|
Apparently, this is what my flower says about me:
"Mischief is your middle name, but your first is friend. You are quite the prankster that loves to make other people laugh. "
Hmmm...what do you think? Does that sound like me? Kind of eerie :)
Take the little quiz & then post what kind of flower you are.
So in case you didn't know, I am a convert to the LDS church, BUT apparently there was a song that started out the way this post's title says & it always makes me laugh. I don't know how the song goes, but all I have to do is mutter those words around Ben or his family & they can all bust into a musical chorus. I think they use to sing it before they had FHE & I kind of still do it to maintain the traditon for my boys....lol! 'cept we only know that first phrase:) Maybe Grandma Sherrie & Aunt Amy can record it for us so we can LISTEN to it before we start Family Night (hint, hint). Anyway, back to the post....
So we are so fortunate to have a beautiful view where we live. The boys & I love to sit outside & look at all the cool things the valley has to offer. One of these things in particular is "the Lake". Finally, one day Aidan asked me if "the Lake" was "the Great Salt Lake"....um, no, its the less grand, stinky Utah Lake. I realized that regardless of how yucky I thought the lake was, the boys might actually think it was pretty cool. Of course, my mind flooded with all of the cool memories I had of going to the lake when I was younger. We had a bunch of family friends & we'd all take our boats/jetskis out to various lakes (Havasu was a particular favorite). I also remember that if some of our families were off a week or so from each other, that my friends & I would plan it just right to be able to extend our trip into a FEW weeks by switching off with whose family was staying the following week. Oh to be young & free so that we could ski ALL day long to our hearts content...ugh! Oh to have the strength & stamina of youth so that your back/arms/legs wouldn't be killing after a full DAY of skiing, let alone 3 weeks! :) Just kidding, I still love the lake & skiing no matter what. Good times...needle scratching off the record...Sorry, I got lost on Memory Lane, but I'm back...okay, so making fun memories for my own children at the lake.
Alright, so Utah Lake isn't exactly the ideal lake to start with, but again they are 8 & 6. They just notice the water. AND to be perfectly honest, little boys actually think green, slimy water is cool & gross. All this being said, we decided to go to Utah Lake on Monday for a picnic.
Okay, so most moms would have prepared an easier meal to take out to the lake, but well...I'm not like most moms. My boys (like most children), have been in somewhat of a menu rut for the last while. In an attempt to expand their horizons, I have been preparing lots of different things so that we have more options. Dylan is always good to tell me that, "I'll try...I know I'm going throw up, but I'll try, Mom"...he then proceeds to taste whatever it is, make a vomiting sound/action, & then smile & say, "No! Just kidding, It's pretty good." However, the most requested meal in our home is still SOUP! Oh well...so I had planned the meal for Monday before our trip was organized & I didn't want to waste the meat (I'm kind of a freak when it comes to dates on packages...yeah, I don't really care if it says "sell by", I'm not using it just in case)...so I made Pot Roast & homemade mash potatoes. My kids LOVE meat. Dylan could probably eat the whole roast himself, but forwhatever reason...Aidan hates pot roast. The kid can tear through a large bag of beef jerky in nothing flat, eat a 20 oz steak like you gave him a scrap, & put away Double cheeseburgers like you were handing out samples at Costco...but pot roast? Yuck! I always think, "he'll grow out of it. He LOVES meat!"...but no such luck. He got home after school, took 2 steps in the house, sniffed..."um...what are you cooking? Is it POT ROAST!?!" (which by the way smells absolutely freakin' DELICIOUS!). I just smiled. He scrunched his face & walked back to his room to do his homework. So now I feel bad. It is family night...hmmm...a little later Aidan comes out with a new attitude & a smile on his face. The boys have been saving their money to purchase some "handCOPS" (handcuffs, but I like the word Dyl uses better) from the gas station (Yeah, I know...curses on the guy that thought of peddling crappy cheap toys at the gas station, but it is what it is). Aidan reminds me that they have their money & could we please go get the cuffs before we go to the lake. Um...ok, sounds fine. "And since we're already over there, Mom, we could probably just go into Albertson's & get some chicken for our picnic. You know how Dylan & I LOVE the chicken there." Aaahhh, the truth is out...nice one, kid...I decided what the heck, it's Family Night. I put the roast in the fridge & off we went.
As predicted, the boys loved going to the lake. I forgot how close the Provo airport was, so that added an extra element of fun. The boys loved how low the planes flew over us. They also liked watching all the people coming & going, launching their boats. To us more mature adults, all of these things are mundane & boring, but to CHILDREN...WAHLA! Fascinating beyond measure! Aren't kids so funny:)
Anyway, initially, the plan was to lay out a big blanket & have our picnic.
Much like everything else, our plans changed when all the mosquites were flying up out of the grass...you GOT to love Utah Lake! So we adapted quickly & moved to a picnic table closer to the water.
After the chicken, we enjoyed strawberries & whip cream for dessert...another family favorite.
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
I love this place! When we were going to BYU, all my pals from AZ were always going on & on about all the wonderful deals to be had there (I'm serious, people! Even my guy friends were talkin' about it...you know who you are, Steve & your shoe tree...). Anyway, we had so much fun getting our fair share of shopping in. I have to laugh at some of the stuff that is there. I could not help but think to myself again & again, "Seriously? No, SERIOUSLY!?! Nordstrom honestly put THIS on a rack & tried to sell THIS for THAT MUCH! Holy Crap!"...as per usual, I was being my sarcastic self & making fun of a...um..."designer" (and I use the term loosely) neon yellow purse for some obscene amount. THEN a woman walked up, and asked me for it as she was seriously considering purchasing it. YIKES! It was then & there that I discovered the true meaning of the phrase "one man's trash is another man's treasure"...or was it maybe "to each his own"...hmm, perhaps, " different strokes for different folks"....regardless, I almost offended a rather large African-American woman, so I decided to go another route...Project Runway style. Amanda & I decided to find some of the truly sweet "treasures" & display them ourselves. We were literally entertained for hours. I guess you had to be there to get the full-effect OR you can have a look see at the little fashion show Amanda & I had. Keep in mind, this task is not something that takes place in the privacy of a dressing room (are you kidding me? If you've been to this place then you know that the lines can be pretty ridiculous). No, we decided it was best to peruse the larger sizes & just put these things on over our clothes:) Dang! I'm laughing just thinking about it. "Shy" is definitely not a word one could ever use to describe Amanda and I LOVE IT!!! Another thing you have to know about Amanda (and love) is that she is not just a beautiful face (as much as Steve Young would try to tell you...we'll just say, EVEN Steve gets his calls screened), she is talented beyond belief. Although undoubtedly a veritable virtuoso on the piano, her true talents lie in her impromptu lyrical skills. She can take the most mundane activity (ie. sifting through loads & loads of fashion castoffs for a DEAL) & turn it into a musical production (if you've heard her voicemail recording you know EXACTLY what I am talkin' about...trust me, you'd be laughing too). I think you would be hard pressed to find someone that could rival her improvisational aptitude...especially when it comes to breaking out into song. She also pairs all of this talent with dance moves (again, the perm-a-grin is back on my face just thinking about it). Some of the pics are a bit blurry 'cause the girl could not stop moving. I sincerely wish I had some recordings, but alas the pics will have to do. Enjoy!
LUNCH & A MOVIE:
Afterwards, we decided to hit a fantastic little Italian place for lunch. This is literally just a hole in the wall in an industrial area, but the food was SOOO good. If you ever make it to Mesa, you need to go to Spinatos...mmm, my mouth is watering just thinking about it.
Amanda knows how much I LOVE movies, so we went & saw "The Rocker". I don't know what I was expecting (well..actually I was expecting something along the lines of "Nacho Libre" meets "Joe Dirt"...which is alright, but typically best left to be a rental), but THIS was some funny stuff. Initially, Amanda & I were the only ones in the theater which gave her free reign to cheer, shout, & sing along with the movie (it's about a band, so it wasn't too out of line). Anyway, some people came in & put a damper on some of the singing, but she cracked me up as she cheered like she was actually at the concert...did I mention she is a NUT? :) Once again we found ourselves laughing 'til our sides hurt.
GIRL'S NIGHT OUT:
Her hubby & the boys were headed out to the ASU game, so we decided to have a GIRL'S NIGHT OUT with her daughters, Lily & Roxy. Initially, we contemplated manis & pedis & a slumber party, but settled on dinner @ Rosa's (yeah...I don't know how we fit all that food in our bellies either...).
We ended the evening watching "Step Up 2: The Streets" (not to be confused with "Step Up" an equally entertaining dance movie). Albeit a total chick flick, and yeah, yeah, the chick has her belly showing for practically the ENTIRE movie, the choreography is phenomenal...especially the final dance in the rain. WOW!!! I love this movie!
How can you not want to get up & move your bootie...Shawty had them Apple Bottom Jeans Boots with the fur, The whole club was lookin at her, She hit the flo, Next thing you know Shawty got low low low low low low low low...
SUNDAY, SUNDAY:
So I thought my ward met early, Amanda's meets at 8:30 am. No worries, with the time change (UT is an hour ahead) I still felt like I got an extra 1/2 hour to get ready. Also, to keep in line with the whole "memory lane" feel of this post, I remembered how much I loved going to church with Amanda. 
As crazy & spontaneous as she is, Amanda is pretty much a spiritual giant. This woman does not have a mean word or remark for anyone. She is an excellent listener & will never judge you. Even when you might berate yourself for foolish actions, she is quick to stop you & remind you how you are still a child of God. Talk about a Christ-like example. I loved seeing this same sentiment felt by her ward when she was released from her Presidency calling. Member after member came up tearfully to say how much they would miss her. She & her family are moving into a new home (YIPPEE! For you guys! Sadly, it's just to a different part of AZ & not UT...Hey, Manda, why don't you jump on the UT train & come live closer to your parents & Anna? A girl can try...). She is AWESOME.
After the meetings, the family was good to pose for pics for me. Keep in mind, that although it was only 11:30 we were already in the 100's...YIKES!
With football playing what seemed like 24-7 on the TV (What!?! Todd likes football. Football is cool! Btw, anyone catch the Utah game...I'm not sayin, I'm just sayin, the media wasn't buzzing about a squeak-by win for the Utes because of some LAME " unsportsmanlike conduct" call...it was a BLOW OUT, BABY!!! Um...sorry, that taunt was mainly directed at Temparoo),
Amanda whipped up some yummy desserts & dinner with the kids for us to take to her sister's home. Sadly, I didn't get any pics of the family get together. However, the food was delicious & the company was fantastic. We listened to the hilarious CD Amanda & her sisters made for their youngest sister, Anna...they ALL possess humorous musical talent. 
Another fun moment of the night was when the rest of the family connected from UT via Skype (web cams are pretty cool). It is always fun to see how much people's lives have changed since school...um, hello! Last time I saw Amanda's sister, Angela, she had 3 kids & was teaching piano in her spare time. NOW she has 8 kids & is designing jewelry for big name celebrities (um...is "Madonna" big enough). By the way, Amy & Angela you look great! Thanks again for inviting me.
FOXY ROXY:
Seriously, this has got to be one of the cutest little girls alive. I had so much fun playing with her. She is only 4, but man can this one hold her own. Initially, I was worried about this petite little girl when she got in the fracas of sword fighting with her siblings. However, it was all for naught, as I watched her beat back not only her sister, but her older brothers as well...brutally, I might add. ha ha...
Anyway, we were instantly best friends & had so much fun taking pictures, listening to music, reading stories, dancing, & just hangin out. She made me laugh at how she was so girlie-girl AND tomboy all at same time...please note the cute pink puma shorts paired with the beautiful designer necklace...an Angela original. What a cutie!
AZ TEMPLE & BRUNCH:
Like the Primary song goes, Amanda & I love to see the temple, so we decided to go there one day...yeah, lame attempt I know. Anyway, there was an amazing art exhibit at the Mesa Temple called "Reflections of Christ" that Amanda wanted me to see. Apparently, the art was in a quiet, darkened gallery on the side of the Visitor's Center where members of the public could experience these beautifully crafted photographs from a massive project aimed at helping us to better grasp the reality of Jesus Christ. There are about 25 photos in this exhibit, composed during a four-month effort by Mark Mabry with the help of many others. They are accompanied by a special soundtrack of sacred music prepared by local artists specifically for these photos. 
The story of the making of this exhibit and its music is told in a beautiful 30-minute film that plays continuously in a side room next to the gallery....needless to say, I was very excited to see these pictures. However, a sweet little "Hermana" missionary (the temple is in a predominately Hispanic neighborhood) informed us that the exhibit had been moved to SLC. What luck for me! I just happen to live very close to said city. Alas, she said the photographs are not on display currently. Unfortunately, they are being stored until their new home is determined...psst! Word on the street is the big wigs are thinking the D.C. Temple. Anyone up for a trip? :) Oh well, until then you can check out these spiritually moving pics at http://www.reflectionsofchrist.org/ . They truly are amazing & the music is absolutely beautiful. Good thing a book & a cd are coming out this fall:)
This beautiful piece of petrified wood, as well as another one displayed on the temple grounds, was donated by Amanda's grandfather...it's not the best pic of Amanda, but you're really suppose to be focusing on the wood:)
Our final destination was the Mesa Country Club for a delicious lunch. Honestly, I would have LOVED to have been able to play some tennis or at least 9-holes; but sadly, there just wasn't enough time. Oh well, now we already have something on the docket for our next trip! :)
Thank you again, Amanda, Todd, Sam, Lily, Hank, & Roxy for letting me come stay in your home. I had so much fun with all of you.
YEAH FOR LABOR DAY!!!! We are so glad we can reap the benefits of Congress' decision to jump on the ball in recognizing a holiday for workers back in 1894...okay so they didn't really have a choice what with all the chaos of strikes, boycotting, riots, bloodshed, but we won't go into that. What we will recognize is that Labor Day provides us with one last long weekend to get out & have fun. The holiday also marks other wonderful stuff such as the beginning of the NFL & NCAA Football seasons (it's lookin' like a good year people!), PLUS, my favorite season: AUTUMN!!! I love this time of year! 
The boys loved that the pool was indoors with a wall that raised so that they could swim outside in the rain. I liked that the pool was a nice, warm 85 degrees (as posted on the wall). Initially, we were the only ones enjoying the pool (normal people were out eating dinner...not us...too much fun to be had), but before you knew it the pool was packed. At this point, Dyl decided that he was hungry, so off we went.
However, once we were back in the room, the boys decided that they NEEDED to take a bath first...what can I say? Jets are cool. Phew! Good thing these ones were particularly strong or y'all would be catchin' a look see at Lil' Dyl's twig & berries. Thank goodness this is a G-rated blog. :)
With the rain still coming down heavy, Aidan's request to go on the Alpine slide (he is a FREAKIN' NUT on that thing. He loves to go FAST, while Dyl & I are...um...more conservative) had to be put on hold. Since we had a full kitchen & a nice big, flat screen tv w/ stereo system, we opted to go to the market for some food & a dvd (are you starting to get the impression that we enjoy a good flick now & then?). To market, to market, jiggity-jig...Holy Cow! You would have thought we were staying for a week with all the food & treats the boys were tossing in the cart. However, wanting to be the fun mom on vacation, I indulged their every request. The best part was, after grabbing our flick & pulling out of the parking lot, Dyl says, "Ooooo, there's a Burger King, Mom! Could we PLLLLLLEEEEEEAAAAASSSSSSEEEE get chicken & fries IN A KID'S MEAL!" Um...I think he decided to push his luck since I had just said the words "whatever you guys want...we're on VACATION!" about 50 times in the store. Aahhh, what the heck! Sure, we can get fast food! (Note: Just to be clear, grocery shopping wasn't a total loss. I enjoyed the BBQ chicken, cheese and apples. Plus, we had brownies for dessert. Yum!)
With our feast laid before us, I flipped on the tv to start up the movie; however, "National Treasure" was playing so we HAD to watch that first. Before I knew it, I had 2 little boys zonked out. I thought about watching the dvd we rented by myself but I opted to catch up on some reading...a good book & some time to actually read it..now THAT'S a VACATION! :)
My little diehard, Dyl insisted on bringing his U of U blanket to the hotel.
The next day we enjoyed the breakfast of Champions-- Fruit Loops & chocolate milk (my teeth are aching just thinking about it, BUT remember, we are on vacation)-- while we discussed our plans for the day. Aidan was still pushing for the Alpine slide or the Zipline. The rain had stopped so we thought that was a pretty good idea, BUT first they wanted to go swimming a little more before we checked out. Sounded good to me.
By the time everything was said & done, we stepped out in the crisp cold air to feel big drops of rain falling on our face...did I say "crisp cold air"? Yeah, try low 40's AND I had only packed shorts & t-shirts. YIKES!!! Luckily, I always keep coats and caps in the car, but DANG!!! It was freakin' cold!
We decided with the rain, the slides would probably be closed. We all agreed that going home & catching "Hellboy 2" sounded good...and warm. SO we packed up our stuff & started home until...we came across a PARADE!
Sure enough, the Miner's Day parade was just getting started. The boys spotted some cool vintage cars & deal was sealed. We were bravin' the cold to see these cars!
