Let the Games Begin!

The Olympics

The last time I was really involved in the Olympics was in Salt Lake City, UT February 2002.

Why do I remember this time so vividly? Because I was GREAT with

my child, Ivy Chamberlain.

The boys and I sat on the Torch route to get a view of one of my

favorite obstetricians, Dr. Dale Hull, who had been

paralized in a trampoline accident and came back to be an inspiration & torch bearer.

We missed him and got some lady, no less important I'm sure, but

unrecognizable to us. It was freezing, I was entertaining like mad

(I seem to recall flag waving and Starburst were involved) and the biggest

Olympic memory: My cousin, Becky had her baby boy during

the month of the Olympics and the serious

swag

she brought home from the hospital, the U hospital, was astounding!

I loved the embroidered blankets, the Olympic ring onsies,

bags, etc. Did I mention she was an intern at Primary Children's Hospital?

Well, we were blessed with Ivy in March, which I'm thrilled about now.

And we didn't have to deal with some of the horrible security

issues, OR TRAFFIC, in SLC. Thank Heavens!

Oh, almost forgot; My dad brought Olympic taffy from

Taffy Town to the hospital for me. I think he was feeling my pain.

Small bandaid, but grape taffy rocks when you're stuck in a bed convalescing.

Anyone remember this cute face? Tell me all about your gymnastic dreams

following Mary Lou Retton's golds!

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!