While the Cats Away.

The mice will play and play we did. While Bryan was running the grueling race in the scorching heat we had a pretty great weekend full of fun and adventure.

On Friday, I got to go to lunch with a bunch of ladies that I cheered with at UVSC. It has been 10 years since we have all been together. I can't believe how time flies. It was so fun to see everyone and reconnect. Hopefully it won't be another 10 years until we get to see each other again!


Niki, Tracy, Natalie (our fearless leader and incredible coach,) Heather, Jeannette, Kellie and myself. Sadly, we were missing a few, maybe next time. Thanks for a great lunch ladies.

Then I was off to pick up my baby boy Brooks. My wonderful mom was watching him and when I got to her house she was serving popsicles to the darling neighbor kids, Brooks' friends, Jack and Ella. They were running through the sprinklers having a great time. We were visiting with their parents, when I got a phone call that Bryan's team was running faster than expected. So we piled in the car and my mom and Brooks and I drove to Eden to see Bryan run part of his race. Unfortunately, this is how Brooks cheered on his daddy...


So, my mom and I shouted a couple of wahoos and took some photos and we were headed back to Kaysville to pay a visit to a special friend, aunt Debbie (pronounced Deebie according to Brooks.) Debbie was in a horrible accident a couple of months ago and she is recovering so well. She looks great and is getting around almost as if nothing has happened. I was amazed. We had a terrific visit. Debbie has the most incredible backyard. And after we left, Brooks said how much fun he had at the park. I think you can see why.










We are so happy that Debbie is doing well, we all love her dearly. She is proof that miracles do happen. What a wonderful eveining it was!

After all the fun on Friday, Brooks and I were pooped so we plopped in a couple of beds at my moms and had a sleepover with Amma and Papa. The next morning, we got up and drove to Park City where we hung out waiting for Bry's team to cross the finish line. They came across after a short time waiting and we drove home to let Bryan sleep. But the party wasn't over.

We then went to Thanksgiving Point. My moms friend is a sculptor and she was featured in an art exhibit in the gardens. It was beautiful. There was so much to look at and explore, Brooks had a splendid time.


Brooks and uncle Mike B.


Brooks and Papa


By the end of the night, we were all exhausted and ready for rest. Amma and Papa were such troopers and traveled all around the town with us all weekend. Luckily, at our house, we had a lazy Sunday full of recovery for all. We definitely needed it. But it was all so much fun!

I Am So Proud!

This past weekend, Bry and his friends ran the Wasatch Back. A relay race from Logan to Park City. They ran about 150 miles starting Friday running throughout the night until Saturday afternoon. They all did a great job.

I am so proud of Bryan for taking it so seriously. I should note that Bryan isn't a regular runner, but he had a goal and he accomplished it, despite injuries along the way. He trained for months leading up to the race, even lost 10 lbs. in the process. . . not that he had any weight to loose.

It was so fun to watch all of you guys have such a great time together.

Here's to next year. Way to go Bry, way to go team Rohief Constitution(don't ask!)

I Dreamed a Dream.

I have always dreamed about New York City. I have been fortunate to travel to enough places, but always hated that I had never been to New York. Maybe it's because I am quite sure that my real calling in life was to be on Broadway. Never mind the fact that I can't sing, I still think somehow I was born to see my name in lights. After a whirlwind trip with my friends, I am pretty sure that I did miss my calling. But I had the time of my life and can't wait to return.

I traveled to NY with some of my friends from Portland and Salt Lake. We met in the city bright and early and we didn't slow down until we returned back home. There are so many things to see and do and so many people to watch. It is a city full of stimulation. Maybe that's why we were able to go at it as hard as we did.

Anyway, some of my favorites memories were definitely: the food, Brooklyn Bridge, the pizza, Wicked, a minor mishap in the subway, searching for comfy shoes for our pregnant Jen, the food, the flowers at the Waldorf, the banana pudding at 1:00 a.m. from Magnolia's, the limo, church, the proud Puerto Ricans, Super Hero's, fights over our favorite celebs, the cute cabbie from Jersey (I should say nice,) the hustle and bustle, Soho, Greenwich Village, (next time more time here,) Diet Coke, Park Avenue, Ground Zero, the food and my friends.

Thanks, Ali, for helping me feel just like I was local and living the dream. And for showing us New York as it should be seen. Macy, thanks for the recommendations, I have never eaten so well in my life. I loved every minute of it (eating, that is.)Thanks, ladies, for a wonderful trip. I couldn't have asked for better company. And thanks to my parents and Bry for taking care of my baby so I could have this experience. Now when the Wicked auditions come around, you may need to be on call, again, but I don't think that will be for some time now, so rest easy.

Here are a few pics of what was the whirlwind in NYC.

Macy and I upon our arrival. Unfortunately, my eyes remained this puffy the entire trip.


We all stayed in our cozy room at the Waldorf Astoria. They were nice as can be...I'd definitely go back.

The famous frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity.


View from the Met. One of my favorite stops on the roof, overlooking Central Park.

The beautiful church we attended on the upper east side.

Wicked!


The Brooklyn Bridge is the oldest suspension bridge in the U.S. Still feels pretty sturdy. We walked over the bridge to the best pizza ever, Grimaldi's. This was such a highlight. Highly recommended.


The flowers at the Waldorf. The entire lobby smelled like these lilies. Beautiful.


Just walking around, we did that a lot!


Oh, I met the incocievable guy from Princess Bride. One of my favorite movies. As I was saying hello, the entire store stopped to listen. I surely made a fool of myself and my crimson face prooves it! He was nice.

These are a few of the picture I have. Nancy was the staff photographer and so I can't wait to see all that she captured.

What a trip.

Sure Signs of Spring. . .

. . .finally.

I can't get enough of the sweet smells and the barely buds on the trees in my backyard. It has been so fun to see things come to life. I think I have personally willed the green right out of the trees. Never have I been so anxious for spring. Every day I would walk outside in search of signs, even in the snow, and now that it has begun, it can't grow fast enough. Isn't it amazing that the plants and the grass just know that it's time to grow? What a miracle of life. So glad it's finally here.



Isn't there something magical about sprinklers?




This is Brooks' "happy face" as evidenced by the mix of dirt and chocolate around his chin.

By the way, are any of you familiar with the song "Wick" from Secret Garden? That is what's playing through my head right now as it write this post. If not, check it out on iTunes. I can't think of a more appropriate song for the season.

Did I Mention I Was Mooned?

One recent Sunday afternoon, I was driving on the interstate enjoying a conversation with my younger brother, when I was shocked to see a ginormous bottom sticking out the window of the car next to me.

Maybe an innocent High School prank,? I think not, I nearly drove off the road and something about the bottom seemed a little beyond those years. I was horrified and completely disgusted, literally sick to my stomach! Do kids still do that? I thought the world had moved way beyond mooning. So now that you all know what gets my goat, I hate to think of what's next?

My advice: keep those bottoms in their pants, where they belong!

Sorry no pics to accompany this post.

What Is He Watching?

Certainly captivating! Action packed perhaps. . .










Well, it's non other than the Barefoot Contessa herself and mom couldn't be prouder. Other than tractors or Mermaid, it's "cook-it" or BC. So in tribute to the amazing Ina Garten, here are a couple of recipes Brooks thought looked great and I think so too.

Enjoy!
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/show_ig/episode/0,1976,FOOD_9971_48009,00.html

Can You Dig It?

Well March came and went and I have no idea how it flew quite so fast, but we definitely kept busy, which certainly aided things along.

We had so much fun this past month. Two Grandpa's birthday (on the very same day.) Quite a few home projects. Easter. A lucheon with our friends from P-town and a sleepover with some of our most cherished people. Two dismal NCAA brackets. And we are still watching every tractor in town. Not to mention using every shovel in site. So here is a recap of the month that was March.

The Easter Egg Hunt.



The best family picture we could muster.


Our Easter prom.



Uhhh...Robin Eggs!


A few fun days with some favorite friends.


Brooks is growing up so fast. He is talking like crazy and I laugh so hard at him. He has grown into a such fun little friend. At lunch the other day, a lady nearby bent over to grab her purse. With her back to us, Brooks looked at me with big eyes, pointed to the ladies behind, and luckily, whispered, "bottom." He is curious as ever and very persistant, and we love him more and more every day.








As I think back on the last little while, I am reminded of the all fun we had and for some reason I can't stop thinking of all of our blessings. I am so happy to be feeling settled in our little house. And I am especially grateful for the blessing of my sweet family. I couldn't be happier and I certainly won't take that for granted.