Saturday, July 26, 2008

Viva Las Vegas.....

Well folks Talise and I will be leaving tomorrow for Las Vegas. We're going down for the International Cinderella Pageant where Talise will be competing. This will be her 3rd year going to the International pageant. It's a week of fun, competition, and time with friends. I don't know who enjoys it more, Talise or Mom. Kaitlyn also competes in Cinderella but due to her trip to New York after school was out, she's not competing this year. She'll be back to join us next year though.

So for now that's it and I'll blog about our experience when I get back....have a great week everyone....I know we will!!!

Friday, July 25, 2008

July 24th.....

What a busy day yesterday turned out to be....my kids got up and went to the ward breakfast while I stayed home to get ready for the day. They came home full from breakfast and ready to go to the parade.

So we left for the parade and to drop Kaitlyn off to carry a banner in the parade or so we thought. We left 30 min before the parade started thinking as usual that we'd be able to get across Main Street to go the back way up to the church where they were meeting.....well we were wrong.....very, very wrong. We couldn't cross Main Street till up near Smith's and then at that we had to wait for the start of some new race they were doing yesterday.....Now for those of you that know me I don't do well with stress and time frames and so I was getting madder by the minute. Then to top it off we couldn't find anyone to ask where our stake was and then when we did find out there wasn't anyone there. After being completely frustrated by all that and a daughter who won't ask anyone for any information I'd had it. Needless to say Kaitlyn didn't carry a banner and come to find out nobody did as the stake ended up just having a horse drawn wagon in the parade.....So we learned a lesson in mis-communication and dis-organization. Makes me a crazy person to say the least.

Well after all that craziness and me being mad at the world and all parade organizers in Cedar City we went down to Lin's to set up for our fundraiser and to let the kids watch the parade which they said was a disappointment again. The kids did have fun in the park and were good troopers through a long day of sitting at Lin's trying to sell drawing tickets for our fundraiser.

After all that fun we went out to Enoch to watch their parade which was a lot of fun. We went with some friends of ours from our old neighborhood and it was a blast. We then came home and got our food ready to take over to their house to BBQ and do fireworks. It was a lot of fun and we found out the interesting things you can do with highlighters and a black light.....LOL!!! If you're curious ask me about it and I'll tell you.

So now that we're sunburned and have rested we're ready to play again.....but I think we'll skip the parade stuff.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

OK you're all tagged now....

If you are reading this blog entry then consider yourself tagged. I was very surprised how many I was able to bold as I answered this list. Go ahead and try it. It's kind of fun.
I hope you all join in.

Copy the list below and bold all of the ones you have done.
1. Touched an iceberg
2. Slept under the stars
3. Been a part of a hockey fight
4. Changed a baby’s diaper
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Swam with wild dolphins
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a tarantula
10. Said “I love you” and meant it
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Stayed up all night long and watched the sun rise
15. Seen the Northern Lights
16. Gone to a huge sports game
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
19. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
20. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Bet on a winning horse
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Taken an ice cold bath
28. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Ridden a roller coaster
31. Hit a home run
32. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
33. Adopted an accent for fun
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Felt very happy about your life, even for just a moment
36. Loved your job 90% of the time
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Watched wild whales
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Gone on a midnight walk on the beach
41. Gone sky diving
42. Visited Ireland
43. Ever bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited India
45. Bench-pressed your own weight
46. Milked a cow
47. Alphabetized your personal files
48. Ever worn a superhero costume
49. Sung karaoke
50. Lounged around in bed all day
51. Gone scuba diving
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Done something you should regret, but don’t
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Been in a movie
60. Gone without food for 3 days
61. Made cookies from scratch
62. Won first prize in a costume contest
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Been in a combat zone
65. Spoken more than one language fluently
66. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone
67. Bounced a check
68. Read - and understood - your credit report
69. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy
70. Found out something significant that your ancestors did
71. Called or written your Congress person
72. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
73. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
74. Helped an animal give birth
75. Been fired or laid off from a job
76. Won money
77. Broken a bone
78. Ridden a motorcycle
79. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100 mph
80. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
81. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
82. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
83. Eaten sushi
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read The Bible cover to cover
86. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
87. Gotten someone fired for their actions
88. Gone back to school
89. Changed your name...when I got married
90. Caught a fly in the air with your bare hands
91. Eaten fried green tomatoes
92. Read The Iliad
93. Taught yourself an art from scratch
94. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.\
95. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt
96. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
97. Been elected to public office
98. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
99. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
100. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
101. Had a booth at a street fair
102. Dyed your hair
103. Been a DJ
104. Rocked a baby to sleep
105. Dropped a cat from a high place to see if it really lands on all fours
106. Raked your carpet
107. Brought out the best in people
108. Brought out the worst in people
109. Worn a mood ring
110. Ridden a horse
111. Carved an animal from a piece of wood or bar of soap
112. Cooked a dish where four people asked for the recipe
113. Buried a child
114. Gone to a Broadway (or equivalent to your country) play
115. Been inside the pyramids
116. Shot a basketball into a basket
117. Danced at a disco
118. Played in a band
119. Shot a bird
120. Gone to an arboretum
121. Tutored someone
122. Ridden a train
123. Brought an old fad back into style
124. Eaten caviar
125. Let a salesman talk you into something you didn’t need
126. Ridden a giraffe or elephant
127. Published a book1
28. Pieced a quilt
129. Lived in an historic place
130. Acted in a play or performed on a stage
131. Asked for a raise
132. Made a hole-in-one
133. Gone deep sea fishing
134. Gone roller skating
135. Run a marathon
136. Learned to surf
137. Invented something
138. Flown first class
139. Spent the night in a 5-star luxury suite
140. Flown in a helicopter
141. Visited Africa
142. Sang a solo
143. Gone spelunking
144. Learned how to take a compliment
145. Written a love-story
146. Seen Michelangelo’s David
147. Had your portrait painted
148. Written a fan letter
149. Spent the night in something haunted
150. Owned a St. Bernard or Great Dane
151. Ran away
152. Learned to juggle
153. Been a boss
154. Sat on a jury
155. Lied about your weight
156. Gone on a diet
157. Found an arrowhead or a gold nugget
158. Written a poem
159. Carried your lunch in a lunchbox
160. Gotten food poisoning
161. Gone on a service, humanitarian or religious mission
162. Hiked the Grand Canyon
163. Sat on a park bench and fed the ducks
164. Gone to the opera
165. Gotten a letter from someone famous
166. Worn knickers
167. Ridden in a limousine
168. Attended the Olympics
169. Can hula or waltz
170. Read a half dozen Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys books
171. Been stuck in an elevator
172. Had a revelatory dream
173. Thought you might crash in an airplane
174. Had a song dedicated to you on the radio or at a concert
175. Saved someone’s life
176. Eaten raw whale
177. Know how to tat, smock or do needlepoint
178. Laughed till your side hurt
179. Straddled the equator
180. Taken a photograph of something other than people that is worth framing
181. Gone to a Shakespeare Festival
182. Sent a message in a bottle
183. Spent the night in a hotel
184. Been a cashier
185. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
186. Joined a union
187. Donated blood or plasma
188. Built a campfire
189. Kept a blog
190. Had hives
191. Worn custom made shoes or boots
192. Made a PowerPoint presentation
193. Taken a Hunter’s Safety Course
194. Served at a soup kitchen
195. Conquered the Rubik’s cube
196. Know CPR
197. Ridden in or owned a convertible
198. Found a long lost friend
199. Helped solve a crime
200. Responded to a NJP newsletter

Monday, July 14, 2008

Happy Birthday to ME....

Yes today is my birthday....not sure how I feel about them anymore but my kids make it fun. It's always fun to see what they've cooked up to do. I think we may be going out to dinner tonight but then again we may not. I guess I'll just have to wait and see what the day brings.

So I'm not going to tell anyone how old I am so if you have a guess let me know and I'll let you know if you're right. It will be fun to see if anyone gets close. I'll let the cat out of the bag after the guesses are in....and for those of you that do know you can't let anyone else know that you know. I'll be checking for guesses......

Monday, July 7, 2008

The leader of the pack....


Branden is my guitar playing, music loving, song singing, video game master, wonderful teenage son. He's 16 and will turn 17 in Nov. When he was younger I wondered if I would ever live through the Branden experience, but as he grew I knew he would be an awesome teenager. I had a lot of people tell me, "Oh just wait till he's a teen." I don't know what I was supposed to be waiting for but if it was for him to be a very kind and generous young man then I guess I'm done waiting. I don't want him to ever leave but I know that's not what he wants.

Branden will be a Junior this year at Canyon View High School and is already developing the attitude of the protector for his younger sister Kaitlyn who will be a Freshman. I feel sorry for any boy that may like her as they're going to have to get through Branden first. Branden will be in two choirs this year, Volume Men and Accapella. He has an awesome voice and I really wish he would share it more but we do get to hear a solo now and then at his concerts so that works for me. His other great love is playing the guitar. He's been playing for 4 years now and is quite good. He's even taken to writing some of his own music.


I should also mention that he passed his driving test on the first try and will get his license on the 22nd of this month. So watch out everyone Branden will be driving the streets of Cedar City. He also has a job doing yard work and such for a friend of ours and has decided that manual labor is not something he wants to do all his life. I suspect that when he's done with the work there that he'll be finding a "regular" job as he puts it. But at least he gets up every morning and gets out there and does it. He really is an wonderful kid and if you don't believe me just take some time to get to know him.

So for now that's it....till next time....

Thursday, July 3, 2008

He never ceases to make me laugh...

OK so remember how I said Jacob has a really good sense of humor and is just an all around cute kid?? Well in case I didn't I just did...LOL!! This boy really makes me smile. Apparently the other day as he was playing a video game he was reciting the Articles of Faith that he knows. Branden was in there with him and said, "Mom you should have heard what Jacob said". So of course I had to ask him...Branden told me that when Jacob was saying the second Article of Faith he said..."We believe that men should be punished for their own sins and not for Adam's 'conversation'."

The other thing that made me laugh was tonight while we were at dinner....we went to Rusty's to have a celebration of sorts for Branden passing his driving test on the first try, and for the fact that we've done absolutely nothing spectacular in the past 7 months. So while we were at dinner Jacob proceeds to take his cloth napkin and open it up on the table, lay out his silverware on it, put his bread plate on it, and his water cup. I told him that it wasn't a placemat but his napkin. He looked at me completely serious and said, "Well Mom how did I know...I've never been to this place before". Which is true he hasn't but he truly enjoyed it and once again he put a smile on my face.

The other thing we did was buy what we're calling a "box of fun" for the 4th tomorrow. It should be pretty fun to watch things explode. So everyone have a safe and fun 4th of July and remember the reason that we celebrate this day and the freedoms that we enjoy...

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

My dancing doll.....



Kaitlyn Hillary Mosley....she's my dancer....and soccer player....violin player, and wants to be a photographer. Kaitlyn will turn 14 at the end of August and start her freshman year at Canyon View High School, where she'll be a member of the drill team. She'll be a Talon!!! I think after the past couple of weeks though she's wondering what she got herself into. It's kicking her butt!! But you know I think it would kick anyone's. These girls work hard...probably harder than the football team...sorry guys!!! Through the rest of the summer she has to be at practice Mon-Fri at 7am. They've had two Saturday practices with one lasting 9 HOURS!!!! They've ran stairs, lifted weights, and have done more kicks than I can keep track of. As a matter of fact today they did kicks with ankle weights. So if anyone out there thinks that these girls aren't athletes....THINK AGAIN!!! Even though Kaitlyn has been dancing since the age of 3 this is tough work.

Kaitlyn had another great opportunity in May when she went to Washington D.C., Philadelphia, and New York. She was able to do this through an educational tour with her Honor Core class at Canyon View Middle School. They were gone for 8 days that were jam packed with touring and other activities. They visited all the monuments in D.C., visited Amish country in Philadelphia, and saw Phantom of the Opera on Broadway and even went to a Mets game. It was the first time she's been away from home that long on her own. Usually I've gone with her on field trips and the such but with the cost involved I stayed home and sent her alone. But guess what??....she survived and so did I...LOL!!! Here are a few pics from her trip....
























So from this small glimpse of pictures you can see that she saw a lot. I was truly jealous when she would send pictures to me, and then when we loaded them onto the computer I really wished I had of gone with her. She has memories to last a lifetime and I don't know that it's something she'll do again until she's on her own or married.

Kaitlyn continues to amaze me with the things she can do and the accomplishments she makes. She maintained a 3.9 GPA through all her activities in school and church, was on the Honor Society both years she was in the middle school and was a member of GYC. She plans on doing the same in high school and with this kid it will happen.

Stay tuned for an update on Branden next....