hockey game

march 2011

red rock on st. pattys

Ben woke up early for a little Harry Potter fix.

Then after breakfast they kids played on the trampoline. Luke's being tricky with his green (notice the ninja turtle socks....)

It was a cloudy St Patty's day... and a perfect one for hiking!

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The tragedy of the day was when Simon knocked out Aaron's contact...

and when Sunny fell off a big boulder (no picture for that one..) oops!

She limped for a minute and they ran around like the crazy puppy she is.

Can you see the little people on top?

We came home and made a yummy pot of potato soup and homemade rolls...

The favorite joke of the day went a little like this:

Q: How come the Irish only put two hundred and thirty nine beans in thare soup?

A: Because if they put one more, it would be two-fourty.

(But with Jake's Irish accent is sounds like TOO FARTY). My boys loved it.

Boy Scout EXPO cards

Ben and Luke have been asked to sell Expo Cards to raise money for Boy Scout Day Camp this year.  This is our FIRST fundraiser ever!  My kids are super-duper excited to go door-to-door to sell.  I am not so much.  They have been asked to sell 50 cards, which is totally doable considering what a great deal this is.  I thought I might try selling a few via the internet to save us from begging all around the neighborhood...  So here's my sale's pitch:

The cards are $5 each... and they offer discouts literally THOUSANDS of local and national businesses.  Each card will give you a log-on # to activate your membership and then you can browse businesses that are closest to your home... these are NOT just customers in Vegas... I looked up my parent's zip code and found 1521 discounts close to their home... it doesn't have to be a local purchase!  (If you want to browse the discounts before you buy, I will email you a username and password.)

I haven't had the time to look through everything this card offers, but some of my favorites are:

• 50% off total purchase at Papa John's.  My fave pizza joint eva.
• Buy one get one (either food or drink) at Tropical Smoothie Cafe.
• Free sandwiches at Port of Subs, Quiznos, Subway, Sonic, Blimpie, & hundreds of other fast food joints...
• Free loaf of bread at Great Harvest (with purchase of two).

Hotel discounts, car repair, Target, bowling alleys, eye exams, carpet cleaning, museums, beauty supplies, you name it.

Again the card is ONLY $5 and unlike a coupon book, you can use the discounts over and over and over... Who wouldn't want one?  If you don't live in the Vegas area, we will mail them to you... free of charge.  Discounts are valid until 3/31/2012.

Any takers?

a few pictures from my new camera

my parents left on Sunday morning and Aaron's sister and her husband came into Vegas that evening. As always, we LOVE all the visitors we get in Sin City. But it hasn't left me a lot of time to catch up on the computer. Anyway, these are nothing special... but I wanted to upload a few pictures from my new camera. These first few were taken right out of the box...

Simon and Gus... the day Sullivan was born!

We LOVE the Co-op school we attend each Monday.

This is Zack with his Kindergarten class (music hour) don't ask me why it won't center..

watching the Bachelor finale with a few friends (several are missing)
Brad and Emily forever....

Taco Tuesday (tonight) with Co and Jake.

Someone was really happy after he ate a tray full of black beans
(they are the magical fruit, you know.)

A quick haircut tonight for Aaron. Jakey-poo took the pic.
Watch out for Aaron's fat roll.

sunday already

My parents arrived in Las Vegas on Tuesday night... We played cards, stayed up late talking and when we woke up this morning it was Sunday. I hate it when that happens. We had so much fun. My oldest brother Greg and his son, Nate, tagged along too. The men spent most of their time at the basketball tourney and my mom and I hung out with the kids. We enjoyed the sunshine at the park, went to story time, played lots of games, read stories, ate ice cream, challenged each other in Rook & I took a nap every day. It was such a relaxing week.

We said goodbye to them this morning. They left as we were driving off for church (or so I thought). When I came home, three hours later, my dishwasher was steaming from being washed, bread was rising on the counter, chicken was baking in the oven and potatoes were peeled and diced in a pan-- ready to be boiled and mashed. I just love my mom for going the EXTRA mile every time she comes. She does so much for me. My dad left some essential oils on my mantel along with a $20 bill (just in case they drank some of our milk). This was their last visit to Vegas before they make the long trek to Chile. My eyes are moist just thinking about how much I will miss them!

I have lots of pictures to upload and stories to tell, but I can't do it today. It's Sunday and my family is all home together so I will spend my time where it's most valued. My heart is so full because I have been the recipient of so much good lately. Our relief society lesson today was on SERVICE and I couldn't help but think about the wonderful examples of service I have in my life, beginning with my parents and grandparents, extending to my in laws & siblings, and not excluding my neighbors who have become family when we live far away from home...

This week, I received a box from Jason and Suzanne who were our neighbors while Aaron attended law school in Spokane, WA. We lived by each other for only a few short months, but that was long enough to know they were friends to keep for a lifetime. Anyway, this week, they sent me a package (for no good reason at all)... and inside was THIS. Without getting too emotional-- yes, I cried when I opened it-- let me say it is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me. It has left me speechless for a few days... and that's not something that happens easily. I feel absolutely overwhelmed with all of the service that has been rendered in my behalf recently. I am surrounded by wonderful people and I feel so blessed.

Lots of QUALITY pictures and funny stories to be shared soon! But now, I must sign off to play Uno. The children are calling and I can never resist a good card game.