100 Things to Do

46 out of 100...Things I've done and Been to (Mine are in RED )
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child (in the process of )
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted - I've had mine sketched, but not painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business - does a non-profit count?
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible (& Book of Mormon)
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating eewww...
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

Family Pictures

So we are getting family pictures done on Saturday. I am having issues because it will be our first official time since Elaine passed on. It is something we need to do, but sometimes I don't feel ready. How can it be a family picture if my entire family isn't in it? We have had our picture taken many times at different events, but never a real, sit down family picture. I know it's been 4 and a half years and that is too long to go without a new picture on my wall. Poor Ashton and Myra have only been in "snap shot" family pictures. I do feel bad a bout that. We have done a lot with the kids, but couldn't bring myself to do family ones.

Maybe I'm still not quite ready? I think I've been in denial or something. It's two days away and I don't know what we are wearing or where I want to go. We are having out door pics taken and need to pick a place. I don't know why I have so much anxiety about this.....UGH! I think due to popular choice, we will be including a Buzz Toy in our picture. When you see it, you'll know it's for Elaine. I need to go and clean my house so I can go vote in a little bit. My friend is watching my kids so I can do the early voting thing. I'm hoping to avoid lines. Ha Ha.

It's Hereditary

My Aunt Donna was in town last week for a work convention and we met up with her for dinner one evening. She gave us a few things from her convention (bag, pens, coupons) and one was a pad of paper. On it she had written down the name of the place we were eating for dinner. Fast forward a couple of days. The pad was sitting on my island. I glanced at it and thought, I don't remember writing that down. I got to thinking and realized that wasn't my handwriting, but my aunts.

I thought that it was mine! Supposedly handwriting is hereditary. I imagine if it had been more than one word, it would be easier to tell the difference. My mom doesn't believe me so I am going to mail her the paper, with my written word under it so she can compare. I know my aunt has much nicer handwriting than me, but for a moment in time, ours were identical!

Searches

It is interesting to me that people have been referred to my blog from some interesting search entries. Here are a few:

Religions that agree with organ donation
Beaver High School
Things that make me laugh
Scrabble quilt pattern
Funeral
Melissa disco
Melissa Joan heart (I get several a week for this one)
Horse and Carriage
Ruth Andrew florist
Darin Ward
Funeral Melissa
Diana Ross (seriously?)

None are too weird, but I thought it was entertaining.

Things that make me laugh

Ashton sat down at the table while I was making last minute preparations for dinner. He folded his arms and said, "let's say grace." HA! I laughed out loud and asked him where he heard that. He asked again and I said, "Yes, we will be having prayer on the food." Silly boy!

Deann was talking to one of her children the other day and actually said the word BAG correctly. She usually says it like Bague (as in rhymes with Vague) and I always giver her a hard time. Way to go Deann! You are losing you accent!

The kicker was tonight while we were playing games. Deann was laying on her stomach. She had her head down on the floor while she was talking. Darin then made fun of her for mumbling. She said something about that's what happened when you have a large chest and they smoosh up near your face when you lay on the floor. Then I told her not to suffocate her self. Then she said that is how Kenny (her husband FYI) would like to die....suffocated by her boobs. Then he pipes up and says that's why there is a snorkel in the bed room! LOL. We all got side aches from laughing our heads off. Deann was laughing so had I thought she would pee in her pants. It reminded me of that cranium game......That Kenny had some great one liners tonight!

Oh, and Dad, we had a card in Apples to Apples that had flying monkey on it. We made fun of you laughed at you because they scare you you don't like them because they are imaginary.

Where were you 19 years ago today?

Well, for most of the followers of this blog, 19 years ago today may hold no significance. But I was an 8 year old girl experiencing a 7.1 earthquake. The Loma Linda or Loma Prieta Earthquake. For only lasting 15 seconds, not counting after shocks, a lot of damage was done! I was at home with my dad and my brother. I was on my parents water bed (that was trippy!), and then tried to get off and go into the living room where my dad and brother were.

My dad and brother had been watching TV together in our recliner (which resides in my family room today). My brother was sitting with my dad o the chair. (Josh was sitting on my dad's lap...how cute :) ). I remember my dad tossing putting my brother down and running to catch his grandfather clock that was tipping precariously. It suffered no permanent damage. The same cannot be said for my brother who claimed for years ( and maybe still does?) that he felt loved less than a piece of furniture. What do you have to say about that Josh? Dad?
My mom was at a ward members home, working on something or other for Relief Society. My mom was bowing and couldn't strighten herself back up. She thought it was just her, until others began commenting about the quake. So, nothing too major or scary for us, but there were a lot of people who were injured or even killed. I remember the news for weeks and months afterwards, filled with stories of grief and death. Bridges collapsed on top of cars...buildings demolished...it was crazy. It was also the first quake to be broadcast on live TV since it occurred during the world series for the Oakland A's and the San Francisco Giants. My dad worked tons of overtime with PG&E reconnecting peoples power and repairing damaged power lines and polls. Crazy mess!
I have been in a few other quakes, but non of this magnitude. There are more great pictures and info here. So...where were you 19 years ago today?

Shenandoah Costume GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

Shenandoah Costume GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

Ashton's 3 year picture Shoot

Myra's Teeth!

Things I haven't posted about yet from this summer

Ok, there are a few:

Marisa

I watched cute Marisa for a week while her dad was out of town and her mom was at the hospital with her sister for surgery. I was really surprised that adding another kid to the mix at this point really wasn't that much extra work. It a lot of ways it was really nice because the kids had another person to play with. Marisa was so good and I don't think she cried once about being away from home. I'm sure the fact that she has had sleepovers with her grandparents helped.

kids on ride

Violet waving

Next was Onion Days! We had a good time again this year, surprise surprise! Here are some pictures. Aaron and Mandy came with us. Mikayla was in her cast and had her wheel chair, which she almost got dumped out of.......naughty Aaron! :) The kids had fun riding rides and being silly. Poor Myra gets the shaft and didn't get to do any rides. The balloon guy was slow as molasses thorough and made cute stuff. Vi got a butterfly, Ashton a sword, and Marisa a bear.

Violet & Marisa


Violet's Butterfly

The 4x4 Jeep ride

Ashton in a boat
More balloons

Aaron looking thrilled


Carousel (the ride, not the movie)

Marisa's sister is doing well and is back walking again. I don't remember the name of the surgery that Mikayla had, but it had to do with her legs and strengthening and lengthening tendons....I believe. She did well, even with having to be in casts up to her hips for like 4 weeks!

What?! I'm Famous!

Well almost. That's how I felt anyway when I opened this email.

See What People Are Saying About...
Absolutely hilarious! I haven't laughed that hard in such a long time! As we drove home, we would quote part of the play and we both would nearly cry with mirth!
-Gregory Gabbott

We loved Scary Poppins! It was quite possibly our favorite show of all time (we have been season ticket holders for several years). Thanks so much! -Melissa Andrew

We loved the olio. We have two sons seving in the military. It made me really proud of them and our country. -LaPreal Hansen

It is a five star, thumbs up performance. Everyone in our group loved the show.
-Bonnie Hill

I give Scary Poppins an A++. -Christina Garff

Desert Star has again succeeded in providing family fun with Scary Poppins. The cast is wonderful and so talented! Makes me happy to be a season ticket holder! -Cindy Heller

The show was funny, witty and good entertainment. The patriotic tribute was excellent.
-Gloria Mayne

We loved Scary Poppins! We have recommended it to several of our friends!
-Christopher Romero
One of the best we've seen over the past 12+ years!! -Debi Johnson


Scary Poppins plays through November 8th
Only at Desert Star!
Desert Star Playhouse
4861 S. State, Murray Utah 84107801-266-2600

www.desertstar.biz

Wow! My comment in a n email. Woo Hoo!! :)

The Party

Violet looks kind of weird in this picture!

Note her darling shirt that says Birthday girl.

This is her Birthday Cake. I decorated it with fondant. I think that is turned out great! I was pleased, plus it tasted super yummy!

Myra had a lot of fun eating cake and opening gifts. She got a lot of books, a few toys, sheets and a Halloween costume. Thanks everyone! She had a good day.

Wow! My hair is so long, it's not even all in the picture!

It was an awkward weekend to try and fit in a birthday celebration for a one year old. Conference and all....... We did have a surprise when Ross and Kerlyn showed up with Roy & Leslie. They were visiting for Conference and got to come see Myra. We had both sets of twins at our house. Here is a picture of them.

I am excited about putting her in a front facing car seat! Woo Hoo!

Happy Happy Birthday!

Myra is ONE!!!!!!!!

I will post details later. I tried to fix the red eyes, but it still needs work!

Susan

Since my cousin Susan was the first to guess correctly that I had quoted "Sabrina" with Audrey Hepburn I am doing a little post about her.

Susan lives far far away (aka not in my state) and unfortunately I don't see her much. She is the most talented musician I have ever heard. Her forte is the clarinet. While she was attending BYU I was able to see hear her perform on numerous occasions. I was always in Awe of her great talent.

Susan is also a very dear and beautiful (dare I say it) woman. :) I have always loved her phenomenally darling red hair. She always looks nice and has fabulous taste. Thanks for reading the blog....and way to go with knowing the movie.

For you movie buff's out there....keep reading for more quotes to come w/ rewards!

Heil Mom

I am interested to know what the "other" shows are that people watch. Please enlighten me with a comment (there should be five of you!).

For a few months now, Myra has developed her own way of saying hello. She can wave, but I think it came about when she was only crawling and would try to wave. She would do what we lovingly call the "Heil Mom". It looks like the way Nazi's would heil Hitler. She has gradually started making the gesture a little lower and resembles royalty putting out their had to be kissed. I think that it is darn cute. She will still wave, but goes this first. All hail the HEIL MOM!!