Arches National Park-Winter 2010

In January we made a day trip to Moab/Arches National Park. Ryan wanted to test out his new camera and we thought it would be a great day trip and an opportunity for some family time. We had so much fun hiking and exploring. We practically had the park all to ourselves. We spent a few hours at the park, went into town for some dinner, then went back at night.

Ryan took this picture of Ed & me. We are sitting under an Arch.

Brennan with Fiery Furnace in the background

Brennan is also an aspiring photrographer. He likes to do whatever his big brother does.

I took this picture of Ryan taking a picture of me.

Brennan took this picture of me under an arch and I can't get over how huge my ba dunk a dunk is. I knew it was big, but no denying it now.

Look at Your Man....I'm on a Horse

This commercial just makes me laugh everytime I see it.

Busy and Blogless

I have been so busy with life, the boys and work that I have not had time to update my blog, so I am trying to play catch up. I picked my favorite picture over the past 3 months of each boy.

Brennan at the Flash game having just been sprayed by silly string by Flash the Fox, he got me good too!

Ed showing us that he can now do a headstand, thanks to Yoga. Let's not forget who introduced Ed to Yoga.

Ryan looking like a rockstar after straightening his hair.

Highlights of the last few months:

• Ed had his 42nd Birthday (more pics coming).
• We went to Arches for the day (more pics coming).
• Ryan entered his first photography contest. He did amazing work and we are so proud of him.
• Ryan has been doing amazing in school. He's been on the honor roll. We also met with his school counselor and received his Iowa Test results, a composite score in the 94th percentile. Not only is he a good son, so nice, kind, sweet, generous, and cute, he is also "freakin'" smart!
• I registered to do the Ragnar Relay (Wasatch Back). This will be my 2nd Ragnar and Ed and Ryan's 1st. Bad news is I've been struggling with a bum knee.
• I got tickets to U2 (another item off the bucket list). Going to see U2 twice in June, girl's weekend to Denver for the concert thanks to the generous gift of free tickets from my friend Nissa's brother. Thanks Hans! Amazing 2nd row tickets in an amazing section for the Salt Lake show thanks to my friend Diane. Thanks Diane (membership definitely has it's priveleges)!
• Brennan is growing and learning and saying the funniest things. I will have to share the Chinchilla story in a later post. I think he keeps us young at heart.
• I have discovered Pilates, Spinning and Core Mix/Pump. Have had to replace running with these new activities to try to give my knee a chance to heal. I am really enjoying these activities, although the next day my body aches all over and talks back to me for submitting it to torture. In Spinning, I fantasize about Lotoja.....you never know, crazier things have happened.

I know there is probably a lot more, but it is 2:30 am and I am finally getting very tired.......

Oh My!!!

Well I have not posted in a while.....it's all for the better because I have been in quite a funk. So it's probably for the best. As I was vacuuming (I do my deep thinking in the shower and while vacuuming), I was thinking I need to just post my angst, and I got myself all psyched to do it, but then I thought better of it because I will just come off as a psycho, not that I don't already, because I'm pretty sure I do. We'll see what I end up doing, I will just need to vacuum the rest of the house and take longer showers before I decide how to proceed.
In the meantime, while I sort out my dilema, I had a high school friend (thanks Gina) post this on her facebook status a few weeks ago and I absolutely love this.

I am strong because I am weak.

I am beautiful because I know my flaws.

I am a lover because I am a fighter.

I am fearless because I have been afraid.

I am wise because I have been foolish.

I can laugh because I've known sadness.

-Unknown

This has become my mantra. After two years of weekly therapy, this has so much meaning for me.

The 80/20 Rule

Ed forwarded this to me from one of his colleagues.
The original can be found at www.drtimthayne.com
I really liked the message and thought it was appropriate for the New Year.

Italian Economist Vilfredo Pareto observed in 1906 that 80% of the land in Italy was owned by 20% of the population, and found that it was similarly distributed in other countries as well.
Since then, business management has applied this principal as a rule of thumb in business: that 80% of your sales come from 20% of your clients, or 80% of your productivity comes from 20% of your employees.
Does this rule apply to you? Sure. Don’t you wear 20% of the clothes in your closet about 80% of the time? Or eat 20% of the favorite meals for 80% of your dinners? Or maybe out of your 10 favorite people, you are in contact with 2 of them 80% of the time?
Though it’s not a rule you couldn’t poke holes through, there are some extremely spot-on lessons to learn from this 80/20 rule:
We could all take this new decade and look at the 20% of our personal interactions that yield 80% of our joy and satisfaction. Focus there. Don’t be distracted by the sheer number of those “other” interactions.
In our work, we need to shift our concentration to the 20 percent of clients and projects that generate 80 percent of the revenue. Even if we think we’re really good at keeping a dozen plates spinning, if we narrow our energies to that which can build the greatest wealth, we arrive at that abundant place much more quickly.
Lastly, know that you can get rid of that 20% that causes 80% of your grief and worry, (unless it’s a spouse or child, of course)! For 2010, my goal is to focus on the 20% that creates 80% of the value in my life...both in my personal as well as business life. Then with that extra time and energy, I’ll find more of those people and experiences that fit in that 20% category. Wow, the sky is the limit here!
So what makes up the 20% in your life? Identify it, magnify it, and make 2010 the best year you've ever had. Happy New Year!

Keeping it Real

Out of Control:
In Control:

Christmas Topiaries

I saw these super cute topiaries at Gardner Village after Thanksgiving. I absolutely love them. However, they were $80 for the set. I'm going to make them. The bases are regular candle holders in 3 different sizes. Each tree is a styrofoam cone. From what I can tell, the fabric was dipped in liquid starch and scrunched and pinned with a metal staple.
I priced out some similar candle holders, I can get all three for under $25 (paying full price). I have gone to 2 different craft stores and no surprise....all sold out of cones!
The staples are metal and are "squiggly", not sure where to find those. I haven't gone to Home Depot yet to see what my options are. I also need some fabric. If anyone has some cute remnants of fabric, I am accepting donations. I want to use similar colors because they really look well together.
I'm hoping I can make them before Christmas, if not, I have a full year 'til next Christmas.