The Mudrows

Marek's first bully....

2011-01-16T20:09:00.006-07:00

Cute, harmless and absolutely adorable Brynlee Ky Lynn

When one of my best friends Brittin asked me and my mom to tend her daughter Brynlee... one of the cutest girls in the world... of course we said yes! If you haven't met Brittin and Ky's daughter... she is the best baby ever... she hardly ever cries, she is super chill, and I thought she would be SO easy to babysit! Her normal babysitters daughter had bronchitis, so we watched her for three days.

I took a few pictures of the two of them together when she first got here, and they were so dang cute... I started thinking about all the fun things that we could do to spend the day!

How cute are they??? I didn't realize how little Marek James was until I put Bryn next to him...

I thought that they loved each other... they were both cooing and being so cute....Bryn had her arm around Marek... welcoming him into the world!

and then it happened....she just SNAPPED... my poor kid couldn't cover his face fast enough... although you can see that he tried....

She just started smacking the crap out of him...all while still smiling for the camera! I thought she got an easy going temperament from her daddy... but apparently that has all been a farce, and she got a mean bullying streak from her mommy instead...

TAKE 2!

I thought that must have been a one time thing.... that Brynlee didn't realize that she was smacking her boyfriend... I thought, maybe she mixed him up with one of my dogs that she hates... so I tried to see if they could be friends one more time...

My sweet baby James is looking so cute and helpless at his guardian taking his picture... trying to throw his tiny little hand to the sky as his only protection to stop the big bang theory who is clearly in motion to punch him out again!

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? She even kicked him that time... she is like a triple threat! Punch, kick kick!!

I finally wised up after Bryn's second attempt to scar my new baby and made sure that she was only able to watch him from afar for the remaining few days. We made sure that we let Brynlee sleep in as long as she wanted to after that, and we fed her as much as she would eat, and we gave her a calming bath with Enya playing in the background to sooth her anger and treaded lightly in the hallway during nap time as to not wake the "sleeping giant".

Brittin.... I love you... but if you ever need me to watch you little girl again...I hope you pre pack her diaper bag with a sedative to help calm her aggression, and give me enough notice so that I can buy extra diapers for Marek to wear, and onsies as a precaution and extra protection!

growing up too fast

2011-01-16T19:07:00.006-07:00

Just some more pictures of our new little man! I have never been so infatuated in my whole life... and can't quit taking pictures of him! He has changed our whole world, and I am so sad that I have to go back to work soon. I just don't want to miss one thing, and he is changing so fast :( This last week was the saddest week ever... he outgrew newborn diapers AND outgrew of some of his newborn pajamas. I seriously want to cry about it, I just want him to stay little forever!

He always sleeps with his hands in crazy positions next to his face!

His Christmas present from Grandma and Grandpa Sanders... a potato sack :)

The two cutest Ohio State fans around!

Already sucking his thumb

Can he get any cuter?

I just love this little guy!

Christmas!

2011-01-16T17:41:00.005-07:00

I LOVE Christmas!! It is my favorite Holiday of the year, and this year was even sweeter having a new baby in the house!! The kids really wanted to have Christmas at our house this year since it is our first year in our home.... and with Marek being so little, this was the perfect year for it.

Kenny spent the night at our house Christmas Eve, and we had a lot of fun! Everyone got to open their new jammies to sleep in, and then we sent the kids to bed shortly after!

Dad, Wendy and Mitzi got to the house around 11 am. We were so glad that Mitzi actually came! I was worried that she was going to back out when my dad went to pick her up! She held Marek for quite a while and loves him so much!! He fell right to sleep when she took him, and she was convinced right then and there of his love for her!! She is so cute with him! Cole and Angela came later in the afternoon and Angela is starting to show so much... she looks so cute, and I can't wait to meet my little niece in May!

A new "grab bag" game this year that Wendy came up with...it was a big hit!

Aunt Angela and Marek

Aunt Cindy and Uncle Lester stopped by for a few minutes too!!

Marek's new "monkey junky" from Grandpa Hart

Grandpa and his boy

Dad finally got I new and LONGER robe! YAY! About 15 years overdue!

Alana got lots of new clothes!

Aunt Mitzi and her grand nephew!

We had one new stocking this year!

all of the tired babies after an exciting day!

Christmas Eve

2011-01-16T16:27:00.005-07:00

This year went by so fast... and to tell you the truth, even though we had our Christmas tree up for over 2 months....it didn't really even sink in to me until Christmas was over, that it even was Christmas. It was the happiest Holiday season that I remember in a very long time... but I think we were so overtaken with the baby and with NO silent nights around our house....that it just came and went so fast! Marek seems to be in a great routine for him.... just like clockwork! But not so great for us... he is up every 3 hours and our routine of feeding, changing and rocking ... then napping starts all over again! He is lucky that he is so dang cute... because I don't wake up at 2 and 5 am for just anyone!!!

We spent Christmas Eve with the Mudrows, and it was so much fun! We haven't been there for Christmas Eve for about 4 years... my side of the family is so small... it takes me a little while to get used to so much going on!! Marek makes #28 as far as grandchildren on the Mudrow's side, and he is only #4 for us... if that puts it into perspective!! Marek had lots of Aunts, Uncles and Cousins that he hadn't met yet.. so we really wanted to go there. It was Marek's first time leaving the house (besides his Dr. Appts.). We have been pretty protective of him since he is so small and it is RSV season!! We tucked him in the back room for most of the evening, but that didn't stop most of his Aunts from sneaking in there for lots of love and snuggles!! He had lots of older cousins that wanted to hold him too... but they will have to wait until he gets just a little bit older!

We had some yummy crepes for dinner that Mike and Ruth made, and we had lots of options for stuffing them!! Then we went into the living room for some entertainment on the piano from the nieces and nephews who all took turns singing and playing the piano! Finally it was present time!!! I LOVED watching how excited all the kids got when opening their gifts!! Everyone gets along so well...it is always so nice for the kids to get to see all of their cousins!

Present time!! All the cousins draw names every year and that is what they get to open every Christmas Eve.

There was plenty of Entertainment too! Liz played the piano for the kids to sing, and the kids that could play piano played such cute Christmas pieces! There is a lot of talent in our big family!! Colton and Mats sang a duet to the Polar Express song, and it was so great!!! They have really good voices... and it made me realize even more how bad we need to get Matsie a singing coach! That will be on my to do list for 2011~

Mats' stocking

Alana and Marek's stocking! We were so happy to see the newest stocking put up this year! It caught me a little off guard to see it and made Christmas with a new baby feel very real!!

Pics of the cute boy

2011-01-16T16:05:00.004-07:00

A photographer came to our hospital room the day after Marek was born and took some pictures of him!! I wish I would have had some warning... and I would have gotten out of my hospital gown :( But I am pretty happy with the ones of Marek! I was going to get some more done of him when we came home, but my husband talked me out of it since the hospital ones turned out so cute!! He sure is a handsome boy!

Marek is HERE!

2011-01-16T13:31:00.006-07:00

Marek James Mudrow was born on Dec. 8th, 2010 at 11:31 p.m.... and we are SO excited to have him here!! He was 6 pounds and 7 ounces and 20 inches long. Labor went fairly smooth (after the epidural that is), the whole process was only 9 hours, and I only had to push for about 30 minutes... so I won't complain at all since this was my first pregnancy!

We had lots of family and friends come to meet our new little man in the hospital and to give me much needed advice on mommyhood! He is the most handsome little man in the world, and I didn't know that is was possible to love someone so much!! This is truly a whole new world for me... and I don't know what we did with all of our time before he got here! Our other kids are so great with him, and love him so much! I truly feel like he was the missing link to our family, and I couldn't be happier or feel more blessed as a mom!

Uncle Kenny

The Grandmas!

Proud Daddy
Proud Mommy

Home

2010-10-22T10:21:00.008-06:00

One more big change to our family this summer... we are FINALLY homeowners!!! We decided to take the plunge, and it was MUCH easier than I thought it would be. I didn't think we would qualify for anything.... but turns out we were much harsher critics of ourselves, then the banks wanting some business from us were :)

We have kind of been gypsies for the past few years, and never wanted to settle down "just in case" we had to move again for work etc.... we never wanted any strings attached that would make us have to decline the 'perfect promotion'.

But we have finally decided to make some adult decisions! Our kids are getting tired of switching schools every other year, and making new friends AGAIN, and with us adding to our family (and not having room to do so), we felt like this was a good decision. Paul and I also LOVE to get involved with our neighborhoods and communities, and it has always been so sad for us to feel at home somewhere and then move. So we have decided to dig in and plant some roots for our family.

We have also decided that we are not going to move for work anymore... if our companies want us to stay with them bad enough, then they will work around our terms. If not, then we can find something else that fits our families decisions better. We love Utah, our family and friends are here, and so we are HERE TO STAY! We love our work, and feel that we have been quite loyal to them, but it is just time for us to make some decisions based on us... and not them. Believe it or not, we feel more liberated with our decision to stay put then we have in a long time.

It is nice to feel in control of our lives, and to be able to make future decisions for our family based on the knowledge that we know we will be here long term. It is so nice to be able to know what High School our kids will go to, and know that we will be in the same ward next year!

We decided to buy in South Jordan - the scary WEST SIDE! After reading an article earlier this summer and seeing the "South Jordan, UT" was one of the top ten best places to live in the nation... we felt pretty good about our decision! We looked at SO MANY homes.... and finally found the "one" for us. We really wanted something that was "move in ready". So the basement is finished... and we have room for storage etc... AND an extra room for a nursery!

some pics of the nursery! This was one of our project's this week!

Alana was way excited to help us!

and the other kids CAN'T WAIT to meet their brother!

Ta- Da!! We are still waiting for a few pieces of furniture, but this is pretty much the finished product!

Oh... and we have finally decided on a name for the kid! Marek! Paul and I watched a movie about a year ago (a Gerard Butler movie... of course) and his character's name was Andre Marek. They called him Marek most of the movie, and we both loved it! Well... long story short, we just re-watched the movie, and we STILL LOVE IT! It will be 6 or 7 more weeks before we will get to meet our new little family member... so instead of setting it in stone... we have set it in blocks! ( just in case there is a last minute name change after we meet him)

What else... oh yeah....

2010-10-17T11:21:00.004-06:00

I AM PREGNANT!!! We weren't very good with sharing our great news this time... just in case! We really wanted to get past the "scary miscarriage stage". Then, after we were 12 weeks, we were so good at keeping it secret... that we didn't really tell anyone other than really close friends and family until I couldn't hide it anymore!! I am now in my eighth month if you can believe it!! We are having a little boy, and his due date is Dec. 16th or 17th! (or the 8th from what the fetal photo OB told me yesterday..apparently he is measuring big)

I think most everyone knows by now... but sorry if this is new to some of you! We are SO excited!!

this is the first picture that we got from our doctor of our little nugget!

I really haven't been taking very many pictures... I think I must have been hiding my pregnancy from myself too :) in fact the first pregnant picture that I took was at 24 weeks :( I feel bad about it now... but what do you do?

24 weeks

26 weeks

28 weeks

30 weeks

31 weeks

So yep... there it is! Out in the blogger world for everyone to know now! The further along we get, the more excited and real it feels!! I am the luckiest girl in the world for having such an awesome husband, he is SO excited, and tries to re-assure me that I can do the whole "mom" thing to a newborn. I am a WAY good doggie mom, but real little babies scare me a little... so wish us luck!

Thank goodness I will have so much help! The kids are super excited... Alana is so good with kids, and will be the best big sister! Mats is just happy he won't be the youngest anymore, and my mom is living with us as well and will help us with the baby when I go back to work! I think I am feeling pretty supported in this!

The Mudrow family just threw me an AWESOME shower last week as well, and we got so much cool stuff! (1/2 of it I didn't know how to work or what it was) but I will learn! I think seeing my confused face when I opened their gifts made them worry a little bit... :) They are all such good moms though... I am happy to know that I can call them with all my questions!

LOTS to catch up on!

2010-10-17T09:49:00.012-06:00

So... I will try to go in order from what I can remember of our crazy summer! I am pretty behind though... so it might have to be broken up in a few posts!

Mats took 3rd place in the spelling bee at the end of the year! He competed against his own class (4th grade) and then against the finalists from all the grades up to 6th! He did SO good, and was REAL upset to get the boot on the word "RESTAURANT". He will always remember how to spell that word now!!

He practiced so hard, and knew this word, but he just got too nervous and skipped right over the "U". He realized what he had done before he finished spelling the word, but the judges don't let you go back and fix it once you have spelled over 1/2 of the word :( But we are really proud of him! He can't wait for next years contest to redeem himself!

This is him right after he got out! He was so mad... but I think he looks cute in his little Magoo glasses :)

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Mats also FINALLY completed his super gross "mold" school project at the end of the year!
YUCK! Let me just tell you how happy we were to get these things out of the house!!

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The kids also participated in the "egg drop" contest!! Alana is SO dang creative!! These are Her, Mats and their friend Heathers inventions!
They had to be in animal shapes this year!

So cute! Only the little piggy's egg broke! But the other two made it through to the end!

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We celebrated Cole's 26th birthday!
He almost burned down our house with all that fire!! Angela made his cake, and it was SO GOOD!

Ann, Jody and Dawsey came over to help celebrate! It was so good to see them!

The rest of the fam!

Little Rem was exhausted having so many people over! He is almost 8 weeks here!

and of course a good game of Bocci to finish things off!

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We had a couple of parties with our family!! I think this was around Mother's day!

Many a Mudrow's!

Julie and Nate! (Love this kid)

My cute boy grillin' up a storm!

Alana with the delivery!

Dad Mudrow and Sanders loading up!

Adam's birthday cake for dessert! He is going to be one cute boy!

Angela... HOPEFULLY getting a little baby hungry!! There is ALWAYS a new baby to hold on the Mudrow side of the family!

Bocci, and of course... the boys throwing rocks in the pond!

After....

BIG FAMILY...

The kids played at the park a lot too! They had such a good time! Mats and Alana LOVE to hang out with all of their cousins!

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Matsie turned 10 years old!!! I can't believe it!! (July 6, 2010)

opening gifts!

I am so glad that Mats and Alana love each other .... most of the time!

Alana got him pretty good!!

I love this picture!

Hotwheels... of course! He is a MAJOR collector!

And video games....

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We CELEBRATED my mom's 55th birthday! 08-08-10
the cutest 70 year old man decorated this at the store... he was a little shaky... but did such a good job!

My beautiful mom! I love how her eyes look Chinese and sparkle when she gets real happy :)

mom and Cole

Kenny, mom, me and cole

Linsey, Ang, Mom and me

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Cute Greyson (Julie) and Brynlee (Brittin) were born! AND Jacie's little Maddex and Danielle's Porter... but I haven't been able to meet them yet :(

Little Bryn Ky... this is the only picture I have of her when she isn't making mean faces at me or flipping me off.... she is so cute!

Cute little Greyson! I need to find an actual picture of his face... he is the CUTEST little thing!

Little miss Olivia Claire... I call her "Claire Bear" She is Rachel and Kenny's youngest... and SO beautiful!

I love getting together with the Girls for lunch! We don't get to do it near enough!
Seriously... look how good Brit and Julie look after just having babies!! I wish we would have take a picture of all of us... but I am a slacker!

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I also got to see my friend Anique and FINALLY meet her Cute talking New Zealand husband Mark! We had SO much fun with them!!! They stayed the night with us, and we went to Temple Square, had dutch oven in our backyard with Brittin and Kyle too!! It was SO good to see her!!

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We also were able to squeeze in a little summer vacation before the kids took off to see their mom for most of August!!
We went to Vegas, Hoover Dam, and Palm Springs CA. and Knotts Berry "soak city". We had a really good time... but it was WAY TOO HOT!!! We weren't the smartest vacation planners to go to Vegas in July.... UGHH

ROAD TRIP

what is a vacation without an IHOP breakfast??

Paul and Mats

The mermaid aquarium at the Silverado... I thought the kids would LOVE this... but Mats was NOT fooled by the mermaid's zipper :(

The not so impressive mermaid....

Vegas Strip at night

Of course Mats found the arcades....

Caesars Palace

Mats overjoyed that he had to wait 20 minutes for the Caesars Palace statue show to start... :)

The fountain show

Me and my favorite boy

I love this picture because EVERY single smile is so fake! We were SO TIRED and HOT and more HOT... it was 116 degrees this day, and we could hardly stand to be outside. But... we still managed a little smile for the memory books :)

Paul and Alana have so many similarities... you can't really tell from this picture, but they walk so much alike!

Paul and I at the "Mirage"

Alana

The kids went on the roller coaster at New York, New York and LOVED it... I think they went 3 times!

The Mirage Volcano

We went to the Blue Man Group

A few of the drummers from Blue Man

Lake Mead

Hoover Dam

The new sky bridge for Hoover Dam... not quite finished yet, but it should open by the end of the year!

This is SO HUGE!!! It is hard to put in words without seeing it with your own eyes... bridges are so amazing to me...

Not sure what these represent.... and it was so busy, that most of our Hoover Dam experience was seen from the car!

Beautiful Palm Springs

Soak City (Knotts Berry)

Mats LOVED the wave pool

The scariest ride ever!! (I didn't go on it since I was 4 months pregnant) But it LOOKS scary! Paul and the kids went on it 3 times!

I can't believe Mats dared to do this! He is starting to get so brave!

We stopped on the way home so the kids could get their picture in the "high chair". I think I might have a picture of this when I was their age too!!

We had such so much fun! We need to make the time to do more stuff like this! We let life, bills, and work get in the way too much! It is nice to break the routine of things sometimes!

The newest Mudrow

2010-06-06T15:44:00.008-06:00

We are so excited about our new puppy... and Gracie LOVES him (now that she has had a few weeks to warm up to him). He was born on 3/21/10 making him just over 10 weeks old! We got him when he was 8 weeks and 1 day. He is 1/2 Lhasa Apso, and 1/2 teacup poodle. So... he is a Lhaso Poo :) He is the cutest thing we have ever seen, and was a total impulse buy. We have been wanting to get another dog so Grace has someone to hang out with when Paul and I start having kids...but we were planning on waiting a little while longer.

My mom called me while she was shopping and told me that they were selling puppies in the Ft. Union parking lot. They started with 8, and so when she checked again and saw there was only one left... she started to panic and made Alana call me to come down and look. I finally decided to drive down after an hour of back and forth on the phone, and THERE HE WAS! The sweetest face EVER! He is mainly black... so black that you can't tell his head from his butt when he is laying down. But he has the cutest markings... his eyebrows are brown, and he has a little patch of white on his chest, and then two elbow patches that are brown!

We decided to name him Remington, so we call him Rems or Remy. Paul calls him "Remington Steel" my brother Kenny calls him "smudge" and my dad calls him "Stewie" because he thinks his head looks like the baby from "family guy". So he has been pretty confused most of his life with us :)

I need to video him while he is a puppy to catch him doing "puppy things". He hops everywhere he goes, and runs sideways because his head is so big! It really is the cutest thing... and he is SO whiny! If I leave him on the bed for more then 2 seconds when I am not in the room he just cries and cries. He has everyone here catering to his every need!

Our little hopper!

Grace has been a good big sister to him too! She was super mean to him the first few days, but now she is taking her favorite toys and bones and placing them in front of him. It is so fun to watch them play. Remy is starting to grab and bite Gracie's ear, and Grace is so patient with him before she finally rolls him over. I took them to the park today... Rem's first day at the park, and they both just ran and ran and ran. Grace seems really happy about our addition now, so we couldn't be happier!

Cole's Graduation

2010-05-01T19:33:00.005-06:00

We went down to UVU last night (4.30.10) to watch Cole graduate. It was a pretty good ceremony... and by good, I mean... short :) We had a really good time and got to know Cole's in-laws a little better too!!

Cole and his cute wife Angela

Cole and his brother-in-law Michael (who is single by the way... anyone want to help me set him up?? He is super cute!)

The in-laws (Ron and Jeanie)

Cole and Wendy

My parents were so proud of him!

The siblings! (Missing :( Tori )

Cole was so happy after the ceremony! He is FINALLY done and will have more time to spend at home and on his career. He are all so proud of him!

Just proof that we were there!!!

The cake that's Ang got for Cole! It was pretty cute!

Soccer Season

2010-05-01T19:02:00.006-06:00

Cute Matsie after one of his games! (9 years old)

Soccer season has officially began, and Mat's couldn't be happier about it! They have played 3 games so far and are undefeated!! The first day of practice, Mats walked up to his coach and told him that he was a really good goalie, so that was what position he was going to play... and then just walked away from his coach! We were laughing so hard, but as you can see from the pictures... Mats has been the goalie about 90% of the time. One thing about that kid... when he knows what he wants, he is pretty confident about getting it!

He is such a cheerleader for his team, he has a hard time staying in the goal box. Every time his team makes a goal, he runs out to the center of the field to give them all high fives!

I love this picture of him! I hope he always stays this cute!

One of his saves.

Paul giving Grace a little water after chasing all the kids!

Paul and Alana having fun at half time!

Paul, Mats and Me.

We are so proud of Mats and how good he is getting at soccer! He LOVES this sport, and is always SO happy when he is playing!

The trophy that he and his team won for taking 3rd place for the season! They had a really good little team this year!
Mats and Grandma Carole

Mats and uncle Kenny

Poor Gracie :(

2010-04-29T14:35:00.003-06:00

So... Grace and been eating CRAZY things lately... she will just hang out in the yard for like an hour, going through the bushes, the fire pit... anything she can find that she shouldn't eat...she eats! I found her on the couch...yes the couch eating a piece of charcoal from the pit the other day. Needless to say, she got sick! The poor thing. She was so sick, we had to completely change her diet to try and run everything through her! We ended up having to put a diaper on her to keep the destine on her little bum. She was so sad for a few days... but she is doing a lot better now!

she was so sad, but she looks so cute in her diaper!

Alana's 6th grade performance

2010-04-29T14:24:00.003-06:00

Alana's grade did a theme of "Celebrations of the world" this year, and it was so cute! She did a little Japanese themed song and dance. She and her friend Heather spend about 40 minutes putting makeup on for it to look the part! They are at a really fun age!

Alana and Heather

Easter

2010-04-29T13:47:00.004-06:00

The kids had a really good Easter! They both got new church clothes (of course) and a bunch of candy and stuffed animals! Even Gracie got a new baby, which she LOVES.

Alana opening some of her eggs

Grandma got the 'Golden Egg' in her basket!

Mats is getting so tall and handsome! He looks really mature here to me... I can't believe how fast the kids are growing up! Can you believe he is only 9 years old?!

Gracie's new baby!!

My family came over in the afternoon for a barbecue and for the kid's Easter egg hunt. We ended up moving everything inside cause it was so cold!!

The kids trying to find all of the eggs... we hid money in some of them this year, so it was quite the competition!

The boys routing them on!

Even the dogs helped look

St. Patricks

2010-04-29T13:21:00.005-06:00

It is so funny how big of a deal wearing Green is when you are a kid. Mats and Alana actually laid out their outfits for school the night before to make sure that they didn't get pinched. I am pretty sure when I was young, we tried to hide our green in hopes that someone WOULD pinch us so we could pinch them back 10 times!

My mom and I took the kids to a party that our ward had for the kids to celebrate St. Patty's day, and they really had a great time. They played games, decorated cakes and chased each other around all night! The kids' cousin's Logan, Aubrey and Benson were able to come too since they spent the weekend at our house. We love having them over!

This game was kind of like hot potato, but with the leprechaun. Aubrey ended up winning and got a cool prize. Benson was so cute all night... he searched the whole church in hopes to find a real leprechaun. He told me he knew how to find them because he was pretty sure that they liked to hide in closets. He can't say his r's very well yet, so it was SO cute to listen to him talk about "Lepwechauns"....
Benson

Mats trying to get as many m&m's in the glass as he could using a straw.

my momma!

a new inspiration

2010-04-04T10:03:00.005-06:00

I have been feeling... well a little sluggish the past few weeks. Feeling frustrated and unsettled... It really is hard to describe it in words, and I don't feel like I get in these kind of ruts very often, but when I do... they really suck the life out of me. I get tired, and feel like I don't really have a focus, like I need to be inspired, or need a change~

I was shopping around a little bit last week for Easter gifts for the kids, and I found the greatest little store selling some work by an artist named Kelly Rae Roberts. She started her career as a social worker, and found inspiration from this to influence her artwork. She didn't start painting until she was 30 years old, and it has now become a grand passion that she had ignored most of her life. She layers her painting with lots of different media, and has fun inspirational quotes in all of them.

Seeing some of her work has really helped to ground me again and given me a much needed boost of energy. I have a really happy life, and a really great family. I feel like I have achieved many of the goals that I have set for myself, but I am really hoping that there is more for me to realize about myself. That maybe I will turn 30 and realize that I have some awesome talent or aspiration that I haven't realized before.

Her work really brings out the little girl in me... the girl that used to dream of so many possibilities. What I wanted to be and do and see in my life. The girl that didn't have debt and responsibilities and frustrations about life. I hope that this art can influence Alana too! She is at that age where its so fun to dream and hope for every happiness in life. I ended up getting her a painting of a mom and daughter that says "Grow, become and journey", as well as a little notebook that reads "everything shapes us". Her work is so fun, so if you have some time, you should look through some of it~

What??

2010-03-07T16:40:00.003-07:00

Alana to me today after Church: "Mom....Can I have an IPOD touch for my birthday this year??

ME: NO

Alana: Well if I can't have an IPOD touch... can I have a second piercing?

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? I am scared about her going into Junior High next year....

Our new decoration

2010-02-23T17:17:00.005-07:00

So... Paul and I have been eyeing this painting for about 6 months or so... and we are SUPER excited to finally have it hanging in our living room! It fits PERFECTLY in between our Declaration of independence and Constitution that we had framed last year! So yeah... it was a little bit pricey.... but I have been doing a really good job justifying all day long to myself reasons not to take it back... the main one being that we got it on SALE!!!

We still have to get a cool light to make it look even better.... but this will do for now!

The name of the painting is called "One Nation Under God". Jon McNaughton is the artist, and he has so many other great ones to choose from!

You can also go to this website, to view it closer. If you open it up, you can scroll over each face and it tells you who each person is or represents in the painting!

Let the games begin...2010 Vancouver

2010-02-12T22:24:00.007-07:00

I can't believe that it has already been 8 years since the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City... but here they are again, this time in Vancouver Canada! I am SO excited about the Olympics this year! I love to watch the parade of flags during the opening ceremonies; to see so many Countries participate and walk together on the same stage, it almost makes you forget...for just a moment, that there are wars being fought against one another, that there is so much hatred in the world.

For 2 weeks every 2 years, the world seems to stand together with pride for home Country, inspiring and bringing together so many people who watch the athletes compete! I love to watch the opening ceremonies... and Vancouver didn't disappoint... loved the music, the art, and the feeling of inspiration with some of the pieces!

LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!!

Mexican Riviera Cruise!!

2010-02-10T10:28:00.014-07:00

We just got back from the most relaxing cruise ever! It was really nice to be able to get out of the snow for a week, and spend some time with family. Most of us were able to go, and I think that this is the first vacation that I have been on with both my brothers and dad at the same time since I was in elementary school! It was really nice to spend some time with Wendy, Angela and Linsey too so that we could get to know each other a little better! I have a pretty awesome family and in-laws and feel blessed that we were able to take some time to do this! Thanks for making everything so wonderful Dad and Wendy!!

If you have never been on a cruise... you should go if not for any other reason than the AMAZING FOOD, the AWESOME SERVICE, and the way cute TOWEL CREATIONS!!!

Sun setting over Acapulco

Me, Cole and Paul came home with Baggo trophies!! There was lots of fun stuff to do on the ship!!

Paul wanted to play chess with me for 4 days... when I finally gave in... he was so dissappointed to be in checkmate in 4 moves... sorry babe! Guess you didn't konw I was the class chess champion of 1992 =)
Dinner was so fun every night, and the food was amazing!

We also celebrated Paul and Wendy's birthday's again on the ship! The crew made them a special little cake!

We also discovered that we had WAY more fun finding local tour guides to show us around at each stop! It was so much cheaper than the ship booked excursions too, and I think we got to see more of the inner cities! The food in Manzanillo.... AMAZING! Our family LOVES authentic Mexican food!

This is the top of the world in Manzanillo! Lots of sunken treasures here behind us too! Maybe we should go back?!

It seems impossible that a city can be so warm and beautiful when we have 2 ft of snow in Utah and freezing temperatures!

one of our favorite things to do was watch the sun set over the ocean before dinner! It looks like a big burning ball in the ocean! Quite different than our Utah sunsets! This was Paul and Kenny's first cruise, and I think it is safe to say that they LOVED it!

This was taken PRIOR to all of us swimming and body surfing on this beach! The ocean kicked our trash... and cleared out ALL of our sinuses! We ALL got thrown into summersalts... sand EVERYWHERE! The waves were so perfect for body surfing! We were exhausted the whole rest of the day!

In route to IXTAPA! There were so many fun little shops! We got some killer deals on some aztec and mayan calendars, necklaces, braclets, and all sorts of other souvenirs!

We had entirely too much fun in Acapulco! More authentic Mexican food, mixed with a band and our crazy family! Our table had so much fun!

We also went to a cliff diving show in Acapulco! Those boys are CRAZY! They dove from where the lights are clear down... with the tide rushing in and out! I hope they get paid a TON of money....cause I am not sure if that is worth it! But we were surely entertained!!! Some of then did flips, and dove backwards with flares!!!

Cole and Ang on our way back after dinner and the show!

The boys had so much fun... swimming, hot tub, 24 hour pizza bar, 24 hour ice cream!!! Everything was so good!

I love this pic of Dad and Wendy!

The ship also put on little shows every night after dinner! This is what the boys did until showtime...they sure are cute together! Not even sure why they need me or Ang.

a few of the dinners were formal!! it was way nice to see everyone all dressed up! We want to recreate a dress up family night when we get back to Utah, it was a lot of fun!

On the sunny days on deck... the girls got a lot of sun time in, ice cream eating, reading, gossiping....and Linsey even got to lay next to crazy European speedo man a couple of times!

while the boys hung out and played a lot of mini golf, ping pong... and gorged themselves in the diner!

Thanks for inviting us on such a great vacation Dad!!!

Happy Birthday Paul

2010-02-10T09:52:00.005-07:00

We celebrated Paul's birthday a few weeks back, and I thought it was time that I finally caught up on the blog about it! The kids were SO excited for his big day, and wanted things planned out just perfectly. We had to have all the decorations, and Alana wanted to use her own money to buy his present. She had me driving all over town to find the perfect gift. Needless to say, the perfect gift for Paul ALWAYS involves something GOLF! I love some of these pics... you can see how much the kids absolutely adore him. He is such a great husband and father, and my life just gets better and better each day with him in it! Love you babes! Thanks for doing so much for our family!

The day started out with Paul getting sabatoged with silly string before the kids went to school.

Mats got him in the mouth, the ear...he is really a good aim :)

Later that evening, we had dinner at our favorite little place... AKA CHILI'S!

Then the kids got him again with a bag of balloons!

Then it was present time! The kids could hardly wait and almost opened his gifts for him! They did a really good job picking out new golf hats to match the tees and balls and clothes that he has! He will be set for spring!

and of course we had some treats too! My mom and Gracie are so cute! I think I just found out why Grace won't each just "plain" dog food anymore!

I love our little family!

Resolutions...again

2010-01-17T23:35:00.005-07:00

Well... it's that time again! Time for making lists of New Year's resolutions that we all hope will stick at least until the end of yet another January, and with a little luck and of course perseverance... til the end of the year.

I have to say that 2009 was pretty good to our family. But I have some higher hopes for 2010. The year started out with a miscarriage for us on New Years day... so things only have one way to move from here... and that is forward. I know that the Lord knows what he is doing and what is best for us regardless of our planning, so I guess we just need to feel lucky for the experience.

We really weren't thinking much about having kids for at least another year or so... but now that we have been through the emotional roller coaster of a ten week surprise pregnancy... and then the loss of it...I think we have both changed our minds a bit about the matter.

I mean... what are we waiting for?? To magically be debt free?? Know where we want to live...AND own a house with a dog, white picket fence and maybe a little land??? Okay... so actually that is exactly what we have been waiting for, but we have come to the conclusion that maybe we can't plan so precisely around adding to our family.

Also, a special "thanks" from us to all of our friends and family who have given us so much support during this past month! We really have some amazing people in our lives, and feel very blessed!

so... safe to say that #1 adding to our family is definitely on the table for the new year... and we will take one whenever it happens!

Moving on....

We really feel like we live in a clutter fest! For those of you who don't know... both Paul and I manage retail stores...

so, saying that we have A LOT of clothes... really is an understatement. Which means that #2 is definitely to sell / donate the clutter! I long to live a simplistic life... one that involves more household goods in the moving boxes than clothes! One where we know where "that tank, or shirt, or shorts" are, because they are IN OUR CLOSET, and NOT in a box due to our closet being full...along with any spare room we can steal from the kids' closets!

We are also going to try something called #3 "spending less money" on things we don't need???

#4 taking the kids on one really good vacation. They want disneyland or world... so we will make the time for it FINALLY!

#5 Less T.V. and more family time....that is, time we are actually spending together. I mean, we are always in the same room... but Paul is watching TV, I am on the computer, Mats is on the other computer or watching TV and Alana is reading or downstairs with a friend. It's like we have become technology zombies. We need to get our act together... because in a few years, our kids aren't even going to WANT to hang out with us! Let's face it... the JUNIOR HIGH years are right around the corner!

#6 We want to get serious about starting our own business.... not sure what, when or even how...but we do have some pretty good starting ideas, and a lot of talent in the people around us both family and friends. A big part of me is hoping that I will have a better idea once I finish reading "Think and Grow Rich" (AGAIN) (:-) I definitely LOVE my current job now, and we both work for great companies... but we just know that in order to travel, do, accomplish and see some of the things that we want to in this life.... we need to get out from under the thumb of someone else, so we can make our own schedules and keep our own profits!

#7 Buy a new printer. Okay... so this really isn't a resolution... but I don't really like the number six.... so I thought I would add one of the items off of my "to do list" to make it seven!

Seven seems like an okay number to manage... so we better stop here!

Christmas with the kids

2010-01-06T22:18:00.009-07:00

The kids went to Michigan from Dec.19th-Jan5th to spend Christmas with their mom, and although it was nice to be kid free for a few weeks... we couldn't wait for them to get home! The first week was nice since we worked so much and wouldn't have been able to spend very much time with the kids anyway, but Christmas was so sad without them! There just isn't as much excitement about opening Presents with out kids... so we were so glad to have them home!

Santa's sleigh pretty much tipped over at our house for them! They got ROCKBAND for the Wii that Grandma Carole helped Santa get, and tons of other great stuff!

The big rockband gift! (which Paul and I almost opened early cause we wanted to play it so bad). Thanks for helping us with this mom... the kids LOVE it!

Alana's big present from Grandma and Grandpa Sanders

She LOVES her mirror, and has it set up in her room already!

Matsy's big gift from Grandma and Grandpa

Mats was real freaked out that Grandma and Grandpa knew that his nickname online is OTTOMAN! So funny! His middle name is Otto, and it was so funny to watch him read the box! Pretty sure he thinks Grandma and Grandpa Sanders are magic!

He LOVES his soccer chair and matching soccer lamp!

AND his new snuggie!

The aftermath of a great Christmas!

Mat's was the MOST excited to open an OLD USED game that he already has. He played it so much that he ruined it.

The name of the game?? Lights, Camera, Pants! That's right... a Spongebob game!

The snuggie's were a big hit!

and I have NEVER seen so many Hotwheels! He is so excited now, because he has 186 total cars, and the green team finally took over in number! He seperates all his cars into colors, and plays derby with them, it is way cute!

Alana got so many new clothes, and she LOVES all of them! I can't believe that the kids are big enough to fit into adult sizes! She can ALMOST wear a double zero in A.E. jeans...they are still just a tad big, but she didn't seem to mind!

and she got a ton of music! The kids wanted so much electronic stuff this year.... thank goodness for grandma and grandpas big gifts... because I always feel like everything is so small that is electronic, but costs a whole years salary! All in all... we had such a great Christmas, and I am super sad that it is already over!

Holiday

2010-01-06T21:55:00.005-07:00

Just a little taste of the Holidays around our house!

Grace

Our morning feast

and nap...

Cole showing Kenny some love

Ken and Lins... so cute

Mats opening his ONE gift before his trip to Michigan! They spent Christmas with their mom this year.... but we have a tradition to open one gift on Christmas eve.... So we let them open it super early since they wouldn't be home on the 24th.

Our tree!

I LOVE Christmas!

Temple Square

2010-01-06T20:45:00.006-07:00

I LOVE Temple Square! It is always so beautiful when the lights go up! Dad and Wendy came up to take the kids out before they left for Michigan to spend Christmas with their mom! It was so nice to get out of the house for a while and spend some time with them! We toured Temple Square, and went up into the Joseph Smith memorial building... everything was so pretty! It doesn't feel like Christmas time without seeing Temple Square!

So... I don't really know how to work my camera in the dark!

Cole and Angela

The reflection pool nativity! I love this!

Matsy and Alana playing by the reflection pool

The Christmas tree in the Joseph Smith memorial building

So the kids loved this... but I think it was a little creepy...

Grandpa and Matsy

Dad and Wendy... they are so cute!

Matsy sneaking his Tongan eyes into my pic of the red tree

Alana enjoying the lights

in front of the nativity

Kenny making moves on Coles wifey

once again... i can't work my camera in the dark!

I love my family! we always have so much fun together!

Thanksgiving

2010-01-06T20:31:00.005-07:00

We had Thanksgiving at Mark and Stephanie's house in Hooper this year, and it was a lot of fun! I still can't believe how many people were able to fit in their kitchen and living room!
The kids played football with Paul and Mark, and the girls gossiped in the kitchen! We had so much food... and TWO turkey's to feed the Mudrows! Everything tasted great, and it was so nice to have a day off to spend with family!

Paul and Alana relaxing after the big meal

Gracie post turkey

dishing up

and with so many in the family, there is always at least one birthday to celebrate each week! Thanksgiving is no exception! Happy birthday Steve!

me and my cute husband

Steph and Lori doing some fab cooking!

Girls at Christmas time

2009-12-19T11:05:00.003-07:00

Just a few pics that I stole from Danielle's blog! I love it when we all get together!

Family Pictures

2009-12-05T20:32:00.006-07:00

So...my sister-in-law Julie might secretly be a famous photographer AND a magician at the same time! Not only was she was able to get the WHOLE MUDROW FAMILY in ONE PLACE for over an HOUR to take family pictures ... but they turned out really great of EVERYONE.

(all 44 of us... if I am counting right)

Principal's Pride!

2009-11-18T11:27:00.003-07:00

Every year, Ridgecrest Elementary picks 5 students from each grade who demonstrate the most pride in their class, and they are named the "Principals Pride" for the year. Mats was chosen this year to be a part of it, and he was SO excited! The principle pulled each child up and talked about the great things that they are doing in their classes and how they add so much to the school! Mats looked so cute up there with her, trying not to smile! She then shakes their hand and presents their award to them in front of everyone. It was fun for Paul and I to be able to go and support him! We are so proud of you Mats!

2 eyes...or 4?

2009-11-18T11:19:00.003-07:00

I can't believe that BOTH of the kids needed glasses! We thought maybe just Alana would, but turns out that Matsie's eyes are about 3 times WORSE than hers! They sure look cute in their glasses, but I don't envy them for needing them. I had lasik about 7 years ago....and it was the best decision that I have ever made!

Mats got converse ones... I think they are so cool, and I love the color of Alana's frames! Where were these cool glasses when I was younger?

I had some of the UGLIEST glasses ever made. From HUGE pink frames ... to the creepy big ones that turn dark in the sun...you know the kind...

Halloween Fun

2009-11-04T18:07:00.005-07:00

So this was the first year that the kids weren't SUPER excited about Halloween, even though I don't really like Halloween either... (cause I am super scared of spiders and clowns) I was a little sad about it! Alana wanted to be a dead bride... but when she wore her costume to school for their parade...none of the kids knew what she was. So she said, "mom, do you think that maybe we should invite Grandma and Grandpa Sanders up for dinner...and maybe they can bring my flower girl dress with them...so that I can be a bride that is alive? She sure is sneaky with her motives...

long story short, she stuck with the dead bride, and Mats was Darth Vader this year! They both looked super cute! But Mats said that this was the "worst Halloween EVER". Mainly because he only likes kit kats... and most of his candy....well, they weren't kit kats :( The poor thing. Alana only got 3 kit kats, so that didn't leave a whole lot of bartering room for the two of them!

Alana ended up baby sitting for a few single moms in our ward later that night so that they could go out and enjoy the night! She is so thoughtful. This is the 2nd time she has tended for them, and the first time, she ripped up the check that they gave her and told them that she just wanted to do it as a service for them! She is way too mature...she amazes me every day with how sweet and considerate she is!

And how lucky am I....?? To be married to this piece of hotness?? Paul and I went to a little party ourselves... BUT we are SUPER cheap, so we made our own costumes in 15 minutes and for $6. As you can see... Paul was "God's gift... and I just dressed up in white and taped a bunch of trash to me. (white trash... creative right?). Only problem was that Gracie tried to eat my costume...

Winter already?

2009-10-29T11:40:00.004-06:00

Our back yard... the first snow of the year!

So...I was hoping for a few more weeks of fall... but it doesn't look like that is going to happen. I just wish the kids could go trick of treating ONE year without snow! It snowed about 4 inches up by my house, and about 6 inches in Park City. But the weather has called for 12 -18 inches in Colorado... so I guess I will be happy with my 4 inches...even though it is a little too soon!

Gracie is excited to start wearing her sweaters again though!

This is her Halloween sweater!

She is such a doll. I know I should get her a hair cut, but it is too cold... I think I will let her grow out a little longer.

things that I AM excited about with the change in season:

1. Spice and Holiday scents in our house.
2. Feeling the holiday spirit.
3. Pomegranates.
4. Egg nog
5. Boots and sweaters
6. snow ball fights with the kids
7. Hot chocolate and wassail
8. Fires and movie nights
9. The kids getting tired earlier than midnight and going to bed early!
10. Spending time with our families.
11. Crazy customers at work! I love the real angry selfish ones that seem to come around this time of year!

GIRLS WEEKEND!

2009-10-27T17:21:00.006-06:00

Who doesn't love spending time with their girlfriends?? I have to admit, it gets a little harder to do the older we get. Most of us have kids now or live far away, so this was a MUCH needed trip for all of us to catch up! I was bummed that a few friends weren't able to make it, we definitely missed them. But their absence is the PERFECT excuse to do it again soon! Hopefully we can make it a 6 month tradition!

We saw Rush Limbaugh there...and I admit, I was a little star struck, but it was SO cool! We were walking out of the "Phantom of the Opera" and he was just outside the door. At first I thought he was the actor who played "the phantom". He had an earpiece in, and his hair was all slicked back. So I thought maybe some of the cast was doing a meet and greet. But then I saw his profile and realized who he was. He was way nice, and most everyone left him alone (except for me... the stalker). I wish I would have had the guts to actually talk to him instead of just shaking his hand!

The whole trip was a lot of fun though... we shopped, went to a movie, ate a lot of junk AND saw a The Phantom of the Opera! We were able to talk about so much stuff! It was nice to have the WHOLE weekend instead of just an hour at dinner for a change! I feel so happy and refreshed since getting home, so thanks girls!

Trying something new

2009-10-20T12:57:00.003-06:00

We have SO many grapevines in our yard, and since they are falling to the ground faster than we can eat them... I am going to try something new.... CANNING! My nephew Nate went out and picked a bunch of them this morning... and I think we will try to make a little bit of jam and maybe freeze the rest as juice. We have green and purple grapes... they seriously taste just like kool aid!

Funny Video

2009-10-11T16:32:00.004-06:00

So I finally caught Mats singing! The kid sings ALL THE TIME, or is at least always humming something. But I never have been able to catch him doing it on video! He is singing "I Stand All Amazed". It was the last Hymn we sang in Chuch today, so it must have been stuck in his head!

(you can turn off my music at the bottom left of the page)

and the newest member of the Church is...

2009-10-10T11:29:00.007-06:00

Well, we had quite the turn out last night! It was really so amazing to see the support of all of our friends and family there for Mats. I think our ward leaders were surprised at just how many people came. There were over 20 of Mats cousins there, some of the cousins even missed supporting their High School Football game to be there -and we ALL know how big of a deal those are when you are in High School!

Yesterday was also Brittin's husband Kyle's birthday, and they came too... so thanks Brit and Ky, and I hope you had a great BIRTHDAY Kyle!

Paul's brothers Greg and Mark gave Mats some great advice in their talks, and he was blessed with some pretty amazing things in his confirmation given by grandpa Mudrow.

Everyone brought something to our house afterward for a pot luck, and it was a blast! It was fun to get some use out of the place, and to finally be able to accommodate friends and family!

I just wanted to let our family know how great they all are, and to say "thank you" for everything that you all do!!

Elder Marcinowski, Mats and Nate

The 3 amigos
Brother Richard Walsh, who conducted the baptism. He is our ward mission leader, and may or may not... be one of the 3 Nephites :)

Bishop Eaton and his wife Kathi, and Aubrey and Leah (2 of Mats' cousins).
The fam with the Elders
Mats with Elder Marcinowski and Elder Haiosi.

Mats' Special day

2009-10-09T09:14:00.003-06:00

Mats gets baptized tonight, and he is SO excited about it! We are so proud of him and the choices he is making in his life. We really do have great kids. Mats is our "informant" in the family. He doesn't know how to lie (which is a good thing)...but it sure is funny to watch him try! He tries so hard not to smile, and does this cute lip quiver thing. If we need to know the "truth" of what really happened...we always ask Mats. It is so fun to watch the kids grow up and see how their personalities are forming. They are growing up so fast, I feel like I need to buy a video camera to capture some of their childhood before Mats is taller than me. He is only 9 years old, and wears size 9 mens shoes! Some of his favorite things right now:

1. Hotwheels
2. Kid TV game shows (brainsurge, endurance) and he loves to watch mystery hunters for some reason even though it scares him!
3. He loves to sing! The kid is ALWAYS humming or singing, and he LOVES Josh Groban. It is really cute, and he really has a great voice!
4. His favorite adult movie is the Sound of Music. Every time I come in the room he says "hello governess" It is way funny.
5. He could watch the SAME shows over and over and over. He has every kid cartoon and disney show memorized.
6. Mats is SO animated about everything. He has finally learned how to work his "Polynesian eyes". All you can see in any pictures that we take of him are the whites of his eyes! He really brings so much laughter to our home.

We love you so much Mats! Thanks for being such a great kid, and congratulations on your baptism!

blog share

2009-09-30T22:22:00.006-06:00

I just came across a blog that I really wanted to share with everyone. I can't remember the last time something has had such a strong effect on me... like this story.

I found this link on Natalie Calls page, thanks for sharing Nat.

Please keep this family in your prayers, especially the husband and his newborn beautiful baby girl that he will be raising by himself.

http://bandssullivan.blogspot.com/

clueless how to raise a girl

2009-09-30T21:38:00.003-06:00

So....Alana wants to be a Cheerleader, and Mats wants to sing and dance!?! What the H? Doesn't anyone want to play catch anymore?
My only hope is that Mats has also informed us that he wants to be a professional soccer player at the same time as a singer and dancer. Alana is completely ALL girl, and I don't have a CLUE what to do with that! Thank goodness she is super driven, and figures out cute things to do with her hair, and what to wear, and who to call to get involved with all this stuff.
We went to the Hillcrest / Brighton game tonight to watch her perform at half time. She joined a cheer camp and has been practicing all week for it. All the girls did such a great job, it was a way cute little routine! It made me feel like I want to be more involved with all these choices they are making. It is crazy how fast they are both growing up! I wish I didn't have to work full time...so I could be a PTA mom! It was way fun to go to the High School tonight and reminisce about all the things that were such big deals to us at that age.

Sorry no pics... my camera has been MIA for about a month!

09-09-09

2009-09-20T23:00:00.012-06:00

Paul and I had the opportunity to be sealed last week in the Manti Temple. It was such an amazing experience! We both felt so blessed as we watched everyone enter the room wearing their whites. I will never forget the feeling I had in that room as I knelt across from my husband with so many special witnesses. My mom, Wendy, Cole and Angela, my aunt and uncle, and cousins, Pauls parents and siblings with all of their spouses, as well as his aunt and uncle and cousins... Dave, Brittin and Sir and Sherma, and many waiting outside of the Temple for us as well. Mats and Alana were not able to be sealed to us at this time, but I have much faith and hope that they will be able to be sealed to us in the near future. It was a very special moment for us, and and so fun to see so many friends and family members. Even our bishop and his wife made the drive... some friends and family drove nearly 3 hours to be there for us.

I am thankful for my dad and Wendy who do so much for our family and always help pull everything together for these gatherings in Sanpete. I also want to thank my sister Tori for watching the kids and helping us with so much. It was so nice to share this experience with both sides of our families. I love it when we have opportunities to share our families with one another and to get to know each other better.

My sister-in-law Julie took some really great pictures of our day, and so I wanted to share them here. She should really be a professional photographer... all of her pictures always turn out so great! Thank you for helping us to capture and remember our day Jules! (I may need you to try and photoshop my dad and brother in the group one...if that is possible :)

Grateful

2009-09-20T22:21:00.002-06:00

This week has been filled with many ominous feelings as I think and pray for many people from my hometown. Two great families (the Newsome and Rogers families) were involved in a car wreck in Nephi Canyon last week, and I know of one who is in critical condition. Patricia Rogers...sister to Amberly Rogers... who has already been taken from her family and friends way too young. I can't believe that something so horrible can happen to such a great family twice in one lifetime. My thoughts are with Dianne and Warren during this time in their lives. I hope that they can feel of the love and support pouring out from our little community. I know we all grow up, and some of us move away, but we still feel just as close to our town as we did before we left.

The Newsome family is very lucky to be alive, but also struggling with loved ones being injured. My thoughts and prayers are with you also...as are many others.

The Braithewaites also feel of pain and loss today as Jim passed away this morning. I know that he has fought a long and hard battle, and is celebrating tonight with his family who had passed on before him. Emily and Amy, you have many people who love you and I hope and pray that you can get through this trying time in your life. I know that Jim was one of my dad's best friends growing up, and he has shared many great memories with so many that he has come into contact with. He was an amazing person, and I know that he is finally out of pain tonight and feeling whole again.

All of these familes are very special to Sanpete County, and when something like this happens, it is devistating to our community. I am so thankful to be from Ephraim, and to know and love so many other people from Sanpete. I am thankful for the close knit relationships that have been built there, and for the love and support that everyone shows to those in need. I wouldn't change a thing about my childhood there, and truly feel the power in the saying, "it takes a village to raise a child".

This week has really put life into perspective for me, and has helped me to forget about the daily stresses in my life. It seems so silly now to worry so much about such mundane things when something like this happens.

I am also overwhelmed with feelings of gratitude tonight. I have so many amazing friends and such an incredible and supporting family. I am so thankful for my testimony of the Gospel, and to know of the surety that Christ lives, and that he is patiently waiting for us... and rooting for us during our struggles here on earth. I feel so fortunate to have had so many blessings in my life. I love my family so much, and am thankful to know that I can be with them forever.

Exciting changes in the Mudrow family

2009-08-17T09:55:00.002-06:00

Paul and I had the opportunity to take out our endowments in July. Paul's father's day present to his dad was showing him our signed recommends. Our families are so excited for us! We are so blessed to have such amazing and supportive families. We took our endowments out in Ogden since Paul's parents work in that Temple, and his dad was able to officiate our session. It was one of the most beautiful moments of our lives to have the whole session filled with our families. My mom and Wendy were able to be there with me and show me the ropes, and almost all of Pauls family was able to attend. It was so awesome to watch them all file in from the chapel, it was very emotional for us. Especially now thinking back on it. During the session I think it was safe to say that I was a little overwhelmed. Especially since we got stuck in traffic on the way, so I was a little late. We seriously had to listen to the "spa channel" the whole way there so I didn't have a nervous breakdown. LOL.

We are really excited, and had no idea what we were missing out on this whole time! We will be sealed for Time and all Eternity on Sept. 9th, 2009 in the beautiful Manti Temple.

Mats is also going to be baptized soon. We have been waiting to baptize him until his mom could be there for it. When he turned 8 we were living in Kansas, and now that we are home, his mom has basically moved to Michigan. Now... Mats is 9, and we have talked it over and want to go forward with it no matter what...since the decision is about Mats... and not Paul or I, or Lauren. Long story short, we had NO idea that if you aren't baptized when you are 8, that you have to have the missionary discussions. So we have had the missionaries coming to our home for the past month or so. It has been good for the kids' testimonies, and it has been really great for Paul and I too. We are excited for all of these great changes in our lives.

Elder Marcinowski and Elder Hiosi. They are so fun!

The Sanders / Sanders wedding?!

2009-08-17T09:41:00.003-06:00

Cole and Angela coming out of the Timpanogos Temple. They are such a cute couple! Their wedding was SO beautiful. They had an amazing sealer. Everything he said was so great. I am really excited for them and their future if they can be prepared for all of the amazing blessings that they were promised.

Way funny that Angela's maiden name was Sanders as well, so she doesn't have to change her name. I would expect that in Arkansas...but Utah??

These are all the pictures I had on my camera...but my mom got so many great ones from the reception. If I can find them, I will add more.

Mats goofing off as usual...he was so bored.

waiting for their big exit!

Dad and Wendy

The kiddos

what fun would a Utah summer be without....LAGOON?!

2009-08-17T09:14:00.007-06:00

I can't believe they actually went through with the Sky-coaster....and when I say "they", I mean "Paul". I think he was way more nervous than the kids!

Seriously... don't believe them when they tell you that you will only get a little bit wet on this ride!
Because you get SOAKED.

Mats seriously waved at EVERY passing cart...even if it was empty. He is such a friendly kid.

Mats always wins a prize for Grandma

Can you guess who won this game??

WICKED! By far the BEST ride there!

It was almost embarrassing that mom could not figure out how to work these lockers. She had to have staff help EVERY time she used one!

Me and Alana trying to cheer up Mats after he did the math and figured out that we were NOT going to be in the front seats on the white rollercoaster :) He is so funny!
The Fam

Paul trying to scare mom before the roller coaster...

More Park City

2009-08-17T09:04:00.002-06:00

This is Part of my friend Sherma's new house. It is so gorgeous nestled right into the Summit. The view from her home is ridiculous.

Seriously... my dream closet... notice the washer and dryer IN THEIR CLOSET.

View from the deck

I love this entry way to the neighborhood!

beautiful Park City

2009-08-17T08:50:00.003-06:00

Sometimes I can't handle how pretty it is in Park City. The morning drives are SO beautiful. I would way rather drive 30 minutes up this beautiful canyon, then sit in Salt Lake traffic! I LOVE this Ranch!

Clouds coming over the Olympic Park.

Coming down the summit into Jeremy Ranch

summer girls

2009-08-17T08:36:00.004-06:00

So I know.....I suck at getting some of these cute pictures of our girls get togethers up, but better late than never?! I LOVE when Marci and Jacie come to visit!! Anique was also able to visit for almost a WHOLE month! I feel so blessed that we have all been able to stay such great friends for so long. Now if we could only get Rachel back from KS (for the summer),Brenda to visit from Oregon, Danielle back up here...oh and if we could get Julie to hang out, then that would be perfect! The best part is, that we keep finding so many other great girlfriends along the way! I love our girls!

Okay...so does anyone know how to make my text not underlined? what is going on? I cant find a underline button in the font...

more to celebrate

2009-08-10T12:17:00.004-06:00

We took the Kids to the Scandinavian days in Ephraim, and they had such a great time! We had swedish meatballs, and barbequed turkey...the food there is always amazing! Definitely worth the drive just for that!

The walk over... Mats loves to hold his dads hand... i think it is so cute!

Dad showing us how to eat this foreign dish :)

lunch time

We also had a few reasons to celebrate!!! Cole and Angela got engaged! We are SO happy that she will be in our family! I don't think Cole could have found a more perfect girl for him!

Paul and I also celebrated our first anniversary! One of our friends surprised us with a weekend getaway to Park City! He was able to get us into a BEAUTIFUL lodge near Dear Valley. This is one of the views from the deck. (THANK YOU LISANDRO)

Inside the lodge

We had such a great time! It was nice to get away for a few days!!

Summer update numero uno

2009-08-10T11:13:00.010-06:00

So I know that I am the worst blogger EVER (besides Brittin), so I have decided to try and put some summer updates up! We have had a really great summer, and done a lot of local activities. We didn't travel as much as we had hoped...but we still have had a lot of fun!

We took the kids to Park City for a few days to have weekend fun at Deer Valley "Trails End" lodge...and also at Park City Mountain resort! (Thanks Jose for getting us so many extra activities for free! )

Mats was so scared to do a flip... he seriously didn't even try, it was quit comical.

on the lift to the zip line.

Alana was a little nervous

seriously... both of the kids feet are the same size as mine and Pauls... freaks us out.

Beautiful Park City

Alana and I getting ready for the zip line

Mats climbing the rock wall

This ride was SO fun!

Only Mats laid on the brakes the whole time... it was so funny. It took him like 10 minutes to get down, and the rest of us less than 2. We LOVE Park City in the summer!

New York

2009-05-06T21:16:00.011-06:00

So, I forget that I need to upload pics in the opposite order that I want them on here... wish someone would fix that! So, this is in opposite order then this trip actually happened, but I am too frustrated to move all the pics! :)

I had the opportunity a few weeks ago to take a girls trip to New York, and it was a blast!! It was a much needed vacation, and so much fun to have a complete weekend of girl time! We did just about everything you can do! Shopping, Empire State, Statue of Liberty, Rooftop parties, Time Square, Central Park, and even took a ride in one of those rickshaw things. (Bicycle taxi)
We stayed in New Jersey for a few nights with Caro, and then in New York for a few nights at her friend Ninas! She works for the U.N. and they have set her up quite nicely in the city! We were right in the middle of all the action, and she has the most amazing view of the city from her 20th floor apartment! Thanks for the fun weekend girls!

This would be a really cute pic of Anique and Caro if I would have remembered to get the dang camera string out of the way... this was at 5am when Anique was catching the train to the Airport to go home! :( it was a sad morning!

5:30 am on the NJ transit back to New Jersey.... so tired!

On the rooftop of "the future"! Empire state in the background.

Chrysler building and city....

On the rickshaw, so much fun!

Times Square

The city from Liberty Island

Cool pic of the statue

On the way to Liberty Island

Another cool pic

Brooklyn Bridge

On top of the Empire State Building

Trinity Church

New Jersey transit on the way to the city!

Good Job Hubby!

2009-05-04T18:15:00.004-06:00

I just wanted to take a quick sec to say "yeah" for my husband! He just got his own store last week, and today was his first day in his new position! He has worked really hard to get to where he is in his career, and I know he will do a great job! He will be running the American Eagle at the District (New mall on Bangerter and 114th south). So if any of you live out that way or shop out there, make sure you stop in and say hello!

Congratulations Paul, we are really proud of you!

Family pics

2009-04-15T17:23:00.008-06:00

I just got some digital copies of our family pics we took at the end of last year. I LOVE them! The kids look so cute!! Laurie Bray took them for us! She has a cute little studio in Sugarhouse called "photography by Laurie" and she did such a great job for us!! She was so creative with the scenery, which we love so it gives us a few more options for black and white and vintage looking prints!

Times... they are a changin

2009-04-11T09:59:00.005-06:00

This year the kids are traveling to Michigan to spend Easter with their Nana and Papa! They were SO nervous to fly last week...but really excited when it actually came time to go...then I think we were a little nervous! They were so cute with their little luggage and their ipods... like a couple of little adults! I can't believe how fast they are both growing up. We never realize it until days like this! I can't believe they are flying somewhere without us!! I don't think I took my first plane ride until I was in High School, and I was with my whole family, and still scared to death!!!

I am so proud of the kids, and how well they are learning and growing! They are both such great kids, and have high morals and expectations for life!! It is so exciting for Paul and I to be a part of their lives when they are still so innocent. They have both been through so much in their lives, but they do such a great job of not letting life knock the air out of them some days! Life is hard, and getting scarier and scarier each day. With everything happening in the world today, it stresses me out to think that our kids may not have as good of a life as they should because they have to clean up all of our mistakes that we are making right now....like with the economy, and the housing crisis etc...

It is hard for us to let Alana ride her bike more than one block away from our place! Yet when I was growing up, my friends and I would leave our house in the morning, and not come back or check in until dinner time!! I just hope that one of these days we will live somewhere that they can have more of an outdoor childhood!! Never thought I would say this... but sometimes I miss living in a small town! "Times... they are a changin"

Gracies new Easter dress

2009-04-07T18:04:00.004-06:00

Gracie got another outfit (don't worry, I bought the kids some too), and it is SO dang cute! I was going to wait to let her open it on Easter, but it is just too dang cute, I couldn't wait!

She cried a little bit at first...

But as you can see....she actually loves it!

and it makes her feel pretty!

Sick of the snow

2009-03-26T09:59:00.002-06:00

I am so over it! It was 70 degrees one day last week... and now this?
This is what I drove through yesterday to get to work... ughh
Last week was supposed to be the first of Spring .... right???

Happy birthday Nato!

2009-03-26T09:18:00.008-06:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NATHAN!

Last week was such a great week! We got to spend a lot of time with family. It was my nephew Nathan's birthday earlier this month, and we were finally able to find a day that all of us could celebrate with him! We all met at the Gateway and went to "Discovery Kids", and then had a pizza party at our house! As you can see from the pics, the adults had just as much fun as the kids did!!! Happy birthday Nathan, we love you and are glad that you and Tori have been able to be here in Utah with us to celebrate!

This is a real life flight helicopter, the kids (and Paul) were able to talk in the speaker, and make real helicopter noises with the push of a button!
Alana and Wendy figured out how magnets work.

Tori and Nate with Tori's cousin Brennen... and my husband the weatherman

This was Paul's dream day. He got to fly a helicopter AND be the "anchorman"... yes, he was inappropriate on the news! You don't need to tell the kids what "SAN DIEGO" really means honey...

Us hanging in the heli... obviously Kenny said something Hilarious... and dad putting on his puppet show with his famous "Joe Biden" smile!

The kids even got to make their own movie, and grandpa got to make some horseshoes!

First cook out of the new year

2009-03-19T22:32:00.006-06:00

Last week was SO nice!! We loved every second of it! Mark (Paul's brother) and his wife Stephanie invited us up to their house in Hooper to grill out, and it was lots of fun! We grilled steaks and brats, and they turned out AMAZING! They also have a fire pit, so we braved the cool evening and roasted marshmallows to cap off the night!

It was also Gracie's birthday last week, so we took her with us almost everywhere we went to celebrate! She got completely spoiled of course, with a few new shirts, a new travel bag, some collar bling.. AND she got to have some steak for her birthday dinner! Gracie LOVES it when we take her to Hooper! She can run all over the place!

Thanks Mark and Steph for a fun night with your family!

yes... Mats ate both of them!

Alana's marshmallows after she had put out the flames!

Mark and Stephanie

Gracie's new collar bling

Driving home after a long day!

too much travel= bad dieting

2009-03-07T21:06:00.004-07:00

I have to go to Colorado tomorrow to finish training a new store manager, and I don't want to go...which is so weird! I usually LOVE traveling for work just to get a little change of scenery... but I feel like I have hardly been home the past few weeks! I have only worked 6 days in my own store the past 20 days. (that is why I have been such a slacker with posting).

Both Paul and I have been gaining some unwanted weight the past few months with all the travel and vegging! Two words.... DOLLAR MENU! We have been a little irresponsible, so we are going to start working out and get on a strict diet plan (wish us luck). I am a little scared about it, because we have to get off the Dew as part of the deal. Paul is already having with drawls and it is only our first day of our caloric intake calendar. I am super proud of him though since he is the one that took the initiative to do it! We are shooting for 2 months....and then we can start adding cheat meals. Damn Cadbury's mini egg season!

Draper Temple

2009-02-27T15:38:00.009-07:00

Paul and I had the opportunity to tour the new Draper Temple this week, and it was absolutely beautiful! The neighborhood that it sits in is awesome too, some of the homes were seriously just about on the Temple grounds! Can you even imagine waking up and having the Temple just as close to you as your neighbors house?!

I found a few pictures of the inside of it online, so I thought I would share for those who won't be able to make it through before the dedication. I didn't see any copyright clauses on them, so hopefully I don't get struck by lightning for posting these! They are the same pics as on the brochures they hand out at the Temple. I think the last day that it will be open to the public for tours is March 14th. The dedication is March 20-22. The Draper Temple is the 129th LDS Temple in the world.

We thought that we needed tickets to go, but we just drove up to see if we could get in without, and it was very easy. They don't even ask you for tickets, and I think they are mostly for parking anyway. You can park in a Church parking lot close to the Temple, and then they shuttle you up there on a bus. Here is the info if you want to get tickets though.

If you would like to tour this temple, tickets can be reserved online at www.lds.org/reservations or by calling 1-800-537-6181 or 1-801-240-7932.

The Baptismal font

One of 5 sealing rooms

The Celestial room

Could you pick your own kid out of a crowd?

2009-02-24T18:17:00.010-07:00

I can't believe how fast Mats and Alana are growing up! I can still remember Mats being in diapers when Paul and I first started dating and now he is in 3rd grade, and Alana is in 5th grade. Where does the time go?!

We went to Brighton High School the other day to watch their school performances. It was pretty similar to our "May Day" if you grew up in Sanpete. They both did so well, I was super impressed with them. Mats did the "Fox Trot" and he had to dance with a 4th grader (who totally towered over him) since there were so many more boys than girls in his grade, and Alana did the "Jitter Bug" to the "Jailhouse Rock". It was really cute, she and her partner have crushes on each other, so it was really fun to see them interact!

But the best part about this day.... is that the kid's mom came and made our whole night! What... you don't believe me?? Just wait for it! I am not sure if I should really blog about this, because I don't want to be "that parent" but I just have to get it out of me! So since I am feeling a little guilty about blogging this, let me just say that we are really glad that she actually made it to their performances. She really is trying to be a better mom, and be more attentive!

Okay ready? So she has been in Michigan with her parents for the past 6 weeks, so obviously... she hasn't seen the kids for a while. She totally came late, and walked out onto the gym by the side wall where Mats' class was sitting getting ready to go out. She taps this little brown kid on the shoulder and starts talking to him and hugging him...and then the little brown kid (who is INDIAN by the way... and Mats is TONGAN) points to the only other brown kid in the class and tells her that he is not Mats, and then points her in the right direction! LOL!!! Are you kidding me??

Paul and I were sitting up in the bleachers, just watching...and we were both speechless! It was really hilarious slash embarrassing. The poor other brown kid! I bet his parents were freaking out in the stands wherever they were! Some random woman hugging on their kid!

I would like to think that this could happen to anyone right?? I mean, there have been plenty of times I think I see someone that I know and almost start talking to them before realizing it's not them....but they have ALWAYS been the same ethnicity!

After one of the other parents or teachers finally escorted her to a bench seat, she came back down onto the floor to take pics of Mats during his performance (rules don't really apply to her). Then she found Alana sitting on the other side of the Gym after Mats' performance. She waived frantically but Alana didn't see her until she was done with her dance (whew). But for three quarters of her dance, she was pointing at some other girl on the opposite side as where Alana was dancing. Her friend that she was with was trying to point out the "real" Alana, but she just kept looking at this other girl until the class finally turned around to face the other side of the gym where she was sitting! It was quite this experience...she went 0 for 2!

I took video of both of their dances, but I can't seem to upload them on here... so here are a few pics!

Vacation at home

2009-02-23T00:05:00.005-07:00

Both Paul and have to use some vacation within the next few weeks, or we will lose it. So we are both taking this week off....well, most of it. I am working tomorrow, but you would never know it since it is midnight, and I am now just starting a post! Kind of a lame vacation.... we decided not to go anywhere since it doesn't seem like very good parenting to take the kids out of school for a week :) So instead of Mexico, or California...or anywhere warmer than Utah, we are going to just stay here and play catch up on our lives this week, exciting right? Some big items on our agenda:

1. Maybe think about doing our taxes?
2. Clean up the house
3. Dream shopping ( for things we want but can't yet afford)
4. A few craft nights with the kids

sounds like one amazing week huh?

Today has been so fun and relaxing! Paul had to work today... and other than Church, I haven't done a dang thing all day...except for catching up on tivo, applying a clay mask, deep conditioning my hair, and listen to Enya! The kids were with their mom last night and this morning, so I had a few hours to myself today, and they were greatly welcomed...although I love spending time with the kids too, it is nice to have a night off!

I am totally game for a girls lunch / dinner if anyone has some free time this week!

Good food, good friends...

2009-02-14T18:00:00.003-07:00

Paul and I had the opportunity to meet with some friends earlier in the week up at Deer Valley for a sleigh ride and really great dinner. It was something that we have tried to do for a few years now, but just haven't made the time for it. Here are a few pics from our fun little date night! It is nice to FINALLY do some of these things in Utah that have been in our backyards for so long... I think we have kind of taken them for granted! Paul and I want to start going on date nights more often... so if anyone wants in to double or group, I think it would be a fun tradition!

seriously... where do kids come up with this stuff...

2009-02-13T22:55:00.009-07:00

So... it was "Valentines Day" at school today for the kids right? Alana is SO creative and made her own valentines with suckers attached... I really wish I would have taken a picture; and well...Mats wanted to attach Kit Kats to each one of his Valentines for his classmates. If any of you know Mats.... you know that he only has 2 loves in life, hotwheels... and Kit Kats!

I made the mistake of telling him that he could have the rest of the left over kit kats after he had passed them all out to his class. He then informed me that he was NOT going to tape the kit kats to the valentines, but would instead rather ask each individual kid if they actually WANTED a kit kat. I asked him why he wanted to do that, and he said.... well mom, what if some kids don't like chocolate?? AND... what if some kids are LACTOSE INTOLERANT??

Seriously?? Lactose intolerant? How does he even know what that means?? I can understand a kid wanting to smuggle a few extra kit kats for himself.... but really Mats??? What an extremest! My mom and I were laughing so hard! He is the funniest kid ever~

World Cup Arial finals in Deer Valley

2009-02-01T13:59:00.005-07:00

Here are some pics from the world cup, and some videos at the bottom of the post! This was insane!! I am so glad that the kids got to see this!

How handsome is mats going to be?!

With Zarella and Laurel

Mats and Nate trying to breathe after climbing the base of the mountain!

Seriously... are these people CRAZY? Paul and I took Nate and Mats to Deer Valley to meet up with some of my friends from work, and we watched the Arial finals at the world cup! All I want to know is... how do you decide that this is what you want to do? More importantly... how do you practice this? And what happens if you decide you DON'T dare to go off the jump after you are half way down the hill?

lunch at the Porcupine

2009-02-01T13:51:00.004-07:00

I was SO happy when my old roommate Morgan found me online! I haven't seen her for over 3 years. We met up to have lunch the other day, it was SO fun to catch up with her!

Bowling

2009-02-01T13:39:00.004-07:00

I seriously LOVE bowling with my friends and family! We used to bowl ALL the time as girls nights! In fact, it seems like Brittin and Marci may have even been in a "bowling league" when they lived in Orem...lol...is this true? But we don't go near as often since we all got married! I think we need to reinstate the tradition, because really.... the more the merrier!

The boys

Me, Linsey (kenny's GF), Kenny, Angela (Cole's GF), Cole and Tori

This one was most likely a strike ;)

Natalie, Brittin, and me

A little sibling rivalry

Birthday celebrations!

2009-02-01T13:22:00.006-07:00

So many birthday's in January! It was Courtney's on the 19th, Paul's on the 20th, and Brittin's on the 23rd! We had lots of fun celebrating! Here are a few pics!

Celebrating at with Paul's family! LOVE Mudrow celebrations! There are so many people in the fam, that they are always celebrating more than one occasion! which means there are usually TWO cakes! YUM!

Dinner with Brit and Ky

The birthday girl and her cute Hubby

Paul opening his gifts and card from the kids

So... I thought that these would be real cute but.... DO NOT BUY these candles! They were seriously only lit for like 10 seconds... look how fast they melted! There was wax all over the cake! But is was still the BEST cake ever! Wendy makes an AMAZING carrot cake... Paul's favorite!

InVeRsIoN

2009-02-01T13:09:00.004-07:00

Since I drive to Park City every day for work, I get to escape the inversion for a bit, and I guess I really just haven't paid attention to just how bad it is! I took these pics on my way home from work last week before the storm. These pictures were all taken within 5 minutes of each other! It looks like it is night time the Salt Lake Skies were so nasty! (probably not the safest to do while driving...snapping pics )

Just rounding the last turn from the Canyon back into the Salt Lake Valley

another look into Salt Lake

The view from the I-215 belt route entrance...seriously, look how brown / yellow the sky is!
(No photoshopping / altering has been done to this pic ;)

driving through Cottonwood Heights... you can still see it near the base of the mountain!

Renee Kelly...and her Castle

2009-01-30T11:01:00.005-07:00

Okay, so let me just take a few minutes to BRAG about one of my friends from Kansas City. She is an AMAZING chef! Chef RENEE KELLY! She restored a CASTLE to run her business out of, and it is absolutely BEAUTIFUL! She hosts all sorts of events at her Castle (called Renee Kelly's... of course :) Wine and Cheese tasting, cooking demos, seductive foods.... all sorts of stuff. She is so smart and has a great business mind! She helps promote local KC bands such as the John Joiner Band, and even rents out her venue for patio weddings! So if ANY of you ever visit Kansas City... make sure you stop and tour the Castle!

The Castle "Renee Kelly's"

Renee doing her "thing"

Patio wedding (I yoinked these pics from her blog...but it is SUCH a cool shot through the reflection)

John Joiner from the "John Joiner Band"

Tagged by Marci

2009-01-30T09:37:00.007-07:00

I was tagged by Marci to blog my 10 biggest pet peeves.... only 10??? Doesn't seem like a very big number, but I could only think of a few....until Paul caught wind of the tag ;) He was able to help me out since he is usually takes the brunt after someone has pet peeved me off.... so thanks for the help hun!

1. I don't share dairy products..... weird I know! I can drink out of someone else's can of pop, eat off their fork even re-chew already been chewed gum (ABC gum) in dire situations... but I CANNOT share milk, ice cream, root beer floats etc.... Not really sure why... maybe bacteria? Thanks Professor Blauer for teaching me so much about Microbiology...

2. I don't like my knees to touch when I am laying down. I always sleep with a pillow or my hands. .. ( or paul's hands for that matter) anything I can find to put between my knees, but they are not allowed to touch each other while sleeping.

3. If you are going to eat curry for every meal of your life.... PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE shower before you come shopping in my store. The more layers of clothing you wear.... the better! thanks!

4. Thank you for getting better at changing the toilet paper roll Paul, but you know I like it to go UNDER instead of OVER.

5. I ALWAYS wear socks! #1 I don't like feet.... #2 I think my feet for reals regulate my body temp. If my feet are cold, then I am FREEZING!

6. If you are going to wear sandals.... take care of your feet please! (i.e. pedicure, clip your toe nails, paint your toe nails, shave if necessary, soak feet in Listerine to cure discolored toes...) I could go on and on about this....

7. Please don't brush your teeth so violently that your tooth paste and spit end up all over the bathroom mirror!

8. I LOVE me some clean car! Smelling good is a MUST! Changes with the season! Winter season is my pet peeve because it is SO hard to keep it clean.

9. Our bed has to be made EVERY day! A few exceptions are when we both have to work at 6 am or do floor moves or something... but I can't tell you now much of a difference it makes in my mood to come home to a bed made vs. unmade! Thanks for doing so good at this Paul.

10. Why does my dang laptop run out of battery so fast?

I tag Rachel, Kelli, Jacie, Haylee, Marcee, Shannon, Kesha, Sarah, Julie and Stephanie! (I think Marci pretty much covered everyone else)

Park City Sunset

2009-01-13T10:50:00.003-07:00

How pretty is this Park City Sunset! This was one of those "stop and stare" moments that truly takes your breathe away for a few seconds!

Cute husband award

2009-01-09T20:33:00.006-07:00

I came home from work yesterday, and Paul not only had his "honey do" list 100% completed, but he had moved everything from our storage shed back down to our garage... and CLEANED OUR ROOM!! What a productive day! Thanks for being so cute babe and doing so much for our family!

BFF's

2009-01-09T20:06:00.003-07:00

My favorite things about the holidays: I get to see family, lots of good food, and ALL MY GIRLS COME TO TOWN!! We all have so much fun when we get together, and we need to do it more often. I know it gets a little hard since everyone has "stuff" in their lives, but we need to make more time for this... and not just for special occasions!

Mats the magician

2009-01-09T19:45:00.004-07:00

Mats got a bunch of magician stuff for Christmas from his cousin, so his magician ensemble is finally complete. He has been practicing card tricks for months out of my old magic book I had when I was a kid. He is getting really good... he can do some pretty good stuff, even Paul and I get fooled sometimes!

Sledding!

2009-01-03T14:07:00.005-07:00

We went sledding a few days ago at this old school with this rad hill at the top! The kids made jumps, and had so much fun! Gracie had a blast too! She met some new doggie friends and ran so hard through the snow. But right before we left, she was running so hard across the hill, and just slammed into some little girl coming down the hill. It was so sad! Neither of them got hurt...luckily Gracie was in mid jump, so she just did a few flips, but it scared her so bad.... it was really sad, she just put her tail between her legs, and ran over to me and jumped on my lap and just sulked the rest of the day. She wouldn't even leave my side by more than 2 ft. I love sledding though! I think we are going to go EVERY DAY!

Gracie watching Nate go off the jump!

Mats trying head first! He didn't go very fast since he drug his feet and screamed the whole way down...

Nate owning the hill!

Just mats... making the wave with his cute pink gloves that he stole from his sister.

me and Tori

Gracies new friend Gus.

Our baby playing in the snow!

Paul and Gracie racing the kids down the hill