Happy Thanksgiving Y'all!

There is so much to be thankful for, 1 day is hardly enough time!

I hope everyone enjoys the holiday tomorrow. Know I am thankful for you and your influence in mine and my families lives. Thank you and a VERY HAPPY THANKSGIVING to you.

Info

I found this on my friends blog and thought it would be fun to do so here it is:

You're supposed to bold the things you've done in your life. So here it is:
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band ....at school
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland /world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped / I wish!!!
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelos David
41. Sung karaoke - badly, but did it :)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Go to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class (just one)
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving - Another I wish
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar (NEVER!!)
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades-does driving through it count? If so then yes
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem - Just this month!!
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible - very close but not everything
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day
When you look at your life like this it is amazing how much you have done and realize there is still so much to do.

Enjoy life while we can!

Facebook

Well, sometimes I feel like I am trying to be a teenager but it seems like everyone is now joining Facebook too. I got started by the Marcrest 2nd ward group and found several others who are out there too.

If you are old ward buddies, (Stefanie) you would take a look and join. It is kind of fun. I don't have alot of time to play on it but it keeps you updated on everyone too :)

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=21630588878

Take a look.

YES, I am still here :)

WOW, been a month 1/2 sing the last post.....Yes I am still here, I think :)

So much and not so much going on. Here is the bullet update I promised.

1. Jason is done with football and starting back into wrestling. It was a "teaching" year in football. I am sure you know what that means. We did win our last game so it ended on a high note. Jason is excited to play high school next year even though they are moving Cyprus up to a 5A school for some absurd reason.

Jason turned 15 on October 2nd and his brother got him tickets to Matellica....that was the only thing he really wanted. My son the head banger! We told them they were not allowed to inhall during the concert so they wouldn't get a contact high. I shouldn't be laughing about this!!!

I will have to post a new photo soon. He has gone to a shorter hair cut that looks good on him.

2. Justin has been working at Discover card since January and with me at Morris Murdock since July and lost both jobs the same week. Not BOTH his idea but he wasn't fired from either ether!! He is now working for Teleperformance with his Dad on the Dell project :)

Justin turns 19 on Nov 10th! I can't believe he has made it! We are starting him missionary paper work this month too. He doesn;t want to leave until March so we are taking our time.

3. Art and I leave for Israel this week and are so excited. My brother will be staying at the house with them and the dogs and keeping things under control. I am a little freaked out about leaving them for so long and also going soooo far away. We will be gone for Justins big birhtday also which makes me sad.

We are both busy busy busy at work. I won 2 round trip airline tickets so Justin and Art got to fly back to Memphis for the weekend a few weeks ago to see his Mom, Dad and grandfather. It was a hard visit but he was so glad he could go out.

I found out I get to go to Puerto Vallarta in December for work. It is a kind of reward trip and should be alot of fun.

I have been getting alot of attention at work the last month with a promotion and made employee of the month for the company and it has made me very uncomfortable. For those who know me well, I am not a center of attention kind of person.

On one hand it feels very good to be recognized for my long hours and efforts I have put into my job since July and my life turned upside down, but I wasn't the only one who survived the turn over and while I had more to do since it was my department most effected, there was a whole other group of wonderful ladies who were very traumatized by the events and left without direction either.

We have a new boss who seems to trust me and that makes me feel very good and that I want to work hard to keep his trust. I like the extra responsibility as it is something I really haven't had before and adds alot to the job. I just don't want to be resented by the other who haven't got the same recognation as I. Most people tell me to stop whinning, so I have. I just wanted to vent that for the last time. I am over it. I hope they will be happy for me, we are all in this together. LOL, isn't that a song?

Anyway that is the family update.

Next post will be photos from our trip. Love, Wendy

Israel here we come!

I just wanted to share because I am so excited.

A perk to working 50+ hours a week for the past 2 months is where Art and I are going to be getting to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary this year.

Yep, 20 years.....who would have thought :) I am taking orders for Olive Wood :) :) :)

LDS Regional Conference

For our LDS friends and family I just wanted to share what a nice day the boys and I had today. Our stake had regional conference down at the conference center and both President Monson and Elder Ballard were there and spoke. Elder Hinkley is our presiding GA and spoke also.

It was a beautiful day and enjoyed being there with my beautiful boys. I am so proud of the men they are becoming.

PS ... be watching for an announcement in a few months about Justin's mission call. We will be putting in his papers in November and hopefully having him out in March.

Not the same football season, but that's not so bad

Last year football was FUN! We won most of our games and went to playoffs and came out on top.

You would think that with a year like that this year would be the same, but sadly, NO! We are so far 0-3 BUT we have been getting better each game. Forward motion, ya know. 1/2 of the team from last year moved up to the high school team and the new 1/2 hasn't played football before or in a long time so there is a lot of teaching going on which is ok.

Jason is #70 this year, same # as Art was in school. He has been able to play both offence and defence in all games. They moved him from his center position just to move him back after the 1st game. He has got to also play tackle on both sides which he loves. He is getting alot of play time and experience and that is what counts.

Jason HATES losing, but he is happy to be playing and to be back with his friend and team mates.

GO CYPRUS!!!!

Football season is back!!

Jason is excited to be with his "brothers" again and is having a great time!

Opening game is this Saturday. We will keep you posted.

Back to School

So there is my baby Jason heading out to his 1st day of 9th grade. Our school here goes 7th-9th in Jr High so he is the "big kid" on campus this year.

I asked Justin if he felt bad that he wasn't going back to school this week and I could barely finish the sentience before he said, NO!!

The up side to only 1 in school is only had to buy new clothes for the Jason :O

Pioneer Trek 2008

A tradition in Utah with in our church is for our youth (14-18) to reenact the pioneer trek across the mid west states that brought LDS leaders to settle Utah. They do this about every 4 years.

These kids spend 3-4 days pulling hand carts 30-50 miles and sleeping under the stars. Along the way they are taught lessons about what what it was like to not have Ipods and Xboxs, to have to help each other, to want something so much that you would leave your home you built with your 2 hands, to suffer so much that many died along the way.

I was jealous that I didn't get to go!!!! Weird huh. Justin told me I shouldn't covet!

They got to dress up in their western clothes and put all their belongings into paint buckets that doubled as stools for sitting when tired and the could stop, which wasn't often. They had to walk, and walk, and walk and walk.......LOL ( you gotta know the song )

Did anyone notice the shark cartoon on the top of the bucket....guess whos?!?!?!?!?!

This was Justins 2nd Trek. He was excited he was able go again, doesn't he look like it :)

This is what they looked like before they started walking.

This is what Jason looked like when the took his Ipod away. (JK)

This is Jasons 1st Trek and he gave up his 1st football game(scrimmage game that is) to be able to go. His coach wasn't really happy with him but I think he made the right choice.

I wish I was thinking enough when I picked them after 3 days because there isn't words to describe them.

They walked over 30 miles in 2 1/2 days. Justin had the honor of having the WORST blisters on the balls of his feet. They almost didn't let him keep going but like the pioneers of old, he endured to the end.

They both had a wonderful experience and would totally go again.....in another 4 years that is.

I think the experience must be like child birth, when it is over and you look back on you know you can endure it again....in another few years that is!

My little scouts.....

I wasn't going to blog about my little cub scouts because, well, they aren't my kids and the whole is it ok to post a photo, but after running across the pic I had to. They are so cute.

Art and I have made it through 1 year as the Wolf, Bear AND Webelos den leaders in our church area. It sounds like alot but really we only have 5 kids......Like Art and I needed to have a few more BOYS!!!

Mamma Mia!!!

It has been awhile since I have posted last and there hasn't been alot happening unless it has been at my office. BIG CHANGES THERE but that is another story. Let's just leave it at I have been working alot of hours and I needed a release and it came by way of, Mamma Mia!!

I laughed so hard. I always knew how fun Abba's music was and I am a big musical fan, but it was just such a fun movie.

2 very BIG thumbs up for a girls night out.

PS...We have all heard Pierce Brosnan get beat up about his singing....my take on it is that it was so bad, it was GREAT!! He made me laugh so much, I really loved it. I don't think that was what he was going for, but what ever works. We just wondered who said, gee, this would be GREAT for his career! I loved it Pierce, you go boy!

Happy 4th of July

I hope you all had a fun 4th of July and were able to spend some time with friends and family celebrating the holiday.

I really wanted to go to a parade this year. What is it about a parade that is so patriotic? I love the marching bands and floats and horses and the crowds. It literally brought a tear to eye as it started. Then the novelty of it wore off and it just got LONG, but it ended with a bang.

We decided to try the Kaysville parade where my mom lives this year. Jason had to work in the morning but Justin was there, eating cotton candy at 1030am!!

There were a lot of people and kids there. We made Justin go out and catch candy for the little kids who couldn't because the big kids took it all! It was fun to watch him acting like a 6 yr old again. LOL

We found out that the end of the Kaysville parade basically turns into a water fight between the floats and the spectators. EVERYONE (at least who knows this) has big super soaker water guns or water balloons or huge water jugs to participate.

You know Art, he had to get in the middle of it and got a water balloon from the red headed kid in the photo and got Lyn, so Lyn being Lyn and to get a bucket of water to try to get Art back and my wonderful, brave husband decided to hide behind.....my mother!!!

We ended the day with the traditional BBQ. Here the kids are hanging out on the deck at Mom's.

We were going to go down and watch one of the many firework displays the cities around do, but Vint bought a nice assortment of fireworks and the kids being teenagers were happier to be involved in the lighting of them instead of just being a spectator.

The kids got pretty crazy at the end. Here is Jason doing his best caveman dance celebrating "FIRE".

We had a fun day and what was best......was the next day was Saturday so we got a 3 day weekend!

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend too!

Jason and Adam goes to work......

I have to say that Lagoon isn't the fairest place for kids to work, but for the under 16 crowd it is one of the only places to work so they do it, and they have alot of fun too so what does I think matter.

Poor Jason and his cousin Adam had to work of the 4th so we took this pic as we dropped them off the other morning, They don't look too disappointed, do they?

Justins New Car

So with all the problems we had with Justin's car before the trip we were hoping the worse was over, but no!

We picked it up when we got home from Florida and Justin had it just a few days and THEN the starter goes out while he was at the library! So we let it sit there a couple of days until we could get over to try to figure it out and someone broke out his drivers side door window.... Wwhen it was unlocked to begin with. We push start it and get it home and decide it is time for Justin to start car shopping. When he tried to take his car in for the trade in we get it started and THEN the electrical goes out AGAIN!
We are so glad to have that "Christine" of a car gone and here is what Justin got....





It's a little 2003 Ford Focus that only had 37,000 miles on it. Cute, isn't it!?!?!?! He loves it and Art and I LOVE not worrying about him driving around and breaking down anymore.

Welcome to your 1st car note :) I guess my baby is grow'd up now, isn't he.

Weekend with the girls

I wanted to send out a big thanks to my great friends Raelyn and Stephanie and my new friend Karry for a fun night up at Raelyns cabins up by Stawberry.

We have been saying forever that we wanted to get together at the cabin and have a scrapbook weekend. We only could figure out 1 night but we made the best out of it. Raelyn put together some great projects for us to do and Karry had up make these charm bracelets with shrinky dinks. It was so fun. I haven't done those since I was a kid! Thanks for the invite ladies!! I was a blast and I am looking forward to the next one.


Here are a few of the projects I got done.

Jaws and Justin

I found this photo and had to post it too. Anyone who know Justin, know that it is never the sharks fault if it bites someone. They are just misunderstood animals. He really felt that Jaws got a bum rap and here he is crying over his "friend".

Isn't he funny!

Orlando/Bahama Cruise Vacation!

This trip to Orlando was all about the roller coasters, and to do that you have to go to Universals Islands of Adventure. We spent 3 days there going between Universal Studios proper and Islands.

Here is how the itin went:
Friday-Fly in
Sat-relax and pick up tickets for the week
Sun-Islands of Adventure
Mon-Wet and Wild Water Park
Tue-Sea World
Wed-Universal Studios
Thur-Islands of Adventure and Universal
Fri-High tail it down to Miami for Cruise
Sat-Bahamas-Justins Shark Dive
Sun-Fathers Day/ Day at Sea
Mon-Back to Miami/Drive back up to Orlando
Tue-Fly back home


We had fun playing in "cartoon land" at Islands with the funny clouds over our heads. There are just a few we did.

At Sea World they have a Shark encounter and at the end you can feed cut up squid to some of the sharks which are just the small cute ones, but the kids enjoyed it. That is a baluga whale behind the kids in the photo.

No we didn't let the kids go that wild, just a fun photo op at Universal.

Art said I had to get my photo with the Grinch since that is my nick name for him, especially during Christmas when he doesn't want to go shopping with me.
The coaster above is Dueling Dragons at Islands which was everyone favorite. It is 2 coaster that go at the same time, like a race. The Ice Dragon and Fire Dragon, and you meet in a head to head loop. Each coaster is going head on to the other and then you just fly up in the loop. AWESOME FUN!!

This was on the cruise, tiny cabins and the boys when we were waiting to get of the ship. They had fun but a 3 night cruise is too short to get to know alot of people their age and Justin was too old for the kids clubs and too young for the adult clubs, while Jason being 14 was in a weird place because the 12-14 club was "lame" and the 15-17 club was too....weird with the kids on board. Enough said about that :)

When Justin went shark diving we took Jason and went over to the big Atlantis resort there behind Art and I in the photo. I am sure you have seen it on TV and movies. It has an GREAT aquarium too. Those are my fat toes in the sand. I had to take it because sand on my feet makes me happy..... Jas had a blast playing in the waves. Can you believe how clear the water is there.

That is Jason parasailing on the Atlantis Beach. He had a blast being a "human kite".

For Fathers Day, since we were at sea all day we played on the ship. Art wanted us to enter the slots tournament and he qualified for the finals in 4th place. He ended up coming in 3rd over all! Not too bad, but it would have been better hand there been a CASH prize for it!

OK all you Moms out there. Hooters has been a running joke in my house since the kids were little and Art has loved to take them there, I am sure for a bonding thing so he says. Anyway, on our last night we found a Hooters and had to take a photo with the boys and "girls". Doesn't Justin look HAPPY!

It was a great trip. I seems like we were up against alot to get us there and we will probably be paying for it for a long time to come, but it was worth it. This is my family and these were memories I will always Cherish. I love them so much and I am so proud of the boys. They were very appreciative of everything we did on the trip and understood what we couldn't do. I think all of us know that we might not get this chance again with the age the kids are now and with Justin moving on in life with his choices. I will always be grateful we were able to make it work.

Jason's end of year Jazz band concert

Jason did Jazz Band this year at school and was excited when they got to play a fun piece like Ozzy's Crazy Train. Sounds pretty good. Jason is on Sax right in the middle.

Graduation

We....HE made it! Justin's last few weeks of high school was a busy time but he had a blast.

His 1st event was the Debate banquet. Justin was the team captain this year so this party was his and the other debate officers to put on and they did a good job. Justin earned his 2nd letter this year and made to the 3rd seal/level 4 for the NFL/National Forensic League. He is the 1st one from Cyprus to reach that level. For lettering his senior year he got red and gray ropes to wear on his graduation gown.

Next party was his SOT/School of Technology banquet. This was a 3 year program where he studied college level math and english along with advance computer classes. Justin choose to study multi Media/3D animation programs and learned some valuable skills as well as earn college credits. Out of all the kids who started this program their Sophomore year, less then 50% made it all the way through to their senior year. The teachers who worked with the kids over the year did a great job with them. Thanks teachers! You rock!

Just got blue and gold (school colors) robes for SOT also to wear on Graduation day.

The Cypress "C"

Justins last party was a BBQ we had for him the night before graduation with family and friends. Justin was supported, loved and encouraged by all of you and we can't thank you enough for what you have meant to him these last few years! Thank you for being there for our family.

We were so excited that Arts Mom/Joy from Southaven Mississippi could come out and be with Justin for his big day. It was a BIG choice for her to come because of her commitments back with Art's grandfather/her father being in a nursing home and Art's dad being ill. Big thanks have to go out to Arts brother Jeff and his wife Allison for taking care of their dad so Joy could come. It really meant alot to all of us. We love you guys and missed not having you here too.

The BIG day. We are so proud of you Justin. You have turned into such a wonderful man. We have so many wishes and dreams for your future and can't wait to watch what wonderful things you are going to do.

Justin and the Grandmas! So much love.