance!'

Monday, May 24, 2010

Seriously?!!!


I woke Max up this morning with his breakfast in bed of homemade waffles with blueberries and whip cream, that he had requested last night...


then after he hopped in the shower it was off to school...



in this lovely weather!



May 24th...seriously?!!! Looks more like December to me, but it is what it is. I guess Max won't have a game tonight on his actual birthday but maybe he could go snowboarding instead!

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Busy Church Day


Morgen gave a talk in sacrament meeting today and did a great job, considering that he hadn't even started it a 10:00 this morning - our church starts at 11. Anyways, you can read his talk here:


In Ephesians 4:29 it says: “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good”.



President Hinckley once received a letter from a public official. In the letter he wrote: “Would you please consider dealing with the problem of the use of profanity, swearing, and vulgar language?


“From my high school days years ago I can only recall one student who indulged in such, and most students shunned his association. Today, if I am correctly informed, its use has reached epidemic proportions among our high school youth.”


He goes on: “One evening I was watching a TV movie with my sixteen-year-old son. When some crude language was used, I suggested that we turn off the TV. My son said, ‘All right, Dad, but that’s nothing compared to what I hear at school all the time.’ In visiting with some of the youth in our community I receive the same report. One boy commented, ‘Everybody, nearly, talks that way. The girls are just as bad or worse than the boys.’


“What I fear from these reports is that the prevalent use of foul language has become an acceptable pattern in the schools, probably due in large part to the influence of TV and the general permissiveness in our society. Whatever the cause, I hope that some additional emphasis might be made to curb it, to help our youth appreciate the importance of proper language.”


President Hinckley also related a story from his youth about not taking the name of the Lord in vain. He said:


“When I was a small boy in the first grade, I experienced what I thought was a rather tough day at school. I came home, walked in the house, threw my book on the kitchen table, and let forth an expletive that included the name of the Lord.


My mother was shocked. She told me quietly, but firmly, how wrong I was. She told me that I could not have words of that kind coming out of my mouth. She led me by the hand into the bathroom, where she took from the shelf a clean washcloth, put it under the faucet, and then generously coated it with soap. She said, “We’ll have to wash out your mouth.” She told me to open it, and I did so reluctantly. Then she rubbed the soapy washcloth around my tongue and teeth. I sputtered and fumed and felt like swearing again, but I didn’t. I rinsed and rinsed my mouth, but it was a long while before the soapy taste was gone. In fact, whenever I think of that experience, I can still taste the soap. The lesson was worthwhile. I think I can say that I have tried to avoid using the name of the Lord in vain since that day. I am grateful for that lesson.”


In the Strength of Youth manual it says: How you speak says much about who you are. Clean and intelligent language is evidence of a bright and wholesome mind. Use language that uplifts, encourages, and compliments others. Do not insult others or put them down, even in joking. Speak kindly and positively about others so you can fulfill the Lord’s commandment to love one another. When you use good language, you invite the Spirit to be with you.


Always use the names of God and Jesus Christ with reverence and respect. Misusing their names is a sin. Profane, vulgar, or crude language or gestures, as well as jokes about immoral actions, are offensive to the Lord and to others. Foul language harms your spirit and degrades you. Do not let others influence you to use it.


Choose friends who use good language. Help others around you use clean language by your example and by good-naturedly encouraging them to choose other words. Politely walk away or change the subject when others around you use bad language.


If you have developed the habit of swearing, you can break it. Begin by making a decision to change. Pray for help. If you start to use words you know are wrong, keep quiet or say what you have to say in a different way.


I hope that we can use clean and respectful language, and I know that through doing so we will be able to further resist temptation and come closer to our heavenly father.


Morgen was also set apart as the first counselor in the Teacher's quorum presidency today and had a meeting after church as such. I gave the closing prayer in Sacrament as well as teaching primary today about Moses and fulfilling our life mission. Then I had a key scouters meeting afterwards about the court of honor that I need to get awards for on this next Thursday.

We had a new bishop put in last week, so it was his first time as Bishop today, Brother Downs who used to be our home teacher and was Morgen's scout leader as well, is the new bishop. My friend Tyra's husband that was the bishop for the past 10 months lost his job at Overstock and they are moving to New York for his new job. I am going to miss being her visiting teacher, she is a really neat girl and I will miss her example of being a patient mom.




Max spent most of the afternoon outside playing with his new pitching trainer that he got for his birthday.



Saturday, May 22, 2010

Max's Birthday Party

Max wanted to have his birthday party at the Park Center Pool today. So I sent out an Evite to the friends he wanted to invite and that is what we did.

(l to r: Noah, Morgen, Markus, Max, Jake & Justin)





The pool was really warm and the kids all had a great time swimming. Then afterwards we went back to our house for cake (we had pizza before the swimming) and presents.



Max wanted me to make his favorite Strawberry Pudding Cake for his birthday and so I did, of course, how could I tell him no?!!



(l to r: Aria, Markus, Cole, Kailey, Killian, Max, Noah, David, Rocco Jr., Justin and Morgen)

He received a ton of gift cards to Sports Authority and sports stuff from his friends and cousins. So after the party ended we went to Sports for him to buy a new baseball helmet, sunglasses and a skate board ramp to complete his set of ramps (he had 3 but needed 1 more to make an X). His friend Killain stayed and spent the night as well. Fun birthday for my eleven year old little buddy. I love him and he is such a fun kid to be around.

Friday, May 21, 2010

Max has Moxie!


Markus and Max both had games last night at baseball. Markus hit a few times and made it to third base but his team still lost to the Raptors 2 - 0.



Max's team on the other hand won 16-2 against the Yankees with Max pitching! He had three big hits himself and almost everyone on the team got on base. What a fun game for him, considering they have only won 1 other game all season and tied 2. They were pretty excited!





Max also won an award at school today. When he came home he told me that he was only 1 of 4 students that received it in his class and he was excused from school early. The award said:

You've Got Moxie!
(yon know...fortittude, determination, know-how)


BE IT KNOWN THAT FOR

CONSISTENTLY FOLLOWING CLASSROOM RULES

MAX

ACHIEVED GREATNESS THIS DAY AND SHALL BE SO RECOGNIZED FOR SAID GREATNESS AND AS SUCH WE SHALL DECLARE TO SAID ACHIEVER IN GREATNESS...


YOU'VE GOT MOXIE KID!

AND FURTHERMORE, WE THINK YOU DESERVE



A BURGER ON THE HOUSE!

He was very excited to receive the certificate for a free burger at Salt City Burger Co.



{In contrast, Morgen was suspended from school a couple of weeks ago. He hopped in the car after school one Thursday afternoon and informed me that he was suspended, just like that. I was in shock but tried to play it cool and asked if he was serious. He said yeah, and proceeded to tell me what happened, all while on the verge of tears. He said that his friend Will found a wallet during lunch with $10.00 in it and asked Morgen if he wanted $5.

Instead of saying no, Morgen took the money and put the wallet back. Somebody saw them and turned them in, since the name of the girl that owned the wallet was inside. When I went into the principal's office for the "Parent Consult", the principal said that when confronted, at least Morgen had admitted the truth. He also said that he didn't think that his integrity was worth $5, and that his counselor had told the principal that, "he is an honor student and taking pre-calc at Skyline, so she didn't think that he was going to keep going down this path". Well, that was a relief.

In the meantime though he was suspended for the whole next day from school and had to clean with the janitor for his compensation. He told me afterwards that he wished he could go back and just say no to Will. Well, maybe next time buddy, you will. He also broke up with his girlfriend Sammy, which is a relief as well. I overheard one of their late night phone conversations and let me just say that she is NOT a nice girl. I will leave it at that.}