GIRLS NIGHT OUT

I got a GIRLS NIGHT OUT! I got tickets for a concert at the Tabernacle in Temple Square. I didn't care if I didn't know the music! I wanted to get out and do something cultural! I found three friends to join me (opening day of New Moon-which the four of us were not seeing). We got dinner and went to the concert. They gave out TOO many tickets-so instead of seats in the Tabernacle, we sat in the Assembly Hall and watched and listened to the O.C. Tanner Gift of Music Concert Presents Mahler's Symphony No. 2, Director Keith Lockhart, Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Utah Symphony, and two soloists. It was AMAZING music and great company. (Too bad we couldn't enjoy the concert in the Tabernacle!) here is the link to the press release about the concert: http://www.mormontabernaclechoir.org/images/misc/GiftOfMusic09.pdf



Good time & GOOD friends.

After the concert, we looked inside the Tabernacle and got this picture.

Happy Birthday Charlie

Happy Birthday Charlie! Three Years old buddy! (Momma's BOY!) He blew the candles out before the happy birthday song was over-he thought he was in trouble....It was cute.

Backpack cake (from Go Diego Go).

Halloween Day

Halloween Day we took the kids up to the University of Utah. There was trick-or-treating at the old officers homes on Ft. Douglas. We took the kids up there, got a little candy & walked around. We went down to the stadium to see the football players walk into the stadium before the football game that night. I went home after that, while Jimmy went to the football game. Here are some pictures from our adventure.

There were activities for the kids to do at each home. It was fun! Students at the U decorated part of their home, dressed up, and had some creative activities for children to do.

Ashley and a cheerleader-(don't know who, but ashley wanted a picture!)


Ashley, Swoop, Sophie, and Me! Ashley got a T-shirt from Swoop! Yipee!

Sophie and DB Robert Johnson (look for him to play next year in the NFL.)

I didn't give him a chance-I help sophie out to him & said "picture with the baby". Sophie and RoJo are close.....She knew him before he made it big!

And here is the picture I tried to get with Coach Whittingham.

NO PICTURE.... I tried. I did the same 'trick'-Picture with the baby. Well, the camera didn't work and it felt like FOREVER I was trying to get my camera to take a picture...NO PICTURE (the timer got put on and I didn't notice it till later) oh, i won't forget that moment....

I love the band!On the Trax train back to our burban.

Final picture from the day! Good family trip.

too late for Halloween?

Too late for Halloween pictures?

Thomas

Pink Fairy, Tinker Bell, and a White Princess

I am alive.

I am a live. Don't fear my blog friends!

Behind Again

Well, Christmas was great! Jimmy finished his Biology class on the 22nd, the Utes won their bowl game on the 23rd, and then Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I didn't get the blog updated-and now its back to work, school, and life. Ahh, the time off was good but short. Hopefully I can get some good pictures posted soon!

Refinery Fire & Explosion

Two weeks ago there was an explosion at a refinery 0.6 miles away from my house.
(0.6 miles is important to me because in January, there was a fire at the same refinery and there an evacuation for the homes 0.75 miles west of the refinery).

I was on the road taking my kids to a doctors appointment, so I didn't hear the explosion. I knew something was up cause I noticed people coming out of their businesses, looking at the direction of the other refineries in the area while on their phone.

Then my phone was ringing & texts were coming in from neighbors and friends. (I was on time to my doctors appointment mind you...) A local refinery had an explosion. Check out any of the local news stations (ksl.com is my favorite or try kutv.com or abc4.com or fox13now.com) for stories about it or check out comments on Facebook: WX Blast Zone Neighbors.

A friend of mine, whom I trusted to care of my kids three years ago while I worked at the elementary, lived in the blast zone of the explosion. She updated her blog with her story of the events in her life. wow. I could be her in this situation-starting out the day grumpy and frustrated. Then something changes your outlook on life. I do hope Kristi & her family work through this and hope they look for the simple blessings and miracles in life.
Here is her story.
http://briankristihorne.blogspot.com/

The Garden

We helped Jimmy's parents with their garden this year. We enjoyed many yummy treats from the garden: corn, green peppers, carrots, zuchinni, watermellon, tomatoes, and pumpkin. The kids help plant things, weed, water, and pick things from the garden. Jimmy spent many saturdays helping to get it ready, the kids planted corn & tomatoes. They helped weed (I was proud of myself-they had to fill an old butter container of weeds, then they could go play). I got down on my knees and weeded-BEFORE Sophie was born. It was a fun experience for the kids and they ALWAYS got excited when we drove past the garden & they could see it grow. Can't wait until next year!

Road Trip to CO

Jimmy & I were invited to attend my cousins wedding in Colorado in September. I really wanted to go (cause SO many blog friends were going on cool trips with their spouses-I WANTED TO DO ONE!) It was going to be a quick trip so we left the kids with family and just took Sophie with us.

We left Friday morning, and made the drive across Wyoming & into Colorado. Sophie traveled great! We made great time except from Ft. Collins to Denver-that stretch was a drag-traffic, tired and we just wanted to be to the hotel. We pulled up in time to make it to the (non)rehearsal dinner at Olive Garden. YUM. We were tired, but VERY happy to be there!

(We loved seeing Invesco Field coming down the I-25-That was exciting to almost run into it)

LESSON LEARNED #1-Not all hotels are created equal....Stay in the hotel you know the name & reputation of. Hotel-kinda scary-but we dealt with it. It was an extended stay place, um, not very nice. We survived but we learned our lesson! I didn't even want to take pictures! Sophie had her own pac-n-play to sleep in otherwise not a place I would bring the whole family too.)

Saturday morning was the wedding in the Denver Temple for Flint & Erica. (Erica stayed at our house when the two of them came out in July to meet family. That's when we fell in-love with Erica, and Flint is a good cousin-a bud of mine!) It was just great to be with Jimmy. Pictures, then IHOP with ONE of my coolest aunts & uncle, a visit to Invesco Field (Mile High Stadium), rest a little, then reception. It was just SO nice to be with my husband. We could talk, and enjoy each others company. It was a fun road trip!

(too bad we didn't make our trip longer-The Denver Bronco's played at home the day we left...bummer)

Reception Highlights-

Uncle Lance shaved his beard (I've never seen him with a clean, shaved face)

Sophie had her first dance with my cousin Ammon.

Lots of people held Sophie-she is the social butterfly-like her mom!

We left Uncle Gene at the hotel-we were suppose to bring him with us to the reception but a communication break left him back at his hotel. He was NOT disappointed!

My 80+ year old grandparents got out on the dance floor for part of a song & danced.

Seeing three generations-Grandpa Gatrell, Uncle Lance & Cousin Flint

Hearing how appreciative the family was for us coming out

Beautiful Bride Erica & Happy Flint

We woke up and drove home Sunday. It was sweet to see Jimmy's brother Joe & his wife Debbie is some small Wyoming town. They were moving to MARYLAND and we met up with them off I-80 in Wyoming! How random!

Kids did great-the girls got their hair cut at a salon. Then we got back into life-school, work, soccer, LIFE. (sigh). FUN trip. Attending weddings is a great reminder to me of the love I have for my husband. I love my husband. He is my BEST friend, and we have a deep love for each other and we just go good together!! We are happy for Flint & Erica and we love my Gatrell cousins in Colorado. They are a great family! Can't wait to see them again next summer!

Preschool & Football Season

Sarah started preschool in September. She goes three days a week to a lady in the neighborhood (who does a WONDERFUL-AMAZING JOB!). Here is a picture from her first day of preschool. Kindergarten next year!

GO UTES!

I look foward to college football season. Jimmy & I get season tickets to the U. I consider it a date with my husband. These are pictures from the opening football game vs. Utah State University. The U won the game, and it was great watching football!

(okay-confession-I did one year of marching band at the U, so I LOVE watching the band.)

Marching band doing the pre-game show.

God Bless America

Block U

The TEAM entering the field.

Opening Kick-Off

Start Playing "Utah Man"

Utah-Touchdown!

Splash Pad

Alright-I said I was behind! Here it is fall time & I am talking about a splash pad! Well, it was fun, and kids were cute to see play, so here it is!

I have 5 brothers and we take turns hosting a family get together each month. For our August family get-together we went to the Ogden Splash Pad. FREE & FUN. GREAT! (happy me!)

SARAH was out of town-in Disneyland with her Aunt & Grandma Burns. So-no pictures of her!

Jimmy was helping clean out his parents garage, so I took the kids up & took cousin Cooper with me. (Coopers' dad was helping in the garage). So that makes Marla+4 kids=full surburban (no minivan people! no minivan!) BLT's, park, and splash pad made for a perfect time.

The little boys were just SO cute to watch play & Ashley loved playing with her girl cousins. Sophie just chilled.

I Love My Baby

Cute Baby Sophie. She is almost 4 months old.

She smiles, coo's and sometimes giggles.
(and her outfit is totally cute today-thanks Amy)

(My cute teenage cousin Kelby)

I am in love with my baby!

Davis County Fair

I love my kids.

(I forgot to look away from the camera-like my kids)

I LOVE the Davis County Fair! Really! With $1 parking, its becoming one of my favorite summer time activities. I took all four kids and met up with some friends there. It was great-inspite of loosing Charlie for a couple of minutes! (If he wore orange like the rest of us, maybe it would have been different) There are just good, FREE activities for the kids. LOVE IT!

It was exhausting, but fun!

By the end, we were with the "Hockey Friends". These kids are from four families-woah huh? (Jimmy plays hockey & the guys he plays hockey with are the "hockey friends".)

First Grade

Ashley is now a first grader at Woods Cross Elementary. Here is a picture of her before getting on the bus. She LOVED going shopping for her outfit! Jimmy was a good dad & took her shopping.





Ashley is 7 years old! PARTY time! We rented a big blow up slide and invited some friends over. We decorated hats & played on the slide, and partied hard all day.

(No fancy cake-just ran out of time!)

Kraft Saturday

Another friend of mine is holding a Kraft Saturday in October. If you need a Christmas gift for someone....here are some GREAT ideas! Anyone need my wish list from this blog?

http://kraftsaturday.blogspot.com/

Diane & Lake Powell

(Okay-I am SOO behind but I had to tell about this trip!)

{my} Aunt Tammy & Uncle Gene invited my family to join them on a house boat in Lake Powell. AWESOME! It worked out so only me, Ashley, Sarah, and Charlie went. Jimmy couldn't take off work, and Sophie was too young to go (and my dear mom volunteered to watch her). We spent 4 days/3 nights on the house boat. I enjoyed spending time in the sun, and playing in the sand. It was a GREAT time! It was just beautiful! My kids wore their life jackets without complaints, and everyone was very helpful with my kids. There were 20+ people on this houseboat so it got cozy, but I LOVED IT! Another one of my aunts & I were in charge of feeding all those people. We did a decent job, but learned a LOT!

I did water ski, but I cannot get wake boarding. I get up, but then don't know what to do....so that was frustrating (cause my little 10 year old cousin was doing better than me!!). We had some hot dog/wave cutter rides. I got hit in the head while being knocked off one time by one of my uncles. He just about gave me a black eye! I loved being with my kids SOO much. We had cell service so I could still check on my baby & hubby! I LOVE DIANE (the boats' name).

Pictures:

I slept with my girls on a bed in the front of the boat. I was the last one asleep and first one awake. Charlie slept in the pack-n-play.

We watched a movie one afternoon and cute charlie fell asleep in his chair. Kids also tried fishing off the side of the boat.
Diane had a slide off the back of the boat. Adults & kids enjoyed going down the slide to cool off. I got both of my girls to go down the slide. Ashley was hesitant, i had to practically push her off, but she did it.

I LOVE LAKE POWELL and Diane-I can't wait to meet up with you again, my friend!

Behind

Well, its almost fall, and I still haven't mentioned a few highlights from summer. I am behind and this blog isn't going to catch me up. I am still alive-just busy. Jimmy, baby Sophie, & I are leaving in the morning to drive to Colorado for a cousins wedding. Sometime I will get my blog caught up! sorry people!

Summer Fun part II

Okay-here are some more highlights from the summer.

We went camping at Fish Lake National Forest around the 24th of July with Jimmy's parents, grandparents, and other relatives. Its always great to get dirty and hang out with family! Sophie experienced her first camping trip at just 3 weeks old. She did good! There was plenty of family around to help out. It was a GREAT time. It is such a beautiful place away from everything. Luckily Jimmy's parents let Charlie ride down & back with them in the truck, so we only had the girls to worry about with the 3 hour drive. We don't fish at that lake, others in our group do fish, just not us. Lots of bike rides, and playing in the dirt!

Summer is the best for FREE LUNCH. We went to one of the elementary's for the Free Lunch program a few times this summer. Its fun to go with friends!

This last group of pictures are just a few random pictures from August. Sophie was blessed in August, she now smiles, the girls got new school clothes, and both are playing soccer.