happy birthday: nicole!

as i sit here listening to her rock her crying baby back to sleep
i can't help but be grateful for such a beautiful, wonderful sister.
according to my camera, your year 26 looked like this.

your last birthday was so fun because you had a little one to share it with you

you took me to san francisco with you just so you could take your baby with you

you shot a wedding, and i played with your kid on the pier 

we also ate pretty well, too

i think she was really glad you brought her along

or wait, was that me?

we played at disneyland for dad's 60th

lake powell with a baby

you've been featured on ksl 5 like 3 or 4 times? maybe more?

you threw evie a perfect 1 year birthday

also taught her to love children's video songbook!

your photos made newsstands - on the cover of magazines... several times

you're the sweetest mother, seriously

you and adam have had jeff and me over for some really great times

usually movie nights which we have really loved

(a couple) great times vacationing in vegas

you've taught evie how to sing through Tangled

she's also learned animal sounds through the very educational apps 

you have purchased and have played with her

(after my media class i now know that you playing with her is the important part... 

you've made that a priority)

evie has either learned or come with your spunky personality

you choreographed with the sisters a really great

Jersey Boys birthday dance for jeff

and you've had a THIRD printing of your textbook!

talk about a successful year...

i love you nicole.
you're the best mother, sister, boss, and friend.
i'm so glad i get to spend your special day with you.

happy birthday!

once a thumb sucker always a thumb sucker ;)

my ironman

two years ago jeff did a half ironman triathlon in oceanside, ca.
well, guess what?
you know how people say you forget what being pregnant was like so you do it again?
he must have had this same amnesia.
while, i'll be watching conference, he will be swimming, biking, and running 70.3 miles!

if you know me, you know i hate running,

swim for fun,

and bike 3x in the summer up the canyon maybe.

i don't get it 

but this guy is going to feel super accomplished tomorrow at about 2:00!

he starts at 6:59 am (kill me!) 

GO JEFF!! 

you're going to the race

you're gonna win first place

and you (don't at all) have an ugly face!

love you babe. be safe!!

remember that one time..... i met paige davis

okay I was a HUGE fan of Trading Spaces in junior high.
When I wasn't at dance right after school I was watching the show.
I absolutely LOVED Paige.  What's not to love? She's so charismatic and charming.

Well, in my family, the rule is that my Dad spoils us at age 12 (for me it was 14) and takes us on one of his (rare) business trips to New York City.  This trip turns into a huge daddy daughter date (he hardly does any business while there).

It just so turned out that my Dad (who knows everyone and their dog) is a friend of Paige's husband, Patrick Page, (yes, she's Paige Page) AND at the time, Paige was starring as Roxie Hart in Chicago on Broadway! Yes, my Dad got us 3rd row tickets and we got to meet Paige in her dressing room after the show.  Thank you Patrick and thank you Paige! I was in HEAVEN. She's an even more beautiful woman in person than she is on tv (if you can believe it).

so i thought about this because I just saw Paige on an RC Willey commercial and thought:
remember that one time....

isn't it funny how, while watching tv, we can get caught up in even the HOST of the show? like Paige and Cat Deeley.. there's something about someone who is real. I just get a great energy from them that I love. Plus, it helps that she's so pretty to look at ;)

images from here and here

get out of the line!

speaking of funny...
i have two favorite comedians.
1. ellen
2. john pinette

have you heard of him?
he's all over comedy central and tours the country ever year.
he is super clean and one of those "oh my gosh my stomach hurts from laughing so hard" kind of funny

i've been able to see him in santa barbara and salt lake city
but before i ever got to see his show live, i got to know him.

he toured the country with my sister natalie in Hairspray the musical. If you've seen it, he played the mother.  Needless to say, his jokes are all about dieting, weight loss, and dealing with his size.  My little sister Ali bawled when she first watched his DVD with us,
"he has to make fun of himself to make people laugh! you're all so rude for laughing!"

When Nat told John what happened he died laughing, called Ali, and told her it's ok if she laughs at him and it doesn't hurt his feelings and it makes him happy to see people laughing at him. Then he added her into one of his segments to make her feel better when we saw him in Santa Barbara.

John has been so sweet to my family and has gone out of his way to get us into his shows (both times)!  Seriously, the first time he played in a casino and Ali and I were too young to go in. So he had us meet him at the back entrance of the building, snuck us in backstage and set up two chairs on the side of the stage so we could watch him.  He also hooked us up with some "backstage passes" that made us feel really sweet, autographed DVD's, AND tried out some of his new jokes on us in his dressing room. Such a great guy.

 deer in headlights, i know

My Dad always says, "you know how with most comedians 6/10 of their segments are funny? well 10/10 of John's are funny."

WATCH his GET OUT OF THE LINE. Click here  (one of my many favorite segments)
enjoy and you're welcome
buy his dvd at johnpinette.com
so worth it
i can watch it over and over
my favorite so far is I Say Nay Nay
i quote him ALL the time.

images here here here here