Fracchia via SLC

Jason Varsity Wrestling Division Champ :)

2009-01-19T22:28:00.005-07:00

Jan 17, 2009

Jr High/Varsity Division Wrestling Tournament

Kearns High School

Can I tell you how much I LOVE wrestling, or should I say the tournaments where you get to sit in a high school Gym on hard seats ALL DAY with a LARGE group of sweaty boys just to watch your son get his 3-5 mins on a mat with another boy who is trying to over power, twist and sit on your son for what????? A nice blue ribbon :)

Jason Loves it! He took 1st place and gets to advance to District now so we get 1 more Saturday, in a high school gym, with sweaty boys to watch my son battle it out with some monster who wants to kill him.

SOMETIMES I do wish I had a girl.

These are Jason's coaches. He really likes them and they have been great with him this year.
This photo is everyone on the Jr High team who placed in the tournament

Sugar Bowl University of Utah vs Alabama

2009-01-19T22:24:00.005-07:00

New Orleans Dec 30-Jan 4th

I have never works so hard in December in my life. When the University of Utah finished it's regular season 12-0 and was headed to one of the biggest BSC college bowl games, we/Morris Murdock decided we were going to operate some groups to go down and support them.
We took almost 300 people on 2 charter/sold out planes from Salt Lake City to New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl. It was so much work and something I have never done before but it was so exciting and challenging too.

We ended up having to play Alabama who was ranked #1 for most of the season until they lost to Florida. Utah was suppose to be embarrassed in the game. WE couldn't play with the BIG schools AND even though we were the only school who went undefeated all season, we didn't deserve to play a team such as Alabama is such a big game.......

And we won! We didn't just win, we dominated the game. It was so amazing to be there and witness this team fight. I have never appreciated a coach like I did Kyle Whittingham, and what a defence......so much to be said but it was AMAZING!!

Art and I flew down the day before the group to get things ready and we were able to spend New Years Eve on Bourbon Street.

I look like I drank the Granades, but I didn't! I was a good girl. They dropped a Fleur de Lis a midnight at the brewery and there were fireworks on the river. We called the kids at midnight too. It was sad to be away from them.

-The Red photo was the U of U tailgate party. They did a good job.

-Then the photo of the Super dome as we got there. We have no idea what we were about to witness

-This is Art and I's proof we were there!

-The last photo made me laugh. This was the Alabama side of the Statium with time left on the clock. They had no idea what had just happened to them. Poor guys, but they were very grasious in the defeat. I have to give that to them.

The Celebration at the trophey presentation.

It's a southern thing....this si the Krystal Burger place on Bourdon at 1130p after the game where Art waited 20mins for these little thin hambergers on dinner rolls. I never got it.
This was a bar Bourbon that I liked the name of and they did have a great band playing.

Christmas 2008

2009-01-19T22:22:00.002-07:00

Travis got his mission call

2009-01-19T22:20:00.001-07:00

We were so proud of Travis! The 1st missionary. He got his call to serve in the ......

Halifax, Canada Mission

Can you say, eh?

Thanksgiving 2008

2009-01-19T22:09:00.004-07:00

The holiday came fast after we got home from Israel. We had the family over and had a good time. Ryan and his family were able to come up from California and we enjoyed spending time with them. We don't get to see them enough. We went bowling and hung out, nothing too exciting.

With Travis and Justin getting ready to leave on their missions this year we took the chance to take their photos together and also update the cousins photo, boy that is was fun!

Elder's Shurtliff and so to be Fracchia
A Motley Crew! Do you feel sorry for those girls in the middle? Neither do we :)MY family photo.

Israel Nov 6-16, 2008

2009-01-19T21:40:00.006-07:00

What a amazing trip it was. Let me just say this, ISRAEL IS SAFE FOR ALL TOURIST! IF YOU CAN GO, GO. Have you heard of 1 US or any international tourist being harmed in the Hamas attacks or by Israel defending herself? NO, that is the LAST things either of them want to happen because they need the tourism to keep coming. Anyway, I could get on my soap box about this whole thing and how unfair it is to Israel, but I wont. Let me know if you want my opinion!
Art and I were so lucky to get to spend our anniversary in Israel, well we missed the actual day by a week, but it was ok. We learned so much, and walked so much, and eat so much and we are so ready to go back and do it all again.
Here are a few photos but if you want to see more you need to go to Art's face book page. Let me know if you need help to get there. He put EVERYONE of his 1500 pics on there. Crazy man!

In Jerusalem at the Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount. This is the biblical, Mt Moriah.
Over looking the old City of Jerusalem

Jerusalem City walls

Again, over looking the Old City and the Mt of Olives

On top of Masada

Church on the Mt of Beatitudes

The synagogue in Capernaum, Jesus' home town after he left Nazareth

This is a old Roman public bathroom at the ruins in Bet She'an

Roman ruins in Bet She'an

The view from Mt Tabor, the Mount of Transfiguration!

The Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth. The church was build over Mary's, Christ mothers family home.

A monument to the Prophet Elijah when he fought with the Babel Priest.

The Roman Theater in Ceasarea

The old city of Jappa

Flying into Tel Aviv!

Playing Catch up

2009-01-19T21:31:00.003-07:00

I have not updated the blog in a while since I have been putting things on Facebook, but it really isn't the same. However I am so far behind now that I was beginning to feel like what was the point. But since it is MY blog after all and it is just my outlet to the world, here it goes :)

Happy Thanksgiving Y'all!

2008-11-26T10:01:00.001-07:00

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

2008-11-26T09:52:00.002-07:00

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

2008-11-02T17:22:00.002-07:00

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 :)

2008-11-02T16:45:00.003-07:00

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!

2008-09-14T15:21:00.003-06:00

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

2008-09-14T15:07:00.004-06:00

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

2008-09-14T14:52:00.003-06:00

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!!!!

2008-08-26T21:40:00.004-06:00

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

2008-08-26T21:28:00.004-06:00

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

2008-08-20T21:09:00.004-06:00

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.....

2008-08-20T21:03:00.003-06:00

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!!!

2008-07-26T18:54:00.004-06:00

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

2008-07-06T21:59:00.002-06:00

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......

2008-07-06T18:18:00.003-06:00

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

2008-07-06T18:08:00.005-06:00

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

2008-07-06T18:01:00.004-06:00

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

2008-06-23T09:33:00.003-06:00

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!

2008-06-22T22:56:00.010-06:00

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

2008-06-22T22:44:00.002-06:00

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

2008-06-22T22:10:00.006-06:00

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.

Graduation and Vacation

2008-06-19T10:21:00.002-06:00

Hi everyone, we just got back from Florida on Tuesday and you know what it is like to come back after being gone for a while.....so I can't post everything now that has happened on the trip and Justin's graduation, BUT here is a photo Justin just sent me of his dive.

IT IS A REAL PHOTO, not photoshop! Yes, this is my baby!

Updates

2008-05-28T14:39:00.003-06:00

Hi Everyone,

Sorry for the delay in updating so I thought I'd post a quickie....

1. Grandma did pass away last Saturday night. It was a blessing but we are going to miss her so much. Funeral is Thursday. Poor Mom is needing a long rest after the last month. She is so drained!

2. Sarah got her stitches out and so far is staying together :) We are scared to leave her though for the funeral though.

3. URG!!! Justin's car broke down again, same problem 1 week after we got it back last time. They replaced a computer and we are giving it until the end of the month to make sure we finally got the problem. So far, so good. Keep your fingers crossed for us.

4. We are excited to because Arts Mom Joy will be coming in next week for Justin's graduation. So much house work to do :)

5. Jason and Justin both have end of year banquets tonight and we are looking forward to them being celebrated for their activities they have chosen to participate in. Will post on that latter.

Hope you all are well. Thanks for the graduation cards you are sending to Justin. He loved to get the mail now!

My Grandma Mathews

2008-05-19T09:50:00.008-06:00

This is my Grandma Mathews from Shelley Id. She is my moms mom and is 91 years old.

She has always been an inspiration to me and my memories of her are full of love and so much fun.

She made me go on my 1st roller coaster at Lagoon at age 5. I cried the whole time until it was over and I am a coaster fanatic now because of her.

When she would visit us in California as kids she would take me out and show me how to body surf. Because of that, playing in the waves has always been the best part of going to the beach.

She would take us on nature walks in the forest when we were visiting our cabin in Idaho. She taught me how to fish and take a leach off your skin from the lake.

She made the best home made noodles after Thanksgiving and then made turkey noodle soup that was so good! She always told me to get the hair out of my beautiful eyes and eat my oranges.

She told me how much she loved me and I always believed her. She would take your face in her soft old hands and kiss your cheek and you felt lake you were being touched by an angel.

The older I get the more I want to be just like her in every way.

She is dying now and I am going to miss her. It will be any day and I am ready for her to have her rest she so much deserves. To be back with her sweetheart and family who have gone before her, it will be such a sweet reunion.

We went to see her this weekend and I got to tell her what her life has meant to me and how much I love her. She talked to each of us and gave us her words of wisdom, encouragements and advise. This moment will always be with me, Art and the boys.

I love you Grandma. God be with you til we meet again.

Good News Minuet...

2008-05-19T09:33:00.003-06:00

We made it through last week intact and no major bills or catastrophes, but we are still going to hold our breath because I don't trust our luck right now.

To share our good news of the week:
Jason was chosen to be the Improve team caption for next year and invited to be in the GT English class for 9Th grade. GT is the gifted and talented group. It sounds like fromthe paper her got that he will get to read more books, write more papers, learn bigger and better words and discuss/debate books that not everyone agrees with.

I think this might be the 1st class Jason might actually have to do homework in. If you know Jas, he is anti homework! I think that is why everyone things he is so smart. He will do what ever he has to do to get his work done at school so it never has to come home. We will see how it goes.

Justin is passing all his classes and got his cap and gown for graduation. Still holding my breath, but I think he is going to make it. I am so proud of him. He has worked hard this year and done a great job. He and his car have spent the last few days together and seem to be getting along better again :) He is working hard at Discover card and making good money for an 18 yr.

Sarah stitches will come out this week. As bad a cut as that was, it looks to be healing well. There hasn't been any infection and there is only 1 spot that is still "open" but it isn't oozing, just healing from the inside out. We are so grateful she is going to be OK and I know she is ready to get that cone off her head! She still runs into everything, the poor dog.

My new thought for the day

2008-05-08T09:48:00.005-06:00

Why does it seem like when you are planning something big in your life, you are the BUG!

Here we are 1 month from Justin's graduation and 1 month and a day from leaving on our big family trip. We haven't had one of these for 5 years and with Justin moving on in life now, who know when it will happen again.

It just seems like life trys to screw with you as much as possible in times like this. I swear, I am just holding my breath until June 5th is here.

We are in the $400.00 mode....$400.00 for Sarah's 1st Vet visit, $400.00 for the 2nd, $425.00 for Justin's car and so on and so on. Today I was driving to work and I looked down and it looked like my car was running hot. WTFreak! Stop it already, pleasssssse

I want to do more on my vacation then sit by the pool and drink water.....although right now that sounds wonderful.

Poor Little Sarah

2008-05-05T18:14:00.002-06:00

Doesn't poor Sarah look pathetic. She hurt herself again and we are not sure how she is doing it.

On Sunday Art Jason and I drove up to Shelly Idaho with Lynlee and Steph to see my 92yr Grandma who isn't doing too great. Justin couldn't go because he had to work and it was a good thing because we got a call when we were getting ready to leave Idaho to come home from Justin who just got home from work and was hysterical because Sarah looked like she had been "skinned"

She must have got herself caught on a screw or nail somewhere and pulled herself free making a LARGE horseshoe shape gash in her side that basically looked like a 5x5' square with a flap of skin hanging off. ( I didn't take a photo of the actual wound, it was really gross) We have no idea where this happened, but this is the only idea we can come up with.

So we are 3 1/2hrs away and poor Justin doesn't know what to do for her so I called my neighbor and he spend 3 hrs at the Animal hospital with him and Sarah last night since we couldn't be there. Thank you Lance for being there when we needed you!!

Because they quoted 1500.00 to fix her, we opted for them to clean her up and we took her to our vet today.

They were able to stitch her up for us but as you can see the Dr does NOT have a future doing plastic surgery!!!

Bottom line is she is going to be fine, but with a 400.00 hospital visit and then another 400.00 at the vet today to stitch her up, this was a VERY expensive injury. With our trip coming up in 4 weeks it was not what we needed.

But again, she is going to be fine and that is what is important.......right! I told her that now that I knew that I was REALLY REALLY mad at her! She is such a diva.

Jason's 1st pay check

2008-05-03T21:53:00.005-06:00

Jason has his 1st job this summer at Lagoon which is a small amusement park north of Salt Lake City. They are one of the only places to employ 14 yr olds unless you know someone, who knows someone. Vint's boys, Aaron and Adam are working there also. Mom lives just a few miles away so they will spend alot of time with her this summer.

This is Jason's 1st official pay check. Lagoon was only open weekends in April so it was only for 2 days work and they take money out of the 1st check to pay for uniforms, training books and his badge. Is that not stupid, you have to pay to have what you need to work. Supposedly at the end of the season if you turn everything back in you get it back, but there is something wrong with that policy I think.

Anyway, his 1st check was a whopping $6.04. Don't want to spend that all in 1 place! Congratulations Jas!

Justin New Hair

2008-05-03T21:45:00.004-06:00

Do you like Justin's New Hair? This is the 2nd time we have colored his hair. At least he is brave and lets me play with it this way. He wont let me cut it. When you don't have girls you have to take what you can in playing with looks.

He wanted to go blonder so we decided to bleach it. We joked that this is his Aryan look. I told him I wouldn't call him Adolf, but maybe Ralph from the "Sound of Music". He didn't like that one either.

I asked what the kids at school thought and he said most liked it, but it scared some. He friend Aldo couldn't quit staring at it :) I like it. It will be fun for graduation.

Funny Joke I thought I'd share!

2008-04-16T15:59:00.003-06:00

A guy walks into a bar, sits down, and asks, 'Bartender, got any specials today?'

Bartender answers, 'Yes, as a matter of fact we have a new drink, invented by a gynecologist patron of ours. It's a mix of Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer and Smirnoff Vodka.'

The guy asks, 'Good grief, what do you call that?' The bartender replied,

'It's a 'Pabst Smir.'

Have you had your yearly yet?!?!?!

Update on Justin

2008-04-13T21:18:00.003-06:00

I've been teasing Justin that this is all that I see of him lately. When I am on my computer, I am just to his right, and this is what I see.

When he is at home which isn't often anymore with school, work and church stuff he is on the computer with his friends playing games. See the head set....this is how they hang out and talk when they can't do it in person. Times have changed from when I was a teenager....needless to say.

Saturday he took the ACT test for college placement and he is getting ready to start his scuba classes for his big shark dive coming up in June.

Woman in Black, The Play

2008-04-13T21:04:00.003-06:00

Woman in Black by Brockbank Jr High

The kids at Brockbank did a GREAT job and Jason was of course FABULOUS!

It was a wonderful experience for him and I am sure this will be the beginning of many productions to come.

Finally some Easter Pics

2008-04-13T20:50:00.003-06:00

I am finally getting some of our Easter photos posted.

I was a nice weekend. Saturday night I asked the kids if they wanted to die some eggs and to my surprise they said, sure.......so I had to run to Albertsons at 9pm the night before Easter to get egg die.
I keep saying this could be my last last ______ with Justin home. So I get excited to die eggs even though they say it was all my idea and they did it for me :)

Sunday the boys started in on their chocolate bunnies and then we went to my moms house for dinner and the kids had their Easter egg hunt. It is funny to watch teenagers hunt for eggs when they know $$$$ is in them!

Woman in Black, The Play

2008-04-02T10:10:00.002-06:00

For all those in the Salt Lake area

Come and see Jason's theatrical debut in the Brockbank Jr High original play,

Woman in Black!

April 10th and 11th at the Jr High at 7pm

2935 South 8560 West

Carrying your cross....

2008-04-02T09:55:00.002-06:00

I got this is an email a few weeks ago and it has stayed with me.

So often we ask God to "remove our cross" or lighten our load. As you can see from this little cartoon that if he did this for us every time we ask, we will not be prepaired to cross the"bigger" obsticals that come our way.

Find the lesson in your trails and take the opportunity to grow from them.

I'll get off the soap box now :) Have a great day!

No New post......

2008-04-02T09:39:00.003-06:00

Happy April everyone

I was told I needed to update the blog, I have been lacking there, but due to some family issues (not my immediate family) life has been hectic and not so much fun this last week. Don't worry, everyone is fine or will be in a while.

Our family is blessed to have a tight bond that offers us support and shoulders to lean on. I am so grateful for our love and faith in each other to know that they will all be there for me and I for them when the storms come.

I can thank my Mom and Dad for the way we were taught when young about the family being the most important unit and no matter what, they are there for us.

To my family, keep that faith that God loves us and if we stay strong we will be blessed and grow from our trails.

More family fun to come .....

Happy Easter

2008-03-21T13:53:00.004-06:00

I couldn't help myself from posting this photo as my Easter Greeting. I LOVE IT. I hope you find something FUN to do with your weekend like paint babies butts!! I would try it on my boys, but for some reason I don't think it would turn out quite as cute.....and they'd kill me.

NO, REALLY......I pray you will have the true spirit of the holiday with you and celebrate our Savior and the miracle of the atonement.

May God bless you and your family. I hope you have a wonderful weekend where you are. We are excited that Salt Lake SHOULD be sunny and enjoying the heat wave of the mid 50's.

Easter is in 2 week

2008-03-10T10:00:00.004-06:00

This is a public service announcement!

In case you are like me and hadn't realized that it is way early this year!!

Jason the Thespian!

2008-03-09T16:20:00.005-06:00

Jason is in touch with his inner thespian finally. I always knew he had it in him from how much he likes to hear himself talk!!

He has not only made the school improve team but he is also now in the school play.

The play is "Woman in Back", obviously a take off of the Men in black movies. Jason pays "the director" or Z from the movies. He has alot of lines to learn but also gets to improve some. The play will have an amazingly LONG run for 2 DAYS at the Jr. High but I am sure it will be 1st of many for him.....at least it is something to tie him over until football camps starts this summer!

Cyprus Pirates

2008-03-06T09:40:00.002-07:00

Do you like my ticker tape for Justin? I thought it was cool since he is a "Cyprus Pirate" and the whole, going for the gold thing......yea, like that :)

Justin's Graduation is coming

2008-03-06T09:16:00.004-07:00

Last night Justin had a friend over who ate dinner with us. We were talking about graduation and joking about not having the credits to walk. A comment was made that a friend who could have graduated mid term waited to the end of the year so they could walk with their class and then it wasn't all that exciting and as great as it was made out to be.

My comment to that was, "walking isn't for YOU.....it is for the parents!!"
We need to see that indeed you made it and our job is DONE.

We can take PRIDE in your accomplishment which is really OUR accomplishment because we didn't kill you through your hard headed, lazy, loud music, computer/video game playing, dirty-stinky room teenager stage and made you an educated adult that can now go out into society and you are no longer our responsibility! (at least in the criminal system)

This like so many things growing up is how we parents gage how we have performed over your last 18 years.

So PLEASE!!! For your mother, you better damn well be walking with your class come June 5th!!!! I need it for me!

Mondays.....

2008-03-02T22:01:00.003-07:00

Well here it is, Sunday night, 10pm and I am hating to go to bed because when I do I will wake up....and it will be Monday.

Why do we hate Mondays? It is pretty much a universal thing. For me it is because I am forced to go back to the place I really don't want to be, but must to pay our bills. Saturdays are always to busy to relax and enjoy being at home. Sunday is church and usually family dinners. So my Monday I am ready to spend some time at home doing what I want to do but can't.

Bottom line is......Mondays suck but we have no choice. I try to look on the bright side, there is only 1 a week.

Tomorrow Cris and I will be in the office, wearing black, mourning the end to our weekend.

With that happy thought, Good night and Happy Monday everyone!

Music Player

2008-02-29T13:42:00.002-07:00

I LOVE music, It makes me happy.

I was so excited when I saw on a friends blog this music player I could add. How fun is that!

So I have added some of my fav songs and artist for now, and will change it as the mood suits!

Hope you hear something here you like.

The good old days....

2008-02-26T10:28:00.002-07:00

This was a funny email I got today. It just makes you think what our kids will send out when they actually grow up and the difference their kids will grow up in. I hope there are some improvements!

First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they were pregnant.

They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can, and didn't get tested for diabetes.

Then after that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in baby cribs covered with bright colored lead-based paints.

We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets, not to mention, the risks we took hitchhiking

As infants & children, we would ride in cars with no car seats, booster seats, seat belts or air bags. Riding in the back of a pick up on a warm day was always a special treat.

We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle.

We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and NO ONE actually died from this.

We ate cupcakes, white bread and real butter and drank Kool-aid made with sugar, but we weren't overweight because,WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!

We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on. No one was able to reach us all day.And we were O.K.

We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes Af ter running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.

We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's, X-boxes, no video games at all, no 150 channels on cable, no video movies or DVD's, no surround-sound or CD's, no cell phones, no personal computer! s, no Internet or chat rooms.......WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!

We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents. We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever.

We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays, made up games with sticks and tennis balls and, although we were told it would happen, we did not poke out very many eyes.

We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just walked in and talked to them!

Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!!

The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law!

These generations have produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever! The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned HOW TO DEAL WITH IT ALL!

If YOU are one of them CONGRATULATIONS! You might want to share this with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids, before the lawyers and the government regulated so much of our lives for our own good While you are at it, forward it to your kids so they will know how brave (and lucky) their parents were.

Kind of makes you want to run through the house with scissors, doesn't it?!

"With hurricanes, tornado's, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?"

Playing with the blog

2008-02-25T10:52:00.000-07:00

So in playing with the blog last night I added a few new things to try them out.

POLLS-
I think the poll thing is kind of fun. I will have to come up with a fun new question soon.....maybe about one of the boys!

LIST-
I try to keep a book going most of the time. I should read better self improving books, but I really like to loose myself in a book and not think about my life. Lynlee has been in a book club and Stephanie is a book worm, they have given me some good books to read like the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyers. I got the 1st one for Christmas and went through all 3 books in about 3 weeks. GREAT and fun story. Waiting on the 4th and final book.

FYI- Best not to start a book series until they are all out. Then you don't have to wait!!! I have never been very patient. Just ask Art

Quote-
Why not share some of that great wisdom that you pick up along the way....if to do nothing more them make me try to remember them and maybe even apply them.

Speaking of statues and Grandaddys House........

2008-02-24T22:13:00.000-07:00

I had to share these. They gave us some good laughs while we worked. They were proudly displayed on a bakers rack in the kitchen.

I hope you enjoy them as much as we did.

The Oscars

2008-02-24T21:59:00.000-07:00

I am embarrassed to say that while I was playing on the computer tonight and working on this I had the Oscars on. I think it was sick curiosity because I didn't see 90% of the movie nominated. But honestly, was there really too much else on!?!?!?!
I thought for the most part everyone looked good. Except that one chick who was the Ice queen ob the Chronicles of Narnia movie who won best supporting actress. She had on some weird black thing....I can't believe I am writing about this!
Final note, I think Jon Stuart was kind of a stupid host. Since I don't usually watch it I don't who to compare him to, but I didn't think he was too funny.

Grandaddy's house

2008-02-24T21:07:00.000-07:00

Hi All,

I have talked to many of you about our trip to Memphis this last week and about the project we had of cleaning out Art's Grandaddy's house to get it ready to sell. We were so relieved that he was grateful for our efforts and not upset about not being able to live on his own anymore. That was a big concern. He is such a sweet man, we were happy we could do this for him.

Here are a few of the AFTER photos. Art's brother and wife, Jeff and Allison came up from Jackson, Mississippi a got the big job of starting the project when Art and I were still on our way in last Saturday and they didn't think about taking any before photos. I think that might be a good thing because when you think of your family member living in the condition he was, it makes you really sad.

As you can see the house was a very tastefully decorated in the 70's but didn't far well over the years. I wish I took a photo of the bathroom with it's brown foil paper with butterflies and kelly green curtains!

New BLOG location

2008-02-11T11:45:00.001-07:00

Hi Everyone,

If you use to check out my blog on MSN then you know it hasn't been updated in about a year.....That was about when I thought I'd try a new location because I couldn't get photos to post to my entries, just the photo album and I didn't like that.

I started my 1st blog here at blogger years ago but never did anything with it and now I am back. There are some fun options here. Check out the slid show of current photos of the family.

Anyway, the old blog address was http://wfracchia.spaces.live.com/default.aspx but keep this new one for future post and photos.

We have a very exciting and busy year for our little family we are looking forward to with Justin's High School graduation, vacations, family reunions and Jason's football.

Check in when you can!
Love to all, Wendy

2008-01-31T13:56:00.000-07:00

Love my boys!!

Starting to Post

2005-02-01T22:05:00.000-07:00

Hi all. I just read about Bloggers today and thought to give this a try.

It might be a nice place to post family news and photos. We will have to see how this work.