Winter Woe's

There are some things that really bother me about the winter like the cold weather and the snow. But what really gets to me is that the news, which we watch religiously every night, thinks it’s newsworthy every time some cockamamie group gets together to jump into an icy pond, river, or lake. Tonight’s news featured a group racing across a cold swimming pool.

I found this story especially irritating because the cold swimming pool they jumped in was in London. Yes London. Why was that on channel five tonight? Why? Why is that news here? Answer…it’s not. It’s not even news there.

Every time people do something stupid, it’s news? Steve and I went to Costco on a Saturday. So I guess that’s news, I mean who in their right mind would attempt that craziness? Put it on the news. We should be on the news.

Instead of showing anymore ridiculous polar plunge stories I propose they show stories related to people getting out of the cold weather and doing something smart like vacationing in tropical locations.

I think they should show pictures and video of white sand beaches and sea turtles swimming in the ocean. Now that’s news, people having a great time out of the cold weather. That’s what I want to hear about.

Ground hog, if you can hear me…do me a solid, let’s do it right this year. Either see your shadow, or don’t, which ever means NOT six more weeks of winter.

Note: I am not complaining about our current winter storm that has so graciously moved in to clear the air so that we may all breathe once more. Thanks mother nature, you’re da bomb!

The coolest cats not around

We had some of our coolest most urban friends from the OC pay us a visit this weekend (and when I say THIS weekend I really mean several weekends ago).

Our friends Skyler and Elise aka Skylise came to hang and eat dinner with us while they were out on one of their super cool snowboarding trips.

We had a great time chattin it up and hangin with babies. There was only one close call when Skyler was playing with Sunny making her glow with excitement while he held her over his head. The close call came when Sunny couldn’t contain her excitement any longer and released a good amount of it in the form of spit-up directly at Skyman’s face. Thanks to his cat-like reflexes the damage was minimized and was limited to only a little on the side-back of his shirt and my carpet.

While here, among other things they introduced us to a new website called engrish.com a hilarious page dedicated to bad Chinese-English translations. Check it out sometime. We laughed and laughed reading it.

Anyway thanks, for the good times. Sorry I am so slow to post it. Must have been bad blog timing for some reason, but post worthy none-the-less.

Let’s do it again real soon, thanks for the visit.

I see famous people

(Before you read this entertaining blog about my awesome celebrity sightings, I emplore you to read my blog post just below this one if you are planning to tour the new Draper Temple. It contains important information you'll be glad to know. Thank you, read on.)

So I like to see famous people, I do. When we go to California we look for them and sometimes we even see them. However once a year, the celebrities come to me and when I say they come to me, I mean they go to the Sundance Film Fest.

I have never attempted to go there myself, always afraid of being cold and having parking problems resulting in having my car being towed. Now that I have kids, going is just out of the question right??? WRONG!

Bonnie agreed to babysit for us on Friday night so we could be out as late as we wanted and do whatever we wanted. This just happened to coincide with the film fest. So Steve and I bundled up and headed to Park City.

I fully expected the traffic delays to begin at the mouth of Parley’s Canyon, but no. Off the freeway exit the traffic would be stopped right???Wrong. We free and clear, no traffic delays, drove to park city, parked (for free) at the High School which was also one of the locations where they were premiering a Richard Gere movie.

We missed the beginning of that premiere by like 20 minutes, but there were still people standing around waiting for I don’t know what, probably celebrity sightings like us. So anyway, we saw this guy there wearing a bright yellow shirt that said…”I see famous people.”

We figured if he was wearing a shirt like that, he probably knew what he was doing. So we made friends with him and his posse, which was a 11 year old boy and 8 year old girl. They had just seen “Fidy Cent” so they were pretty excited.

They guy in the shirt, his name was Skippy. Skippy knew the haps. He knew who was supposed to be where and when. He also knew how the shuttle busses worked. So we ended up just kind of following he and his posse from place to place. It turned out to be very successful.

After leaving the High School, we shuttle bust it over to the Racquet Club, turned movie theater ( I guess they turn every venue no matter what it is into a movie theater during Sundance) where Mariah Carry was supposed to attend a premiere.

Shortly after arriving. Kira Knightly exited along with Kevin Bacon. Got a pic of Kevin, but not Kira. I actually didn’t even see Kira because I was fumbling with the camera, plus everyone there was way taller than me.


It was so weird to see Kevin Bacon in 3-D. It was exciting and we felt like we were really in the right place. Just then there started to be a little bit of a commotion in the parking lot so we ran over to see what was the matter and low and behold, there was Kristy Brinkley standing there greeting fans and taking pictures.

So I found my moment and made my way to her and asked her for a picture. I snuggled right up under her arm and Steve snapped two pictures of her and I. We had a brief conversation. It went like this.

Kristin: Hey can I get a picture with you in my pink coat? (the pink coat and Hello Kitty hat really made me stand out, it was very useful so stop making fun of me.)
Kristy: Sure we can.
Kristin: That’s my husband Steve so just look right over there….My name is Kristin, so we are practically name twins.
Kristy: Giggle
Kristin: Nice to meet you.
Kristy: You too.


After my pic Steve and I freaked out a little and pulled our selves together enough to realize we should get one with Steve too. He wasn’t quite as fortunate as me, but he managed to pull it off too.


About Kristy Brinkley, I have to say. She is way prettier in person than on TV. It was really incredible. Even in a dark parking lot, her beauty just radiated. She was very sweet and kind too. She took pictures with a lot of people and signed a lot of autographs. She took way more time with people than anyone else we saw by a land slide and then she apologized when she had to leave.

We were so pumped after that we didn’t even care that we couldn’t feel our toes anymore. It was seriously as cold as I have ever been. I had all my warmest attire and all it did was keep me from dying from exposure. I was not warm, which usually I am not okay with, but under the circumstances I was totally fine with it.

We stayed there waiting for Mariah to arrive. Knowing what I know about her, which is not much, I knew she would be the last to arrive. I remember seeing her on Ellen and she was late. They had to fill time waiting for her to arrive.


While we waited we saw Monique, a comic and actress, and Robin Thicke son of Alan Thicke and popular singer (we’ve never heard of him, but Skippy told us we should get a pic of him so we did) and some other people we didn’t recognize who may or may not have been famous but if they were we didn’t know it.


Then the moment we waited for. The car pulled up and out popped Mariah Carrey and her new husband who’s name I think is Nick. She was quite gracious and signed some autographs as she made her way to the door. I thought I could get her to stop by saying I wanted to take a pic of her and me in my pink coat, but she didn’t hear me. I did get a pic of her though so I have to say I am pretty satisfied.


It was all so exciting. Cold, but exciting and fleeting. We waited a long time in the cold for not much action, but what we got was totally worth it.

After that we decided to head toward Main Street. Before we got out of the parking lot a black van pulled up and out jumped a guy with a TV camera. He came in our faces and asked us if we wanted to play a game of Truth or Dare. They said they’d give us a ride to where ever we wanted as long as we played. It was for Ray Ban.com to stream on their website under the Sundance link.

We signed some waivers and did it. They filmed us climbing into the van and asked us a Truth, what would you have as your super hero power. Steve said fly, I said I would have control over people’s behavior. Then they asked us a dare which was to impersonate your favorite RockStar. Fortunately I had some big sunglasses on and impersonated Bono. Steve impersonated Jim Morrison by singing Come on baby, light my fire. To which the whole film crew joined him on. Then before you knew it, we were at Main Street and they filmed us getting out of the van and walking away. Hilarious. Surreal.

Then we were on Main Street and the cold started to get to me. We walked up and down a little found a red carpet, but no one we recognized on it. Then we decided we had enough and we left.

It was awesome, we’d totally do it again. Next time we’ll go during the day. Skippy had like 30 pictures of himself and celebrities he’d found on Main Street during the day. We’ll do that next time—and take more hand warmers.

We were so excited

We were so excited to take Alyssa to see the new Corner Canyon Temple. We reserved our tickets for the second day they were open.

The day of (yesterday) I woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Everything and everyone was so irritating to me. So it was a very blessed day for everyone and a great day to go to the temple. Turns out I was just hungry and after I ate, right as we left the house I felt much calmer.

We took Bonnie with us and met my parents there. From this point on I will only refer to them as Elmer Fudd and TB lady. (TB lady is not actually suffering from TB, but bronchitis which has exacerbated her exercise induced asthma.)

They make you go to a nearby church to park, where they had attendants telling you exactly what stall you should park in, just in case you never attended a church house on stake conference before, and watch a video about temples in case you never heard of one before, which we actually had, but whatever.

Then the fun began. We should have known when we had to wait for 20 minutes in a crowded church hallway for a shuttle bus. The bus finally arrived and we boarded. Elmer Fudd surprised us all by going to the back of the bus and taking the last seat in the corner. (I don’t even know you anymore Elmer Fudd)

Alyssa loved loved loved riding the bus. It was her first time on a bus and she was thrilled. Then after a 10 minute ride, the bus dropped us off about 2 blocks from the temple entrance (not exactly what TB lady had in mind as her cough is irritated by physical activity)they had a semi-heated tent-tube or enclosed walk-way all the way to the door of the temple.

Our hope was to take pictures outside the temple when we got there, but we couldn’t since we were forced into the tent structure as soon as we stepped off the bus, no big deal though right?....We can do it after right???...

Once we got into the temple and TB lady tamed her cough, we began our tour. The temple really is beautiful inside. Alyssa was really excited when she saw the baptismal font. She shouted...”Oh, it smells like a swimming pool. Can we take all our clothes off and get in it?”

The Bride’s Room took my breath away. The chandeliers throughout the temple were really something. It really was all very lovely. It was also lovely that they provided furniture situated throughout the temple for TB lady to sit and catch her breath and tame her cough.

Then our tour ended into another tent-covered-walk way. Again we were hoping to take some pictures outside with the temple in the back ground, but...no.

The tent walk way led right up to the front door of a nearby church house where they had the gym converted into a reception where they had Sister missionaries serving mini-water bottles, soft cookies and comment cards. We enjoyed our selves for a few minutes then we were really ready to take some pictures and make like a tree and leave!

We headed toward the other side of the church, you know, the side of the church were there was no view of the temple, where the shuttle busses were supposedly shuttling people back to their cars.

Well, this is where the fun really began. Before we even got out of the gym we were stopped by the crowd. We waited inside the gym for 5 minutes before we pushed our way through the crowd to get into the “blue” bus line. They had three churches they ask patrons to park at. You have to take the correct colored bus to get to the correct parking lot to get to the correct car.

The Church foyer was shoulder to shoulder people. I have never seen such a crowd like that in a church foyer. It reminded me of an emergency evacuation situation. Hundreds of people waiting for who knows how long for a bus to take you somewhere, anywhere away from here.

There we waited, and waited and waited. The kids started crying (not our kids, other kids. Our kids were surprisingly calm through this whole ordeal. Bonnie was also there which really helped us out, another pair of hands was very useful.) Anyway kids started crying and old people started collapsing. The wheeled a lady passed us who had apparently had enough.

Alyssa got really tired and hot and I had to take her out of the crowded line and down the hall where she laid on my coat and took a little rest.

I finally found TB lady a metal folding chair to sit in while we waited and waited and waited for a stupid shuttle bus to come. Elmer Fudd was very calm during the whole ordeal. Usually Elmer has a real hard time with crowds and with being trapped places, but it didn’t seem to really bother him today thankfully.

People started to get really freaked out after about a half hour of waiting shoulder to shoulder in the foyer. They started to push their way through the crowd to see what was going on.

Then after 45 minutes or so, Some busses arrived. The crowd made its way into another covered tent and outside where the busses were waiting. We went to the blue bus (a short bus), but it was full. TB lady looked like she was about ready to cry. She had no idea touring the temple would be so difficult.



We heard a rumor that there was another “blue bus” on the other side, so we made our way back through the crowd and sure enough, it was there. We boarded it with a sigh of relief. Here I took the only picture we got which was of Alyssa on the bus with the Temple behind us.

Despite all the madness, and it was madness, Alyssa had a great time. “I want to go to the temple again. Right now!, she said. “It was like…fancy!” she said.

So all in all, it was a success. If I were to do it again, I just wouldn’t do it again. But if you are still planning to go after reading this, I have some advice. Don’t take their cockamamie shuttle busses. There are plenty of houses in foreclosure that no one lives in surrounding the temple. Just park in one of those driveways and come and go as you please. No one ever asked for our tickets either—so just go whenever you want.

Get over your bad self and admit you love it too

Yes, TV's, The Apprentice. Yes, The Donalds The Apprentice. I just heard the news that it is back for an all-new season. Another Celebrity Apprentice. I have to admit that we loved loved loved the last season and with Joan Rivers and Dennis Rodman in the cast this time, I just can't wait! If you've never tuned in, just get over your bad self and do it, you'll love it.

Also, I don't think I need to mention this, but American Idol starts on this Tuesday! I can't hardly wait. You know you love it too. Bring it on. Can't wait to see who we will all love this year.

Cake and Tee Shirts

Do you know what is great. The band Cake and Mossimo Tissue Tee’s.

So the band Cake. I love lots of their songs, but tonight I am particularly thinking of their song Short-Skirt Long-Jacket. Don’t you just love that song? “At Citi-Bank we will meet accidently, we’ll start to talk when she burrows my pen.” I just love how specific the lyrics are. “She’ll change her name from Kitty to Karen, trade in her MG for a white Chrysler LaBarron. Just love it. Love the whole song. It makes me want to smile. Am I the only one who loves it? I want to be Karen, I really do. I want to tour the facility and pick up slack.

Another great invention is Tissue Tee’s from Mossimo. I normally steer away from real trendy brands, mostly because they cost too much and I usually have to squeeze into the largest size available and have it not fit. Not so with Mossimo Tissue Tee’s.

I needed some long sleeved thin shirts to wear under my shirts, you know the drill. I like my arms to be covered in the winter to stay warm. I don’t like my clothes to feel bulky though so that is always the balancing act. So I got some of these tee’s at Target just before Christmas because they were only $8 bucks. I love them so much that I went back and bought several more.

I love them. They are so comfy. It’s all I want to wear. Only problem is they are very very thin. There is a reason they are called Tissue Tee’s, so you really have to wear a shirt over the top to be decent when you leave the house.

Anyway, just thought you should know that I love Cake the band, but not the dessert. I don’t know, I have never really been a cake person. I prefer brownies and cookies I guess. And these Tissue Tee’s are great and so cheap. Way cheaper than all the Down East, Layers, Mod Bod over prices crappy tees.

Do you know what is also great. Having awesome friends. I had lunch today with my two bosom buddies that I grew up with. You know, the older you get the more you want to be with the people you knew when you were young (Wear Sunscreen…anyone?). I also had the super fun chance to reunite with Adam, a long lost friend from a million years ago. You guys are rad, you’re families are beautiful. I had such a great time over-eating Chili with you today.

Alyssa's First Bwog

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Alyssa has been learning how to use the computer lately. We have been playing games on Starfall.com. So far she has learned how to use the mouse and click on stuff.

It has been very frustrating teaching her how, but we finally had a break though today she got it. She can now successfully move the pointer around and click on stuff. It took her a time or two, but she’s there now. I now have new respect for school teachers. Teaching children is hard.

After we got done she informed me that she wanted to push “black buttons” on the computer and the wanted tho do her “bwog.” So this is it. Here is Alyssa’s first blog post.

Alyssa's First Bwog

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Alyssa has been learning how to use the computer lately. We have been playing games on Starfall.com. So far she has learned how to use the mouse and click on stuff.

It has been very frustrating teaching her how, but we finally had a break though today she got it. She can now successfully move the pointer around and click on stuff. It took her a time or two, but she’s there now. I now have new respect for school teachers. Teaching children is hard.

After we got done she informed me that she wanted to push “black buttons” on the computer and the wanted tho do her “bwog.” So this is it. Here is Alyssa’s first blog post.