Think Pink Fundraiser

For everyone in the Salt Lake area, my good friend Serena from Simply Serenity Photography is doing a fundraiser for a Mom who has Breast Cancer and is going through Chemo. ( Please see Blake in Postcard with his Guitar) For more information and to check out Serena's amazing work check out her blog simplyserenityphotography.blogspot.com Thanks for your help, this is something close to my heart right now.

In Search of a Philly Cheesesteak

So my Mom Curtis and I were watching Throw Down with Bobby Flay on the Food Network last night and they did the most mouth watering looking cheesesteaks. (My mouth still watering) so I am on a search for the best Philly Cheesesteak in Washington County. This is where your help comes in, if you know of a great sandwich shop or where I could find a great cheesesteak...please help me out and let me know. I am afraid my mouth won't stop watering until I am satisfied. Thanks!!! And I will keep you posted on what I find or what I don't find.

Halloween 2008

Halloween was great this year, the boy got creative with his costume and Hannah did a retake of last years. We went to school and watched Hannah and Savie in their parade, we went to our Ward's trunk or treat, then to the community center and stopped by Pine Valley Townhomes on our way home. We then had a dump your candy and separate party at our house ( And they say you can't teach an old dog new tricks, Tyler) Blake made a HAUL, remember Korie when we were 13 and we were on a mission to fill the pillowcases? It was fun, thanks Kacie and Tyler for hanging out.




Future In n Out Worker


Our Sweet toothless Queen
I think the favorite part for Hannah was the make up, she was late for class on Friday morning so she ran across the playground holding her dress up like it was the stroke of midnight, it was so cute.
Hannah waving to all of her fans. I still love the no teeth. This is the school parade. And then there was Candy, this is ALL Blake's. Can you see Demie is the background, in Hannah's Queen shoes. And thanks Brother Dye for the whole box of cookies.Here is Blake's Candy store or I mean Secret Stash. I hope Hannah does not read this or the secret will be out!

An Expected Find

Just thought I would share an expected find at The Target Cafe...a delicious salad. It had just been made and put into the refrigerator case. It was made with a green leaf lettuce, a romaine maybe, with Dried Cranberries not the little ones, but the full cranberry dried, with cubed chicken and fabulous gouda cheese (I think) it was very moist and melted right in your mouth. With a candied nut to add the perfect crunch. It had a creamy poppyseed dressing that comes on the side. It has the perfect flavor combination between tart, sweet, salty and I loved the crunch. And honestly I could do without the chicken just fine. It cost $4 and it is the perfect portion size not too small and too large where you have the bottom full of lettuce when you are finished. It is perfect for a healthy lunch. (After you finish their popcorn of course)

Grow Up Already

Those of you that don't know me very well, I love food. I love to eat it describe it, try it and I have always wanted to critique it. A "Food Conessiuer" if you will. (Sorry my spell check is not recognizing that word and does not want to spell it right for me.) So what better way to live my dream that right here on my blog. So look for future blogs on food that I have tried and restaurant's that I have visited. And oh ya I am big on customer service, but I am also big on not putting anyone down so I will try to focus on the positive. And let me know if there is something or somewhere you would like me to try. And don't forget about the chocolate of course.

I really tried to Avoid!

I really tried to Avoid!

Tagged
Thanks to Aunt Sheli who Tagged Marni who then Tagged me!
5's
There needs to be five answers for each. I'll give it a try.

What was I doing 10 years ago?
1. Got e-Coli through a UTI (hey you asked)
2. Turned 21 WOW
3. Blake was almost 4
4. Was living in St.George for the first time.
5. I think I had just got a job at Pasta Factory

What are 5 things on my to do list today
1. Pack the car to go Home CHECK
2. Church CHECK
3. Smootch Abby CHECK
4. Private Chat with kids PENDING
5. Private Time with Hubby Crossing my Fingers

What are my 5 favorite snacks
1. Fresh Kettle Corn (Yum Coby just bought me some at the zoo, and they say don't feed the animals)
2. Hot Tamales
3. Movie Theater Popcorn
4. chips and guacamole
5. Chocolate um anything

What 5 things would I do if I were a millionaire
1. Pay off all my bills and House
2. Volunteer at a hospital
3. Visit my Bothers in Maui and take the Family with me.
4. Hire a chef and personal trainer and housekeeper
5. Wait for my kids at the bus stop everyday. ( I may have to hide so I don't embarrass Blake)

5 places I have lived
1. Flowell, UT
2. Rancho Cucamonga, CA
3. St.George, UT
4. Billings, MT
5. Hurricane UT

5 Jobs I have had
1. Burger King
2. Marie Callenders
3. Arby's
4. Pasta Factory
5. Gap inc

5 people I tag are (I tried picking people I wanted to know more)
1. Tawni
2. Serena
3. Segi
4. Suz
5. Briar

15 Years Together!

Fifteen years ago today was a Saturday and I saw Coby at a dance and started to chat with him to try to avoid someone else. ( It was no sweat off my back because I always thought he was hot) We were talking for awhile and finally a slow song came on and I think he felt obligated to ask me to dance, so Guns n Roses' "November Rain" was our first dance. And for those of you that don't know it is like a ten minute song, so we had a long time to dance. We left the dance early together and stayed out until almost 5:00am. And the phrase that most people would say at this point is and the rest is history...not necessary always the case. Coby and I love each other more than than I can explain to people outside of us! We know each other, we know our weaknesses and we know our strength. Everyday we are learning more and more about each other, and it is not always roses that is for sure, but we are NOT willing to live without eachother...that is not an option. 15 years together, that is almost half of my life...here is to the rest of it.

My Towie Lemon

So her name is not Towie Lemon it is Korie Lynn but my boy used to call her that. I met Korie at the bus stop the first day of 7th grade, she was wearing a denim hat and her smiled warmed me right away. She lived around the corner for me and we never met until that first day of Junior High. We sure had our ups and downs that first year...she has a different story then I do but as a reference please refer to my journal from November 1988 to June 1989. I bet you didn't keep a journal did you Kor? Wow those were the days but notice how I did not say good ole days? We have those now with our annual trips to Vegas,(please see pictures below from our Sept 07 trip for Korie's 30th Birthday) except for this year when Korie decided to have a baby instead. Which brings us to todays post...She is here Korie's daughter #3 the girl who's name we will not mention because she does not have one yet. Let's just call her "she" was born at exactly 4:00pm today weighing in at 7 lbs 13 oz and 19 and 3/4 inches long. And "she" was a piece of cake. And Korie has no voice right now, so it is great trying to hear all the good news through a whisper.
And since I do not know that much about "she" right now, I am going to make Korie take the spotlight...Korie is an AMAZING woman, I have witnessed many wonderful things transpire through her, her baptism day ( which I cried no I think I bawled through) Sending Nathan on a mission, retrieving Nathan from his mission and sneaking a little kiss, hey she deserved it for being such a dedicated girlfriend. To getting the phone call a few days before Christmas to tell me they were getting married ( I was so surprised lol) to sitting next to her man the day they got sealed for Time and all Eternity, even after being stuck in LA traffic for two hours and the whole time I was so worried that Korie was totally sick with Anxiety of missing her own wedding. To my surprise she must have had some calming angels by her side because I think I was worse than her. And I even got to ride home with them from the Temple...awkward I know because I was the one trying to secretly keep them from making a quick stop some where. ( No need for extra details there) They Were good ;)
I have always told Korie she was a much better example for me than I ever was to her, she is an AWESOME Mom and a great Friend but she is more than that to me...a word cannot describe what my Korie is to me, she is my partner as a Food Critic, no one else can describe food the way we do, and I know our Husbands with countless rolling of the eyes still do not get us. And they never will. I could go on and on...but I just wanted her to know how much I truly love her and I am trying not to feel sad with never seeing her live while pregnant and not knowing when I will meet "she " in person. There is only so much a blog can do, but it will never take the place of a hearing the laughter. I guess the web cam will have to be the next best thing. I love ya ! And I do love Nathan too for putting up with you. He is a true man to be able to sleep next to the anti poker. I am sure he knows what I mean. I think only I can say that and get away with that. Love ya always and forever, can't wait to see "she" and you and the girls on the web cam. Hope you enjoy these first 24 hours with "she" it is my favorite thing about having a baby, is staring always staring at the gift that you just gave life to. ENJOY!

Let's here it for the Boy

Blake ,Blake,Blake what can I say...we have to take what we can get. Here is some photo's of us hanging out in our garage watching Blake skate. I added a photo of Hannah who felt since we were taking pictures of brother, she would throw on her skates so I would take her picture. Blake is getting pretty good at the skateboarding thing. He was showing us his tricks, he reminded me of my adolescent years and I can't believe he is there already.
Some of you may not know Blake very well but he is shy unless you get to know him, and then he will surprise you will a very intellectual conservation from politics to the greatest guitar solo's of all time. If you happen to me involved with one of these conservations, consider yourself lucky and cherish it because you don't know the next time one of those moments will come along. I love you bud, you are my favorite son ;)

Two of my Favorite Things

Okay I have been staring at my children sleeping every night...it brings such a peace in my heart that I can't explain. Hannah looks so perfect when I watch her sleep absolutely beautiful. I can just stare until my legs start to ache from standing in one spot. When i watch Blake sleep I can picture him as a baby when I use to watch him then. i can pick out different features that are still lingering around. I blink and this kid is getting bigger, older and cooler ;)
For me I just think it is such an accomplishment at night to watch them sleep and to know that I have kept them alive another day. That is a huge responsibility!!! I love my kids more than I know how to express with words, I don't want them to get too tired of hearing that from me I just want them to embrace it.

Zions On Saturday

We had a fun day at Zions on saturday. We couldn't talk the tennage boy into going so it was just us three that went. We explored some old Masonary caves and had a picnic, and tested the water at the virgin river. Now that Blake is too cool for us Hannah is sure becoming an only child. Don't worry I have something up my sleeve to get some pictures of the boy.

Act Natural?

I tried to get this beautiful spot with Hannah and I tell her to act natural and not so posed, and sure enough it gets worse. The poor thing can put herself into character in a second when it comes to reciting lines or mocking her brother, but the second you say act natural she has no idea what to do.

Curtis Family Photo Shoot 2008

We all get so excited to take pictures...my poor teenage boy looks like he wants to hurt us all. But we did get a few pictures. I will take what I can get from him.

Happy Birthday Hannah

Hannah Just turned 7 on August 17th. Here are some photo's of her on her big day. P.S. The dog in picture (ABBY) seems larger than normal, don't get me wrong she is HUGE, but she was a little in front of her. Hannah got Mario cart for her birthday, so that is why she is holding the steering wheel. We have had a lot of fun as a family playing together.

The Drama of Losing a tooth

I will first start out saying that Hannah has now lost both top teeth!!! She was terrified of losing her 2nd top tooth because of the way she lost her first top tooth...she decided with her first top tooth when it was REALLY lose to tie a string around it and tie it to the door knob and to shut the door, to see if that would work...it sure did, she slammed the door and the look on her face she did not know if she should laugh or cry, it flew out of her mouth. So with this last one she held it in there until it wouldn't stop bleeding and it was hanging by a thread, here is the proof. poor thing Coby and I finally had to make her get it out by holding her down because it was grossing us out, she held her lips so tight it fell onto her tongue. It was an hour ordeal but all said and done she was smiles.

First Day of School

Blake is going to middle school this year, 8th grade, he has a locker but didnt even want to go and find his classroom's. He has an "A" and "b" schedule, which is new to me. I got a photo of him YA! Hannah is in 2nd grade now and is in a portable out by the playground, she has adjusted well and seems to be making some new friends, she is a little nervous about spelling though, we will help her through it.

Friends and Family

Hannah has a cute friend named Hannah that has blond hair also and at one time they had the same dress at church and Hannah thought it was the coolest thing, so here is the picture of them in the Pioneer day Parade. Ahh Hannah's twin cheese grin cousin Maddie on her Baptism Day!!! We love and miss you!!!

The Lake

Aunt Silvia and Uncle Blair were down for the weekend of the 24th, so we hung out at the lake for the day. Hannah is a natural and Blake still does not like his photo taken, I did however threaten to take a picture of him sleeping if that was the only way to get his face in a photo. He did not like that idea.

Thank Goodness Hannah's a Country Girl

I am sorry but she is the cutest thing ever...

Funny story that goes with this...Hannah loved hanging out with the boys and the boys loved to take the golf cart out, even though the charger was not working they would still try to see if it would work yet. so they would some out of the garage around the house and by the time they go to the other side this is what you saw. And as you can see Hannah loved every moment of it because she would have to push the gas down and steer it back to the garage. The orange bucket on there is for Hunter's Steer they were trying to avoid the walk down to the jungle where he is.

The Historic Alamo and Downtown

The picture to the left was this animated dinosaur and I told Hannah to look scared when he opened his mouth to her. She looks more like a damsal in distress to me. "Oh my dinosaur don't eat me"

I told Hannah to take a picture in Front of this muesum because her brother loves these books.




















The Alamo, even though we did not get to take pictures inside we got to see some of Davy Crockett's gun and letter's he wrote. Hannah will have some things to talk about when she goes back to school.