The "Best Brother of the Morning" Award goes to.... OWEN!!!

I have the best brother... This morning he got out of his nice warm bed to help me out - and he didn't even grumble about it.

I work today and then I leave for vacation tonight. We had our family Christmas yesterday and then came home and collapsed. When we got home I wasn't feeling too great and it just got worse from there. I hardly ever get sick! But this year I'm getting pounded.... Last night was miserable, absolutely miserable. To top it off I had to pack for vacation, get ready for work and get a few things tied up around the house in preperation for me to be gone for a couple days.

Owen was great and helped me out whenever I asked him. He got my suitcase from the garage, etc... I finally got everything packed and snuggled into bed.

This morning my alarm went off, I hit the snooze a couple times, then finally got up and looked outside... snow, more of it. I gently knocked on Owen's bedroom door, then asked him quietly through the dark, "Will you put my big suitcase in my car for me?" I didn't realize how pathetic I sounded till he started giggling.

I went and got in the shower and got ready for work. By the time I was done Owen came back inside. I thanked him profusely... The thought of wrestling my suitcase out to the car with our 16 inches of snow seemed absolutely horrific. I gave him hugs and got a kiss on the cheek. We said our "Bye"s and "I'll Miss you"s and "Take care of the house" and then I opened the door and started for the car. When I looked up I almost started crying. Not only had he taken my suitcase out, but had started my car, scraped my windows and even shoveled a walkway to my car.... HE'S AWESOME!! He was so thoughtful and sweet, it meant the world to me.

So, I'm the luckiest sister ever.... at least I was this morning. I'll let you know if I still think that after I get home and Owen has had the house to himself for five days. :) (LOVE YOU OWNEY!!)

(Here is Owen and I last summer... awww, loves! haha)

Living Today So Tomorrow Can Be As Great As Yesterday

I recieved a few gifts today... both of them were touching in their own ways.

Brett (an ex-boyfriend and dear dear friend) is in town for the holidays and we went to dinner tonight. It was wonderful to spend time with him. He was incredibly sweet and gave me a little Christmas present. It is a children's book about underwear, written by a 6 year old boy... Typical Brett. We stood in the parking lot and I read it quickly, we both giggled and shook our heads through the amazement that something this random would be so touching.

I loved the book... but mostly I loved the thought that was put into it.

My second present came from my Visiting Teachers. Apprently they dropped it off on the doorstep and Owen found it. A great plate of Christmas cookies (Owen enjoyed those) and a copy of the General Conference Ensign. It was perfect, I have been meaning to get one of those for a bit now...

I started thumbing through and settled on a talk from President Monson, titled Finding Joy in the Journey. He talks about how our lives go through changes and while those are happening life comes and goes, quickly. He encourages us to take advantage of today, to make the most of it. He quotes The Music Man saying, "[if] You pile up enough tomorrows, you'll find you've collected a lot of empty yesterdays." He follows it by saying, "There is no tomorrow to remember if we don't do something today."

I have really tried to live my life to the fullest the last couple of years, but this article hit home. I find the years flying by (is it really 2009 already?) and I realize that there are some important things that I'm still missing. I am pleased with the spontenaiety and the adventersome attitude that I have adopted, yet I realize that I still need to focus more on relationships - those are always most important.

Later on he heartfully says, "I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and nonexistent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey - now."

Its easy to get sucked into "I'll do it when I get these other things taken care of...", but when it comes to relationships I see that they need to be a priority... all those other things will fall into place.

President Monson said, "Stresses in our lives come regardless of our circumstances. We must deal with them the best we can. But we should not let them get in the way of what is most important - and what is most important always involves the people around us."

Today my presents went hand in hand. As I read this article I thought about how grateful I was that both Brett and I found the time to get together. Today was the only day that both of us would be here and I'm glad we made it a priority to see eachother. His present was cute and thoughtful, the card was even more touching. Simple, sweet and very welcomed....

I don't like New Year's Resolutions, I think if it is something that important we should just start now, not wait for Jan 1st. So, here is my new resolution, starting today.... I'm going to try to never let the kind word go unsaid. If I'm thinking about someone I will let them know. If I appreciate something I will give the word of thanks. I will hug more. I will make calls more, long distance or next door. I will send more facebook "trinkets" ... haha. In a nut shell, I will let people know they are important to me.

SOOOOO. Thanks for reading, if you are here that means you are special to me. I hope you know that you touch my life, each and every one of you do in some way. I know this is generic, but I'm just getting started... :)

p.s.
If the thought of the underwear book strikes your fancy: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Underwear-Dos-and-Donts/Todd-Parr/e/9780316908061

Brett and I, back in the day...

WANTED: One MANfriend

If you are also my facebook friend you may recall a "status update" a couple weeks ago stating "Sara is looking for a new boyfriend." Well... I have changed my mind.

Tonight I was talking with my dear friend and coworker, I was updating him on my latest disappointment and as I said, "I just need a boyfriend that is grown up, one that is secure enough in himself to know what he wants and to go with it, to make his own decisions...." He listened patiently. Then as I said, "DJ, I need a new boyfriend." He said, "No Sara, you need a MANfriend. No more boys around here."

You know, he's right. I need a man, not a boy.

I need a man, one who doesn't try to say the hard things through text, one who knows what he wants and gets it, one who dosen't worry about what other people think more than what he thinks, one who dosen't change his mind every couple days, one who doesn't let his actions be completely opposite of what comes out of his mouth (well, sometimes comes out of his mouth), one that dosen't judge me to a higher standard than himself, one that communicates, one that is ready for a relationship....

That's the kicker. Ready for a relationship... ready to love and be loved, to share cold nights and warm afternoons, to sigh at jokes and laugh at memories, a thigh to rest my hand on...

People keep saying, "You deserve better." You know, I do. I do deserve better. I'm just sick of waiting for better.

So, here's the call. Know of any MEN? One that fits the bill above? I'm not looking for Mr. Perfect... although if he does actually exist please do send him my way. :) I know I'm a handful and I'm willing to put up with some quirks as well. Give and take... But most of all I'm just looking for someone who is ready to stand on their own two feet... and be excited to have someone standing next to them, hand in hand.

Anyone come to mind? You know how to find me....

The Christmas Questionaire

I just saw this list on another delightful blog. I don't technically know the writer, but I LOVE reading her blog, even tho we have never met. I have been in her house tho (I just realized how CREEPY that sounds) and through her home and her blog I know without a doubt that she is awesome....

I liked this list of questions, I think it's fun to hear about other people's holidays.... so, here we go!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?

Usually wrapping paper. Every now and then a gift bag can sneak in, but I like wrapping things. Its a nice mix of Left Brain and Right brain.... very orderly and precise while still being creative.

2. Real tree or artificial tree?

I have a fake tree, pre-lit... and it's awesome. I love how easy it is to set up. I can even carry the box for it all by myself with minimal grunting and groaning. I love the big impact for not very much effort. Besides, Poppa is a fireman. Real trees = fire hazards....

3. When do you put up the tree?

I shoot for right after Thanksgiving. It very rarely happens that early... but thats what I shoot for.

4. When do you take down the tree?

I try for the first couple days of January. Usually its about a week or so longer... but I hope I never let it stay up till Valentines day. haha.

5. Do you like eggnog?

I am sure I have tried eggnog, but I don't really remember. So I guess that dosen't mean I love it! haha. I don't really remember my family ever drinking it... just not our thing I guess.

6. Do you have a stocking? What does it look like?

I have two stockings and my parents still have possession of them both. Poppa's mom made most of us knitted stockings when we were born. They all have our names on them and are in Christmas colors. Since I am the oldest kid she made mine first (of course) and it is normal size... about what a four year old would wear if she were to wear a knee high stocking. From then on out they just got bigger. Owen's can hold pretty much the entire northern hemisphere. My stocking is usually filled with two things (thats all that can fit) and then the rest of it is just piled next to it. haha. The other stockings we have are really ornate. They have sequins and the whole bit. Mine has a snowman I think.... that one is usually just for show...
I haven't done the whole stocking thing at my house yet, I still go to the parents for Christmas morning so why do a stocking here?

7. Hardest person to buy for?

I usually don't have a hard time buying/making presents for people. This year the hardest part about presents was trying to figure out WHO to buy/make for.... do you buy a present for a guy who you dated for a couple months, then broke up with -twice, he says you were officially dating, you never realized it was official, although wanted it to be official, now its just all sorts of messed up?? Yeah, still don't know about that one....

8. Easiest person to buy for?

Myself. It never fails, I usually get myself something grand during the Christmas season. It's probably my lack of ability to buy things that I really really want/need and just doing all this shopping makes me realize how much I need/want it.

9. Do you have a nativity scene?

Yes. My last count was three. Darcy Logan has a ton of them and I always love looking at them all... I realized that I wanted nativities in my house, just like Darcy. Although I dont think I will ever have that many and that is fine because I don't have room for them all! My three right now are a good mix, one very elegant white FULL nativity (i'm talking like 18 items or so), a set that was hand painted by my mom/sisters and a great little wooden set that looks unbreakable yet adorable.

10. Mail or e-mail Christmas cards?

I try to mail out Christmas cards and letters every year. I like touching base with everyone and being able to send a little note out. I also LOVE getting Christmas cards/letters from everyone else.

11. Most memorable gift you ever received?

Honestly, I can't really remember. I know that I have recieved many many gifts that I have loved, but I guess I just get all wrapped up in what I'm giving everyone else. I love seeing people open presents.

12. Favorite Christmas movie?

Jim Carey's THE GRINCH. That show is awesome!! It makes me laugh so much. Other than that, A Christmas Story. Both of those shows have great lines to quote.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?

Um, usually about a month or so in advance. I don't do TONS of shopping... I tend to make most things. So, usually with enough time to be able to get everything made. Thanksgiving usually triggers my thought process to start working on things tho.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?

I don't think I have ever regifted a Christmas present to another Christmas present.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?

I love the little clementine oranges that always hit the stores this time of year. Those little things are great.

16. Lights on the tree?

Yep, pre-lit. Wahoo!

17. Favorite Christmas song?

Milk and Cookies by Clint Black. That song is on a family classic Christmas CD that I think we got at Taco Bell in the mid 90s. haha!! But seriously, that CD has some great songs.... and none better than Milk and Cookies.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?

I stay at home for the actual day at Christmas, I'm lucky and all my family is in town. However, the past three years I have left either Christmas night or the day after Christmas to travel. I have to take advantage of Christmas Break!!

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer?

Um, probably....

20. Angel on top of the tree or a star?

Star. Nothing fancy. One day I hope to get some type of heirloom thing...

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?

Christmas morning. My parents tree is always visited by Santa and we all have a big Christmas morning up there. It's awesome. Especially with the little kids. We have this tradition of getting Christmas pajamas on Christmas Eve to wear on Christmas morning. It's never been like a present thing... more like a "ok, they are hot off the sewing machine... here ya go!!" or "We are still working feversishly... they will be done in time for you to put them on in the morning." haha.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year?

How grouchy everyone gets!! Come on people, its the holidays... aren't they supposed to be joyous?

23. Favorite ornament theme or color?

My tree is all white, silver, gold and glass. I love it. Very elegant. I have been able to incorporate a few ornaments that are gifts or what not, those are all really special to me.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner?

We don't have Christmas dinner. On Christmas Eve there is always a huge crock pot of BBQ pork and another one of potatos going.... eat as you can! There is elfing to do!! Then on Christmas day Poppa makes a huge bisquits and gravy "breakfast" when we are done with the festivities... usually around 1 pm. Then we snack on left overs, cheeseballs, vegi trays, etc all day long. It's awesome.

24. What do you want for Christmas this year?

I want to see all the kids open their presents. Little kids are so stinkin fun on Christmas morning.

26. Who is the most likely to respond to this?

Um, anyone who wants to.

27. Favorite Christmas tradition?

I love that my family still does presents for everyone. Everyone gets something for everyone else, even if it is something small. For example, my little bro always gives shaving cream (for face or legs) to everyone... Its great! I like that we still do something special for each and every person... there is a lot of love going around.


I'm not really sure why there are only 27 questions. Kind of a wierd number... haha. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

Never a Dull Moment

My house is full of boys. Matt (Owen's friend) has moved in and his two buddies are here for the week. There are suitcases and bags all over the place, food is disappearing at rapid rates, the TV and/or radio is always on and they are always involved in something borderline irreverant.

Right now we are watching the BYU/Arizona football game. I am folding laundry and they are all piled on the couch looking at craigslist. They are making fun of things and at any given time they will all errupt in laughter and all sorts of other chaos. It is actually quite amusing.

Check this out.... and YES, this is four of them all on the same couch. haha.

You Get Through the Hole You Give Through

I am a people watcher. It never fails to be interesting, but it always has different outcomes. Sometimes I meet people, sometimes I don't realize I'm looking at people too much and I piss them off.

Today I was up at Park City Ski Resort ALL DAY LONG. My ski team has races all weekend, which means we are spending about seven hours a day up at the resort. Today I was studying in the lodge in between races and was "privileged" to observe teenage/college skiers and how they interact. I'll just say this... hockey players have nothing on them. They were crude and disruptive to say the least. It made me think of my times in high school when Mom would wash my mouth out with soap. With these kids I'm not sure the world has enough "cheap green dish soap" to get the point across.

On the flip side, yesterday I sat at the hospital for about seven hours during Owen's surgery. In the waiting room I was able to associate with many wonderfully charming people. The day before that we went snowboarding at Sundance and I met a few great people up there as well. I seperated from Owen and Emily one time and hopped on the lift to meet back up with them. I rode with a really nice guy that talked my ear off. I was suprised there was a guy that could talk that much! I guess I must have said something right.... he gave me his number right before I got off the lift. :)

I've realized in the past couple days that there are a lot of different kinds of people in this world and I get to associate with lots of them. I am fascinated by watching people and how they interact. You can learn so much about them... and yourself at the same time.

UPDATE: It is snowing here for the 5th day in a row and we are supposed to get more snow every day through the middle of next week. Crazy!!

UPDATE 2: Owen is doing REALLY WELL. He is up and moving around and in pretty good spirits. I'm upset he had to go through all this again anyways... but he is healing nicely and his awesome surgeon said he should be able to get back on the mountain the beginning of next week....

Super Sara!

I am a super hero. You may not know it. But I am.

When I was a younger my Poppa was a volunteer Fireman. At night he would hang his fire department shirts on the dresser so if he had to wake up and run out the door to a call it would be easy for him to grab.

Last night I worked at LifeFlight. We transported quite a few people who had been involved in motor vehicle crashes during the night. We saved lives. It's the job.

This morning I got off work and traveled home on snow covered roads. Cars were in ditches and the snow was coming down hard. Luckily one of my super powers is knowing how to drive in snow. I was fine.

I got home and stumbled into bed. I was warm and toasty and then my phone started ringing. It was Mom. On the other end I heard, "Are you in Provo? I ran out of gas. Can you come help? Please?"

I got out of bed and pulled on my boots. I searched for a coat but they were all out in the car. Brrr!! So I slipped on the only coat in my room, my LifeFlight coat. It reminded me of when Poppa would have his fire department shirt ready for emergencies...

I trudged down the hallway in my pajama pants, Ugg boots and LifeFlight coat.

I opened the door and my car had already been covered in four inches of snow. Great. (note to self: threaten Owen with his life if he dosen't clean up the garage so I can start parking in it again.)

I start my car, grab a gas can, get some gas and start off to rescue Mom. Poor thing... she's sitting on the side of an already treacherous road with a rookie cop behind her with his lights on. I park in a nearby parking lot, jump out with my trusty gas can and go to the rescue.

The cop was nice enough, but flustered... calm down buddy, this isn't an emergency. Things are fine. I get mom about a gallon of gas (enough to get her up to school to finish a few finals today) and then walk back to my car.

Apparently another one of my super powers is to not get gas on myself, even though it was dripping all over the place.

I got back home, stripped off my snowy clothes and crawled back into my still warm bed.

Then I let another super power take over me. I crashed. I slept for eight hours. I didn't even wake up through three text messages and four missed calls. Now THAT is a super power I can be grateful for.

Good Friends are Hard to Find

I've been thinking a lot tonight, especially about fun things that I have done with friends.... especially those friends that I miss. I admit, it's a sappy night... bare with me.

I was looking through the pictures from when Jason and I went on our California Adventure. We had a great time... It's hard to find someone that you just click with, but Jason and I did. Right from the very beginning. We had a funny little friendship, one of wierd turns and twists, one with some really great doozies of fights, but also with some amazingly fun times. Some of those fantastic times came when we were in Cali.

He forced me/held my hand/encouraged me to do this....

Took awesome pictures like this...

And let me be fun and goofy... such as making him pose for pictures like this...

I think he's sleeping right now, but when he wakes up he will get a text message I just sent a few minutes ago that says "I miss you!" And it's true... I have a lot of awesome friends and I have TONS of great memories...

Jason isn't the only one...

Jared, the person that can drive me absolutely crazy but yet knows me amazingly well... and will ALWAYS be there for me, without a doubt.

Chris, who I honestly believe should have been my twin brother. Sure, I think he's deliciously good looking... but who dosen't? :)

Chauri, who is like a sister to me. We have been through a lot together... I cherish her friendship more than I let her know...

Stephanie, who I can talk to about ANYTHING. We laugh and cry together, but that girl and I seem to always understand eachother.

Bill, who always seems to know how and when to pick me up and make me smile again.

Joe, who cares about me... sometimes more than I care about myself (it seems).

Geez... the list goes on and on (please don't feel excluded if you didn't make the list... I can only type so much at 1:30 am) haha.

And then there are all of my friends and family here.... That will have to be a different post. That one will be quite long... :)

I've been blessed with great friends and even better memories...

So here's a shout out...

Miss you, Jay!!

Still a Stubborn Little Girl

Once upon a time there was a little girl named Sara. Her mom got her a very cute purple ruffles sweat outfit to go to preschool. One morning Sara's mom tried to get her to wear the sweatoutfit, but Sara was disgusted and didn't want to have anything to do with such an awful ensemble. Sara's mom forced her to wear and it and drove her to preschool, crying the whole way.

Soon after Sara got to preschool she went to the bathroom and then told her teacher that she had wet her pants. Sara knew that by telling this little fib that she would get to pick a pair of pants out of the basket to wear for the rest of the day, the preschool was used to these types of small emergencies.

When Sara's Mom picked her up Sara was wearing the top from the purple ruffles outfit and brown cordoroy pants that hit her above the ankle. Sara's mom was disgusted, but promptly learned that she would NEVER be able to make her darling little daughter do something she didn't want to do...


Up until today I don't think I have EVER worn purple ruffles since that day at preschool. However, the other night Hope and I went shopping and she practically held a gun to my head until I bought this dress.... I wore it to church today and I must admit that it is quite cute.

When I was putting clothes away in my closet I realized that I didnt' own a single item of clothing that was purple, let alone with ruffles!! After the other night I now have this dress, another purple shirt with ruffles and another shirt that is a dark purple.

I have expanded my wardrobe to once again include purple ruffles. They definately aren't a sweatsuit... but they are pretty cute. I am enjoy wearing them this time, but I have also decided ON MY OWN that I wanted to wear them. haha.

Presenting: Gingerbread Houses

Last Sunday we went to the station and made some gingerbread houses with Poppa. We had a great time. Tuff, Wint, Momma and Poppa made one for their house and Emily and Owen made one for ours. I should have gotten myself a kit as well... I love doing gingerbread houses and realize now that I am picky and precise about how mine is made... Now I know. Next year I'll get myself my own little kit... that way I can put a little gum drop fence around it and decorate the top with lots of "snow."

Hope and Trey were the gingerbread men, tree and snowmen specialists. Great work.

Owen and Emily were very precise and artistic.

Poppa was very good at it, great icing control. Look at this cute little gingerbread guy!! This was Poppa's "special stylish hat."

Winter did a great job finishing her gingerbread house, even though the family kept eating all of her candy. haha. (shame on you Momma! haha)

Finished... don't they look proud!

And for an artistic touch...

Is this a joke?

I feel like I'm paying good money to be the victim of a practical joke. Online dating may work for some people... but apparently I'm not one of them.

Honestly, this service that I have paid to "match my compatibility with others" seems to think this guy is my soul mate. Um, yeah. I'll settle for being the crazy cat lady... and I don't even have a cat.

Christmas Spirit can be FAAABBBUULOUS!! (that must be said in most fruity, over the top, homosexual voice you can muster)

I must confess, I am stealing this video from my friend Zannah's blog (check her out, she's awesome... zannahdo.com), but when I saw it I just thought it was TOO GOOD not to share!!

I absolutely love that they are tapping (yes, actually tap dancing), have very creative choreography and it is absolutely hilarious!

All in the spirit of Christmas... ENJOY!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSedhEoutP0

If the shoe fits... and if it dosen't, change it a bit until it does - it will probably be cuter anyways.

I had the 12 o'clock news on today and they showed brief coverage of Elder Worthlin's funeral. They mentioned it was being shown on channel 105 in it's entirety, I switched channels... I wonder how many other people did as well. That might have not been such a good idea for their rankings...
Now I'm sitting here with hymns filling my home, a sweet spirit filling every nook and crany (that was recently inspected by a man doing an energy audit). The house is still a mess and there are still dishes piled on the counter, but it feels peaceful and lovely.
As many of you know I've struggled with this whole church thing lately. I've felt like it didn't really have a place in it for a girl like me... but I've tried to really examine that lately, and while I'm still trying to find my place in it I have decided that there is definately a place in me for it.
The more I read the scriptures the more I see the acceptance of individuality and the loving of originality. I feel that many of that gets ignored, forgotten or overlooked. Our Heavenly Father is one that loves each of us individually, for our little quirks, our little differences; that includes how differently we need to develop and learn, what paths we take and how we get there. I'm learning that... and that is a good thing, because without it I wouldn't fit with all of this.
For now I'm grateful for relearning and reestablishing a relationship with my Heavenly Father a litle bit every day. I'm grateful for the little ways that the spirit finds its way into my life. I'm grateful for the peace I can find with it. Most importantly, I'm grateful that I've realized that regardless of how I find a way to make it fit... it still will fit.

Welcome to the Beaudry Show!!

Last night Owen and I were watching UFC, they were playing a marathon of fights of Royce Gracie - a legend in UFC. Royce Gracie is the son of Helio Gracie, the man who basically invented Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The art of Jiu-Jitsu was based on a martial arts technique that comes out of Japan; however, Helio Gracie added in many holds and submissions that made it what it is today... He was challenged and had to prove himself, but now his schools (and especially his sons) have continued to dominate the fighting arenas. The Gracies are now fighting royalty.
While I was watching these fights Royce Gracie absolutely DOMINATED and he always spoke of how he faught for the honor and respect of his family. In his corner were always his brothers and his father, who was now well into his 80s. During the fights you would see his group of brothers behind the cage yelling support and advice... it was truly a family effort.
This story touched me.
My family has worked hard together to build a legacy as well, at times we had to fight tooth and nail to prove ourselves or to protect what we had worked so hard for... and at times we have had it taken from us.
Multiple times we have been ridiculed for running "The Beaudry Show." At first we were defensive and felt a negative connotation with that reference. But now, I'm not only proud of The Beaudry Show, I'm DAMN proud of it.
When we set our minds to something we do it, and we do it right. When we designate something as The Beaudry Show you can guarantee that it will be done right, it will succeed and it will be something that everyone can be proud of. People around the community (and even the nation or world in some areas) have noticed. My family is respected and sought out because of our success. I'm proud of that.
Building a legacy is a great thing, but being able to do it with your family is an honor. I'm proud to be a Beaudry and I'm proud of what the Beaudry's have done. I'm excited to see what shows we can put on in the future.
Bring it on.... WELCOME TO THE BEAUDRY SHOW.

IKEA -- all that can be said is WOW

I had the privilage of introducing Abby and Jake to IKEA the other day. They asked me if I had 'ever been.' I responded with a face that said, "not only have I been, but I have fallen in love, binged and realized I should NEVER go there again.... unless I put myself on a short leash.

I seriously love this place, its like my personal playground. I once told SneakAttack that it would be no problem for me to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars at IKEA. He asked me if I really meant to say "thousands," I assured him I meant "HUNDREDS of thousands." If you don't understand that statement than you need to go to IKEA, you'll understand after you walk through the place just once.

I convinced them to pawn off the kids and we went with only Beau in tow. As soon as we pulled up I heard the first "WOW!!!" I gave them the grand tour, took them upstairs, saw all the layouts, walked through the kids land, went downstairs through the market place.... I just kept hearing "WOOWWW! Look at this!!! WOW!! Oh WOW!!!" I just giggled... they got it... this place is amazing.

We did find the one thing we came for (a train set for Paul's Christmas) and I escaped with only a wok (only $8.47 thankyou!! That is amazing!).

We did find a great hat for Beau... He left it on long enough for pictures, that's it.

Christmas Lights and Donuts

We went to Temple Square to see the Christmas lights. It was gorgeous, as always... and there were MASS AMOUNTS of people. The kids were being kids, including running all over the place, cutting off old people in wheelchairs, trying to swim in the reflection pool, trying to drink out of the fountains and being absolutely adorable.

The crowds were crazy and at times it felt like we were in a Mosh Pit. Keeping track of the kids was trying at times, to say the least. I was there with Abby and Jake and their three kids and I took Winter and Tuff... Tuffy is crazy, he didn't want to wear his coat at all while we were there. He ran around in shorts and a t-shirt while everyone else was bundled up in coats, gloves, scarves, hats, etc. I am sure people thought I was a completely neglectful "parent", but the kid just wasn't cold!! I kept asking him, trust me.

We did get some great pictures. Taking pictures in the dark was trying for me, I have since sought out some instruction... but this is what we got that night. Not bad if you ask me.

We all went up to celebrate Beau's birthday, he turned ONE on the 25th.... Abby brought along donuts and hot chocolate... YUMMY!!!

Just in case you were wondering, this is how to properly eat a chocolate donut three-year-old style... eat off the top with the chocolate, leave the rest.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEAU BOY!!! ONE YEAR!! YOU ARE GETTING SO BIG!! LOVE YOU!

I've Become a Mother of Teenagers

Just like that, overnight... I am the mother of teenagers. I have two sons, soon to be three... and soon their friends will start "spending the night/weekend" in herds.



Let me explain. As many of you know, Owen moved in with me the beginning of the summer. Him and our friend Matt have this great idea of being "Snowboard Bums" for the winter semester (January-April). They originally were looking all over, but finally realized that it made sense to stay in Utah. Hello!! Best snow on earth, already had a house... etc, etc, etc. So, it was only a matter of time until they approached me about Matt moving in. After some thought I finally agreed, Matt is a sweetheart and easy to get along with, this can't be too bad. Well, a few weeks after that they spring the thought of moving in ANOTHER one. I finally agreed that if they can all fit in Owen's room than I am okay with it.... And just like that I agreed to be the Mother of three teenage boys.

Now, I'm sure they will be offended that I'm calling them teenagers, "But we are 21 and 20 years old!!" they will say... but seriously, 21/16/18, whatever... practically all the same.

They are in bunkbeds and another seperate bed, all in the same room. Sometimes I can hear them in there giggling before they fall asleep or first thing in the morning before they come out for the day. Last night I got home from being out and as soon as I walked through the back door (which is right next to their room) I hear, "Hi! Don't worry, we tucked ourselves in." So, I open the door and say "Goodnight, boys." and get "You can turn on the light." So, I turn on the light and say, "Goodnight, boys." After a bit of chatting I finally turn off the light and leave them... I hear giggling and a few banging noises before they finally fall asleep about 20 minutes later....

The other day I come home to them waxing snowboards in the living room. I can't complain, they waxed mine as well. I was a bit worried, but they were good... they were careful not to get wax on the floor and they cleaned up their mess. They also have made a few meals already and cleaned up relatively well. Matt is a very good cook and Owen likes to help him, so I think this could work out nicely. Now I just need to find a way to keep all their crap contained... When they come home from the mountain it looks like a snowboarding bomb went off inside the back door - boots, coats, boards, gloves, etc.... EVERYWHERE. We will have to figure that out....

All in all, I think it will be rather fun. Matt is a bundle of energy and a sweetheart when it comes right down to it. I KNOW that Owen will enjoy having him around and they will make memories that will last a lifetime. I dont know this Andrew kid yet, but Owen and Matt say he is a mix of the two of them... if that is the case then he has got to be one great kid. As for me, I will enjoy having the snow shoveled and someone to take out the trash. I will have to lay some ground rules, but with a little bit of effort and a lot of patience I think we will have a great time. Let's be honest.... I get to have three teenage boys for a few months!! I'll be able to get rid of them right about the time that they are consistently driving me nuts....

Thanksgiving = FALL CLEANING?!?!?!

Thanksgiving - noon - The entertainment center is in the middle of the living room - Owen is covered in dust - I still haven't showered - boxes are in the hallway.

I don't know how it happened, but Thanksgiving day turned into Fall cleaning.
Actually, I can tell you how it happened... Matt arrived Wednesday evening to stay for the weekend. However, he also brought pretty much everything with his for when he officially moves in the middle of December.

I thought, he needs some room for his things in the bathroom, which turned into completely cleaning out and going through the entire bathroom. Owen had to clean out part of his room to bring in Matt's bed, which lead to having to find room for all of Owen's things; some were boxed up, some were relocated to other rooms in the house.

Owen decided to bring the xbox into the living room, which meant everything had to be reorganized, which means the entertainment center was disassembled and in the middle of the living room at noon on Thanksgiving.

One thing led to another and just now (yes, at almost 2 pm on Friday) I am getting to the point where I feel like I am almost done cleaning the rest of the house... then I just need to take care of MY room. I still need to sweep and mop the floors, the bathroom floor/mirrors/sink needs to be cleaned and I am still working on the mountain of laundry... but I'm getting close.

The boys have been up snowboarding all day. They did what they could last night to help get the house settled, but then again they also did set up a snowboard waxing station in the middle of the living room as well. Tonight after they get back (and we get done with Hope's birthday dinner) we are going to put up Christmas decorations... they don't know that yet, and they will probably hate me for it... but we are doing it.

So there ya have it, Fall cleaning happened on Thanksgiving day. Trust me, I don't plan on making this a tradition.... but I'm excited for the house to be clean - and it's amazing to me how well we have been able to fit Matt in. Good thing he didn't bring too much stuff with him....

His personality is fun to have around. He brings A LOT of energy with him, but he also brought a pan of his Mom's apple dumplings... so we'll deal with it. haha.

Grocery Store on Thanksgiving Eve = Your local UFC Cage Fight

I'm excited for Thanksgiving. The food will be delicious; most of these dishes are things that we only eat during Thanksgiving.

But what I'm REALLY excited for is shopping for all this food. I'm ready to throw elbows, be snappy with people in my way and run over the heels of slow indecicive walkers.



The first memory I have of Thanksgiving shopping was in Walla Walla. Mom sent me to the store for low-fat sourcream, Land-o-Lakes brand (thats the only kind that dosen't taste low-fat). My barely 16 year-old self arrives and parks in the back 40 of the parking lot, the place was packed. I only needed sour cream, so I pass by the carts and start into the bustling mass chaos grocery store. I head straight for the sour cream isle. There are people (and their overflowing carts) all over the place. I start to navigate the maze of carts to slide between everyone to reach out and take the LAST CONTAINER of Land-0-Lakes low-fat sour cream. Right as my fingertips grasp the container some crazy ass blue haired grandma reaches for the last one... well, she didn't get it. I did! (mwahaha) So, she proceeds to say, "Um, I was going to take that." I said, "Sorry" and turned to slide my way back out throught the maze of people and carts. (The frantic energy in the store had already taught me, this isn't a time to be hospitible and giving). She reaches out and grabs my arm and says in a more forceful 'I'm the Grandma and you should give it to me' voice, "I need that sour cream."

Now, please remember that I am usually a fan of Grandmothers. They are usually smart and kind, loving and great contributors to society and children's lives alike. But... In this case I got the impression that this blue-haired terrorist thought it was ok to send me home without sour cream just because she was the elder and therefore should get first pick of the dismal sour cream selection.... Come on Grandma, survival of the fittest... I was faster, stronger, quicker, more nimble. Besides, if I go home and try to face my mother without this sour cream I very well may lose my life...

I simply replied, "So do I" and quickly manuvered my way back through the maze to go stand in a 45 min line to buy my one container of sour cream.



That was my first of many run ins on Thanksgiving Eve. One of my families glorious qualities is procrastination and last minute preparation. Therefore, we are usually those crazy ones out shopping for Thanksgiving dinner Wednesday evening. Thank goodness we are tough and fiesty.



Once again it's almost Thanksgiving and I know that Mom and Poppa will probably start making calls tomorrow evening (Wednesday Evening - aka Thanksgiving Eve) making Thanksgiving assignments. I am guessing I will probably get my famous Sausage Apple Stuffing and mashed potatoes (like last year). You would think that I would have tried to shop for everything by now, but instead I'm at work thinking that sometime late tomorrow night I should be able to get a quick list together and go brave the crowds.

I am planning ahead however. I have decided I am going to work out before I go, just to get the blood pumping. I might even tape on some tin-foil. (ask a hockey player if you aren't sure what that means). I most definately will be in my nikes and have my money/card in my pocket - purses just get in the way. I will probably listen to a little "game day music" on my way over, something like Metallica or Hell's Bells. I'll also put on my best "don't mess with me, its Thanksgiving Eve and I'm in a hurry" face.


But, Grandma's and Zoobies alike, beware.... I have a list and I'm willing to do what it takes to make sure I get all those ingredients so I can go home and LOVINGLY prepare a delicious feast for my family.

All in the "Spirit of the Season." :)

Music - It Moves The Soul

So, I'm a sucker for music.... but its not a one sided love affair, it seems to like me an awful lot too. I seem to be really lucky when it comes to having music around at the right times and finding music that I really enjoy. This week seems to be more full of it than normal and I'm loving it.

First and foremost, the COLDPLAY CONCERT WAS AWESOME. We had good seats and the whole thing was a great show. The opening band was decent, the next act was interesting and intriguing. It wasn't a band at all, but a DJ that mixed live to a crazy wacked out animation. It lasted for 35 min, no joke. It was crazy, I couldn't tear my eyes away from it. But there were a few times that my head felt like it was going to explode. SneakAttack loved it... go figure, it was animation. Here is a link to a short clip: http://www.boardsmag.com/screeningroom/animation/6255/
The actual concert was mindblowing. Seriously, these guys sound incredible live. They are fantastically entertaining and their set/stage/lighting/etc is always great. SteakAttack isn't much of a dancer, but I think I grooved enough for the two of us. ColdPlay music just has a way of digging down into my core, it gets me...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnibHcJZGms
Here is one of my favorite newer songs from them. "Lost!" This was filmed during this tour, so this is what the stage and things looked like.... absolutely awesome.

On top of the Coldplay concert, I also found another wonderful song that I fell for that day. Before the concert I was relaxing while SneakAttack was doing homework and he had music playing. At one point I woke up and thought "this song is so cute, so peaceful...." and I must have fallen back asleep. I told him about it last night and he was sweet enough to ask questions and figure out what song I was talking about. So, here it is folks.... enjoy.
"405" (Acoustic version) by Death Cab for Cutie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBcAU1f6_b4

On Sunday I found a Sacrament Meeting up here in Salt Lake to drop in on. It was a pleasant little ward with a lot of old people. I don't think I saw a single teenager there and the High Priests blessed and passed sacrament. During the meeting there was a musical number. Apparently there is a composer who lives in the ward and he did an arrangement of "thanksgiving hymns." A woman performed this on the violin while he accompanied on the piano. To say it was absolutely gorgeous is a serious understatement. The spirit was strong from the very first touch of the piano and it carried through the entire piece. I loved feeling the passion of the song and the delicate ways it touched my heart. I sat there that day and felt as if I had recieved a gift, that it was sent just for me.... If I could I would listen to it a million time over and over.

This morning I got home from work and only had a few short hours to actually sleep in my bed before my alarm would go off and I had to head back up to Salt Lake. I haven't been home in days (although I'm not complaining AT ALL) and when my alarm went off I felt like I had hardly slept. I lay in bed for a minute and listened to the country music while I tried to pursuade myself to get out of bed. I always have my alarm set to country, country music warms my soul.... so if my alarm ever has to go off I would prefer it be country. ANYWAYS, I laid there and all the sudden I heard the first couple notes of MY SONG - The song I have loved from the moment I heard it, the song that is on just about every single playlist on my iPod, the song that makes me smile contently everytime I hear it.... Again, a little gift saying "Sara, I know you are tired sweetheart, but go ahead and get up... it will all be ok." So I laid there, listened... then got out of bed and started my day.... Here is a little piece of heaven, enjoy.
"Good Morning Beautiful" by Steve Holy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VSFDWyJS7A

And just because I'm feeling sappy.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rn4YedmgsoI
Yes, makes me want to dance around in my underwear... (and pull you in for a good kiss babe, 8 days a week!)

And then the Heavens Opened up and God said "I LOVE you Sara!"

Have you ever been at a time in your life when you think, "Please God, let it stay just like this. I don't think it could get much better."
I heard someone tell me one time that you are living right if every new year is the best year of your life... Well, if that is the case then I feel like I'm on the right track.
I owe some serious props to the man upstairs. Funny how he has a way of dropping things into your life and then you realize, there is no other way this would have happened without him being involved.
I woke up this morning and I wasn't just content... I was thrilled with where I am at and how things are going. Now if I can just keep them there... Part of me feels like things couldn't get any better, but then a small part of me keeps whispering, "Girl, this is only the beginning... Hold on tight, you are in for a great ride."

Give to the World and the World Gives Back -- In COLDPLAY TICKETS!!!

So, all that good energy I have been trying to put out into the universe has paid off...

Yesterday I was stalking facebook (as always... especially while being sick) and I see that one of my friends from long ago had a new status post: "Riley is stuck in Canada with an expired passport, therefore lowerbowl tickets to Coldplay concert in SLC are half price." I quickly posted on his wall, "Call me, re: coldplay tickets."

Well, he called... rattled off a horrendous story about being stuck in Canada without a passport to let him back into the states... and then quoted me a price. I told him I would call him right back, sought approval for my purchase from Owen and Emily and quickly called him back.

He answered "Hello?"

I answered "SOLD!!!"

I was so excited I couldn't lay back down to sleep. I quickly texted SneakAttack and told him to call me ASAP when he was done with class... Because of course he was going with me, he didn't have any choice in the matter. :) I got in the hottub, that usually calms me down... I tried to fall asleep, it didn't work.

I eventually dosed off and SneakAttack calls, finally done with class... I squeeked out a tired sounding "Hi!"

He says, "What's up? You ok? How you feeling?"

"I'm feeling good!! I'm stoked, you will never believe!! Well, um... how was class? Things good? (Trying to be polite)"

He is confused..."Yeah, class was good. WHAT'S UP?"

So I say... "You better not have plans Saturday night, but if you do you are cancelling them. You don't have plans do you? Saturday? Do you?...... (no answer)"

Finally I get, "No, nothing I can think of.... Why?"

"BECAUSE I GOT US COLDPLAY TICKETS!!! ISN'T THAT AWESOME??? I'M SO EXCITED!!"

And low and behold, he is excited... apparently he enjoys Coldplay as well... and we have sweet tickets!!!

(Thanks Riley, sorry you are stuck in Canada.....)

So, COLDPLAY HERE WE COME! I have been listening to Coldplay all morning... I remember going to their concert at Red Rocks Ampitheater (my favorite venue of all time) in Colorado in June of 2002 - it was AMAZING. It was probably the best concert I have ever been to, top 2 for sure.... They sound great live, awesome music, supurb atmosphere, fantastic presentation, etc, etc, etc...

Can't wait!!!

http://www.rhapsody.com/coldplay (have fun with the playlist!! You won't be disappointed)

www.kokopellitimes.com/2008/06/coldplay.html (Someone else's take on Coldplay)

Being sick is BORING

So, tragedy has struck... and I have been sick. It usually takes A LOT to get this girl to say in bed. You are talking about a girl that has been known to gargle dayquil at work to numb her throat. I was raised on a farm, it takes a lot to keep me down. But, these past two days the gargling with dayquil happened while I was in bed. This one hit me, down and out...
Good news tho, it has been rather quick. I started feeling miserable Sunday afternoon and here it is Tuesday morning and I am feeling "acceptable." I still have a sore throat and my lymph nodes are only the size of walnuts (not golf balls anymore).
However, I am bored out of my mind!!! I have been stuck in the house and don't even have homework to do!! I have watched TV, stalked facebook, posted on my blog (hope you all are enjoying it), and BEGGED for entertainment... Honestly, I am going crazy here. I think today I may venture out for a walk, but i'm trying not to over do it.
I really really wanted to go to deep water aerobics today, but I figured that would probably wear me out and I would be flat on my back again. I really need to clean out the flowerbeds for "fall cleanup" but that would probably kill me off for sure. I really wanted SneakAttack to come down, cuddle with me and make me laugh like he is so good at doing... but that isnt' going to happen. So, what am I supposed to do?
Maybe it is a sign that I need to slow down in my life. I mean honestly, don't most people enjoy two days of "free time?" What is wrong with me that I can't enjoy watching TV for two days straight?? Oh well, its just how I am... I have always been like this. I don't see it changing anytime soon.
I think I am going to start writing out my Christmas lists... who gets what... start sucking up now folks.!! hahahaha. j/k j/k

I love my Heavenly Father by making pig nose faces during my Primary Presentation

Yesterday I had the privilage of watching my nephew, Paul, in his first primary program. He stood up there on the stand and was front and center. He kept looking over at all of us, so very proud to be there. We waved, and he waved. We gave him the thumbs up, and he gave us the thumbs up.
It was fun to see his personality, such an individual for such a little man!
At one point he was singing along with everyone else and looked over to see me mouthing the words and helping little Beau (his 1 year old little bro) wave his arms as if he was conducting the music. Paul burst out laughing, tipped his head back and covered his mouth with both hands. Quite a clown! After a few facial expressions encouraging him to continue singing he joined back in the rest of the primary....
It is always fun to hear the kids recite their parts of the program, some mumble, some laugh, some are really loud and some you can hardly hear.
Yesterday I noticed that we do a great job of brainwashing our primary kids. One class was asked to answer how they can show their love for Heavenly Father. Their prewritten responses were "I can show my Heavenly Father that I love him by cleaning my room and listening to my mother." "I can show my Heavenly Father that I love him by obeying my parents and helping with my brothers and sisters." "I can show my Heavenly Father I love him by doing what is right." Yes kids, that is right.... listen to your parents. That is ALL you need to know! haha.
In all seriousness tho, it was fun to hear the singing and listen to all the cute voices. Primary programs are a good break from the normal sacrament talks.
Besides, being able to watch Paul wave and sing was great. My favorite part was when I looked up at him and he was giving us his "pig nose and blood eyes" face.

Tell Me Something Good

I am ashamed to admit that until I got a text from Mom late this afternoon I had forgotten what November 15th means to me and my family. One year ago today I sat at LifeFlight and at 6:15ish AM, I got a request to fly on a gun shot wound at a local Village Inn, we were cancelled and I didn't think anything more. I was almost half way home and I got a phone call from a hockey volunteer, "I don't know if you have been watching the news," he said, "but it's Ken."

Todd said he had been trying to get ahold of my parents but couldn't, I told him I would tell them. I immediately started calling my parents cell phones, alternating between the two as they didn't answer. I started to cry, then sob, then I became hysterical as I barreled down the highway at almost 100 mph and was still trying to get one of my parents to answer the darn phone.

Finally Poppa picked up, I was sobbing, I couldn't breathe. All I could say was, "Poppa, Ken's dead. Ken was killed, someone shot him. He's dead!"

The day continued, we called a team meeting and told the team. I remember when they walked in and I couldn't say anything. They could tell I had been crying but they all came in and sat down, waiting to be filled in on what could have caused the need for an Emergency Team Meeting. I heard one of the boys say, "Sara can't quit cleaning, that means its something bad."

It was bad. We missed him a lot that season. I wasn't used to seeing him day in and day out, so sometimes I just feel like he has been out of town for a long time. But I have felt the emptiness he left behind, especially in my Poppa. He was my Poppa's best friend.... I know he misses him terribly.

Today I got a text from Mom, "Pray for Ken today." I noticed the date.... November 15th, Ken's day... Then I got another text, "Pray for your Poppa."

I know Ken is in a better place. I know he misses us and he wishes he could comfort those here who love and miss him... But who really needs the prayers is Poppa. I know he longs for a friend that he enjoys like Ken. He misses the fun they had together and the connection they had.

Ken's personality was supportive, upbeat, encouraging, motivating... he always went a hundred miles per hour. He would always say, "Tell me something good!" Well Ken, something good.... Your influence and example. That was something good. I still think about you and how you would handle things, how things would be if you were here. I think about my Poppa and how much he misses you.

Thanks Ken, for everything... Be strong Poppa, we love you! Another good thing... Friendships like yours and Ken's don't end, they simply are put on hold for a little while till you are reunited.

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695228163,00.html

The difference between boys and girls

As you all know, I have worked with men's collegiate hockey for the past eight years.... that involved going on DOZENS of road trips, mostly bus trips. During those times I was usually the ONLY girl. I'm not complaining, I can hold my own and usually we had a pretty darn good time.
Now I'm working at a local college and for the first time in almost 10 years I am working with a women's team... women's soccer to be exact. Now, to be even more honest, the entire team is 18-19 years old, except for maybe 4 or 5 girls who are a whopping 21 years old.
So, yesterday we embarked on a lovely roadtrip to freezing Helena, Montana. It was the first time I have ever traveled with girls. I didn't really expect, and therefore prepare myself, for the drastic differences between traveling with girls and boys.
I often refered to my hockey days as "herding kittens." Now, for any of you hockey players actually reading this, this is not a bad thing! It just simply means I felt like I was constantly trying to keep order when it was simply impossible. Often times I was "along for the ride" more than I was actually making anything happen... or so it felt. Road trips with the boys were always interesting... Here is how a typical road trip would work:

6:00 am - Sara trying to make sure all of her "kittens" have everything on the bus and they are all there.... Oh, and trying to make sure the "kittens" have everything they need and she has everything they have forgotten they need
6:30 am - Bus pulls out for who knows where, Kittens decide they want to watch a movie. Machine guns now echo over the speakers of the bus.
6:35 am - Kittens are all asleep, machine guns still blaring.
6:37 am - Sara put in iPod and falls asleep
7:42 am - Kittens wake Sara up wondering when we are going to stop for food. In an hour? Ok, Sara gives them some of her food to keep them quiet.
9:15 am - stop for food and bathroom breaks
9:32 am - Kittens have been watered, fed and are all back on the bus. Start another movie. Bombs and fighting noises echo through the bus.
CONTINUE THIS CYCLE FOR ANOTHER 10 (or so) HOURS

Now, I'm not complaining, things were fun... traveling with 30 guys is definately an interesting experiance. I was exposed to endless "guy movies." (but I like guy movies, not a big deal). I would always tease them and say that statistically speaking it was finally time for ME to pick a movie, they would say "Ok, which one?" and I would say "the Notebook" just to get their reaction... of course we NEVER watched the Notebook.
I was introduced to "Gay Bob", a game that is played in the back of busses on hockey trips that no Mother or unsuspecting innocent bystander should ever even know about. It involves cards, male genitals, and lots of guys screaming and carrying on. Thank GOD I don't know the ins and outs of the rules... But I do know that every trip I would be awakened to "GAY BOOOOBBB!" being shouted out from these unruly gentleman every couple of minutes. I would shutter every time.

SOOO, imagine my amazement and wonder when I started my roadtrip with my women's team yesterday.....

We arrived at the school and carried our bags to the bus. The busdriver is very chivalrous and loads all of our bags for us. We simply hand them to him and he places them underneath, very orderly. I board the bus and quickly find my seat. We start our trip and IMMEDIATELY offers of homemade goodies start being passed around the bus... Michelle's Mom's Homemade Oreos, Corie's chow mix, Lisa's chocolate chip cookies.... "And there is more where this came from!!" shouts Heather!
We start down the highway and Heather pops up to my chair, "Sara, we are making friendship bracelets... What colors do you want?" As she holds up a huge ziplock bag full of thread. I choose my colors and she gives them to me on a pin to attach to the seat in front of me so I can join in the fun. Before I know it the girls have made about 10 bracelets FOR ME (to join my own). I have been the only one on this team to not have a wrist full of these things... until now. Apparently it is a "road trip tradition." We finish our bracelets and I politely decline the invitation to start another....
I put in my iPod and fall asleep.
I wake up to my chair being shaken around. I open one eye (with my iPod still serenading me) and realize the trembling is coming from one of our assistant coaches who is sitting in front of me and jumping around in HIS seat (remember, he's a guy). I notice he is watching the TVs, and getting quite annimated about what is going on, so I look up.. and a movie is on.... and IT IS THE NOTEBOOK!!! hahahahahhaa....
Yes, Ladies and Gentleman, for the next 5 hours we watched not one... but TWO total chick flicks. The Notebook, followed by A Walk To Remember.
Now, As Owen said (in a text message when I filled him in on all this... because I knew he would get a kick out of it...) "I'm usually not very sexist, you know this, but how are they supposed to muster their warrior spirit for regionals by watching the f*#%ing Notebook?" I don't know Owen.... I don't know.... I will tell you when I figure that out....
After our second movie ends we sit in silence and coach tells us all to "maybe do some homework, focus on our games" instead of putting in Kung Fu Panda like they are begging for... After about five minutes we hear music wafting up from the back of the bus. I turn around and there is one of our girls standing in the isle way with a boom box on her shoulder, music blarring and she is dancing up and down the isle. Before we know it half the bus has joined in the dance party and there is booty shaking and chorus lines and of course singing at the top of their lungs. The dance party continues for about 20 minutes until one girl extends the booty shaking to up where the coaches are sitting.... "Its about time we all sit down I think." Coach spoke, they listened.
Some of the girls come up and chat with the coaches and I. We talk about who is dating who, who broke up with who.... get the gossip and the latest on everything and soon enough we pull into town. The girls all wait patiently for their hotel keys, with NO COMPLAINING. What? No complaining? No way..... but it's true!!!
We check into our hotel and then promptly leave for a nice dinner at a local Steakhouse...

There ya have it kids, the difference between boys and girls.... just incase you were wondering.
It has been an interesting trip and I'm sure it will be even better today and tomorrow.
I will keep ya all posted, but until then... I'm off to go shower, then probably make another bracelet and join a dance party with my girls.

Come One, Come all!

Well, as many of you know... my life is pretty much an open book. I'll talk about anything and everything... and according to many of my precious friends, things seem to be quite interesting usually. (I promise it's not me... this wierd stuff just seeks me out!!) I have had many requests for a blog, so maybe it's time to give in. Hope you all enjoy it!