Stitches out!

So, just as a reminder, it all started February 11, 2009 when I went running and managed to hit the only piece of black ice on the road and broke my ankle.  This is a photo that Mike took in the emergency room: 

I ended up getting plates and screws in my ankle:

But that didn't stop me! I started running in May, ran a 5K in July and then a 10K in September:

 

Last week I finally got the hardware removed.  I think the plate would make a great bracelet!

And yesterday I got my stitches out!

It really hurt much more than I thought to get the stitches out.  And the bad news is the doctor was adamant that I not run for a month.   I can start using a stationary bike or elliptical trainer next week.  I'm not thrilled about that but I will live with it because this saga has gone on long enough and I don't want to risk another injury.  I am going to run the Ogden 1/2 marathon in May so I need to take care of my little ankle!

Shopping done!

I do believe I finished up all my shopping.  I think the kids and Mike will be very happy with their loot!  I even had time to make some gifts for my family.  I can't even remember the last time I had the whole weekend to do what I wanted!  Mike is off with a friend watching football and the kids are still in Colorado.  Chelsea called and neither one of them made the cut but they both learned a lot.  Chelsea says she is definitely going to try out again next year. I don't know about Jake yet.

I am so tired so I think I will take a short nap and then try to finish wrapping everything.  Good thing we are taking the truck up to Idaho or we'd never get all the gifts and suitcases loaded!  So far it looks like the weather is going to cooperate.  In any case, it doesn't look like it will be anything like last year, with record snowfalls.

Well, off for my nap and then back to Christmas chores!

Okay, this is getting ridiculous!

I decided it was time to update my blog.  Imagine my shock when I found out it's been almost 2 months since I last updated!  I don't really suppose anyone is still checking it!  But I'll update it anyway! So, lets get started!  Jake finally got his drivers license and after weeks of searching we finally found this Mustang, which he fell in love with.  It was reasonably priced and runs, and doesn't look too bad either!

Mike, Chelsea, Jake and I went to see Trans Siberian Orchestra.  The music and light show were amazing.  Here are the kids on the train ride home:

Here are a few pictures from the concert.  Jake say's he is going to marry the violinist!

Mike and I got the chance to go down to St. George to watch the kids compete in the state marching band competition.  We were all thrilled when the Roy High band won 2nd place in their division.

 

After their performance the band parents hosted dinner and some activities.  Jake won the pie eating contest and Chelsea competed, but didn't win, the soda drinking contest.

Mike traveled to Vegas for work and then came home for a couple of days before heading to South Dakota to visit with some of his best friends, Matt and Woodie and Larry and Shelia.  The guys went out in the gators to check out the Black Hills.

Mike turned 50 on November 22nd.  

We had a party for him with some of our dearest friends and it was so fun to see him open his presents.  His favorite was the new laptop.  Since he travels so much he will get a lot of use out of it.  And I might even be able to get on mine once in a while!  :)

We hosted Thanksgiving at our house for the Fullers, Campbells, Kierpiecs and our family.  We had a great time.  I gave Chelsea some cooking tips and she did very well.  She made the ham and the sweet potato casserole.  Both were wonderful! After dinner the women and kids played Apples to Apples while the guys watched sports on TV.

 

 

 My friend, Jessica, and I ran in the Santa Fun Run after Thanksgiving.  It was fun, with over 200 Santas!  And we got the chance to work off some of that food!

 

 

Chelsea and I convinced Mike and Jake to help get the tree set up.  Chelsea and I really love this annual ritual but the guys were just not that into it!  

The first weekend in December Mike and I went to Las Vegas with our friends, Steve and Dave.  We went to see Cher.  We decided we needed to do that while she was still performing.  She looked amazing for being in her 60's.  Heck, I didn't look that good in my 20's!

Here are Mike and Steve enjoying a boot full of beer.

 

 

That is Mike and me in front of the Paris hotel.

Steve and Dave at the concert.

 

The Las Vegas Rock and Roll Marathon was going on while we were there.  They had some serious runners and some not so serious runners.  We saw lots of brides and grooms and an untold number of Elvises:

Chelsea and Jake both got awards for the 2nd place Marching band competition and Jake was on the high honor roll for the first quarter.  Here they are showing off their certificates after the awards ceremony.

I had surgery the other day to remove the hardware in my ankle which was put in in February when I broke my ankle.  Here's a picture of the plate, pins and screws.

Cool souvenir isn't it?

The kids had their Christmas band concert the other night and they sounded amazing, as usual!

You can see Chelsea in the center playing the bass clarinet and right behind her is Jake playing percussion.

I had my little Godson's over the other night to decorate gingerbread houses.  They are so fun.  They call me "grandma" and they call Mike "uncle" because he thinks that he's too young to be a grandpa even though he's 50.  Anyway, it is so cute to see the little one calling "Uncle, uncle!"  And Mike really loves playing with them too.  Here he is playing light sabers with them,

In the background you can see the fort we built which is perfect for flashlights and picture books!

Here they are decorating their houses:

 

I think the little one ate more candy than he actually put on his house!

And don't tell their parents but we also made a surprise Christmas present for them.  It probably won't be much of a surprise since they get the same thing every year (and they might even read the blog).

Last week Mike and I hosted our second annual open house and fundraiser. We had about 75 people and collected over $400 for the Salvation Army and collected 19 sets of sheets, 12 pillows and 9 blankets for the Ogden Homeless Veteran's Fellowship. I am on break from school although I still go in to my internship location on Monday's to see my clients. I think I have most of my Christmas cards out and most of the presents bought and wrapped.  Chelsea and Jake are in Colorado at a camp for the Blue Knights drum corps and Mike and I are enjoying some time alone with each other.  Harley will be coming late Tuesday night and we all will be heading to Idaho to spend Christmas with my parents.  And once again, I will do my best to update my blog more often!

October

Wow, I just realized it's been over a month since I posted.  I am a horrible blogger!  So I will do my best to update anyone who is interested about what our family has been doing the past month.  Chelsea and Jake have been really busy with marching band.  They have had several competitions.  Unfortunately they haven't won any.

These photos were taken at the competition in Orem, UT.  In the group photo Chelsea is 4th from the left and Jake is 7th from the left. In the second photo is Chelsea and the Bass drum line.  She is the bass line captain.

When Eline was here she went sky diving.  So Mike had a beer to commemorate her jump.

Chelsea was asked to play the bass clarinet for the recent band concert.  Here she is with it:

We went to my Godson's 2nd birthday party.

This is his brother (another Godson) on the left and him sitting on his dad's lap. 

This is him enjoying his cake.  I think the gun was to prevent anyone else from eating his cake. :)

This is the kids playing at the band concert on Wednesday.  Jake is playing second from left in the back and Chelsea is playing the small bass drum.

This is Chelsea playing the bass clarinet.

Chelsea turned 17 on the 23rd of October.  She had a party with several of her friends.  She just loves being a teenager!

Mike went to Las Vegas for two weeks for a conference.  He tells me he actually worked while he was there.  This is a picture he sent to me to show me how hot he looks in a suit.  But I already knew that and so I married him!

Mike and I hung out a few times with our friends, Chip and Laura Fuller.  We also had a get together with one of my professors from WSU.  Steve and his partner Dave are good friends. We had them, Chip and Laura and my friend Marcia and her friend Mica over one Saturday night.  Marcia and I went to elementary, junior high and high school together.  Imagine our surprise when we met again at our high school 30 year reunion and found out we live about 10 miles from each other here in Utah!  That was such a fun night. 

Mike went to see Alice Cooper with his friend Tim in Wendover, NV.  Not a concert I'd want to see but he said it was great.

I finally went to book club which I'd missed the past couple of months because of Dad's cancer.  The book we read was The Thirteenth Tale.  It was a good book and it is always fun to talk about books and spend time with friends.  I'm hosting next time but haven't decided what book we'll be reading.

A long time ago I used my Silhouette craft cutter to make a vinyl saying. While Mike was gone I finally got around to putting photos around it.  Here's a picture:

Below it we are going to put a sofa table and add more photos.  If you'd like us to display your photo send us one!

School has been keeping me busy.  Right now I have 18 credit hours and 9 credit hours is considered full time.  I don't think I will take that many next semester!  I also have my internship, which I love!  I am doing individual and group therapy now.  It is scary, but rewarding.  Last week one of my clients told me she has felt much better in the last month since she started therapy with me!  So cool.

Well, I am really tired so I guess this is it for now.  Happy Halloween!

It's Fall

Fall is the start of the new TV season.  I was excited to watch the season premiere of my favorite shows, Grey's Anatomy and The Big Bang Theory (TBBT).  And speaking of TBBT I came home from school on Friday and Mike had cleaned the house (which he usually does, not because I don't, but because he's a little OCD so it has to be done a certain way, and only he can do it that way) and had bought me flowers, a card and the complete second season of TBBT.

Last night we watched 5 episodes. That show is so funny we were both laughing out loud!

Today Mike and I went for a motorcycle ride and looked at the fall colors.  The trees are just starting to turn but they are so beautiful.  Here are a few pictures I took. Keep in mind I was on the back of the bike so they aren't the best.

Homecoming Night

The night has finally come.  Homecoming Night.  This is Jake and his date, Savannah.

This is Chelsea and her date, Isaac.

Here is a photo of all the girls, with Mike's bike as a prop:

 Most of the girls went for comfort rather than style for their shoes. We actually bought Chelsea some really dressy heels but she never wore them.

Here are the men in black.  Cute that they are matching, isn't it! 

The boys wanted to show their shoes, too!

The kids decided to have dinner at our house rather than go to a restaurant.  Unfortunately they decided to have spaghetti.  I didn't know that until they showed up with the sauce.  Sadly Chelsea got some on her dress.  I tried getting it out but there is a spot on the front of her dress.  I am hoping the dry cleaner can get it out, but in any case she's worn it 3 times which is more than most can say.

This has been such a special week for Chelsea and I am so glad she got to experience it.  It was so worth all the work!