Family reunion next summer

Lynne has been doing a lot of searching on the internet for cabins and accomodations for our large group to be able to do a vacation again next year. She found one that looks awesome called the Pinewoods Resort, here is a link: http://www.bryce-zion-duckcreekvillage-lodging-utah.com/. They have lots of small cabins on the site but only one large one. That one is called the Mountain Home and it is only available for one week during the time we were looking at next summer. Those days are July 28-August 3. We'd like to get it booked before we lose the opportunity. So, I know it's early, but does anyone have any major conflict with that week? I think it is a Tuesday through Monday. Also, that cabin sleeps 20 people in 5 bedrooms--15 in beds and 5 on the floor. For the additional people (there are 26 in our group) we have two choices: a family suite that sleeps 10 in four bedrooms, or a couple of Inn suites that sleep four in each. We also might be able to do the family suite for 10, and several of the Inn suites for private families if we thought more "quiet time" was needed. Please let me know quickly if you have any preferences. Here are some of the activities on site: ping-pong, pool (the table kind), and foosball in a recreation room, volleyball, badminton, horseshoes, an archery range, basketball court, large fire pit and mountain bikes for rent. It also has a small restaurant on site. I think it will be awesome. Plus, it is not far from Bryce Canyon, Zions, Cedar City, etc., for fun day trips. Please post your comments soon.

Matti made it!

Matti tried out for the Children's Theater of Salt Lake's production of "Babes in Toyland" this weekend and we just found out today that she made it! This play is a musical, so she had to sing as well as perform a monologue for the director on Saturday. Then she made the call back list and last night had to go to a second audition where she had to play-act a bunch of strange things. For example, when we left, she told me she had to run around like a sheep and then snort like a pig. She said, "I can't snort at all!" But, she must be quite a proficient snorter because when we called today they told her she was on the list and she would play the part of one of the three little pigs! We are so excited. She performs this play about 15 times over three weeks in December and I thought it would be great if some of her Aunties and Uncles and cousins and Grandma could come see her! Here is the schedule: Babes in Toyland
December 5, 2008 at 7:00 PM
December 6, 2008 at 1:00 PM
December 6, 2008 at 4:30 PM
December 8, 2008 at 7:00 PM
December 11, 2008 at 7:00 PM
December 12, 2008 at 7:00 PM
December 13, 2008 at 1:00 PM
December 13, 2008 at 4:30 PM
December 15, 2008 at 7:00 PM
December 18, 2008 at 7:00 PM
December 19, 2008 at 7:00 PM
December 20, 2008 at 1:00 PM
December 20, 2008 at 4:30 PM
December 22, 2008 at 7:00 PM
December 24, 2008 at 1:00 PM
Anyhow, the price is $9 a ticket. The recommended age is 4 years old and up. The phone # is (801) 532-6000. Hope some of you can make it!!!

movie recommendation

For all of you movie-goers out there, Doug and I saw Ghosttown on Saturday and I loved it. Very funny. Hope you have a chance to see it!

happenings at the barney's

Doug started back at work this week. He hates sitting around, so he opted out of light duty and returned full time. He's doing o.k., just a bit tired. But glad to be back. Also, we're planning Jack's birthday party, I hope to get invitations in the mail soon, but in case I don't--it's going to be Halloween day, 3:00-4:30, for anyone who's interested.

Heroes cont.

Ok it took me all day to think of mine. My 10th birthday. I had been looking forward to it all week, and for some reason I really wanted someone to sing me happy birthday. So I woke up in the morning when Jacque ran into the room and jumped on my bed and said, "It's your birthday, It's your birthday!!" Which was so funny, but she didn't sing =(. So I thought, "Dad'll sing for me." So I went downstairs and Dad wished me a great big huge HAPPY BIRTHDAY, which made me happy, but no song. So I was getting a little exasperated... if someone didn't sing to me soon, I might go crazy. So I called Mom in San Diego, and she said, "Happy Birthday!!" when she answered the phone, but no song. But Mom's not really one to do that anyway. So I just gave up and settled down to have a conversation with Mom, when suddenly there was the call waiting noise... so I asked Mom to hold on and I switched over, and there was Erika, Singing Me the Happy Birthday Song, From INDIA!!!!

I don't know if you know, but happy birthday songs are 50 times as potent when they're from halfway across the world. It was sooo cool. She was so far away but totally fulfilled my birthday wish!

Heroes

Alright, this blog is getting boring (not really Boring, just slow). So, I thought I'd start an activity. Think of one time when someone in our family was our hero and post it! I'll start.

I remember one time when I was little and I was wearing those really squishy flip-flops. I don't think they make them anymore, but they were thick and greyish and really floppy. I think they criss-crossed over the top of the foot. Anyway, I believe this was around the time that Dad was building the half pipe. I was outside over by the playhouse and stepped right onto a board with a nail sticking straight up. It went right through the shoe into the middle of my foot. I was literally nailed to a board. So, Nikki came right over and said, "We need to pull it out." She promptly lifted up the board, asked if I was ready, and pulled the board and nail right out of my foot. I remember it felt just like it might have sounded like something being sucked out. Anyway, I don't really remember it bleeding, or even the tetanus shot that I'm sure followed (I think I needed one anyway). But I do remember my sister being my hero at that moment when I got a nail stuck in my foot.

Okay, somebody else can go!

Nikki's Sinus Surgery Update #3

Here I am again! I guess I have been emailing everyone when I could just be using the 'blog'...duh! I am doing much better than I was even a week ago, and I am glad to have the first 2 weeks after surgery behind me. Albeit, weird things come out of your body after surgery, and mine are coming out my nose! ...still! I find myself apologizing to my husband in the middle of the night for all my snorting, coughing, and sputtering. 'Its a sticky business.' But I can already feel it is so much better. The worst part has been the headaches the last 2 weeks. (And that's not much to complain about - I know!) But I can feel a turn around since just yesterday, and my good friend Esther said its only for the first month. So I am hoping to pain free - headache free - and illness free really soon! (But lets be honest - I have toddlers - I may not be headache free for a while still!) So about those toddlers... last Wednesday I thought I felt good enough to run a bunch of errands for 5+ hours. Turns out Thursday morning I could not get out of bed and was in and out of sleep for 2 hours after my children woke up. I finally got enough strength to get out of bed to find my 3 year old found my scissors and decided to make herself look like her brother! (That's what she said when I asked her why she cut her hair!) One whole half of her head of hair - gone! Down to the scalp! I was stunned, in shock, and finally broke down crying to the relief of my husband calling...just in time to hear all my glorious blubbering! (Our poor husbands.) I didn't touch Keala's hair for 6 hours when I finally felt enough strength to remedy the situation by cutting off the rest of her hair and making her look..."like her brother"! Kasey came home from high school and asked me "Is this too delicate of a time to ask what happened to Keala's hair?!" I turned to her and said "Yes!" And then we both laughed and I explained what happened. In all honestly, I hate to say it today, but I like it better! It just suites her sassy, insubordinate, head-strong, bossy, ornery personality! And it actually brings out her cute little dimples and beautiful blue eyes...the little turkey! Anyhow, we are still having a ton of fun being a part of our new family. Kasey and Austin love to play, rough-house, and tease with the kids. I help Austin with his Spanish homework, and Kasey and I love to eat 'white cake - birthday cake' at least once a week! Our new fun tradition... of having an un-birthday party, just for the fun of it! But Brent says that's gonna have to stop soon because he keeps eating all the cake! I am starting to get used to the routine of shopping once a week, laundry everyday, cleaning, cooking, straightening up, keeping after the kids, (keeping them alive!), reading books to, singing with, and putting my kids to bed 'almost' every day. (And yes, Brent has been a bunch of help already (when I can't take it anymore!) - thank you honey!) It still feels surreal being 'happily' married, living in a home, and not being bossed around by my 8 - 5 job. Holy cow! Life is so weird. But I feel such an outpouring of blessings, that I can hardly believe it. "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times"... still feels like the worst of times is still close enough to feel and remember the last 3 scary years of being a single mom. But so much is so good right now I can't imagine my life being any different. Brent and I are celebrating our first 6 months of knowing each other this weekend, General Conference weekend. That's the first time, 6 months ago, when we started emailing and the whirlwind of dating and falling in love started. Have I mentioned how great it is being in love! All dad has said to me the last 3 years is that "all the hard times, and loneliness, and pain and suffering, will all seem worth it when the 'Right One Comes Along'! ...I was SO hoping he was right! AND HE'S RIGHT! And all the snorting, and coughing, and blubbering, and putting up with ornery toddlers, (and all the other trivial 'hard times') seem worth it when your honey comes home and smiles at you right in your eyes! Thank you honey!

-pictures of Keala to be posted soon!