3 reasons....mia

mia--3 reasons why i love you:

1. i love that you say "thank you" and "ganks" and "you welcome" all the time. you say it without fail every time we help you and i think it's the sweetest thing.

2. i love that you say "mom, get off the pooter!" when i am in blog-land, then climb in my lap and grab my face with your hands and call me back to reality.

3. i love your chubby little fred flinstone feet--and that they would look like this in fancy sandals

thankful thursday

things i am thankful for this week:



1. season one of 'lost'--we are just now jumping on this bandwagon, people--don't hate! it took an episode or two, but now we are fully hooked and i am convinced that this is the way lost was meant to be viewed: one after another after another.....is it considered bad parenting that all four kids watch with us? we hope not.

2.  friends and family--we are farming out the kiddies about 4 ways to sunday for this trip, and i am so grateful that people will play into my game. no, REALLY, thank you. i love you guys!

3.  cool weather in may--am i really living in southern utah right now?? it's supposed to be 1 million degrees by the end of may. we so lucky.

4.  a husband who will take me shopping and have an opinion on my clothing.  it's petty great.

5. watching my baby ride a trike--she is the last one.....kinda stings a little. but she is oh so sweet. i wuv her.

3 reasons....kaitlyn

kaitlyn--3 reasons why i love you:

1. you are a good girl and try hard to help our family choose the right.

2. you still want to hold my hand or put your arm through mine in public--you are loving and affectionate and don't care who sees it.

3. you are smart--you work hard to get your good grades, and seeing you excel in school makes your father and i so very proud.

memorial day at jw marriott las vegas with the cowans

our biggest indulgence in life is traveling--thankfully, with rbc in the hotel business, we get to do way more than our fair share. the only downside is the fact that our children are travel brats/snobs and think that all vacays should entail a jw marriott. we've often times said that we should really cut our kids off and give them a serious reality check--but then russ and i would have to stop as well, and that's just not an option. we are not into self-denial.

we spent sunday and monday with our friends the cowans at the jw marriott las vegas

this is a beautiful property and they have a great pool --

i used to love dance party usa

(mindi's 1987 contribution to bad 80's hair.......)

i screamed out loud when i saw this video gem on friday--i can't tell you how many times i have asked fellow children of the 80's if they remember "dance party usa" and NOBODY does.....i've started to think that maybe it was something i made up in my own head. or perhaps just the after-effects of a bad robitussin trip?? i even tried to find clips of it on the internet, but to not avail...

but now, there is PROOF that i am not so crazy. this show was what happened when you took american bandstand, then lowered the age to 13 years old, and threw in some bad styling choices and a little new jersey trailer trash. it was my FAVORITE!!! this clip is particularly satisfying: it has just about every crime committed on behalf of fashion in the 1980's. REALLY.

my favorite is how the cameraman keeps coming back to pan over that slutty girl in the way- short jean mini-skirt that we all seemed to know. and the girl who decided to wear her aerobics outfit.....and the d-bag who cut the sleeves off his tshirt and put shoulder pads underneath. oh, and the girl with the biggest on-screen hair i have ever seen.....i could go on and on.

for 2 minutes and 50 seconds that will literally change your life, click HERE

3 reasons....chandi

chandler--three reasons why i love you:

1. you have such a tender heart--i love it when you are sweet to your sisters and take care of mia while using your "mother" voice.

2. you are my go-to gal for organization and order. i am proud of the fact that you leave your bedroom spotless every morning. i also realize that's a RARE thing, so keep up the good work!!

3. you are my social butterfly--always planning, always wanting our family to do something together. you really ARE your mother's daughter.

when i get sucked into blogging and don't check on mia this sometimes happens.

thankful thursday

things i am thankful for this week:

1. abbey singing in the 1st grade talent show--it was put together last minute (as are ALL things when you are 7 years old) but she was a little superstar! i think she would have done troy and gabriella proud with her version of "start of something new".

2. the fact that i don't live in kansas--today there was a horrible wind storm and we were fearful the house might just be carried off. mia was not a fan. all i could think of was thank goodness we will never (knock on wood!) have to experience a tornado.

3. freedom of speech--now, where else but in america can you talk about your non-love for silkies and not get thrown in the slammer?? i've had that post in my drafts for like 2 months and finally decided to throw all caution to the wind--glad that my blogging ninja skills (see slang term of the day) can still get some people all riled up:)

4. that i broke down and watched the finale of american idol--this is one of the few reality shows i DON'T watch because i don't like that they make it mother-long and that it airs more than one night a week--that's WAAAAAAY too big of a commitment for me. but i have heard the hype, and i watched. i must say, i was thoroughly entertained! but me thinkey that the mormon boy got the shaft. opinions, anyone??

5. diet dr. pepper--it is the nectar of the gods. anyone who would challenge that will have to meet me in the THUNDERDOME-- "two men enter, one man leaves!"

3 reasons.....abbey

abbey--three reasons why i love you:


1. i love that you have the sweetest little singing voice--clear as a bell and right on key.


2. you have the funniest, most joyful "cackle" of any single person i know. it makes me giggle.


3. you love to give me hugs and kisses, even though it's not cool with the 7-year old crowd.


{thanks, suzie, for letting me copy!}

today is a BANNER DAY MAY 19TH, 2008 MIA IS POTTY TRAINED!!!

she is finally potty-trained!!! let the celebrations commence!!!

superfantastic blog giveaway

PEOPLE!!! i want to buy your love and devotion, but cannot as long as you don't leave a comment.......have you LEFT A COMMENT??? to get in on all this sweet, fowl-themed action, click HERE

thankful thursday

things i am thankful for this week:

1. school concerts--chandi last friday, katie on tuesday, chandi again tonight, and abbey next tuesday--WHEW!! lots of running around, but oh-so-fun to see them perform. must admit that i was shocked the cheesy 4th grade cover of celine dion's "because you loved me" sung OVER the song (what? no karaoke version?) accompanied by sign language (uggggh..) snuck up and surprised me. had me wiping away some tears. i think it's a conspiracy.

2. the utah jazz--rbc and friends got tickets to their playoff game up in slc and he is as giddy as a school girl. let's just hope they don't screw it up.  but don't hold your breath.

3. jody's scissors--she came over and cut katie's and mia's hair this week. right in my kitchen--love the convenience. i had her cut off ALL of mia's hair, and i mean all. she got a pixie cut and i think she's adorable. risky, but it turned out--will post a photo tomorrow. thanks joellen!

4. motorcycle rides with my man--the weather has been just beautiful and our ride last night through coral canyon was awesome. love to feel the wind through my hairs.

international male or TOOL TIME part 2

ahhhh, another international male catalogue graced my mailbox the other day--it's always better than christmas morning when i find it waiting for me......
with father's day coming up, i thought i would share with you some of my favorite selections--russ is gonna be crazy-insane in LOVE with these wardrobe choices:



the westgate suede trench or times square leather trench are simply stunning choices and would make you more popular with friends and loved ones--don't let the fact that summer is nearly upon us deter you--you can always turn the thermostat DOWN.  while heating it UP.




speaking of thermostats, it's getting hot in herrrrrrrrrre when the tinello faux chinchilla hooded jacket & faux fox fur coat appear--do you want that promotion at work?? show up wearing either one of these show-stoppers, and let your boss know that you have what it takes to go ALL the way...you can also rest easy knowing that only baby chinchillas and foxes who were diagnosed with terminal cancer and/or already dead on the road were used in the making of these essential wardrobe items.




the agadir tunic paired with the mechanic's jeans would be the perfect choice for an evening out at the potter's wheel molding clay with your special lady--call now, and a free flat iron will be included with your purchase! (speaking of clay...clay aiken bought TWO sets. do NOT delay.)




wanna show that special someone that you have a tiger lurking underneath that straightlaced exterior? then the safari 5 pocket pant with the pintuck pullover shirt would demonstrate your ability to roar! vegetarian? then you are showing your support of animal-cruelty free slacks AND shirts with both the words pin and tuck in them.





outrigger jeans+ westpoint military jacket = perfection in our book!! jeans with a zipper that goes nowhere paired with a jacket inspired by michael jackson will assure those other dads at the soccer game that you can still BRING IT. don't mess.




want to move from sunday school secretary up to elder's quorum 1st counselor without having to do all the hard work?? show up to stake conference wearing the madison banded collared shirt paired with the manhattan cuban heel boot and sit back and watch as the bidding war over your
hidden talents warms up....



yes, we KNOW you are complex and have a softer, more feminine side you'd like to embrace without getting your trash kicked. our solution? the collarless gauze shirt or the ultimate poet's shirt. they say "i have needs, too"...



so your sister is getting married, and you want something that will make you stand out from the rest of your 64 first cousins?? the ciccione suit or ritz satin shirt and tie combo would do that trick--heck, it might even put you right in charge of your next family reunion!





and, without any further ado, the shining jewel in our international male crown--the moroccan tunic paired with the side split denim short. this outfit will single handedly win you more friends and influence more people than a lifetime of t-shirts and basketball shorts! seize the day!!!
p.s. yes, if you wear these shorts, your legs WILL look like this. guaranteed.

 i can't wait for russ to open his gift on father's day.

katie bird

here is the book that i am purchasing for kaitlyn--i think it will be a useful tool in helping her communicate her feelings to her mother--

who am i kidding? katie is her mother's daughter, through and through, and loves any little mention of herself here! she did, indeed, spring forth from my loins.....


we took these pictures of her last night all gussied up for her 8th grade concert choir performance--i must say, she was the most beautiful, talented, supremely gifted and smartest girl in the whole room!!

i love you, katie--you are such a wonderful daughter and great example to your sisters--thank you for all of the help you give dad and me....here's a little something i picked up just for you...

and we were hungry like the wolf.....duran duran may 9th, 2008

ooooooooh, MY. what a weekend.....where to begin?? 

a verrrrrry good place to start...... duran duran in las vegas goes on the top ten concerts list because it lived up to the hype.  plus simon le bon still has it so all is well.

cha-CHING!! we scored before the concert even started, as we found a little inebriated friend who was wearing a depeche shirt-- good thing to know that we are surrounded by family at this event:
duran duran--or "doorahn doorahn" as simon says--opened with all the glitz and glam from the old days. we were jumping and singing and screaming and loving every minute.....
we did find out that stevekemp should have the camera on his person at all times as he gets shots-you-shouldn't-try-at-home,-kids like this:

and this:

and this..........yes, THIS:



my favorite photos from the night?? you KNOW it had to be these of the very large 'simon lebon doll' a woman was holding up all night.....

one of the coolest parts of the night was right towards the end of the concert when THIS guy came out and sang "planet earth" with duran duran......
yup, that's brandon flowers of the killers!!!!!! we love them, so it was a total bonus for us--
here's simon on the last song--what a rock star that dude is. seriously, this guy RULES:
best part about the whole nite??? being able to share it with some of our bestest friends--jared, jody, steve, & kamari-- love love love seeing live music with our people.  it makes our world go 'round.