Cookie Night

We've learned the hard way that cookie night can be vomitous if not balanced with some sort of protein. This year we celebrated cookie night with homemade soups and rolls. Cassi's Shrimp of the Devil was a big hit--and very spicy. Good stuff. Everyone brought soup and rolls to share and then we pigged out on cookies. Here Cassi, Oscar, Kelsee and Burro eat on the floor. Not sure why--except we didn't have extra chairs.

The grandkids and Austin loved playing together, eating soup, munching on cookies and painting ornaments. They each got a present from the advent calendar and spent the evening running through the house and screaming. Next year, Gregor, Ryon and Laya will be joining them on their quest to create unholy noise.

Jason demonstrated that fatherhood has increased his ability to look intimidating--even while eating soup. Even though it was snowy and cold outside, Dad, Virginia and Carol joined us and it was great fun having everyone together.

Meet Chalese

Tom's daughter Chalese came to visit from Arizona. It was a lot of fun meeting her and being around her. The gang got together for hamburgers and after mingling with the family she's probably trying to talk her dad out of being around me.

Laya got hot fudge on her face and spent the evening licking it off her cheeks. She has the tongue of a giraffe.

North Carolina

Thanksgiving in North Carolina is nothing like Thanksgiving in Utah. First, it was warm, sunny and beautiful enough that we could eat outside.

Second, the Santas in North Carolina seem very, very jolly.

Third, mom, Dyion, Heather and Scott are not in Utah. What's up with that?

Fourth, an after-Thanksgiving horseback ride is a must. Here are the three cowpokes Tom, Kelsee and Mick.

Last, I've never gone to the beach during Thanksgiving week. I really think we need a beach in Utah.

We all had a blast in Leland with the kinfolk who showed us a real good time. Tom was introduced to gun-totin' relatives, hush puppies and North Carolina barbecue. Kelsee and Mick's recreation of the first Thanksgiving was heartwarming and historically accurate--right down to the sombrero.

Spooooooky!!

Kelsee had creepy white contacts that she wore to Village Inn. Pretty much freaked out all the senior citizens.

Tom didn't feel like dressing up this year.

The Blue Power Ranger stopped by for some kick-butt candy and brought along his sidekick Monkey Banana-Head.

Man, they're cute!!!

Mick was a purple-headed, glittery-eyed teenager. She and her friends went trick-or-treating and brought home a buttload of loot.

I was The Devil with a Blue Dress On, but because I looked like The Cow with a Blue Dress On, I refuse to post any pictures.

Ashley's kids spent Halloween in Grantsville and haunted their neighborhood, searching for gobs of candy.

Hope your Halloween was full of sugary goodness.

Halloween Meal

Our traditional Halloween Dinner Party was a howling success. Mick's "Bats-on-a-Stick" were a big hit even though we all had the urge to hang upside-down from the rafters after dinner.

The witch finger's were tasty, even if the nails were a little tough.

Mick puts the finishing touches on our brain dish while the magic potion bubbled away, becoming more toxic with each sip.

Happy Halloween Eve!!!!

New House!

Well, I guess technically it isn't "new" since we've been here a month but we love our home in Kearns. (I guess because it's Kearns, it should be called our casa.) Anyway, we're located less than a mile from my work (at the Oval) so I can get up and see my office every single day. Every single day. And since Tom works from home, he gets to live at work. Sucks to be him.

This is the upstairs complete with Direct TV so now Kelsee and Mick are addicted to television even more than they were before. (Someone please save me from the Disney channel.) The girls' bedrooms are downstairs and I'll take a picture of them as soon as they're cleaned up (the rooms, not the girls). Don't look for the pictures anytime soon.

Top 10 Reasons Why I Haven't Updated My Blog

10. I'm depressed because summer is over.
9. The battery in my digital camera died and I'm too slothful to charge it.
8. I've been working for US Speedskating WAY too many weekends.
7. I moved into a new home and I can't do two things at once.
6. Kelsee decided to have an allergic reaction to sulfa and ended up in the hospital.
5. I've been too busy eating Halloween candy.
4. I've been trying to solve the mystery of "What Happened to the Wii Equipment."
3. All my favorite TV shows are back with new episodes.
2. I've been counting the days until Christmas.
And the number one reason I haven't updated my blog:
I'm just too lazy.

Jason is 32!!

The gang drove up to Storm Mountain to celebrate Jason's birthday. Roasted hot dogs and s'mores were the menu items.



Isn't Gregor a Jason clone? Kinda scary. . .


The Nazi Forest Ranger rode his golf cart around the picnic areas making sure no one was walking in the rivers. So instead of wading in the cool mountain stream, we sat on logs and ate more s'mores.

Back To School

Mothers across the country are breathing a sigh of relief as kids head back to school. My darling daughters started school on Monday and were so excited to get back to learning, homework and tests.

Kelsee is a senior at Taylorsville High this year and Mick is an 8th grader at Bennion Junior. Her goal is to pick on as many 7th graders as she can. Don't they look spiffy on their first day?

Mick Turns 13!

Nothing says "Happy Birthday" like a giant shrimp. McKenzie turned 13 on July 22 and we celebrated at Bubba Gump Shrimp. We were in Southern California on her birthday and spent the day riding Tower of Terror, Grizzly Rapids and California Screamin'. It was tons of fun. Mick is so much fun to be around. Here are just some of the reasons I love McKenzie:

1. She's fun to be around.
2. She keeps me up-to-date on the latest music.
3. She makes a mean chocolate cake.
4. She's a great friend.
5. She has an amazing sense of humor.
6. She has some great pasta recipes.
7. She is so patient with her nieces and nephews.
8. She has a great laugh.
9. Her acting skills are the best.
10. She's a Guitar Hero rock star.

Love you, Mick!! Happy Birthday.

The Big 4-0

Holy Cow, I'm 40. How time flies when you're aging. But setting aside the anxiety, stress, depression, oldness and extreme discomfort, my birthday wasn't so bad. Okay, I lied. I HATED turning 40, but it's better than being dead, which is the only other alternative. Here's me with a fake I-love-being-old smile.

Jenny, looking beautiful, also celebrated her birthday on July 5th (along with Jessica, Toni, Kathryn, Huey Lewis and circus pioneer P.T. Barnum--which somehow seems appropriate.) In 2 years, Jenny, you'll be 40. Live it up!

Tom organized a party at Buca di Beppo with the entire family for a combined celebration for our birthdays. The food was great, the presentation made me cry and, best of all, my mom was around to celebrate with us. Thanks for all you did for me, Tom. You made turning 40 almost bearable. Almost.

Donations to my body contouring/Botox fund are now being accepted.

The Fourth of July

Yes, I realize it's the NINTH of July, but get over it. It was great celebrating the 4th this year because mom was with us for the first time for the holiday since 2004. She even skipped her wedding anniversary to spend time with us. (Sorry, Dyion.) Tom flew her in for our birthday week and we had a great time with her. Doesn't she look happy to be around us? All we needed was Heather and Scott. Miss you guys!

The parade was crummy as usual, which is the only reason we keep going back. Our favorite parade entree is still the Senior Citizens Mobile Parade Van, complete with oxygen tanks. Even though Laura is hugely pregnant, she was a good sport--even sitting on the ground through a 90-minute, lame-ass parade. She deserves a medal. It was Laya's first Fourth of July and, as you can see, she was immensely unimpressed with the whole ordeal.
But Diego (a.k.a. The Hulk) and Austin had a great time together. We took the kids to see Wall-E, tried to take a nap, ate too much at the family barbecue and enjoyed Jason's Spectacular Spectacular Fireworks Display.

Little Cottonwood Canyon

Continuing with the hiking theme, we thought we'd hike to Secret Lake up above Alta. Unfortunately, the trail was still covered with snow (stupid Utah), so we had to find somewhere else to go. While searching for Lisa Falls, we found a trail with some huge granite rocks for the kids to break their necks on. We ate sandwiches, got eaten by bugs, walked through something poisonous and broke out in hives. A typical day in the mountains.

Diego and Austin played around on the rocks but weren't excited about climbing the steep granite cliff. Babies. Me, Kelsee, Mick, Jared, Tom, Mom and Jenny's family enjoyed snow cones at Bob's Brain Freeze after the "hike." The perfect prescription for 100+ temperatures.

Bob, the Mountain Man.

Donut Falls

McKenzie, Kelsee, Diego and I hiked up to Donut Falls. I've never seen the river so high. We couldn't even cross to the other side. Kelsee (who likes to climb into precarious positions--see blog entry below) can be seen at the top of the picture. I finally used my mom voice to get her off the mountain before she fell and crashed to her death.

So instead of climbing up the falls, we threw rocks into the river, ate donuts (of course) and watched Diego pee on the rocks. He was a little intimidated by the whole "hiking" thing (and wanted Kelsee to carry him) but eventually he relaxed and enjoyed chasing rabid chipmunks and splashing in glacier-cold water. Kelsee (who just watched The Happening) was convinced the forest was going to murder us. Mick hid on the path ahead of us trying to convince Diego she'd been eaten by the wild tigers that roam the Wasatch Mountains.