Lucky Hat

Bronson decided that he has a lucky hat. I don't know what happened that made it so "lucky" but he has worn it to every baseball practice this year and any event that he deems "worthy". Tonight he even fell asleep with it on! Maybe I'll have to borrow it sometime!!

Officially Summer

Today was the kids very last day of school! They only went for an hour and a half so we had the rest of the day to play. We kicked off summer by going swimming with Brittany and her boys. We had a lot of fun. We're excited that summer if here!

We're Back!

Last night I got home from a week in New York City. I was there with my sister Brittany, my brother Dustin, and my parents. We had a great time and we were able to squeeze a lot in. Brittany and I left on Monday morning around 10:00. My brother was coming from Vegas and we met him there - my parents didn't arrive until late that night although they flew first class so I'm sure their flight was more enjoyable. When we went last year, Brittany and I were able to fly first class with them so we felt extremely jipped this year - flying coach!

Brittany and I leaving from the SLC airport. We looked more refreshed than the picture I'll post of us leaving from the JFK airport!
With my mom and Brittany waiting to go into the Martha Stewart Show. We were there on a great day because they gave away Tom Ford (of Gucci) cologne for men, a ton of scrapbook supplies, and because the 3 of us cheered so loud - we got an additional give away of some bath products. We scored!


Going crazy in Chinatown. We scored some cute purses. This is always such an adventure. We followed one lady up 7 flights of stairs and into a bonafide sweatshop to get some of them. We're crazy!
On Wednesday, Brittany and I got up at 5:30 in the morning to wait outside the ABC studios to see if we could get into the VIEW. We were numbers 3 and 4 in the standby line. We waited for 2 hours to get those numbers and than we had to come back an hour later to see if we'd get into the show. They didn't let ANY standby's in that day so we went home disappointed. We later found out that we could have witnessed history unfold because there was a big fight between Rosie and Elisabeth that day and Rosie is not coming back. We could have been there for the drama! That's shallow but it would have been entertainment!

With Brittany and Dustin on Time's Square. We stayed at the Hilton on Time's Square - just a block or so from here. This was taken as we were walking home from "Legally Blonde" - the musical. It was cute!

This was taken at "Serendipity". If you've seen the move "Serendipity" you know this place. It's also in the movie "One Fine Day". We always eat here and get their famous Frozen Hot Chocolates. Delicious!!
This was taken at "Tavern on the Green". We ate there before on Thursday night. This is a beautiful place located at Central Park. Great atmosphere. After we ate here we went to see the musical "Spring Awakening." VERY raunchy and disappointing. We left at intermission. It's sad too because it's up for lik 11 Tony Awards this year. Figures! The upside of going to that was we were able to see Zach Braff (of Scrubs). He sat right in front of Dustin. Also, across the isle from us was Sissy Spacek. I love seeing stars!

Hammered! This was us yesterday waiting at the JFK airport to come home. Not quite as refreshed as when we left. We love New York but after a week there, we are ready to come home.

Other highlights of the trip...

We saw "Mary Poppins" - the musical. SOOOOO GOOD. There were a lot of little kids there and I wish my girls could have seen it. One of my favorites I've ever seen.

We did a session in the Manhattan Temple on Friday and I always love doing that. The temple is so beautiful and it's never busy so we usually have the place to ourselves. So peaceful.

The biggest highlight of my trip was a missionary experience we had with a cab driver. I was with my mom and Brittany when we got into this cab and the man asked us where we were from. After we told him we were from Utah, he said "Are you Mormons?" We told him we were. He went on to say that he had met some Mormons a couple of weeks ago who had given him a Book of Mormon but he didn't have time to read it because he was in his cab all the time. He went on to tell us everything he knew (which was a lot!). He was a man from Nigeria, Africa and he was a little difficult to understand but in the 5 minute cab ride we had with him, he asked us as many questions as he could. About the pioneers - why we had a temple and a church - what was the difference - how do you pray, etc.

Then he asked me, "If I was to say a prayer for him, what would I say." I went on to try and tell him how we pray - but he seemed to already know that. He wanted me to PRAY for him right there and then. I was a little taken back but I told him I would. In the last 30 seconds of our ride, I said a prayer out loud and prayed from him - that his questions could be answered and he'd find the peace he was looking for. By the end of the prayer - I was crying, Brittany and my mom were crying - and the cab driver was wiping his eyes and he said, "That touched me very much!"

He gave me his address and we're going this week to the Distribution Center and getting everything we can to send him. He wants us to send him EVERYTHING we can get our hands on for him. I'm sending the missionaries to him and I think he will finally know everything he wants to know about our church.

We had a great trip. Dave did such a great job with the kids and house while I was gone. Everything was so clean when I got home. The only thing I have to do is my laundry!

Spray Tan Gone Bad

Hey all. The picture below is of my sister, Brittany's hands. We leave for New York City on Monday morning and she wanted to do something that would give her that healthy glow. On Wednesday night she went to a tanning salon and did a spray tan. This was her first time doing anything like this. She came and showed it to me the next morning and it was so funny. She has a stripes down her arms (contrasting the light and dark) and this is what her hands look like. It hasn't worn off yet but we've had a great laugh over it.

Pine Wood Derby!

Last night was the Pine Wood Derby. This is the car that Dave and Bronson came up with. It was a fun process making our very first car. Bronson's main contribution was the skeleton man who drove the car.

The race at Pack Meeting last night was fun. Bronson's car was a lot of the races it was in and overall - he came in at a respectable 4th place. Pretty good for a rookie. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place went to veterans - (9 and 10 year olds!)

The award Bronson got was "Frighteningly Fast!"

Treasures!

Last night Emmie was SO sick. She ran a high fever from 1:00 am to about 4:30 am. Along with her fever, her immune disorder was in full swing and she couldn't breathe out of her nose and her lungs were full of gunk. She gave me quite a scare. Dave stayed home from church with her during Sacrament Meeting - while she slept. Then we had Talbie come home for the last 2 hours of church and take care of her because Dave had to teach a Sunday School class - and teach the combined YM lesson the last hour. I was playing the piano in Relief Society or I would have stayed home with her all day. I'm thankful for my older girls and that they can fill in for me when I need them!

I waited until after church to open my Mother's Day presents. I knew Emmie would want to be up for them because she wanted to give me her other present all week (she gave me the questionnaire I posted a few days ago - early). Below you can see the display of all the gifts. I'll tell you who gave me what..

Bronson gave me:

The picture of me and him that he drew (I'm the one that looks like a dragon). He also gave me the pink clay thingy??? with "MOM" carved in it and the recipe holder he made at Cub Scouts.

Emmie gave me:

The blue hand prints with the saying "Here's a happy hug a bunch, wrap it around and fee the crunch. May smiles and kisses come your way, with lots of Love on Mother's Day!" She said it was for me to use if I needed a hug and she wasn't home. (Awwww!)

Talbie gave me:

One of her famous stitching that says "You Rock Mom!" - a painted heart box with earrings inside, purple sun glasses, a coloring book she made, and a poem entitled "Mother"

M - Mostly sweet (mostly??)
O - Only one
T - Tells the truth
H - Has a big heart
E - Empties our worries
R - Rewards us all
S - Soft and sweet

Maddie gave me:

I'm still trying to figure that out! She took credit for what Dave gave to me even though I know she had nothing to do with it. She'll pay for that in the week to come I'm sure!

Dave gave me a food processor which I love. I've been dropping the hint to him for about 2 years now and it finally sank in.



I've had a great day so far. We're leaving in a minute for my mom's house and then to Dave's sisters for dinner where we'll see his family. Fun day!

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to my mom. I hope you have a great day (and I'll be over later with your present!) I looked for a picture to post of just me and my mom but I can't see to find all my old pictures. I did find this one with my brothers Cody and Bret - and my baby sister Brittany. I must have been 10 in this picture and my baby brother Dustin either wasn't born or isn't pictured.

I just have to say mom that you're the best mom a girl could have. You always have a big smile on your face and you are an inspiration to me. Have a great day!

Dance Pictures

Next week is Emmie and Maddie's dance recital. Emmie has been taking a "Combo" class and the dance she is doing for the recital is a tap dance. Maddie is continuing with her ballet training, but she is also taking a jazz class that she loves. She will perform and dance in each of these classes next week. This summer will be very crazy for Maddie because she will be "living" at that dance studio. Along with her ballet and jazz classes, she is taking a "turns" class and a hip hop class. She is also trying out for the Ballet Company on the 29th and that will keep her very busy. She loves to dance. I really understand her because I was the same way and couldn't get enough. (Maddie is the one in the yellow below). I wish I had some pictures of Talbie but she decided after we did the Nutcracker at Christmas (her 3rd time) that she was done with dancing!


Last week we went to the Orem High School Dance Concert. We had so much fun. Maddie will get to try out for that team at the end of next year (her 9th grade year). Brittany danced on Orem High's Dance Team and her friend that she danced with is now their coach. I danced on Meridian High's Dance/Drill Team (in Meridian, Idaho). My Grandma Christensen was my dance teacher when I turned 3 and then my Aunt Laura taught me through high school. When my family moved to Orem my senior year, I stopped dancing and I really regret it. I did take some clogging classes at BYU and that was fun!

Early Mother's Day Gift

Emmie gave me this priceless treasure yesterday after pre school. It was an early Mother's Day present. I don't know if you can read the answers to the questions or not, but here is the run down. She actually did answer some of these dead right!

How old? 20 (Right on!)
How tall? 100 inches ( 8'4" - I'm only 5'2")
Weight? 60 pounds
(add 40 to that and she's right again!)
Dress Size? 16 (WRONG but I'm getting close!)
How many brothers and sisters? 3
I think she was thinking of how many kids I had
minus her?)
Where was I born? At home (cute)
Favorite Food? Salad (she was right)
Favorite TV Show? cooking show (she was right - I love anything on the Food Network)
Favorite thing to do? Go on the compuer (she was right and maybe I need to cut back!)
Best Friend? Brittany (right again)
List a talent? Hugging (she knows me well!)

I LOVE Mother's Day presents like this. They are truly treasures!

Women's Conference

My mom, Brittany, and I went to BYU's Women's Conference today - during the pouring rain. We had it made because my dad dropped us off at the front door of the Marriott Center and then came and picked us up when we were done. We had a great time together and have decided to make this a tradition. It was the first time we had gone. Here's a picture. We had one taken together with my mom but it didn't turn out.