Pilates Anyone?

It's March so I figured I should do a post. I've been thinking lately about ways I can improve myself. So I decided I would start small. I'm going to say hello to more people while I'm out and about daily. I'm going to walk with my head up instead of watching my feet walk (why do we do that anyway, it's weird). I'm taking a pilates class twice a week so I'll have a strong "core" and better posture (anyone who would like to join me, it's on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the rec center). I'm going to stop saying "I don't like my calling" (except to my husband once in a while, a girl's gotta whine every now and then, it makes us feel better) and I'm going to be a better listener to my husband and my children (I don't always have to give advice or "lecture" as my kids would say). It's the little things, right? Right :)

My pilates goal. :)

Eagle Scout in the Making

This past Friday, Steve and Dakota went camping with the Scouts. They went to Valley of Fire and had a good time. Dakota needs 20 nights of camping for his camping merit badge which is a required badge for Eagle. I think he now has 8 or 9 nights under his belt so he's on his way. I spent most of Saturday with Dylan. It's amazing how much time he'll spend with me when I ask him to drive me places. Devynne worked all day and then went on a date to an UNLV basketball game. Sunday was church until noon and then we watched Harry Potter movies the rest of the day and had soup and broiled cheese bread for dinner (yum). It's a wonderful life. :)

Weekend in Review

I know it's Thursday already but here is a review of last weekend. Dylan took his driver's test for his learner's permit and passed. Yay!! We now have two teenagers learning to drive. Yikes! Steve and Dakota went to Utah to see the other half of our bratties. They had a great time and didn't even run into any crazy weather while traveling. That's always a plus. Valentine's Day was happy. It started out with a call from Steve telling me that I had a little Valentine in the drawer of my night stand. He gave me a card (which he never does cards) and he wrote in it with the cutest cursive ever (which he never writes in, he's a printer)and a bag of dark chocolate hearts (Yummy). I spent most of the day with Dylan and Corin and then I had take out for dinner with Devynne when she got off work. Here are some pictures from Steve and Dakota's weekend. And if you are behind us on the road, be kind. :)

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Today is my dad's birthday. He is 67 years old and I think he looks great. He's retired from not one but two careers and he keeps fit by exercising everyday and he bowls all the time. Here are some of my favorite memories of him and just a few of the reasons why I love him:

He carrying me down the stairs at the apartments that we lived in when we lived in Hawaii, I was 3 or 4.
When I was in kindergarten he blew the biggest bubble gum bubble I had ever seen (even to this day) and I thought he was amazing.
When I was in the 2nd or 3rd grade it was icy outside and he was running and sliding while holding me and my sister by the hand across the parking lot at Grand Central.
When we were teenagers we would go to his house and eat french fries and ice cream with frozen strawberries (I loved that).
When I got married at 18 he supported me (after the initial shock)and walked me down the aisle even though he thought I was too young.
He came to Las Vegas after each of my babies were born even though he doesn't really like to travel.
And all my life he has always hugged and kissed me and told me that he loves me.

The first picture is the two of us taken April 1967 (doesn't he look cool) and the next one was taken last August (still looking good). I love my dad and I hope he has a wonderful birthday. :)

Just Some Random Pics

The temple at night. (duh)


Devynne's cheer pic from school.


Dylan and Corin on the trampoline.


Dylan eating cookie dough. We always bake the left over dough.


Dakota and Steve playing a game on the Iphone. Doesn't Dakota look snuggly?

Precious Moments

Last night Dakota and I were home alone so we decided to go out for ice cream. We had great conversation and it was really fun to spend some alone time where we weren't rushed. When you are home together it always seems like you're always in different rooms or one of you is on the computer and the other one is watching TV or reading a book. So it was nice to be in the car and talking about silly stuff. We were asking what each other's favorites are. Here are some of Dakota's favorites:

Movie: The Hulk
TV show: The Wizards of Waverly Lane (I think that's the name)
Color: green
Book: The Charlie Bone Series
Superhero: A tie between the Hulk and Flash
If you could have super power what would it be: Super speed

He asked me if he and I were both super heros together what would I call us. I said the Terrific Two and he said that was too soft and fluffy so we'll have to work on that one. :)

"Have Done" or "To Do" List ???

I don't have any new pictures to post so I copied this from another blog (Thanks Jackie) because I thought it was fun. You just copy it and put in bold the things you have done. I was a little blue when I started this and it's funny how just thinking about some things that I've done has cheered me up. :) It also has made me realize there are still things I would like to do some day. (Go skinny dipping....hmmmmm) Have fun :)

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
l24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie or on a TV show
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Had an encounter with a wild animal
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets, or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check--
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Taken a martial arts class

Sadie Hawkins

Here are some pictures of Devynne and her friends that were taken for Sadies. Saturday was the big day and they had a great time. They took pictures (thanks again Leah) went to dinner at the Rainforest Cafe, went to the dance, hung out down at the strip and ended up at one the girl's house for games. This was Devynne's first school dance and she had lots of fun. Steve and I were in Utah this weekend with the boys. We spent time with Steve's kids and went to Steve's nephew Justin's farewell. Justin leaves tomorrow for the MTC and is serving his mission in Montana. He's so grown up now, it's amazing how they go from being a kid to being a man over night. We wish him much success and we will miss him while he's gone. :)

Some of My Favorite Things

Dr. Pepper
"Awesome" candy bar from See's
Chocolate cake from Claim Jumper
popcorn with cheddar cheese salt
peppermint hot chocolate
Christmas
a sleepy baby after having a bath
when a small child says something hilarious
standing at the edge of the ocean and the water making your feet sink in the sand
Disneyland
Chris Isaak
Blue October
50's style (hair, clothes, cars, etc)
Grey's Anatomy and Lost
Nicholas Cage
the Twilight Series by Stephanie Meyer
Rob Pattinson as Edward
Superheroes
books with magic, dwarves, elves, dragons and the super natural
going to the movies
passionate "can't live without you" love stories (real and make believe)
Devynne when she laughs for real
hearing Dylan play the guitar in his room next to mine
Dakota's hugs
my dad's hands
my mom's smile
my sister's sense of humor
going on a date with my husband

These are just some of the things that make me happy inside and aren't in any particular order. I was thinking about these things this morning at the gym for some reason and decided to put them on my blog. I think my most favorite thing is knowing that even though I do things I shouldn't or don't do things I should, Heavenly Father still loves me and that is a great thing. :)

She's On Her Way

Big news!! Devynne has a new job. Yay. She is now working at Great Harvest and we are very proud of her. We think this will be a perfect first job for her. She dropped off a resume a couple of weeks ago and got a call on Monday and was hired Monday evening. She started yesterday and said it was fun. Of course, we had to sit in the car for a few minutes before she would go in.

Devynne: "I have to sit in the car for a few minutes"
Me: "Why"
Devynne: "I'm nervous, just let me sit here for a few minutes"
Me: "It's ok to be nervous, everyone is nervous the first day of a job, just take a deep breath and be confident"

(silence for a minute)

Me: "Ok, get out, go" (I smile)
Devynne: "Ok, sheesh, wish me luck"
Me: "Good luck and I love you" (smile again)

And off she went. I felt like a momma bird booting my baby chick out of the nest. She is now working today, tomorrow and Saturday. She'll soon learn how to take care of her finances as well as learn to handle more responsibilities. We're very excited. She's on her way to growing up, now we just need to work on that driver's license. ;)