Justin and April Sanchez

Happy New Year!

2012-01-09T12:27:00.000-07:00

Welcome 2012!

Another year passed us by, wow, I can hardly believe it. Overall 2011 was a good year for us. We have our health, our home and our jobs. These days I think we count our blessings that we haven't been hit by these hard financial times.

Justin and I celebrated our 3rd year of marriage in 2011. It seems like only yesterday we were exchanging vows. Time flies by when you're happy! We were able to do a lot of fun things over the year. We traveled for leisure and not for bowling over the summer...which is always hard to find the time to do. We went to a lot of great concerts, baseball games and spent time with family and friends.

In December I had my 30th birthday. Wow that really kind of puts things in perspective. I am now firmly in my adulthood (although people still often think I am in college). I know that the best years of my life are still to come. I feel confident in who I am and I am thankful to have settled down with such a wonderful man. He makes me a better person and I look forward to experiencing all that life has to offer together.

I would have to say that the last part of the year things really started to pick up and we rang in a Happy New Year. November brought us our first niece, Ambri! She is so adorable! Casen and Ambri are so much fun and Justin and I have really enjoyed being an Aunt and Uncle.

Casen

Ambri

In December we decided that it was time to trade-in Justin's car and get a small SUV. As we plan to expand our family we knew this was something we would need. We ended up getting a Toyota Rav4 and we absolutely love it. We got a really great deal...so if anyone is looking for a Toyota, I'd highly recommend Karl Malone Toyota in Draper. I bought my Scion there as well and the will treat you very fair! Tell them we sent you ;)

Justin and me with our Rav4

Lastly, our biggest surprise of 2011 was me getting an invite from my company's CEO to join them for President's Club in Hawaii. Yes, Justin and I will be getting an all expense paid trip to The Big Island for a week in February. We couldn't be more excited! We went to Maui for our honeymoon and really enjoyed it. I am so humbled and honored to have been invited on this exclusive trip.

We believe 2012 will be a great year as well. As long as you live well, work hard and think positive...you can make your life very fulfilling.

Ambri Chole Magee

2011-12-04T20:24:00.001-07:00

Justin and I are an Aunt and Uncle again. My brother and Ashley welcomed their second child, a girl, Ambri Chole Magee on November 22, 2011. She was 7.5 ounces and 20 inches long. She has lots of beautiful brown hair!

Justin and I meeting Ambri

Here is Casen meeting his little sister for the first time, he was so cute with her!

December is here...

2011-12-04T20:07:00.001-07:00

I can hardly believe that we are already in December. We got the tree up...it looks so pretty. I really do love this time of year. It's actually not really felt like December because there is no snow on the ground, but I am sure that as I type, a storm is brewing in the near future.

To kick off the month, my friend Kristy hosted an ornament exchange with about 14 other women. We all crafted handmade ornaments to exchange! I chose to make a North Pole sign post. It was actually more involved than I had originally anticipated, but I think that the end result turned out great!

The ornament exchange was great fun and we got lots of really cute ornaments.

Me and Kristy

Storm Nation™ | Storm Products, Inc — The Bowler’s Company

2011-12-04T20:05:00.000-07:00

Storm Nation™ | Storm Products, Inc — The Bowler’s Company

Wedding Bells Are Ringing

2011-08-19T22:20:00.001-06:00

Our dear friends Marc and Bonnie got married on August 9, 2011. Justin and I have been friends with Marc for over ten years...he is the older brother I never had. We couldn't have picked out a more perfect wife for him. We absolutely love Bonnie and are so glad they make each other so happy. Best wishes for a bright and happy future together!

Marc, Me and Justin before the ceremony

Justin (Best Man), Marc (Groom) and Kentrell (The Man of Honor)

Cute Bonnie!

Me and Justin (he looks so sharp!)

Rockin' The Night Away

2011-08-19T22:12:00.000-06:00

This summer we invested in the MEGATICKET and wow has it been worth it. We've already seen two concerts and have one more in September! We're lovin' it!

Kenny Chesney and Billy Currington were awesome! Kenny holds a special place in our hearts because his music was the soundtrack of our first summer together.

Justin and I at Kenny Chesney

Will, Kali, Me and Justin

Tim McGraw and Luke Bryan...equally good. What else can I say but Tim McGraw? He is just an unbelievable performer. This is our third time seeing him and it never gets old!

Me and Justin

Steve and Kentrell

Marc and Bonnie

I think this might have been the most fun I've had at a concert. My legs were dead the next morning from all the dancing! Loved it!

Proud To Be An American

2011-08-19T21:49:00.000-06:00

Fourth of July festivities...

Parade...check!

Matt, Casen, & Ash. Dad and Justin just hanging out in the back!

Justin and I

Casen

Mom and Casen

Baseball game and fireworks....

Check and check!

Casen at his first baseball game!

Boys of Summer

2011-08-19T21:41:00.002-06:00

I can't believe it but it is starting to seem like the summer is winding down. We've had so much fun though and have kept ourselves really busy. I love summertime, it always reminds me of when Justin and I started dating and falling in love...always the best memories.

This summer was no exception. In June, we were able to travel to Denver and catch two Rockies games with our friends Chris and Kristy. Justin had never been to a MLB baseball game so that was great to experience with him. The highlight of our trip was that our friends Chris and Kristy got engaged at the game during the seventh inning stretch. We were so honored to have been there for such a wonderful moment! Good times!

Coors Field

Me and Justin

Kristy and Chris (newly engaged)

We also attended the AAA Allstar Game and Home Run Derby that was being hosted by our Salt Lake Bees.

Justin and I

Kristy and Chris

I love baseball! Too bad the football season has to come and ruin it...hahaha!

Justin's Birthday

2011-06-10T21:01:00.000-06:00

For Justin's birthday this year I decided to go all out and arrange a gathering of friends. Afterall, he deserves it! He's a good husband, my best friend and I thought that it would be a good idea for him to relax and spend time with some of our closest friends.

I booked us a reservation at Squatters Pub & Brewery. We had never been there before and I thought it would make the perfect social environment. It did not disappoint. Not only was there a huge selection of spirits to choose from, but they also have a great menu offering. We ended up having an awesome evening socializing, laughing and just being with great people. Thanks to all the friends that were able to join us!

Justin, Nate and Kentrell

Kentrell, Brandon, Justin and Chad

Chad, Russell, Kentrell, Justin and Andy

Tracy, Kentrell, Justin, Chris and Kristy

Me, Justin, Amie and Mark

Me, Kori, Justin, John and Kentrell

The group birthday shots

And yes our dear friend Kentrell managed to appear in nearly all the pictures. We love him ;)

Storm Nation™ | Storm Products, Inc — The Bowler’s Company

2011-06-08T11:40:00.002-06:00

Storm Nation™ Storm Products, Inc — The Bowler’s Company

A little public bragging for Justin's 3rd back-to-back 300 night!

Way to go honey!

Living Aquarium

2011-03-19T12:21:00.001-06:00

For our monthly family activity in February we went to the Living Planet Acquarium. It was really a neat place to explore, I would recommend it to anyone. Thanks to cousin Felina for organizing it for us!

Nicole, Lindsey and Me

So Cute...

2011-02-13T21:34:00.000-07:00

We babysat Casen a couple of weeks ago and it was so much fun. He is crawling around so much now and loves to explore and get into everything. It has been really neat watching him learn and grow. I just had to post this picture of Justin and Casen. He really loves his uncle Justin!

Bowl for the Cure 2011

2011-02-13T21:31:00.000-07:00

For the second year I was able to have my family join me for the annual Bowl for the Cure event. We had a blast and were happy to support such a worthy cause!

Back Row: Felina, Mom and Robyn
Front: Me and Ashley

Me and Aunt Robyn

Me and Mom

Awards Ceremony

2011-01-13T22:45:00.000-07:00

Last night our local bowling association held an awards ceremony to present plaques to all the 2010 tournament winners, first-time 800 series and 300 games, as well as recognize the 2010 All-City Team members. Last year, Justin and I were both members of the All-City Team and we repeated again this year! (last year's post). I was 3rd on the women's team and Justin bowled incredible last year and ended up earning men's Bowler of the Year. I am so proud of him! These awards are objective and based entirely on your performance in league and tournaments throughout the year. Honestly, I think it's harder for men because there are more that bowl and they tend to average higher and the competition is more difficult.

Me and Justin with our awards

Women's Team

Part of the Men's Team

In addition to our All-City team recognition, Justin won the singles event in the scratch tournament and I won scratch doubles in the women's city tournament.

Dad also was honored with his first-time 800 series plaque for his 813. We're proud of him and Justin and I both believe his first 300 game isn't too far behind.

Dad and his award

B-I-N-G-O

2011-01-08T00:50:00.000-07:00

Tonight we decided to attend the first bingo social of the year at our local Catholic church, St. Joseph the Worker. They just finished the new church and it looks beautiful. They haven't yet had their official open house to the public, but they are holding masses in there now.

We had a great time even though we didn't win any money and it was for a good cause. The cub scouts served us dinner and some of the money from the bingo proceeds will go to benefit the church. Justin had to work so he couldn't join us, maybe next time! Casen seemed to have a great time and of course he had to be involved in everything. I'm glad Matt decided since it was Friday night he could stay up past his bedtime...hehe.

Getting ready to start the fun

Dad, Mom, Me and Casen

Cute little fam!

Maybe we'll get to win next month!

Christmas Activities

2011-01-02T15:48:00.000-07:00

This year we found the time to take some family Christmas photos. It was Casen's first Christmas and since he's the newest addition, we definitely needed to document it. He was really cute during the photo shoot and we got some great pictures.

Magee Family

Casen

Justin and I

On Christmas we had our own private Christmas at home and exchanged gifts with each other and of course gave Gabby her presents. She was really excited and kept crying and meowing, it was really funny!

Gabby opening her stocking

Afterwards we hit the road to make all the family stops. We started at Brent and Steph's house and spent a couple of hours exchanging gifts and visiting. Then we went over to Justin's grandparents. We exchanged gifts and then played a couple of cards games...they have become a Christmas tradition. Justin only won once, so that was a first! Next, we stopped at my parents and had Christmas with them and my brother, Ashley and Casen. It was Casen's first Christmas so we were all pretty much gushing over him and making it special for him. We were the boring aunt and uncle...we gave him clothes and books...LOL! He received plenty of toys from everyone else, so it was okay.

Casen with all his presents from Aunt April and Uncle Justin

Opening his gifts

He had so much fun and it was really cute watching his reaction to things. He's only 8-months but he is really smart and it seemed like he knew we gave him these presents because he just kept grinning at us. I think he enjoyed his first Christmas!

Lastly we finished up at Jeri and Von's. Drew also stopped by while we were there, so that was great. We exchanged gifts and then just socialized for awhile. It is really hard sometimes visiting Justin's family because it is clear there is a big hole in their hearts. Justin has a sister and a nephew that we all never see. I've only met them once since Justin and I have been together. It seems like she doesn't have much of an interest in having a relationship with their family and I find that really sad. One day she will look back and regret all the time she missed out on with a great family and worst of all...the time that Brayden has missed getting to know his grandparents, aunts and uncles. Maybe one day...

All in all we had a great Christmas and New Years. We look forward to all that 2011 has to offer us!

Better Late Than Never...

2011-01-02T15:05:00.000-07:00

Christmas Crafts and Family Party

In November we had out annual Christmas craft party with my mom's side of the family. Above are all the finished crafts (mine is the Santa Claus). We had a great time as usual and look forward to it again next year. We were kind of looking forward to the emotional break that these types of gatherings bring. Early in November my grandmother had some complications during surgery and had a close call. She pulled through and is recovering now, but we almost lost her. It was very trying, but we are a faithful family and the power of prayer is an amazing thing. We are thankful everyday that she is still with us.

The Aunts: Robyn, Donna and Mom

The Cousins: Felina, Ashley, April and Jackie

In December we did have a family Christmas party that I was in charge of coordinating. Of course, with all the things I had to remember, the camera slipped my mind. We had a great turn out and enjoyed food, games and a gift exchange.We are hoping next year it will be even better and that grandma will be able to join us again.

Anniversary

2010-11-02T16:24:00.005-06:00

I feel so embarassed that I've gotten this behind on our blog, but I have just been extremely busy...so here we go.

First and foremost, I have to say with great pride, that Justin and I celebrated our 2-year wedding anniversary. We've been together for over 4 years now and I am more happy each day that my life has turned out the way it has. I feel truly blessed to have married such a loving, caring and wonderful man! For our anniversary, we simply wanted to spend some time alone together. With our busy schedules that isn't always easy. We indulged in dinner and movie, something we haven't been able to do in a long time...and loved it.

Thanks honey for always being there for me in every way, I couldn't be more happy that you are forever mine!

Little Visitor

2010-10-14T12:37:00.001-06:00

Last Wednesday Justin and I hosted a special little visitor. Casen came over to Aunt April and Uncle Justin's to play for a few hours so Ashley could have a break and some alone time. We were so excited!! It was the first time we've babysat him alone since he was born. He was SO fun and cute. He is just the happiest baby ever!

I can't believe how big he is getting. He can roll over like there's no tomorrow and kicks like a maniac. So cute! He talks a ton too...well baby talk. He played and watched baseball with us. Justin also read him his books. He watches so intently, you can tell he is just soaking it all up!

One of the biggest concerns we had of course, was how Gabby react to Casen. Gabby is a bit of a spoiled kitty, to say the least. She very much has mine and Justin's undivided attention most of the time, so we were worried how she might react to a baby that requires our time and constant attention. When Ashley first got to the house, Gabby did her usual run to the bedroom and hide. Later I looked down the hall and she was peering around the corner from the bedroom. She could hear Casen making noise and her curiosity peeked. I decided it would be best to introduce them slowly. I took Casen back to the bedroom and called for her. She meowed and slowly made her way to me. I knelt down and she came over and sniffed him. I think it put her at ease. I told Justin to bring Gabby out into the livingroom so she wouldn't feel left out. She sat on Justin lap for a bit and just watched me with Casen. When I stood up with him, she jumped down and proceeded to sniff everything of Casen's. It was really funny. After she thoroughly inspected things she calmed down and just hung out with us. Justin and I both were so proud of her.

I think we can have Casen over more often, knowing that Gabby is comfortable with him.

Weekend Away...Well Sort Of

2010-09-28T15:49:00.001-06:00

This past weekend, Justin and I drove up to Boise for a scratch bowling tournament. We've had it planned for a couple of months and thought it would be a nice opportunity to get away, even if it was to bowl. Boise is about a 5-hour drive for us, which isn't too bad if the weather cooperates.

We headed out early Saturday morning and got into town just after 1:30 p.m. Justin got ready and bowled the 3:00 p.m. qualifying squad. He had a rough start, but then really came on strong in the last couple of games. He ended up qualifying for the finals. Then we both bowled a Swiss Trio, which is a team event consisting of three people and is actually really competitive. Once we finished that up, I decided to bowl the 9:00 p.m. qualifying squad. I haven't felt like I have been bowling too well lately, I think I'm still trying to get into the swing of things for a new season. Anyways, I figured since Justin had already made it, it would be good experience for me to bowl on a challenging condition. I ended up doing really well and barely missed the finals myself. I was just impressed that I was able to compete at a high level and especially since I was the only woman that bowled.

By the time I finished bowling it was nearly midnight. Needless to say we were absolutely exhausted! We also had to be up very early for Justin to bowl the finals. So going on only a few hours of sleep, Justin bowled half of the day in the finals and ended up placing 8th. I am very proud of him and even though our free time was slim, we had a great time just being together. I am so thankful that we share this hobby. It has created such a bond between us and I love it.

Next month Justin will have to go it alone to Twin Falls for another tournament because I'll be on a weekend retreat with family. Hopefully he is able to just as well if not better!

Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk

2010-09-18T14:26:00.000-06:00

Today our family participated in the Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk at Murray High School. My sister-in-law Ashley decided that this would be a great monthly activity for all of us.

Alzheimer's hits very close to home for our family. It isn't something that I talk about often because it makes me sad, but both of my grandfathers passed away from Alzheimer's. My grandpa Cordova was diagnosed in his late 40s, which means that he had progressed so far that by the time I was born, he was no longer really there. My mom and all her sisters always talk of the fond memories they have of their dad and what a great man he was. I wished that I had been able to know him. My grandpa Magee I was able to have around for a short time, he passed away when I was in junior high. I often feel very cheated that I never had grandfathers that were there to share in my life. Alzheimer's is a terrible disease and we hope that our contributions will help fund research for treatment to slow the disease or even better a cure.

Thanks everyone for donating and coming out to the memory walk!

Back L-R: Ashley, Felina and Nicole
Front L-R: Me, Aunt Tracy and Mom

Happy Anniversary

2010-09-18T14:14:00.000-06:00

On September 7th, my parents celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary. I am so proud of them and impressed with the great example that they have set for us.

Justin and I decided that it would be really nice to take my parents out to celebrate. We ended up choosing to go to the Peter Cetera concert. He was playing at the Sandy Amphitheater. We've seen a few music concerts there and always enjoy the intimate setting it provides. We had a great time, even though it was absolutely freezing. The music was so good and Peter sounded wonderful. He sang a few old Chicago songs and then some of his solo work. We were really excited because he ended up performing one of his many duets. One in particular titled "After All", which was originally with Cher (who obviously wasn't there) so he had a woman from his band sing with him. They did amazing and it really took me back. That song is really special to Justin and I. We chose that song for our first dance at our wedding. The lyrics really relate to our story and we just love it.

I think my parents really enjoyed the concert. They are huge fans and the music is timeless.

The stage

Mom and Dad all bundled up

Justin and I

JDRF Walk

2010-08-25T16:10:00.001-06:00

Last Saturday I participated in the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation walk. My employer, Merit Medical, was a huge supporter of the event this year and a lot of employees helped raise donations as we moved towards our donation goal of $75,000. The walk was held at Wheeler Farm and I think there was a great turn-out. While we were eating breakfast and waiting for the walk to officially start, the Jazz bear decided that I made a good target. He walked up and proceeded to search my hair for bugs. I was taken quite by surprise as you can tell!


Me and the Jazz Bear

*By the way, he was sporting the new Jazz jersey which I love. Justin and I just bought ours on Monday night and are super excited for Jazz season to start*

I had a great time hanging out with Shelly and Tamera and their cute families.

Shelly, Me and Tamera

It felt good to give to such a worthy cause. I never realized before now how widespread juvenile diabetes is. No one in my immediate family has diabetes, but I have many friends that do and I understand what a daily struggle it can be. I hope that our donation can help fund valuable research to find a cure.

Thanks again to all the friends and family members that pledged a donation to support me, it is greatly appreciated.

Last Hoorah

2010-08-18T13:29:00.000-06:00

Lately I have been super busy, as is apparent by my lack of blogging activity. I have been slammed with meeting after meeting for the upcoming bowling season. It makes me feel as though we are approaching our last hoorah of sorts. Summer is quickly nearing it's end and there is still so much I want to do. I want to go to Lagoon and use the free passes I got from work, I want to go to the drive-in a few more times, I want to go on a canyon drive with my honey! Why is that we always leave summer wanting more? Don't get me wrong, fall is my favorite season, but with it comes the normalcy of our life. We start bowling full force again and the outdoor activities start to become very limited. Sigh...

I do have to look back and think about the things that we did do this summer and the great memories that we made. We played lots of softball, went to the best concert of the summer, the zoo, baseball games, watched lots of fireworks, the jazz festival and spent quality time with family and friends!

I think this quote sums up my feelings about summer the best:

"In every girls life; there's a boy she'll never forget and a summer where it all began." - Unknown

I am sure you can guess who it is about. This July 6th, Justin and celebrated our 4-year mark together as a couple. Summer is where it all began and where I have some of my fondest memories of love. Thank you honey, for making me never want summer to end.

Tim McGraw/Lady A Concert

2010-08-17T13:02:00.005-06:00

This is a little late, but here are some pictures from the Tim McGraw and Lady Antebellum concert we went to in late July. As you can imagine it was SO hot, but well worth it. We had a great time with some good friends and enjoyed some really awesome music.

Justin and I waiting for the concert to start

Justin and I


The group: Me, Justin, Will and Kali

Weekend

2010-07-26T17:07:00.003-06:00

Justin and I had a pretty low-key weekend. Of course, Justin had to work on Friday night, so I just stayed home. I made dinner, popped in a movie and Gabby and I just relaxed. On Saturday, I ran some errands, did chores around the house and then we met up with my dad and Matt & Ashley for the Bees game. They had planned a fireworks spectacular after the game to celebrate Pioneer Day.

The game ended up being a complete blow-out in favor of the Bees, so we were doing more socializing then watching baseball, which is OK. There is something to be said about just relaxing in the summer night air during a baseball game!

The fireworks display was awesome as usual. I attempted to get some pictures, but it was really hard to time it just right. So, no pictures, but I am sure you can visualize it.

On Sunday, we didn't have a softball game so we decided to venture out to IKEA. We had never been and saw the ad in the mail and thought we would check it out. It was quite the experience. It took us an hour to go through the store and we didn't even stop and do much browsing. We made a few purchases: new sheets, pillows and candles...all only $50. Not too bad! I think I'll have to go back when I can take more time and scope things out. They have really cool furniture and accessories for literally every room of the house. Next time I'll have to make sure and grab some Swedish food on the way out!

Jazz Festival

2010-07-13T16:41:00.000-06:00

Sunday night, Justin and I went downtown to the Salt Lake City Jazz Festival. It ran the whole weekend, but ended up just attending on Sunday night. We specifically went on Sunday to see the SL Jazz Orchestra and special guest Seth MacFarlane. Seth is the creator/writer/producer of Family Guy. Justin and I are huge fans of all of Seth's shows and thought it would be fun to see Seth perform. Seth is nostalgic for the Rat Pack era and often performs Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin tunes on the show. He sang some great old songs and the orchestra was amazing. We all sat and tapped our toes and enjoyed the lovely summer night.

It was also fun because our friends John and Tracy were volunteering at the festival, so we were able to meet up with them and enjoy the show together.


Tracy and John

My attempt at our self-portrait...clearly dis proportioned!

Anyway, we had a great time and I think we'll try and attend next year if there are more great acts coming.

4th of July

2010-07-07T20:13:00.000-06:00

We hope everyone had a happy 4th of July!

For the 4th of July we attended the West Jordan parade. I hadn't been in years and it ended up actually being pretty fun. It lasted about two hours, but the weather was pleasant and it was great spending time with family. Justin had to work, so he missed out on it (sorry honey).

Matt and Ashley brought Casen out for the festivities. He was so cute! At first I didn't think he would really be engaged with it, but surprisingly he was. He sat on Grandma's lap and watched the parade, but mostly watched all the other kids running around. Here are a few pics from the parade.

Grandma and Mom

Ashley, Casen & Matt

Me and Casen

Me, Casen and Mom

* Dad was at the parade, but we couldn't get him to sit still for a picture

After the parade, I went and had lunch with my parents and my grandma. Later that night we all met back up at grandmas and then walked over to the carnival and rodeo. We had lots of treats and just walked around enjoying the weather. I have to laugh because we went back to my grandma's to wait for fireworks and then we all ended up being too tired to stay up and watch them. Man are we getting old or what? Honestly, I think being out in the sun all day wore us out! We'll make up for it though, we are all going to the Bee's game on the 24th of July and they'll have a great fireworks display there!

Happy Birthday Matt

2010-07-01T16:47:00.001-06:00

I want to wish my brother a happy 26th birthday! He has had quite an exciting year. He finished school, got a great job, and welcomed his first son into the world. Congrats Matt!

Ashley, Casen & Matt

Zoo and other fun stuff

2010-06-29T13:05:00.002-06:00

On Saturday, I went to the zoo with some of my family. I was really looking forward to it. I honestly don't think that I have been to the zoo in like 10 years. I remember when I was a kid, the zoo held such excitement and wonder. I was kind of disappointed because they didn't have as many animals as I remember. There were no polar bears, very few gorillas, and not as many big cats. Maybe I missed it, but I thought they had a larger display of big cats. I did see a few, but like cats do, they were all sleeping!

There was also a larger crowd at the zoo because it was one of the elephant's birthdays. They had a fruit cake and all kinds of party favors in her cage. There is also a new baby elephant (800 lbs.) name Zuri that has drawn many visitors. I did get a glimpse of her, but no pictures. She stayed pretty close to her mom and out of the lime-light.

Elephant opening birthday gifts


The penguins (my favorite)

It was also fun because Matt and Ashley were able to join us and bring Casen for his first real outing. Of course, he is too little to understand the zoo or even enjoy it, but he was looking around and taking in the sights. He looked super cute in his sunglasses!

Me and Casen

The zoo was super busy and hot, but I'm glad for the experience and time with my family.

* * * *

On Saturday evening, I had date night with Justin. We went to the Bee's game. By this time it had cooled off some and it turned out to be quite a pleasant evening. The Bee's even ended up breaking a tie and winning the game.

Sunday held the usual for us. We had a softball game at 2:00, which was uncomfortably hot! We won our game 25 to some number slightly bigger than one. They ended up calling the game after two innings, so we decided to let the other team bat around for the remainder of the time. After softball, we both vegged on the couch, recovering from a day out in the hot sun.

To wind down for the evening, we went with some friends to see Grown Ups. I have to say, normally I am a fan of Adam Sandler movies, but I felt like this movie fell short. Better luck next time!

I would say all in all, we had a very eventful weekend and were able to spend some quality time with each other!

Summer Line-up

2010-06-21T15:57:00.000-06:00

We have a busy summer planned, let's hope we can fit it all in:

- June 26th: Hogle Zoo (April and her mom/aunts/cousins)
- June 27th: Justin to Moab for bowling tournament with the guys
- July 4th activities (TBD)
- July 10th: April's high school reunion
- July 30th: Tim McGraw/Lady Antebellum concert
- August 7th: Justin's high school reunion
- Bee's game (TBD)
- Lagoon (TBD)

In addition to all this fun, we are still bowling one league and playing plenty of softball. I just love summer!

Father's Day

2010-06-21T15:36:00.001-06:00

Justin and I had a great Father's day. We had two softball games in the morning (rain-out makeups) and then we spent the rest of the day with family.

We visited my dad, Dennis first. It's great that Justin and my dad have so much in common. They watched part of the golf tournament and hung out in what my dad calls the "Man Room." We also spent some time with Ashley and our new nephew Casen. My brother Matt is out of town on business for his first Father's day...so Ashley was making the rounds without him. He comes home next week, and will be home for a month, so they'll get some much needed catch-up time.

Justin and I really enjoy playing with Casen. He is so fun and we just love him. He is now a little over two months and is growing like a weed. I think he looks more and more like my brother everyday. (I promise I'll post some more recent pictures of him soon.)

We then headed over and spent the remainder of the evening with Justin's dad, Brent. Brent and Steph are so great! We always have such a good time chatting about anything and everything, and playing with all the animals. They were gracious to host us to a home cooked meal...we thank Brent for cooking on Father's day.

Happy Father's Day! Thank you for always being there for us, we love you!

Reno

2010-05-28T17:56:00.000-06:00

Last weekend me and Justin went to Reno to bowl in men's nationals. It was a nice chance to get away and spend some time together as well as with some good friends. I wished that I would have bowled better, but Justin more than made up for it. He bowled a 2004 all-events score, which is really impressive at a national level because of the difficulty of the shot. He also had the first 9 strikes in his doubles event; he ended up shooting 278, but I was really proud of him for just getting that far. I think he will get a decent payday for it and we will use some of his winnings to go on a trip to Seattle in the fall.

Me and Justin

We had a blast, except for the fact that I managed to catch another cold on the way home. We are looking forward to officially winding down our bowling season and starting to enjoy the warmer weather, when it finally gets here.

Here are a few more pics.

Me and Kentrell

Justin and his doubles partner Dave

Me and my doubles partner Russell

I think I am offically caught up on the blog...wheww!

Sisters Activity

2010-05-28T17:41:00.000-06:00

It had been quite some time since me, my mom, grandma and aunts all got together for our monthly activity. We managed to get our schedules coordinated so we could work on our calendars. Everyone was assigned a particular month to design a scrapbook page for and then we would fill it with pictures from 2009. My aunt Donna hosted us and treated us to yummy haystacks while we crafted away.

Here I am working very diligently on my page. I actually already completed my pages before hand, so I volunteered to fill in and work on other month's that hadn't been done.

Aunt Bobbie and Donna workin hard

Mom and Felina

Once all our pages are complete, my aunt Robyn will put the calendars together. It may be a little late in the year, but we don't care, we just want the keepsake with all the memories.

Rico and Lindsey's Wedding

2010-05-28T17:28:00.000-06:00

In November my cousin Fred (aka Rico) got married, and since he lives in Alabama, my aunt decided to have a reception for them in April in Utah, so the family could meet Lindsey. We absolutely love her and are so happy for them!

We had a great time at the wedding. We got to karaoke and dance the night away. Here are some great family pics from the wedding.

Justin and Me

The Magee family and the bride and groom

The entire Cordova family that was in attendance

El Paso

2010-05-28T17:10:00.000-06:00

I realize I have gotten so far behind on our blog, so I will attempt to catch up a bit. In April I went to El Paso for women's nationals. I have to say, I wasn't really impressed with the city, but still managed to have a good time with the gals. Here are a few pics.

Me and Davie at the Pin-Yata!

Me and Davie (my doubles partner)

Our team

New Arrival

2010-04-16T16:42:00.001-06:00

There is a new addition to the Magee family. My brother and Ashley welcomed their first child last night. He was 7.8 lbs and 20 inches long. We are all very excited for the first Magee grandchild!!

Casen Matthew Magee

Ashley's Baby Shower

2010-03-15T13:07:00.006-06:00

On Saturday I hosted a baby shower for my sister-in-law Ashley. My brother (Matt) and Ashley are expecting their first child next month. They are having a baby boy and plan to name him Casen. This will be the first grandchild in the Magee family. We are so very excited for him!

We had good turn out at the shower, unfortunately, it snowed so some of Ashley's family from Tooele weren't able to make it. But I am thankful for all that were able to join us and help celebrate the soon to be new addition to the Magee family.

I arranged a few shower games to play, which is always a riot because my aunts are so competitive. I found some great free games at www.babbee.com. We ate and watched Ashley open all of the gifts. She received some really great things that will help her out so much with the baby.

I also asked each person to take the time to write some motherly advice and share it with Ashley when she opened their gift. She received some great ideas and advice to help her get started. I'm sure she will fall right in the groove and will be a wonderful mother.

Congratulations Matt and Ashley, we can't wait to meet Casen!

So...

2010-03-03T22:13:00.007-07:00

I realize that I have been extremely neglectful of our blog lately. It's not that we haven't had anything going on, it is just plain old laziness. I will try and do better in the coming months.

February honestly felt like it just flew by. We were really busy with work, home and bowling.

Justin went to Vegas the first week in February for a few bowling tournaments. I so wished that I could have gone, but I had to hold down the fort at work. He bowled well for his first time at these larger tournaments. I am really proud of him for challenging himself and striving to do better. He won a few of his matches, but was just short of cashing. He did get a couple new bowling balls...and one for me. He is such a nice husband. Hopefully next time I will get to go with him.

It was actually kind of ironic because while he was out of town I bowled my third 300. When I called him, he thought I was pulling his leg. He was bummed he wasn't here for it, but he was my inspiration. He texted me right before I started bowling to tell me he missed me and loved me. It is a very nerve racking situation, but I was thankful that I had friends that were there to support and cheer me on.

We had a really nice Valentine's day. Justin sent me beautiful roses at work! As we have the last couple of years, we stayed in and had a nice quiet dinner together and enjoyed a movie night With our busy schedules, the best date nights are when we can be home for a night together.

To wrap up the month, Justin shot his 30th 300 game. I know, it's just crazy he has that many. I was glad I was there to see it.

As we head into March, we start the first of many months of bowling tournaments. We bowl state tournament in March, Nationals in April and May and then as we finish up leagues we have city tournament in May. I have to say I am really looking forward to the start of spring and summer. We wind down with our bowling and start playing softball again. The weather has been so depressing here in Utah, so I hope it warms up soon.

Last but not least, I will be hosting a baby shower for my sister-in-law Ashley. My brother and Ashley's baby boy is due in April. I can't believe how fast it has gone. We can't wait for him to get here. I will make sure to post tons of pictures of that so stay tuned!

PS: Gabby is doing great! Here is a pic...just because she is so dang cute!

A Good Cause

2010-02-01T13:47:00.007-07:00

This month my mom and I were in charge of organizing our family activity. I decided it would be a great idea to have my family attend a fundraising event that is organized by our local bowling association, which I am a director on. The fundraising event is known as Bowl for the Cure and is organized to raise money for the local Susan G. Komen affiliate. The Komen foundation is dedicated to raising money for treatment and to fund research in an effort to find a cure for breast cancer.

Grandma and Aunt Robyn

My family was very excited to join! We bowled two games (for fun) and entered into raffles and did some shopping at the boutique. There was plenty of pink to go around. We had a great time and best of all it was for a great cause!

Breast cancer hits close to home for our family. One of my aunts passed away from breast cancer when I was very young. She was a great lady and left us far too soon. If even one dollar of the money we helped raise provides services and research for early detection that would be a huge victory. We continue to have hope and faith that one day there will be a cure.

Nicole and I

Thanks again family for a great afternoon. We are also hoping to participate in the Race for the Cure in May!

Awards

2010-01-15T16:57:00.011-07:00

On Wednesday night Justin and I both were presented awards for being members of the 2008-09 All-City Teams for men and women. Essentially it is an "all-star" team for bowling. It is all objective and based on your scores and tournament performance during the 2008-09 season.

Justin getting his award (sorry this is so blurry)

We were both really excited about the recognition, and very proud to be the first husband-wife combination to receive it. This is Justin's second straight year on the team, and for me it's the first. I had recieved honorable mention on a prior year.

Men's Team

We were given these beautiful crystal clocks, which now adorn our livingroom.

Justin is off to a great start this year to be a three-time member and I am doing my best to keep pace as well. Even if I don't make it again, I am really proud that it is something that I was able to scratch off of my list of things I would like to accomplish.

Also, we wanted to thank my mom and dad for taking the time to be there and support us, it means a great deal and we love you both.

Goodbye 2009...

2010-01-03T12:50:00.004-07:00

Well, 2009 is gone and 2010 is upon us. Justin and I are ready for a new year and hope that it brings with it many exciting things for us. 2009 had it's up's and down's. Here is a recap of our year:

Traveled to Reno and Vegas for bowling tournaments in April
Kenny Chesney concert in July
First Adamson family reunion in August
April had a long and unpleasant battle with kidney stones and eye infections in September. (So glad that things are back to normal for me!)
Found out we are going to be an aunt and uncle. My brother and his wife our expecting their first child in April 2010!
Celebrated Dad's 50th birthday in October
Most exciting for us...we celebrated our first year of marriage in October. We are looking forward to many more years together!
Two of April's dearest friends welcomed new additions to their families in October
April celebrated 5 years at Merit in November. Wow, I can hardly believe it...where did the time go? It seems like I just started working there
Justin bowled back-to-back 300s again!
Had a wonderful Christmas!

Thank you to all our family and friends that made 2009 a good year for us!

Christmas

2009-12-29T15:39:00.005-07:00

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas! Unfortunately Justin had to work on Christmas night, so we were a little rushed for time, but we wanted to make sure that we made all the visits that we needed to.

We started on Christmas Eve visiting Justin's mom and brother. We were able to catch up on life and share funny family stories and of course exchange gifts. Christmas morning, Justin and I had our own private Christmas together, which was wonderful. We also made sure that Gabby received her stocking full of new toys. She loves them!

After breakfast, we got dressed and made our way to Justin's dad's house. We were able to visit with he, Steph and Roxy (Justin's step-sister). It was great! We also played with their new dog Jack, he and Justin's dad have become inseparable, it is quite funny.

Next we ventured to Justin's grandparent's house. It has become tradition that we exchange gifts and then play a few rounds of 31. I swear it seems like Justin wins every time, but this time his uncle actually beat him for a change. Watching Justin's grandmother, I can see where Justin gets his competitive nature! Grandma also made us some yummy homemade fudge! I really enjoy spending time with Justin's grandparents because I only have one living Grandma and both of my Grandpas passed on many years ago. Grandparents are so precious, be sure that you cherish all the time you have with them!

Lastly we ended the day at my parent's house. My mother was so gracious to have a delicious ham dinner prepared for us. We exchanged gifts, ate dinner, then me and my mom watched Miracle on 34th Street while the boys watched basketball. It was quite the long day, but I am thankful that we were able to spend the whole day with family.

Evey time the holidays come around, I think about how we need to visit more often and this coming year I am going to make sure that we do just that. Family is so very important and no matter the troubles or mistakes that your parents and/or family have made in the past, they are still your family and you can never change that...and why would you want to? When I married Justin, not only did I marry him but with it came the wonderful family that he has. They are all so loving and giving and have welcomed me with open arms.

Birthday Dinner

2009-12-16T21:27:00.006-07:00

So this post is coming a little late, but wow has December been a busy month. Because of that very fact, I rarely get to take the time to celebrate my birthday, which is one week before Christmas. This year my cousin Felina and I decided that we wouldn't allow that to happen again. You see she and I share the same birthday, however, I'm two years older. We decided this year we would have a girl's night out to celebrate. So last Wednesday some of our girlfriends joined us for dinner at Mimi's Cafe and then bowling afterwards. We had such a great time, I hope we can make this a new tradition. Thanks so much for joining us!

Left to Right: Mindee, Me, Shelly and Kate

(My sister-in-law Ashley was taking the photo...thanks Ash!)

It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

2009-12-02T20:02:00.000-07:00

With Thanksgiving over, I wasted no time in pulling out the Christmas decorations. It has become my own personal tradition of putting out the decorations the day after Thanksgiving. I’ve given up on the idea of embarking on Black Friday deals. I’ve gone twice in my adult life and both times it was NO fun. Sleep is much more important to me than going through swarming, obnoxious crowds for a good deal. Besides, hasn’t Christmas become too commercial anyway? Somewhere along the way, the true meaning got swept under the rug…but that’s just my opinion.

So needless to say, the tree is up and the warmth of the Christmas spirit now resides in our home. Since I was little I always looked forward to helping my mom put out all the Christmas decorations. I just love this time of year, and even more so now that Justin and I married. It just makes it that much more special to me.

Recap

2009-12-02T19:00:00.001-07:00

Whew! I know it’s been awhile and I’ve gotten so behind on our blog. Here is a run down of what we have been up to over the last few weeks.

Family Get-together

We had our monthly family get-together with mom, grandma, aunts and cousins. Every November my Aunt Robyn organizes a Christmas craft, which is usually a cute ornament. This year I made a gingerbread man for our tree. I think it turned out really well!

Thanksgiving

We headed over to my parents house for Thanksgiving this year; like we have in years past. My mother always makes such a wonderful meal for us. We ate, socialized and watched movies. Also, I don’t believe I have mentioned it, but my brother and his wife Ashley are expecting their first child in April. On Thanksgiving they shared the news with us that it is a boy! We are very excited to welcome the new addition to the Magee family.

Thanksgiving night, Justin and I spent alone. Justin had bought us tickets to the Jazz game. They played the Chicago Bulls and were victorious 105-86.

Bowling

There isn’t much to report for me, but Justin has been bowling so awesome! As I reported on an earlier post he recently shot his 25th 300. Well he didn’t stop there, exactly one week later he shot his 26th, then a day after that he shot two in one night (27 & 28), along with an 800 series! This is the second time in his bowling career that he has shot two 300 games back-to-back in the same night. It is extremely rare to do it once, but twice?? Incredible! Everyone is so amazed at how great he is bowling! I am quite the proud wife!

Our Blog

2009-11-23T13:00:00.001-07:00

I can't believe it, but it has officially been a year since I started blogging. It was a little rough at first for me to share some of the personal things that I have, but then I remember that only people I truly cared about and want to share with were reading. We have family that doesn't live here in Utah and it is a great way for them to see what is going on in our lives on their own schedule. I do my best to update it regularly, but life gets busy and I don't always get to it.

One of the things I enjoy most about blogging is being able to look back at any given time and remember what we did and relive all the experiences. I hope to continue this form of online journaling for many years to come.

I am really thankful that my friend Kate encouraged me to start blogging, she is my blog hero. One day I will be able to blog as eloquently as she does.

Just to Brag

2009-11-17T12:00:00.001-07:00

Okay, so I just have to brag a little…Justin shot 300 last night at league. Even though it is his 25th 300, it is still exciting to watch. I know it won’t be his last, but I just wanted him to know that I am proud of him and all that he has accomplished. I love you honey!

Happy Day!

2009-10-28T16:12:00.002-06:00

I have happy news to report. I am kidney stone-free! My doctor called today and informed me that my x-ray was clean. I must have passed the stone in the last few weeks without knowing it. I am so excited! I just have to follow-up in a year to check on the other two small stones that were forming to make sure they have either passed or aren’t getting any bigger.

Also, I am back to wearing my contacts. The infection has finally cleared up. I am still adjusting to wearing my contacts so my eyes get tired and dry, but at least I don’t have blurred vision!

Witch's Night Out

2009-10-18T18:52:00.009-06:00

Saturday night me, my mom, cousins and aunts ventured to Gardener Village for "Witches Night Out." With unseasonably warm weather it was a very pleasant night, but wow was it crowded. I guess "Witches Night Out" is one of their busiest days of the year. I have to admit that we all felt a little out of place since we weren't dressed up like witches; we will know better for next year. Typically we go to Gardener Village at Christmas time, so we weren't aware of this Halloween tradition. Nevertheless, we had a great time! Dinner at Archibald's and shopping...what fun!

We also had a good time just people-watching! There was such a variety of witch costumes. Some good and some we thought probably belonged at another venue if you know what I mean! The best costumes were of course the witches from Gardener Village, they were a riot!

We did manage to snag a few funky witch and Halloween hats for a photo-op, so at least we could say we joined in the on the Halloween spirit.

My aunt Tracy also gave us little treat bags with glow-sticks and Halloween tattoos. We proceeded to put on our temporary tattoos at dinner. I think the other diners thought we were a little kooky. I think they were cute and one lady even asked me where to get one; I guess she assumed there was a stand offering tattoos...LOL.

They had all sorts of stuffed witches set up around the village, but this baseball player is my personal favorite, probably because she is sporting the jersey of my favorite baseball team!

Get Away

2009-10-12T17:02:00.011-06:00

To celebrate our one year anniversary we decided to plan a get-way-weekend in Midway. We stayed in quaint Swiss style condo that was very secluded, the air was crisp and cool and so peaceful. In the evening we ventured to main street in Park City and just strolled around browsing in the shops. We had dinner in a small Italian restaurant and enjoyed each other’s company.

It was a really relaxing evening with just the two of us, to celebrate one year of marriage and to look forward to many more together. For me, it was a much needed escape from reality, since I have had a trying few weeks (which isn’t over yet). I believe that marriage is such a gift. Justin is my sanctuary. He can always make me feel better when life gets tough.

Since our official wedding date is October 11th, we waited until last night to break out the top of our wedding cake. I must say I was very skeptical as to how it would taste after being frozen for a year, but I am all about tradition, so we took a stab. To our surprise it tasted great! We sat there and each enjoyed a piece and reminisced about our special day and what we felt and how happy we are to have each other. What great memories!

October 11, 2008

October 11, 2009

One Year Anniversary

2009-10-09T19:32:00.001-06:00

Wow, one year! I can hardly believe it.

It was one year ago that Justin and I wed. The happiest day of my life and so vivid I can remember it like it was yesterday. The anticipation of those two words, that promised us to each other for the rest of our lives.

This past year has been wonderful. We have grown so much together, we truly are one. Justin is such a great husband. He is my best friend and I am so thankful for him everyday.

Justin and I met when we were fifteen years old at, of course, a bowling center. From there our friendship grew. He was my best guy friend; the one that never judged me and who I could always talk to about anything. When we were nineteen, we briefly dated, but the timing wasn’t quite right. I really wanted a relationship, but Justin was recently out of a relationship and needed to find out what he wanted and needed in life.

Five years later our paths brought us back to each other and both of us knew that this time it was forever. We know that the struggles and heartaches we went through were necessary because it made us appreciate the happiness that we have now. I think that it is truly rare in life to get a second chance at the one that got away. There is no doubt in my mind that we are soul mates; I think we both knew it the moment we met. Neither of us ever found the same chemistry with anyone else. I thank God everyday that my life has turned out the way it has. It is an unbelievable peace to know that you married your soul mate.

Happy Anniversary Honey! To many more years of happiness! I love you.

Dad's 50th Birthday!

2009-10-04T14:38:00.005-06:00

Saturday was my dad's 50th birthday. We decided to throw him a surprise birthday dinner at Famous Dave's. My dad was under the impression that it was just our immediate family that was taking him out to dinner for his birthday...boy was he in for a surprise. He walked in to a table of twenty members of our extended family! He was shocked, to say the least, and very overcome with emotion that we all wanted to share in his special day.

Hope you had a great birthday Dad! Thank you to all who came and made this day special for him!

Update Part II

2009-10-03T13:01:00.002-06:00

Well I've finally heard back about my x-ray...the stone is still there! The doctor wants me to give it a few more weeks to try and pass naturally, but if it that still doesn't happen I will have to have it surgically removed. The past few days I haven't felt too good. I've had a faint constant pain. I'm just ready for this whole ordeal to be over with.

My eye infection is almost cleared up. I am hoping by early next week to be able to wear my contacts again.

That's it for now. Progressing very slowly, but at least it's progress.

Update

2009-09-28T17:00:00.001-06:00

I just wanted to drop a quick update. Still haven't passed the kidney stone, but have felt zero pain from it. Hopefully that is a good sign. I am looking forward to finding out what my x-ray revealed, I should find out sometime this week.

I visited the eye doctor again on Saturday. My eye is feeling tons better, but the abrasions are only slightly shrinking and my vision is still impared. I was prescribed some anti-inflammatory drops because the doctor said that the swelling and inflammation was making it hard for my eye to heal. I go back again on Tuesday.

Although the progress is slow, it is steadily gettting better. I am starting to feel like my old self again and it is great. Thank God for small miracles. I was able to drive on my own, clean the house and do chores instead of sitting like a lump on the couch.

I have so many exciting things coming up and I don't want to miss out on them!

Sigh...

2009-09-25T16:49:00.003-06:00

Oh the saga continues. Still haven't passed the kidney stone. I visited the Urologist yesterday and found out that I have two more stones that are forming. He said as long as I increase my water intake they shouldn't be a problem. He also had me get an x-ray to check and see where the stone is at exactly. I hope to hear back on that in a week or so.

On a side note, there has been a new development. In addition to my battle with the kidney stone, I have an eye infection in my right eye. So painful! Apparently, between the kidney stone and the head cold I've developed, it knocked my immune system down enough to where this eye infection just took on a mind of it's own. I was fortunate to get into the eye doctor yesterday too, so now I'm on antibiotic drops.

At least I should be thankful that the worst of my kidney stone pain is over. Now I just can't see out of my right eye. When will it end?!

I continue to be humbled by my experiences. You never realize how thankful you are for all the caring people in your life until you need them. Being sick this long has made me so grateful for my family and all the love and support they have given me. Thank you as well to all the friends who have called to check on me, I appreciate all your love and concern.

Rest assured I am a fighter and I will get through this and come out stronger for it.

Hanging In There...

2009-09-18T23:16:00.003-06:00

On Tuesday night just as I was getting ready to settle in and go to bed, I was struck with a severe stabbing pain in my side. In came on so suddenly, it nearly dropped me to my knees. I had no idea what it was, but knew that this was by far the worst pain I had ever felt in my life...and I consider myself to have a very high pain tolerance.

Justin arrived home soon after and I immediately told him that I need to go to the ER. The pain was not subsiding, but getting worse. I checked into the ER at 1:00 a.m. and waited in the lobby for what seemed like an eternity. Finally, they moved me into a room, where I waited some more...all the while in excruciating pain! It took at least 45 minutes before they finally came in a started an IV for me with an anti-inflammatorys and pain reliever.

After taking four vials of blood and a urine sample, the doctor determined that I had a kidney stone. What? A kidney stone, how in the world did I get one of those? I guess I always had associated kidney stones with much older people. Of course, to be sure the doctor ordered a CAT scan and it confirmed that I did have a kidney stone, 4mm in size to be exact. According to the doctor, it was small enough that I should pass it on my own, but if not I would need to have a follow-up with a Urologist.

I finally checked out of the ER at 5:30 a.m. completely exhausted and still in a tremendous amount of pain.

Here it is Friday, and still I have not passed the stone that I could see. The pain is still there and I just feel so helpless. I hate being tied down at home, not able to go to work. I'm not sick very often and this is just killing me. I am thankful for Justin and my mom, they have been so good to take care of me. I just wish that this would pass already. I have no appetite, and when I finally do, the medication just makes me sick anyway.

I've been trying to stay positive and optimistic, but it's hard. I pray that relief comes soon.

Mindee's Baby Shower

2009-09-07T18:55:00.003-06:00

On Saturday, I hosted and organized a baby shower for my dear friend Mindee. Mindee and I have been friends for 10-years and I was so honored to help celebrate her new arrival. I know that she and Richard will be great parents! Their son Draegon is due mid-October.

I was also really excited to have our friend Brandy in town from Idaho. She was so gracious to help me pick up the cake, gifts and get the decorating taken care of. Brandy is expecting as well; she and Mindee are due within weeks of each other. This will be Brandy's third; a little girl.

We had a great turn-out and Mindee received tons of cute outfits and supplies to help her prepare for Draegon's arrival. Now we just count down the days...we can't wait!

Me, Brandy and Mindee

Family Reunion

2009-08-28T19:46:00.009-06:00

Last weekend was the inaugural Adamson family reunion. Through the years it seemed more and more like the only time that we would ever see each other were at weddings and funerals, which was unfortunate. Spearheaded by my Great Aunt JoAnne, the family reunion finally came to be.

The Adamson family is my father’s side of our family. My father is actually an only child, but has tons of cousins who almost feel like aunts and uncles to me. It was so great to be able to catch up with cousins I haven’t seen in years and to meet some of my great aunts and uncles that I haven’t seen since I was a child. The reunion was a huge success, with over 100 relatives in attendance, we agreed that we should make this a bi-annual event.

We also had a chance to get some family pictures, which is great. Here are just a few.

The Magee Family

Dad and all his first cousins

My Great Aunts and Uncle

As we mingled and talked about old times, it really made me miss my grandmother. She passed away ten years ago this past May. How I wished that she could have been there to share in the moment. She would have loved spending time with her siblings while she watched all the grandkids play in the yard. I miss her so much, but I know that she was with us in spirit.

A Bit of a Lull…

2009-08-06T17:00:00.000-06:00

Sorry it’s been awhile since I’ve posted anything. I assure you we have been plenty busy. We are winding down with the summer activities and getting ready to ramp up for fall, which includes the start of our busy bowling season…so we better enjoy the time we have left.

All of our softball leagues are over or soon to be, except our co-ed league. I have to brag a little and say that we are totally kicking some butt. We are currently 11-0 and I don’t want to jinx it but I think we have a strong chance of winning the league. There are 18 teams in the league and we still have about a month’s worth of games to play, but I will keep you updated on our progress!

We have lots of plans coming up so there will more posts in the future. To highlight a few; we are going to some BBQs, Oktoberfest and my dad’s side of the family is having a reunion, so stay tuned!

Kenny Chesney Concert

2009-07-24T10:54:00.007-06:00

Last night we went to the long awaited Kenny Chesney concert. He hasn't been to Salt Lake in two years, so everyone was way excited. To put it simply...he did not disappoint. Even though it was 100 degree weather, we braved it because we enjoy his music so much.

Lady Antebellum

Miranda Lambert

The concert orginally showcased three opening acts, but Sugarland cancelled because the lead singer lost her voice, big bummer. To make up for their absence, the other opening acts extended their sets. I was happy for this because I was really looking forward to seeing a new band, Lady Antebellum. They were awesome! Miranda Lambert was okay. I knew a few of her songs, but honestly felt she dragged on too long...or maybe it was just the anticipation of knowing that Kenny was due up next.

Justin and I (Do we look worn from the sun? We were!)

Marc and Bonnie

Can I just say, Kenny was awesome! He always puts on a great show. I think we all went home horse from singing! Hopefully he comes back again next year.

Towards the end of the concert, Kenny took a short break and made a slight wardrobe change. Yes, he came out sporting a Utes hat...go Kenny! Justin was none too pleased, but I thoroughly enjoyed it!

4th of July Weekend

2009-07-06T21:57:00.004-06:00

I was lucky enough to enjoy an extended 4th of July weekend. My work decided to schedule a summer plant shut-down, so my holiday weekend started on Thursday!

We had quite a busy schedule of events planned.

Thursday was my lazy day. I spent the day at home catching up on household chores and doing a bit of shopping.

On Friday, Justin and I drove out with our friends Chad and Brandon to Wendover. We met up with a group of our bowling friends. We had all purchased tickets to see Ron White, the comedian. We were not disappointed, he was so hilarious…we would definitely see him again.

Saturday we drove home from Wendover, took a short recovery nap and then headed to my grandma’s house to meet up with my parents and Matt and Ashley. My grandma lives across the street from the West Jordan Park, which holds an annual 4th of July rodeo and carnival with rides and games. We wandered around there for a few hours and then watched fireworks from grandma’s house.

And lastly, Sunday night we joined our friends Kate and Ryan and their children Nathan and Abby at the Bee’s game. The Bee’s were victorious over the Tacoma Rainiers; 6-2. We had a great time and enjoyed the wonderful fireworks display that followed the game!

Happy Birthday Matt!

2009-07-02T15:00:00.006-06:00

Today is my younger brother, Matt's birthday. He is the big 25! We are 2 1/2 years apart, but were always very close growing up. In fact, for sometime many people thought that we were twins because we were so close in height. Of course, I stayed short and my brother sprouted. I'm glad though, because brothers should always be taller than their sisters..hehe.

I am thankful for the closeness that I have with my brother and his wonderful wife Ashley! I hope you have a great birthday; Justin and I are looking forward to celebrating it with you on Saturday.

Thanksgiving Point

2009-06-27T18:28:00.016-06:00

Today I went with my mom, grandmother and aunts to Thanksgiving Point. We were debating between seeing the gardens or the dinosaur museum. Since it was rather hot outside, we decided upon the dinosaur museum. I'm glad we did, because I had never had a chance to go to one.

The musuem is called the North American Museum of Ancient Life. It is a museum that takes you through the various prehistoric time periods. There were much more than just dinosaurs to see; they also showed prehistoric plants, fish and insects.

Upon entering the exhibit, they introduce you to what it would be like to be an archeologist uncovering fossils at a dig site. They had these waxy-like figures that looked so real! They were actually kind of creepy.

Mom, Grandma and Aunt Bobbie

I took so many pictures, but below are a few of my favorites. It was so amazing to see this exhibit, it's hard to believe that these animals actually walked the Earth at one time. They are so enormous!

This final picture was my favorite thing. The largest Sea Turtle...so cool!

Happy Father's Day!

2009-06-21T12:43:00.004-06:00

Happy Father's Day! Thanks for always being there for us, we love you all !

BBQ

2009-06-21T12:17:00.001-06:00

Our friends John and Kory invited us a to BBQ last night, although it wasn't much of barbequing weather. There were severe thunderstorms and flash flood warnings in Salt Lake County. John and Kory live in Clinton, which is 30 minutes North of us, so by the time we got there, the rain had substantially died down. It was still very cold outside for June. We made the best of it and still barbequed until the wee hours of the morning.

There was plenty of food and drink to go around. As you can tell by the picture below, the guys were feeling quite good by this time. Justin has been friends with these guys since he was 15-years old. Of course, they are all bowlers...big surprise.

John, Russell, Jason and Justin

Kory and I

Update

2009-06-15T12:53:00.000-06:00

I am happy to report that after 15 days of using my eye medication, things seem to be clearing up some. I am now able to wear my contacts with no problems and I’m not experiencing the pain and discomfort I had previously been feeling. My eyes still feel slightly tired and a little dry, but I still have 15 more days of medication, so let’s hope it fully clears up by then. Thank goodness for modern medicine!

Happy Birthday Gabby!

2009-06-12T12:00:00.004-06:00

In November 2007, Justin and I made an unexpected addition to our family. A shy and timid little kitten hitched a ride home with my grandmother while she was riding along with my uncle who is a truck driver. She lived for a short time with my grandmother, but it became apparent that she needed a real home. My mother was visiting my grandmother and noticed the little kitten, she knew that she would be perfect for Justin and I. The rest is history.

We immediately became attached to her. She is our "baby" and we love her very much. Today she is two-years old and we have had her for a year and a half. Although we weren't prepared and didn't plan on Gabby, we are thankful that she is in our lives. She is so entertaining and we often wonder if she knows that she is a cat and not a human. She is lovable, playful and just a joy...not to mention she is just the cutest little thing!

Old Friends

2009-06-11T12:42:00.006-06:00

Last night I had the pleasure of attending a baby shower in honor of my dear friend Parisa Campbell and her upcoming arrival Brynley. I am so happy and excited for Parisa to become a mother. She received tons of cute and functional items to help her care for her baby. I can’t help but be a little bias to the outfit that I picked out for her….so dang cute! (Parisa: You must send me a picture when she wears it for the first time!)

Parisa with the outfit I got her!

We had such a good time catching up with everyone. We all met when we were kids; we were next door neighbors growing up. Afsonai, Jeila, Parisa and their parents Terry and Mohsen lived on the west side of our house. The Thompson’s; Megan and Sara lived on the east side of our house. Megan, Sara and their mother Jennifer were also in attendance. Sara is a new mother. Her daughter Zoe is 4-months old and just the cutest; it was great getting to see her!

I honestly felt like it was a huge reunion. We were reminiscing about all the fun times we shared growing up, and are convinced no one else had as fun a childhood as us! I think we had the most wild imaginations, we were never, ever bored.

I am so thankful that we have been able to keep in touch over the years, even though it may have been awhile between reunions. We vowed that we would do a better job of keeping in contact. It was great to see all of you!

Sara & Zoe, Megan, Parisa, Afsonai, Me and Jeila

Until next time...

Ashley's Graduation

2009-06-06T16:04:00.003-06:00

Today my sister-in-law Ashley graduated from Everest College. She earned an Associate of Science in Criminal Justice. It was a very nice ceremony and we are all very proud of her. Congrats Ashley!

Finally I Have An Answer

2009-05-31T21:47:00.011-06:00

For the last few weeks, I have been suffering with severe dry eyes and pain. I initially thought I had irritated my eyes by rubbing them, that I needed to take a rest from my contacts, or worse I had pinkeye. I decided to take a break from the contacts, but I had no relief.

Then I started thinking about what had recently changed that could be causing me to have these symptoms. After some thought, I remembered that I had changed my BC medication a couple of months ago. But why on earth would that be related?? So I dug out the insert and began glancing through it...and to my surprise, BC can interfere with your ability to wear contact lenses. But why? This of course peeked my interest, so I began researching it. And would you believe it, tear production is directly related to hormone levels. Who would've thought!

I immediately scheduled an appointment with my eye doctor and he said that due to the climate, sitting at a computer all day, and my hormones...the glands that help secrete tears were clogged. Now I have to use an ointment every night before I go to bed for a MONTH! I am glad that I finally know what is wrong, I just hope it will clear up. This is really, really uncomfortable!

Summer Treat

2009-05-16T16:49:00.010-06:00

Since the weather has been so nice lately, I figured it was time to make a refreshing pre-summer dessert. I decided upon the tasty and very easy to make "Fruit Pizza". It involves a sugar cookie crust, cream cheese spread and any fruits you want for topping.

I mixed together the sugar cookie ingredients and then pressed the dough out onto a pizza sheet. It only needs to bake about 8-10 minutes at 350 degrees.

Tada...a giant sugar cookie!

While the cookie crust was baking, I mixed together cream cheese, sugar and vanilla extract, which will serve as the frosting.

Once the cookie crust is cooled, spread the frosting mixture on top. Then you can top with any fruits you want. I chose strawberries, grapes and raspberries.

Enjoy!

Happy Birthday Justin!

2009-05-09T08:00:00.007-06:00

Today is Justin’s birthday, so I couldn’t resist digging out a picture of him as a child, isn't he a cutie?!

Justin and I met when we were 15-years old (of course at a bowling center) and I think both of us would agree, we had an instant connection. Our journey was a long and adventurous one. We briefly dated when we were 19; however, the timing wasn’t quite right. We both moved on to other relationships, but I think it was obvious that we never stopped caring for each other and we were still able to maintain a close friendship. That friendship is the reason I believe we are together today. As fate would have it, we both became single after struggling in unhappy relationships. In 2006 we began dating again and I knew instantly that I would marry Justin.

Justin brings out the best in me and I am completely at peace being the person that I am because I know that is enough for him. He is my best friend and has been for a very long time. He encourages me to strive to be better in all aspects of my life. I am thankful that our paths brought us back to each other; there is no other person that I would want to spend my life with.

Happy Birthday Honey, I love you!!!

Reno Recap

2009-05-04T17:03:00.000-06:00

I finally arrived home from Reno after a 10-day stay. I was there participating in the USBC Women’s Bowling Championships as well as the Queens tournament. The competition was challenging and although I wish I could have bowled better, I am still thankful that I went and I know that I was able to bring back valuable information to help me improve my game.

I also had a great time bowling with the ladies from Salt Lake. We always have such a blast together. This year, my regular doubles partner had to cancel, so I ended up bowling with a gal from Syracuse, New York named Jen. She was way cool and I am glad I got the opportunity to meet and bowl with her.

Once bowling was over, I then participated as a delegate to the USBC National Convention. At the convention I attended a number of educational sessions about rule changes, new programs, and we voted on legislative amendments. It is a great honor to be a part of this event and to be involved in the “democratic” process of the sport I love. As many organizations today, we struggle with a steady decline in our membership. I wish that others could love the sport as much as I do and see the value in becoming a lifelong member. Bowling has been a part of my life since I was 10-years-old and I have been involved in the administrative side since I was 14. It is nice to know that we have a voice in the structure and rules that govern our sport.

Along with the convention, I attended two TV tapings of bowling matches. The first was the finals of the Queens tournament, which aired live on ESPN2. The second was Bowling’s Clash of Champions, which will air on CBS this Sunday. Both events were really exciting and it was great to see some of the game’s pro athletes in action.

Although, I had a lot going on to keep me busy in Reno, I must say that 10 days is way to long too be away from Justin and Gabby. I missed them terribly. Justin was able to fly in for two days to watch me bowl Queens; it was so nice having him there to support me! Thanks Honey for coming!

Vegas

2009-04-07T17:12:00.008-06:00

Well, we survived our trip to Vegas. I say survived because, we literally had the worst drive I have ever had. It was raining in Salt Lake when we left and it continued as we made our way southbound. We drove through a rain/snow mix the entire way and a full out blizzard through Cedar City. There was so much water on the road, that we when passed a semi truck…visibility was zero. It finally cleared up once we hit St. George.

Our weekend was pretty hectic. We bowled of course, but our squads were during the night. Saturday we didn’t get done bowling until about 2:00 a.m. The shot was as we expected, very challenging. By the time we were done I think all of us were physically and emotionally exhausted. I am not thrilled with the way I bowled, but it was good practice for me for Women’s Nationals and Queens at the end of the month.

Here are our team pictures

Besides bowling, we did do some sight-seeing. We walked part of the strip, did a little bit of gambling and of course watched the fountain show at the Bellagio, my most favorite thing in Vegas. We also spent some time at the older part of Vegas, on Fremont Street. There was a little higher volume of people in town, because unknown to us, the MGM Grand was hosting the Academy of Country Music Awards, so our last night we stayed in and watched a movie and spent some time at the hot tub.

We had a good time together and enjoyed spending the much needed time away, but we are glad to be home. We missed our little Gabby a lot. We can tell she was starting to get restless because when we arrived home she had made quite the mess. Toys were scattered everywhere, she had all our bedroom closets opened and had dragged a shirt out of my closet, and chewed up a Band-Aid from the first aid kit. I have to say this is out of character for her, but I think she made her point...she doesn’t like being left behind.

Missing My Honey

2009-03-30T13:35:00.004-06:00

This past weekend Justin decided to bowl a tournament in Butte, Montana. I decided that I didn’t want to bowl and therefore, did not to make the trip with him. Instead, I decided this was a good weekend for me to host the monthly activity with my family. So…off Justin went. And I stayed behind doing shopping, planning and hosting my family on Saturday night.

Justin left on Friday afternoon, so we said our good-bye’s on Friday morning before I went to work. Friday night wasn’t so hard, because Justin usually works Friday night at the bowling alley until about 2 a.m. By the time he gets home, I am already fast asleep. Saturday nights and Sunday’s are our days together, so those weren’t that fun to spend alone. He had planned to be home late Sunday, but of course when does anything ever go to plan. There was a severe storm hitting the area on Sunday, which has caused poor visibility and really bad driving conditions. There was even a plane that had to make an emergency landing at the airport near the bowling alley because of the weather. They shut down all the roads and thus, Justin has been stuck in Montana.

I just have to say that this situation totally sucks! I miss him so much! Gabby misses him too!

Finally, he called me at noon and they were just passing Idaho Falls. If the weather holds up I am hoping he will be home by this evening when I arrive home from work. I’m thinking that next year he may stay home; driving up north at this time of year is still very dangerous and unpredictable.

Luckily, Justin and I will have time to catch up because we are headed to Vegas this weekend for a bowling tournament! I haven’t been to Vegas in like 5-years and Justin hasn’t been since he turned 21. Viva Las Vegas!!

Saturday, Saturday!

2009-03-29T21:03:00.007-06:00

Saturday I hosted the monthly activity with my aunts, grandmother and cousins. I decided to take an idea my friend Kate led me to and decorate wooden frames. Everyone seemed to have a great time and enjoyed the chance to let their creative juices run wild. Here are a few pictures of us working hard on our frames.

Here are some of the finished products. They turned out great! Everyone was able to add their own little touches to make their frames unique.

Another reason we were all together was to celebrate my Grandmother's 81st birthday. We are so blessed that she is such a strong woman and hope that she will be with us for many years to come. Happy Birthday Grandma!

Welcome Spring???

2009-03-26T16:25:00.000-06:00

As you can tell by my blog, I am totally excited for spring! But it seems to be having a really hard time convincing us that it is actually spring. Yet again, I awoke to a blizzard! Honestly, can you believe this? Saturday I was outside cleaning up the deck and enjoying the 70-degree weather and today I had to pull out my winter coat. This is such a downer!

I have been going stir crazy being cooped up in the house for long enough! Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like there is an end in sight in the near future. More cold weather to come, yeah for us.

Early St. Patrick's Day!

2009-03-16T17:45:00.003-06:00

Saturday our friends Kate and Ryan hosted an early St. Patrick’s Day celebration, since this year it falls on a Tuesday. It has become a yearly tradition that began when Kate and Ryan started dating, and Justin and I are always excited to attend.

This year was a blast! We enjoyed plenty of drinks and great food! We also enjoyed the Rockband performances…very entertaining! I don’t think that we have laughed that hard in a long time. Thanks Kate and Ryan for a great time…see you again next year!

Justin and I in our green

Burnout

2009-03-10T12:55:00.002-06:00

I have come to realize that over the past few weeks I have felt completely burned out. I literally just feel exhausted with life right now. Maybe it’s the fact that there is so much negative energy floating around in these current times or maybe it’s that as soon as the weather starts to show the smallest sign of spring, we get dumped on with snow! I think I yearn for spring so much because it symbolizes growth and renewal. Its official, I hate winter. Enough is enough already!

The only thing right now that is bringing me peace is spending relaxing evenings at home with Justin. Thank goodness for him, he is the only thing keeping me sane. I have no desire to go out and socialize, I just feel like I need to stop and breathe. Work is overwhelming and bowling is even worse. Of course, there is no end in sight until May. Two more months of go, go, go!

Sigh…

Junior Returns

2009-02-18T20:58:00.005-07:00

I am a huge Seattle Mariners fan and I have been for a long time. Over the years I have watched the team I love suffer through a lengthy rebuilding period. Every year I think that we are going to break .500 and maybe have a chance at a playoff appearance, but my hopes quickly fade. It has been a long time since I have been excited for my team to start a season...but this year I am!

Ken Griffey, Jr. is coming back to Seattle!!! Let's hope he can stay healthy. I would love to see my favorite player end his career where it all began.

I had to blog about this monumental event; partly because Justin thinks I am silly...but mostly because for once I have a glimmer of hope that my team won't take dead last!

Valentine's

2009-02-16T17:47:00.006-07:00

This was our first Valentine's Day as a married couple. On Friday, Justin sent me these beautiful roses at work! Aren't I lucky?!

For Valentine's, rather than going out and braving the crowded restaurants, I decided to order out and have a nice quiet dinner at home. We enjoyed a lovely dinner by candlelight and just enjoyed each other's company. I also splurged and stopped and got some chocolate covered strawberries...they were delicious.

Everyday I am so thankful that Justin is in my life, I could have never asked for a more loving and caring husband! I think about how lucky we are that God gave us a second chance at happiness with each other that I am never going to take it for granted. Not many people can say that they had another chance at the "one that got away". We are truly blessed.

Girls Weekend

2009-02-02T16:45:00.001-07:00

This past weekend I had the chance to get away and spend some quality girl time with my family. We enjoyed a weekend at lovely Wolf Creek. Wolf Creek is located in Eden, which is about 15 miles east of Ogden. There is a small ski resort, golf course and a reservoir for boating in the summer. It truly is a beautiful and peaceful place.

While we were there we had plenty to eat, watched movies, and played lots of games. Bingo turned into quite the competition! We all had brought some prizes from home to share with the group and instantly people were fighting over the prizes that they wanted. It really was quite funny to see grown women racing to the prize table to grab that coveted prize that had their eye on all night!

We were also able to become reacquainted with knitting, thanks to my Aunt Gail. I seemed to have caught on really quickly because I was able to finish a whole scarf in one sitting and I am half-way through my second one. Some people might find knitting to be boring, but I find it really relaxing.

I am thankful for the closeness that I have with my grandmother, aunts and cousins. I would not trade it for anything in the world. I truly am lucky!

Sugar Bowl Champions!

2009-01-04T12:38:00.000-07:00

The Utah Utes pulled out a stunning victory against Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. Final score 31-17!!!! Way to end a perfect season!

GO UTES!!!

2009-01-02T13:43:00.000-07:00

The University of Utah Utes (my proud alma mater) play the Alabama Crimson Tide today in the Sugar Bowl. The Utes had an incredible season and I hope they can top it off with a win today. GO UTES!!!

Happy New Year

2009-01-02T13:20:00.002-07:00

For New Year's Eve we had a small group of friends over to our house. We played board games, enjoyed snacks and of course some drinks. I decided to play bartender and whip up my attempt at mudslides, which is one of my favorite drinks...when I do drink. They can be a bit dangerous because they taste so much like a shake that you can put back a few without realizing how buzzed you are getting. I think that Kate and Mindee would agree that they turned out really good.

Kate and I enjoying our mudslides!

Kate and Ryan

Mindee and Richard

Justin and I

Kate and Ryan were married in April; Mindee and Richard in September; and Justin and I in October. This was all our first New Year's Eve as married couples. I am glad we could all share it together!

Jazz Game

2009-01-02T13:03:00.000-07:00

A great perk of my work is that each Christmas we get the opportunity to go to a Jazz game and experience it from the suite level. We played the Philadelphia 76ers and won 112-95. They had a slow start to the game but after halftime they kicked it into gear. We had a blast at the game and we were able to spend some time outside of work with my co-workers. We are avid Jazz fans and always try to attend as many games as possible. Go JAZZ!!

Justin and I sporting our Jazz jerseys

Husband Tag

2008-12-23T16:09:00.000-07:00

My friend Kate tagged me awhile ago, but I have been so busy that I haven’t blogged a thing! I am finally getting around to it now, so here are some interesting facts about my wonderful husband, Justin!

5 Things Justin Loves:
1. April
2. Gabby
3. Family
4. Bowling
5. Sports

5 Things on Justin’s To Do List:
1. Finish wrapping Christmas presents (he’s almost done)
2. Take out the garbage
3. Laundry
4. Help his lovely wife take unwanted items to Savers. I designate my Christmas break as and extra opportunity for “Spring Cleaning”, so he has to help ;)

5 Snacks Justin Loves:
1. Cool Ranch Doritos
2. Peanut Butter-Chocolate Chip Cookies
3. Cookie Dough Shakes
4. Granola Bars
5. Chocolate Pudding

5 Things you may not know about Justin:
1. He is very sensitive
2. He is an avid BYU fan
3. He is the most ticklish person I have every met!
4. He is an amazing bowler! Most of our friends know that, but I am still so proud of all of his accomplishments!
5. He is allergic to cats, but he loves Gabby so much…we could never get rid of her now!

5 Places Justin has lived:
1. Salt Lake City
2. Cottonwood Heights
3. Murray

5 Quirky things about Justin:
1. He bites his nails!
2. He is very, very tidy and more often than not is cleaning up after me
3. He “complains” of elbow pain when he bowls, so he invested in a full arm-length wrap and its bright blue. Everyone teases him about being Allen Iverson
4. He won’t wear tennis shoes with jeans

5 People I want to tag:
1. Mauri
2. Britney
3. Amber

Gardner Village

2008-12-09T21:24:00.000-07:00

We have a long standing tradition that every month we organize an activity just for the girls in our family. I really look forward to our monthly activities because I get to spend some great quality time with my mom, grandma, aunts and cousins. Every December to celebrate Christmas we have a gift exchange, dinner and then browse around at Gardner Village. Here are some pictures of our adventure this past weekend.

Me and my gifts

Aunt Tracy was my Secret Santa, she got me two movies. Meet the Parents and 27 Dresses. I was my Aunt Gail's Secret Santa. I got her this beautiful and yummy basket full of baked goods from Kneaders.

Aunt Gail and her Kneaders basket

Mom and her present

After dinner, we drove down and browsed around at Gardner Village. We took so long looking in each of the little shops that we didn't get to all of them before they closed. We did manage to make it to Sweet Afton's...of course. We can never pass up that free sample of fudge. While we were outside waiting for my aunts to get their fudge, I snapped this picture of my cousin Felina "milling around" with the strange looking Christmas Elves.

Back: Mom, Aunt Donna, Nicole, Aunt Tracy, and me

Front: Grandma and Aunt Bobbie

Deck The Halls

2008-11-30T00:04:00.000-07:00

Now that Thanksgiving is officially passed, I thought it was high time to pull out all the Christmas decorations and trim the tree. Of course, I couldn't do it by myself...a little helper put the finishing touches on.

My work here is done!

Honeymoon

2008-11-26T10:30:00.000-07:00

This is a little late, but here a few pictures from our Honeymoon to Maui. This picture to the left is of the beach right across the street from our condo in Kihei. It was so beautiful there, we would go over at sunset and listen to the waves and watch the sun go down. There wasn't too much beach activity going on at that time so it was really peaceful.

We also drove and spent the day in Lahaina. Here are Justin and I at the Banyan tree. It is in front of the Lahaina courthouse and was planted in 1873. It was amazing how big this tree was. It stretches across the courtyard and covers about 200 feet.

We also took the plunge and drove the very windy and narrow road to Hana. It was well worth the drive. Absolutely beautiful scenery! Some of the highlights were the Rainbow Eucalyptus trees, the black sand beach and of course the waterfalls that are all along the drive. Here are a few pictures.

We were also able to take in a Luau on our last night there. It was really good food and great entertainment!

300 Games

2008-11-23T18:25:00.000-07:00

On our first day back to bowling from our honeymoon, October 20th, Justin shot a 300 game and an 834 series. People were teasing him about the fact that marriage has been good to his bowling game. Well, there must have been something to that because exactly one month to the day, I shot a 300 as well in my ladies scratch league. I also shot my high series of 766. Here is a picture of the bowling ball that I shot it with, of course it was recommended by my hubby.

New Beginning

2008-11-19T23:08:00.000-07:00

For anyone that knows us, they would agree that we are one busy couple! I work full-time and bowl three leagues a week. Justin works a full-time job, part-time job and bowls four leagues a week. Needless to say, unless you work or bowl with us, it isn't always easy to keep in touch. Since we just got married, I figured that there couldn't be a better time to start a blog.

So here it is!