Happy Birthday

To Shiara. She turned 24 on the 26th. I miss you so much and love you tons! I wish we could have celebrated together!

And just in case you didn't already know....

I love my husband!!

Congrats Heather and Riley!

My beautiful cousin Heather got married yesterday to Riley Ward. They make such a cute couple! She looked amazing in her dress (which happened to be the same dress I had... great minds think alike :0) ) The reception was held in the clubhouse in the Two Rivers neighborhood in Eagle. It was soo pretty. Matt and I took the opportunity to get pictures of ourselves in front of one of the many water features. We wish You two the best of luck. Have fun in San Diego on your honeymoon!!

Football!

For some strange reason, football has been everywhere this fall! Or maybe I am just paying more attention to it this season. I got sucked into playing fantasy football with the guys at work. I think they thought I would be easy to beat. Ha... I am number 5 out of ten players...



This year Tony is in Jr. High, and that means football!!! He is on the offense team ( number 70 ) for South Jr. High. They haven't won yet but they are getting better every game. Just for the record, its the defense that is weak, not the offense. :)

Birthday Bash

Since we were in Seattle for my birthday, we celebrated a little late. Ricks birthday is on the 23rd, ten days after mine, so we had a joint birthday party and had several friends over. I was so excited but woke up that morning with a migraine so if it reflects in the pictures, I am sorry. I did have a good time, I just wasn't feeling great. We had a wonderful dinner, cake, and played Rock Band. I think its safe to say we have the greatest friends!

Rick and I thouroughly enjoying the icing on the cake.

Some of the Gang. Lucy, Bob, Chris, John, Andrew, Matt and I.

Rick Tony and I.

John and I playing Rock Band.

Bainbridge Island and Downtown Seattle

While in Seattle we had the opportunity to go visit one of Matt's former bosses and friend Phil and his wife. I wish we had more time with them! We took the ferry over to Bainbridge. Other than it being very cold, and the inside of the ferry smelling like a subway, it was beautiful! We did see one sea lion. LOL I was hoping to see more but oh well. We had breakfast at a wonderful little cafe and then walked down to the peir and caught up with out good friends before we had to head back to the ferry back to Seattle.

On the ferry to Bainbridge.

Once in Seattle we had about two hours to spend with one of my good friends Steve and his girlfriend. Once again I wish we had more time! We walked around downtown and had ice cream and saw glassblowers and a waterfall park downtown. We hopped on a double decker bus and made our way to the Seattle Center. It was so good to see one of my closest friends. I hadn't seen him in over 3 years! I did take more pictures but they are not all uploaded to photobucket yet. As soon as I do, I will post them.

101 facts about Me

Seeing as so many of my friends were writing these little (ok, long) lists, I decided to follow suit... Here is 101 things about me.

1. I don't know how I am going to come up with 101 interesting facts about me... and I hope I am not divulging too much information. LOL

2. I have always gone by my middle name, not quite sure why, but I think its fairly certain that I wouldn't answer if I were to be called by my first name.

3. I hate it when people ask why I don't go by my "real" name... Monae is my real name, its just not my first name.

4. Matt and I are often called M&M for short, and it bugs me sometimes. Don't know why

5. I can't remember life without my husband. Okay I can, I just like life with him much better.

6. He is my best friend, hands down.

7. I would rather stay home and watch a movie or make cookies as a date night.

8. I feel incredibly blessed to be able to have our own home.

9. My patriarchal blessing says that me home will be a haven of peace for my children and grandchildren. I have made it a goal to keep contention and drama out and I think we do a pretty good job of it. It is our haven of peace.

10. I love that my kitchen is turquoise.

11. The only think I despise is the fact that grass will not grow in our back yard despite our best efforts for 3 years running.

12. I have a love hate relationship with our cats. they drive me insane but when I think about getting rid of one of them... I couldn't pick one without being sad.

13. 13 is my lucky number

14. I have had my birthday on Friday the thirteenth twice. It was supposed to happen this year, but it was leap year...

15. Matt and I make an awesome team whether at home or at work. I love that! We can get anything done together.

16. Our dog is like our child. Spoiled rotten.

17. I don't think it will go over very well when we have a baby. there will be issues when all of the attention is not on her.

18. I can't wait to have kids with Matt. He is going to be such a good father.

19. On that note, we can wait to have kids. Be patient everybody. It will happen when it happens.

20. I hate it when people are constantly on our backs about having kids. they think something has to be wrong with us to not have a child 2 and a half years into marriage. Seriously people...

21. I love hats.

22. I love my job. Just not everything that comes with it. I don't like that I had to get used to people swearing all the time. I do like that I am more accepting of people different than I.

23. I wish Boise State had a better Theatre Department.

24. One of these days I will go back to school, just not to BSU.

25. One of my best friends is gay; and I love him.

26. Working backstage really makes me miss being onstage...

27. I still have every dance shoe I ever got, from 3rd grade through high school. I saved them for my kids... hahaha

28. I wish I played piano better.

29. I seriously hate the commercials on t.v. I think creativity has been lost.

30. My favorite shows are CSI, Ghost Hunters, and Real Housewives of Orange County.

31. I am sad they stopped doing Orange County because the New York ladies were just too much.

32. I am fascinated and terrified of the paranormal at the same time. I love all those haunting shows.

33. I wish I were more creative. I am jealous of Jodie... she rocks!

34. I am horrible at scrap booking. Thank goodness for digital stuff otherwise I would be in a sad situation.

35. I still don't have a wedding album. All of the pictures are still on the computer. Sad I know, I am working on it. I have the empty book sadly stored in the closet.

36. I love goldfish crackers. I get made fun of at work because I always have a bag stashed somewhere.

37. I only like the colored or original goldfish though. the cheddar ones are too cheddar-ey for lack of a better word.

38. I miss all of my sisters terribly!!!!!

39. I hope my kids have the same love and friendship that my sisters and I do.

40. I am sad that my kids will never know my grandfather. In their earthly life anyway.

41. I miss my grandad. Because of the way it happened, I don't think I got to properly grieve. I am a mess because of it.

42. I inherited migraines,a strange allergy to chocolate, soft teeth, and thin hair from him. I used to hate it, but in a way I have learned to embrace it because its what I got from him.

43. I love that grandad LOVED, LOVED, LOVED, Matt. He called him son.

44. He was my father in a sense. I won't go into dirty details.

45. I love camping. If I could live out in the middle of nowhere with a tent and a campfire all summer, I totally would. And Matt would too, I love that.

46. I taught Matt how to fish. He caught his first fish the summer after we were married and he has been hooked (no pun intended) ever since.

47. My favorite place in the entire world is Sawtooth City.

48. If we could figure out a way to be able to live there year round and support ourselves, we would do it without a second thought.

49. My goal is to own land there. Even if I have nothing but a tent smack dab in the middle of it, I would be in heaven.

50. I hate shoes.

51. My toes are claustrophobic. If I can't move them in my shoes... its not happening.

52. I am claustrophobic. I got it from my grandma.

53. My best friends aside from Matt are my mom and grandma.

54. When I am really sick, I hate being doted on unless its by my mom. Weird, I know.

55. When Matt is sick, he is cuddly... when I am sick, I don't want to be touched.

56. I love to sew, but I don't ever have the time I would like to devote to it.

57. My sewing project pile is ridiculous.

58. I can't go to Target without buying something.

59. I LOVE movies.

60. I especially love Disney movies, The Count of Monte Cristo, The Last Legion, Mamma Mia, Harry Potter... ok, I have a lot of favorites.

61. I have seen Mamma Mia with my friends 5 times. I am a little embarrassed to admit that.

62. I knew after the third date with Matt that I was going to marry him. We both LOVE Mexican food, musicals and the mountains. The end. Oh, and my family didn't terrify him.

63. I love all the seasons for different reasons. Going into fall means cooler nights, Halloween and Thanksgiving. Winter means Christmas, New Year and a new start. Spring means green and flowers and gardens. Summer means camping and fishing and 4th of July.

64. I had the best wedding in the world. I love my family.

65. I have a big, loud, proud family. They are all different but I love all of them.

66. I am closer to my second cousins than to my first.

67. I have always known where I come from as far as genealogy is concerned. I have always just known who my great, great, great grandparents are on any side.

68. Matts family doesn't have a record of genealogy and I found that incredibly strange. Strange for me... not them. Its something I am slowly working on. Now that I have granddad on the other side he can help... hahaha.

69. We came to a few dead ends when searching for Matts family. It is a big inside joke with Grandad that when he died he would find them for us as long as we kept searching.

70. I have 5 times as many first cousins as Matt does.

71. I look up to Matts brother Adam and his wife Sally SO MUCH. They are amazing.

72. I have a very high tolerance to pain medication. Tylenol might as well be tic tacs.

73. I love to travel but HATE to fly. Its the whole claustrophobic thing... it psychs me out and then I get disgusted with the recirculated air... its purely a mental. Valium is a must.

74. I like that I get to say I have been to Louisiana, but we flew in at 1 am and drove to Texas in the dark. I thought New Orleans smelled gross. I don't have any desire to go back.

75. Breast Cancer is so prevalent in my family that its more a matter of when than if.

76. I will walk 60 miles for breast cancer next year.

77. If I could eat tortillas everyday for the rest of my life I would be happy.

78. I love rodeos, but only small town ones. The big ones are more about the money than the sport. I am a redneck at heart, what can I say.

79. Matt and I had our honeymoon 6 months after we got married. We drove in a big circle. In short, we camped in two national parks, drove through 5 national parks, saw 3 Broadway shows, saw gobs of family and drove through 7 states. I wouln't have traded it for anything.

80. I would love to take a summer and explore Alaska. I could say that for about 50 other places as well.

81. I want to go to Australia and New Zealand.

82. I wanted to be a wildlife biologist for the longest time but after seeing the amount of graduates versus the amount of jobs, I decided against it.

83. I would still love to pursue it though.

84. I went after an English degree instead.

85. I love to cook but an very blessed that Matt does as well.

86. My favorite thing to do at church is to read my scriptures during the sacrament.

87. Our best friend Dan and I have known each other since he chaperoned all of my high school choir trips. Good memories!!

88. One day I want to have a library, or just a room with books wall to wall, floor to ceiling.

89. I get very sad when I finish a book and have nothing new to read afterwards.

90. I love to sing. I daydream of being in a Broadway show or being a jazz musician like Ella Fitzgerald. *sigh*

91. I sing in my car ridiculously loud when I am by myself. Okay, and when I am alone cleaning the house.... I am my mothers child. I love Barry Manilow, ABBA, Reo Speedwagon, The Steve Miller Band and Billy Joel.

92. I can't go a day without music. If I could live with my ipod in one ear at all times I think i would. Except at church.

93. D&C is my favorite.

94. Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing makes me cry every time I hear it.

95. I love that when hugging Matt, my head fits perfectly in the crook of his neck.

96. I am a Mac convert.... I can't imagine buying anything else. Why do P.C.'s exist?

97. I love road trips. I make road trip playlists and everything.

98. I want to learn how to make sushi.

99. I am very disappointed in the way the arts are treated in the current school systems.

100. I have dyed my hair more times than I can count but I always go back to blonde.

101. I can't take a serious picture to save my life... never have, never will.

The end. I will be shocked if anyone reads all of this!!!!!!!! If you did, you have to do one yourself.

Its sad I know...

This is where I have been in the US.... looks like I have some traveling to do!!


visited 16 states (32%)
Create your own visited map of The United States or determine the next president

Day #3

We started the day by taking a ferry to Bainbridge Island and then meeting with a few friends. I will post pictures of of that adventure later.

On to the final day of the race. The last day sent them walking through downtown Seattle. We picked up Kristie at the campsite and proceeded to meet our walkers at several of the cheer stations and pit stops before finally making it to the Seattle Center for the finish line. What a crazy emotional experience it was to watch these teams, bruised and blistered, holding hands as they walk the last couple yards toward the finish line. It was all I could to to hold back the tears for the people who were very obviously fighting breast cancer, and those who were walking in memory of a mother, or a spouse who lost their battle with the disease. For example, a gentleman was walking with tears in his eyes as he held up a picture of his wife in one hand, and held the hand of his daughter in his other. Written on the back of his shirt was "I walk in support of my mother, in memory of my wife, and in hope for my daughter."


Adam and Audrey made their way down the hill, blisters and all, and we followed them to the finish line. They are amazing, simply put. Kristie hobbled her way across the finish line with them.The closing ceremonies were short but sweet. This race alone raised over 8.6 million dollars.

Walking into the closing ceremonies

Home again... Home again

We just got home about an hour ago. I still need to get all the pictures from day 3 off the camera and uploaded. Hopefully I will have time to do that and update things on here.


On a second note... CONGRATS to Shelley and Mikah with the birth of their new little boy Aidan Scott. I am so happy for you guys. Kasen is going to make a WONDERFUL big brother.

Day #2

I couldn't have spent my birthday any better. We started the morning by going to Pike Street Market for breakfast. Doughnuts as big as our heads. Not a great breakfast, right? Well, it was my birthday, I can eat what I want! :) We thoroughly enjoyed every bit of that market place, I would give anything to have something like that closer to us. We are putting Seattle on our list of places I wouldn't mind living in if the right opportunity comes along. Many of you have seen Pikes so I will for go those pictures now for the ones I feel are more important. I will post the rest later.


After the market we headed to the first cheer station of the day. Sadly, Sallys sister Kristie (sister in laws sister.... say that five times fast) tore her Achilles tendon in her right foot and had to be transported to a hospital. After we had lunch with Adam and Audrey we headed to the hospital to get Kristie. What a trouper! Injured foot and all she insisted we stop at the next cheer station... and then the next pit stop. She was determined to make sure her team made it back to camp. Being at these cheer stations never fails to blow me away. The love and support each of these walkers receive literally brings me to tears. There is not a second that goes by that I don't wish I was right there walking with Adam. Bring on the blisters! If Sally, and the women in my family can fight this horrible disease, I can walk 60 miles for them. I am so proud of all of these walkers. I will post more pictures of several other groups we have had the opportunity to cheer on. There are some pretty creative team names out there.

Here are some numbers for you. Each participant has to raise 2200 dollars in order to participate in this walk. There are between 12 and 15 walks per year in different cities in the US. Seattle alone had 4700 participants. Do the math on that one.

Cheer Station #2


Cheering Adam and Audrey into camp!!!!


This isn't even one half of one third of the tents.... crazy!!!


At any rate, we drove Kristie back to camp and waited for Adam and Audrey to meet us there. This place was awesome. Imagine 2500 PINK tents all over a park the size of Ann Morrison Park (for those familiar with Boise) Along with several large white tents for food, vendors and other amenities. Its seriously a sea of pink. I have a lot more pictures but I am way too tired to post all of them. Poor Audrey has been fighting two blisters on her feet since halfway through the first day. Poor girl, shes tough though!!!




End of Day 2 guys! Only 20 miles left! I Love You!!!

60 Miles or Bust!!!!

We made it into Seattle last night around 8. We woke up bright and early and Sally got Adam, Kristi, and Audrey to the check point by 5 am.... insane! At any rate, they started walking at 6 and we met them at several checkpoints throughout the day via "cheering stations." Its such an awesome experience. I mean, there are literally thousands of people here walking, along with thousands of supporters. The level of devotion and commitment literally blows me away. You get a little teary standing among the supporters cheering on someone you will probably never meet... yet you are all unified by a single common bond, hope for a cure! We will definetly be here next year.

Ever heard of a sausage fest? Well this is the complete opposite... its a total boob fest. There are bras everywhere.... and LOTS of pink!!!


Decorating the bushes at the first cheer station of the day.


The crazy ladies down the way. I think they had a bit too much caffiene, they were seriously weirding me out a bit.




Real men wear pink.... with rhinestones


The Boob Mobile



One of the many bra themed tents






Adams Tail (insert cat call here)


Team Freshly Squeezed and the reason they are walking.


The Double D ranch.

Seattle... Any Ideas??

Next weekend we are spending a few days in Seattle. Aside from the Space Needle and Pikes Place, I would LOVE any ideas of things to do. We are also going to be with our two nephews and niece so kiddo ideas would be great as well. I haven't been there since high school and that was a choir trip... I don't feel like I got the entire "Seattle Experience" by going to the Seattle Center and the Space Needle for a few hours one night.


The purpose of this trip is to support my brother in law Adam (Matts bro) who is participating in the Susan G. Komen 3 day, 60 mile walk/run/crawl (LOL) for the cure. I would have given anything to be walking along side him. I am really bummed that we can't... stupid insurance companies... At any rate, we are hangin out with his wife, my awesome sister in law Sally who is post op, still receiving treatment... and getting to spend time with her awesome kids. One thing about living so far away from each other is not being able to go to dance recitals, soccer games etc, and it makes me so sad that I have to miss out on that much of their lives, and I don't forsee them putting in for a transfer to Mountain Home Air Force Base any time soon... hahaha, not quite sure why anyone would actually.

I have been very blessed to have them in my lives. Sally is such a strong, absolutely amazing woman who has maintained such a positive attitude during this entire battle. If I become half the woman she is I will consider myself blessed. Adam, who is a major in the Air Force, has been such the example of a wonderful, supportive husband. I know without a shadow of doubt that if he could have taken the treatments for her, and fought this cancer himself, he would. I love you guys SOOOOO much!!!! You have been such a wonderful example to Matt and I.
Have you seem cuter kids???


Adam, Sally and the kids at Disneyland last fall.

Sally!!!! Isn't she beautiful! :)

I am grateful....

Funny how dwelling a bit on the not so happy things really sheds light on what you are incredibly blessed with and grateful for. In addition to each of the people on the previous post, I wanted to list a few things that are such awesome blessings in my life.

First and foremost, my husband.... He is my stranght, and my smile. He makes me laugh, and lets me cry. I couldn't have asked for a more amazing eternal companion. He does so much for my family, I don't even know how to begin to thank him.



My faith. I have said before and will say again, without my faith I don't think I would have made it through a lot of what I have been through.


I am so grateful for Jesus Christ.


And Modern Day Prophets


The country we live in... and the sacrifices our forefathers made in order for us to live the way we do.







And Eternal Families. Even though we are spread across the country and beyond, we are sealed together as a family forever.