Happy Birthday Lance!

Today is my little brother Lance's birthday. He turned the big 30 today!

I have some great memories from our childhood and most of them involve funny things like acting out movies, especially play fighting like on the movie The Karate Kid... having concerts singing to our favorite music (I think I was 9 or 10 yrs old) with a flashlight as the microphone (it had a magnetic side and we could put in on the vacuum as a stand), tennis rackets as guitars and we rocked! I guess this was the 1st version of Rock Band.. why didn't we patent that? Sounds like we were totally geeks and we probably were but we had so much fun. Especially when mom and dad were out on their date night and we could turn the music up as loud as we wanted. Some popular tunes were "We Built this City" by Starship and "Wake Me up before you GO-GO" by Wham. Gotta love the 80's!

We also had a pool when we lived in Tennessee. There was a slide, diving board and of course the roof off the screened in porch right next to the pool. My mom hated it when we jumped off of the roof! I remember one time Travis and I stole Lance's swim trucks and I don't remember how but they ended up in the deep end of the pool. That really wasn't nice and we got in big trouble!

Lance has been a great little brother. He always knows how to make me laugh! He is someone that you enjoy being around because when you are with him, he makes you feel better about yourself. Wish you were out here to spend it with you. Enjoy your day little brother! Love you!

I will post pictures next week.. I still have to pack for my girls weekend in Vegas!!

Lake Powell... need I say more...

Who doesn't just absolutely LOVE Lake Powell? Especially when staying on a houseboat like this! It is one of the most relaxing, beautiful, and fun places to vacation. We didn't think we would make it this year but my parents called us a couple weeks before they were going and asked if we wanted to join them. Duh?! Of course we would go. It was a business trip of sorts for my dad and others on the trip but it was still enjoyable.

Brad and I are running out of vacation time so we went down a week ago on Wednesday and we headed home on Saturday. The rest of the group went down the Monday before and some left on Thursday which made the 2nd half of the trip even better with less people.

The weather was perfect mid 80's and at night in the 60's, the water temp was perfect as well. Lots of great food! Thanks to Paula & Eleisha! We also reconnected with old friends. We spent time reading, talking, playing card games, watching movies, water skiing, swimming, tubing, knee boarding, and of course taking showers in the lake! Good memories!

Brad's first time knew boarding and he was able to do a 360! Nice job honey!


Brad working the 360!

My parents showing us how it is done on the tube! It is very difficult to throw them off.

With having broken my ankle 4 weeks previously I tried knee boarding for a bit but got nervous I would fall and hurt myself again (it stinks to get old!) so I let go outside the wake. Then my mom talked me into the tube.

It wouldn't be a Lake Powell trip without waiting for my mom to jump off the top of the boat- she is afraid of heights and always has to think about it for several minutes...(the first time was over an hour!) before she finally jumps in.

Here is Brad showing her how to just jump off.. it is not that hard!

Anyway, thanks to mom and dad for thinking of us and for Scott and Paula for giving us the opportunity to go! You guys are great!

Another First....

Well it finally happened! We got toilet papered the night of my birthday! It was the first time we have ever been TPed. I know I should be a little upset but I thought it was funny.. plus we don't have gigantic trees....yet!

I also have fond memories of toilet papering when I was in high school. Although I know there are a few of you out there that disagree with toilet papering (cough..Tasha!) In fact one time I was in the flower bed up by the house and didn't notice the HUGE window well next to the bush I was carefully wrapping with toilet paper. While I was stepping around the bush I stepped right into the window well and landed on my rear end.. boy that one left a mark! I was so nervous that someone heard me and I couldn't get out by myself (it was very deep). I had to whisper loudly to a friend who helped pull me out and we all took off. There was also another time we toilet papered my YW President's house (guess I had that one coming!) and they turned on their sprinklers to get us wet! Good times...

I thought the best time to hit a house was after midnight but these pranksters decided to hit us at 9pm! I thought I could hear some noises on our porch but Brad told me I was hearing things.. then finally I hear a pop and said ok.. I really think someone is outside. We went to the door and saw someone running away. We decided to try to catch them. Brad headed one way around the house and I went the other way. We could tell they were novices when we found them in our backyard instead of down the street on the other side of the fence. Here are some pics of the event. I should have taken a full picture of the whole front yard but didn't get that one. There was a "Happy Birthday" sign on the garage door and more balloons on the tree out front and lots more toilet paper.

Thanks Miller girls and Garett!

Happy Birthday

Ok.. so my mom has been talking for over a month about writing a "special" post for my birthday. Well.. she finally wrote it by late yesterday afternoon but with Young Women's last night I didn't have time to search for the pictures my mom wanted me to post along with this.

Anyway, My birthday is Sept 8th so I will back date to that day.. just play along ok? I didn't edit this in anyway so here we go...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANGELA!!!! Sorry it is a day late!!!

I wanted to write a birthday tribute to my wonderful, beautiful, talented daughter. Too many adjectives?? Oh well. Your dad and I couldn't be more proud of the wonderful young woman you have become.

September 8, 197_ was one of the best days of my life. We welcomed a beautiful blond haired (actually she was bald but hey I think we could see the blond coming in!), blue eyed, 8lb. 3oz., 21 inches long — bundle of pure joy. She was the happiest and most contented baby I have ever seen. She slept through the night from day one. I told her she definitely spoiled us and didn’t prepare us for sleepless nights her other siblings made up for.

Before Ang was born her dad was so sure it was a boy. (This was before ultra sounds) What is it with men that they think they have to produce a male child?? My nephew asked Ron what he would do if it was a girl and he jokingly said he would flush her down the toilet. When my nephew heard that we had a girl he told his mom he needed to get to the hospital fast to save Angela. Not to worry, her dad fell in love with her at first sight and said that little girls were made for dad’s to protect and that is what he has been doing her whole life.

Angela was impatient to grow up. She began crawling at 6 months, walking at 9 months and speaking sentences at 10 months. Maybe it was just being the first child but she seemed to learn very fast. Needless to say she was an adult by the time she was a year old. Oh, did I mention she was potty trained sometime around 10 months?? (Thanks to her Grandma Weeks who tended her!) Angela was a very active child. But she was easy to discipline and followed rules pretty good. With one exception, she loved wearing her father’s shoes. You know the ones with the high heels; it was the 70’s remember!! She would clomp around in them all day if she could get away with it; her dad was very fussy with his possessions. If you know anything about Ron he is very meticulous of his things. He really didn’t like Ang wearing his shoes but it was so darn cute it was hard to keep her from doing it. So I took a picture.

Ang grew up to be a tomboy. She was very good in all sports. In our Smithfield, Utah neighborhood all the children would get together to play baseball in the field next door. One day I answered a knock on the door and one of the boys was standing there. He looked up at me and said, “Angela’s a tomboy huh?? She just knocked the baseball clear over into the next field! Girls aren’t supposed to hit like that. My sister says Angela can because she is a tomboy, is that right?” So began her life’s goal to be good at any sport she tried out for. In high school she played Tennis Singles and took 2nd in region. She also played softball and soccer.

Ang (age 12), Travis (age 9), Jamie (age 2).. Lance's (age 7) head on the far left!

I was able to be her Young Women’s leader. It was so much fun going to young women’s with her and teaching her the gospel. Camp was a lot of fun. Even though Angela loved to tease and pull pranks she always knew her boundaries and when she needed to be respectful and listen. She was always willing to do whatever her leaders asked her to do. She was a great leader and example for the other girls. I can honestly say she never pushed the button of the leaders once except for one small time at stake camp in Memphis Tennessee. I think she was a Mia Maid. Her and a friend asked the leaders if they could go pull a few harmless tricks to the other campers. We told them nothing destructive, like pulling down the tents, etc. and that they had to be back to camp by 11:00 PM. Were we cool leaders or what??? So Ang and Jennifer went out and came back right on time. Since we didn’t hear any screaming or other leaders yelling we thought they had been good and never caused any problems until the next morning . . . .!! We went to flag ceremony and all around the pool fence, (yes Memphis girls camp ground had flushing toilets, showers and a swimming pool, they really knew how to camp!!) Anyway, hung to the fence were bra’s everywhere!!! They had even climbed up the flag pole and hung a few on the top!! As the flag was raise so were the eyes of the stake leaders and they wanted to know who had done this. Jennifer’s mom was one of the stake leaders, she and I just looked at each other but never said a word. (yes, we were chicken!!!) We looked at Ang and Jen, that’s all it took; they started to go and gather up all the bra’s and return them to the girls. Angela knew how to have fun. She was always looking for ways to include the younger girls and making sure that camp was fun and willing to participate in the planned activities. For the most part she would follow the rules, be supportive and helpful.

Girls' camp Jenny, Ang (age 14), Hiedi, Shelby and Maridyn. We had so much fun at camp!

Angela has excelled in work as well as sports. She is very competitive and doesn’t like to lose which has been good for her brothers because they have learned it ok of a girl beats them! It was really good for her brother Lance who is just as competitive as she is. Angela has been a great older sister to her 2 brothers and one sister. She is so willing to always help and give advice which can sometimes annoy her siblings and so they remind her that they already have a mother. But she is such a good example for them, they love and respect her and appreciate her wisdom and her willingness to help them anyway she can.

Angela thanks for being such a great daughter. We are so proud of you and appreciate all that you do for us!

We love you and hope you have a wonderful day!!

Love,

Mom and Dad

Now just to clarify the Girls' camp prank... Jennifer and I were just taking care of our own. My mom forgot that the previous day the YCL's had raided all the new 1st year's bags in our ward and hung their bras on the flag pole that morning. Sooo Jennifer and I did the only sensible thing....we sought REVENGE! Ok.. so not one of my proudest moments but still a great memory! I never liked to see my mom disappointed in me so that day when she gave me the "look", I quickly obeyed.

Thanks Mom and Dad for the great memories! I couldn't have asked for better parents, thanks for all you do! I love you!

New post ....kind of

Here is a link to my post on Maui 5th day.. http://angandbrad.blogspot.com/2008/07/maui-5th-day.html I know you are thinking really? You are not finished yet? The answer is NOPE! still one more day to blog about. I want to keep them in order so I backdated! I know I am slow but now that summer is over I have hope to update more often.. we shall see.

Quote for the day...

“The Lord has said, ‘Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers’ (D&C 112:10).

“What a tremendous promise is given in this statement. If we are without conceit and pride and arrogance, if we are humble and obedient, then the Lord will lead us by the hand and answer our prayers. What greater thing could we ask for? There is nothing to compare with this.”
Gordon B. Hinckley, “A Prophet’s Counsel and Prayer for Youth,” Ensign, Jan. 2001, 10

I have had one of those weeks that at the end of it - you are so glad it is over! I find comfort in knowing that God will lead me by the hand and give me answers to my prayers. I have such a wonderful husband that loves me no matter what and supportive friends that know how to make me laugh or just know the right thing to say. I am truly blessed!

Memory Lane...

I got this from my friend's blog. I thought it would be fun! I hope you will play along. Here are the directions:


1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!


2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.


3. If you are not a blogger you can still enter a comment by first clicking on comments below, then choosing to enter your name by selecting the "name/url" radial button and then enter the key word you see above. I know there are a lot of loyal blog stalkers out there.. this is your time to shine. It will be fun to relive the memories especially with those of you who I haven't seen in ages!

Also... scroll down there are a couple new posts! Enjoy!

Clumsy??

Well, last week was girl's camp in our ward. We had such a great time and I hope to blog about it later this week. All the girls got a long great and the leaders had a blast!

But first I want to tell you about my fun Monday! Ok.. not really fun, but eventful. I have mentioned before my need to be efficient and so as luck would have it - I was walking out of our house on Monday for work. I had a protein shake in one hand, my work bag over one shoulder, my lunch bag in my other hand, and another bag with some decor items I needed to return that day in the same hand as my lunch. Anyway, as I was trying to close the door behind me, because why make 2 trips when you can carry everything and try to close the door in one trip? I have completed this task several times before but Monday was different. I had a thought as I was stepping into the darkness that I should make 2 trips but I am stubborn and said to myself, self I can do this! Well, I couldn't -not this time.

So I proceeded out the door and ended up somehow turning the heal of my shoe and falling down our concrete stairs in the garage. Yes...protein shake ALL over the place, bags flying, oh and I forgot I was holding my iPOD which luckily survived the fall. You may think.. that sounds horrible, well I am ok but my ankle was not to happy! I was in a lot of pain and again am stubborn so I told Brad that I would just sit for a while and see how I felt, but after 20min and some ice I still couldn't put pressure on my foot. Brad talked me into visiting a doctor, (we have a foot Dr. in our ward) so he called the office and they got me in right away. After several x-rays and discussion with the good Dr. it was determined that I have a stress fracture on my ankle. (Picture below)
I have the pleasure of wearing a boot on my foot/leg for the next 4 weeks. I was supposed to travel to LA for business in a couple weeks but with not being able to walk very far the airport is the last place I want to be. I also have an activity with our youth involving water skiing and floating the Provo River in a couple weeks. Hopefully, I can at least float the river with a brace. Cross your fingers! I have been trying to see God's hand more in my life and I am struggling to see the blessing in this. Maybe it was the lesson to listen to the spirit when he says to make 2 trips or maybe there is a greater one. I will have to wait and see! Anyone have any thoughts?

I also found this quote today. "Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain!" It fit perfect in my week and I hope you all enjoy the new perspective!