Weekend Pics

Our view from the beach house balcony.

Dinner at "the peanut throwing place".

Poor Merilee fell asleep on this little chair
with her glasses still on her face.

The huge log they all climbed to pose on.


back row: Alisa, Jen, Rochelle, Katie, Merilee
Front row: Darilyn, Amy, Ashley, Aundrea

Just a sample of the crazy Christmas

ornaments! Who ever heard of GI Joe Merman?
And, why would you be inclined to hang that on

your Christmas tree?!

book club weekend getaway

Last weekend I got to go to the coast with some friends for a "book club" getaway. Mind, that we use the phrase "book club" very loosely, but we did actually get a conversation about "The Catcher in the Rye" in:) We mostly use it as an excuse for a girls night out.

We started out at "Road House 101" it was a fun restaurant that you got to throw peanut shells on the floor, some of us had a little problem with that. After dinner we went back to "Chuck's Cove," (the name of the great house we stayed at). We all got into our comfy clothes, gathered the junk food around, and let the conversation begin. That was about 9pm. We didn't go to bed until 5:30 am, and that was only some of us. For breakfast, Merilee made her famous breakfast burritos, they were very yummy! After getting ready and going for walks on the beach we tried to go see "the family that never leaves" (Actually, a pod of whales that is always in the area, but at 3:30am we were killing ourselves laughing at the thought of an obsessive family waiting by the side of the road to catch a glimpse of the whales) you may have had to have been there:) We got some shopping done at "Mossy Creek Pottery" and at the little Christmas store, then went to Moe's for lunch and decided to head home since there were snow reports from our husbands all day long. We didn't want to miss all the snowy fun! Or be stranded on the side of the road with only a box on Milk Duds and a Diet Dr. Pepper for nourishment.

I count myself very lucky to be surrounded by good women in my life. I learn something from every one of them! I'm grateful that I got the chance to spend a weekend with just of few of them (we missed you Jodi) and hope it becomes a tradition. We saved a bundle on our therapy bills by being able to stay up and talk all night long:)

PS. I'll have to post pictures later because Blogger is being stupid right now! It still won't let me spellcheck and now I can't add pictures either. Lame.

100 things about me...

I decided I better get my list done. I think it is so much fun to read everyone else's, but now I know I have to dig deep and be revealing about myself. It was so much easier coming up with stuff about Kelly;)

1. I am the oldest child in my family, and the oldest grandchild on both sides.



2. I was raised in Blanding, Utah. I went from Kindergarten through 12Th grade with the same kids.



3. I'm still a small-town girl at heart.



4. One of my favorite memories of my childhood is cutting wood with my Grandpa Holden and my dad.



5. I truly appreciate nature...I'm always noticing beautiful sunsets and different landscapes. I'm amazed at how creative Heavenly Father was when He created this beautiful world. I think I inherited this appreciation from my dad, and hopefully will pass it on to my children.



6. I'm known as being a pretty straight-forward, doesn't mince words, gives it to ya like it is, says what everyone else is thinking, kind of person. Sometimes it gets me into trouble.



7. I am loyal.



8. I need to work on being patient. I probably always will need to work on it!



9. I'm very insecure when teaching lessons or speaking in church. I can barely remember what I said and have to hope that it made sense.



10. I love to hide, then jump out and scare people. I've gotten a kick out of this from early childhood and still love it today. The looks on people's faces just kill me! These are times I laugh so hard I can barely catch my breath. I know, I'm a sick person.



11. Even though it's a tough job, I love being a mother.



12. My children and husband bring me great joy.



13. I have a testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I vividly remember getting an answer to my questions about Joseph Smith when I was a Senior in high school.



14. I know that God is mindful of me, and I recognize His love for me through the service given to me by others.



15. I have always had good friends. From the times when I sneaked out of the house as a toddler to go eat breakfast up the street, through school years, college, until now.



16. I gave into peer pressure when I was a Sophomore in high school and tried out for cheer leading. I hated it! For those of you who know me, you know that being out in front of the whole school in a little skirt, doing stupid kicks just wasn't my thing.



17. I loved playing volleyball in high school. I played all four years. When I was a senior, our team took state for the first time in school history. We started a dynasty;)



18. I inherited an Italian temper.



19. I love to read. Mostly mysteries, but I enjoy mostly anything. If I don't have a book to read it drives my crazy! I even HAVE to finish books I don't enjoy, I can't start something and not see how it turns out.



20. I was a Tom-boy growing up. I went hunting with my dad, played in neighborhood football games, sand-lot baseball games, and drive-way basketball games.



21. During the summers I actually lived in my swimming suit. My sister and I would be at the pool from morning 'til night. We did water ballet, afternoon swim, and night swim. You should've seen my tan! And my green hair from all the chlorine.



22. I loved visiting my mom's parents in El Paso, Texas. It was always the highlight of our summer. Now my grandparents tease me that we used to say a quick hello to them, go get our swimming suits on and spend the rest of the two weeks in their pool. Let me tell you, Sundays were long because we weren't allowed to swim. Sometimes we would accidentally fall in with our clothes on.



23. I hide my emotions (as far as crying) pretty well, except I tear up so easily while listening to songs or watching shows or stupid Hallmark commercials. I think that's so weird.



24. I'm obsessed with all things Mafia. I love to watch documentaries, movies and TV shows about gangsters. When I was in Chicago I'm pretty sure the guys sitting the next table over were "made" and I almost asked for a picture with them, but I didn't want to get "whacked".



25. I also love to watch Western movies. A couple Saturdays ago, Kelly and I spent 8 hours straight watching "Lonesome Dove". Good times!



26. I'm very interested in history.



27. If I could have a wish granted, I think it would be to time-travel. Not so much to see what the future held, but to watch the past. I think it would be so cool to see how my ancestors lived and the things they experienced.



28. I was born in Provo, Utah.



29. I lived in Laie, Hawaii for about 1 year when I was 3-4 years old. My dad swapped teaching jobs with a guy there, so we swapped houses, and cars too.



30. I had my first kiss when I was in 8Th grade, I think. Years later the boy became my step-brother...ew!



31. When I was in the 3rd grade my mom spent 3 months in the hospital due to pregnancy complications.



32. My little brother, Robert Fletcher, was born at 29 weeks and lived for 13 hours. Nowadays, that wouldn't've been that big a deal. Give them some steroids for the lungs and they would be okay. I can't imagine how hard that must've been for my parents to leave the hospital without a baby.



33. I have such special memories of my Grandma Zola and Grandpa Ace during the time my mom was away. They would watch us while my dad worked.



34. I found my first arrow-head with my Grandma out in the "hills" of Canyonlands. Grandma has Alzheimer's now, and I feel so lucky to have my memories of the "real" her.



35. One of my favorite places in the world is Lake Powell. It is so beautiful! Hopefully we'll get to take our boat down this summer, so my kids can experience it too.



36. I was never attracted to the "bad" boys, and couldn't understand why some of my friends were.



37. My parents got divorced the end of my Junior year in high school. My family definitely gave my small, Mormon town stuff to talk about.



38. I still have "issues" with some of the stuff, but have chalked it up to a learning experience.



39. Like I said, I've been blessed with good friends, and they, along with my testimony helped me to get through the tough time of my parent's divorce.



40. My mom got re-married my Senior year in high school, to a really good guy, hence the first-kiss-step-brother. Don't think we didn't get teased about that at school.



41. My step-dad passed away more than 7 years ago. We're not close with his family anymore, but I still miss them.



42. The movie, "The Bucket List" had a profound effect on me.



43. My favorite band is U2. Going to one of their concerts is high on my "bucket list". Hopefully they go on tour again;)



44. My all-time favorite song is "With or Without You".



45. Some of my best friends growing up were guys. So much less drama!



46. We used to play Rook every weekend my sophomore year.



47. I got bit by a dog when we lived in Hawaii and had to get stitches, I still have a big scar on my leg. I can still remember the huge shot they had to give me, and I was only 3 or 4.



48. I think I make the best chocolate chip cookies.



49. I like to entertain at my house.



50. Some of my favorite movies are "Fletch"-comedy, "Terms of Endearment"-chick flick, "Lonesome Dove"- Western, "The Wedding Singer"-comedy, and "Monsters Inc."-kids.



51. I'm a big "Dr. Laura" fan. I think she's right 90% of the time.



52. I like driving an SUV better than a minivan.



53. I'm famous for my tacos. I just make 'em like my mom, who made them like her mom, who made them like her mom.



54. I first laid eyes on Kelly when I was a Junior in high school. My volleyball team was at his school for a tournament and he was a line judge. My whole team was drooling over him. He doesn't remember me.



55. I always wondered "what happened to that cute, Hawaiian line judge?" Until he moved to Blanding one summer after his mission and I was home from college.



56. I admit "using" Kelly's little sisters in my plan to snag him. We played volleyball together at open gym. I used the opportunity to put in a good word for myself.



57. We "officially" met at a church dance. I remember it was the same night my dad got remarried, and I really wanted to get home to go to the dance.



58. I sort-of had a missionary and had to make a choice. Up until then, all the guys I dated, I compared to my missionary. None of them measured up until Kelly came along. I made my choice.



59. Our first kiss happened before our first date. What does that say about me?



60. Marrying Kelly was the best decision I've made in my life. Little did I know what a great husband and father he would turn out to be!



61. We were married in the St. George Temple on June 20, 1996.



62. My Uncle Brent teased us that our first apartment was the "love shack". We still refer to it as such;)



63. I used to try to be a scrapbooker, but found that it stressed me out instead of relaxed me. I gave all my "stuff" to my sister-in-law.



64. Kelly teases me that I'm not a "good" Mormon because I don't scrapbook and I don't know how to make Jell-O. I've accepted that about myself and have moved on.



65. I'm glad that I do enjoy blogging...at least I can keep a journal and add pictures to it, then get it made into a nice hard covered book. That counts as scrap booking, right? We'll just call it a Family History.



66. I have a dry, sarcastic sense of humor. Sometimes this gets me into trouble too.



67. My favorite quote and lesson I learned from Kelly is,"You know, you don't have to say everything that enters your head."



68. My favorite quote that hung on my mom's wall says, "To believe in God is to know that in the end, all the rules will be fair, and that there will be wonderful surprises." I don't know who said this, but it has helped me "let go" of so many unanswerable questions.



69. My new favorite quote is by Thomas S. Monson, "Do not pray for tasks equal to your abilities, but pray for abilities equal to your tasks."



70. I like scary movies...but not too scary. I guess suspenseful would be a better word.



71. I love watching documentaries about true-crime. I've learned I shouldn't do this when Kelly is out of town, or I'm up all night long.



72. My favorite relaxation technique is to read a book in a quiet place until I fall asleep.



73. I secretly like doing laundry. It just takes me awhile to remember I like it.



74. My least favorite chore is dusting!



75. I worked as a waitress during high school. I think everyone at some point in their lives should have to be a "server". It taught me so many things!



76. I crave "Elk Ridge" food all the time and try to recreate it. I've come pretty darn close to their chicken fried steak. I really miss their thin-sliced beef sandwiches. (Kayela, tell J.J. you guys need to take a road trip up here and he can cook again!)



77. I talk on the phone all the time. Especially when I'm cleaning my kitchen, I feel like it's not such a chore if I'm talking to someone.



78. I used to be a daredevil. I was jumping off cliffs when I was 3 or 4, water skiing when I was 5, 4-wheeling, etc.


79. Now I'm a wuss. I think having children does that to a girl.


80. I hate texting!


81. I've always had short hair. Sometimes really, really short.


82. I'm glad I married a Hawaiian guy. Not only do I love the culture, but I'm sure to visit there a lot.


83. I like getting good deals when I shop, it gives me a little thrill to know I saved some money.


84. I crashed our first new car 3 days after we got it.


85. I like to make things as easy as they can be, with as little effort as possible, but still nice.


86. I would like to lose some weight.


87. I like Jacob more than Edward. (For you "Twilight-ers" out there)


88. I was born on my mom's 20Th birthday.


89. I regret some things I've done and some choices I've made in my life. I hope to learn from them.


90. I have an extremely noisy stomach.


91. My feet are always cold. Luckily Kelly lets me warm them up on his legs.


92. I'm OCD about my kitchen floor. I bet I sweep it 7 or 8 times a day. Bronson, doesn't help keep it very clean. Maybe we need a dog to clean up all the spills.


93. I LOVE all my kids names and that there are meanings to them. Logan Mahealani: We got Logan from a volleyball player and Mahealani means "the moon that shines from Heaven" the night she was born was a full moon. Maikalani Sarah: Maikalani means "from/come to Heaven" and Sarah is after my Grandma Cardon. Kaleleonalani Elizabeth: Nalani was the first grandchild to be born after Kelly's dad passed away, and it means "flight of the royal ones from/to Heaven" so Tutu went to Heaven and Nalani came from Heaven. Elizabeth is after Kelly's grandma, and sister, Nani. Bronson Davis Ali'i: Bronson is my grandma Zola's maiden name, Davis is one of Kelly's dad's middle names, and Ali'i is Kelly's middle name which means "chief".


94. I think I'm too hard on my kids sometimes...especially Logan. Is that just because she's the oldest and I don't know what I'm doing?


95. My childhood memories are vividly attached to smells: chainsaws for cutting wood, pipe tobacco for my Grandpa Ace, coffee for my grandparents kitchen in the morning, boat engines for Lake Powell, sunscreen for Lake Powell, dusty grease for my grandpa's shop.


96. My grandpa Ace taught me to drive when I was young, like 10 or 12, in his old orange WWII Jeep. (It really wasn't from WWII, but that's what I always told myself when I was young.)


97. In high school we would have "just girl" camping trips and they were so much fun, even though we scared ourselves to death out in the woods. We would also laugh so hard we would almost pee our pants.


98. My favorite cologne is "Cool Water"! I hope they never stop making that stuff!


99. I had a "blankie" until I got married. I purposefully got my kids the same sort of silky edged blankies so I could rub them between my fingers too.


100. I love going on trips. I especially enjoyed Chicago when it was all-expenses-paid, and just me and Kelly!

There you have it. That was a lot harder than I expected it to be. It was even kind of emotional and therapeutic;) Maybe now you have a little better idea of what makes me tick. Now, any of you out there who haven't done a list yet, get busy! Mel, Nani, Kayela, Jenni, Jenny, KerrieLeigh, Lisa and anyone else;)

*my spellcheck wasn't working, so please forgive me if my proof reading didn't catch 'em all;)

Good-bye, My Friend

I just got the disturbing news that Kraft Foods will no longer be making Postum. I'm so sad! Thank Heaven (literally) for the Word of Wisdom, otherwise I would probably be spending a small fortune at Starbucks.

Postum is one of my comfort foods. I remember my mom making it for me in the mornings, or after playing out in the snow. I always liked mine with a lot of sugar and some evaporated milk. I still like to drink a mug when I feel like a treat, or I sit down to read a book...it's just one of those things that make me feel comfy and cozy.

Now, I know some of you out there are thinking I'm either crazy, or a sinner, and probably think it's disgusting, but I LOVE it! If my grandparents can drink it, I can drink it (that's what I keep telling myself). Now I find out that if I want some, I have to buy it on EBay. Are you kidding me?! When Utah got the news, people were literally storming the grocery stores and stocking up like it's a necessary item on their Year Supply list! So, if any of you out there happen to come by some Postum at the grocery store, think of me. And buy it for me. The North westerners up here don't drink the nasty stuff anyway, there's bound to be some out there!

Tomorrow, Happy, Something, and So On

I was needing to update my blog, but didn't know what to write. So, I borrowed this from a friend of a friend of a friend:)

Tomorrow... I will exercise.
Happy...because I have a nice warm house to sleep in tonight.
Something I know...I am one lucky woman! I have a good family, and good friends.
Currently...needing to exercise some patience.
Wanting...a Diet Dr. Pepper!
Favorite Gadget...(I'm copying Darilyn here,) the Internet!
Thankful...for so many things...my testimony of Jesus Christ, tender mercies of our Heavenly Father, my parents, my husband and children, friends, a weekend getaway.
Wondering...If school will be canceled or if there will be a late start tomorrow.

Spill it

So, my kids are pretty notorious for spilling stuff at the dinner table. Once, when Rochelle was watching Logan for me, Logan spilled her drink 3 times during the same meal. I guess by then it was just ridiculous and they burst into laughter instead of tears!

I think I've figured out where my kids picked up this "spilling gene". From Kelly (and me). A few nights ago we were getting ready to sit down to dinner. Kelly was bringing the pan from the oven over to the table and dropped the whole thing on the floor! We managed to salvage most of the food, laugh if off, and did not have to go hungry. It gets worse...during the same meal, I managed to spill a big, full, glass of ice-water on the table which proceeded to soak Logan. Luckily Kelly was already away from the table and did not see my folly (I guess I'm telling on myself now). I said a quick "thank-you" that it was only water and not soda or Kool-Aid to make my floor extra sticky. I had an "ah-ha moment" and figured my kids are doomed to be "spillers" thanks to Kelly and me! I guess I better stock-up on paper towels and get used to it!

Happy Birthday Melanie!

Melanie and her husband Riley, baby Hannah, Spencer, and Macy





Today my little sister turns the big 3-0! It's weird that we are both in our thirties now;) Our parents must feel really old! I love Mel so much and am glad she's my sister! Growing up I wasn't always the nicest big sister...she reminds me of this every time we're together, just kidding, Mel! But really, I could've been a lot better to her! I really never thought when I was in high school that we would ever be friends, we fought that much. Now I consider her one of my best friends and confidants! I love talking to her on the phone and spending time with her and her family. Happy Birthday Melanie...I hope you have a great day!