Max Moments: First Rec Sport-Soccer

Seeing these darling boys out on the field kicking the ball has been so fun! Pure entertainment!

Da Zoo

Fun day at the Hogle Zoo!

Summer Highlights

I really hope my kids had as much fun this summer as I think they did. Lots of time spent with their best friends. You are so lucky to have such darling friends

Night Skiing 2011

Another fun night at Last Chance for our annual night skiing. I loved Brandon's shirt that said "My boat doesn't run on 'thanks!' " Conner was amazing! I didn't do it this year because it was too cold but just being with friends and family made it so fun!

Here's a photo of the house under construction. Its actually a lot further along now. Its to the sheet rock phase. I can't wait for it to be done!

Ski Tournament

Conner entered his first waterski tournament at Sun Ten. He took 1st place in his age division. Way to go Conner! Kyle entered as well. Lets just say he didn't do quite as well as Conner... sorry babe! Competition was tough.

My Half-Sister Virginia

Its a long and complicated story but basically my dad was married for a short time and had a daughter named Virginia. After my dad's divorce to Virginia's mother, he met my mom. They married and raised 3 children. Virginia moved away to Colorado as a small child and we didn't have contact with her over the years. Its crazy how things happen but after she was diagnosed with breast cancer, we have reconnected and become close over the past few years. I am very grateful for her and that things have blossomed the way they have. I miss my brothers so its nice to call someone sister.

This is Virginia and her two daughters, Monique and Marci. She was in town on July 25th and we had a BBQ. I haven't seen her in person for almost 12 years. Wow! Very fun night!

Max Moments: You are special

One of my favorite things about you is your sense of style. Whoever would have thought that moonboots and swim trunks would be so trendy!

Hillcrest High School Class of 1991 Reunion

The one job I had: banners! They turned out great!

Danae Davis: breast cancer survivor. She just finished chemo a few

months ago and her hair is darling- super curly.
Jody Wood (black dress) my BFF in 1st grade

Kathy Ruffino (black and white dress) my BFF in 3rd grade.

They are still darling as ever!

(Becky and Jill! Friends in high school. Jill just had baby number 4 about 8 weeks ago).

SO fun! I didn't know what to expect at the reunion- would it be awkward, uncomfortable, fun or way fun! I guess its what you make of it. It was so fun! So many of my friends were there and it was great to reunite. I can't believe how good everyone looked, besides the guys balding and gray, everyone looked the same. No one looked old. People I didn't know well, I got to a chance to talk to and get to know better.

Of course I forgot my camera so I took some photos with my iphone but they aren't very clear. Plus I missed a lot of photo opps.

Draper Days Rodeo

My kids have never been to a rodeo before and so I didn't know if they would like it but they loved it. Their eyes were glued on the cowboys! It was a totally new experience for them and Im so glad they like it. We hope to get to another rodeo this summer.

Take The Skinheads Bowling, Take Them Bowling!

Summer fun at Sandy All-Star Lanes. With all the water activities this summer its nice to change things up and go bowling! Its free which makes it better. www.kidsbowlfree.com

Max Moments: Super Style

Max put his hat on turned to the side and said, "Look mom, I'm a Rock Star!" I replied, "Oh, thats cool. Who taught you how to be a rock star?" He answers, "JESUS"

The other photo is Max after he did his own hair with a pound of gel and Lilly's purse. Don't tell Kyle about this photo. Scary

Conner's 10th Birthay Party

Another fun birthday at grandma's pool. This year we did it a little bit different. We did an evening 7-10PM party. We served up popcorn, ice cream cones and grape Kool-aid. Swimming to start, outdoor movie and then more swimming. The kids had a blast. Now Im ready for an adult evening swim party.

Ragnar: SOOOO FUN!

When life offers you something new...take it! I took Ragnar. I signed up for one crazy race! My friends said anyone at any skill level can do it so I trusted them and became "runner 7." It's the easiest leg but for me it was just right. The second leg (8PM) was a 4 mile run with about a 3 mile hill and I made it...barely. The others were fine. The whole event was so fun. I LOVED the night runs. Seeing everyone with their headlamps and reflectors was sooo cool. The most gorgeous view was the moon reflecting on the lake. I wasn't as tired as I thought I would be. The adrenaline kicked in for sure. All of it was a BLAST! The girls I ran with made it that way! I love them all. There was Jill(captain), Jessica, Jamie, Chelsa and Stacie. They are amazing athletes and they inspire me to push myself and they gave me the confidence I needed to run. There were some weird moments though; lets just say there was some pee and pooh involved. We took my car and wrote on the window "The Real Ragnar Housewives of Draper- 84020" Loved it!

I want to run next year!

Ski Times

Bob LaPoint, pro water skier and world champion, came into town and did a ski clinic for some of us at Last Chance. Kyle, Conner and I each did 2 sets with Bob and he gave us great tips to improve our skiing. Conner wins in the "most improved" category. Conner was awesome! He did everything Bob told him to do and did it perfectly.

Milestones

Finally! Lilly lost her first tooth at age 7. Her adult teeth already started coming in and then finally her baby teeth loosened up. She lost her 2nd tooth the very next day.

Field Trip: Harmons

End of the year field trips are so fun with the kids.

U2 Concert: Unforgettable

There are only a few bands worth spending money on and U2 is one of them. I've loved U2 since I was little. There was a geeky time in my life when I would watch the Rattle and Hum video every Sunday (no particular reason for Sunday). Behind every song is a special memory. "A Sort of Homecoming" reminds of the day I flew home from my mission and listened to it on the plane ride. "Where the streets have no name" reminds me of 9th grade summer. There are so many other memories but the one I love most is "All I want is you." This is the song that Kyle serenaded to me when he proposed. We were at the mouth of little Cottonwood Canyon enjoying the view after a fancy a dinner. He said he wanted to play a song for me that he just learned. When I heard the first few notes I knew where this song was going. After he finished, he got down on one knee, pulled out the ring and asked me to marry him. Best decision of my life. Another cool thing about the concert was that we spent it with the same couple we went with the first time we saw U2 back in 1997, the Benches. Fun times!

Happy Birthday Max!

My sweet Max is 4 now! Time is flying by. How can my baby be 4? This is what Max loves now

Max loves to eat broccoli, apples, pb and honey, milk, Life cereal, and ice cream

Max loves his sword, sheild, bike, cars, boats and airplanes.

Max loves McDonalds

Max loves playing with his friends! At 9 AM every morning he will ask me if he can play a friend.

Max loves to watch Max and Ruby, Bubble Guppies and Team Umi Zumi

Max prays every day that Kyle and I will be safe from sharks and crocodiles.

Everytime I leave to go somewhere he says, "Mom, I need a hug and a kiss"

Love you Max!

Race for the Cure 2011: Team Alena, Run like a Girl

I love these girls!

A few days before the race, I was surprised by a knock at the door and to find these girls standing on my doorstep with flowers, a card and a tank top. Secretly they organized a team for Race for the Cure. WOW! That is the sweetest surprise I ever had. I was very embarrassed---Emily P. is in trouble. Michelle designed the coolest tank and Anna hosted a fabulous retreat. It was so fun! I really hope they enjoyed the weekend as much as I did. They are so wonderful to me! I will never forget this day.

The race has become a big part of our lives these past 4 years. Its a new tradition with a powerful purpose. Doing the race reminds me of how fragile and precious life is. My family means so much to me, so the more I give to this cause/race then the better and healthier my life will be- which in turn keeps me on this earth with my family and friends. I don't know if my family and friends know how much I love them but I really do. Each person in my life brings me joy and happiness. I need to work on being a better wife, mother and friend. I can't take what I have for granted. I really hope for love and forgiveness.