It is NOT a phase . . .

we did it again . . . I mean we went on another Harley ride! This time we flew down on Allegiant Air with Sam and Meredith Harker for 5 nights of fun! How could you not want to go on a trip with us when we stay in a few awesome places like these (the others were not picture worthy):

And stop in some less exotic places like Lake Havasu, Yuma, Kingmen and Oatman, Arizona! We rode hard, laughed hard, played hard (not gambling), and ate way too much good food! I really want the recipe for the derby pie we had in Havasu. I love my kids (they were happy at home with Drew and Lindsey Christensen) but having a vacation as a couple can be very, very nice and good for the marriage!

Here are a few pictures from the trip (I am hoping Meredith will email me some of us riding soon):

I am so thankful that my parents decided to meet us for dinner in Vegas instead of us riding over through the canyons to St. George on Saturday night. Although I loved the trip and the ride my head was done wearing my helmet and I no longer wanted to ride a mile further once we arrived back in LV. We went out to dinner at Cheesecake Factory and had a nice evening visiting with them before we heading back home the next day.

Does anyone want to go with us next time? Who knows when that will be possible though! We'd like to add some more members to the mix!

Photo Tag

I've seen this tag many times before but this is the first time I think I was tagged. So here it goes. I think it's kind of funny since my last post was about Rebecca and my 6th folder 6th picture is a picture I think she scanned in of us together years ago at our high school graduation in 1994!

Now I'm supposed to tag 6 people to do this too: I choose Rebecca, Meredith, Shaina, Debbie, Yasmine and ShaRee. Plus anyone else who needs something to post about since I'd be shocked if these 6 all actually did this. I was tagged by Michelle

Rebecca visits!

I love talking to Rebecca as much as possible on the phone. We sometimes skip a day or two on the weekend but we usually make up for it by talking multiple times in one day, instant messaging each other, or making comments on facebook and our blogs. We try to see each other as much as possible but as the years go by and our families multiply, it happens less and less. In the past few years, I think we visit each other about every 3 months. So I usually go to her house about twice a year, and she comes to my house about that also. Rebecca and I love just hanging out and our kids get along quite well also. Recently, Mia and Sydney ask to play with each other often. Instead they get to say hi to each other via Skpe or using the camera on MSN messager and putting the phone on speaker phone.

After I failed to find a weekend I could go over to visit Rebecca - she decided to come to me! I am so glad she did. We did absolutely nothing noteworthy but just enjoyed having 2 nights of staying up talking and watching our favorite shows together. The kids had a fun slumber party and making the family room a complete disaster! Now I need to be better at making definite plans for my trip over there.

This is: Taylor, Christian, Mia, Morgan, Collin, Chelsea, and Logan!

Sydney was mad about something and refused to be in the picture. My kids were waiting to get picked up for school so we didn't have time to wait for her to decide to be in it.

Flowers

How nice was that . . . my husband surprised me this morning by having these delivered after he left for work (yes he usually works Saturdays). I thought we weren't going to be celebrating much since we have a tripped planned in place of it. But I guess he was in a romantic, generous mood or something! As usual - NO CARD but I would have been really shocked if there had been. I'm just glad I have them to enjoy. I need to go clean my kitchen now so I can enjoy them without being surrounded by breakfast dishes! Happy Valentine's Day everyone- I wish I could send you all flowers to enjoy today too!

Tough Guy

I hate facial piercings! I think they are gross and can just imagine that in 30 years time (or much sooner) what disgusting skin these people will end up with after they come to their senses. Collin bought these magnetic rocks a few years ago at Yellowstone though and kids of all ages seem to think they neat! Cameron has done this before but I finally took a picture of his "though guy" look with his fake big ear rings, lip ring? and nose rings!!! Can you believe people have this look for real?!!

Speaking of tough guys- Last month Cameron and some friends/brothers went on a Harley ride starting in Vegas. First they spent one day at the Eletronics show down there before going out on the guys ride. Here are some pictures of the tough biker gang that he hangs out with now! (not that he didn't before -he's just turned into a biker recently)

Barbies

This picture makes me think of lots of things - first off - what a mess! But then -0oooh - to be a little girl again! I loved playing barbies when I was little. I don't really remember playing them at my first house but when we moved to the Graystone Lane house I remember playing for Barbies for hours in "the cubby hole." Which probably was nice for my mom since the mess was contained to a small closet of sorts with a low ceiling. But I love listening to my girls pretend. There little scenerios can be quite entertaining! In some ways - my house now without a real playroom is better because I can hear them playing pretend. At the old house I didn't hear it as much since they would shut the door of the playroom and I'd miss out on the make believe happenings in the house. My girls asked for Barbie stuff for Christmas and they got it. Hear is one of their set ups in early January. Doesn't it just bring back good, carefree memories of being a girl?

Pinewood Derby

Alex Zirker, Ben Calaway, Collin, Joe Witters and Christian Zirker

It was our last pinewood derby and Collin really wanted to win this year . . . But it just wasn't his year. His car was super fast and I think probably the top 5 were just about equal but someone had to take the top 3 and his wasn't it. I think he ended up 4th and he was disappointed. Probably more so because since Cameron is cubmaster and he ended up helping 3 of the other boys on their cars (2 of which beat Collin's and the other was his cousin Ben). Why didn't Cameron make his the fastest? Well that is life- and he got over it! It was fun to watch the boys race. The boys were animated with the excitment of the races. I think Cameron did a good job of trying to keep things fair. I wish the track had a sensor like the fancy ones do but they do it old school out here on the farm and you get what you get. I still can't believe my first baby is old enough to be doing his last derby! I hope all the other cubs had fun making and racing their cars. Collin loves working on projects with Cameron and they had a good time designing and building this car in Val's woodshop again. Father and Son bonding time really what it's all about! Congratulations to Jesse, Christian and Ben for being the top 3 racers!

Chelsea loves scouts because she gets to play with all her church/school friends!