Totally "WICKED"

This past August 5 Fred and I celebrated our 14th annieversiary. Fred decided to surprise me with a trip to San Fransisco to see "WICKED" and spend a few days away from the kids. A little bit of trivia for you- Fred and I have NOT been anywhere alone together since our honeymoon 14 years together in San Fransisco. We were due for a trip. I told him I would go, but I had to do some homework. (Who does homework on a vacation? Do you see how dedicated I am?) We flew in on the 5th and saw Wicked that night. I LOVED it! I want to go back, San Fran would make a great girls trip. Anyone want to go!

Cell Phone Pics, I don't know why we didn't ask someone to take a picture with both of us, next time I guess.

We had a great time we used public transportation or walked to everything. The wharf, Golden Gate Park, we even went to a Giants game! I think Fred had to balance his manhood out after sitting for 3 hours at the show!
At the Beach!
The Giants Game! Again another cell phone pic.


I LOVE Fred and I'm so glad he gave us the opportunity to "Defy Gravity" for 3 days! (My FAVORITE Part)

Phooey on Puxatawney Phil!!!

Last week Phil, the groundhog, came out of his hole and predicted 6 more weeks of winter. Well, I think we just got 6 weeks worth just in the last 2 days. It has been snowing non-stop since early Sunday morning. The kids had a snow day yesterday, but I didn't (College stinks). Today we both have snow days. YEAH!! Last night Fred didn't get home from work until after 10:30 pm and we had to shovel over a foot of snow just so he could get the van up the driveway.


I should get the Mother of the Year award for having my children out in the snow at 11:00 pm.



Sydney making a snow body! No angels around here, there is nothing sweet and angelic about this weather.


We measured just over two feet of snow that fell on our table. (Note this table was clear last week)


The one time Fred forgot to cover his bbq. We won't be able to find his cover until it melts.

Overall, I should be grateful for the moisture because this area has been under a severe drought for the last decade, but does it have to come all at once.

There's no Place like Home!

We had to leave the football game a little early, so we could get to our Halloween party. It's always fun to dress up one day out of the year and be anybody or anything you want to be. My friend, Stacie, had a Dorothy costume that she let me borrow (THANKS A LOT!)and we turned Fred into the scarecrow! We had a great time and ate lots of yummy but scary foods!
We had a great time and at the end of the night I tapped my Ruby slippers and POOF we were home!


Little Red Riding and You know WHO!--The White Stripes

Yummy Desserts! POOP and Blood Drenched Cake!


We had a great time!

SURPRISE!!!

Was the word Fred heard Sat. night! I wanted to do something BIG for Fred's big 4-0, so I planned Surprise party for him. He told me that he didn't really want to do anything for his birthday so of course, I planned family pictures on that day and then we had dinner from Pig in a Poke! (Some celebration right!) So I started to devise my plan and let him think that we didn't care about this HUGE age landmark--so I told him his mother was going to come up and watch the kids while we went out to dinner! Everything went off without a hitch barely and he was completely surprised. Check out the video (kind've dark), but we had a great time with family and friends! Afterwards, he was so grateful that we really did care about His "Special" day and he was especially appreciative of the Black Balloons!


Hiding behind the Landing waiting for Fred!


Fred's SURPRISE!


Mick and Megan, Sarah and Nancy


When you get OLD you need EXTRA fiber, glasses, and Adult diapers!


Let's just say the Cupcakes and Chocolate Fountain were a HIT!

I just wanted to let Fred know that I LOVE him and I appreciate everything that he has done for our family! I didn't make a list of the 40 reasons why I LOVE Fred, (that would be a LONG list) but He knows that I respect him, he's an AWESOME daddy and I love to watch him with the kids, and I love that he LOVES me and I LOVE him unconditionally! Happy Birthday Babe!

ROCK STARS?

OK quick blog...

About a month ago Fred was asked to serve in the Elder's Quorum as 2nd counselor. He has enjoyed the calling very much and by him taking it, we have truly been blessed. (We now get the soft benches at church) So anyways, last night they held their weekly meeting at our house and after it was done, Fred asked if I would set up Rock Band for them. As soon as I got them going, I snuck down with my camera and recorded them! I thought it was so funny to see these 3 'grown' men take turns and becoming 'WANNABE' rock stars! They are singing Nirvana, hence the Nirvana picture, do you see any similarities? That's what I thought! Enjoy!!!

Words of Caution--It's pretty intense so look away if you have too!!

WhaT HaPPens in VeGas. . .

What does happen in Las Vegas? Apparently a lot when the Reese's are in town for 5 days. Fred had a conference in Vegas so we decided to take the kids on one last romp before school starts. We headed out last Friday, on I-40 and stopped at our favorite Route 66 dive The Snow Cap- they have great food and a fun atmosphere and of course, Sheriff from the Cars movie has retired there.



SATURDAY- We played with our friends, the Beans, apparently I didn't take any pictures at their house so you'll have to check out the Bean's blog! We had a great time catching up and enjoying each other's company. It was like we just moved away from each other yesterday! We also ran into our other Tucson friends, the Spalding's, they were lucky because they didn't have their kids. I kept telling Fred I wanted to go and watch Mamma Mia and kept singing the song-Sean picked it up and here is his rendidtion!!!



SUNDAY- YES-we were good and went to church with the Beans, with all of the sinning going on around us how could I not go to church! Fred and I had a dinner that night so I got to get all dressed up and we went to some "fancy" Wolfgang Puck restaurant and ate with some of the people that work at the Grand Hotel in SLC.



MONDAY-the Bean's came over and swam with us at our hotel, Mandalay Bay, we had a great time hanging out at the wave pool, the kiddie pool and the lazy river, OK to rent a tube there cost $20, now Sarah was the one who checked on the prices, so I can't verify the accuracy of what she was telling me, so we floated along the lazy river, actually it felt like a workout doing squat walks going around that thing a million times! (tiny exaggeration)



TUESDAY-We met the Beans and went shopping-let me just give you the equation and you can guess how it went- Two moms and EIGHT kids! Yeah that's what I thought! That night we went to the Shark Reef aquarium with Fred, it was fun, but jeez EXPENSIVE!! (am I sounding like a cheap skate-because I meant too!)



Video of the Shark Showcase, enjoy it so you don't have to spend thousands of dollars when you take your family there, just say we already saw it on Elisa's blog!


Then we took the kids to the M&M factory, more EXPENSIVE crap, so I let my kids get the $2 tube of mini M&M's. They were just excited to get their own M&M bag!



After the M&M factory, Fred had to go back to his closing reception, the Styx played and he caught a drumstick! So I decided to take the kids to see the Bellagio fountains play, I love them and I could sit and watch them forever! The kids loved them and had a great time watching them. Now I loved the Mandalay Bay, but Holy Crap that hotel is the last one on the Strip, so as were walking back to the hotel, I just kept telling the kids, just keep looking forward, don't look down, don't look around, just keep looking forward! I swear the next time I go back I'm not taking Kids! The NKOTB are playing Oct 11, anyone want to go! Loved them in HS!



The Bellagio Fountains!


So I didn't get to go to France for my Anniversary, but I did get to see the Eiffel Tower in Las Vegas, I bet it's even more grand in Paris and that's something I'm willing to BET on!

All My Life

What do you get someone for their 13th wedding anniversary? Well according to the anniversary gifts by the year-the 13th year calls for Lace for a traditional present and textiles for a modern gift, and a trip to France! (Hint, Hint) Textiles-hmmm! Lace-I could see as a gift and a trip to France (most definitely!)

If you don't already get my blog subject, today is Fred's and mine 13th Wedding anniversary! Did we do anything grand? No, but this Friday we are going to Las Vegas and you know what they say about Vegas, what happens there stays there! I bet lace would come in handy this weekend! (not really when you are sharing a room with 4 kids)

I just wanted to tell everyone how much I LOVE HIM. We have had quite the adventures over the past years and I know that there are many more to come. We've had some great times and not so great times, but I thank my Heavenly Father ever day for giving us both the good and bad times.

If you take everything that we have done together over the past 13 years, I think that our greatest achievements have been our 4 great children: Sarah Nicole, Sophie Elisabeth, Sydney Kate and Sean William.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! I LOVE YOU FRED!

PS-We danced our "first song" to All My Life sung by Aaron Neville & Linda Ronstandt