BANGS!

20 years ago (I must have been 3 at the time) I grew my bangs out.  For the past 5 years I've toyed with the idea of cutting them...that is until the scissors are firmly grasped in the hands of my hair stylist.  Contrary to what most believe...I'm low maintenance - bangs are more work than I was willing to give.  But this time I did it...and I love it.  Yes, more work but worth it...my husband thinks he's sleeping with a new woman. 

Vegas Girl's Trip...don't let the title fool you.

The beach area at the Tahitian Village Resort was amazing. 

shopping and girls go hand in hand.

Krispy Kreme dreams...no other donut compares. 

Jana, Tricia & Tarilee

Ireland, Ellie, Sheridan, Olivia.  

This spring the girls and I went with 3 of my girlfriends and their kids to Las Vegas.  Not exactly the kind of 'girls trip' I look forward to.  Surprisingly, we had a great time.  We did a lot of shopping, eating out and pool time.  And that's about all it takes to make me a happy vacationing girl.

The trip downer was that while there the most famous Las Vegas comedian, Danny Ganz, passed away in his sleep.  Very tragic.  

Our brush with fame was seeing Flava-Flav (high as a kite) with his signature 10" clock around his neck.  We attempted but in the end missed this photo opp.  

Last day of school...brought tears.

My girls were BLESSED with the best teachers this year.  I cried when the school year ended.  We may never be that lucky again.

Sheridan with Mrs. Michelle Roundy

Ireland with Mrs. Jennifer Asay

Ducks in our very small pond.

Can't believe they found the water feature in the backyard.  By the time I had the camera they were climbing out.  Hard to see them on top of the rock wall.

WICKED!

Part of our Christmas was tickets to WICKED.  We had to wait 4 very long months for the actual show.  SO worth it... BEYOND amazing.  And Ga-linda was the bomb!  We wish we could do it all over again...all except Sheridan...who, when everyone laughed, said 'I don't get it'.  And that pretty much ruined the show for her.

Ms. Roth

Sheridan is an aspiring school teacher.  Almost every day she conducts class in her bedroom.  This weeks lesson focused on cinanims (synonyms).

Easter 2009

Sheridan doesn't care what the bunny brings as long as it includes a sufficient supply of candy.

Ireland is a Twilight fan but an even BIGGER Mama Mia fan.

We had family Easter dinner at Aunt Debi's.  Aunt Debi was so kind enough to throw together an egg hunt for the girls at the last minute.

More candy...that's what it's all about.

Once the girls found all the eggs they emptied their loot and re-hide the empty eggs for their older brothers and cousins to find.  The boys were good to take the pink and blue baskets along on their hunt.

The Mayercraft Carrier II

John Mayer - he's my favorite (besides Chris, of course!)

John in his 'Welcome on Board' captain suit.

On the Lido deck watching band after band play all afternoon.  

On the Cabo beach at Tabasco's - Lover's Beach in the background.

Safety Drill!

Last year I was on the Mayercraft with John.  It was so much fun I could not miss another year.  Last year I sailed with girlfriends, this year I took Chris and a bunch of other couples.  We had such an amazing time they are all game for next year.  I'm already counting down the days.

Southern Cal with the Carters

At Seal Beach

We stayed at the Welk Resort, as in Lawrence Welk.  Sounds cheesy, I know, but it was a really great resort especially for the kids.  The kids said the water slide was better than any other place we've stayed.

With Jessica & Kris Carter at Coronado.

Chelsea Kartchner, Hannah, Jessica, Aubrey Carter, Ireland, Keaton & Sheridan

One night at the Welk Resort we saw a comedian & magic show. ( This is the magicians assistant teaching the girls magic tricks.)  The comedian was hilarious.  He did a great show and kept it very clean.  However, Sheridan didn't get ANY of the jokes.  She was bored and would duck over to tell me so.  In the process she became part of the comedians show and she had no clue that he was talking about her. 

Seaworld 2009

Shamu or one of his/her off-spring.

Soaking wet after coming down the Atlantis Ride.  We vacationed with some family friends, the Carters.  We took their youngest, Keaton, with us to Seaworld.

Sheridan playing in the Star Fish pond.  

Ireland petting the the stingrays.  This was amazing and my personal favorite.

In the Shark World exhibit.  Sharks were swimming overhead.

We love Southern Cal.  Took the girls on our first trip to Seaworld.  Touching the stingrays and star fish were the greatest.  The kids loved the seal show.  They were hoping for more rides.  I had to remind them 'It's Seaworld!  They don't have roller coasters at the bottom of the ocean!'

Wow!

This years Reflections theme (a statewide elementary arts program) was Wow!

Ireland (literally, last minute) entered her first pottery project - an Owl tea light candle holder-  and called her entry:  'Wow it's an Owl'.   She ended up winning 3 levels of awards and was the only student from Draper Elementary that went on to State Reflections.  We have yet to hear from the State level. 

A Brief Buttenhoff Invasion

My Aunt Shirley & Uncle Darryl Buttenhoff stopped by for a night on their way to Tucson, AZ - via Washington, Idaho, Montana & Wyoming.  Might be time for a new GPS. =o)  We loved having them even though is was a very short stay.

Just as our visitors were leaving... Ireland sported a goatee in honor of her Great Uncle.

Dana Point 2009

Chris & I on a beach walk.  

Nanete & I spotted a VERY LONG line at the 'Sprinkles' cupcake store in Newport.  We asked a security guard if it was really worth it.  Another patron in line with ties to Utah told us he was taking 85 of the little cakes back to San Diego for friends.  By the time we were inside we had upped our order from sharing 1 to a box of 6 ($20.00 total - holy crap....what was a thinking)  They were okay.  'Nothing Bundt Cake' is still king.

The Smith's (closest to the camera) invited us along with Gordon & Nanete Daw & Koni & Doug Smart to stay at their Dana Point Beach House.  

Occasionally, Chris struggled to find wireless internet.  But on the patio behind a chair always worked.

Taken from the beach house that looks out over the Pacific and Catalina Island in the background. Obviously, I spent the weekend without much make-up!  YIKES - a little too relaxed.

Things we only dream about this time of year....

Ireland would be behind the boat all day long if we gave her the option.

Sheridan - the beach bum.

Chris loves clearing a wake.

Tarilee's newest love...surfing.

Chillin' in a secret canyon.

Ireland found new boyfriends...

Ireland spent her weekend with the world champion wakeboarders.  She was the official 'rope girl'.  Check it all out at:

www.alliancewake.com/article_gallery.php?id=4458

My baby turns 7

Since she could say the word, her favorite color has always been blue.

After 20 minutes of shear panic she finally took the 15' plunge.

She would love to have a furry animal in the house, but, like peanut butter, she's allergic.

WILL EAT... even at 40 mph

Spent days searching for bugs this summer.  What a nerd.

This morning Sheridan woke up and said "Mom, I really feel like I'm 7 now"  I said, 'hold up, not until 11:45 a.m. will you be officially 7.'

I have 2 neighborhood girlfriends, Corrine & Nanete.  2 years ago, Sheridan, in her infinite wisdom, realized that they were not necessarily 'her friends' and so it would be okay to play with them on Sunday.  Each Sunday she'd end up at either house - often both.  She got very comfortable with them and by last Christmas she was asking them what they would be giving her for Christmas.  1 month later when she turned 6 again she asked about her present.  We were horrified and embarrassed when we got word of it and explained to her that it was very inappropriate to ask people for gifts.

It's been months since she's spent time with either Corrine or Nanete.  Yesterday, 'birthday eve', she made her way to both houses armed with a more politically correct statement, 'Did you know that tomorrow is my birthday?"