Birthdays and Belated Wedding Gifts

Last week, my adopted little sister (aka my BFF's little sister) and friend Renee turned 21. Of course, that meant it was time to party it up. We started with dinner at Brio, where the servers were kind enough to allow us cocktails and wine at the same time... Technically illegal to have 2 drinks in front of you at once, but it was a 21st birthday party so no one was really counting! Then it was off to Keys on Main, a piano bar downtown. There was a little trouble when we first arrived, we had a table reserved, and the table next to us was mad at us because they wanted that table for the rest of their party when they showed up. Most of the people at the table were nice enough when we explained that we had been seated there by the front desk and that we had made reservations too but one gentleman in the party felt the need to threaten us and put his hands on Alex. Unfortunately that meant we had to get the manager involved and the gentleman in question was politely told to sit down and shut up... After that it was party time! We spent the rest of the night singing, dancing and naturally drinking. After we exhausted ourselves, my loving husband (who was our DD for the night) drove all us crazy girls home for some R & R before our big day on Saturday.

Her princess wave

Renee, the birthday girl!

Cocktails and wine

Sarah and Renee at dinner

Saturday morning came, and after a little coaxing to get Sarah ready for the day, Sarah, Renee and I headed downtown to the farmers market. We enjoyed being out in the fresh air and sipping on Limeade's while browsing the booths, though we all agreed it was hard to enjoy the market too much when none of us really have cooking space or places to store the food and all the jewelry and nic-nacs are simply too overpriced. Sarah overpayed for a neckless and got some humas to take home, but otherwise we left empty handed before heading to Red Iguana for lunch. After lunch it was off to Nail Trix for pedicures, and then Fashion place mall for some shopping. It was a fun day, and even more enjoyable because it was free! Sarah never did get me a wedding gift, so this was her treat for me!

At the farmers market with Sarah and Renee

The final product on our pedicures

A New Direction in Life

I have decided to leave my comfort zone, put myself out there and take a new direction in my life! For as long as I can remember I have suffered with mild allergies to cats, which is what makes it kind of ironic that I ended up with two indoor cats... Anyway, I have grown accustomed to not being able to breathe through my nose or smell anything. Over the years I have tried just about every over the counter medicine for allergies I could get my hands on, and while it helped with red itchy eyes during hay fever season, I never could find anything that helped with the congestion. Luckily, Emily, a friend from work sells Do Terra Essential Oils and she gave me a free sample of Breathe. I put it on, and within seconds I could breathe through my nose, and smell! It was the first time in over two years!

After the amazing results I got, I felt like I had to share this amazing product with everyone! Even better, I was able to sign up with the company to sell the product which allows me to share with everyone while making money. I'm hoping to make my business successful enough to quit my job at 1-800-Contacts and sell Do Terra full time. This is my plan to bring in some income, but eventually be a stay at home mom at the same time. For now though, any extra income we earn will be set aside to help us buy our own house! Before anyone starts worrying about me pushing Do Terra essential oils on them though, everyone should know that I'm putting myself out there by introducing the oils to strangers rather than annoying my family and friends! If any of you do have questions about oils, natural cures for sickness, natural cleaners for your household, etc, I will gladly answer your questions and help you find the product that is right for you!

A Week With The Clark Gang!

We were ecstatic that Ana and her kids David, Jonathon and Lauren were in town this week! Of course, everyone wanted some time with her and the kids so I didn't get to see as much of them as I would have liked, but the time we did spend with them was time well spent! They got in town on the 4th of July, just in time for the family BBQ and fireworks. Sunday night, Lauren was dropped off to wait for Merryim to pick her up for a sleepover, and she got spoiled rotten by Rick, Cassy, Bob and I! She got to color pictures, play with cats, snakes and lizards, arm wrestle and of course get filled with sugar! Monday before work I went to lunch with Lisa, Ana, Tessa and Ryan for Lisa's birthday at Tsunami. Thursday, Ana and all the kids came over to hang out again, and we played with some snakes. This helped shy little David open up a lot more, and Marcie was even impressed when he gave me "a real hug" before they left. Thursday night Lauren slept over, she was too preoccupied coloring and playing with Rick and Cassy to pay much attention to boring old Bob and I so I didn't get much time with her. However the next morning we had a good old fashioned water fight in the front yard before playing with the animals. Just before I headed off to work, it was time to say our good-byes. Unfortunately I had to leave and couldn't stay for the good-bye BBQ, but I probably would have cried like a baby if I had to watch them drive away so maybe it's for the best...

Lauren playing with Cleo

Lauren and her new BFF Cleo

Lauren's day with us. Skittles, Slurpee's, cuddling Cleo,
and coloring Batman.

Even Jazzy enjoyed Lauren's company,
and usually she just runs and hides...

Lauren finishing off her Slurpee, just waiting
for the sugar rush to start

Cleo really wanted to help Lauren finish her string cheese

Lauren trying really hard to beat her Uncle
Rick at arm wrestling!

This time trying to beat Uncle Bob

It's blurry, but this his how excited she gets
to win when Uncle Bob allowed it.

This is how Jonathon and David waste time. Trying to do math
in their head and checking their answers on the calculator.
They were pretty impressive, little smarty pants!

Collage of David, Lauren and Ana with the snakes

David with Aries

David with Penelope and Lauren with Aries

Lauren with Penelope

David again with Aries

Lauren playing with 2 snakes at once

Friday in between playing with Lauren and saying goodbyes, I was also fortunate enough to be invited to my dear cousin Shelby's 3D ultrasound. Luckily the baby was being cooperative enough to show us that it is in fact a she, but she didn't want to give us a clear shot of her face. I still felt extremely lucky to be included in such a special moment, and I'm so happy for my cousin who has desperately wanted to be a mother for the last 5 years and is finally getting her wish! Congratulations Tolman family!

Profile of Shelby's little girl

Proof that she's a little girl

Saturday was 1-800-Contacts annual Summer party at Thanksgiving point. Bob and I took my parents, Savannah, Dani, Rick and Cassy with us. We had fun, there were lots of free games and activities and of course dinner was served! Since my best friend Chelsea also works for the company we were able to run into her while we were there and play with smiley little Benton! After dinner a sudden summer thunderstorm started, in my attempt to seek shelter I ran to the pavilion and slipped and fell hard on my butt and back! I was carrying a cup full of Coke, so needless to say I ended up very sticky too, it was extremely embarrassing! After the storm blew by, it was time for the drawing and prizes. No one in our group won anything, but I was kind of happy not to be called up on stage covered in sticky soda....

Gotta get a better angle

Mom trying out the sling shot

Yes, she got that low, and all she managed
to hit is the slingshot itself... LOL

Cute little Benton

The 4th of July

When I think of July 4th, I think of three things: parades, BBQ's and fireworks. So Bob and I set out for the whole trio for our first 4th of July together as a married couple. We started the day out at the Murray parade. We got there early in an attempt to eat breakfast at the community breakfast we saw advertised, but unfortunately it was cash only and we only had cards. So we found our empty tummies a nice shady spot under a tree right on the road side. While we had a great spot, we were surrounded by crazies. Directly across from us was an obese woman wearing a child's tank top just one slight move away from falling out of her top, all while cursing up a storm at her child. Also across from us was a woman who insisted on stopping the parade constantly so she could hug every person in the parade. She was not a child, she had to be in her 40's maybe even 50's! She didn't matter too much though since the parade was so sporadic that a band/car/float/etc would come by every 10 minutes or so. Most of the parade was advertising for politicians/car dealerships/churches/etc and half the "marching" bands were sitting in trailers being pulled rather than actually marching. Finally two middle aged men came and stood right in front of our chairs giving us the perfect view of their butts and not much else. I tried to move around them to take pictures, but they turned and looked at me before moving again to block my view! Maybe it was the hunger eating away at our insides but Bob and I were done! We packed up our chairs and left early before we started a confrontation...

Bob and I waiting for the parade to start

The cop leading the parade

Presenting of the colors

The Murray float

More of the Murray float



Fire truck

Sandy's float

Herriman's float

Uh-oh! Someone got hurt and we had to pause the parade for
ambulance to get through

Midvale's float

One of the only bands that actually marched!

Clown riding an extra tall bicycle

South Jordan's float

I had to throw in a picture of one of the bands riding in
a trailer rather than marching...

Riverton's float

Murray High's cheer squad

Cool Jeep tricks

The only reason a church should be in a parade...
The Christ Lutheran church actually made a float!

Motor cross rider doing a wheelie

Another float (can't remember who's)

Draper's float

Horse-drawn carriage

Camel in the parade

Utah Princess' float

Luckily the day did get better from there! Later that afternoon Ana and her kids finally made it to the house after their long drive all the way from Washington! They made it just in time for the family BBQ, which fortunately the whole Loose family was able to make it to. After some great food, the kids started up a family foot ball game in the backyard, and Merryim played nurse by helping Bob administer Wayne's medicine. Finally it was time for fireworks! While Ryan only brought the normal ground fireworks, the neighbors in our circle purchased big high flying fireworks so we got the best of both worlds! Fun fireworks to watch and little fireworks that Bob taught the kids to safely light! During the night I did turn into an all you can eat buffet for the mosquito's, but it was worth it to spend a lovely holiday evening surrounded by the family!


Lauren showing off her missing teeth

Lauren walking Cleo



Ryan showing off his fireman's uniform



Lauren making friends with Jazzy

This is what you get with a house full of kids and Netflix Kids

Jonathon playing football



Russell tackling his uncle Ricky

Merryim and Lauren



The kids who started the football game. My nephews Corey,
Russell, Jonathon, and Sammy

Jonathon playing football

Team #1: David, kid I don't know, Russell and Corey

Family football

Team #2: Jonathon, Sammy, Robert, and a girl I don't know

Most of the players in the family
football game

Everyone trying to catch Sammy with the football

Mimi VS. Corey

Merryim about to play nurse

Bob teaching Mimi how to use the anti-biotic

Merryim concentrating on her directions

Mimi turning off the anti-biotic with
supervision from Aunt Dani