Updates

First Day of School

It all starts with this little idea of taking something that you love to do and learning more about it. You make the decision and your excitement builds, you anticipate what it will be like to follow your dream of becoming a better person and improving yourself...and then you start thinking about all the time and money that you are going to spend and the big picture smacks you upside the head. However....after spending a few weeks of being in classes, I am happy to say that this decision to go back to school is the right thing to do, and I'm really having a good time.

I have entered into the Personal Training Program at Eagle Gate College and it will take me 10 months to get through it. I am in school Mon.-Thurs. from 5:45-10:00pm. If it sounds intense - IT IS...but I love the people that are in the program with me. We have a very diverse group but we all have this common interest...we are eager to learn, we love working out and we want to help others love it too! If we can make it through Anatomy....you will hear the collective shout of happiness from us all! More to come....

Birthday Time

Mark celebrated his 42nd birthday by eating his traditional birthday treat -pie and having his very first massage. We enjoyed watching the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics too. We all had a "little of both" when it came to pie...in honor of Papa Linton. :)

Great Minds think alike!

Funniest thing happened the other day. Mark walked in from work and I was sitting on the couch doing my homework. He said, "Nice outfit". I said thanks without even looking up. Then he started to laugh. I was puzzled by that and then I looked up and saw that we had chosen exactly the same outfit to wear for the day...down to the color of socks and the shoes. We both got a good laugh out of that one. What can I say? I guess great minds think alike!

Holiday Memories

We started the holiday season off by going to Temple Square to see the lights. It was a night of great weather, great company and great picture taking opportunities!

Every household needs a Holiday Gingerbread house…and this beautiful creation was no small feat. It took a lot of self control on Avery's part not to eat the finished product.

Avery loves having her cousins come to visit! We are so thankful that the Larson's could come to Utah and spend time with us before Christmas. Doesn't Chelsie look lovely in her pearls?

Family party fun...complete with 4 generations!

Christmas Eve dinner was a little on the untraditional side...but there were no complaints when our tummies were full and who isn't happy when Grandma and Grandpa are with you? We are so lucky that they could be with us this year!



After dinner and opening Christmas jammies we created some cookie masterpieces for Santa.

CHRISTMAS MORNING.......

For as much work as it is...Christmas is still my favorite holiday! It was a great holiday season and we are all looking forward to the new year. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Fall Fun

FALL BALL

The Sand Springs Stallions came back for a second season this year...and we came back with a bang. We played some seriously good softball! All because we changed our name from Sand Springs to "The Terminators"!

SCHOOL CARNIVAL

Every year the PTA sponsors a school carnival. This year I spent my time sitting at the ticket table. The kids had a great time and made sure that they came to visit me alot. Their visits usually included bringing me something yummy to eat!

FRIGHTMARES

The kids have wanted to go to Lagoon all year long. Frightmares is a great time to go because the weather is cooler, the atmosphere is fun...and spooky and you never know when you are going to meet a new friend!

BYU FOOTBALL

I love the fall for many reasons, but mostly because it means football...particularly BYU football. Although the outcome of the TCU/BYU football game was nothing to brag about, just being in the stadium is enough to get me excited. The smell, the cheering and the sea of blue really makes me happy! GO COUGARS!

I'm back!

Instead of listing lots of lame excuses as to why I haven't done this for so long, I will just say this...I'm back.

Mark and I celebrated my birthday by going on a cruise...heavenly. We left from San Diego, visited Catalina Island and Ensenada, Mexico. It was a fantastic way to close down the summer. We took hundreds of pictures but I won't bore you with them all-here are a few of our favorites.



School is off to a good start and the kids and I seem to be enjoying it so far. I'm just ready for my first paycheck...I've got to have plane (or playing) money again so I can go and visit my mom! I didn't realize this until the first day of school, but when you become a Freshman in High School, you are no longer interested in having your picture taken. Mason is no exception to this, he is apparently too cool to have his picture taken on the first day now....

Mark and I celebrated our 19th anniversary on Sept. 14th. We thought it would be fun to go and visit Spencer and Brittney in Grand Junction. We enjoyed a high school football game from the sidelines (while Spen worked) and a visit to KJCT to see Spen in action as he gave his sports report. We watched the BYU/Tulane game, did a bit of shopping and of course ate more good food than we needed to! It was a great visit...wish we could have stayed longer.

On the funny side of our trip, neither Spencer nor Mark knew what the other person was wearing until they both came out of the bedrooms. On both Saturday and Sunday, they had chosen to wear shirts that were very similar. We got a good laugh over that!

When Mark and I arrived home from Colorado, we were so surprised to find our room decorated in hearts , homemade salsa and a really yummy zuchinni cake. When you have Michelle for a babysitter...the possibilities of what will get done are amazing!

And last but not least, we helped Lindsey celebrate her birthday by having lunch at Rumbi's. The family parties are getting smaller, but certainly not losing their importance. Happy Birthday Lindsey!