And I thought I'd heard it all...

The following conversation took place at 11:15 AM as I stood blow drying my hair wondering how on earth these lines (wrinkles) on my forehead ever got there...

Door flies open and proceeds to further dent the already-there hole in the wall from a little 4 year old who doesn't understand the meaning of SOFTLY...

(Landon) - (Wide eyed, uh-oh look) Mom, Binnie took a sticker out of my sticker book and I didn't want her to...

(Me) - What did you do when she took the sticker out of your book?

(Landon) - I didn't slap her mom...

Sobbing hysterically, with a now rosy little cheek, Binnie enters the room...

(Me) - LANDON!!!

(Landon) - Mom! I promise I didn't slap her...I really didn't!

(Me) - Landon, you tell me the truth right now! Why is Binnie crying and why on earth is your handprint plastered to the side of her cheek?!?!

(Landon) - Mom, I promise I didn't slap her...(actually believing himself) my hand did...it just did it all by itself...I didn't even want it to it just did, it just reached up and slapped her all by itself!

(Me) - (Thinking to myself...what the h#*! kind of excuse is that?!?! I was speechless for a slight moment replaying in my mind what I had just heard as I stood there studying the rather innocent little face before me...Landon honestly whole-heartedly believed he didn't do it and somehow his hand just reached up and pelted his little sister all on it's own!) Are you freeking kidding me Landon? (turning away...trying to yell through the ear to ear grin which I now had...this little kid really believed he didn't do a darn thing!)

To make a long story short...I proceeded to tell him he needed to get control over that little hand of his and he'd better never touch his little sister like that again. I felt so bad for him, the poor little guy stood there just as surprised as I was, as if he wasn't even in the room when it had happened. Landon is such an incredible, loving, over doting big brother and I think he shocked himself that he'd acutally snapped like that on his little sis!

Ah, Gotta Love Him!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS from our home to yours...we hope you all have a fabulous Christmas filled with LAUGHTER and LOVE!
Love, Jay * Erin * Landon and Brynley

End of the Season...

It is official...biking season has come to an end...WA FREEKIN HOO!!! We now get our hubby and our daddy back! J's biking season has been quite eventful this year...gold medal, silver medal, LOTOJA, road rash, broken hand, mangled bike, $1000's in repairs, fundraising, hot tan lines :) and hours upon hours of riding!

Although I complain, whine and down right beast about J's riding schedule, he actually put it all to good use as he planned, organized and conducted an absolutely amazing, heart-tugging, incredible fundraiser which raised $10,000.00 for Shriners Childrens Hospital.

J works closely with Shriners in his line of work and saw a need for those children who need financial assistance in order to afford their high end rehab equipment...ok, well...he wanted some new bike gear and his races paid for by his company so he thought it'd be a win-win to organize a fundraiser bike ride in behalf of the children at Shriners. J had no idea just how much work and how much heart he'd put into this event...weeks and weeks of stressing and praying it'd all come together and be an event to remember and that, it was! Tears were shed as , the young girl who was able to receive a new high end wheelchair wheeled herself to the front of the audience to accept this generous gift...a gift which would better her everyday life day in and day out. For the first time in her 18 years of suffering from cerebral palsy, she received a brand new custom power chair totally free of charge and donated by those who put another's needs before their own, a gift of love by those who embace the value of charity.

J did such a wonderful job! He had a far better turn out than he had expected with over 40 riders and many more donations than he'd ever thought possible. They rode up immigration canyon, through park city and back down immigration early on a Saturday morning. (Thanks to our buddies in the neighborhood JT and Josh for showing up and supporting J in this event.) And good job baby for a job well done! Very impressive!

"Riding for a Reason"...

Setting up a yummy breakfast for all those who came out to support this incredible event...

J putting on his "game face" and conducting the event with the owner of his company Jay...

Raffle time...this was one of my favorite things to prepare for...I LOVE SHOPPING with someone else's money!


J and the little gal Tiara from Shriners who received the new power chair...

When J introduced Tiara, a hush fell over the crowd and eyes filled with tears. I can't even explain the feeling that was felt as J so beautifully and emotionally expressed his feelings about this little girl and the excitement she showed as she was being recognized...



All those who came out to ride and help raise donations for Shriners...thank you to all those who willingly gave of their time and financial means to make this even such a success!

Ride Baby Ride...

The Alpine Team...(J's works for Alpine Medical and started it's biking team)

Being the good little wife...out supporting my man bright and early :)!

Support stops J had set up along the route...


My man...isn't he HOT?!?!?! It's sad to admit my husband pulls off spandex much better than I ever could AND shaves his legs much more often than I AND has a much better tan than I. At least one of us still has it all honey :)!


Stopping for a quickie...a quick picture that is! So, my outfit? I bought this little green "work out" suit 4 years ago when J was working at Nordstrom. However, with it being bright, lime green and a "work out" outfit (and we all know I don't work out) I have never had an opportunity to wear it until now! I was so excited the green actually matched the shrits J had made for the event! Wahoo!!!

Me just bugging my father-in-law...he already thinks I'm crazy :)

Round of applause for a job well done!

Well, honey...you rocked it and I'm so proud of you! You're the man! XOXOXOXO!!!

Surprise Mood Booster!

For some reason the last couple weeks have been BLAH...I don't know how else to describe it. I've been a grumpy, boring, lame mom and an on edge, nagging wife...NO, I'm not pregnant just my award winning personality shining through I guess. Anyhow, on my way to work tonight (the whole 3 hours a month I work) I remembered it was the Carrie Underwood concert which J and I had originally had tickets to but ended up selling them a couple weeks ago. I was feeling so bad for myself (yea, I like to throw a good self pitty party occasionally) that I had actually gone out and purchased her CD yesterday so I could at least listen to her in one form or another. So, as I'm driving to work thsi evening, I can't help but consume myself with visuals of me at the concert and how much I had wished I was going to see Carrie rather than going to work to practice mouth to mouth on a dummy for hours. Three months ago when we had first purchased tickets I had even ran out and bought the perfect shirt to wear to this much anticipated event...now it would just hang in my closet with no where to be worn to :(.

As I pulled into the parking lot at work I receive a phone call from J...now being the snotty wife I've been the last little bit, I questioned whether or not to even answer. WOW was I glad I had chosen to open my little, ghetto, free phone! Upon answering the phone J urgently said, "You've got to get out of working tonight and come home", my heart immediately sunk...that is until he proceeded to tell me that my darling friend Jamie had an extra ticket to the Carrie Underwood concert in one hour and needed a date!

I can't even tell you how excited I was and how my self thrown pitty party came to an abrupt hault! I backed right out, called my boss (it helps when your boss is your mom :)) and sped home to meet my darling date! (Thanks Jamie!!!) The concert was a blast! Carrie is by far one of my favorite singers and she's as beautiful as she is talented. (You can't help but wish you looked like her!) She put on a fun, energetic, wonderful concert and I got to wear my new shirt I had been dying to wear! What a fabulous night!

We actually ended up sittting in front of my good friend Tricia from Bunco and her hubby Brad...it's a small world! (It was so fun to see you guys! Thanks for taking all the pictures, you two are troopers!)

Tricia, Jamie and I...

Thanks again Jamie for making my month...better yet my year :)! You were a great date and are an absolute blast to hang out with! I'm sure J will be thanking you soon as well due to my much improved mood!

What a fun night and a total mood lifter! The invite couldn't have come at a better time, thanks again Jamie, you rock!

The Beginning of the Holidays...

I absolutely love FALL...I love the cooler weather, the warmer clothes (you know, the hoodies and sweaters you don't have to worry about sucking in your stomach with?!? Not to mention all the black I now get to wear, which is a total muffin top hider), snuggling up with a blanket next to the fireplace while immersing myself into the best fall TV shows, smelling the aroma of pumpkin spice candles and watching the warm fall colors emerge as the trees begin to change colors.

However, the #1 reason I favor the fall over any other season is because of the HOLIDAYS it brings. I love celebrating one Holiday right after the next and having 3months of non stop FAMILY, FRIENDS and FUN! Our Halloween was such a great start to our much anticipated HOLIDAY season. Between "adult" parties, preschool parties, family parties, ward parties and trick or treating...we had an exciting and wild Halloween!

TO START THINGS OFF...
Landon's preschool class went to the pumpkin patch this month where they each got to pick out their own pumpkin and listen to stories while drinking chocolate milk and eating cookies in the barn! It was so cute to see him and all his little buddies from preschool. I volunteered (well, not really, none of the mom's had offered so I thought I'd look bad if I didn't :0) to bring a game to teach the kids during their preschool Halloween party. We played Halloween Bingo and they loved it! I can't believe my little boy is in preschool and I'm one of those little mom helpers! It was so fun to see him in his little preschool all dressed up and having fun!



A FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING...

Jay and I never carve real pumpkins, we usually opt for the fake ones so there's no messy clean up and all. However, this year we carved REAL pumpkins, not just once, but TWICE...pumpkin guts and all and Landon loved it. Landon is a little particular about some things and therefore would NOT touch the insides of the pumpkin for the life of him, he preferred drawing the faces on all the pumpkins and cheering us on as we dug out the guts.
We got together with Jay's family for a night of pumpkins! Pumpkin food, pumkin treats and pumpkin carving!



Aunt Truly and Landon...Landon is in love with his Aunt Truly...it's one of the only times I've seen him speechless!

Round 2 of pumpkin carving!

MY LITTLE GOBLINS...
Landon decided early on that he wanted to be a cowboy for Halloween, simply because he wanted to wear his cowboy boots he's not allowed to wear in public (unless we're at a rodeo that is :)). Despite my best efforts to change his mind he wasn't convinced. He was determined to be a cowboy and I have to say, he was one freekin cute little yit kicker! Jay made sure to teach him plenty of cowboy slang and Landon ate it up...he thought he was the coolest little cowboy ever. Binnie was a darling little ballerina who absolutely loved her tutu! She became so giddy each time she wore her tutu and grinned from ear to ear as she danced around the house in her little pink slippers!

My handsome little chap and beautiful ballerina all dolled up and ready to go trunk or treating at grandma's and grandpa's ward. My parents had some pretty fun costumes and my little sis was one hot deviled egg. I can't believe I forgot my camera. It was such a fun evening, the kids had a BLAST and I always love going back to my home ward.


Binnie and I were matching ballerinas for the ward Halloween party. I figured being in Primary gave me the perfect excuse to dress up and have fun.

ADULTS ONLY!
Jay and I dressed up as FBI agents for a Halloween party we went to with some friends of ours. It was such a fun night filled with yummy food, fun company, games and lots of laughs.




Thank you Park City Grandma (J's mom) for watching B and Landon while we had a night out!

TRICK OR TREAT!?!?!
By the time trick or treating rolled around, the munchkins had just enough energy for a few laps around the neighborhood. Jay and I took turns cause I wanted to be able to go with Landon and Binnie but I also didn't want to miss passing out candy to all my Primary kids. So, Jay took them around the culdesac and I finished the other hour and a half of trick or treating with Landon. By the time 8:00 rolled around, Landon's feet were so sore from his little yit kickers that we headed home where we mixed up some hot chocolate and watched a Halloween movie! Jay apparently paid Landon for his candy (that's mean honey) so he ended up with a new Power Ranger instead of his bag full of candy...poor kid should have gotten both...next year I'll be in charge!

Me and the Kiddos all bundled up and ready to start knockin'...

Binnie loved everything about Halloween from the silly costumes to the messy pumpkin carving to trick or treating in the cold.

Sippin Hot Chocolate at the end of a fun Halloween Eve!

WRAP IT UP...(literally :))
Last, but certainly the highlight of Jay's Halloween was getting to strap on a rack (obvioiusly that's not my bra...he had to go "upgrade" cause apparently I'm not woman enough for him :)), paint his face, shave his legs, go blonde and wear the shorts we all miss dearly from back in our youth...back when I didn't even know how to spell cellulite. Anyhow, Jay made a great HOOTERS girl and won 1st place in his work costume contest. (Just so you all know, I sheltered my children from seeing their daddy looking better than their mommy as a woman, so NO they weren't anywhere near to witness Jay as a She-man)


That's a wrap!
HOPE YOU ALL HAD A FABULOUS HALLOWEEN AND HAVE A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY SEASON!

Wedding Weekend Getaway...

This last weekend J and I flew to Santa Barbara for his brother Jeff's wedding. I must say, we did a pretty good job of being "adults"...it was the first time we've ever rented a car by ourselves, drove in an unfamiliar city without getting lost (well, except for the first 20 minutes cause J thought he knew more than mapquest) and had no one but ourselveves to worry about! (Special thanks to my mom and dad, aunt Janny, Ariel and Sandy for juggling our munchkins while we were away) It was a quick little trip packed full of fun, food, shopping, manners and entertainment! I was so excited I forced J to take a picture in the freekin' airport...I know, kind of lame...


First things first...as soon as we landed and arrived at our much anticipated destination I made J pose for a picture in front of Spencer's parents beach house (for all you MTV/HILLS junkies :)) where my inlaws were staying. The beach house was beautiful with an incredible front row view of the ocean...





We even saw dolphins right off shore...J obviously wasn't too quick with the camera...


On to a quaint little beachside cafe we went for some yummy sandwiches with some of J's family. It was the cutest little cafe with a sandbox right in the middle of the eating area for the kids to play in, I could get used to that...I think I'd actually be able to eat in peace if there was a sandbox for my kiddos to play in.
My inlaws Larry and Cheri, J, Me, Mark (J's brother), Vanessa (JW's gal) and JW (another one of J's brothers).


The girls...Cher, Vanessa and I


Next stop...Peuso Nuevo mall...this mall was the most peaceful, serene mall I have ever been to. I know, I know that sounds totally corny, but it was amazing! It was an outside mall lined with huge, lush, green trees with flower arrangements and exotic plants lining the walk ways. Any shop you could possibly want to look in was there...including Ben and Jerry's!
I love a chocolate fudge, brownie sugar cone...double scoop of course :)!



That evening was the "rehearsal dinner" which I have no idea why it's called that other than you rehearse the same toast you're going to deliver the following night?
Anyhow, it was held at a beautiful home owned by the Busch family in Montecito.
Here J and I are passing through the entrance to their property...doesn't my man look so handsome :)! He was on his best behavior, which I didn't know he had, the enitre night and he looked so sharp!



J and the groom (his brother Jeff)...


2 of the gals we hung out with the majority of the time @ the dinner and wedding, cause everyone else was so much older than us!


Marky, J and I...


I loved the fancy place settings...here's when our manners, or lack thereof, came into play. I have never seen so many silverware thingys or drinking glasses for one place setting in my life.


Let's just say, when the couple putting on the dinner owns Busch (Budweiser/Busch I think it is) there's an unlimited supply of their product on hand.


The bride and groom...


J's sister Kirstin and her fiance' Alex...


We had such a wonderful time @ the dinner and it was unlike anything we'd ever experienced before! The night was fantastic and the company of J's family is always a blast!
The next morning we ate at the yummy Summerland Cafe where darling little Cami played her DS during breakfast...


Posing for a pic. in between bites :)...


The groom (Jeff) and his mom Cher, just hours before the wedding...


So their big night came and it was beautiful and once again, unlike anything we'd ever seen before (other than on TV...and all this time J's been telling me all my reality shows are fake and made up and it's not "reality", well apparently it is reality for some people honey!)
They were married "lakeside", apparently some individuals have "lakes" in their back yards...if you look closely, behind the trees you can see camera crew. Bravo is taping a new reality series showing the lives of Polo players. Jeff and JW, along with 2 of their other polo playin buddies are the guys who will be cast in the reality series. I'm excited to watch it!


J and I in our "fancy" attire...



The reception following the ceremony was held above the lake on a polo field. Jeff, the groom, is a professional polo player who spends the majority of his time playing in Santa Barbara and Argentina. The owner of the estate and property where the wedding and reception were held is part owner in their polo team, I forget what they're called, but that's how Jeff has become acquainted with these guys (same with Andy Busch, where the dinner was held the previous night). Anyhow, that's the significance of the reception being held on the polo field. And what would a polo player's wedding be without horses?!?!
J and I petting one of the prized horses, it's like stroking a $200,000+ dollar bill. These horses are worth more than many of our homes, it's insane! (We should have stole one:))


Here's just some fun pictures from our eventful, fun evening...

Cami (our neice), the little flower girl, and I on the polo field...


J and Johnny (our nephew) looking smashing in their suits!


So the man who owns the "estate" in the background along with the property of the lake and polo fields is like 70 years+ and his wife is 41 years old...imagine that!


Michelle's colors were chocolate brown and ivory, they look really pretty together...


My sister-in-laws Ashley and Kirstin...they're so sweet...I absolutely love them!



Sitting down to enjoy our goat cheese wrapped in squash and zucchini? I couldn't even identify the items on my plate...the rolls were scrumptious though :)


Kirstin and Cami in their matching wraps...


The newlyweds!!!


My inlaws Larr and Cher...we love you both!


I don't think I've danced on a dance floor since Club Axis was around back in the day...but J and I figured we had nothing to loose, we both already know we're dorks. BUT, I must say you looked pretty fly out there baby! I was mezmerized...not really but you do have some skill on the dance floor hun! I have to admit, dancing did make me feel young again, until my thighs continued to burn well into the next day.
On the dance floor...





Never a dull moment when JW's around (for anyone who knows him, I know you're all laughing right now and wishing you had gone...just had to add it for journaling purposes :)...


We spent a lot of our night with Alex...he's one of those people you're drawn to because of the way they make you laugh. He's absolutely hilarious! J and I loved him and can't wait till he's in the fam!




A few more pics. for my fellow MTV/HILLS fans...Spencer's mom, Janet, has been best friends with my mother in law Cheri for 25+ years. After meeting and spending time with Janey over the course of 2 days I can see exactly where Spencer gets his sarcasm and witt. She's a blast to be around and so entertaining!
Janet is a character! She is such a loud, upbeat, fun, outgoing woman! I think I like Spencer again...I find him funny now rather than absurd! Here she is...




Spencer's parents Janet and Skip (Skip is very nice and pretty reserved)...


Well, needless to say we had an amazing time and we cherish every moment we get to spend with all the Hall siblings. They may be few and far between, but when we do, there's never a dull moment and our cheeks are always sore from the laughter shared. Thank you for such an incredible weekend and for blessing our lives! Love you guys!