I am getting pumped!!

We had our first captains meeting last night for the Relay for Life! I didn't actually make it to any of them last year but they are very informative - that will come in handy:) So they are recruiting more teams this year. They had around 70 last year and hope to have many more this year. So if you are interested in joining "Team Leak" or if you want to start your own team please let me know so I can get you more info. This year marks the Relay's 25 years so they are actually going to walk for 25 hours. I am thinking about doing a walking schedule this year for my team so Courtney, Dan, Merr, Sonnie, Mitch, and Gma Leak aren't doing all the walking in the early morning hours:) Thanks for all your help last year we had a good experience and were in the top for money raised. The weather stunk last year so this year it is July 10 and 11th and they are having it at the University @ the Quad. Yeah!! With the economy the way it is I am concerned about how much money we will be able to raise but if each of us pass the word along to friends and family I think there will be enough support to make this year a success too!!

Get your walking shoes on!!!

just so ya know . . .

. . . I like really big fonts and I seem to be writing novels when I post.

Also - Kael gave himself his meds the other night so I had to document it. It hasn't happed since so we just enjoy every night it isn't an actual knock-down, drag-out!!

We love you buddy:)

SANTONIO

Our trip to San Antonio was great! Thanks to everyone who made it possible - mostly anyone who watched children for me - Shauna, Merr, Nat, and Joni!!

The whole reason for the trip was the Farm Bureau Young Farmer and Rancher Discussion Meet (the reason he won the 4-wheeler). They have four contestants in each room and are given a topic to discuss, usually one pertinent to farming and the future. Each contestant has to give a 30 second opening statement and then they all discuss for 25 min and then each one gives a 60 second closing statement. He did great and represented the state of Utah well. He advanced to the sweet sixteen and had his best round but was beat out by a guy from Idaho who ended up winning the whole thing (a new Dodge truck). Great Job MATT!!

Prep work for the sweet 16 included a phone call. Imagine that!!

After a very intense day and a sleepless night (they didn't announce the final 4 until the next morning so we had all night to wonder where he ended up) we finally had a little time to enjoy our trip. The Riverwalk was AWESOME!! I think every town/city should have one:) This is us on one of the many bridges along the Riverwalk.

Here is handsome Kace showing his appreciation for some fresh air and a little space to roam after two rounds of discussion!



Just a small portion of the Riverwalk. We took an evening tour in one of the boats you see here in the pic. Our tour guy called it "Santonio" so I guess I can, but actually I think I prefer San Tone???? Great food is located all along the Walk and neither Matt or I went hungry the whole time. In fact I almost needed one of those seat belt extensions when I got back on the plane!

Aren't friends GREAT!! This was one reason I was excited to go. So here is a history lesson: Growing up we spent a lot, a lot of time with the Christensen Family. I worked for them at their Hydroponic (yes I have to say that, it sounds so official) Tomato Greenhouses. I worked side by side with most of them for about 4 years until I left for school. Anyway, Ryan and Melanie (Christensen) won the Utah Achievement Award for the Young Farmer and Ranchers so they were able to come on the trip and they brought along Steve and Deb (Ryan's parents) and Mel's parents. It has been almost 11 years since I lived at home but I still hold a special place for them in my heart. We had a BLAST!! After the first day of discussion meet we got back to our room and Matt said "I am worn out but not from the meet. You and Melanie are exhausting. How can you two possibly talk that much?" I thought he had lived with me long enough to know the real me!! Mel and I had 11 years of catching up to do in three days - that's nearly impossible people:)
So back to the pic. Here we all are in the lobby of our hotel: Ryan and Mel, Steve and Deb, Deverl and Raylene, and us. I still just laugh. I wish you all could meet Mel!!

The Morgan's (Mel's family) are really in to ping-pong. The morning they left we went to breakfast and then played a little around-the-world-ping-pong. Here I am playing Mel's dad. I think I actually beat him this game. I might have to check in to getting a table . . . but where would I put it??

Remember the Alamo??? I don't. I have to say I pictured it to be a lot different. I was amazed that is sits right in the middle of the city. It was good to receive a history lesson while we were there and learn about those that fought for our freedom.

Tower of the America's - built for the World's Fair in '63 (?? I think). I had a lot of fun here. They showed us a 4D movie just before we went to the top. My first 4D experience and I screamed like a sissy! The movie clip was about Texas and everything there is to experience there. Well . . . I experienced it. If you know me, you know my distaste for any sort of reptile. So they showed a pic of a snake and then blew air in your face at the same time it rattles and hisses. Yes I screamed like a girl on her first date trying to get a little closer to her new man!! Then they showed 'gator's and it happened again. I squirm just thinking about it. At least Matt enjoyed watching the action.

We found the local quilt shop to purchase my souvenir and now I am pumped to get some sewing done. It will take an act of congress to actually complete a project but it sure is fun trying:)

Hope you all are doing great!! Just a shout out to some of our Cancer pals that have hit major milestones in their treatments:

GREAT JOB CHLOE (1-year BMT) and MASON (cancer free for 1-year)!!

What have you been up to?

My sister had this on her blog. Quite fun:)
Copy and paste the list. Bold the things you have done.


1. Started your own blog 2. Slept under the stars 3. Played in a band 4. Visited Hawaii 5. Watched a meteor shower 6. Given more than you can afford to charity 7. Been to Disneyland 8. Climbed a mountain 9. Held a praying mantis 10. Sang a solo 11. Bungee jumped 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 1/2 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 (does baby language count?) 37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied 38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person 39. Gone rock climbing 40. Seen Michelangelo’s David 41. Sung karaoke 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. Gone 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 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 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 72. Pieced a quilt 73. Stood in Times Square 74. Toured the Everglades 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 84. Had your picture in the newspaper 85. Read the entire Bible 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.Made amends with someone who offended you 101. Flew in a small Cessna plane with just you and the pilot 102. Ran out of gas 103. Eaten fried okra 104. Swam in the Caribbean Sea 105. Peed in a swimming pool (last week, ha ha just kidding)106. Stayed in a beach house 107. Hosted an exchange student 108. Been a Secret Santa to a family in need 109. Worked on a political campaign 110. Coached a sports team 111. Baked bread from scratch 112. Driven from coast to coast 113. Paid off all of your debt 114. Roast marshmallows over a campfire.115 Cut up a credit card 116. Drove a car through a flood 117. Been on t.v 118. Had braces 119. Been to the top of the twin towers in NY. 120. Have played in both the Atlantic & Pacific Oceans 121. Been to ground zero 122. Bite my fingernails 123. Likes to scrapbook 124. Hates pie 125. Visited Mexico 126. Seen a Tornado in person 127. Have ever been lost at sea! 128. kisses a frog. 129. Gave birth to twins. 130. Received 2 moving violation tickets in 1 day. 131.Been Life Flighted. 132. swore

Make sure to add a new question once your done.
That was comical!!

Pee Wee Herman (Edited)

For those who have read this post already, I have added more info and pics. For those who haven't read it already, you don't know what you were missing anyway!!

We went to our annual Costume (New Years) Party and my hot husband dressed up as Pee Wee Herman. Doesn't he look fine? He is a great sport!

Here is Pee Wee dancing as I watch on. I went as

Mary Mathews-Jensen from Something about Mary. There were a lot of great costumes, each year it get's harder and harder. This years theme was Movie Characters. We both came home with the best costume prize!! I'm beginning to think that this isn't neccessarily a good thing. We go to great lengths embarassing ourselves to get 'Best Costume' title.

Other happening's: I was telling someone the other day how Kayson never plays in my drawers like my other kids and I've even showed him were they were. Well after his Christmas sickness (that lasted 1 1/2 weeks) he thinks he is 3 and can do anything and everything.

His favorite place to play


Fresh Haircut! Doesn't this pose remind you of grade school when they had two of you in one pose?? Or did they only have those at Beryl Tech?

I just thought I would throw this pic in - this is Christmas Eve and he is trying to open up his Christmas jammie's. This is only 1/2 way through his sickness. He was a pretty sick little guy but I am glad he is over it. It is so nice to see him happy and playing again:)

New Years Day Sledding

Playing in the snow on Big Hill

Mattie K on the "snow-mo-bile"

Cheese. Kael-Bell!!
'T' had the best time. He layed in the sled the whole time
and made everyone drag him to the top so he could go again.


Hayden got to stay and play with us for another day.

He was a good sport and showed us all a few tricks:)

Cute Ryanne enjoying her time in the snow!

two thousand nine

We were lucky this year to have Crystal (my sis) and her family join us for New Years. We ate and ate and jammed out to Rock Band. GIRLS RULE!! Hope you all enjoyed your New Year!!

Trey, Mattie, and Hayden 'blowing' in the New Year!

Aunt Crystal has some serious guitar skills!

We were having a 'rock-off' boys vs. girls and the girls were winning by double the points so Matt had this great idea that he was going to sing and play guitar to increase their score. I have to admit it was very impressive but also very comical. He had to put the mic on the edge of the couch so he was on his knees trying to read the guitar notes but sing the notes across the top of the tv screen. I guess you had to bee here!!



Jed and Crystal. (I couldn't get a pic with both eyes open!)

Happy twenty-o-nine!!!

Snow much fun!!!

Rik - here's some pics of our storm on Christmas Day. It was awesome!! Wish we could share some of it with you in Mississippi:) We love you all!

Looking west out our front door.

Looking South.


It only measured 16 inches on the yardstick but if you ask Matt it was a bunch more. He was so sick of pushing snow.

You can see the depth better in this pic. (Complete with Bart the milk-truck-driver!)