Drama at the swimming pool!!!

So I have a crazy story. Maybe it is just crazy to me....but I feel like it was right time at the right place. So on Wednesday, I went back and forth trying to decide if I was going to take the kids swimming or not because the air was horrible from the fire. Anyways, I decided that we would go for an hour and that if no one else was there that we were turning around and coming home because I didn't want to be the only abusive parents out in the smog...or whatever it was. So I drove over to the pool, and it was packed. I have never seen it that packed with cars. Well, I drove into the parking lot and there was a truck trying to park in a spot, well I guess she decided that the spot was too small and so she backed out and drove away. I was excited and so I went to go pull in there but realized that the butt of my van was sticking out. I turned around and saw that there was another parking spot on the end so I thought, PERFECT...but I noticed that the truck was turning around and was heading for the spot...so I decided to try and park again in this same spot and see if I couldn't pull up farther. It didn't work and so I backed my car out to go and drive around the parking lot to find another spot, only when I turned my car around I noticed that that truck had tried to pull into that spot but had hit the car next to her and was pulling forward and hitting it and then backing up and hitting it, over and over. I couldn't believe it. We were right by the exit so I pulled my car into the exit and got out of the car to go help. I told the girl to stop and that I would help her pull out. I told her to turn her wheel straight and after much help she finally got out enough so I could look at the damage. She got out of her car and came around and said, "I didn't do that" and I said, "yes you did" and she said, "I didn't feel myself do it" and asked her if she really couldn't feel herself hitting this car over and over and she said that she just knew that she couldn't get her car to move enough to park. (Her car was also damaged). Anyways I told her that she needed to find out whose car this was and that she needed to leave a note while she ran inside to call the cops and find out whose car it was. She was like, "I didn't mean to" and I said I know you didn't but if this was my car and you didn't fix what you did then I would be really mad. I asked her if she just got her driver's liscense because I couldn't believe her driving skills. She told me she has had it for awhile...(by the way, she had on a Orem tigers shirt....that explains it). Anyways I told her to repark her car and leave the note and run in. So she goes to park the car and freakin runs into the car again!!!!! Holy crap! I ran around to her side because she wasn't turning her wheel right and she was like, "Do you want to park it???" He-- no!!! I was not getting blamed for her wreck so I said, no way, I am not getting in there, just listen to me and I will help y0u. Needless to say she parked and headed in. I drove to the other side far away from her truck because I wasn't getting hit by her..the girl obviously pulled one over on her driving instructor. It is one thing to hit a car and then it is another to hit a car over and over and over and claim not to feel it. So I decided that I probably should have gotten her liscense plate but I wasn't hiking back down there with my kids. So I went to the front desk and told them what I had seen and told them the descriptions of both of the cars and I left my name and number just in case the victim needed anything answered and I told the girls to go out there and write down both of the liscense numbers. They said they would....hah! Well, I decided to just go ahead and go in but I was so bugged by the whole thing because....the girl wasn't at the front desk. They said she had asked to go in to find her sister. When I was walking through the locker room I passed her and her sister on their way out. I heard the girl say..."it wasn't my fault". But, I didn't say anything. I walked around the corner out to the pool and I saw one of my friends from my old ward. We were in the same ward and her husband was Greg's first counselor in the Elder's Quorum and they really are just amazing people. They had tried to have a baby for seven years and finally they just had one and he is 7 months old so it was fun to see him and catch up with her for a minute. She was on her way out. Well, I went to go walk away and I said, "By the way....what kind of car do you drive?????" I about died when she said,,,,"A subaru outback" I said, "What color was it and where did you park it?" Yep, you guessed it. It was her car!!!! Is that crazy. With all of the other people there at the swimming pool and the first person I see when I walk in is her and she was just leaving,....if it had been a few seconds different I never would had seen her. Well, I told her that I just saw her car get hit and that I saw the girl heading out there and so I put my stuff down and followed her out to go talk to them. By the time we got out there the girl and her sister were heading back inside. I told her that that was them and so she said, "Hey did you just have an accident?" and the sister goes.."No, she just left a little scratch on someone's car" (a little scratch?? Where is the honesty?) and Brancy said." that would be my car". Well, I figured she had it from there and I went back inside. Well, I called her later and she said the girls fessed up and called their mom..(By the way the sister was like in her late 30's, you'd think she'd be more responsible" They got their insuranse information and Brancy left. She should have called the cops though because the insurance called Brancy today and said that the family will not return any of the phone calls and that if they don't talk to them and they don't fess up then State Farm refuses to pay for her car to get fixed. By the way, Brancy had just made her 2nd car payment on the car that morning. It is her word against theirs!!! Stupid people. So Scott? Any advice for them? Since I witnessed the whole thing, could I do anything??? As wierd as it was that it was me and that it was Brancy's car....would anyone even believe that story?????? That we knew each other and I just happened to run into her and ask her what car she drove...I know all very wierd. It brings meaning to the talk by Elder Bednard about "tender mercies". Anyways. I can't believe some people. I totally believe in being at the right place at the right time, even when it deals with something as simple as a small car accident. CRAZY!!!!

Well, that about sums up my life at the moment. We just do the same old same old each morning and then it is off to the pool. I am going to feel like the pool detective each time and you know that I am parking in no man's land from now on. I always make fun of Greg because we have to hike into any store we go to. Don't want anyone to hit the "minivan"!!! It will look pretty funny wearing my hiking boots with my swimming suit!!! Stop, don't visualize it...or if you do visualize it with me about thirty...okay, fourty pounds lighter!!!

I have pictures to download but....we are off to the pool so I will do it later!!! Chow!!!

Celebrate good time, Whoo-hoo!!!!

I did it.....I really did it!!! I went and I survived and I am actually happy that I went!!!! Okay, so what am I talking about?? My "sweet" 10 year high school reunion that I swore up and down that I would never attend, due to my "sweet" ten years later hot body!!! So , here's the story. I had just decided that due to my own insecurities that I would be better off just not going to my reunion only to feel worse about myself. I even decided not to get my hair colored because I knew myself and that it would keep me from going...Ha! Wrong. I never know what I am going to do. Well, I went to lunch with my fabulous friends..(shout out to Megan, Kim, Michelle, Melinda (aka "Mindy"),Annie, Jen, and Devon). We of course missed those who weren't able to make it! Needless to say, just as I thought, I had so much fun seeing them and being with them. Before long, I was feeling a little bit of regret that I wasn't going to the reunion. Just a little bit, until Kim said she'd go if I went. AHHH, I can't handle that kind of pressure. I went back and forth in my mind and told Kim to call me later. Well, .....I went and I only have a couple of regrets....first, that I didn't just decide to go in the first place and go with blonde roots rather than brown and gray, and that I didn't take the opportunity to need, I said NEED a new outfit, and biggest regret is that Greg wasn't there with me. Greg is my life and I would have loved to "show him off" to all the schoolers of the past!!! But, really I had a fun time and it was great seeing 97% of the people and the best part is that I don't have to return to school on Monday and find out that someone said I glared at them or that someone thought I was fat or that someone wanted to beat me up,ect. What a good feeling. No, really the best part was catching up with people and then coming home and kissing each of my boys before I headed for bed. I have the life!!! I will say, without Greg I felt a little like a teenager again, coming in after midnight. I had a blast going to Melinda's afterwards. I just kept giggling over absolutely nothing. I truly don't know why I was laughing half of the time. It could have been the allergic reaction to her cats. Maybe that is a side affect. I knew I was allergic to cats but I never realized what could actually happen with a full fledged reaction. But, sadly I had so much fun that I didn't want to leave until all the fun was had!!!! In the end, my biggest regret is that I can't just be confident with who I am. I don't know why I do it, but I point out all of my flaws to everyone. I guess I do it so that no one else does it before me or I guess so that other people know that I know what is wrong with me. I have always been that way....but I am working on it. My friends were right.....I did have a wonderful time and I would have regretted it if I didn't go....so thank you to those who convinced me into going!!! I felt like no time had passed....ten years is a long time and now I have ten years to get that tummy tuck (and maybe a lift...if you catch my drift) before I have to see all of those people again! Go Bruins!!!!

Who wants to be a cowboy anyways

This blog is in dedication to my sweet little Dallin who has just finished his last year of riding the sheep. Yes, the sheep...once more...the sheep. I know, I am paranoid and I let originally my four year old get on the back of a sheep...not just a sheep...a moving sheep. I don't know what ever possessed me except the fact the Dallin was wanting to so bad and I thought in the past I had laughed along with everyone else while these cute little kids came trotting out on these sheep, slipping to the side until BOOM they hit the ground. Not so funny when it's your kid hitting the ground. I remember the first time Dallin rode the sheep. It didn't help that when they announced Dallin and his age everyone around me seemed to gasp because how young he was...I shrunk and pretended like it was someone else's kid. No, just kidding I cheered and tried to videotape the whole thing. Problem being that I was shaking so bad that you could barely see what was going on. He did great but he didn't win the trophy or the prize. He was disappointed but still had the rush of riding on a sheep. Last year he was more determined to win the trophy. This time I sent the video camera with Greg because I thought he would be able to get a perfect shot right down there in the shoot or whatever you call it. It was perfect, he had a nice shot of Dallin getting ready to ride his sheep....one problem. Greg followed Dallin with his eyes and not the camera. We do see Dallin take off and then he disappears at the top of the camera. We laughed and laughed. What a funny, typical, Greg story. Well, this year was different. Dallin was older and very determined to win it all. He thought that there was a $100 prize if he won and he kept saying, I am going to win and I am going to give the money to my mom and dad so they are not poor anymore. Ahhh, what a sweetheart...if only $100 made us not poor....dang wouldn't that be nice. Needless to say, Dallin didn't win and to make it even more crummy,....the sheep stepped on his "whoo-hoo". Poor guy. He cried and cried when he saw his beautiful, gorgeous, lovely, mommy...which is me of course!!! ( I'll always take a confidence booster even if it comes directly from....ME!) I love him and I am so proud that he would even have the courage to ride the sheep. So here's to Dallin, my courageous, brave, and strong son!!!! Yee-haw....(let's hope the rodeo'in is out of his system)

Other than that, life is great...it is summer days by the pool and summer nights by my hunk...okay, okay, even I am puking over that one. No really I just love summer. I love being with my kids and I seem to want to eat healthier and excercise more. I said I seem to want to...I didn't say I am actually doing it. It is the thought that counts...right??? The one problem with summer is that it goes to quickly and then a new school year comes and it goes so fast and before I know it, my kids are another year older and life only gets faster. Sad...I love the stage that I am in. I have never been so satisfied and happy with my life. I am so content and comfortable with the life Greg and I have made for ourselves. I am so blessed. Anyways, enough of the soap box...time for Dallin's baseball game!! Did I mention he is the best little player on his team....he get's it definetly from............................................................................Greg, ofcourse!!!! Tootles!!

Home Sweet Home

Yeah, we are home. I always love coming home and of course it is nice to come home to a clean house even if it is overtaken by laundry in the first five minutes. We had an absolute blast though! We stayed at a great hotel. I was so happy when we drove up. I had booked it on priceline and after our hotel in Phoenix, I was a little worried, but yeah, it was great. It was nice to actually have a maid come in everyday to clean the room. We were in Phoenix from Sunday until Saturday and the maid came in once! We went to the beach on Monday and that was great. The boys had so much fun. We then did Disneyland for three days. I have never seen it so busy in my life. The average wait was 1 hour at least and the new Nemo ride was a 3 1/2 hour wait. We obviously decided we would have to try Nemo on another trip. The boys loved every second of it. In fact in church today, Alex was looking through a hymn book. He was trying to tell Greg something and Greg wasn't understanding so Greg sent him down to me. He was looking at the picture on the front of the book saying, "See, there is Mickey's house." We went with Jeff and Kerri and we had so much fun. I was so glad they were there because we were able to trade off and do stroller passes and the boys loved having Cooper there. It was fun to see the kids having somuch fun and of course the kids all walked away with all pirate stuff. The funniest was when Colton saw Mickey Mouse. I don't know why but he went crazy when he saw him. He just started jabbering away at Mickey and trying to hug him and kiss him. He was in awe of him. He didn't do that with any other character. It was funny to see. We had thought about either going to Sea World Friday- Sunday or going to Las Vegas, but we have been gone since May 31st and so we decided to make the trek home on Friday. It was long but it was nice to have Saturday and Sunday to recover. There is no place like home!!!!!

Just a shout out to the wonderful men in my life. I am so grateful to my dad and the man that he is. He is such a wonderful person and an amazing example to me. I am also grateful for my father in law.....he is wonderful and raised an amazing son. Which brings me to Greg!!! I love him with all my heart. He is such a good dad and I think my boys are so lucky to have him as their example. Happy Father's Day!!!!!

We have a busy week ahead. Dallin has swimming lessons and on Thursday he gets to ride the sheep at the P.G. rodeo and Alex has two days of speech testing this week plus his speech pathologist and his occupational therapist coming!!! Oh, and Dallin has baseball too!!! And it is the Manti Pageant...mine and Greg's famous first date and Greg has inservice this week so we will not be seeing much of him!!! Back to life!!!!!! It feels nice!!!!!

I will Survive!!!

Just have a few minutes to write. I am sitting on our hotel bed in the lovely Aneheim. I can see Disneyland right outside my window. It is wonderful. We went to Huntington beach today and it was great although when we got home I found sand in places I never thought it could venture. It was great. The boys just had so much fun. We actually got a picture of all of the boys buried in the sand. Yes, even Colton. We just sat him up and actually when we pulled him out he cried because he loved being in it. He was covered completely in the sand.

Life has been absolutely crazy the past week. We went up to Grandma Smith's funeral and that was great...well as great as a funeral can be...but hello, she was 103 and wanted to die so bad, so it wasn't like your normal funeral, it was mostly a happy day because we know she is happy. Well, Sunday we drove all night and got to Phoenix around 9:00. I really would have liked to turn around and come home because the "motel" that the EFY program had us staying in was beyond belief. I have never in my life been so scared in my life. I will just summarize by what I saw just outside my "motel" door: A homeless person going through my trash...right outside my door, prositutes....using the room right below us, a man being arrested...right outside my door, a drug deal going down,..right outside my door, two drunk men, naked,...okay, topless hanging over our balcony....two doors down,..more naked men barbequing in the parking lot,..right outside my door, a domestic arugment...beating is a better description..right outside my door, and may more interesting occurances happening right outside my door. To top it off one of the counselors at EFY was kind enough to share with us his story. You see about four months ago he decided that he would go out and take a walk. It was about 9:00 at night and he lived just a few block from hotel, supposevly in a little nicer area that what we were in and he said a car approached him and he thought they were stopping for directions until he noticed the back door open and a gun. At that point he started to run and was shot in the leg...yes he was shot. Just a nice looking guy. He ran to the neighbors house and rather than taking a chance with the door being locked he rolled under the truck in the drive way and proceeded to call the police. He then heard the car speed off. The officers later told him that he was so lucky because they found the empty shell on the ground and than another round on the ground. They think after that first shot that the gun got jammed. We even got to see the pictures of his leg. Crazy. We were lucky enough during the day to go and swim at some of our friends house who live in Mesa. It was a thirty minute drive each way but it was worth it. We are so thankful to the Lathams for being so nice to us. We really had a nice time when we were spending the time at EFY. Greg of course did amazing and the kids adored him. It was so nice because on Friday it was my birthday and he had told the kids without me knowing that it was my birthday and how wonderful they would be to write me a note, so on Friday I went to listen to his talk in the morning and all of the kids and counselors brought me birthday cards and notes. It was so much fun and they sang to me before Greg gave his talk. I of course, being me, actually loved the attention. It was also nice to have Greg's brother Jeff here and his wife Kerri. We have had so much fun together and the party has just started because we are going to be in Disneyland for the next three days. Yeah. We also got to spend the weekend with Greg's uncle Fred. It was so much fun to be with him and so nice to be in his beautiful home...especially after living in the hood for a week. Ahhh, vacation is nice.

Well, I better rest these beautiful eyes of mine j/k, because the kids won't care if I am tired tomorrow...hello we are in Disneyland!!!! I will write more when I get home!!!

I'm Tired!!!!

Okay, I just have to vent for a minute for my sanity. I hate getting ready for trips. I always like leave a clean house, which makes no sense because you just come home and drag all the luggage through and within a matter of two mintues tops your clean house is now a dirty house. I really think I have sat for three mintues today and I still have packing to do for our Grace Idaho trip and for our Phoenix trip. AHHHHH! I am so tired.

I am on the other hand very happy. I know it doesn't matter in Kindergaten but Dallin did another amazing job on his report card. I am such a proud mom and it is so much fun to watch him learn and grow. I can't believe he is reading....next thing to work on.....get him to like reading!!!!! He also had a coach pitch game last night and not only did you hit a home run, it was a grand slam!!! He has done so well with coach pitch and Dallin and his buddy Tanner are the only Kindergarteners on the team, the rest are in First and Second grade. What can I say, I am a proud mom. Let's just say he didn't get any of it from me. If he was out there picking the flowers and doing cart wheels then I would say he got it from me....I am a little worried that that might be Alex. Just kidding, we set up t-ball for him at the game last night and people kept commenting on how far he could hit it and then when he'd throw the ball back to Greg he has an arm. Once again....not my genes!!!!

Wow, I am starting to feel better already. Now, I need a nice big Coke to seal the deal!!!!

Chow!

Wow it really works

Well, I can't believe it! It works. All this time I didn't think that my blogging page worked and I was looking at Jen's and saw all the people she had hooked to hers and so I got on and started looking at everyones. well, I decided to attempt it again and it said I already had one and so you can imagine my surprise when I saw that people actually got on my blogging page. Yeah,...I am starting something new and it worked. See Greg and I are a match made in heaven except for the fact that neither of us can fix anything or figure anything out on our own and that makes for a sad mix. Take for instance our swing set....could have been a good reason to maybe divorce...just kidding...but it has been almost put together for two months. We spent a Saturday doing it and we got it almost put together and decided it was either stop putting it together and finish later and still be ...you know...."inlove" or keep going and yeah...well.

Life is good. My little Dallin finishes kindergaten tomorrow. I think I will have a harder time with first grade since he will be gone all day. I can't even believe how fast time flies. My babies are growing up. Where does the time go? I am started to recall memories of my mom and her friends from when I was little and I can really relate to her. I always thought my mom was so old when I was younger but she wasn't. I am sure that is what my kids think of me...although I am a goofy mother. I think they think I am just a little strange sometimes when I turn on the music and dance around the house. Let's face it... I will always be a little goofy. I will do things with the boys and then they will do it infront of others and people will say.."oh, that is something Greg would do.." That's funny since I just taught them to do it....(I say in my head) All though, Greg and I are two peas in a pod. I know what he is going to say even before he says it. We definetly share a brain.

We are getting ready to head out for two weeks. This is Greg's third year directing EFY and we are heading down to Phoenix to do an EFY there this week. Greg's brother Jeff is going to be one of the speakers and so that well be fun. We are then heading over to Disneyland for a week after that. I am dreading the driving. Greg's sweet great grandma just passed away on Memorial day and so we are heading up to Idaho for the funeral and then heading straight down to Idaho. Hello, 17 hours of driving with three little boys! Crazy. I am just glad she died before we left because Greg would die if he couldn't go to the funeral. She was one of the most amazing women. She would have been 104 years old in August and her husband died when she was around 50 and she has been so ready to die for so long. She has always wanted Greg to sing at her funeral and so there is no way we could have missed it.

Well, I better start doing something!