The birthday boy!!!

Happy Birthday to Tom's favorite "Home Boy"














We are glad you are our friend even if we have
to put up with violent outbursts....
















We are still your friends even when you are a
disgrace on the boogie board, not enough body
fat for buoyancy right? (Just keep telling yourself that!)

















We even still like you when you get all snotty
and think you are better than everyone...
















But most of all we like you when you are sipping
on a lava flow....















Happy Birthday Kelly, what would we do without
such an awesome travel buddy? We love you!!!
See you on Thursday!!

Back to School!

Well the dreaded and blessed day has arrived and we are officially back to school. Riley was so excited to go to school today and it seems like he has a good teacher. His school starts at 7:45 am so we are having quite the adjustment to this new (extremely early) schedule but I did love the fact that he was home by 2:45. Brooke cried today because she missed Riley and I had to agree. I am excited to have him back in school and to have a more structured schedule but on the same hand I miss having my whole little family home with me. Anyways I have been horrible at updating my blog we have just been busy. I will post more pictures and updates tomorrow....hopefully! Off to bed, I am soooooo tired!!!









(We were so excited to pick Riley up after school!)

Our first Visitors...

Well today has just been a good mail day, we received 2 packages. The first is the long awaited new moon book from the twilight series. Yeah, I'm a little behind, but my dear sweet Suzanne sent me it for my birthday. Yeah my dishes are not done if that lets you know what I have been doing all day!!! Thanks Suz!! Our second package was our first visitors. Candi and Kelly and gang decided to come visit a little early so we are so happy to have them now residing on our wall. Only 14 more days till they are REALLY here!! Yippee! When we opened up the package and Brookie saw her clippies she almost started crying she was so excited. I imagine there will be some tears shed when she actually gets to see Jennie in "REAL LIFE." Anyway thanks again for the fun packages. I'm off to read some more New Moon....

The Olympics!

Blame it on the huge T.V. that now has taken up residence in our front room, or the new DVR that makes it so darn convenient, or maybe it's just the fact that we have nothing better to do but Tom and I are obsessed with this years Olympics. We have been watching as much as we can, often staying up past 11:00 to watch beach volley ball, or water polo? There is just something about the Olympics that make sports we would never watch on TV riveting. As we have been watching them I can't help but feel so much love for all of the people competing. Riley asked us who we should root for and we told him the Americans but then explained to him that all the athletes are good and that if they win that is good to because the are Heavenly Fathers children. During the opening ceremonies that was all I could think about was, "Wow God knows everyone of these people intimately,and wants the best for all of them." Maybe it's the world wide unity that you feel from seeing ALL countries together but I was just moved by it. I explained to Riley that in China a lot of people don't even know who Jesus Christ is, and how we are so blessed to live in America. Yesterday as I was sitting in relief society the thought came to me at how gods work is always moving forward. I learned that the person who was stabbed and killed after the opening ceremonies was LDS and that his wife was also LDS and had survived and was in a hospital. I thought what is the chance that out of all the millions of people that are visiting China this little couple would be the ones effected by this. I thought of all the missionary opportunities that are most likely being opened because of this instance. I'm sure the wife has received priesthood blessings and many prayers at her bedside and I imagine that those hospital workers are being touched by the spirit. How interesting that in a place were we can't proselyte the gospel of Jesus Christ is still moving forward. Anyhow that is my little soap box for the day, I am now off to watch women's basketball.....yippee!

THE BIG 3-0!!!

Today is my hubby's 30th birthday. On the day Tom was born God must have been in a very good mood. He gave Tom a great sense of humor and as he has spent the last 8 years married to me he has needed it! I feel so lucky to be married to such a sweet "boy" and the fact that we get to be together for eternity is just icing on the cake. So here are 30 things I Love about my babe:

1) Too funny all the time! Not a day goes by when he doesn't make me laugh, especially if I'm mad at him.

2) His fiery red hair...A Hot Red Head? Who knew!

3) Loves to travel and try new things!

4) Changes almost as many dirty diapers as me!

5) He laughs and cries every time we have a new baby.

6) Loves Italian food, good thing he married an Italian girl!

7) I love it when he starts laughing so hard and can't stop and starts crying....so funny.

8) I love that he is always willing to be goofy with me...buck teeth, wigs and all.

9) He always is working so hard to provide for our little family.

10) He has great taste in best friends, they just "happen" to be married to my best friends, could it be any better?

11) His cute little Irish green eyes, with a name like Lillywhite and the red hair I have my own leprechaun.

12) He watches cheesy "girl" movies with me as long as I watch cheesy "boy" movies with him.

13) His home town is @ Bear Lake, honestly could it get any better than that?

14) He makes a great "skinny dipping" partner ;)

15) He wakes up with the kids in the middle of the night EVEN if he has to work in the morning!

16) He eats every meal I make him, even the spinach and ham casserole disaster of 2001.

17) He is always worried about if our kids are going to turn out all right, and that we aren't damaging them by sleeping in on the weekends (of all things?).

18) I love it when he text messages pictures of the Mt. Dew he had for lunch as a form of confession.

19) I love that I have only heard him swear once, and yes it was at our 1year old son in Old Navy but that is a whole other story.

20) He can track down a freshly mowed golf course in the dark with just his nose.

21) He is always encouraging my interests and hobbies and telling me to go have some girl time.

22) He is not a complainer and has a ton of patience, must be some of the great traits he picked up from his momma.

23) He loves his kids completely and totally and would do anything for them

24) Possibly the best kisser in the world.

25) Has the work ethic of an ox. You wouldn't imagine the drama that comes in to play when he HAS to call in sick for work.

26) He loves his family, AND my family.

27) He is good at every sport he tries....honestly everything, OK expect for shuffle board but there has to be one.

28) He has the cutest butt!

29) He honors his priesthood and is always trying to be better and try harder

30) I love it when he starts laughing so hard and then it turns into a little girl giggle, and starts crying...too funny!

Anyways happy birthday babe, I'm so glad I have you. Remember "you're hideous, but sexy!"

tOrNadO wArNing......

So we have our first of, what I have heard are, many tornado warning for our little town and area. This should be interesting. I really don't think much of it, it has been raining REALLY good and we are getting some awesome Thunder but not much else. It's not even really windy which you would think it would be considering the warning. We'll let you know what happens.......hopefully!

Tagged....again...

Ok so I wasn't really tagged but I thought this was fun and am really more interested in everyones responses. So play along all of you bloggin buddies...

Place an X by all the things you've done and remove the X fromthe ones you have not. Answer 30 questions at the end &post it on your blog for all of us to check out.
This is for your entire life!

(X ) Gone on a blind date
( x ) Skipped school
( ) Been to Canada
() Been to Mexico
( x) Been to Florida
( X ) Been on a plane
( X ) Been lost
( x ) Been on the opposite side of the country
( ) Gone to Washington , DC
( X ) Swam in the ocean
( X ) Cried yourself to sleep
( x ) Played cops and robbers
( x ) Recently colored with crayons
( ) Sang Karaoke
( ) Paid for a meal with coins only
X ) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't (curse you ben and jerry's)
( X ) Made prank phone calls
( x ) Laughed until a beverage came out of your nose
( X ) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
( X ) Danced in the rain & snow….last night in fact…
( X ) Written a letter to Santa Claus
(X ) Been kissed under the mistletoe
( X ) Watched a sunset with someone you care about
( X ) Blown bubbles
( x) Gone ice-skating
(X ) Been skinny dipping outdoors…hehehe….
( X ) Gone to a drive-in movie theatre
1. Nickname(s) Dani, Dan-Dan (Tom calls me this to annoy me), Momma (my favorite), babe and Tom’s new favorite, Caterina…
2. Mother's first name? Carrie
3. Favorite drink? Dr. Pepper…mmmmmmmm
4. Tattoo(s)? no
5. Body Piercing(s)? Past or present? Nope, nothing but the ears…
6. Do you like your job? being a homemaker/mom (a.k.a. laundress, seamstress, maid, housekeeper, nurse, chef, chauffer, therapist, referee, bum wiper, lawn care expert, movie critic, computer tech, stylist, etc. etc. etc...) Most the time yes, and I can’t imagine doing anything else so I think that’s a good sign. Though I do think a job checking out exotic locations for the travel channel would be great!
7. Pet(s)? Riley, Brooke, and Elle
8. Favorite vacation spot? Hawaii
9. Ever been to Africa? No
10. Ever eaten cookies for Dinner? Yes, many times... cookie dough too...
11. Ever been on TV? Kind of, Becky and I went to Oprah and if you look really hard and pause the video you can see our clothes. Really? Would I have wanted to be on T.V. anyways? It was too much fun though….
12. Ever steal any traffic signs? No, but I believe I have a few brothers and possibly a sister who stole a construction horse once?
13. Ever been in a car accident? Nope, Tom and I were talking about this last night neither of use have so knock on wood…
14. Drive a 2- or 4-door vehicle? 4- door
15. Favorite salad dressing? Caesar
16. Favorite pie? Chocolate Satin, from Marie Calendars thought the Costco Coconut Cream comes in a close second.
17. Favorite number(s)? 1 & 15 (paydays of course :) )
18. Favorite movie(s)? Dirty Dancing, Grease, Hitch, and according to Fred when we see the new Batman that will be on my list also…
19. Favorite thing to feel? Elle, and Tom curled up next to me in bed, ( yeah, Elle is still in bed with us….)
20. Favorite dessert? Ice cream….preferably chocolate of some sort, or cheesecake, or brownies, or cake, or Oreo cookies with milk, honestly is there a dessert I don’t like?
21. Favorite food(s)? see above
22 .Favorite day of the week? Saturday
23. Favorite brand of body wash? Bath and Body Works
24. Favorite toothpaste? Crest
25. Favorite smell? Thunderstorms, Freshly bathed kids, Tom (dirty or clean…I’ll have him either way!), and fresh baking bread.
26. What do you do to relax? Hot bubble baths, reading, or watch movies with the kids.
27.What do you see yourself doing in 10 years? Back in a house…probably 2 more babies and just happy and content like now.
28. Are you happy with your life? Yep.
29. Furthest place you will send this message? Arizona
30. Who will respond to this the fastest? Fred?....hehehehe

Tag:

My friend Mindy "tagged" me and I figure we are due so here you go...

4 places I visit over and over:
1) Bear Lake
2) The Mountains
3) Costco
4) See's Candy :)

4 people who call/text/email me regularly:
1) Suzanne
2) Candi
3) Krystal
4) Tom

4 favorite foods:
1) New York Strip Steak and Mashed Potatoes (Texas Roadhouse Anyone?)
2) Ben and Jerry's fish food....need I say more?
3) Tepanyaki
4) Cafe Rio' chicken salad (Can you tell we miss the restaurants in Utah?)

4 places I'd rather be:
1) "Home" (UTAH)
2) Hawaii!!
3) Hawaii!!
4) HAWAII!!!

4 movies I'd watch over and over:
1) Hitch
2) Dirty Dancing
3) Pirates of the Caribbean (any of the 3, mmmmm....Capt. Jack Sparrow...)
4) Dumb and Dumber (that ones for Tom..)

4 bands/groups I love to listen to:
1) Gwen Stefani
2) Beatles (ya, I'm going old school)
3) Brobecks (gotta love it Mindy)
4) Jack Johnson

4 people I'm tagging:
1) Asia
2) Suzanne
3) Emma
4) Bonnie...yes, you Bonnie!

9858 days....and counting....

So yesterday was my birthday. I can't believe I am 27, for some reason that just seems "older". Not good or bad just older. I had a great birthday and if I didn't know better I would think Tom was trying to keep me "round and happy." Friday night he came home and took me out to our new favorite restaurant, "Old Chicago" they have delicious pizza and it helps that it feels like we are with family thanks to the pic on the wall of Candi (come on tell me it doesn't look like her, who know she had a second life in Denver?). We had a great dinner and were finishing up when both Riley and Brooke consecutively decided they needed to go to the bathroom. Once I got back for the second time I noticed our waitress was walking over in our general direction with a HUGE chocolate chip cookie, topped with ice cream and a candle. I didn't think much of it, and actually when they stopped at our table I had the thought, "Oh that’s cute Tom called them over for Elles birthday!" Well obviously that wasn't the case and after announcing to Tom that he was dead they all sang to me. Now understand this is a pet peeve of mine, I hate it when they sing to other people, I get embarrassed for them. You can only imagine my embarrassment when they announce to the whole restaurant and then sing to me...so bad. But on the light side Tom got a good laugh and the cookie was REALLY GOOD. That night Tom told me I had to be up and ready by 8:00 the next morning, which I wasn't but I was ready by 9:00. He took me to a cute diner and we had a late breakfast. Nothing like good ole' diner food. Then he and the kids gave me my gifts. Tom got me a manicure/pedicure at a local salon and even set the appointment for me; he must have noticed my hobbit feet and decided to take some action. So we went home and then I went to the salon, with my new book Twilight (yes, I'm a little behind and that’s a whole other post...love it!!) for some nice time to myself. I go to the salon and they are acting kind of weird, asking my name and seeing if I am the one with the gift certificate. I was kind of worried that they lost my appointment but then she told me to hold on and when she came back she had a bouquet of flowers for me. Tom was such a sweetheart and dropped off flowers the night before so I would get them there. I was so surprised and just kept giggling, I think the little Vietnamese girl thought I was crazy. Needless to say it was super fun and relaxing and just darn fun. Afterwards I came home and Tom was making a cake with the kids, it was somewhat of a disaster, as the middle was some form of primordial ooze but the edges tasted delicious. Tom was a little sorry but I wouldn't have had it any other way. Afterward I cuddled up on the couch with my book, put the kids for a nap, and sent Tom golfing (I couldn't have all the fun). That evening we went bunk bed shopping and also got a new little table. All in all it was probably one of the best birthdays of recent and the only thing really missing was family and friends. Isaac was baptized yesterday and I wish we could have been home for it but hopefully we will see them soon. So that’s about it. Thanks for all the cards and gifts, it's nice to be missed. Sorry for the long, super duper post...hope it wasn't too cheesy, but it is what it is...