My ACTUAL b-day!!

So Sunday the 24th was my actual birthday. We had a mellow sunday-- church, lunch, played pictionary, watched a movie , dinner and then we went to see Joshua Creek at Wines Park. The music was sooo good!!!!! We had such a great time. So the birthday weekend has come to a close and considering a was recovering from surgery last birthday THIS one was incredible. So thanks to all of you who are a part of my life. I love you all!

My b-day continues...

Saturday night we went to the "PIE" in South Jordan. They have GREAT pizza and I love the atmosphere!! So we had a great dinner, we ended up talking in the parking lot for hours and the kids had a great time with the fountain. Sorry but I don't know how to flip pictures on the slide show. What a weekend!

Jackie's Birthday Weekend!

We had a great time friday night. We picked up the boys from school and off we went.It was a no make up, casual hang out with the fam. kind of night. First bowling- which was too much fun. Hey we discovered that I am a left handed bowler after all. I sucked all night and was so frustrated and then it just hit me why don't I try with my left-- I am left handed after all (even though I do most sports right handed!) and sure enough that was the key. I bowled SO great after that!!! Noah just loved it. His main trick was pushing the ball off the ramp with his head-- such a boy!) Brandon had so serious power. The boys loved watching the m.p.h after he threw the ball and how the pins would go flying everywhere!!Then we drove down to Provo to TGIFriday's. The food was so delicious we pigged out for sure. I just couldn't get enough of the mouth watering food. As most people know I'm pretty strict about what I eat BUT not last night. It was soooo good. Besides-- they are no calories on your birthday!!! Afterwards, we stopped at barnes and noble to picked up some books. I actually bought a book titled "what would Jackie do?" can you believe it!!! It's all about "Jackie O" whom I was named after. So a great night!! Let the fun continue... 2 weekends in a row of fun I couldn't ask for anything more!

Lake Las Vegas

The perfect weekend!

This past weekend was AMAZING! Life altering... FUN!..romantic... educational....Inspiring...and dare I say it.. pure joy!! We laughed, we cried, we were so moved our hearts ached and smiled so much our cheeks hurt. The hotel was luxurious and one was treated with such respect "May I help you Mr. Harrison?" Let me get that door for you I mean you would have thought we were royalty. It felt WONDERFUL. Everything was HIGH quality. What can be said about the Ritz Carlton??? you just have to experience it. We were on Cloud 9. We wished we could feel that way all the time. Mainly the respect! The view was gorgeous, the lake refreshing, the Primerica meetings which I thought might be too long were incredible. The first night was semi-formal with the best elegant meal I have ever eaten, the ballroom was beautiful with the waiters that actually place the napkin on your lap! The speakers, the recognition-- pure sophistication and then the DJ jumped in and it was a party!!! Great food, amazing company, and fun! That night by the lake which was filled with little shops and restaurants a band named the "hollywood stones" (which was a rolling stones cover band) played -- we danced in the moonlight and had a blast! The next day we had AMAZing speakers , you were on the edge on your seat , so entertaining and soulful- I learned more about the economy both in the states and globally, history and world leaders than I have in college. My mind was about to explode with this new wealth of knowledge. ANd for anyone not involved in the financial world - it's just great information to have and so much of it you could apply to any aspect of your life-- I can honestly say I improved my marriage by attending this conference-- we dicussed at length about having united hopes and dreams. So much of the meetings we about dreams, living your life to the fullest and achieving your goals. Really ANYONE would have benefited from such an event. Then we had a break in the afternoon and Brandon and I went kayaking by ourselves and swam in the lake. It was so much fun!!! Then we had a gourmet BBQ at the Ritz with the rest of the group like 1300 of us!! The food was delicious and courtyard breathtaking. By the lake Kenny G was performing so our office hung out together we went to our RVP's (Josh Nichol) suite that had a balcony over looking the lake and the concert. We were there most of the night probably 30 of us - having our own little party. We haven't been around a party where most people are drinking in a LONG time everyone was so laid back and just having a good time. It was awesome! There was even a lightning show above the concert and the music was sooooo romantic. We concluded the meetings on Sunday and again we were blown away by the speakers. We left there with not only our batteries recharged but full of life again. We did it all! We went to 2 concerts, we danced, we hung out with friends, we were in the lap of luxury, we ate the most exquisite food, we went to the beach at the lake, kayaked, swam etc etc.. It was the perfect weekend. It had it all!! We knew it would be so great to have the kids also but it would have completely changed the dynamic of this trip so we'll bring them next time!! I'll post pics soon!!I just have to say that Primerica is an awesome company changing so many peoples lives!! If you ever come across someone from the company please take the time to really listen to what they have to say or go to a meeting. They can really educated you about finances-life insurance, securities/investments, home loans where you actually pay off your balance in half the time etc. When the principles are applied you can really change your future. It's so worth it!As Brandon and I are learning and passing state exams we are changing all our bad finacial habits and its so liberating!! Primerica its awesome!

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL!!!!

The boys had their first games tonight. To give them a break and focus more on their academics we took them out of competetive soccer and put them in rec. And yes they are back to their super star status! Jordan's game 10-0 which Jordan scored 7!!! of the 10 goals!!!!! AMAZING!!! And Aidan's game was 3-0 and ofcourse Aidan scored 2 of the 3 goals!! Aidan doesn't even like to play forward and yet he did AWESOME!! Rec is so different Jordan's coach even offered the boys oreos during half time to make them more hyper were his words-- Brandon ofcourse cringed!! It's oranges and water or nothing in our book. And our Jordan has learned well and told the coach he would not eat any!!! Brandon usually coaches and is very skilled but with work he has to pass this year-- that's not going to stop him from making comments and getting involved though-he even kept some of the kids after last training to retrain them : ) The coach doesn't mind! Soccer season is here!!

Vegas Baby!

We are off to Vegas this weekend. We are going to the Ritz for a Primerica Convention. It'll be so great to stay in a 5 star resort with no kids, relax, go to amazing dinners and learn! I really like a lot of Brandon's co workers so it'll be fun. I would love to say it is a free trip but we did have to pay last year for the conference but they all say that we will NOT be disappointed and that its a trip we will always remember.Besides who wouldn't want to stay at the Ritz for a weekend! I'll post pics when we get back!

Moving forward

I keep pushing myself to the limit and it feels awesome! I've been riding 18 miles with resistance while I listen to my iPod. By the way-Isn't music amazing! You can instantly travel to a nightclub, a show ( remember SOMA in SD) , the beach, your teenage years etc etc. As you listen you can travel back in time and experience that great moment again. I miss going to shows- a few bucks and a night of fun. I remember a few years back going to Canes in PB to see Buck O Nine. - Even though I am so much older now and even the band has kids ( I spoke with them) it was still so much fun. My boys are really getting into music now and its so fun to listen to my stuff in the car or kitchen without having to think twice because now they think its cool and we are finally passed the stage of listening to "kid" music. Well except Noah he's still little. So I've been pushing myself, trying to do it all to experiencec life to it's fullest. I'm about to turn 33 but when I look in the mirror I feel 21. I actually think I am in better shape now then when I was 21! But I want to keep going and acheive my ultimate goals- physically, culturally, spiritually etc etc. You only live once so why not. I often think of porno for pyros ( a band) and in one of my favorite songs it says" all the guys who really have the money are too old to have a good time with it!" We need to experience life now- Not I will be happy when .. or someday we will... we need to make it happen now before the moment passes us by- so I'm trying to move foward , take a good look at myself and see what it is I want to experience - Granted I am a mom and there's all those responsibilities blah blah blah but there is also fun a lot of fun to be had no matter what your age and we can't lose sight of who we are and what we want. As Darcy shared with me being a Mother is what we 'do' but it's not entirely who we are. We are human "beings" and sometimes we need to just "be" -- we are not human 'doings' Sometimes I forget about that. So while we are moving to have the ultimate life lets also just be and enjoy every moment!

Jordan

Well tonight Jordan officially babysat for the first time. I was a little nervous and even contacted the Lehi police to make sure it was ok to leave him ( I didn't want to get in trouble because he's too young or something) and it was. So Brandon and I went on an afternoon date. We left around 4:20 pm went to see Mama Mia which was Great and then to eat dinner right next door to the theater. We brought our cell phones and told him to call if anything and that he was not Jordan the older brother tonight but a responsible babysitter and what I expected him to do etc etc. At first it was hard to relax during the movie (Noah was napping though but would eventually wake up to us not being there) but then I got into it and thought WOW this is great we can go out ALOT more now!! He did an amazing job and I am VERY proud of him. We paid him $5 for all his hard work and that he has officially been approved for afternoon dates -- then when he is 11 he can take a babysitters course at the Lehi Legacy Center ( that teaches everything from CPR, first aid basic toddler care etc) and then he can babysit at night. We lucked out in summer because it gets dark so late we got back a little after 7 and everything was great and all three boys were very happy and had a fun time. Aidan said he was a really fun babysitter. We would have him take the class sooner but you have to be 11 to register. So next year. This starts a whole new chapter for us. At first he just wanted to do it for free and then we agreed on $1 a date but tonight I gave him $5 since it was the first time and we were all a little nervous -- except Brandon he had complete confidence in him. So Jordan was so excited to get $5 and we shook hands on $1 a date and that saves us a lot of money!! So it's a win win! Also he can call us ANYTIME and we can just come home for any reason. So here's to first times!!!

The flu!

We have all been suffering through probably the worst stomach flu we have ever had!! As soon as we think its over it comes back to haunt us. Its been a week now and we are still in pj's, drained and cramping like crazy! Luckily we all aren't sleeping in the bathrooms like we were earlier in the week!! It's so hard when you are ALL sick at the same time. It was a nightmare. It hit me the hardest which I was not expecting. I did get it last though so I was able to help everyone as much as I could. Brandon kept saying you already paid your dues with your crazy pregnancies so you aren't going to get sick, or even throw up or anything. I held onto that thought every time I felt blah and then it hit and oh my gosh! I don't think I have ever been this sick-- things I didn't think physically possible happened.I will spare you the gross detail!! I did lose 4 pounds in 2 days so that should give you a clue!! The boys are way better now and Brandon finally had to go back to work. Today is definitley a movie day in pj's and HOPEFULLY we'll be back to somewhat normal by tomorrow!!!I always have my list of things to do - us type A personalities are like that so to be in bed for days has been driving me crazy but when you are that sick you don't even care - you just pull the covers over your head and wish you will wake up and be all better. It did remind me a little too much of my pregnancies and all I went through and sacrificed. I shed many tears I kept thinking it will just be a few days and thank goodness I'm not pregnant!! I could not do it again. 6 months is too long to be that sick.As Karen said we too need a Brady Bunch Alice to clean up this enormous mess and the laundry oh my goodness!!!I can't wait until my house smells fresh and clean again! Anyway hope you are all well and I hope if you did get it that it wasn't too bad!!

More birthdays!

Brandon, Jordan and Noah all have birthdays within days of each other! So it has been non stop parties and get togethers. SO MUCH FUN!!!! Brandon turned 34, Jordan 10 and our little Noah 3! They are amazing and we are so glad that they are part of our family. Happy birthday!! We love you! And Yes We KNOW THAT WE ARE TOO WHITE to be in bathing suits!!! We miss that california sun!!!! With 100 degree dry heat we HAD to get in the water!!!!

Birthdays!