These are our good friends from Illinois. They just happened to move here right after we did. We have really missed hanging out with them. On any given week, we would hang out at our place...Oh I dunno. Something like every other night?!!
Especially in the summer... We would hang on the deck and just chill. Jefe and Anonymous man friend would go 4-wheelin' and get in all sorts of fun trouble together. Anonymous Girl friend & I would shop, and scrapbook, and talk on the phone. And laugh at the silly things our men would do. I have fond memories of us all hiking at Rock Cut State Park, and the big boys deciding to have a rock throwing contest. Just to see who could throw the rocks further.
I even have the photos to prove it!
It was/is fun to have friends that we both like hanging out with!!
We haven't seen much of them over the last year.
And we have missed them.
A lot.
They came down yesterday and had some dessert with us. It was great to hang out again. They are coming down again on Thursday for some chow and more laughs.
It's always fun when you are able to get together with old friends who know all your bid-ness and love ya anyway.

Jefe hates my hat, BTW.
I love it.

The Merry Wives of Windsor.

This is the play that we saw while in Cedar City. It was fantastic! I completely enjoyed it... it was hilarious! Mistress Ford and her husband were probably my favorites! She was great! I just really enjoyed myself. I told Jefe that next year I would really like to take the two older Things. I think that Thing 1 would especially appreciate the plays! It takes a while to catch onto the language, so you really have to concentrate... But it is well worth it. Jefe says that he has a goal of seeing all of Shakespeares works before he dies. Good goal!

The best part of the vacation, after the play of course , was going ATVing. We had never done that, and it was a riot! They took us on a 3 hour tour... All through the mountains. We were able to see parts that we would've never seen had we not done that! I got filthy dirty, and covered in mud!! We did take pictures, but had to use the old camera... I forgot the digital. I will post the ATV photos later.

We loved it! And, are really wanting to do it again. Now, we just have to find some people that have ATV's that we could mooch from! Cedar Breaks is beautiful, and Brian Head is as well. We had an awesome lunch at Brian Head... Jefe said it was one the best burgers yet!

All in all, I would say that it was a fantastic trip. Nice and relaxing. But, the best part of any trip, I always say, is coming home. I am glad to be home. In my house, with my kids and dog. I missed them. Big time this year. I guess I am getting old. Or just finally growing up.

Home again.
Home again.
Jig-idy-jig!

Just so that everyone is aware...
I hate those stupid emails where it says if you pass this along to 900 of your closest friends, Bill Gates will give you a portion of his fortune.
You know the ones...
They are tracking the email to see how far around the world it goes, and for every person you forward it to, you will receive $245.00.

Ummm.
People.
This is retarded.
Its not true.
Anytime you get an email, please check HERE to see if its for real.

Poor Thing 3 got an email about some girl that had been missing... In the email for a couple of weeks. She was especially sensitive to it, since a little girl here was kidnapped. She came running to me to give me all the details of this missing teenager... And I seemed to remember getting an email like that quite a while ago.
We checked the urban legends...
It was a hoax.
If we went by how long the email had been circulating, she would've been missing for over 2 years.
Thing 3 couldn't understand why someone would make up such awful stuff.

I must admit, I have been one to pass on emails... And at one time bad enough that Jefe threatened to ban me from his email.
I've tried to mellow out with the forwards.
Lately I have been trying to only pass on the funny jokes or other such crap.

Crap!
That's really what it is.
Crap!

"Vacation: A period of travel and relaxation when you take twice the clothes and half the money you need. " - Unknown

Since I am going on a mini-vacation today, and won't have computer access...
I am posting my random 10 today.

Hopefully I will get some great photos of the Shakespeare Festival!
It should be fun!



1. Too Much (Live) - Dave Matthews Band
2. Freedom 90 - George Michael
3. Like We Never Loved At All - Faith Hill
4. Wide Open Spaces - Dixie Chicks
5. The Remedy (I Won't Worry) - Jason Mraz
6. Better Man - Pearl Jam
7. Across The Universe - Rufus Wainwright
8. Silence Is Easy - Starsailor
9. Out Of Hand (Extended Version) - The Mighty Lemon Drops
10. Breakout - Swing Out Sister

Bonus: She Will Be Loved (Acoustic) - Maroon 5 *I totally dig this song! Its flippen' cool with just the guitar and bongo drums!!

We tried this recently. But, we only used 1 bottle of diet coke and a couple of mentos and, it was nothing compared to this!! This is flippen' cool! We got ours to spray super high... but I think that we will have to try again and see if we can't coordinate a multiple launching... enjoy, and be inspired!!

Musically, we're more talented than any Bob Dylan or Paul McCartney. Mick Jagger can't produce a sound. I'm the new Elvis." - Milli Vanilli "singer" Rob Pilatus 2/90

Uh.
Ok.
Ashely Simpson is right there with ya!
Did you play??

1. The One I Love (Live) - R.E.M.
2. My Ever Changing Moods - The Style Council
3. Rain Please Go Away - Alison Krauss
4. Stay - Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories
5. Knife Edge (Live) - The Alarm
6. Wonderwall - Ryan Adams
7. The Cup Of Life - Ricky Martin
8. A Man And A Woman - U2
9. She - The Sundays
10. Lucky Man - The Verve

Bonus: I Love This Bar - Toby Keith

"You are very squishy. So I shall name you squishy. And you shall be my little squishy!"
Dory, Finding Nemo.

There are some days when I just don't feel like talking.
Today is one of those days.

"If your lifeguard duties were as good as your singing, a lot of people would be drowning. "
- Simon Cowell, American Idol Judge

I wonder who will play today....
Anyone?
Anyone?
Buehler...
Buehler...

1. Sweetest Thing U2
2. Trouble Coldplay
3. Posters Jack Johnson
4. No Doubling Back (Live) - Jason Mraz
5. Wonderwall - Ryan Adams
6. Tripping Billies - Dave Matthews Band
7. Brick - Ben Folds Five
8. Down To The River To Pray - Alison Krauss
9. In Your Eyes (Live) - Jeffrey Gaines
10. Carolina In My Mind - James Taylor
Bonus: Daughters - John Mayer

Where the Hell is Matt?

I actually heard about this guy on the Today show a long time ago. I thought it sounded a little weird... but something that I would probably like to do!! It is something that I have always wanted to do... not necessarily the dancing all over the world bit. But, I have always wanted to just up and travel the world. With no where in particular to go. What a great experience! So, this guy was brave enough to do what I wish I could do.
The traveling, not the dancing. Although, I probably would find something weird like that to do to memorialize my trip.
You can tell he is having a total blast!
Sit back, relax, and dream!
Oh, and you can dance right along with him, if you want to!!

Cha Cha Slide Video

My kids think this is a total blast to do. Thing 1 gets ALL jiggy... and Thing 3 trys her hardest!!! Its good for getting those wiggles out! Or, for us fat people, getting shape!!

I have to say that I am actually quite proud of myself.
It has been over 1 week without caffeine.
One week!
Amazing.
And, frankly, I don't crave it any more.
I have had very little soda too. The occasional soda here or there, but over all I have been soda free.
For me, that is amazing.
Considering that I can go through a 12 pack of soda in about 1 1/2 days.
I know.
Thats really sick.

Thats why there is cause for celebration.
I have started craving water.
Is that weird??
I guess not really, if you consider the source!

Look at my cute little man.
He was trying to see around me to the video game being played. As you can see, his cast goes up way past the middle of his thigh. Poor little guy! I think he may be getting out of the "honeymoon" period... He is starting to get sick of being in the same place. I offered to let him go out, but he says his leg hurts too bad when its not elevated.
Poor buddy!
I just hope that he isn't going to need surgery! That would really bite!!

On another note, I am totally digging the artist Ryan Adams.
No.
Not Bryan Adams.
Ryan Adams.
He is totally awesome.
Mellow.
And I really dig him.
You should give him a listen.
He does a re-make of the song "Wonderwall" that is just flippin' amazing!!
If you liked the music on the movie "Elizabethtown", then you were diggin' on Ryan Adams.
Good stuff.
Good tunes!

This is my newest acquisition. We got it from Anonymous Mom... And it came at a price!

I am really excited! It's nice to have a table big enough to hold us all... But I am also really nervous, cause its REAL wood. None of that lamanent crap that we have had up to this point. What if we get it wet? What if the food makes rings? Oh No! Maybe we shouldn't use it! Jefe was telling the kids to not put any food on the table--- cause he didn't want it to get ruined. What's the point of a table if you can't use it??

Jefe will NOT put anything on the table without a towel. I dug out some placemats... But that wasn't good enough. Oh no. He had to get a towel to put his drink on. He said he doesn't want to be the one getting blamed for the ruined table.

This table is already stressful. Its beautiful. But stressful.

Having a person in your home with a broken leg really puts a damper on things.
No more swimming.
No more hiking.
No more... Whatever.
I feel bad for him.
We have all taken to watching a lot of movies, and reading.
Thing 1 has been reading a ton.
That's a good thing. It will keep her brain from turning into mush before school starts again. Now if only I could convince Thing 2 that he WANTS to read.
He'll get sick of T.V. eventually... Right?!?

I read a cute little book last night.
It is called "The City of Embers" by Jeanne DuPrau.
What a nice, fast read.
I completely enjoyed it!
Thing 1 is hurrying to finish the book she is currently reading, cause she really wants to read this one.
I recommend it. It was a very good book, with some interesting ideas that would make for a great book discussion.
Maybe with our invalid summer, I will be able to catch up on all the books that I have been wanting to read.
That is a very nice thought!

I have also been toying with the idea of starting a children's literature bookclub. We would only read children's literature-- from the early reader up through the Young Adult stuff.
I would really like to do this... I just need to toss the idea around some more.
I wonder if anyone would even come??

I finished "The Wedding".
I have to say, that the ending totally shocked me.
I never in a million years saw that coming.
When I read the reviews for the book, one reviewer said that they cried through the last 5 or so chapters.
I thought, man...
You must be a baby!
But, there I was. Crying right along with all the other bawl babies!!
It was a great read!!
Someone said that its a book that ALL husbands should read... And try to imitate!
I couldn't agree more!

Read it.
You'll love it!

"Anything that is too stupid to be spoken is sung."
-Voltaire (1694-1778)

1. Daughters - John Mayer
2. Collide - Howie Day
3. Posters - Jack Johnson
4. Long Day - Matchbox 20
5. Conquer Me - Blues Traveler
6. La La La La Lemon - Barenaked Ladies
7. American Baby - Dave Matthews Band
8. Kill - Jimmy Eat World
9. Let It Fall - Sean Watkins
10. Landslide - Smashing Pumpkins
Bonus: This Love (Acoustic) - Maroon 5

My town every year has a town waterfight. They have your normal 4th of July parade. The parade starts with F-16's flying down mainstreet. Then there is your normal floats with a plethora of candy being thrown. There is your occasional t-shirt, stuffed animal, lunch boxes (? That would hurt to get hit by that don't you think?), there were some Mardi-gras beads and lots and lots of frisbee's.
I was loving the popsicles that were getting handed out!!
Yummy!
It was major hot.
But, THAT'S not why people come.
That's not why this parade... My hometown parade... Is ranked the best parade in our state.
No.
It's because of the town water fight.
Yup.
The 2nd half of the parade, is a giant town water fight.
The firetrucks spray the audience with their hoses, and the audience is spraying them right back.
The kids love it.
They always crank open a fire hydrant, reload, and continue spraying the parade gwakers.
There are also the construction water trucks, the highschool SBO's and their enormous buckets they have to dump on people.
This goes on for 1/4 of a mile.
1 giant town water fight.
How totally amazing is THAT?
What a great community!
It is a blast!!
Thing 1 payed some kid a handful of candy to bring his giant squirt gun and soak me.
The kids thought it was hilarious.
I was soaking!
I was sad that my little man--Thing 2 couldn't be there.
This is the one thing he looks forward to every year!

I love the 4th.
Enjoy the photos of the event.

Poor, Poor Thing 2!!
And, I do mean, poor poor Thing 2!!
Today, he and his buddy were doing tricks on the bike ramp.
Damn bike ramp.
But, he decided it would be WAY cooler to not use his bike, but to run like a bat out of hell up the bike ramp. Then at the top, attempt to do some sort of jump trick.
He did the trick.
And broke his leg.
Literally.
In 2 places.
Totally and completely broke his leg.
Both bones.
Kaputz!
It's what the Doctors called a spiral fracture.
They thought that he was going to need surgery to get the bones set, cause that's just how BAD it really was.
But, after setting it twice, they figure they have it good.
I am still worried.
He now has to keep it elevated for 3 days.
Then have absolutely NO, and I mean NO pressure on it for 6 weeks.
Do not walk.
Do not run.
Do not even look like he is going to attempt to use that leg.
Zero.
Zippo.
Zilch!
Poor, poor baby.
They set his leg 2 times... And both times he did it cold.
No pain meds at all.
It made me cry holding him while they did this.
Jefe took him to the insta-care while I tried to round up all the parents of the children that I was tending. When Jefe called and said they were rushing up the the Medical Center... I knew we were in trouble.
Poor Thing 2... His summer is now totally shot to hell.
I feel so bad for him.
My poor baby.
It made me realize how grateful I am for my children's health. Thing 2 may be a little busted up right now... But over all my children have great health. I couldn't imagine THIS being our life.
There is a little boy that lives 4 houses up the street, and is just 2 years older than Thing 2.
He has never been able to walk, and has always been in a wheelchair. He has had more surgeries than I care to even imagine. Then there is the little boy that is in the same school as the kids... He has no arms OR legs. He is in a wheelchair, and zips around in this electric wheelchair, using his mouth. He has a para-educator that will always be with him... Forever.
Man.

Whenever Jefe starts feeling ungrateful, he often quotes THIS poem...
Here is just a portion of it...

"...Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.
I have 2 ears, the world is mine.
With feet to take me where I'd go.
With eyes to see the sunsets glow.
With ears to hear what I'd know.
Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.
I've been blessed indeed, the world is mine.

So, Thing 2 is all busted up. He has to stay off his leg, and has a cast that goes up WAY past the middle of his thigh, and he has emphatically told everyone to quit asking if they can sign his cast... Cause the answer is a big, giant NO!!!

Jefe was helping him eat some dinner, and Thing 2 says... "So, this is what it's like to have servants huh? I don't' like it."
Good boy!

I read "The Notebook" when it first came out back in 1996.
It was a sweet love story.
Since then, I have really shied away from love stories.
Mostly because I think they are unrealistic, and leave people feeling bad that their lives are not more like their novel or the movies.
Anyway...
I watched the movie yesterday afternoon.
It was a free preview weekend or some such thing.
It was really good. I forgotten most of the story line, so I pulled my book out and re-read the whole thing last night/this morning.
It was a suprisingly fast read... I hadn't remembered it being like that.
It left me wanting more... then I realized that there was a sequel to the book.
"The Wedding".
I think I will be heading out first thing tomorrow to get it... since the libraries are closed here on Sundays.
Why? That is a perfectly acceptable thing to do on a Sunday.
Go to the Library, and get a good book to read.
Maybe I am a heathen.
Oh well.
You know where I will be first thing tomorrow.