Annual GDI Christmas Party

I love all my girls!

Jami hosted our 17th Annual Christmas Party this year. We had so much fun, just as we always do. I love you all! Merry Christmas!

Back row: Amber, Jen, Leesa, Dana, Jody, Keri & Valerie

Front row: Kristi, Kriste, Jami & Me

Sledding!

We joined up with our friends, the Tucker's, to do some sledding on the golf course in their neighborhood. The kids had a blast! There were a couple of crash landings and some serious air taken off the mini jump someone had built. It made for some good laughs!

I've Done Dawn's hair for about 5 years now. She is one of my favorite clients. We have become great friends and I just love her! Their little girl, Jonna, is Collin's age and they have so much fun together!

Holiday Sweater Party 2008

Jesse wore a 1970's Sears original velor sweater with a homemade dickie.

I wore an ensemble borrowed from my Grandma Rabiger, a polyester green shirt with a nativity broach and a festive sweater vest over the top. I decided to top of the outfit with some polyester pants, white tights, and red heels. All of the girls in their festive attire.

Me in all of my Glory!

Sondrups Pay Us a Visit!

Our good friends Cole and Kristi Sondrup came to visit us yesterday. They were in town from Ohio for the week. It was so good to catch up and visit with them. I actually went to high school with Kristi, although I didn't know her very well back then. We became great friends with them while we were living up at the University of Utah married student housing. Cole and Jesse were both working on their bachelor's degrees back then. Now Cole is a doctor and is working on his E.R. Residency in Ohio. We are so proud of them for how far they've come! I guess we're proud of how far we've come too. It's crazy to think that we've been married for almost 10 years now. Life comes at you fast. (Not to quote that funny insurance commercial...but it's a good, quality quote.) Anyway, we had fun with the Sondrups yesterday and hope that they will make their way back to Utah permanently someday! We love you guys!

80's Birthday Bash!

It was an 80's themed surprise 30th birthday party for our friend Jen. But, it was also a party for all of our friends because we all either have or will turn 30 years old in the next few months! We laughed all night while we choreographed several impromptu dances, sang our high school fight song, reminisced about high school memories at the old hang out - Sconecutter, and learned to shop for cheap at our old place of employment - Shopko! I love my friends! Thanks for a great night ladies!

Yearbook Photos

Top Row: Kristen, Dana, Kristi, Jen, Valerie

Bottom Row: Jody, Jami, Amber, Leesa, Kriste

Girls Just Want To Have Fun!
The "Popular Girls"

Twilight Night @ Midnight!

Wendy, Me, Taralee, Karey, and Scarlett


So, yes, feel free to laugh out loud. As you all know I've been a devoted "Twilighter" ever since I read the series a few months back. I was so excited for the movie to come out that I just had to buy tickets to the midnight showing! We had such a blast. We got in line at 5:00pm and hung out until the movie started at midnight. Fabulous girl time, it actually went by really fast!
As for my movie review? -- I had mixed feelings about it. I had such high expectations and hopes for the movie that I couldn't help but feel a little bit let down. There were a lot of things that I thought could have been better, and yet, I can't exactly tell you how I would have done them any better. I felt like the movie was super rushed! I thought it could have actually been a little bit longer to explain more about the characters and the plot.

NOW, with that little negativity being said, there's no denying - I did smile the entire movie, and I laughed so many times that I know I was thoroughly enjoying myself. My cheeks hurt at the end of the evening from my endless smiling. I also need to confirm (to my surprise) that I absolutely LOVED Edward in the movie! He was perfect! I definitely want to see it again! I think I will enjoy it more the second time - now that I know what to expect. So, again, Did I love it? Yes - I guess I loved the movie for what it was/is - I just need to accept in my little obsessed brain that the movie is NOT the book! BUT - entertaining none the less!

Okay - Let's Get This! NKOTB Rocks!

BEST CONCERT EVER!

THE NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK CONCERT! All of us girls gearing up for the big show

Jordan - hilarious!

Words and Pictures do not do this concert justice at all! We had the time of our lives dancing and screaming at the top of our lungs at the New Kids concert.

Scarecrow Festival

We went to the Scarecrow Festival with the Lamborn's on Friday night. We had a screamin' good time!

Carlos' Baptism

We are so excited that Carlos (Jesse's friend that he mentors in the Big Brothers program) made the decision to be baptized as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on Sunday. Carlos is such a great kid. He has amazing friends that have been awesome examples to him. When his Bishop asked him why he wanted to learn more about the church, he said that it was because he saw a peace and happiness in his friends lives, and he wanted it in his own life. That is so awesome to me! Carlos was born in Ecuador, and then moved to New York for a while, and then to Utah when he was 9 years old. Jesse has been his mentor since he was 10 years old, he's now 16 years old. We have enjoyed getting to know him and his family so much. We consider them part of our family!

Carlos with his friends that inspired him to be baptized along with the missionaries that taught him.

Carlos with his mom Alex and his little brother David

Baby Shower for Kriste & Baby Beckem

I love a night out with the girls! We went to Cafe Trio last night to celebrate the next baby to join our group of friends! Kriste has 2 girls and is looking forward to welcoming a bouncing baby boy in the next couple of weeks. She got lots of cute clothes for baby Beck and some awesome homemade stuff too! We have such talented friends! I love you all and was so happy to see you all last night!

All of us girls!

Amber, Keri, and Jody

James Taylor Concert with Mamers!

Me and Jami went to the James Taylor concert last week and had such a great time! I've never been a huge fan of him, not purposely, but mostly because I didn't think I knew any of his music. I was actually pleasantly surprised that I knew a lot of his stuff! It was a totally chill concert, with a few lively old people in the crowd. We ran into Alicia and her husband Blaine there so we sat by them. Amber and Spencer were there with some friends too, but we didn't sit with them. It's okay Amber, no hard feelings. J/K! Jami got an awesome James Taylor t-shirt that I hope she wears the next time we hang out. Thanks for a fun night Jame! And thanks to Officer Powell for the VIP parking again!Me & Jami chillin' with our smoothies!

Blaine & Alicia

Class of '97 Cheerleaders Unite!

All of my cute cheerleader friends from high school (yes it's true, I was a cheerleader) got together for a barbeque on Tuesday night! I was going to miss it because I had to work, but I was able to reschedule my hair appointments so that I could go! It was sooo good to see all of them. I love these girls and we just don't get together often enough! Krystal lives in Las Vegas, so she couldn't make it. And Tina wasn't able to come either. Where is Tina in all of these pics from high school anyway? We missed you two!!

Cheer practice in high school: Me, Heidi, Rochelle, Heidi, Aly, and Rachelle

Induction Ceremony our Senior Year: Heidi, Rachelle, Heidi, Rochelle, Aly, Me, Krystal

Barbeque Tuesday night: Me, Rachelle, Rochelle, Heidi, Heidi, Aly

Summer Memories Part 2

Sorry, I warned you all that this was a possibility. A few more memories have come to me. I have loved everyone's feedback. Yes, it's true, I was a girl that was always looking to fall in love. Wasn't everyone always looking for love in the summertime? Jami Suggested that I should have named my summer memories post "Summer Love". I felt I needed to add these additional memories because this blog is somewhat of a journal/scrapbook for me (for all to read), and then we'll be done with this for now - regardless of whether or not I come up with any more. Maybe we'll have to do a fall and winter memories post as well...we'll see.

• Hawaii was where I went with all of my friends for our Senior Trip in June 1997! We had so much fun. We learned the hula (which I got the "hula award" for on the trip - not because I was good at it, but more because I was awkward and funny to watch while I was doing it.) We also went para sailing over the ocean, which was honestly one of the coolest things I have ever done! One of the highlights was when all of us were in the boat watching Kriste up above us para sailing and peeing 40 feet in the air into the ocean because she was freaking out! We also went on a cruise one night which is now known to all of us as the "booze cruise". None of us drank any alcohol, but we sure had a great time dancing among all the drunks as the ship went out into the ocean rocking back and forth, and the drunks were all falling all over the place. They were actually lucky we were all there! They needed some sober folks on board that night! Also in Hawaii, one day when we were laying out on floaties in the ocean (and frying our skin off -particularly Valerie), a large sea turtle swam underneath us. Amber & I decided it would be a good idea to try to "surf" on the turtle's back. Fortunately, we didn't get our feet snapped off. Another quick memory of Hawaii, was at Hanama Bay when we went to go snorkeling. We all bought bags of fish food to attract fish, like the good tour guides suggested we do. As we went into the water (about 2 feet deep I might add), suddenly swarms of silver fish started attacking us wanting our bags of fish food. These fish were not afraid of humans! They were literally jumping out of the water and biting at us to get the bags of food. As you can imagine, 20 girls screaming at the top of their lungs, throwing their bags of food at the fish and running out of the water! It took us a few minutes to talk each other back into going into the water to snorkel! We finally did and had more adventures with getting caught in the current and getting cut all over our bodies on the coral! Needless to say, snorkeling was not my favorite thing! I think back on some of the things I've done in my life and wonder how me and my friends are alive today...which brings me to my next memory...
• Train Tracks! I'm still to this day terrified by this memory. Two days before graduating from High School (so yes, we were technically adults, but not very smart ones...) someone had the idea that all of us friends should go to some train tracks and wait for a train. I can assure you that it was not my idea. But, of course I went along, I'm like a sheep baaa, baaa! There was an overpass that the train went over and we were all told to line up along the walls of the overpass and have the train pass by us face to face for the ultimate adrenaline rush. The train was coming and we were all about 2 feet from the train tracks that the train was about to pass us on, with our bums resting on a cement wall. The train approached us, honking the horn non-stop - I can only imagine what that train conductor was thinking. I remember thinking that we were going to be the tragedy on the news that night. "Teenagers die two days before graduating high school." The train passed right by us going extremely fast, and I just remember screaming at the top of my lungs and feeling my hair whip all over the place. It lasted a good couple of minutes and then the train was gone. We all looked at each other amazed and then cheered and screamed that we had accomplished this difficult task. Obviously we lived through it, and it truly was an unbelievable adrenaline rush - But I will never get over the fear that was instilled in me that night! Stupidity at it's finest!
• The Redwood Drive-In was the place to be on a hot summer night! I went there so many times over the years. I'm ashamed to admit it now, but I was guilty of sneaking in a time or two! We would round up a couple of trucks and fill them with tons of blankets, then a few of us would hide under the blankets and hold extremely still until we got through the pay gate. The best part about the drive-in was rarely the movies. It was watching all the people who came to the drive-in. And yes, if you were lucky that summer, you would have a summer crush to share a kiss with at the drive-in as well. Last summer Jesse and I went to the drive-in and Jesse knew the police officer doing security there and he told us we could go in without paying. Jesse is the most honest person I know, and he insisted on paying to get in! I thought that it was a funny change of events. I felt somehow that all those years that I had cheated the drive-in had just been made up for by my husbands honesty.
• Bungee Jumping was something I always wanted to do as a kid. I think it had something to do with the fact that I'm terrified of heights, and I felt it was a fear that I needed to conquer in my life. And so it was, when I was 13 years old, I saved up all my money that summer to go bungee jumping at the tower that was conveniently set up in the Raging Waters parking lot! My parents were less than thrilled as they signed my life away on the release forms, but they were great, and always allowed me to reach for the stars - literally. I was a nervous wreck up on the jumping deck as I looked down below, but as I jumped, I felt like I was free as a bird! It was so much fun! I have no desire to ever do it again, but I'm glad that I did it when I was 13. I still hate heights!
  
  What are some of your summer memories? I would love to read some of your summer stories!

Summer Memories Through the Years

Last night I had a moment to myself after I put the kids to bed (Jesse was still at work). I went outside for some calming fresh air and just took in the beauty of a summer night! As I sat there, I began to remember all the wonderful summers I have enjoyed so far in my life. I am going to jot some of the memories down for posterity's sake. Feel free to skip over this post, it's just a lot of reminiscing with myself.

• Raging Waters was a huge part of my life every summer for several years growing up - probably from about 11-17 years old. My mom got our family season passes to help fill our summer days while she had to go to work. When I was younger, we would ride the bus all the way up to Raging Waters (this thought sounds crazy to me now, but we never thought twice about it then)- until I was old enough to drive us all up in my cherished "silver bullet" Chevy Malibu. (That car could be a post in and of itself...) Oh, the joys of "RAGE". Anyone who was anyone had a season pass there. Jami was usually by my side as we would watch all the hot older boys play volleyball. Every single one of my friends had a season pass and we all fell in love at least once during the summer thanks to a Raging Waters connection. At the end of a long day at Raging Waters I would go home and admire my tan/burn that I had received from wearing no sunscreen (which has since caused freckles and age spots) and look forward to going there again the next day!
• Lagoon has been a part of each summer as well! I fell in love with a kid named Nick at Lagoon the summer between 7th and 8th grade. I also had my heart broken at Lagoon by a different Nick (who was my "steady boyfriend") on 9th grade Lagoon Day, when all of my friends informed me he was riding the rides with another girl. Sad. I have many fond memories at Lagoon with family and cousins! When I was little I won a life size stuffed animal dog at Lagoon by throwing a ball into a milk can. My cousin Adria cried until my grandma basically paid off the Lagoon worker to let her win a dog as well. I love you Adria! Wendy bought me a season pass to Lagoon a couple of years ago and we had so much fun taking Collin and Cambree on all the kiddie rides! Good memories!
• Slip & Slide! When I was little, my mom rounded up some massive piece of plastic (probably like 10'x20') and staked it down in the backyard, put the hose on it, and we (and all the neighborhood kids) would all slip and slide away! She did this several summers in a row. My dad always freaked out that it was burning the lawn, but my mom didn't care about the lawn. My grandma always said, "I'm raising kids, not a lawn", to my grandpa who was also a lawn fanatic! My mom followed my grandma's advice and always let us kids just be kids!! Good Times!
• The Trampoline offered many fun summer memories with friends and siblings! We would sleep out on it and look up at the sky and watch for shooting stars. While we were sleeping we all would slowly slide down into the middle of the tramp and would all be laying on top of each other when we woke up in the morning. We also enjoyed putting the sprinklers under the tramp while we jumped on it!
• The 4th and 24th of July had many memories. I fell in love (again) on the 4th of July at the Murray fireworks! "Don't get me started" Anytime there are fireworks involved there is a lot of fun involved! Amber and I worked at a firework stand one summer! We enjoyed Baskin Robbins ice cream as we baked in the firework trailer.
• The Mountains are my favorite place to go in the summer! I love the fresh air, green pines and blowing quaking aspen trees! I also have so many memories of going to girls camp in the mountains. The testimony meeting around the campfire at girls camp was always one of the highlights of my summers during my teenage years. Other fun memories include many family picnics up in Big Cottonwood Canyon and overnight camp outs in my grandparents camper! I also enjoyed a fun trip with my friends to Jackson Hole when I was 16. We went white river rafting and had the time of our lives in the mountains!
• Bear Lake was a favorite for several years with all my girlfriends and the beloved Susaeta family! Kriste's grandparents have a cabin right on the lake, and Kriste would invite a few of us up every year over Raspberry Days. We had so many good times at the lake! During the days we would play on the lake, lay out, and enjoy Carolyn's yummy treats. At night we would get all dressed up to head out in search of boys! We had so many good laughs. One night, very late I might add, Kriste told me that the boy I liked his middle name was Bonnie. I know this will not sound funny to anyone else, but I'm sure Kriste is rolling laughing as she reads this.
• Road Trips in the BMW (Big Mormon Wagon, but my dad preferred to call it the BMW). We had many family vacations to Disneyland, St. George, Yellowstone, etc... that all 8 of us would pile in the station wagon to enjoy a long ride. This was of course before the seat belt laws. We had many-a-breakdowns. I recall one in particular, I must have been around 10 years old. We were on our way down to Lake Powell with the Alvord family. The wagon broke down in the middle of no-where. Some hick guy came along and volunteered to tow us! This was a scene right out of a movie. Our station wagon (with all of us still in it) was chained to the back of an old pick-up truck, going 70 miles an hour with all eight of us screaming at the top of our lungs. We were sure we were going to crash & burn! At 10 years old, I was ahead of my years, and yelled out "I knew we should have said a prayer!" My family still teases me about that to this day!
• I got Engaged on June 5, 1999. It was a strange engagement. Jesse proposed to me in the car, in the Trolley Square parking lot, while it was pouring rain outside! He had planned on taking me out to the Star Observatory, but with the rain, it didn't quite work out the way he had planned. But it didn't matter - More Summer Love - and this one actually lasted!

Well, that's enough memories for now! I love the summertime and look forward to many more fun memories with my own kids! I'm sure I'll think of a million more memories that I'll want to write down, so there may just be a part 2 to this post, unfortunately for all of you.

A Friendly Barbeque

Devin & Kristi hosted a great barbeque for all of my friends & their families, and also some oldie but goodie friends - the "Bingham Boys" from high school. It was fun to mingle with everyone. I really didn't get that great of pictures but, Jami is so photogenic, isn't she?Leesa is such a trooper! Is that baby girl here YET? Due any second!Lance and Jesse with our two boys watching fireworks. Some more friendly faces. Amber and cute Bella.

Tim McGraw - I Like it, I love it, I want some more of it!

Oooh, Lah, Lah!

Jesse surprised me and bought me and Amber tickets to the Tim McGraw concert! I saw he was coming in concert a while back and mentioned I wanted to go, but I told him it would be so fun to go with my friends (since Jesse's not much of a cowboy.) Amber had taken me to Tim McGraw several years back, so before Jesse gave me the tickets he bought, he called Amber and asked her to go with me (Awwweee, sweet). Once Amber was on board, we decided to call & invite all of our friends to come - and needless to say - it was a night full of cowboy love! We love you Timmy!

We got the special V.I.P. treatment, thanks to Jesse's hook-up's at Usana. His friend Officer Powell took good care of us at the concert!Gearing up for the show!

Oh, I like it, I love it, I want some more of it! Yow!

Good times Ladies, Good times!

Kriste, Me, My double Chin, and Amber - love it.

And...The Grand Finale. This was the worst P.D.A. I have ever witnessed! Pure nastiness! Fortunately for you, we didn't take any pics of the down & dirty! The best part was, when the concert was over, he said "Nice to meet you." And walked away!! We were dying!

Recipe Night with the Girls!

Hello Ladies!

We call it recipe night, but we all manage to fit in a few extras...Like getting our nose hairs waxed. Well, Jami and Kristi anyway - thanks to Dana!

Beautiful Kris!
Tolman and Collin managed to sneak into the girl party to get themselves a snack.

A Near Perfect Day!

Wendy & Jami - Two of my most FAVORITE people -

I love you guys!!

Bella & Collin


Today was such a beautiful day! I was so happy to have a free day to just enjoy my kids and the nice weather. I am so grateful to be home during the day with them. Sometimes it's easy to forget how good I have it. We enjoyed a fun day at the park with Wendy & her kids and Jami & her kids. When we got back from the park Collin and Bella helped me wash the car. I love the warm weather and I am so excited for the summer!!!