Welcome to the MAIN EVENT(S)

I have been REALLY busy the past 10 days. (Don't mock the scrapbook pages it was the best I could do to get ALOT of pics in a small space at 1 am).

On Saturday, Nov 7 I planned a robbery mystery dinner for 24 couples from the MBA program. Due to the numbers and lack of "free waiter and waitresses" Dave and I ended up being servers all night. For me it was fun to watch the other people get into their characters and enjoy a gourmet meal on fancy dishes. For Dave, well, he just loves me I guess. This was ALOT of work to get tables, chairs, settings for 24 people and enough food to go around. I appreciate my friend Rhandi who put together an amazing 5 course meal. We want to do this again, only we want to participate this time. Is anyone interested?

Then on Tuesday, Nov 10 I planned and prepared for a Pampering night which included massages, facials, manicures, pedicures, satin hands, foot baths and lots of food too. We had a great turnout of over 40 people! People didn't leave until 10:30!

Thursday, Nov 12 my PE classes, plus 75 extra kids, participated in the speed stacking event to try to get the most stackers in one day to beat the Guiness book of world records number. The kids really enjoyed the fun work out. We had 180 kids stacking for 30 minutes each.

Finally, on Monday, Nov 16 I planned a bowling night for families in the MBASA program. I was sad that, although the sign up sheet said that 100 people were coming, only 50 showed up. Am I crazy that I would rather have 100 people come? I just really like everyone to have a good time together. We still enjoyed ourselves . . . Dave even got 4 strikes WHILE holding Jackson (show off!) I barely bowled over 60 . . .

Not to mention (this is for my personal journaling sake . . .) making dinner for my in-laws, playing racquetball and flag football, going to a wedding shower, reading a 400 page book, have a dinner group with people in my ward, RS super Saturday activities, math night at my school, putting in grades for trimester 1, taking Jacks to the bean museum, going on a double date to a BYU game, and oh, yeah, and I have a son and husband too . . . They haven't seen much of me lately. I am already doing MUCH better this week.

Even though it has been alot of work it is really rewarding to plan something fun and see people enjoy it. As I went home from each event I was trying to find a way to repeat the activity so more people could enjoy it.

Funny and not-so-funny story

Funny:
I am on a Flag football intramural team with some members from MBASA. We are called the "trophy wives" and all the other girls are amazed that we are married WITH kids. Playing freshman is the funnest!
What 28-year-old, mother of one doesn't daydream about a fantastic play in flag football?
Well, first off, am I the only one who daydreams?
So I had this great image of me knocking the football out of the QB's hands and catching it and running it back for a TD (I am a rusher). Then, right before I went to my game, Dave reminds me to "rip their pants off" - Which is a joke because he got his shorts ripped off in the front at one of his games.
Ironically, both of these things happened in last night's game. I grabbed what I thought was a flag and it ended up being the flags with a handful of sweats that ripped right off. Luckily, we formed the 'girl' modesty circle and she borrow a pair of extra pants someone had.
The next play wasn't exactly like I dreamed, but I rushed the QB, so she started running the ball and ran into her own blocker, which squeezed the ball out and I happen to pick it off and run it back for a touchdown. Very awesome feeling.
I also caught another pass for a TD. We won 22-0. I am loving the games this year! We are in the final 4 - wish us luck!
Not-so funny: Our computer died . . . AGAIN. I am hoping that it is just the video card and NOT all the pictures/ scrapbook stuff. But either way, if I ever want to scrapbook again, we have to buy a new computer. I guess digital scrapbooking IS expensive :)

Jumping Jacks Take 2

Remember this from last year?

My recent hobby

Recently, I have joined a scrapbooking site at scrapmatters.com. I have been completing different challenges and in the process completing some of my scrapbook that I am so behind on. I love the challenges because, you know me, I am competitive. Plus it gives me a place to start, other's layouts to copy and great ideas for titles and journaling. I also like that once you post your layout, people comment on your pages . . . it gives me a sense of accomplishment, instead of waiting until I print an entire book for people to be able to look at it. Here is a sampling of my recent pages.

Destructo

This is an older video . . .but Jacks is still destructive. Today he learned to throw things in the garbage, problem is that it isn't necessarily trash that he throws in . . .

What is the drive that makes kids NEED chaos all around them? Jackson won't play with blocks, legos, or anything like that, UNLESS we build something, THEN he will destroy it.

Too Much Fun

I have, in my life, been accused of having "too much fun." (to which I replied, is there such a thing as TOO MUCH fun???) My trip to Denver was just that.

As if meeting with 5 old roommates was not enough I fit in everything I wanted to do. First, I got to see MaryAnn and Ryan's new home! Ryan got a job working as an accountant for one of the BIG 4! He is an amazingly hard-worker! Their house is gorgeous (I'll admit I was a bit jealous of the stage they are at in their life . . . settling down, buying a house. . . having an income . . .)

My parents and sisters happen to be visiting the same weekend, so we all played (and of course I forgot to get a picture of Ryan OR MaryAnn :( Dayton and Jackson steal all the clicks!

The fun new pull toy . . . Jackson was convinced he could pull his lightweight cousin.

How would you like to wake up to this every morning. Their yard is gorgeous!

It took Jacks a minute to get use to the leaves, but then he couldn't keep them out of his hands, shirt, hair . . . and I'll even admit . . . his mouth!

We also went to a local pool to cool off from the icy 45 degree weather. We just love to see our kids be this happy!

I also met up with a friend from Hiroshima, Japan. She was such a help to me in Japan as a missionary. She became my special friend and taught me alot of Japanese. She would do splits with us and teach lessons with us. I learned on this trip that her mom ASKED her to be my friend because she was worried about me. (funny story: This lady, Sister Tanaka, came up and said "oh, you are a bean!" I had no idea what she was talking about so I start looking in my dictionary for "bean". My companion informed me that in Japan "greenies" are also called green beans, which is then shortened to "bean" . . . It was ENGLISH!)

Anyway, my friend Chiyo has a 1 year old Sean. It was so nice to catch up after many years. Is it sad that I didn't speak a single word of Japanese the whole night?

WOW! I even went to a haunted house! Just kidding, that is the Colorado temple . . . not really sure why it is glowing green. I have been there before, but not inside. It was nice to feel the peace of the spirit that is in all temples.

What do you think? Is there such a thing as "too much fun"?

Please Stand Up.

Here is a little exercise I would like to try . . .

Please stand up if you had roommates your freshman year of college.

Remain standing if:

1. You got along with your roommates

2. ALL of your roommates liked each other

2. You called your roommates after moving away.

3. You visited your roommates after moving away.

4. You lived with one or more of your roommates after freshman year.

5. You got ALL 6 roommates together for a 10 year reunion

6. You still all like each other.

7. You once posed together with 6 roommates with matching 'undies' sticking out of the top of your pants.

How far down the list did you get? Is anyone standing? I didn't think so, but I AM!

I just had the most amazing weekend/flashback to '99 college dorm life. Six people (plus a few extra kids) flew/drove in for hours to be together for 2 days in Colorado.

We looked through old pictures and laughed hysterically.

One of the roommates found a list of 100 memories from freshman year that I had written. We went through them one by one for hours (yep we were up past 2 am 2 nights in a row . . isn't THAT a flashback . . . except I had to wake up at 7:00 am to a needy baby :) ). We laughed (but didn't cry) and relived memories long forgotten.

We caught up on where life has taken us and what we have learned in our 10 years of being 'grown ups'.

We ate like piglets (just like we used to except now we can cook . . . or at least Chan's mom can!)

and had LOTS of dessert. Especially BTS cake (email me if you want the recipe or the meaning of BTS)

To the bestest, hottest girls of E Richards 219- Jen, Stac, Linds, Chan, Katherine and James

This weekend was a miracle and one of my all time favorite events! BONUS!

Love you and see you in 5 years for sure!