5 Wishes

I went into Barnes & Noble the other day just looking for a book and ran into one of my neighbors. She started telling me about a book she was reading and that I could read it if I wanted. When I came home from my bike ride, she had brought over a whole bag full of books for me. I looked through them and this one was the first ones that I picked up. 5 Wishes by Gay Hendricks. I read it today, since it is a really short book and a quick read. It has some good ideas in it, namely one question that could change your life.

Is your life a complete success?

If you answer no to that question than he goes on to say that you should imagine yourself on your death bed in fifty years, and looking back on your life, what you would wish to change to make it a success. Then he takes it a step further to add that if you turn those wishes into positive present tense statements you can make those things actually take place in your life. The power of positive thinking and focusing on what it is you do want in your life.

Doggy Dippin'

Max and Markus wanted to fill up the kiddie pool today and do water balloons, but as soon as Molly saw what was going on she wanted in on the action as well. Great way to cool off on a hot July day.

Molly even went down the slide once or twice. I am pretty sure that the pool was a little dirtier after she was finished swimming in it.

I also took them skating with me today (Max & Markus, not Molly) and afterwards took my new skates in to Player's Bench to have them heat molded. They feel really good except for in one little spot in the heel where I have a blister. So hopefully that will help out, they felt much better after they were baked.

Mighty Max

Max wore his pads for the first time in practice tonight and I think they make him look so big. How did my little boy grow up so fast? He had a great time learning how to tackle and block the tackles. This is just his practice jersey, I don't know what number he will have yet.

His coach, R.D, asked him if this was really his first year of playing football. When Max said yes, he asked him if he had an older brother who played, when Max said no, he just said, "Well, it sure seems like you have played before." When I told him that he plays hockey, R.D. said, "Oh, well that explains it."

Assistant coach Jeremy

I love Max's little sweaty head. He was talking about how his sweat doesn't stink even though he sweats a lot. I tried to explain to him that one of these days, he will.

The line up

Max has two friends from our neighborhood that are playing pee-wee football as well.

Teaching Tuesday

I was at the rink teaching three different times today. Once in the morning to teach Amanda and Callie. Then in the afternoon, Max and Markus came with me while I taught a class to Emmie and Evie and two private lessons to Ava & Toni. My friend Olivia's cousin - Christian works at the rink and is always playing around with Max and Markus. They love it.

Then tonight I went back to teach a new student who plays hockey on the Jr. Grizzlies team, but I had to reschedule his lesson, since the Tuesday night sessions are not during the summer anymore. So I am going to teach him on another night instead.

I went to watch Max's football practice afterwards.

Fast feet?

After doing mountains of laundry today and going to Wal-Mart, I took Max to his first football practice. When I went to pick him up, he said it was fun and hard. His coach said that he had "Dancing with the Stars" feet (whatever that means) on one drill that they were doing through the ropes. He has conditioning every night this week and then on Friday they will tell him which team he is on.

This is My Town

Dodgertown

When I walked up the stairs to our seats I was blown away. I had NO idea how big Dodger stadium was. Unbelievable! I ordered the tickets from Stubhub and the seats were incredible - ten rows up in Mannywood. Dodgers scored two home runs and for one of them the ball came within a few benches of where we were sitting.

I have to say the Dodger dogs were pretty tasty and sipping the ice cold lemonade was delicious. The Dodgers came back from a 8-0 game to within inches of tying it up. Final score: 8-6 but a great game nonetheless. Max said he liked it and will never forget his first MLB game!

Beach

Before we checked out of our hotel in Thousand Oaks, I wanted to go to the beach. I thought we could just go down the highway and be there in about 15 minutes. Little did I know that the highway I was looking at on the map was the Mulholland highway. They actually made a ride at Disneyland called "Mulholland Madness" after this road. And I can see why, it was the craziest road I have ever been on. It wound around for an hour, so by the time we reached Malibu, we had to turn around and go back to our room to check out. We found a different road back and so it didn't take nearly as long.

At least I got to see the ocean.

And I still feel small whenever I do.

More Wedding Photos

Lara giving Kiel a hug right after he came out of the temple.

Emily's family is not in this photo, she is from Kansas City and so most of her family will be at the open house there next week. Jon married Jamie after he and Lara got divorced, and they had two more children together, Tree and Sammie. Jon's parents and siblings make up the rest of this group.

Clockwise from top: Max, Tanner, B, Markus & Sierra

Markus has a way to go to fit in Kiel's coat!

Kiel's younger brother, Tanner was teaching Max how to walk like a MAN.

Kiel & Emily sitting in a tree... K.I.S.S.I.N.G

Cousins - Morgen, Max, Kiel & Markus

I love this picture of my boys

Emily's parents: Pat and Lisa with Emily, Kiel, Lara and Todd

At the Reception (the photographer walked in front right when I took this) and then my battery was out of power shortly thereafter so not too many photos of the reception.

Eternity

Emily and Kiel - L.A. Temple

Every situation, every moment -- is of infinite worth; for it is the representative of a whole eternity.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Ki-Ki

My nephew Kiel (or Ki-Ki as I always called him) had his wedding dinner tonight at a restaurant called the Wood Ranch. It was out on the patio with delicious food. His dad Jon - Lara's first husband, made a DVD with photos of Kiel and his fiance Emily, growing up.

I can't believe my oldest nephew is getting married in the morning. I remember the day he was born and going to see him in Jon and Lara's old house in Provo right off Center St. He just turned 23 this month, so I guess it wasn't yesterday, but it sure seems like it.

Playin' in the pool

A Double Dose of Disney

Ever since Morgen was little we have taken a trip to either Disneyland or Disneyworld almost every other year. I think at last count Morgen had been there 8 times and he is 13. So since we were already in So. Cal. for Kiel's wedding, it was an easy choice. Since we were only going for 1 day (instead of the usual 3) we bought the pass for both parks. Then spent the morning at California Adventure.

Soarin' over California is one of my favorite rides. I love it when you can smell the oranges in the orchard and the pine over the river. The fast pass for it was later in the day, so we went on the Tower of Terror three times before going back to Soarin'.


Morgen loved getting soaked on the Grizzly River Run. I must admit that it felt pretty good, since it was a pretty hot day for Cally. My hair went a little crazy for the rest of the day, but it was worth it.



They are remodeling the lake in the middle of the park to have a laser and light show there starting next year. You can see the mess behind the boys in this photo.

One of the newest attractions: Toy Story Mania. It is a fun ride sort of like the Buzz Lightyear ride, where each passenger gets to shoot a dart gun at targets and compete for the high score. Of course Morgen kicked all of our behinds, 147,800 to my 43,800.

Highlights:

• New parade "Celebrate Today"
• Toy Story Mania
• California Screamin'
• Indiana Jones Adventure ride - Markus was tall enough this time!!!
• Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage
• Magic Fireworks Spectacular
• Pineapple Whips at the Tiki Room
• Not having a stroller
• Staying until the park closed at midnight
  

"There's so much in life worth celebrating. Celebrate Today."