MY VOTE IS FOR SARAH PALIN!!!

I don't know about anyone else but I am SO excited about John McCain's running mate. SARAH PALIN seems like a winner. She is a breath of fresh air. For the FIRST time in a long time I find myself fascinated with the presidential election. Sarah is the Governor of Alaska, mother of five her youngest is only 9 months old and has down syndrome. Her oldest son is about to be deployed to Iraq on September 11 of this year. She is a super conservative. Strong values, anti abortion-pro life, pro drilling for oil and resources in Alaska and many more admiring qualities. I think these next few months will be very interesting. The greatest part is that Mr. Obama gave is "glorious" speech just yesterday and yet NO one is talking about it, in fact NO one seems to care. This new announcement about Mrs. Palin has seem to have taken the wind our of his sales. FINALLY someone to really watch and get excited about!!!

Auctions for Christian and Nie Nie

Today is "Nie Nie Day". (check out www.cjanerun.blogspot.com) There are over 100 auctions going on today to help support Stephanie and Christian Nielson. So many wonderful, generous people are donating items as well as their time to help with Stephanie and Christian's medical bills and house hold expenses (which will reach into the millions) as they lay waiting to recover (months) in a burn hospital in Phoenix, AZ. If you get a chance check out www.designmom.com to see all of the amazing things that are being auctioned off. These people are truly inspiring!!!
Happy Bidding!!!

Up Up and Away

Today we took our kids and went down to the Kiwanis park in Provo to launch helium balloons for Stephanie and Christian Nielson. (for more info about them check out cjanerun.blogspot.com) It was so neat to see all of the support for this family. They actually ran out of balloons but luckily enough we were able to get a couple. It was such a neat site. Tons of colorful balloons floating to the heavens.

Up Up and Away!!!

Back To School...

My cute back to schoolers!

Sydney looking so cute in her polka dots,
I can't believe she is in the first grade!!!

School has begun!! I can't believe that I have four full time schoolers. They were very excited, some were very nervous, you know "my stomach hurts, I have a lump in my throat, for some reason I am not very hungry". (They get the nerves from their mother.) They looked so dang cute in their new back to school gear. I can't believe my Sydney is in the first grade. She just seems to little. Any how they are there and I am here in my somewhat quite (I still have Max and Andrew home) house that desperately needs to be cleaned. So the inner debate is on, do I clean my house now that the kids are gone or give myself a break now that the kids are gone? Hmmm, lets see or should I wait till the kids get home to help me clean (but doesn't that defeat my purpose of having no children here so I can clean?) I know that all of my super organized, anti clutter friends are thinking that this is not even an issue. Of course you clean! Maybe I will read a self help book to help motivate me and teach me how to properly clean and organize my home. But probably not. I do have a few hours to make my decision. Any how here's to a brand new school year. Hip Hip Hooray!!!

Our Summer is coming to a close...

Well school starts on Monday and that means the end of summer. At times it has gone by fast but then other times it seemed like it would never end. We really didn't go anywhere as in a summer vacation but we did some fun things. Having Andrea's kids up here for the whole month of July helped alot. It was also fun to have Shellie's and Staci's kids as well as Tara. My kids have had lemonade stands, Birthday Parties, clubs, water parties, out door movie nights and even a beauty shop that they advertised and people came and paid for their services (toe nails painted, makeup and hair) We have had slip n slides, trips to the pool, EFY, day trips to Salt Lake, Dance workshops, Thanksgiving point, movies and tons and tons of friends. (I could do without the video games, but I pick my battles) We've gone through bottles of sunscreen and lots of otter pops. We have hiked to waterfalls and hiked to caves. We have seen lots of fireworks as well as set off lots of fireworks. Whew that sounds exhausting!
I do love having my kids at home as long as they are happy and not whining at me. (I am sure that I am not alone in my thoughts here) I will probably cry the first day of school. I do every year. So heres to another great summer!!!

MEMORIES

I got this from a friend's blog. I thought this would be fun. I hope you will play along.


Here are the directions:



1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together (or my husband). It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!



2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.

I AM Married to Mr. Wonderful!!!!

This morning I woke up to see the new Stephanie Meyer's book sitting on my nightstand just staring at me. I jumped up and said "Where did this come from?" and my Mr. Wonderful told me that he had gotten out of bed at midnight, gone down to Walmart, stood in line with about 40 bazillion crazed woment to get THE book...Breaking Dawn. Oh my heck!!! I had mentioned that I wanted to read this book and that it was coming out at midnight. I had told him how some of my friends were getting up and going to all night Breaking Dawn Read a thons, but had no idea that he even paid attention to what I was saying. I never even mentioned that I was dying to get the book on the first day. I figured I would eventually get it after the stores restocked it. Chad is amazing. (I know my family is gagging because in my family you don't eww and ahh and say nice things about anyone especially for all the world to hear.) But I can attest that I am married to Mr. Wonderful who's sole goal in life is to please me and make me happy. (at least that is what he makes me think and that is all that matters) He had informed me that all that I am to do today is lock myself in my room and read until it's time to go our for dinner tonight! WOO HOO I am so excited. What a great day for me!!! Thanks Chad, you are the best...I had no idea that life could be as good as I have it!

EFY...Especially For Youth!!!

Bryndee and her friend Joselyn at their monday night

(family night) devotional

Wow we have had one busy month. This last week was EFY at BYU! Chad directs a session every summer. It's one of the best weeks of our summer. This year we got to have my cute niece Bryndee (my sister Andrea's daughter) come to our session. The week is always exhausting for not only Chad and I but for our family. Trying to run back and forth at least twice a day sometimes more and getting babysitters who mostly consisted of Raegan with help from inlaws...thank you by the way!!! For those of you who never attended EFY or know what it is. It is a week long program put on by the LDS Church for youth ages 14-18. The week consists of talks (given mostly by Chad, he had to give 11-50 minute talks), games, spiritual uplifting, flirting, dancing, making new friends, gaining more self worth, helping their testimony of our Savior Jesus Christ and a whole lotta fun!!! The youth stay in the dorms for the week and have fabulous counselors and activities. It is definately an inspired program. The youth come away wanting to be better and help those around them be better friends and members of the church. I love EFY!!!

Chad and Cassie Chillin at Games Night.
We had to be the judges of the "cheer off".

Cassie TRYING to learn the EFY dance with the counselors.

(I need to quit thinking I am younger than I really am)

Megan, Cassie, Chad and Eric (our cooridinators)

Bryndee with her "new bestfriends"

There was a dance Tuesday night as well as Friday night.

Megan and Raegan (Raegan got to come and help judge in the cheer off)

More Waterfalls...

The Kiddos
Ellie and Andrew loved getting dirty and throwing rocks
Tyler
My sister Andrea and Cassie (see we do like each other)


Kalli
Raegan, Torie and Sadie
Raegan just got out of the waterfall, it was cold and came down hard
Abby and Sydney sitting pretty

We seriously live in a great place. We are lucky enough to all sorts of hiking and walking trails within minutes of our front door. Last Saturday Andrea and I took our kids to the waterfall just 20 minutes from our house. The kids had a blast.

Old Friends

This past weekend I was able to attend my friend from long ago, wedding reception. Sam Blackham came to visit his cousins Scott Martineau and Richard Wilson one summer. We all hung out quite a bit and had a great time. At this reception Scott and Richard were there. We had the chance to visit again. Living in Utah now I don't get to see old friends and neighbors that often, so this was fun. I can't believe how grown up we are but not really. Their personalities were the same. We all have spouses and lots of children but it was a lot of fun to talk about the lives we live now. It was fun to see these three guys again. (we didn't get to get a picture with Sam because he was in his wedding line having to be charming to all of the guest that he probably didn't even know very well but hey we've all been there it was Sam's turn now...FINALLY!)