Props to Rugby 7s and MY VALENTINE!!!!

I know this post is a little delayed, but we've been CRAZY busy around these parts.

V-day with Mr. J was spent in San Diego, CA.

We had such a WONDERIFFIC FANTABULOUS time with some of our close friends enjoying an entire weekend watching USA RUGBY 7s , shopping, dining without the craziness and noise of kiddos, lounging at the hotel and spa, and pretending during all this that $$ was unlimited. LOL! So FUN... pretending.









The beautiful bay view from our room. The pool was awesome, waterslide, waterfalls... funny thing is the first thing we all said was "Man, the kids would have SO MUCH FUN!". For another occassion I'm sure!



Enjoying a little Samoan Siva during half-time. ONLY with Rugby! Loved it!



Checking out the New Zealand All Blacks!



And maaan... Line, we were REALLY rooting for Mexico. I was feeling really bad for them 'cause they were gettin' whooped. But atleast they got a goooood stretch in.... just in time to RUNNNN back home- good thing it wasn't too far. lol! Just playin' girl!!!! You know we were cheering for Gussies Amigos.... your bro was crackin' this one all day long. I'm sure next year their stretching will pay off. LOL!





And it was sooo cool watching the USA WOMENS RUGBY team run out on the field to compete against England. They were Tiiiiiight! I've never really been into Rugby, or sports for that matter... but watching these girls on the team made me appreciate the skills require for such a sport. So cool!!!



And this guy was a crack up. He jumped over the fence and TRIED to get up on his team when the redcoats dragged him from the field. MODED. But secretly, if that were my team, I'd IMAGINE doing the same- only I'd be lifted by the team in the air like I somehow had something to do with their victory. Like- served their pellegrino. hahaha!~

We had such a great time! It's been a loooooong while since we've treated ourselves to a weekend- just the adults, enjoying eachothers company.












The perfect postlude to the weekend was a YUMMMLICIOUS breakfast at Richard Walkers Pancake House , just a stones throw from our hotel. It was definitely worth the 30 min wait outside, in the RAIN!





Thanks Toki's and Moa's for such a fabulous weekend. And for all the babysitters that made it possible.

ALLLL that LOVE.... and a STAR!!!

Phew!!!

I am E X H A U S T E D!

After spending and entire weekend + Monday in San Diego with Mr. J and some of our closest friends (I'll post on that later), I jetted off (in my trusty mini-van) to join Jane in Vegas for the WPPI convention.

What an AWESOME experience that was. I met SO MANY photog greats: Bambi Cantrell , Jerry Ghionis , Charles & Jennifer Maring ... the lists of greats continues. I'll go into more detail later. (My eyelids are struggling as I type. LOL!)

I just wanted to post pictures of the SWEEEEETEST, most genuine photographer whose work continually inspires me to reach HIGHER, and be BETTER. So cool!



Ms. Jasmine Star herself!!!!

A little lesson in BOREDOM! and some COOKIES!

When I was in Third Grade I won a contest. My first ever. For being the TOP Christmas-catalog-fundraising-seller of the ENTIRE school. Truth be told my salesman pitch and motivation didn't just happen... one LAZY afternoon I muttered the words, "I am SOOOO BOOOORRRREEED!" to my Mom and was sent to walk/ hike the ENTIRE Sherwood Hills to sell items from the fundraising catalog.

EVERY afternoon after school.

For a WEEK.

Yeah, I thought- COMPLETE TORTURE.

I laugh at it now, but at the time I was completely mortified that I'd be FORCED to sell stuff DOOR TO DOOR (SO totally would not happen in this day and age... especially in A-town but we're talking PROVO, UT). Anywho- So imagine my surprise when my name was called over the PA system announcing that I was the TOP seller and that I'd won a PANASONIC AM/ FM Stereo Cassette BOOM BOX. I was the talk of the town... my mom stood and told her ENTIRE RS (yeah, another OMGosh!), My dad- his associates and of course my bro's and sis's friends heard so I got all the ego stroking to last FOREVER. I was pretty proud of my FORCED efforts to win the contest! FAST FORWARD 20+ years...

Guess what I hear from homegirl Lu????

Yep! You guessed it. Salo had a friend over the other night and the first thing I hear from Lu is "Mooooooooommmmm, (added complaints, then the dreaded) I'm SSSSOOOOOO BOOOORRRRREEEEDDD!".

Coooooollll!!!! I think to myself remembering that time WAY BACK!

"I have JUST the thing for you!

GIRL SCOUT COOKIES

ARE

ON SALE~!!!!!





and guess what you'll be doing for the next few weeks??????"

Aye Aye Aye!!!!.....

It's past 10:30pm and I'm TRYING to get some shut-eye EXCEPT...



We have a FIESTA going on down the street. And someone gave an old guy the MIC and he's singing with the Mariachi band-- rambling away in cut-throat spanish, you'd think we were at a daytime auction! Seriously. Last time this happened (with another neighbor) it didn't end until 3... almost 4 AM. I'm usually pretty cool about stuff like this, since we LOVE to throw a few backyard parties ourselves... But COME ON!!!...

Can someone at least TAKE AWAY THE MIC!!! and give the old man a break?

My poor Sunday school class... if I'm not alert tomorrow, NOW you know why!

A WARM 74 degrees!

It must have been the winter blues...

because I was content to stay indoors ALL DAY LONG...

UNTIL I felt the WARM SUN peek through my curtains. I was so excited! I wanted to load up the kiddos, boogie boards and cooler and drive to Bolsa Chica BUT I knew I'd be majorly disappointed when I arrived. It'd most likely be overcast and 20 DEGREES cooler (The desert is ALWAYS hotter than the coast).

So I rolled out of bed and opened every window letting out all the wintry blues, pulled out our flip flops and t-shirts and took my babies to the park...

and just DREAMT of SUNNY BEACHY DAYS.

Then enjoyed this lastest pic posted by my SIL...



How FUN!!!! We miss you guys and wish we were there to soak up all that SUN!!!

This NEW year...

On top of the regular needing to perfect my daily scripture reading, prayer and temple attendance, I resolve to:

1. Never clean my children's plates (with my too eager mouth) AFTER they've eaten.

2. Rid my wardrobe of unsightly T's that make their way to my 'exercise' attire. (Burn baby, BURN! lol)

3. Sit up straight- improving posture and strengthening my CORE.

4. Breathe. Consciously. Focusing on each life-giving breath.

5. Clear my mind and my body of TRASH (negativity, unfair judgements, unkindness) that cloud decisions and rapidly increase MY aging process.

6. Keep my eyebrows clean and trimmed. Makes my face feel clean and improves a smile 100 x's!
(k
7. Sign non-negotiable contract with self to increase heart rate above 154 for 45 consecutive minutes at least three times a week (K 154's kindof high consecutively- I mean just long enough to break a good sweat and keep my heart rate pumpin'). Love me some CARDIO, yay!

8. Teach my children three part harmony. Who knows if they'll be able to carry a tune... but I'm inspired by an amazing Aunt of mine. BTW- She's makes the BEST Pani PoPo. This, but a million times better.

9. Faithfully commit to dates with my children and spouse.

There you have it. HERE are a few but not the all of the MANY resolutions I have running around in my head, but I guess important enough to remember first.

Love the New Year! Wishing you all the very, very BEST this 2009!

T'was the NIGHT BEFORE Christmas...

I attempted to prewrap gifts and put them under the beautifully decorated trees...

The tree(s) and pre-wrapped gifts LOST!

Why???



Well... because they were up against Monkey #4 and his Bessie. He'd take the presents and her the tree and together they'd ATTACK.

So of course, the trees and pre-wrapped gifts LOST.

By gift # 6 and tree re-decorate # 100 ... I gave up. Who needs a gazillion non-SANTA gifts and beautifully decorated tree anyway???



The night before x-mas the kids mixed, baked and decorated sugar cookies for SANTA (as if Santa didn't already have enough sweets!)... then nestled their heads in their beds.




And in the WEE hours of morning, we woke to the excited whispers and glees of delight as our children discovered, "Santa came! Santa came!". We barely got a minutes rest when these little guys woke. No longer able to contain their excitement Mr. J gave them the 'go ahead' and off they went down the stairs.



And in less then 20 mins. a whole night of preparation was completely unwrapped.
The kids were covered in chocolate, wrapping paper, gleaming smiles and laughter.

Later for lunch the Elders joined us for a very non-traditional meal of CRAB w/ garlic butter and lemon, Homemade clam chowder, warm-from-the-oven rolls and yummy deserts. LOVE LOVE LOVED it!

This year was simple for us. Besides the Elder time, we spent the ENTIRE Christmas, just the SIX of us. And although the night before I was missing the noise, family, cousins, and more YUM food, it was admittedly one of the BEST Christmas's we've had so far... I love my little FAM!

Merry Christmas!!!!