Memories

Here's a little game! I like games....who doesn't? Leave a comment on my blog of a memory that you and I have had together. It doesn't matter if you've known me for a short time, or a long time, anything you remember! Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.Ready, Set, GO

A 21 of July to Remember

Here we are just before the concert chatting with friends who

happen to be seated right behind us.

Listened to Kolbi Callet from consessions--

would rather hang-out with Rachel, Aaron & Lucy Coleman

and Ray's cousin, Jenn-while we chomped caramel popcorn,

laughed at old times and Rob jonesed for a Chicago Dog

cause the ATM machine was angry at his card:)

Don't feel bad, he got one.

I love having a good night out. I feel like we're young again.

Scratch that: younger.

So my anticipation is mounting and I'm tripping about how John Mayer is here,

at USANA with me. Soon I'll be singing all of his music WITH him.

I was totally looking forward to the things he would say.

I was describing it to Cami like this: "I know his music. It doesn't matter what he

plays- it's like a tasty little grab-bag, exciting to imagine

what's in there. I'm just waiting to hear what he'll say because I haven't heard

any of that yet."

Now, if you follow John Mayer you know that often times he's criticized for

what he says. He can pop-off and can be crude. But, hey I love him

and we forgive a lot when we love.

One of the first things Rob notices is that John's looking buff.

He wasn't crude, just silly at times. Yeah, he dropped a couple of swears, but he was fun.
And yes, I took the pictures. No bag check at USANA

Songs he played: Believe, Gravity, Waiting for the World to Change,

Daughters, Bigger than My Body* (fave),

No Such Thing*, Tom Petty's Free Falling, Say,

a George Harrison song, JJ Johnson,

and more.

Cool band and cool horn section.

Rob said he was just o.k. I asked why? Well, wasn't interesting.

No sphinx with sunglasses that bust and expose

shooing lasers and interacts with the audience. Sorry, not a KISS concert,

just a guy, his guitar and some poetic vocals that sometimes

makes me remember and cry.


I'm wish it wasn't over, but that's what happens.
So, I'll pull that bag out every-once-in-a-while and enjoy
what I was there to witness-My History:
I've been to a John Mayer concert and feel a bit more complete.

Halloween: Ghouls and Hooligans

Third eye blind

Kiss me, you fool!

What's new, Pussy Cat?

"Hal and Alice"

LOL, Ray

Best mullet ever!

Tats and Billy Idol lips

Few know how much I love Halloween and a good costume. I've been known to go to great lengths for a laugh. I bought Rob this wig (2006) and thought it was hilarious. So did the fam.

We're one motley crue and totally cracking ourselves up!

Today

My fingers are sore from planting the amazing new lavender, rosemary, russian sage and grasses my dad gave me yesterday. I weeded until I could weed no more. Yea, everything's sore, yet so satisfying to look out at the yard and know you made something better today.
Best part? 1)While you're in the yard you can't hear the phone ring and 2)When you're improving it, the yard doesn't complain. Hum. I have a few things to think about.

I'm also reviewing the quotes in my brain today and can't come up with what best defines me today:
" I feel like I'm taking crazy pills!"-Mugatu, Zoolander
"It's better to say too much then never say what you need to say again."-Say, John Mayer
"I pray to be used by a power greater than myself. It takes consistent effort to live my best life."-Oprah, Bob Greene's Best Life Diet
"A worker [bee] is just over a centimeter long and weighs only about sixty milligrams; nevertheless, she can fly with a load heavier than herself."-The Honey Bee, Secret Life of Bees
OR
"Today I accidentally stepped on a snail on the sidewalk in front of our house. And I thought I too am like that snail. I build a defensive wall around myself, a 'shell' if you will. But my shell isn't made out of a hard, protective substance. Mine is made out of tin-foil and paper bags."- Jack Handey

Poetry in Motion

Speaking of poetry...
I'm thinking of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing and the song in it:

"Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more,

Men were deceivers ever,

One foot in sea and one on shore,

To one thing constant never:

Then sigh not so, but let them go,

And be you blithe and bonny,

Converting all your sounds of woe

Into Hey nonny, nonny."

(Act II, Scene III)

Now, keep in mind my thoughts differ entirely about men. I love that in the movie version, Emma Thompson opens the whole show saying this in her dreamy style and later a fabulous tenor sings to it. Fondness.

Yea, poetry is cool.

Yellowstone '08

Yellowstone 2008

We loved our vacation to wildlife and sportsman's Mecca of the West. I will spare you the copious amounts of animal & scenery snapshots and share verbal highlights instead:

Best Moments:

1. Kids' excitement describing their vacation faves.
2. Rafting the Snake!

3. Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum- further explanation: Not spectacular for the ticket price, however, children loved it and that makes it all worth it for mom and dad.

4. Kids loved tenting-it and cooking over a fire. Perhaps not Dad's preferred moments:)

5. Showers everyday. Running water and toilets. And can I say, "laundry room!"

6. Images of Nature Gallery

7. Merry Piglets Mexican restaurant.

8. Playing and laying in the park at the base of Snow King Resort.

9. The kids enjoyed stopping at the Oregon Trail Museum in Montpillier, Id on the way home.

10. Last stop: BYU Creamery for ice cream.

Thanks fam for the amazing memories and time together. Next year: We're buying a family raft and going for it!

Lots of 3's TAG

Cami, I can do hard things:)

3 Joys- Happy family, road-tripping, The Spirit

3 Fears- My kids being offended or hurt, migraines, forgetting my locker combo...still! lol

3 Goals- Finish degree and interpret for the Deaf, 15 lbs less, and be in the temple with my whole family

3 Obsessions- cookies, music, my bathrooms to be clean

3 Random- I drove a VW bus and biked all over USA, I owned snakes in high school and college and I pierced my nose on my 23rd birthday!

3 Tags- Alexis, Monica(Cuca) and Autumn

20 Year Tag

20 Years ago...

I was music and boy-crazy! U2, Tears for Fears, Thompson Twins, INXS, HoJo, Erasure, Yaz, and Depeche.

Camo pants, peace sign sportin', and yes, BIG HAIR!

Hitting all the Church dances and Stomps.

Dance Company and hurdles for the track team, fave: relay 440 m.

Best friend twins, Rach and Bec.

Worked at an ice cream parlor- Farr's Firestick and Chocolate Peanut Butter!

Driving!!!

I drove a Fiat Strada (never heard of it??) Had to turn the wheel like a bus.

Movie Faves: Some Kind of Wonderful, Prince's "Under the Cherry Moon",

and Tears of Endearment- bawled every time.

Journal quote from 1988: "My mom and I got into another one of our

little quarrels this evening about how inconsiderate I am. Well...

I should say lectures cause I didn't talk, she did."

10 Years ago...

Married 2 years to Rob in Salt Lake Temple. One year old son, Harrison is

the light of our lives. And we're so excited to announce there's another

one on the way!

Live in Sandy in a mobile home- it's nice.

Super happy mommy time: I read with and draw for Harrison

probably 3 hours a day and we love it. We sing

learn, nap and enjoy eachother.

We also have wonderful foster boys, Mike and John.

Brought them to live with us from the Utah Boys Ranch

where Rob and I worked for years. We still miss them both.

Journal quote 1998:

" I stop most things for a hug or cuddle, I listen when they speak and speak when they are listening.

I learn/know what they like and don't like.

I foster what they love. I slow down for them. I get down on my knees or sit to talk. I wink, I wave, I tickle, I tease.

I smile...I love. Jessica"

5 Years ago...

2003
This is our sweet family of 5! Harrison is 6; Donovan is 4 and Ivy is 1.

Still in Sandy. I want to freeze my family right

where we are: Boys love sis; We're happy, but we miss

Daddy who works so hard for us on the

night shift.

I love volunteering in Kindergarten, Donovan is so happy in preschool.

I enjoy scrapbooking & quilting,

playgroups,

classic novels- wanting to reread everything from H.S. and college.

I drive a Mercury Villager- love the minivan!

Quote from journal- 2003:

"I'm looking at my nightstand with its many distractions;

• "Thinner Thighs in a Flash" article;
• Political party pamphlet
• novels
• notebooks
• neglected things to do

and what stands out? The scripture written on a scratch piece of paper MATT. 11:28-30

Rest. Peace. Hope. Calm."

3 Years ago...

We're building a house in Saratoga Springs!

Stress- Loving the exciting dreams of settling and beginning new lives with new friends-

on a circle. Love our new neighborhood and our new ward.

I begin exercising at the local gym with friend, Kim and love it.

Good year. Glad it's behind us.

Jornal quote 2005:

"'It's not always rainbow and butterflies, it's compromise that moves us along.'-Maroon 5"

1 Year ago...

I got an all-expense paid trip to Germany and Italy

from a dear friend, Judith & hubby, Burkhardt. I spent 2 weeks

touring- had Berlin to myself for about a week then

traveled from the top of Germany (camping at Baltic Sea)

all the way down into Austria, driving from Berlin

to Austria by myself. Navigator Bliss!

Highlights:

I was by myself for 2 weeks!

I am in Europe!

I hiked in Germany and the Italian Alps

I ate amazing food

Saturday Market

Thai massage in Belin (my face is still puffy as I stand here next to the Berlin Marathon -"Big 5")

Talking the Gospel at Oktoberfest with a Jew from Israel-we have so much in-common!

Touring a concentration camp. Freedom and the Spirit are present.

Journal quote 2007:

"Has 2 weeks ever stretched on so long?! In a way it's great.

I am in Europe and when will I get back? But I hunger for my family.

I was so comforted this week as I spoke with Rob and the kids.

Yesterday was the food to my spirit I required to lift in energy. They are such a huge part of me even as an individual.

Everyone could benefit from making a solitary

journey and discovering themselves. It's 3:41pm, October 4, 2007 and all I have to do is meditate, pray and plan

my improvement. This is a good life."

So far this year...

I'm not going to lie, it's been an emotional roller coaster. I'm always working on myself and improving so this is always on my side. And I fully intend on having everything figured out by the end of 2008 :)

Yesterday...

I played, acted silly and learned so many things. I am loving better than I ever have before.

Today...

I bought new running shoes. The $60 bargain internet shoes weren't what I needed for support. Lesson learned...again! I am going to run again and have fun with Kati, my partner (in crime!)

I fixed the best dinner for Ivy and H, but Donovan thought it was horrible. How is this possible?

I waxed my face and did my toes. Life IS good.

Tomorrow I will...

Walk and run.

Love and be loved.

Weed some more.

Talk to friends.

Read more Anna Karenina.

In the next year I will...

Buy a raft and teach myself more so we can rock the whitewater waves! I've always wanted to be a river guide- had a job the summer Rob and I got engaged and didn't go- got married instead :)

Continue to read more classic novels.

Finish Ivy's quilt I started when I was pregnant with Donovan. Oh! He needs one too!

Tag: Sandy, Alexis and Anna D. Big Hugs, Jess

Major Facelift...

So I'm over at Kati Price's, watching my brother's video

because you can't watch a video on Lame-o dial-up...

(Jody is a massage therapist and if you want a few tips to give a good

chair massage to your spouse, here's your video!)

And this is what happened...

We have too much fun.
Aw, isn't she cute?

No idea why she likes this one-Thanks for editing my zits:)

Do you like the new interface? I do. So it's not exactly what I would pick to say, "Jessica", but it will have to do until I find what is me.

Kati showed me how to do many fun things. Thanks for a super day and an education...in everything! You're a hoot.