I love my grumpy!

This weekend was my Grandpa's 90th birthday and we had a party! When my mom suggested this we all envisioned a family party... kinda boring because we do this every week, but what started out as a small party turned into a large party. We had a couple cousins come in from alaska and a cousin come in from florida my great aunt and uncle came in from Toole Ut. Lots of people that my grandparents go swimming with came and church members that they have been in the same ward forever with came to celebrate! I was amazed to see the group that came, it made me realize that I am not the only person that loves this man! My mom made us all get up and say who we are and a story. It made me smile that so many people had so many stories and experiences with him!

some of the stories/moments that stuck out:
~he taught me the value of hard work.
~he took me out fishing and made my cousin sick out on the rough water and then refused to come back in after she had been puking all morning... something she has never forgiven him for!
~my other cousin told us about the time she was visiting and her dog was hit by a car and had to be put down, she was so sad and went out and sat by the tree in the back yard and my grandpa came out and just held her and let her cry on her shoulder. That has always been in her heart everytime she has mourned she remember his comfort and words.
~my brother knew that when he came to Nevada that he would spend the next week under a car hood working.
~my sister in law said that she is amazed that my grandpa can build any tool that he needs or come up with something that can fix something
~we remembered that my grandpa lit his dads Gas Station on fire by a Torch by accident when he was little!
~Remembering the story of his dad getting irritated that he was always in the way while he was trying to repair cars that he hung him up on a nail in the wall by his suspender straps!
~My personal one was the best day of my life. he woke me up, told me to get ready and took me to Sea World. We threw away my grandmas sandwiches!!! As the day progressed it started to rain. We were sitting at shamu and it was just starting to really come down. My grandpa nudges me and says look. I looked down at this little old lady running to get out of the rain right when shamu was coming around the corner! it was awesome to see the wave come over the rim and really soak her. We sat there and giggled! the sparkle really came into his eyes with this one! He came with me on the ride that was there. It didn't have a line so we ran like little kindergartners to get back to the front of the ride. We went like 4 times because we had so much fun!
~another moment that made me laugh was when Kim and I were visiting from our apartment down the alley. For some reason we were talking about deodorant and the kinds we used. My grandpa says "I use the rock" and stuck his armpit in Kims face so she could smell him. It was awesome because it seemed so outa character for him but the best part was watching Kims shocked face as she didn't know what to do!

The cousins met up with us and we went to Natti's for yet more food. It is amazing to be able to get together and laugh as a family! I am thankful to be a part of this amazing group of people~

Thank Goodness TODAY IS DONE!

Yeah to the right to stand up and to vote the way we each choose! I am thankful to live in a country that can choose who we want to lead... I am also thankful to have the opportunity to vote in this exact election! I got up and hurried down to O.B. to vote afraid that I would be stuck in long lines, walked right in and voted the way I felt was right. I also want to remember this election for years to come... Not necessarily the canidates but the issues and how it feels to be an American right now. I am scared, feel unsure, feel like my free agency and the way I want to live is under direct attack, wonder, amazement that in all likelyhood the first African American is going to hold office as the leader of the free world... That is freakin' cool. It proves that really anything can be done. But that same line is absolutely terrifying... Rights are easily taken and that is the feeling that scares me. I am curious to see what the future will hold for all of us... I do know that I can make a difference and that I also need to make sure to get out there and help to make the world around me better. Who knows just what will be achieved in the next day, the next year, the next 4 years... But here is to Ride of a lifetime!

It's Great to be Auntie Comi!!!

The weekend was spent with my nephews!!! Jake wanted to cuddle in my bed which would have pushed us over the edge... Literally! I sure did pull out my oh so comfy air mattress and the best sleeping bag ever and showed him how truly comfortable it is... Then put on Transformers and turned off the lights! it was around 11:30 when we started the movie... I was fading really fast and everyone knows that movies are the best in the dark that late at night!!! I turned to look at Porter and saw that his eyes were closed, he was OUT!!! Jake however could outlast anyone with all his limitless energy every once in a while would say COMI... which would startle me awake and I would say Of course I am still awake! The final time I said you know I think its time for bed!!! We got up in the morning, after a night filled with Porter plastered to my side. (who does he think he is sleeping in the middle... he's not Nicomi!) I told him he was an oven and that I was sizzling, he jumped on top of me and I would say SIZZLE, SIZZLE... which would make him laugh! Jake showed me his skills on the Wii playing Star Wars ALL DAY! We did go for breakfast and then played some more Wii... Finaly Porter claimed boredom and got into his board shorts for a swim in the inviting pool in the back yard!!! Jake went right in... i asked him how cold it was and his response was "its pretty cold!" everytime he would take a step in. Once we were sufficiently frozen the war of splashing started with us using kickboards as shields and then the 3 of us tried to float on one floating bed... Porter the smallest almost drowning Jake and I made me laugh! We came back and enjoyed some popcorn until I was called into work. You know I wouldn't trade anytime that I have with them for anything in the world! Its great to be ME!!!

Jakes Baptism!

Yesterday Jake got baptized and I got to give the baptism talk. I have to admit, i put off preparing for it but I couldn't help but think... what can I really say that hasn't been said before? I thought about what baptism means to me, and for me its trying to know Christ on a daily basis. I couldn't help but to think about some of Christ characteristics and to think that when I try to gain some of his characterisics I come to know and understand him better. I probably failed miserably to convey my thoughts both there and here but It made sense to me! As I was driving out to the church i had a glimpse of what it would be like in the eternities...to be surrounded by family and the pure joy that it would be! I was amazed at the thought of truly being a part of an eternal family and to see it as clearly as i did was a definitely needed moment in my life. My grandma was sitting there in her wheelchair and she kept saying, "did you ever think that this all started with grandpa and I and the choices that we made!" I could tell that she was humbled by the thought! It made me happy that at the end of her life (a very very heartbreaking thought) she got to see the fruits of her labor. All around it was a great day!

YET ANOTHER ONE!!!

I just did this wedding of one of my clients. It was at the wild animal park and it was really a cool place to have it! My mom and sister helped out, without them it would have really sucked trying to set this thing up! so here are some of the highlights... ending with the picture that I had the person driving us back to our car... we passed the lion enclosure... the big male was up on the broken down car and he popped his head up and looked at us. by the time we stopped we were parallel to him. I took the picture and my mom says, "thats what you always wanted, a picture of balls!" Sure enough that is exactly what I got! she really makes me laugh!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Ireland!

So Here I am Driving on the Left side of the road!!! Everything was good... I just asked them to tell me when I was on the wrong side and what roads I was needing to be on before I got to them! Cortney was the best co pilot a girl could ask for and Tzenni-Bah was the best passenger anyone could want! I had the hardest time when I had to reverse out of a spot and then drive... It still bends my mind! I think that there were a couple of moments that even to the day we left still made all of us say WAIT THAT'S NOT RIGHT!!! We all screamed while we were in the airport when a truck passed us for the first time and I don't think the shifting was ever going to go all that smoothly because it was hard to get into the gear being on the opposite side as I was used to!!!
The most beautiful beach... But it was SOOOOO COOOOLLLLDDDD! We literally snapped pictures and I put my hands in the Atlantic and then we sure did run back to the car!
I was Screaming "I CAN DO IT!!!" Because literally it was so windy that it was blowing people backwards and making it really hard to get up the stairs! I had to buy this hat because I have such sensitive ears! But I did and I will admit it I look like I was a Special Ed student! My nickname became Ed.
Ed and Hammy!

Tzenni-Bah's nickname became Hammy because she was the ham to our sandwich!

we were taking the coolest pictures on my camera and this is the angle from Tzenni-Bahs camera

this is in the coolest Tower Castle we came across (in my mind) it was empty pretty much and it was pretty easy to envision the life that was lived here! The day was POURING rain and this castle wasn't really sealed up... you would be walking up the stairs and you would get water in your face! I could not imagine having to live here back when there was just tapestry up on the wall to give you a little insulation!
Going on the Ferry out to the Aran Islands... it was a 30 minute ride that was only blemished by a bratty boy that was giving me crusty's then talking crap... I wanted to smack him!
One of the 2 traditional thatched houses left on the island... but even then they will just end up falling down because as Patrick said "As they say no matter what they do to a old house, its still an old house!"
The cliffs here are unimaginable... You literally can walk to the edge (obviously) and one gust of wind and you would be no more! I walked right up and looked over... Cortney laid down on her stomach and peered over... the next thing I know she had 10 other people on their stomachs looking over! It was hysterical! This was my absolute favorite day in Ireland! The sun was out and it was warm and beautiful! When we got there we took out to the site a horse and buggy and asked this poor guy a million questions! He was really fun to listen to and it was cool to see all the history in this place!

THIS IS THE CONNEMARA THE DRIVE AROUND IT WAS AMAZING

I thought this was the best door in Ireland! It really sums up my life and what I need right now!
Drinking Orange Soda in lieu of Mead at Bunratty's traditional Irish Dinner. We Sang, ate and talked to some really cool people! One of the Singers was threatening to spank some of the other guests and was making this group of grown men blush like school girls! I really wanted to take a picture of it but couldn't catch the right angle!
So you eat with your hands some ribs... Grease all over the hands... I was cleaning them in a refreshing bowl of lemon water and realizing I sure did have a small cut on one of my hands!

Its going to be okay!!!

On the way out to Dingle... The drive through the Peninsula was BEAUTIFUL!!! We made it to the Wine and Food and Art festival... Really the only thing that was good about this festival (which was 5-6 booths, 10 pieces of art and people looking at nothing!) was the hottest man in the first booth! He was good goin' in and great comin' out!

King Johns Castle in Limerick... It was crazy to learn just what destruction happened here... I am a firm believer that the land speaks and as we were in the town walking around i was ready to leave! But it was cool to see really cool to leave!

The Rock Of Cashel was a very windy but amazing complex of Churches. It was amazing to walk around and see the intricate masonry that was all throughout the church. The oldest tomb was in 1525... I thought it was cool to see that the Arch Bishop and His wife were buried here together in one alcove of the church! This was one of my favorite things that we saw! You can't go to Ireland and Not kiss the Blarney Stone! So here is Blarney Castle! There are a set of stairs to go up and a set of stairs to go down... Going up was pretty darn scary! The steps were narrow and steep and the stairs were crazy as you got closer to the top! I sure did lay down and kiss the stone upside down!!! As you get around the corner there is a sign that says... Has the Blarney Stone been Moved... Probably! Oh Great... I just laid down and kissed the same spot that thousands of other people have kissed and its just some rock wall that some drunk Irishman told other people lets make people kiss this rock wall and say its the blarney stone and make lots of money... I just felt a little grossed out that my lips touched a wall that it is reported people have pee'd on. Yeah, that's GREAT!
Staying in Carlow... I think that this was the hardest bed I have ever attempted to sleep in!!! But the Good thing was... THERE WERE 3 BEDS!!!

So this was the last day on the bus into the airport from Hertz to the airport to catch the bus into Dublin to tour the city for the final day of our tour of Ireland! We went to Trinity College to see the Book of Kells. They were Beautiful old Scriptures. After you are done with seeing the books you go up to the Long Room. I have to say that this Library is quiet and beautiful and peaceful. There is a spirit that is unlike any other place I have ever been. I was in awe as I looked on the 2 floors of ancient books and to see the busts of Aristotle and Plato and the likes looking on... It was amazing! We walked into the city and I just followed Cortney and Tzenni-Bah hoping they knew where they were!

So here is the Saddest things that I Did on this trip... On the bus ride out of Dublin on the last day I was sitting there enjoying looking through my pictures. I couldn't wait to put them on my computer and to blog about them. There was a picture that said, Image too large, So I thought to myself I'll just change the pixel size on this picture and then it won't be too large... I clicked the button and then the bar came up and swoop the line was quickly from one side to the other and then NO IMAGE FOUND. I had erased every one of my pictures. I sat there stunned (Tzenni-Bah had done the same thing earlier in the day and I didn't know how she did it!) I told them what I had done. Then I sat there after Cortney gave me a you are soooo DUMB look and I couldn't help it... I started LAUGHING!!! I sat there and Laughed, Cortney Joined in and we Laughed until we had tears!!!