Cheeseburger Thoughts

For 26.2 Miles (in the rain)

For a guiltless this:

In the Heights

Taylor gave the gift of broadway for Valentine's. What a guy. Katie and I went and saw In the Heights. It's the keeper of my latin heart. Lots of good dancing and funny moments, and spanish lingo being thrown around (I don't know how Katie kept up). Broadway doesn't disappoint.

Our bonus that night was seeing the girl from Akeelah and the Bee. She sat a few rows ahead of us. She looks all grown up, doesn't she?

Lucky Lady

My mom surprised me on Monday and said she was coming to visit the following day. Yey, this means cooked meals, laundry folded and put away, baths taken care of, daily rub-downs, extra set of eyes and arms, and babysitting galore. Unfortunately Taylor was sick on Wednesday (lucky me). So I conjured up my sweetest, guilt-loaded voice and worked him like the good wifey that I am. So by mid-morning we were off to the city without kids. No real agenda, just wanted to be free women. We headed straight to the Gershwin Theatre where Wicked is shown. We tried our luck at the Wicked lottery. This gives theatregoers and opportunity to see the show for $25 a piece and front row seats. The lucky lady that my mom, managed to get her name drawn. Yep, you read right, front row, $25 tickets to Wicked. It was so dang good. I thought seeing it one time would be enough, but seeing it this second time was over the top. We were so close that we saw sweat beading from their face, and spit being flown as they sung, and tears in stockings, and mini microphones from foreheads. We neighbored the orchestra below which was awesome to see them in their art. It is such a spectacular production, that I will echo my own words from my sidebar again, Wicked is a NYC must see.

Anybody looking to borrow my mom for her remarkable fortune can do so...small fee applies.

XXVII

Taylor took the day off Monday, and my friend Katie watched our kids ALL day long. We were able to go into the city and enjoy Manhattan without kids and without time restrictions. We had a few missions in mind. 1. We wanted to check out the small boutiques in SOHO and Greenwich Village 2. Eat some good food 3. Have a celebrity sighting 4. Ice skate





Washington Square


We looked for Theo Huxtable. No Luck

Rice to Riches rice pudding bar. We had the

coconut coma and sex drugs and rocky road.

Proud to say I didn't fall once!

Taylor going backwards.

Rockefeller Ice Skating

We had a celebrity sighting. Well, for me not really

because I had never seen him before but this is

Mark Schlereth. Apparently he's a super bowl winning

ex NFL player and an ESPN commentator. He was there

with wife and two daughters and they had a camera

crew with them. They are filming a reality show on Lifetime

"Meet the Schlereths". Kind of cool for Taylor.

We got all our missions accomplished. I also think I saw this

GIRL but I didn't even know her name so I didn't bother taking a

picture of her. It was a good day.

Now here are a few things I learned

while 26:

You're never too old to learn the Primary songs

Accepting that laundry is never ending is liberating (confirmed from last year)

I might possibly achieve making beans as good as my mom

I don't really like the cold weather, at all

My kids teach me more than I realize

The Church is true (re-confirmed from the year before)

Spoonful of sugar will make the medicine go down

You can still have a good attitude regardless of the trials you are facing

WD-40 takes crayon off the wall

Good friends are hard to come by

A diaper going through the washing machine makes a big mess

Home is where my 3 boys are

A Treat of Another Kind

I was able to see this display when I went home this summer at the Mesa Temple. Mark Mabry is from my hometown (actually went to Mountain View...go Toros) but he is a talented photographer. He did this amazing Reflections of Christ photography collection. It is now touring and there is a book available on deseretbook.com . There is a another slideshow available on Mark's website which shows more images. Check it out, it really is breathtaking.

Chocolate and the City

It was a good Girls Night in the city as we enjoyed desserts at Max Brenner's Chocolate by the Bald Man. Boy, was it good. One more reason to come visit. Check out its website to the right under NYC Must See.

It's A Good Life

Don't mean to get too spiritual, but I thought I would recognize my 9 year baptismal anniversary. I'll keep it short and sweet since I probably could say a lot about this day. I will, however, say it was one of my best days and the best decision. I love this Gospel and I am so grateful for it. I know that any good thing that has come into my life has been because of the decision I made. Just a few shout outs. The Gunnells, one of my favorite families. I'm grateful that they lived a gospel-sharing home as long as I've known them. Marie and high school friends for being such good examples. Two missionaries, Elder Hartvigsen and Elder Wolsey for dedicated those 2 years. My mom and family for loving me no matter what. Book of Mormon anyone?

I Ran for Central Park

And then immediately ran myself to Crumbs bakery where I partook in a delicious cupcake. It was worth every step of the race to preserve the park. Too bad the calorie count was more than those burned during the race. Nothing like enjoying the scenery and running behind a 78 year old man, that for the life of me, I couldn't pass. Oh well, I still stand proud at coming in at 3,751st place.

Empire Experience

I had a great week. It started with a sweet night in the city. Our friend Shannon Aldrich (in the pink), and her family got moved to Hawaii and we went to the city to have a farewell night to her. It started at a deliciously overpriced restaurant named Islero. We then walked over to Serendipity ( famous for their Frozen Hot Chocolate) where they all had delicious desserts and I partook in a tasteless herbal tea (I'm doing no sugar, don't ask. Marie we have to talk). We then decided to do the Empire State building. Anything goes when you don't have kids. It was amazing...the view is breathtaking. I love Manhattan!! It was a spontaneous night which led us to catch the 1:30 a.m ferry.

My Southern View

Who needs lush valleys, sparkling rivers, grand canyons, mastering oceans, or even a city skyline when you can have this as your southern view? I have grown to love him clinging to my legs. I know it won't be that way for long, and the first weeks of him doing it drove me a little nuts, especially when cooking dinner. But now, I can't get enough of my beautiful vista!

Throwdown...

With Bobby Flay at the Mesa Grill!!! Shannon and Jaren and their girls are visiting us for the week and we had an adult night in Manhattan and dined at Bobby Flay's place. It was delicious!! I had an Ancho-chile crusted chicked, which was cooked to perfection, accompanied by a chile relleno with a white cheddar cheese, black beans, and rice stuffing. Taylor had a New York strip steak with a twice baked potato. Shannon and Jaren both had fish dishes, and even though I am not a seafood person, their dishes were fantastic. The desserts were also heavenly. We were seated right by the kitchen and I mustered up all my nerve to grab his arm and ask him for a picture on his way back to the kitchen from the bar. We could see him through the kitchen window and he was in the midst of all the food. I have managed to convince myself that he personally cooked my meal. I am usually prepared with my camera everytime I go into the city, but I left it behind, so the quality is not the greatest since it was taken with Taylor's phone. It has thus been the highlight of my time here in New York. It was well worth the $130 Taylor and I paid for dinner!!!

"I think I can, I think I can"

Ian liked making Salty sweat by using my gigantic belly as a track.

Gala-May 2007

From left: Seares, Stevens, Blake+date, Woods, Whitlocks, Lighthalls, Workmans, Owens, Greenhalghs, Knudson, and Belnaps. On our way to the Gala, we rented a stretch Hummer to bring back 1998. It was a great night spent with our dear friends in celebrating this great accomplishment of these guys.

Cruising Manhattan

Chris and Kristen came out to visit in early December. We had so much fun with them. Chris, Kristen, and I went and saw Mama Mia, which I loved. This was on top of a double decker tour bus. We also saw various other attractions such as Yankee Stadium, Christmas window displays on fifth avenue, and Canal street for those of us women who consider that an attraction. We ate at Tom's restaurant in uptown, also known as the Seinfeld diner. This place never fails in entertaining company...so come visit!