OH MY - IT'S WICKED OUT THERE--

I just love this Broadway Musical....we saw it a few years ago in LA and just couldn't get enough. They did a fabulous job and it was actually partial cast from the original in NYC. We went with a group of moms and daughters from Ashleigh's girl scout troop. They were gs's for 6 years together and then we have kept in touch with each other by planning getaways together each year. I love it-we still do them too...back to:We went to see this play yesterday and it was just as fabulous as it was the first time-it was on a much smaller stage; but it was all the same BREATH TAKING. I am always in awe with the whole story line. That is why I go and take it all in and someone brilliant is writing these story lines. The effects were fabulous, the voices of each one of the actors was amazing and it all just got me. We were lucky enough to see it with Julie Stevens and her family-dear friends from Las Vegas who moved up to Park City about the same time as us. I loved seeing Polly as well-her mom. Then I invited my good friend Angie Arbon and her parents. We all went out to eat at the and ooh la la-that was delish too. I haven't eaten that much in ages. I usually don't splurge and really try to control my food intake-but this was a different occasion. I think my mind was still taking in that play and it wanted more and more....I just know it was worth it and for the rest of this week my walks might have to turn into runs and my food intake might have to be cut in half. Oh well! I feel so "lucky" getting to see all these broadway plays. We have seen 4 of them in the last few years. A girl has got to see some-it's just right-so girls go and see a play-broadway musical that is-I'll go with you-just need the invite.....soooo very worth it. Ashleigh and Emily thoroughly enjoyed it this time-I know Emily had a much better time this go round. She really GOT the whole plot and as I watched her take it in I could totally tell she loved it. When the witch accidently cast a wrong spell on a munchkin and he just so happened to turn into a tin man she laughed and then proceeded to lean over whisper to me, "Mom, I think that has to be the tin man in The Wizard of Oz. Yes, Em you are right! It is!!" All too cute.

These are all the girls: Catarina (didn't knowher), 

Carly and Natalie Stevens, Ashleigh and Emily. 

Angie and I.

YOU have GOT to see this website...

I have some good friends that live in Houston {Katy}, TX and have gotten this site below up and running. It is really a cool idea. I can't believe the response they have received to all this in such a short amount of time. I love how the good of one person and in this case two people can have such an impact on people all over the world. They have had hits from over 80 different countries and are able to put $100 a day in a bank account for him made only for a trustee to to have access to when he is clean and off the streets. He has an offer in Oregon to go to a Rehab and get clean for 6 weeks-just from the website that the Dolans have created. For right now, it is the city of Houston, and in a few days it will be the country of the United States, that is getting the recognition for being a kind, caring, and out of the box kind 0f people that they are. I love the fact that in just a short 11 days the Dolan's have figured out how to help a man who on Feb. 9th had no hope at all. In fact, I'm sure he thought that life as he knew it was going to be living under a freeway sign and panhandling for his day to day food and lifeline. I don't think that he ever thought 2 intelligent human beings would ever approach him and ask him if they could try something that might change his life forever-and change it for the good!

Tim, a homeless, helpless man had given up hope of ever getting off the streets of Houston, TX. It has been 5 long years and was just waiting for the break he needed to make it again someday. Then two nobodys: Sean and Kevin Dolan, took to the streets and found Tim. They made a difference in just one person's life. Doesn't the saying go something like this: "How think ye? If a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?" And then I think it even says: "And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray." matt 18:12-13. 

I am not by any means a scriptorian and absolutely not trying to chastize anyone-but I just wonder what a difference this one small act of kindness can make to our world. Especially, in such trying times as this...I am proud to say that I know this fabulous family and only hope that this one sheep turns into a hundred and the hundred turns into a million. It would be such a cool reprieve to see the world catch on to this concept and just try it-in their hometowns. It would be relatable to Oprah's pay it forward, one act of kindness movement she caused a few years back. It caught on like wildfire and is now being filmed and talked about all over the globe.

I just have to let them know how awesome I think all of this is. They are being interviewed by News Stations all over Houston and on Monday morning will be on the Fox & Friends news show. If you don't get to read this before then-which I don't think you will, you could probably go online and see it there. They are also going to be on the Rachel Ray show this week. Just letting everyone know there is a new way of being kind, a new road to healing, and a way to make a BIG difference in the life of someone who thought they would never be noticed. Go go go!!!

They are really getting good responses for the most part. Just as an update: the Monday Fox news was just a quick minute and a half but was really well done. The Rachel Ray show will be just a blurb about them and Jeff Foxworthy joking about it....make a difference pass this site on to whom ever you know and help make a difference today.

FRIENDS. . . 

Oh, isn't that true. I love a good book, a good movie and a good friend. I think they all fit in that same category. always make you feel good. comforting. peaceful.  i need that right now. i'm glad that Ashleigh has that in her life. I am going crazy but not Ash. She always has someone to laugh with, someone to text her back when she needs them, and for sure a good laugh. She is always reading a good book that catches her attention and keeps her engaged in it for many an hour. she can read like nobody's business. get in trouble at home and at school for reading too much. but is always ready when a friend calls. love that about her. simple. doesn't need much attention. doesn't ask for much. loves life. loves school-well, don't know if she loves it, but; she does do quite well despite it all. just a happy-go-lucky kind of gal. i'm so proud of her and the decisions she is making. always one step ahead of the game. received her young women's medallion in church on Sunday and even bore her testimony. fabulous. couldn't ask for much more. love every thing about this girl. way to go ash. i'm so glad you were sent to me. might not say that in a few months when you are driving. for now you are worth your weight in gold. love ya to the moon  and back!! mom

Twilight!

Got to know-did it twi-light for you? What did you think of the movie? I went a few girlfriends and we went shopping, to dinner and then the movie. I personally loved The Pizza Factory and the calzone I ate that night. It was sooo delicious. I could have savored the flavor for days. The movie was good. I want to finish the book now. Ash told me not to finish the book before the movie so it wouldn't ruin it for me. I will have time in 4 days-off of school for a few weeks. HOORAY!!! Love it. Let me know what you thought.

July 4th

Caught Christian and Em just as they were coming down the Half Pike at the water park-this is the scariest ride. Only takes a few seconds and it's done but the jolt your stomach gets is it... There is one at the water park in Provo that we went to. I love scary rides but this one was worse than I ever imagined. It wasn't too bad when I look back-but the anticipation killed me!

Having a Dairy Queen treat and waiting for the fireworks to go off

This was such a relaxing weekend. It was great to get away from the craziness of home and what was suppose to be a simple summer and just enjoy the days. We went to Boise, ID with just the 4 of us-Ashleigh was in Oregon at a camp. We left here on Wednesday and Nef needed to work in Twin Falls for a few hours so he dropped us off at the Mall and we walked around, had dinner and then headed up to dad's house. He was going to be there; but decided to go to OR to visit with Jeff (my brother) and his 2 girls and then head to Keri's house up by Portland. So we got there and chatted with him that night and then he left early the next morning to go. Kelly and her family were going to come with us and they had something come up and couldn't make it so it was just us. We went to a water park on Thursday with some friends; Andrea, Ryan, Bailey, Ellie and their newest baby boy Logan. They were in our 1st ward we were in when we lived in Henderson while he attended dental school. It was so fun to see them. I hadn't seen them in a long time. Nef works up there a lot and has often called Ryan to go to b-ball games or dinner. He gets to go to Vegas often and do the same-visit with friends while we stay here and go to school!! hahaha! It's great for him-at least he gets to go where he knows people and loves that aspect of the traveling with work. Kids has so much fun at the water park and it was hot. Worked out great. Emily and I went to see the new American Girl movie: Kit Kittredge on Friday while Nef took Christian to a movie. We went to dinner and then it was off to the Boise downtown parade and back to Meridian for the local fireworks show. For being a small town, the show was great. It seemed to last a long time and they did a great job. We took chairs and sat on the grass near the race track where they went off. We got to see a lot of fireworks from there going off all over. Emily especially loves parades. She will go to a parade anytime, anywhere. She loves seeing the floats and the candy, t-shirts, frisbees or whatever they throw. She scored with this parade, coming home with a bag full of treats and a t-shirt-from 2003! She said it would make a great sleep shirt. On Sat. we just hung out all day and I had a great time finishing a fun little gift for our friends baby boy. He was getting blessed on Sunday morning and that was a plus for the weekend. It ended up working out great that we got to be there for that day. It was so nice of them to include us as they had all their family there too. I've included a few photos from that day. He is such a great baby. I held him for hours at the water park-he slept the whole time and never made a peep. Such a sweet and tiny one. Those days seem so long ago for me-wow! I'm feeling old. Then we drove home on Sunday so we could get Emily ready for camp the next morning. Thanks to my dad for letting us use his home and to the Payne's for letting us crash their party. We had a great time getting away.
Emily with Bailey Payne
Christian hates! it when I take his picture-but I told him to be patient and just smile-he actually did it.
The Payne Family: Ryan, Logan, Bailey, Ellie and Andrea
This is the clock that I made. I really should have found out if it even went in his room before making it; but I saw a similar idea and just had to do it. I don't know if it will go in the baby's room or not; but I sure did have fun making it. I thought I could go into a store and buy the dies to cut all the pieces I needed for it/or even just cut them out at the store using their dies and just go home and put it all together-wasn't quite that simple. Ended up cutting a lot of them by hand and that was half the fun. Just cutting and trying to create the shapes. I had a great time and it was relaxing for me to do this. I love to put the pieces together and then see the final product-nothing more to make me happy-a little paper and scissors and I'm content for days or even months. Just that simple-wish I could play all day, every day. I used to-where did the "time" go.

What a cute bunch!

Here is the Sunday best of the BEST-had to get this one in-
Back row L to R: Ashleigh, Josh, David, Brian
Front row L to R: Emily, Isaac, Christian, Jared

PAYNE GAME!

The Payne's from New Mexico are here and we are having fun! I don't know that this has been their best visit because we found the water damage just after they arrived-a few days later-but fun none the less.


Enjoyed the fire pit and smores while they were here too. Kids sang songs and cooked all night. They love putting starbursts on the fire too. They blow up and get a hard shell on the outside. Anything for boys to have a fire and they are happy!!
Brian was a buddy of David Payne's and he was a great asset to the fun- a great personality and crazy.
Love playing the Payne Game. George made this up and they gave us one last year. It is similar to Sorry. George actually used an extra cupboard door and drilled the holes in it so the marbles sit perfectly on each one. We are hooked and even have our new neighbors-Christie and Don Mendoza into it too! We sat outside Sunday after church and enjoyed the good weather, limeade and games.


This was sooooo funny! Ashleigh discovered a site on the internet that will answer questions that you type in-and 95% of the time they are right on!! It is so funny to show it to someone new and have them absolutely freak out! We got a good laugh and then told them how it works- if you want to know how to do it-just email me and I'll clue you in. It is so fun to do in a crowd and teenagers totally love it. Good way to have some fun and laughs and it not be something that you are worried about on the internet. Whoever comes up with these ideas are way too creative and have way too much time on their hands. Entertainment in the cheapest, silliest ways!
This is David when he first got on this site and had no clue what was going on....what a good laugh we all got with him.

Lemonade Stand

A family in our ward did a lemonade stand this weekend-it wasn't your regular lemonade stand. It by far exceeded the norm. They were doing it to send money in to help with childhood cancer research. The oldest girl, Elizabeth Quigley, had cancer 4 years ago and is now free from it, but another 3 year old girl in our ward was just diagnosed with liver cancer. So they got everyone in the ward to donate treats and lemonade and thought they would do a stand to raise $1,000. That was their goal anyway. To everyone's surprise and excitement they surpassed that 5 x's over. Look at the pictures-$5,000+ was raised!!! They worked so hard to prepare and then spent about 10 hours total selling everything. I was asked to come and take pictures and then create a scrapbook for each family. I didn't even get to scan in the book I made so I would remember what I did; but I will have to borrow it back and do that. It was nice of them to ask and I totally enjoyed getting to be in my room and scrap-since I never seem to do it for us-at least my room is getting used. They are a great family and have had some hardships themselves with cancer-losing their mom to it several years ago and then their daughter also having it. There was a good story behind how it evolved and how many times they knew the Lord was there to guide them. They had many little potholes in their path and overcame each one to get this done. Way to go!!! Shows that whatever you want to do-you can if you put your mind to it and ask for a little bit of help.


They even made more money after the banner was made-think they ended up with about $5,400. That's about $500 an hour. Hard work pays off...