Romantic day with my valentine.

Around here, we take turns planning Valentine’s Day and Anniversary. Joe gets the odd years, I get the even years…so guess what? It was my turn.
I wanted to do something different, and we did.
Shooting.
I know nothing about it, Joe’s been a few times. So we went down to the shooting range, had a quick lesson, and went to it.
Joe looks so dang cute. And he had great aim, too.
 
Since I was so new at this, I was a little nervous. But Joe was a good teacher and I actually had a lot of fun.
Afterward, we went to Carver’s for dinner…baked brie, yum! Dinner was absolutely delicious and I love hanging out with my best friend.
I’m so grateful for this man, he takes his role of provider, protector, and presider seriously. I got a good one, people. I love him and I like him.

Daddy Daughter Date

Our Young Women’s activity this week was epic…Daddy Daughter Date! The girls and their dads all came to enjoy dinner, dancing, pictures, and lots and lots of laughing! It was such a fun night and all the girls looked totes adorbs.
This may be fuzzy, but it’s my favorite pic of the night. I was snapping away at them as they danced closer and closer towards me…Love it! 
Groovy, this night was outta sight!!

Jr. Jazz

Here’s most of our team and coaches.
These are great kids right here!!

Happy, Happy, Happy, Happy Anniversary!!

I’ll be gosh-danged, Joe and I have been married for 15 years! Time flies when you’re married to your best friend. We celebrated with the kids on our actual anniversary…dinner and movie at home on a Thursday night.  On Friday, Joe and I celebrated together. Reminiscent of our actual wedding day, it snowed all day long! The kids had school, but got out early, so we played in the snow.  Oh yeah, and it was pajama day…last day of school in 2013!
Joe planned our anniversary this year (he gets the odd years, I get the evens).  We headed up to Blue Boar Inn for a sleepover!  We got up there a little early, so we went to visit my Mom and Dad who live next door at Zermatt.  We had a nice visit and invited them to breakfast the next day. 
I love this place.  It’s so beautiful and every room is themed after a classic author…we had the William Shakespeare room. 

Dinner was delicious and we had the place to ourselves for a little while.  It was very romantic!    
The next morning, we had breakfast here with my Mom and Dad…again, delicious.  It was such a nice getaway!  We went to pick them up and had an extra minute, so we drove by the Ice Castle down the street.  An artist sets it up with sprinklers and stuff, lets the water run and spray, then it freezes.  Next week, they’ll open it to the public and you can walk around inside.  Today, they still had the sprinklers running.  It was cool looking. 
  It was fun to be able to visit with Mom and Dad!! 
We were going to hit the Park City outlets on the way home, but it was starting to snow again, so we went straight home.  Thank goodness because we passed a pretty bad accident on the way down Parleys. 
I’m so in love with my man!  He has given me the best parts of my life, including our six beautiful children.  I love being with him, I love being married to him, I love that I am his and he is mine. 
Happy Anniversary Darling!

My Main Man

Joe was picked out of the crowd to help perform the drums with our Tongan friends….
he nailed it.
 

Happy Engagement Anniversary!!

15 years ago, on Sept. 4, Joe proposed to me.  It was opening day of football season, so he took me – blindfolded – to the Alta High School football field on the 50-yard line.  It was quite a romantic set-up with candles and gifts.  There he proposed and I made the best decision of my life to say yes! 
This year, we took the kids over to the field to celebrate the beginning of our family.  Here they are, in the right spot…
We decided to hang out and play for a little while.  Look! Monkey bars? Something like that,and the perfect size for little ones.
Joe ran some plays with me and the kids, two against two.  
On your mark,
Get set….GO!!

Happy Engagement Anniversary my love.  Thanks for giving me six beautiful kids and the best husband a girl could dream of.  You’re my favorite!

It’s a Great Day to be a Husky!!

‘Tis the season for football. 
This year, Joe is Colin’s head coach….Hillcrest Gremlins A Team.  Which means, I get to be the team mom.  And I love it, so much. 
These boys are fantastic!!  The families are great, the coaches are great, the kids are great.  It’s been so fun!  We had our pre-season game at Cottonwood High School, then planned the Season-Opening party for that night. 
The game was fun, the boys played well.  We didn’t win, but we had a good time.
After the game, we got ready for the party.  We planned a swimming party at Mark and Sue’s…no parents, just the boys and the coaches (and me).  We went early and let our kids swim while we decorated and got ready.  Koko was a good sport and watched the kids at home that night,so I could stay and take pictures.  I’m glad I did!  
We had streamers and ballons, it was so cute!Then it rained.  Hard!   Before and after:
           
Right before the boys started to show up, the rain stopped. It was a tender mercy.  The boys were able to swim and play and be together and have fun.  I think the coaches liked it too!          
Coach Mark came back with the pizzas and I heard Aidan say, very matter-of-factly, “This is magical! This house is magical, this pizza is magical, this party is magical!!”  He said it perfectly.
There were no cliques, no separation, no exclusion.  Only a group of boys bound together by football. I was touched to see every single boy having a complete blast.  There were no disapproving parents, no families to take care of, only carefree boys who were able to relax and enjoy being a kid for a couple of hours.  They didn’t have to prove anything to anyone, especially to each other. There is complete acceptance among these kids.  Wouldn’t the world be a better place if everyone acted like that?  It really was magical.

  










After dinner, Joe introduced our special visitor.  “What do football players like?”, Joe asked.  “PIZZA!”, they yelled…except for one kid who yelled, “Cheerleaders!!”  Then Joe told them we had a University of Utah cheerleader who wanted to come say hi.  As soon as he said that, Jovi yelled out, “DIBS!”
I was cracking up all night!
Lauren came out and took pictures with the boys and stayed out there to visit.  It was so fun to have her there!!  And of course, Junior insisted on a picture with her. 
We moved inside and watched game film.  The coaches went over the plays with the boys and pointed out their great plays as well as the ones that needed work.  It was a good team experience. 

Junior, Mark, Joe, and Luke….best dang coaches in the Ute Conference.  Go Gremlins!!