Happy Gobble Gobble Day

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!! Today was a wonderful day. I got to spend it with my family and friends. I got to eat as much food as I possibly could. And I don't have to work for 4 days. What a great holiday.

After dinner Devan and I played rock band with Jena. She was being so cute. She kept saying how happy she was and that she absolutely loved Bon Jovi. It was really funny. After rocking out for a while we watched "The Neverending Story." Kirrah and Ashley had never even heard of the movie. I think it might be their new favorite :) Devan and I are trying to convince Sam & Massiel that they should name their baby Atreyu.

Panda Cakes & Crack Climbing

Last Saturday was Devan's birthday. He turned the big two eight. We invited some friends over for a kick ace party on Saturday night. The evening was mixed with highs and lows (and I'm not just talking about Zeb's vocals on Rock Band.) On the plus side, the party went well, people had fun, the food was great, and my panda cake actually turned out. You see, Devan's favorite place to eat in this whole wide world is Panda Express. A couple of weeks ago Devan and I saw a picture of the cake Buffy made for Tyler and Devan knew immediately that he wanted a big, fun, and animated cake just like it for his birthday. Now, I will gladly throw it down with just about anybody in the kitchen when it comes to cooking...however, baking is not my strong suit. Needless to say, many hours and multiple cans of frosting later, I achieved my panda cake.
Now for the bad part of the day - Devan was sick. He had a rough 'bout of crohn's Friday and Friday night and was then very sore and still a little sick on Saturday. So while he was not able to jump around and eat lots of food during the party, he was able to get up and walk around and talk with people.



On the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of every month, Momentum climbing gym lets members take a friend for free. We somehow managed to get Scott, Sarah, Stephen, and Ksenia in all at the same time. We had a ton of fun, even though Stephen was wearing his spider man leotard (j/k...but that's what it looked like.) Sarah showed us how she is naturally good at anything athletic, Ksenia was her cute and adorable self, Stephen impressed us with his "spidy" skills, and Scott rocked his 1980's high top crack climbing shoes. Now onto the crack climbing. Pricey has been getting really involved into trad crack climbing lately, so I thought...let's give a try in the gym. After being taped up so nicely - thanks Price - I attempted my first crack route. After going two thirds of the way I realized that my ankles were killing me, my tape was wearing off and I was starting to rub the tops of my hands raw. While that doesn't sound like a good time to most, I would actually have to say it wasn't all that bad. With a little help from some callouses I think I would be quite fun. Anywhos...that's about it for now. This weekend I have tickets to the ballet with Danna Lee. Oh ya...IT SNOWED TODAY. I only had about 8 inches of snow on my car this morning. Gang Draper and its ability to attract so much lake effect snow.

Pun'kin Carving Time

Last night Devan and I talked Ksenia into carving pumpkins with us. This was her very first time carving pumpkins. She was being so cute. We showed her how to cut open the top wide enough to fit her hand in for cleaning. When she finally got the top off she didn't like all the guts inside that you have to clean out. Unfortunately for her, she happened to pick out an especially juicy pumpkin. She had pumpkin guts all over her hand. Devan carved a little Kitty. I carved a little boy and a little girl. And Ksenia carved a silly face.

A Simple Life

I love it when I get a chance to enjoy the simple things in life, such as spending time with friends and family. As most people in Utah know, right now "The Hunt" is going on. I'm lucky enough to see my dad twice while he was down here hunting. When it comes to family, the things I enjoy the most are the simple things. Sitting on the couch watching TV together or driving around and talking top the list of great things to do with my dad. Last weekend I was able to spend some time with Massiel, Sarah & Megan while the boys were hunting. We all went out to eat and them came home a watched a movie. After the movie we all went to sleep. Sarah slept with me and we spent 2 hours talking. I hope Sarah knows how much I appreciate her listening to me. She knows so much about me...and has for so long. I enjoy listening to the things going on her life. It is good to have such a great friend.

Like I said before, the boys were up hunting. Devan, Garald, Sam, Price, Lance and Zeb all went up Friday night and camped towards the top of Lone Peak. What a wonderful thing to be able to spending time with friends & family, enjoy the outdoors and being able to provide for your family all at the same time. In such turbulent times as this, it is great to know that we are able to provide for ourselves. Sam was able to shoot a deer. Now he and Massiel will have ground meat for a good portion of the next year. What a wonderful source for food storage.


Normally I try to keep my blogging to what's going on in my life. However, while I'm sitting here blogging about the simple things that I enjoy, I feel compelled to also write about my opinions. I AM SO SICK OF ALL THE STUPID, DUMB, ASININE POLITICS OUR COUNTRY IS GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW!!! What ever happened to simple things in our country. *Getting into houses we can reasonably afford. *Only loaning money to people who can reasonably afford them. *Standing for a marriage being between man and woman. *BEING GOOD PEOPLE. I look at the 2 candidates running for President and I can not relate to either of them. Neither of them represent what is best for America, they both represent what is best for themselves and their party. The government is stepping in to bail out lending institutions that gave out loans that they never should have given out. I think this bailout is exactly what is wrong with politics today. I agree that it should have been done...but they had to attach how many ridiculous "add-ons" in order to get people to vote for it? Here is an idea, vote yes or no based on what you honestly think is best for the country, not because they added on giving money to a certain organization that maybe you lobby for. We need politicians that believe in the same things our grandparents believed in...the same morals and beliefs that our founding fathers believed in.
Here is my idea...vote Ginny Gregory for President. Here is my platform: Reward the middle class for all their hard work with tax breaks, rewards big and small businesses and major corporations for how well they pay their employees and whether or not they provide them with health insurance. Arrest the CEO's and all those getting filthy rich off our high oil prices simply because they are bad people. Enforce a "do unto others as you would have them do to you" rule. Oh ya...and we definitely would start having siestas. Everyone needs a good nap once in a while. Hee Hee.

Alaska The Beautiful

At the end of August my wonderful family all went on an Alaskan cruise. Devan parents made it a retirement goal to take all of their kids and their kids spouses on an Alaskan cruise. And thank goodness for that goal!!! I was also fortunate enough to be able to talk my parents into coming. The lovely ladies down the road, Loe & Evelyn,(long time friends with the Gregory's were also able to come. The total count for our cruise party was 20 people. We were a sight where ever we went. We all met at the Salt Lake Airport at 4:30 am on Saturday, August 23rd. We met up with my parents in the Vancouver, Canada airport. We cruised on the Sapphire Princess boat...it was huge and beautiful. We all had rooms with balconies...all lined up in a row. We opened up the dividers and had one long balcony in which we could roam free. This proved to awesome except for early in the morning when people would come and knock on our window to wake us up to tell us that we had finally come in to port.

Instead of trying to post all of the pictures on this blog...click on my Flickr link and see them all lined up. We did so many great things on our vacation. The scenery was gorgeous. I thought that maybe it would look a lot like Oregon. I could not have been more wrong. I have seen the the shoreline of the Pacific coast, and I have seen the high, snowy mountain tops of Utah. But nothing could ever compare to the rugged, majestic, and picturesque beauty of Alaska. It truly is a sight that I think everyone should see at least once.

The trip was amazing. It was a much needed rest from normal life. I think it was exactly was my parent's, Devan, and myself all needed. The scenery was wonderful, the food was delicious, but the company was as great as it could have possibly been. I am blessed to have such a wonderful family. After 8 days and 7 nights, we all still got along. No one was yelling at each other.
Thank you Garald and Nyla for taking us on the vacation of a life time. The memories created will stick with us for the rest of our lives.

Life After Death

I haven't been in much a "blogging" mood lately. However, I feel that I need to write something happier. I wrote my last blog while I was back in Oregon, only a few days after Charlie died. It was somber, sad, and devastating...but understandably so. But I need to tell everyone that I am not sad all the time...Yes, I do cry a lot still...but we are trying to make good memories so that the days go by a little easier. Right now I am in my basement dwelling watching the BYU football game with family and friends, who might as well be family.

The grandest thing we have done since "The Incident" was go to Alaska. However, I will blog about it next. That is a story all in itself. We have been busy lately trying to get our house ready to build, working, and rock climbing. Devan and Price have been to trying to do more mountain biking and are usually accompanied by either Russ or Callie.

Russ also spent one Saturday utilizing Devan's welding expertise. Last year Russ rolled his four-wheeler and scrunched it into a ball of plastic and steel. After much work, it is starting to resemble an ATV again.

My parents are doing as well as can be expected. Becky and kids are living with them for time being until she can get into her own place. It is weird to think that life goes on. We all still want to stay home and pay respect to Charlie by thinking only of him...24/7. But we can't!!! There is life after death. We have gone back to work...back to the hum drum of our every day lives. It is a weird feeling that I wish I could express. We all continue to progress here in our earthly state...being tested...sometimes by things that we think there is no way we can handle them. I try to think of all the great things in my life that I should be thankful for. I have a wonderful husband and a great family. My friends are wonderful and very near and dear to my heart. I still have a job...and let's face it...in this economy, that is a miracle all in itself. I have many things to make me happy...and so I try to focus on them. This picture for example makes me laugh out loud.

I think my cat is yawning, but I prefer to think that she is sticking her tongue out at that camera.
Some words of advise to end this hopefully happier blog. ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS tell those that you love that you "love them." Both my parents and myself were fortunate in that the last words we all ever said to Charlie were "I Love You." REMEMBER HUGS. The last physical contact I had with Charlie was a hug. I gave him a huge hug when he was leaving to go back home to Oregon. Those 2 things give me great peace of mind. I am blessed to have those memories of him just as much as I was blessed to get to live with him and know him for 24 years.

In Loving Memory

Most anyone who actually views my blog knows by now that my sweet brother Charlie passed away on Sunday, July 27th. I'm sitting here trying to figure out what to write because this all seems so surreal to me. So far this week I've had to help my parents pick out Charlie's casket, grave plot, and even the cloths he will be buried in. "Did I really just help decide what songs we will be singing at my brother's funeral?" This is the type of question I keep asking myself. I would explain what we have doing day to day except there seems to be no such thing as time lately. Sunday was honestly the longest day of my entire life. I got the ever dreaded phone call at 6:15 in the morning. "Hello?"..."Hi"..."How are you,,,sleepy?"..."Ya"..."I've got some bad news"..."Oh"..."Charlie killed myself last night"..."What???". My heart was racing, I can remember thinking that my heart would pound out of my chest. I couldn't control my breath. I remember whispering to Devan "Charlie killed himself." Even three days later I still can't believe it has happened. I'm hoping it will all sink in a little bit tomorrow; that is the when my mom, dad and myself all go to the mortuary as a family to view him. I'm torn as to if I want see him, if I want to hold him. Who knows, maybe I will just sit there and scream at him to wake up.
Charlie had dealt with depression most of his teenage and adult life. It is unfortunately something that runs on my mom's side of the family. Much like her dad, Charlie became very angry when he drank. Saturday night he took a lethal combination of alcohol and other controlled substances. I know in my heart that he had not contemplated suicide before he fatally pulled the trigger. We had talked about it in the pass and he always said that he would never do it because he loved his son so much. He didn't leave a note...he never said goodbye...he just left us. My heart breaks to think that he was home alone, sitting in the corner of his bedroom, thinking that the only way out of the situation he was in was to end his life.
One of the only things keeping everything "real" is his son Mason. One can't be too sad all the time when a two year is hurling Mr. Potato head around the room and pretending he is a tickle monster. Yet, I look at him and all the things he will do in his and know that his dad will not be at his side...physically. Tonight I had to email a picture of Charlie to the mortuary and the second it popped up onto the screen Mason said "DADDY." My heart broke. He was such a daddy's boy.
One thing that still seems amazing to me is the outpouring of love that our family has received. We never knew we had this many friends. The cards, phone calls, and visits are so appreciated. It's a little easier to get through the minutes when we are not alone.
Devan and his parents fly in tomorrow and I can't wait to see them. I need Devan so much right now. I need him to help me endure the greatest trial of my life so far. I'm thankful for the gospel. It is the light at the end of tunnel to know that I will once again see my dear brother again.
This was the last picture I took with my brother...If I had only known I would have taken so many more.

I LOVE YOU CHUCKLES!!!

Everything Lately

First and foremost, the rocket went off without a hitch. We decided to light it off over on the west side of Utah lake by Carrie Lyn & Jeff's house. The most important thing about the entire rocket situation is that we can use it again next year. I know what you're think...WWWHHHAAATTT...use a rocket 2 years in a row. Beautifully enough, the rocket only incurred small damages that were easy to fix.

Earlier that morning we had the usual easter egg hunt at Garald and Nyla's. I've decided that it is quite profitable to help stuff the eggs before the actual hunt because then you can just take the candy you want without all of the "go and find it" fluff.

After the candy eating and rocket launching we went to go shoot things. Have you ever thought to yourself what it might look like if you shot a TV with a .257? Well, you are in luck...I have pictures.

Shooting also gave me some extra practice shooting my hand gun. I am the proud mama of a .32 beretta. I just turned in my papers 2 weeks ago to get my concealed weapons permit. However, the BCI is at a 60 day turn around time. I won't be able to carry until June.

All in all, it was a fantastic day. I have a lot of photos from that day posted on my flickr account. The link to that can be on the left side of my blog.

The Rocket

The last couple of years, we started a family tradition of making rockets and lighting them off during the family easter egg hunt. Our previous rockets varied from four to twelve inches high. This year Devan decided to take it to a whole other level. Our rocket this year stands 4 feet tall and 4 1/2 inches in diameter. It rockets to an impressive 3,500 feet up in the air.
We will be lighting it off this Saturday in Draper...hopefully. The weather conditions will have to be perfect, i.e. no wind, and no low cloud cover. We also will probably try and go to a park to light it off. If something were to go wrong and the chute were to not open...lets just say...I hope it doesn't land on someones car, face, or little dog.
I will let you all know how it goes next week. Wish us luck and clear skies!!!

5 YEAR ANNIVERSARY

Can you believe that Devan and I have been married for 5 years. It really has gone by very fast. This year was my turn to plan our anniversary. (We trade off every year. After all, why should the guy always have to come up with something.) I decided we were going to spend it in style. Friday morning we left for Viva Las Vegas. 6 hours later we arrived at our destination...the Planet Hollywood Casino & Hotel.

This is a picture of our room. It was so nice. It had a flat screen TV, a soft king size bed, a tub big enough for 2, and partial view of the fountains in front of the Bellagio. And the best part...wait for it...wait for it...it only $149. And that was on a Friday night. I know...AMAZING.

After checking in we went over to the Bellagio to see "O" The show was incredible. The next morning we went shopping down in Primm, Nevada (great outlet malls.) That night we hung out and stayed with our Friends Jesse and Lindsey who live in Las Vegas. It was great to see them again. This is us waiting outside their house for them.

It was really great to see them again. We haven't been able to make it down there for a couple of years...and every time we leave we wonder why we waited so long. Jesse and Lindsey are so fun to hang out with. Their little boy, Corbin, is almost one and one of the cutest kids I have ever seen. I wish I had taken a picture of him to show you.
The next morning we woke up and drove the 6 hours back home. We were sad to leave our friends but glad to be heading back to our own house with our own bed. That's the best part about vacations...coming back home :)
My present for our anniversary was to add an extra band on my wedding ring. Here is a picture of it. I LOVE IT!!!

That just about sums up my last weekend. We had a WHITE OUT BLIZZARD last night...so scary. Tomorrow it is supposed to be 40 degrees and sunny...aahhh...Utah.

Sorry It's Been A While

First and most important...I cut my hair. I love it...plus I love the fact that I was able to donate it. Next...I've lost about 8 pounds by eating healthier. Who doesn't enjoy looking better and feeling healthier??? I don't have much time to type right now, so I will leave you with a picture of my office. We had to submit a picture for our yearly meeting...they would let us use this. Freakin' ridiculous. It took a long time to do...and it is awesome. Oh well. Here it is...LOVE YOU ALL!!!