O.K. So I'm a little Star Struck!

Today was one for the record books! Our family had the amazing opportunity to spend some quality time with Jenny Phillips. For those of you who don't know who that is, she is an LDS musician who is very popular with the Young Women of our church. She has a commission from Deseret Book to produce an album every year that goes along with the Young Women's theme for the year. Needless to say, but she is my all time favorite recording artist.

Why was she at my house you ask, well that's a funny story...

...Several months ago I was serving as the Second Counselor in our ward's Young Women's organization. Every year for the girl's birthday's we would give them a copy of Jenny's CD. After several years of doing that we all became huge fans. Quite frankly, she is the only LDS artist I have ever really listened to and loved. Anyway, I was at work several months ago and a new co-worker had forwarded an email from his "old choir," they were raising money to help build and orphanage in South Africa. At the end of the email it was signed "Thanks, Jenny." I leaned out of my cubicle and asked my friend, "Hey Billy, did you use to sing with the Jenny Phillips Choir?" He matter of factly said, "yea." I was instantly giddy! I tried really hard to calm myself so that I didn't look like a totally idiot, but I had to go over and just stand in his presence and ask about his experiences with her (because you know I am a total dork, and get totally star struck!) After I finished drooling, Billy offered to ask her if she would come to Vegas and do a Fireside for our Stake. After a couple of days, I decided to take him up on his offer. He called Jenny right then and there, she explained to him that she had turned down several requests to come to Vegas, but for him, no problem. Anyway, long story Short, she came today.

I have been frantically working on making my house presentable. My sweet Husband even took care of touch up paint and shampooing the carpets without even being asked. He was a total gem! I couldn't have stayed sane without him. I can get a little crazy about this kind of stuff.

After church I picked her up from the airport and brought her back to our house for a late lunch, early dinner before the fireside. All the way to the airport I was going totally nuts trying to figure out how to have a conversation with this woman without looking like a total stalker. Then it dawned on me, she is a real person just like me. She is about your age and she has young kids just like you. So what if she is a popular recording artist (popular being relative, most people don't even know who she is.) just treat her like you would want to be treated. So, I did. We had a lovely drive home and a great lunch. She is quite the amazing person. I don't think I have ever met anyone who is that in tune with the spirit. It was very easy to spend the day with her.

At the Fireside it was interesting to watch people react to her. They were all having the same feelings that I had been having just a few hours before. The excitement was the underlying energy in the room. Her presentation was wonderful, the music was lovely and to share the experience with my girls was priceless. I'm sure a day that we won't soon forget.

Too Much to Blog, So Little Time!

Almost a week later I finally have a few minutes to post our Easter fun! I tell ya, I think I'm time deprived. Anyway...We had a wonderful Easter weekend with plenty of fun and frolicking. Friday we had the first of many Easter Egg Hunts. The first one was our playgroup hunt. Normally only Emily and I attend playgroup, but Hannah was on Spring Break so she was able to join us. They had a wonderful time with all of their friends, and Mom had a blast too with her wonderful group of friends. I'm beginning to think that "Playgroup" is really more for the mom's than the kids.

The next event was our Ward Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday morning. Once again a myriad of friends, hundred of colorful plastic eggs and enough sugar to power and army. They perfect Saturday morning activity.

Saturday evening was when the fun really kicked up a notch. As a family we were planning on going to a "new" (new to us) Mexican restaurant for dinner, Macayos. As we were leaving we bumped into our neighbors and asked if they wanted to join us. You know dinner with friends is always more fun. While we were waiting to be seated our Tracy decided to play the video poker and actually won $75, guess who bought dinner! This made Mike very happy. So the lesson here kids is...it's o.k. to let your friends gamble as long as you can take a cut! He, he

After dinner we went home and dyed eggs, made cupcakes and one again had another egg hunt. This time we used glow in the dark eggs. Now this is a neat invention. Again, fun was had by all.

Finally, we made it to the main event. Easter morning I had fun playing dress up with my girls. You know that is what mom's get to do when they have girls. I would have to say one of my favorite things about Easter growing up is that I always got a new dress, so I have of course I have to keep the tradition alive. After the girls briefly checked out their Easter Baskets from the Easter Bunny we headed off to 9 am Church. We decided to wait to have our egg hunt until after Haley returned home from Colorado later that day.

Church was wonderful. A great reminder what the day is really about. I really hate how this special day get swallowed up in commercialism and rabbits. Next year I am going to take a cue from a few friends and have our bunny activities on Saturday and save the Sabbath for remembering our Savior and his wonderful sacrifice for us. Now, if I can just remember that for next year. I'm getting old you know.

Some Daddy Time

Mike grew up around horses and many other kinds of animals, and has been itching to get back to his cowboy roots. Luckily, we live in a "rural preservation" area, which is a joke because we live about 10 minutes away from the "Strip," but whatever. It really means that many of the people in the area have many types of farm animals. Some of our dear friends, the Cowley's, have three horses and have been so kind to invite our family to come and spend time with them. Mike loves that he can share the experience of being around horses with his girls. They absolutely love it. I'm all over it because they can go there and get their animal fix, come home, shower, and my house is still clean (relatively speaking.)

Relief Society Dinner

I have been meaning to post this for a week now and just haven't gotten to it (that's the story of my life!)

Last Thursday we had our annual Desert View Ward Relief Society Dinner, this year's theme was "A Woman's Legacy." I had the wonderful opportunity to work with some amazing ladies to put this together for the ward. We had a wonderful dinner headed up by Danielle. She did a wonderful job of planning and organizing the elders and young men to help her. A feat in and of it's self! Great job Danielle. We also had beautiful decor and a fabulous program with Amanda heading up that part of the evening. That's where I came in. I helped Amanda with a balloon arch and setting up for the event. Setting up for these things are such a pain and yet so worth it in the end. It's nice to walk into the ugly gym at the church and see it transformed to a soft, feminine atmosphere. Melinda and I also worked on the slide show that has kind of turned into a tradition for the dinner. It's so fun to gather the pictures from the sisters (also a pain in the you know what sometimes, you know who you are!!) and see them in there regular life settings. I turn into a blubbering baby once I have everything put together and then set it to some wonderful music, I turn to mush. It's and amazing thing to see all of these wonderful strong women with there families and remember how the Lord thinks every one of us just as special as the next one. It's really cool. Here are some of the pictures from the evening, thanks to Chrissy for helping with the camera duty. It was a wonderful evening and a wonderful opportunity to get to know some wonderful people even better. Love you guys!!

I've Beeen Tagged!

Ten Years Ago...

Well...here's a fun little trip down memory lane. Ten years ago this week, to be exact, I was putting together a surprise anniversary party for my parents and leaving my husband. Huh, you say? Yes, both in the same week. My parent's anniversary is on St. Patrick's Day, and no, we aren't Irish, and it just happened to be the day that worked for them. It was their 25th anniversary and I decided that it was a great time to celebrate their love, so I planned, and successfully executed a wonderful surprise party for them. It was beautiful! Two days later I left my husband Paul, but that's a story for another day. It was a crazy week. Haley was six months old, I was running a before and after school daycare program at a local elementary school, and moving back in with my parents (whohoo!) Needless to say that it was a rather tumultuous time in my life. I'm glad to say things have smoothed out rather nicely in the last ten years.

Snacks I enjoy...

1. Ice Cream
2. Really good bread and cheese (That's the french side of me coming out!)
3. A good veggie plate
4. Good fruit
5. Chocolate

5 Things on my To-Do List...

1. Go to the Chiropractor
2. Start planning a company picnic
3. Put together a menu for the week and go shopping
4. Finish my rag quilt
5. Organize the house

What I would do if I suddenly became a Billionaire...

I echo Christene's "tell no one" and invest most of it plan. Then I would...

• Buy a new house, nothing garish, just something with nice living areas, a gourmet kitchen, swimming pool, and plenty of storage space.
• Buy a couple of new cars.
• Travel, travel, travel.
• Retire my parents.
• Travel to third world countries and provide humanitarian aide, especially for women who are in need.

3 Bad Habits...

1. I am a master procrastinator
2. I don't prioritize well
3. I spend to much money

5 Places I have lived...

1. Littleton, Colorado
2. Rexburg, Idaho
3. Dillon, Colorado
4. Aurora, Colorado
5. Las Vegas, Nevada

5 Jobs that I have had...

1. Kindergarten Teacher's Aide
2. Daycare Director
3. Corporate Account Manager for Enterprise Rent-A-Car
4. Vice President of Operations for Healthquest International
5. Technical Writer and Event Planner for Unique Communication Solutions

What people don't know about me...

• Well, let's see...I used to love to perform when I was younger. One of the plays that I was in won a national competition. Now, I hate to be in front of people in a performing kind of way. Weird huh?
• I was kicked out of Ricks College, not one of my proudest moments. Let's just say that I majored in socialization. I scored really well in that area, to bad it wasn't a college approved major.
• When I was younger I wanted no part of being a wife, mother and homemaker. I wanted to go to a top ranked business school and move to New York and climb the corporate ladder. Needless to say, academics weren't my strong suit. My sister still laughs at how crafty I have become, because I was sooo not like that when I was younger. I still hate housework, I really don't understand when people say that they like to clean when they are mad. I don't get that at all! I am lucky that I have a understanding and very helpful husband. He is a much better wife and mother than I am.
• Someday I would like to go to art school and get my degree in graphic design or photography, or maybe nursing school and become a labor and delivery nurse, or go on the Amazing Race with my husband. All rather random I know. I don't think I will ever know what I want to be or do when I grow up.

Thanks for the tag Christene. I now tag...Andrea, Jeff & Valerie, Elizabeth and Anne.

I Need a Shot of Adrenaline, STAT!

Have you ever had one of those days, or even months where you feel like you are spinning your wheels in mud? I have, and am experiencing one right now. I don't know what it is. Maybe it is the impending summer (110-115 degrees is not my idea of fun,) the fact that my Husband has been traveling a lot, the kids have been sick, I haven't been feeling myself either, no great "thing" to look forward to, my job takes to much of my time, or all of the above. Don't get me wrong I am not depressed, just stagnant. I feel like if I just had a good shot of adrenaline I would be just fine.

Here's Emily with a 103 degree fever. I have got to come up with something to get out of this funk! Any ideas?


On a lighter note I decided to put The Food Network to the test and see if I could make a gourmet meal, you know the ones that they make look so easy! Haley and I were watching "Tyler's Ultimate" last week and she had been begging for the meal all week. It was "Fontina and Prosciutto Stuffed Pork Chops with Grilled Polenta Squares and Roasted California Grapes." Sounds daunting, huh? Well, it didn't take a quick and simple 30 minutes like Tyler does on his show, but after a few hours I think I had something pretty good. I think even Chef Ramsay would be proud! Here is the link if anyone is interested in the recipe, http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_116702,00.html
It was a personal culinary triumph!

Just a bunch of sickies!

This weekend has been both crummy and nice at the same time. Last week was was rather crazy with Mike being out of town and many different meetings that needed my attendance, tasks that needed attention, family requirement and so on. You all know how that goes. On top of all of that, on Monday morning I woke-up with a cold. That's alright, I am a relatively high functioning sickie so no big deal. Friday night Mike returned from North Carolina and ,sure enough, he was sick too. Time to hunker down. All of the weekend plans were deep sixed and we just took time to relax and recover. It was rather nice!

Spending time with Mike was wonderful. You know, absence make the heart grow fonder. So, If I ever start to feel sorry for myself when he is gone, I just remember how nice it is when he returns home and I then have something to look forward to.

Another plus for this weekend is our new distraction. We were lucky enough to get a Wii (Thanks Kim and Justin!) from some friends. Now, let me preface this by saying, I am not a gamer at all, but I love the Wii. We have been having so much fun playing tennis, golf and bowling as a family. Haley is the reining bowling queen while Mom kicks some trash at golf and Dad cleans up at tennis, although Hannah has a pretty mean serve.

So, although we all felt crummy for the most part, we had a really fun weekend together. Just a quiet, low key weekend full of gaming fun. Thanks Nintendo!