When Ursula Came to Town

January has already brought so much busyness! But the best part so far was a visit from my friend Ursula who is now living in Florida. We spent one of her first nights here together eating dinner, watching a movie and catching up on each others lives. One of the reasons for her trip is that her brother Raffa's baby Leonardo was being blessed and Raffa was also blessing Ursula's little boy Max as well! So Sunday was the baby blessing and time with the family, eating, and talking. Monday we got together for another dinner, family home evening, foot soaks, and one of my all time favorite movies Yours Mine and Ours. On her last night in town we got together at my place so Ursula and her mom could see my new place. Ursula stayed at her brother and mother's house so most of our time was spent out in Saratoga Springs. I had gone on a trip with Ursula and her mom to California a couple years ago so I knew Kristina, but I had never met Raffa and Amberly and their little family until this week. I was welcomed into their home and have made some great memories and friendships. I was a bit under the weather for most of her visit so the pictures at the church I look a little tired and pale!

Me and Maximilliano Ursula's Little boy who is 4 months the first time I met him! Isn't he just he cutest thing you've ever seen?

After Max and Leonardo's Baby Blessing with Ursula's Mom, Ursula, Robert (Ursula's Husband), Raffa, Nico, Amberly's Brothers and Sister, Me, Nicole, Leticia and her 2 boys Elliot, and Jack at the church.

Ursula, Elliot, Me, Jack, and Leticia at the Church

Elliot, Me, Nicole, Max, Ursula, Jack and Leticia at the Church.

Kristina, Ursula, Me, Nico (Raffa's son) and Nicole at my place.

All of us again with Nico looking not to sure about having his picture taken!

2008 In Review

Nicole, Ursula, Me and Mandy

January 2008: Dinner at Ursula's Apartment before she got married, left for Florida, and had a baby boy. This was a good night of cooking an Argentinian meal, stalking a boys house like a bunch of teenage girls and then watching a movie.

January 2008: The start of 2008's car repairs, Jaden and I at the repair shop before his first Jazz game at the Energy Solutions Arena wearing his Boozer jersey he got from Santa. After the game I caught him eating out of other fan's popcorn buckets that they had left I think he thought it was free.

February 2008: Sure Kym I'll go with you to look at Condo's for sale just for FUN! Escrow, Appraisal, Refinance, Seller Disclosure, Home Inspection??? What am I doing and I was just looking for fun, and did I learn all of these words in school?

Amy, Kym and I

February 2008: Celebration of Kym's Birth at Cheesecake Factory, long wait but the cheesecake made it totally worth it!


March 2008: March bumped my dog sitting job to a new level. Besides watching Missy and Jim Tschabrun's dogs and cats, President and Sister Lattin asked me to be their dog sitter! Here is Muffin who is diabetic, old, and a very picky eater. You have to mix human food with her food so she will eat. I love the Lattin's and am grateful for the time in their home as well as the times spent together when I'm not dog sitting for them. I am so glad for their support!


March 21, 2008: Closing day and the most stressful day of my life! 40 pages with my signature and 30 years of giving my money away. Moved in the next day with load after load and my brothers and brother in-law saying they would never help me again because I had too much stuff. I remember thinking I hope I get good neighbors! The Shaw's next door moved in the same day but it was about 3 weeks later before we actually talked. Now we want to be each others neighbor forever! This is mine and the Shaw's front doors mid renovation aren't they gross? I'm on the right.

Mason and Brackston

April 2008: The month started with settling into my new place. After purchasing new mattress's and having Richard pick them up in his small truck they gave away on one side (the side I was sleeping on) only after a week. So because of my heaviness the mattress returning fiasco began with yet again Richards little truck. Then off to Cache Valley for Baby Animal Days at the Jensen Historical Farm with the family except the Spottens. We love this event and spend hours petting animals and having rides on horse pulled trailers. This picture of getting bathed was taken after cause the kids get so dirty. Dad's the photographer on these events so I don't have any with the animals. Maybe I should get copies of the actual Animal days from him?

April 19, 2008: One year since we lost our sweet Tanner and it's evident every day how much we still love him and miss him! In memory of Tanner I went with my good friend to the Salt Lake Temple and did a session and will continue it each year in honor of his memory.

May 2008: I left the singles ward for a family ward. After 12 years in a single's ward I didn't know what to expect. I went with the Shaw's and knew within 5 minutes that it was exactly where I was supposed to be. More opportunities for dog sitting this month for the Lattins and the Tschabrun's!


May 2008: My Friend Brandy's husband is a mountain bike racer and I was lucky to go with them to a race in Midway up by Heber. It was a beautiful day of sun, racing, and just getting out of the valley for a while. This is me and Brandy with only a small portion of the race behind us, the rest is up in the mountains so there are portions of the race that we did not see. It was a long race so we came back had naps and then went and saw "The Chronicles of Narnia 2" in the theater.


May 2008: May also brought my first opportunity in years to be of help at the Special Olympics in Provo. I was score keeping for T-ball all day and had a blast and a sunburn to follow. Here I am giving out a medal during the medals ceremony. They were so great to be around.


June 2008: Went with Amy and some other friends to an outdoor concert of Ryan Shupe and the Rubberband and it was nice til it got dark and then it was cold. Later that week I got free tickets to the LeeAnn Rhimes concert so Nicole and I were lucky enough to go downtown on a beautiful night and be at one of the best concerts at Abravanel Hall.

June 17, 2008 marked my 8 year Temple anniversary. Mom, Dad, Kizzi and I were able to go to a session in the Logan Temple that night.


June 2008: June brought another Bird Family reunion that doesn't come around very often. We went to a park in Hyde Park and ate and talked for hours. Here is Aunt Janice, Me, Kizzi, Brackston, Mom and Grandma Bird doing the old sitting down and talking.


July 2008: Aunt Maryann got us tickets for the Twin Falls Temple open house which gave Me, Mom, Dad, Richard, and April the perfect opportunity to head to Burley and stay with them. The Temple was beautiful and very different from the large ones. We had Loads of fun and didn't want the weekend to end. Saturday morning we drove outside of Burley to the ski resort and got to ride the ski lift to the top. It took a lot of bribery to get mom on it but we did. I took this from my seat in front of them but here she is with dad holding on for dear life. To not think about the ride she started knitting wash clothes! She takes her knitting everywhere!

24th of July weekend brought out Rebecca, dogsitting, staying with a lady named Eleanor till she could get back on her feet from falling, and fireworks at a mosquito infested park with bites later to prove it!

August 2008: More dog sitting for the Lattins and Tschabrun's, the start of a new school year, waiting for my first purchased bus and the announcement that Richard and April are getting married.


September 2008: Tony Grove Lake for Labor Day with all different weather, Sunshine, Rain and Yes SNOW! We woke up Labor day to find snow and most of the campers already packed up and heading out. We of course turned on the heat in the trailer and started taking pictures.


September 2008: By mid September the siding of our Condo's got finished and it started to look like we bought something good. My windows are on the second floor, and yes they have since added nicer lamps to the building and new landscaping. Best of all was the doors improved!


September 2008: Flowers for the wedding and many nights of little sleep to get them done in time for the wedding.


September 5th, Bridal Shower, September 6th Richards Endowment in the Manti Temple. Katelyn and I outside after the Endowment., Angie and Edward's rental vehicle was a suburban with a DVD player so of course all the kids and I had to ride in one vehicle with the movies. It was actually really fun. After the Endowment we took pictures and then ate at a little malt shop and I got to eat at the table with all the kids.


September 12, 2008: Richard & April's Wedding at the Salt Lake Temple. The original Bird's and April.


September 13, 2008: Richard & April's Wedding Reception in Orem. Here with my nieces helping me to model the cake I decorated.

September 2008: The passing of a very dear friend after a lifetime of struggles and never complaining left me to make sure that when I receive any kind of prompting to follow it and not ignore it!

October 2008: The loss of my locks to "Locks for Love" I haven't had this short of hair since the 11th grade so it will take a bit to get used to. Special Olympics in Salt Lake and judging Bocce Ball this time, and an even worse sunburn this time, even in October.


October 2008: Kym Amy and I love Walking at the Olympus High track and surrounding neighborhoods. In October it became our favorite Tuesday night activity to do together. After awhile we added other things with it so that we spent the whole night together. This is at Kym's house
before we set out to walk.


October 2008: Jaden turned 8 in September and was baptized in October. It gave the family another chance to all be together again. We ate pizza at Angie and Edwards after and Kizzi talked me into starting my blog. So without this day there wouldn't be my blog. With more dog sitting in October for the Tschabrun's 4 big dogs and 2 cats, I realized that this year has been full of dog sitting jobs , does this make me a professional?

Emily, Sarah, and Me

November 2008: Every other year at work we have The school Auction which is a formal event that brings in a lot of our funding for the school. I went this year to see what it was all about. Next time I think I'll pass. It was beautiful and I never imagined a gym could be transformed to not look like a gym, but realized that it's not my kind of fun and won't be doing it again if I don't have to! Oh the stories I could tell from that night!

November 2008: Was the month for free tickets. I went to the Trans Siberian Orchestra concert at the E center with a great dinner and seats in a suite. Ballet Tickets to the "Tempest" which I was lucky enough to take Katelyn with me. New Kids on the Block but was too tired after the ballet to go. And the Bells on Temple Square concert which was really beautiful.


Thanksgiving 2008: At home in Cache Valley. Almost everyone came. We didn't get to see Mason and Aubrey. Here I am with Brackston wearing dad's old scouting hat he had when he was little he loved wearing it all Thanksgiving weekend til Jaden took it home.

Amy, Me and Kym

December 2008: Brought much busyness and joy with friends and family. To start the month out Amy, Kym and I went to Crown Burger for dinner and then to Temple square to see the Christus and of course the lights. We spent a lot of time talking on the top of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building and looking at the Temple. After we decided to take some pictures in the freezing cold and this is one of the pictures by the Conference Center.


December 2008: Kym Amy and I celebrated my 31st Birthday at a little Mexican restaurant called Cafe Cancun. It is becoming our Birthday Traditions to eat out on each others birthdays and see a movie if a good one is playing.


Christmas 2008: After the first 3 weeks in December being a crazed hurry, I got to go home to Cache Valley for a week during Christmas. It was full of laziness, reading, movies, snowy days, throwing out my back, staying up way late with mom, shopping with mom, and reading books with Brackston which from the picture put him to sleep while we were sitting in the kid rocking chair.

Mandy, Nicole, Me, Kati, and Kristy

December 31, 2008: I reluctantly came back to Salt Lake after the Monday after Christmas to work a couple of hours before I had 5 more days off. I spent New Years with Friends this year and we made the most of it. We started out at the Desert Star dinner theater for appetizers (popcorn and water). They gave us party hats, and necklaces. We saw Miracle on 42nd street it was fun.

Nicole, Me and Kati

Mandy, Kati, Me, Kristy, and Nicole

After Desert Star we headed back to Mandy and Nicole's for Healthy Pizzas, Wii Fitness, Goal Making, Hot Tubing, Grape and Cider eating at Midnight, watching Dirty Dancing til 2, and talking til 4:00. What a great start to the New Year.

Thanks to all my family and Friends for making 2008 memorable and starting out 2009 with the hopes of good things!

Bear Hugs for Christmas

Bear Hugs for Christmas has become my new Christmas Tradition!
Every year for the last 20 years the Utah Jazz Bear has taken well
deserving children to a Walmart to shop. As the years have gone
by the number of kids have grown which means the number of
volunteers have grown as well. Last year there was one volunteer
per child, this year there were two volunteers per child. I got to the
location at 6:20 and ran into many of my friends from my single's
wards. While we were standing in line to be paired with our child I
turned to see Mark Eaten walk in. I knew that if I didn't get a picture
with him mom would never let me live it down. So I walked up to him,
kinked my neck back and said " Hi I don't mean to bother you but
my mom is a huge fan and it would be so great if I could have my
picture with you, would that be OK?" Of course he said yes and I
now have the picture as proof! We had breakfast in the gym with a
little performance from some of the dancers from High School
Musical and then loaded our large buses (8 total). The Bear gets on
top of a firetruck and leads the buses down the streets with a
police escort all the way to the Walmart. The police escort makes
it so we have a straight drive right to the Walmart, and the kids all
feel pretty special by it. I have to admit I felt pretty warm and tingly
as well! Last year we drove in a blizzard, but this year we were lucky
enough that the big snow storm had not started yet. I was paired up
with Carter who I had never met and we had a little guy named Danecio
who had received a robot jacket the day before from Santa and wore
the hood (which covers his face completely ) most of the day. To
watch his face and see him hiding his excitement was precious.
He couldn't believe that he actually got to get toys that he wanted and
someone else was paying for it. As we were walking out the door to
return to our bus we were able to get a picture with the Jazz Bear.
When we were leaving the Walmart the storm had finally started but
it didn't matter for me or the kids! What a day of such fun, and Christmas
spirit. Each year I feel something that brings me back the next year, even
at 6:30 in the morning on a Saturday!

Me and Mark Eaten


Me, the Bear, Carter and Danecio trying to get his hood on


Me, Bear, Danecio (at the bottom) and Carter

Temple Square Bells Concert

Me Michael and Nicole in the
Tabernacle after the "Bells
on Temple Square Concert"
just before Thanksgiving.
My friend Devin gave us
free tickets to the concert.
I forgot to tell Nicole that
it was in the Tabernacle
not the Conference Center.
Nicole and Michael were
already a little behind
and ran all the way to
the conference center and then
had to run from their to the Tabernacle. Nicole did it
all barefoot. Sorry Nicole won't mess up
like that again! At least we all got to see the concert!

The Tempest

Last month I won 2 tickets at work to see the ballet "The Tempest" at the Capitol Theater in downtown Salt Lake City. I started going through the list of people who would like to go with me, and after watching Katelyn Dance one night when she didn't think we saw her I knew I should take her. We parked and walked to the theater and I could tell she was excited when she kept saying "can I see the theater yet" Once inside she was mesmerized. We got her cushion and were escorted to our seats at 2nd row and waited the 20 minutes for the show to start. The ballet started and I was waiting for her first words and they finally came "That's a boy!" I think she had thought that all ballet dancers were girls. She immediately fell in love with the lead couple Miranda and Ferdinand, because they were just like a prince and a princess. We both laughed over the jester, butler and Native. During intermission we went to check out the front and ended up getting her a ballerina hippo for her birthday. For the second half of the ballet Baley the hippo ballerina danced in her lap. Once over we made our way outside to the car. We went shopping and realized after that we had not taken any pictures at the theater like we wanted. Katelyn even wanted to go back and take them but were so far away. So we took these pictures in the car with the program. The first is a picture of Miranda in the program and other performers. The second is of the program, but notice her crooked glasses. The third is Baley the Ballerina Hippo. And of course the fourth is of the 3 of us all together.