~ THANK GOODNESS ~

"My parents shared not only an improbable love, they shared an abiding faith in the possibilities of this nation. They would give me an African name, Barack, or blessed, believing that in a tolerant America your name is no barrier to success." ~Barack Obama

















"Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek. " ~Barack Obama

In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock.~Thomas Jefferson

America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand. ~Harry Truman

There is nothing wrong with America that the faith, love of freedom, intelligence and energy of her citizens cannot cure. ~ Eisenhower

Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and success of liberty. ~ John F. Kennedy

Despite how you voted - The world changed today!!! America got better.

TAJ and TEJ make for an amazing weekend!!!

Suz and I learned that Taj Mahal (One of my favorite blues singers of all time) was in concert at the Depot. http://www.tajblues.com/ So we headed downtown, had a FAB dinner at Z T'ejas (I highly recommend the grilled chicken stuffed pepper) and then witnessed about 2 hours of the best blues shows this city has ever seen! Suzi was quite the saint to sit there (I even caught her groovin to the funk a few times) while I was in pure bliss. I did scream and cheer like a hockey mom at a Palin rally when Taj came on stage and started in on some deep blues-y funk - he started doing his reggae-esc jig dance while pluckin his guitar - my smile was reminiscent of my sisters smile this past Saturday when she screamed like a pitt-bull breader at a Palin rally - when Tejon, in the final seconds of the game, grabbed the most amazing catch I've ever seen in a little league game to take the game to over-time.. (gave me the chills too) .. my point is.. pure delight, joy, happiness and glee. One paper said "Taj can play the deepest of the blues, take it down home, infuse it with soul, blend it with African, Hawaiian, and Caribbean sounds, and it all works. One minute you're groovin' to some Mississippi big butt blues (his words, not mine) and the next, you're cozying up to someone (or wishing you were) as he croons "Corinna" or "Lovin' In My Baby's Eyes." He transitioned effortlessly between songs and styles, from the guitar to keyboards and back". And my nephew, well he transitioned effortlessly between great touchdown catches (yes plural) and picking off passes while playing corner back on "D". One legend after mastering his craft, another legend in the making! All that screaming and all those smiles made for one heck of a weekend!

Flash Card Weekend

Keep us away from Utah Idaho Map Supply Co. - Please.

Macie Suzi and I took a little stroll into this magical wonderland and we went crazy! We bought maps, charts, markers, posters and poster boards and pencils and rulers and yardsticks with a side of rubber cement, Elmer's glue and glue sticks. We even came home with some glitter floam. Don't ask I don't know what it is. We then spent the majority of the weekend making flash cards games and crafts only taking breaks to visit baby Bella and Gymnastics. If all goes as planned, Macie should know her periodic table symbols by early spring! =0)~

º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤ºº¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º Bella's Home!! º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤ºº¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º

Bella made it home today with a clean bill of health!!! Sky, Ty and Suzi
Tiny feet.. she's so teeeny tiny..

Beautiful Baby Bella!

Introducing Baby Bella!!! and the hours leading up to her arrival!

What a wonderful day indeed! At precisley 6:00 AM as I was walking into the gym I got a text from Rex. Yes, those of you who know him are undoubtedly scratching your head at this last statement. Rex at 6:anything AM is more rare than an 1880 Carson City Morgan Dollar. More rare than spotting a Southwestern Willow Flycatcher nesting in your yard. Nothing, not golf (free or otherwise), not Lake Powell, not free $100 bills tossed from a helicopter in the Usana parking lot (Adam and I fell for that ol' chestnut) yes, not even Santa himself Christmas morning when Rex was a kid could get him to rise before the 7 O'Clock whistle. That all changed yesterday. 6:00am - "we go in at 7:15 this morning!!! Holy Cow!!"
6:58am - call to Rex. No Answer
7:04am - call to Rex. No Answer
7:08am - missed call from Rex
7:55am - call to Rex - confirmed they were in the hospital contracts were 2 min apart
10:45am - Text to Rex "What's the latest?"
10:48am - Text from Rex "Contracting about every two minutes. Checking the Cervex in a few."
11:38am - Text to Rex "Now what?"
11:39am - Text from Rex "Cervex wall is 90% gone. Breaking water between noon and 1:00"
11:40am - Text to Rex "Then how long?"
11:41am - Text from Rex "Not sure. She's only dilated to a 2"
11:59am - Side note not really related - Blackberry Word of the day came in "Tantara - the blast of a trumpet"
1:00:43pm - Side note from my mom - "damn beer-drinkin gun-slingin Republicans" not sure what this was in reference to. I still need to ask her.
1:00:46 Text from Rex "Water Broke"
1:07pm Text to Rex "Push Push, what is she dilated to?"
1:08pm Text from Rex "Not sure, checking soon"
1:29pm Suzanne and I depart from Broadway en Route to St. Marks
1:29pm Text from Rex "Are any hair yet?" not sure what this meant. I think he was asking if I was there yet
1:39pm Text from Mom "Bella is coming... contractions 2 min apart & real intense. Water broke hr ago"
1:40pm Text to Mom "we're on our way"
1:42pm Text from Mom "K. So excited!"
1:58pm Text from Mom "Lady in next room screaming like a banchee - they need to shut that #$%$ up"
2:01pm Text to Mom "We're here, how close is she?"
2:08pm Text from Mom "Seriously considering pain meds! Very close together - wont be long now
2:09pm Text to Mom "We're at the cafeteria. Are you hungry?"
2:12pm Text from Mom "No thanks... yea, we need that epiderial NOW!!"
*NOTE from about 2pm until 3pm Suzi and I ate at the subway downstairs at St. Marks. I had 1 and 1/2 meatball subs.. Suzi had 1/2 meatball subs.
2:19pm Text from Mom "here comes epi"
2:44pm Text from Mom "takes 20 min for epi to kick in. OUCH!"
*Note back upstairs, Rex indicates he wants a subway. Back downstairs to get Turkey on Wheat.
3:24pm Text from Bud "do u know how things r going?"
3:39pm Text to Bud "yes. She's dilated to a 4, just had epi. Should be in the next 2 hours"
3:40pm Text from Bud "Thanks buddy"
from 4:00-4:05 adam texts trying to remember the name of a Jennifer Connelley movie.. turns out to be Requium for a dream.
4:10 Suzi and I arrive back at XO
4:30 Suzi and I leave to go back to the hospital
4:31 Suzi gets stopped in the hall by her boss.
4:39 Text to Mom "Now what?"
4:41 Text from Mom "Bella coming NOW! Dial to 10 !!!!"
4:49 Text from Mom as we are pulling into the hospital "There is a little homeless girl here that is so hungry bring food!"
4:54 BELLA IS HERE! First pictures of Bella.

Baby Bella!

Heather in Portugal - CHECK OUT HER BLOG

Please check out her blog at:

http://portugirls.blogspot.com

Mini PutPut at Golf-n-the-Round

St. George

Provo River Float - Labor Day Weekend

Macie and I decided to float the river this weekend. We had several people tell us they wanted to come along but once it was go-time everyone backed out. So it was just me and the bubbaGirl. Oh and the entire student bodies from BYU and UVU. It was chaos! But we had a blast. The water was FRIGID but refreshing. 2.5 hours of doing to flyfishermen what has been done to me many a morn whilst I fish the mighty LP. "Sorry I can't steer this thing" [as we smashed into the back of a chest waddered fully vested 9ft rod totin angler trying to present his Caddis fly to a trophy brown when all he had set out to do was find some solace on the water] NOT TODAY BUCKO

Learning life's lessons

Macie and her friend Hailey decided (on their own) to do a stuffed animal swap today. Pretty innovative for two 1st graders. Macie picked a few of her toys she was willing to part with and then Hailey brought over a few of her gently used gems. They bartered back and forth discussing the finer points of the "Jack-o-lantern bear" and "Patch the dog". It was very interesting listening to them try to convince each other as to why the product they had up for offer was so desirable - capitalism at it's finest. Each of them even threw in a "free gift with trade" as you may be able to make out in the picture below. One small (slightly soiled) stuffed animal kitty - and one company logo'd stress ball.  In the end, both parties were quite certain they'd negotiated the better end of the deal. Win/Win 

Oh the simple pleasures of life!

She's got Bette Davis eyes

O.K. for real, I can't explain why - and I'm putting myself up on the block for much unnecessary ridicule amongst my friends and family.. but here's a little piece of me that I've kept locked away in a hidden corner of what makes me me for 20 something years - and I’m going to let you all in on this little morsel -This is one of my all time favorite songs in the universe. Perhaps it's the way Kim Carnes voice works the amazingly descriptive lyrics in that smoky raspy flava - like when she's says "All the boys think she's a spy - she got Bette Dayyyyvis eyyyyyyyyyeeesssss" (any of you who are familiar at all with this song just sang along as you read that last line-- DON'T LIE) or maybe its the 80's funk foot tappin rhythm that gets my soul bouncing. Or possibly the fact that I really do like Bette Davis - actually it's the trifecta - all three.. for sure my favorite shower song and very possibly my favorite overall song in history. Yes, if i were stranded on a desert island and could choose only one song to listen to for the rest of my earthly existence; this is it my friends. I'm not hiding this little tid-bit away any longer - oh the freedom - the therapy of finally getting that out! And Rex, now you know my secret - when we are at the gym, and I plug my buds in to my ears.. crank up the pod and put up WAY more weight than you on the bench.. yes.. it is this song that gives me my Samson like strength! Not Tool, Not Rage, Not Fiddy it is this - SHE GOT BETTE DAVIS EYES! Chew on that!

click on this youtube tribute - give 'er a listen ENJOY and DON'T DENY it just may be the greatest song of all time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4hwGkwwXVA&feature=related

Jet Skiing at Pineview with the Holmsteads

This little colorful piece of art was accomplished by messing around with my Mac. Fun stuff.

Golfing with old friends...

Rex, Stan the man, BWix, Me

Stan and Brandon lookin in the bushes again

Tied for last Nice 50's guys

Brandon decided to save the $4 and walk.. then got tired

Perfect way to end the day!

Random Fun Pics