I hate it when I can't figure stuff out . . .

Some things that made me laugh

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Going to work (or school) on Monday morning...

All The Single Ladies!

Bobble Head Girls

Oh yeah!

Bobble Head Boys

Yeah Baby!

Thanksgiving Favorites!

This Thanksgiving was one of my very favorite, I don't even know why, we just had so much fun! We seemed to be few in numbers this year compared to other years but we still had such a great time!

Bob and Karen's welcome sign.
Let's face it they are AMAZING to let us crash their house year after year!

As are Randy and Penny!

We stay with them every year and always have a blast! If we tried to stay anywhere else our kids would throw a fit! This year I counted 21 as the number of people staying at their house and we didn't have hardly any children! Just mine and Connie's. Last year there we so many people my family slept in a motor home parked out front!

This was the first year I had ever seen snow on the mountains, it was so beautiful! Usually St George is pretty warm but this year it was actually pretty cold but not nearly as cold as home!

Digging up the turkeys!
I stole some photos from other blogs, thanks family for sharing!

Kevin and Vikki's family
They stayed at Randy and Penny's house also. It was so fun to stay up late and play cards, games and just chat! Their kids are so cute and super smart! They would sing all the time and say the funniest things! Pure entertainment!

Cute little cousins!

Cute little cousin mommies!

Zack playing a frisbee game Parry's boys made up. I'm not sure what the rules were but it went something like this. Throw a frisbee and knock the bottle off the pole. Pretty simple, but I think the rules changed depended on who was playing, I'm sure I saw some defense going on and some rather creative scoring. Maybe Zack will explain his version and we can play at home sometime.


Ty just could not stand that Ottis had to stay in the car so he asked Chad if he could take him on a walk. One time up and down the road and around the house and both boy and dog were happy and content.

Newly wed Stephanie with daddy Jeff

Dinner time. My cute nieces!
We counted about 90 people came to dinner this year. That is approximately 50%.

Teenagers doing the dishes!

Tayler was the entertainment that night! He was totally "in the zone" and danced his little heart out! I don't think he knew everyone was watching him and following his every move, but they were and it was awesome! So much fun!

Me, Gina and Nancy
These two can talk me into almost anything!

Fav cousin Randon "encouraging" Ty to participate in the singing game Dana and Casey came up with. It was really fun and totally entertaining to watch!

I don't think blues brothers, dad and Sherm knew they were about to be upstaged by a group of 5 year olds. Lucy got it going and by the end she had started quite the mosh pit! Thanks dad for being the brave one in representing the family during silly song/talent night!

Here we all are!
Thanks Willard's for another great Thanksgiving of food, friends and tons of fun!
See ya next year!

Fall Photos

My brother Darrin took some photo's for us last month. He was very patient, super funny and did a great job! Thanks Darrin! (like anyone in my family reads this)

Matt didn't want anything photo shopped because "he loves us just the way we are." (that would have been sweet but my sweater seriously was not a great fat hider, it was more of a fat emphasizer!) One day I'll learn all the tricks of photography, what to wear, how to stand etc.

Here are some of my favorites.

Let's Dance

Today I helped with Ty's Halloween party at school. The room rep had a game called freeze dance. Here's how you play. She turned on some music and the kids would dance. Then when she turned off the music she would yell out a word that goes with Halloween. The kids would stop dancing and act like that object. Some of the things she yelled were ghost, bat, vampire etc.

Ty was not into dancing much at first then he remembered how HE can dance...Oh yeah mom

Football Touchdown Dance!

Bernie and the Championship

This season Zack played flag football which was awesome! During one game I kept looking at the opposing teams coach. He reminded me of someone but I couldn't think who it was. I knew it was an actor, but I could never think of exactly which one. Then one night it hit me...he looks like...

Bernie from "Weekend at Bernie's"!

When I realized who it was I laughed right out loud! It was way too funny! Tonight Zack's team played "Bernie's" for the championship. Let me just brag for a minute, Zack did AMAZING! He scored a touchdown, two extra points, and was a defensive animal. Seriously I have never seen him "in the zone" before. He did great! Then to top it off, they won the championship by 2 points! Very exciting and like the great mom I am, I left the camera at home. So here is his picture at home with his trophy. Hopefully one of the other moms will e-mail me some better shots.

Champs!

Action shots from an earlier game.

Defense.
Great job Chaos! Thanks for a fun season!

Up Down Up Down

On the season opener of the Biggest Looser this year the contestants first challenge was to do 500 up downs. Looks simple enough, step up step down.

While discussing the show at the gym someone in an early morning class asked how long it should take to do 500 up downs. Well thanks to that inquisitive person we got to find out.

My time 12 minutes 49 seconds. The poster girl and a 17 year old boy both did it in 8 minutes and change. Of course they are in top shape and much younger, but it was impressive to watch.

I started out doing pretty well but soon felt my right leg starting to cramp, so I switch to my left as my push up leg. That helped but slowed me down, I'm not nearly as fast with my left leg.

I felt pretty good about my time as I came to realize my time was right there with the "fit 20 year olds". My right leg however stayed in a tight knot for the next 3 days!

Thanks Biggest Looser for keeping our training sessions interesting! I'm always up for a good challenge, so keep them coming!

Football

"I love Saturdays this time of year, you get to watch football, play football, then watch more football!" -Ty

Ty at his first game of the season. He battled the "evil empire of Kaysville."
They lost to this Kaysville team, but beat the second Kaysville team.

This Saturday is his last game unless of course they win. Then it is a tie and they will play on Wednesday night to see who goes to the playoffs. Very Official stuff here.


Zack joined a flag football league this year and has had a lot of fun.

After injuring his neck two seasons ago, tackle is no longer an option. (Swoo! It is hard to be the mom watching her 14 year old who is still under 100 lbs. go against some much bigger kids! I cringed every time the ball came his way!)

This league worked out perfect for him (and me too!) The rules are very different, the sidelines much calmer and it is only 4 nights a week and no Saturdays! Perfect!

Zack making his first interception!
(It is a little hard to see)

You want me to do what?

This is a pull up/dip machine similar to the one we use in the gym. The platform she is kneeling on folds down so you can do dips/pull ups free style. Matt can do those-not me.

Anyway on Wednesday Jim had the platform folded down. He said okay Becky, now I want you to hold onto the top bar and hang straight to the floor. Okay, easy enough except I was not quite tall enough, my tip toes barely reached the ground. Now I want you to keep your legs straight and using your abs bring your feet up above your head. Ummm...What? I totally thought he was kidding because he likes to mess with new people and tell them to do crazy things but he has never been able to pull one over on me. One of his favorites is do a pull up then flip over backward and land on the ground. Yup he's a funny guy!

I said are you serious? He said yes you only have to do 10 and you can pause in between. He then demonstrated the exercise. I thought okay, lets give it a try. For my first try, I did okay. No my legs were not straight, that was a minor detail that went out the window as I struggled to hang on while dangling there. I did get my feet at least chest level each time. After doing 30 (10 reps 3 times) I could definitely feel "the burn."

Now that I have had time to think about the process I know I can do better and look forward to the next try. I will have to concentrate on keeping my legs straight and using only my abs, but I know I will do better.

Sally

This week an amazing sister in our ward past away. Her name was Sally Gibson and she was amazing! Sally would have turned 80 years old this November. She has lived in our neighborhood only a couple of years but it didn't take long for us to realize and appreciate the jewel she was!

Sally started having health problems last year and learned after testing that she had a blood disorder. None of the treatments worked. She was confined to her home for months while her blood counts and her immune system were down. During those months we missed Sally a lot at church and activities! Then after months we knew she wasn't going to get better and you know what...Sally was excited! I mean EXCITED, she planned her funeral, said good bye to her family and friends, gave specific instructions to the Bishop, put a do not resuscitate sign on the refrigerator, and got her life in order.

Then guess what, Sally got better! She was able to come to church again and have visitors. It was SO good to have her with us again. The funny thing was Sally was actually a little ticked off that she got better. One day she said to me, "Becky, I miss my husband, I have done my temple work and all that I have been sent here to do. I am ready to go home." She had amazing strength and faith!

This last Thursday Sally did go home. Here's how I found out. I was riding my bike past her house on my way to the gym. As I got closer to her house I saw people outside talking and pacing. I thought "Oh, Sally you have gone, haven't you?" Just then the morticians wheeled the body out of the house. I pulled my bike over and watched for just a few seconds, wiped my eyes, and gave a little "you go girl" whisper to my good friend who taught me so much!

I can not even put into words the rejoicing that happened in Heaven that day! We will miss Sally, but I am so grateful to have know her and had her in my life for a short time!

Your my Family!

A conversation with Morgan.

Morgan pointing to our family picture.

Morgan: "There's my Becky and Matt and Zack and Ty"
Me: "Yup"
Morgan: "That's my family"
Me: "Yes we are and we love you."
Morgan: "And this is your house."
Me: "Yes it is and you can come to my house whenever you want."
Morgan laughs: "Ya, you can come to my house whenever you want."
Me laughing: "I pretty much do."

Summer Fun!

Here is a brief look at what we have been up to the past few months.

The boys took an Aikido class and earned their yellow belt.
It was a good experience and we may pick it up again after football season.

Ty earned his Arrow of Light!
Great Job Ty!

Zack went to scout camp and earned 4 merit badges,
then completed 2 more at home!
Great Job Zack!

We hiked Waterfall Canyon!

We played cowboy!

We went fishing in the Uintah's.


We went to Bear Lake.

Matt

Zack first time on regular skis. Great job!

My dad. We call him "Hot Rod Grandpa!"

Me

Ty giving boat rides.

We went to St. George for Jaden's wedding.
Beautiful, but SUPER HOT!

August 2nd football season started for Ty so sadly our "summer travels" have come to an end. Our travels may have ended but not the busyness. This week both boys have birthdays!

Let the games (two birthday parties and football) begin!