Who "nose"???

Is it bad that I have no idea how this happened?

Maybe Tate can fill us in on the details....

Yeah... I don't believe it either.

Cute little stink- isn't he?

Diaper Change...?

...I think NOT!

Seriously. How hard could it be to get this cute little bum covered?

Well.... I first found him here...

(He thinks he is so TRIXY!)

And finally here...

LITTLE STINKER!

(This post was given a PG/PG-13 rating for "some nudity")

*Probably should have put that warning at the beginning*

July 24th

For my dad's b-day (which was on May 24th), my bro's and sis and I gave my dad tickets to see a Real Soccer game. This also included all of us getting tickets so we could all go together.
So... we got the tickets.

And had a ball! (no pun intended)
It was a great game. The first half was a bit slow and we really started to wonder why they were considered a professional team. But they made a comeback 2ND half and won the game 4 to 2.
Being the 24Th, they did some fantastic fireworks that were choreographed to music. So FUN!
Unfortunately, we left the camera in the car. (so typical) So the only proof that we went to the game is this lovely tattoo.
I figured that because I am such a huge Real soccer fan I should make it official.

Actually, I really started to wonder if it was going to be permanent when I could not figure out how to get it off Sunday morning before church. You'd think that because I have boys who have had many a cartoon character temporarily imprinted on their bodies, I would know the tricks. But truth is I usually just let them wear them until they wear off on their own.
But this one could NOT stay. I thought it might distract from the spirit of the meeting if the music leader was waving a tattoo-ed arm in front of them.
Luckily, just as we were about to walk out the door, I tried one last thing.
FINGER-NAIL POLISH REMOVER! It wiped right off!

Thanks to my GREAT family for such a FUN night. (and BIG THANKS to Bruce and Christy for letting the boys sleepover!)

Mermaid or Whale?

(My sis-in-law sent this and I thought to myself.... So True, So True!)

Recently, in a large French city, a poster featuring a young, thin and tan
woman appeared in the window of a gym. It said:

¨THIS SUMMER DO YOU WANT TO BE A MERMAID OR A WHALE?¨

A middle aged woman, whose physical characteristics did not match those of
the woman on the poster, responded publicly to the question posed by the
gym.

To Whom It May Concern:

Whales are always surrounded by friends (dolphins, sea lions, curious
humans). They have an active sex life, they get pregnant and have adorable
baby whales. They have a wonderful time with dolphins stuffing themselves
with shrimp. They play and swim in the seas, seeing wonderful places like
Patagonia, the Barren Sea and the coral reefs of Polynesia. Whales are
wonderful singers and have even recorded CDs. They are incredible
creatures and virtually have no predators other than humans. They are
loved, protected and admired by almost everyone in the world.

Mermaids don't exist. If they did exist, they would be lining up outside
the offices of Argentinean psychoanalysts due to identity crisis. Fish or
human? They don't have a sex life because they kill men who get close to
them not to mention how could they have sex? Therefore they do not have
kids either. Not to mention who wants to get close to a girl who smells
like a fish store?
The choice is perfectly clear to me; I want to be a whale.

P.S. We are in an age when media puts into our heads the idea that only
skinny people are beautiful, but I prefer to enjoy an ice cream with my
kids, a good dinner with a man who makes me shiver and a coffee with my
friends. With time we gain weight because we accumulate so much
information and wisdom in our heads that when there is no more room it
distributes out to the rest of our bodies. So we aren't heavy, we are
enormously cultured, educated and happy. Beginning today, when I look at
my butt in the mirror I will think, Good gosh, look how smart I am.

"Help! Mom, Help!"

For some reason Tate thinks this is the best technique to climbing out of the crib. It usually ends in him calling out, "Help Mom, Help!" He calmly says it over and over, while in this position, until I get him out. Silly Boy.

Asking for prayers...

I just wanted to ask for your prayers for my youngest brother, Shane. He was life flighted to McKay Dee Hospital last night. He went up for a header, as he is known to do, during an indoor soccer game. As he was coming back down, another player was coming up and they collided. Shane was knocked flat. He tried getting up but then began to have a grand mal seizure. It probably lasted about 7 -10 minutes. Luckily my other brother Brian was on the field playing as well. He administered a priesthood blessing to Shane. As soon as the blessing was finished, the seizure stopped. Life Flight arrived and was planning to take him to the University of Utah, but because Shane seemed to be improving, they changed to McKay.

Shane has bruising on the frontal lobe of his brain, and 3 facial fractures on his skull. He has improved significantly and no more seizures so he was able to go home today. However, he is on a strict home watch. No work, no driving, no big physical activities for one month. Of course with any head trauma, he will need to return to the hospital periodically to check for bleeding.
We are so grateful he is doing as well as he is, but continue to ask for additional prayers in his behalf so that he can continue to heal properly. Yet, another lesson learned on the power of the priesthood.

Thank You for your prayers.

Let Freedom Ring!

I just wanted to say how much I enjoy the calling I have in my ward. I am the ward chorister. I have the privilege of standing in front of the ward each week and leading them in singing beautiful praises to our Lord and Savior. I get to see the look in their eyes as the spirit touches their hearts from a certain phrase in the hymn. I get to see the children watch me and try so hard to wave their arms just like me. I get to hear their little voices ring above the rest. I am constantly amazed how the spirit guides me in choosing each hymn and not knowing why I chose it until we sing it on Sunday and I feel how it correlates to the speakers so well. It is such a fulfilling calling. I am grateful to have it.

This last Sunday, was Fast Sunday and the day after the 4th, so I chose patriotic hymns. The opening hymn being "America the Beautiful" and the closing hymn being "The Star Spangled Banner". I have often found myself touched when singing that song, but nothing compared to the feeling I experienced as the organist began to play the prelude and the congregation stood. I was impressed with how many sang that first verse without the help of their hymn books. I was even more impressed how many continued singing the 2nd and 3rd verses without their books. I mean I know the first verse but definitely needed my book for the rest.
As I looked across the congregation I could feel the strength of our ward. I could see the love each person had for this country. As my eyes fell upon certain families that I knew had members that were serving or had served our country (we actually have quite a few), I was so proud of them. I was so grateful for their sacrifices to help keep this "the land of the free and the home of the brave". I don't think I have ever heard so many beautiful voices ringing out with such conviction and power. I was so proud to be an American, "...one nation, under God...". What surprised me the most was the reaction my body had to all of this power. I say "my body" because it almost felt unreal to me. By the last verse, my body began to shake and tears rolled down my cheeks. I could not sing, and almost dropped my book because of the shaking. I managed to sing out the last line. As I sat down for the closing prayer, my hands were shaking uncontrollably and I felt like my heart would burst out of the chest. It was difficult to keep my breathing calm and quiet for the prayer. I felt so much POWER racing through me.

To my ward members, I just want to say THANK YOU. Thank You for singing out with such conviction and love for our country. To our country, I say THANK YOU. Even though there is plenty of evil swirling around the world, I know there is still plenty of good, strong people that will keep us FREE.

I AM PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!!

LET FREEDOM RING!!!!

(Keep reading to see our fun 4th festivities)