Another Day......More Rain

In the past week, we have had so much rain. We do enjoy the change! It is so exciting to have some much needed rain come to our valley. Now when I was growing up in Connecticut, I wouldn't be typing that sentence. Weeks of rain can really get you down. During the summer it seemed like it would be nice all week, and when you want to go to the beach, it would rain. I don't think I remember a Memorial Day or a birthday (June) when it didn't rain. Now that I live in a desert, I love the rain. I look forward to it. It actually makes me happy, not sad. I even braved the rain to make a much needed Retro Bakery run for a friend who needed a little pick-me-up! (Come on, cupcakes from Retro Bakery can work miracles!) The best part about the rain, is how clean the air will feel tomorrow and how pretty the mountains will look.

Weather Pictures By Zach

We have been having some pretty strange weather lately. Lots of rain, snow, cold, fog, and wind! It has been crazy, but to be honest, we have really enjoyed it. It has been a nice change. The mornings have been really foggy, and unfortunately I have been sick so I can't go out and enjoy running in the fog. (When you have asthma, any cold you have goes right to your lungs!) Don called me the other day from his school to ask if it was snowing at the house. I told him no. Well, it was snowing at his school. That's how it is in Vegas. It can be raining in one part of the city, and across the valley it will be all sunny! Well, Don's school is only a few miles away. With the bad weather comes beautiful sunsets. Zachery took this picture with his new camera. I liked it so much, I thought I would share it.

Then, today Zach and Austin didn't have seminary, so they took this picture leaving for school. I love waking up and seeing all of this snow on the mountains!!!

Ian's Birthday Celebration Continues!

Many people told us when we had Ian, that we will really have to work to make his birthday special, because it is so close to Christmas (Dec. 28). Many people who have birthdays on or near Christmas told us about how their parents never really celebrated their birthdays because they would just include their birthday celebration with Christmas. So, when we had Ian we decided we wouldn't do that. We have done pretty good too. We usually celebrate with Ian on his birthday as a family and have a "friend" party in January. Well, this year he was up in Idaho with his cousins and they did a wonderful job celebrating his birthday with him. They really made him feel special. When January came, I asked him what he wanted to do for his "friend" party. He told me, "I already had a party, in Idaho." I told him he could do something else, and he just wouldn't tell me what he wanted to do. Finally one day he said, "I want to go and play laser tag with only two friends!" Great, this is easy. I'm not complaining! So last night, Don took two of Ian's friends from school to go play laser tag and get some ice cream. They had a blast. Austin went too, so it was the three boys against Austin. Nobody else was there, so they had the whole place to themselves! They loved it. I love these boys, they are the three amigos for sure!!!!

My Teenagers

The other day I was talking to Ian's teacher and she was laughing about all the funny things my kids say. Honestly, I wish I had more time. I would blog about all the funny things my son's say. I don't have enough time in a day to do that. Let's just say, when they are around, it is hysterical!

This is a picture of Austin making family home evening dessert. Every week the kids take turns making dessert for family home evening. The teenagers are really good at it. I don't have to hover over them, they do a great job. Now notice Austin's apron. I have a plain red one, but no, Austin has to wear Aubrey's. Then he proceeded to dance around and tell me he loves to twirl! It took forever for him to finish making his cheesecake!

Some funny things Austin like to say:

"I want to be a ghost and haunt people. Yeah, that would be cool." (Said this out of the blue.......we weren't even talking about ghosts!)

Austin: Mom, how can I show you I love you?

Me: Get good grades on your finals.

Austin: Uh Mom, you're asking too much from me!

Poor Zach got his wisdom teeth out. He is doing pretty good. It hasn't been bad at all. (He will not be happy with this picture! It was Dad's idea!) When he woke up, he was pretty funny. He kept telling me that he had to check his facebook, and he kept saying something about biofeedback! He also kept telling me that everything was great, and this was not a big deal at all. He is doing really good today, but the doctor said it is the worse on the third day. We will see.

The good news is that he got asked to Sadi's the day before. He is going to Shadow Ridge's Sadi's. The girl that asked him must know him very well because she put little airplanes all over the van and made this poster! She gets some points with this one!

Funny things Zach says:
"Facebook, don't do me dirty!"
"Mom, this is my favorite Norwegian band. (Like, are there others?) Watch the video, I want to dance like this guy."
I love when he puts his hands out to reach for something and just stays there. I have to remind him that he doesn't have "The Force." He says, "Someday Mom, someday!"

Roll Tide Roll

Since I was a little boy, I have been an Alabama Crimson Tide fan. Some of my fondest childhood memories include watching Alabama football games on TV with my Dad...for those of you who don't know, my Dad was born and raised a Southern boy in Alabama. I have literally grown up cheering for Alabama football. I was absolutely thrilled a year ago when my Dad, my two brothers, and I had the opportunity to attend the Sugar Bowl game in New Orleans and watch Alabama play. It was so disappointing watching Alabama "choke" against Utah and I was positive that I would never have the chance again to attend another major bowl game and watch Alabama play. You can only imagine how excited I was when my Dad called me after Alabama won the SEC title and asked if I would be interested in going to the Rose Bowl in Pasedena, California, and watch Alabama play for the national championship. Even though I was excited to see the game, what I was truly looking forward to was sharing the experience with my Dad and my brother. I have to admit that what I wanted more than anything was to be at the game with my Dad when Alabama won the National Championship.....guess what, I WAS !!!! Dad, thanks for a great memory that I had a chance to share with you and my brother Doug.

On Thursday, January 7th my Dad, my brother Doug, and I, drove down to California. The first thing I did was buy myself a new Alabama hat.... it had to have no Texas writing on it just in case Alabama lost. I had to have a picture of me standing in front of the stadium "decked out" in my Alabama gear.


My Dad showing off the game tickets.

All these Alabama fans were all gathered around this area in front of the stadium. My brother Doug and I had no idea what was going on, but we knew it looked important. We grabbed our cameras and stood in the crowd of people. After about five minutes, I said to Doug, "Why are we standing here...we should find out?" So we asked everybody around us and they said that they were waiting for the team to enter the stadium......so we waited also. The next two pictures are Alabama's coach Nick Saban and the team entering the stadium.

Pre-Game pictures of the stadium. During the game, they announced that 95, 000 people were in attendance to this game. I have never been in a place that has had this many people present at one time. The volume level of the crowd during the game was so loud, it was insane.

My Dad waiting for the game to start.

The team warms up prior to the game.

Alabama's Million Dollar band. The band covered the entire field when they played.

Alabama should look into getting a REAL elephant for the mascot, just like Texas had a real Longhorn bull for their mascot.

The team "officially" enters the stadium.

Flea and Josh Groban do the National Anthem.

My Dad and brother Doug getting ready for the kickoff.

I thought that this was a very creative way to display Alabama's motto "Roll Tide Roll". See if you can figure this out?

The following are pictures from the game.

On this play Alabama's quarterback handed the ball off to #3 Trent Richardson and he run for a touchdown.

I love this picture of a hand off to our Heisman Trophy winning running back, Mark Ingram.

The celebration begins as Alabama clinches the National Championship.

FINALLY !!!!!

The trophy presentation.

My football buddy Ian, sports the shirt I bought for him...he wore it to school the day after the game.

Happy New Year!

Youth is when you're allowed to stay up late on New Year's Eve. Middle age is when you're forced to. ~Bill Vaughn

Don and I have to laugh at this quote. Part of this is true, but Don and I do enjoy staying up late and celebrating the New Year with friends and family. We have a hard time staying up later than 1:00 am waiting for the teenagers to get home. Last night we went to the Albright's to celebrate. We celebrated the New York New Year. Then we played a little Beatle's Rock Band.

Aubrey thinks the Beatle's were cute.

Ethan rocking out!
Ian is very focused.
Then we went home to celebrate the New Year and watch the fireworks from our bedroom windows. Our home overlooks the valley, so it is a good view for us to see the fireworks. Here we are with our sparkling cider.

Then the Albrights came to our house to celebrate with us. This is the last picture of 2009!!!!

In 2010, watching the fireworks.

Aubrey and Ian share a New Year's kiss!

On New Years Day we took down the decorations and the kids played all day on the Wii. This is the boys doing Wii Fit with Ian. It is a Kung Fu game. Here are my Ninjas!

Aubrey skateboarding. We love Wii Fit!!!! It is so much fun.