Play it safe toys...and who sells them

Check out a story that was posted in the Deseret News today about concerns over safe toys and who sells them. (Didn’t really think they’d put me in the paper…Ha)

KYLE KORVER COAT DRIVE+CALLIE

Korver Takes Action in the Community

Check out the website for more photos and information.www.nba.com/jazz/community/0809_korver_coat_drive.html

HAPPY 40th BIRTHDAY JEFF

Last night we celebrated Jeff’s 40th Birthday!! We originally wanted to have it outside but since the weather turned rainy and cold so fast we had to move it indoors. The basement is currently under construction (another post later) but we made the best of it.

We are so lucky to have so many friends and family come to celebrate Jeff’s day with us. We had over 80 people and it was so fun to see familiar faces and also see friends we haven’t seen in a long time. Jeff ordered La Frontera for everyone and we had the margarita machine going non stop. (Almost 6 gallons for those of you who are feeling it today. he) We hope the kids had fun with the sombreros, piñata and playing with each other. Thanks to all of you who brought food.

The party finally wrapped up at 2am. (We haven’t done that in a few years. HA!)
Thanks to all of you who attended and made Jeff’s day special!

Spending the day with the JAZZ

Our next door neighbor Patti (who does Public Relations for the Utah Jazz) asked Callie to help Kyle Korver with a coat drive he is sponsoring for this year. Jeff took her out of school for about an hour so she could help. As luck would have it all the players started practice today and she also got to meet Boozer, Williams, Sloan and some of the other players. Korver gave her a Jazz basketball and will send her an autographed picture in a few days.



Look for commercials, billboards and possible flyers for the upcoming coat drive. I don’t know when they will be out…but you should see Callie with him. What a great experience!! GO JAZZ!

LAS VEGAS SPEEDWAY

As most of you know I have been saving and planning for about 9 months to surprise Jeff for his 40th birthday. I got him a NASCAR day at the Las Vegas Speedway. We flew down Friday night. We found a real yummy Mexican restaurant in the hotel that had the best margaritas’! We missed happy hour by only a few minutes but the waitress gave us the discount anyway…..as you might imagine we had to get another. :) A little too much to drink…but worth it. he!

We had to be at the racetrack by 10:30 Saturday morning…but Jeff was a little excited so we got there early. After his instructional class he decided he also wanted to do the “ride along” with a professional driver. He went 165MPH around 3 times. WOW!! It was then his turn to drive. He went 8 laps and topped out at 128MPH. I don’t think he could take the smile off his face if he wanted. It defiantly was worth all the hard work and planning to see the look on his face when he got out of the car. We do have some video to show but won’t receive the DVD from NASCAR for another 4-6 weeks. We can’t wait to watch it. We headed back to the hotel to cool off and relax. It was a fantastic day! We thought it only appropriate that we had lunch at the NASCAR CAFE and then hit the strip for another drink. Happy Birthday Jeff!!

A tribute to our Grandma Doris....

Ilwaco, Washington…Located at the mouth of the Columbia River.

My grandmother passed away this January at the young age of 89. She lived a very hard but happy life. Her last wishes were to be cremated and have her ashes thrown in at her favorite spot “Buoy 10” (the last buoy before the Pacific Ocean) in Ilwaco Washington which she spent 12 summers fishing with her husband. My parents asked us to go and spend a few days there and help make her last wishes a family event. We got to see her favorite fishing spots, her favorite places to eat and pay tribute to her life. The kids enjoyed eating clam chowder every night, the beach (even though some days it was cold) as well as the pool (does that surprise any of you parents?) None of us like oysters so watching grandma and grandpa eat them raw was a real treat for us.

I ate my fair share of fresh steamed crab (YUMMY!!!) did some light shopping, visited the local light houses and learned a little about the city itself. If you ever get the chance to visit I would recommend stopping through.

YOKWE! The 6th Annual Marshall Island Reunion

Here are just a few pictures we took this weekend at the "The 6th Annual Marshall Island Reunion". It was one of the best turnouts yet. There were over 15 families and around 75-80 people.

The first night we had dinner, conducted a talent show (each child got to show off his/her special talent), decorated our annual t-shirts, played soccer and thanks to Jeff got glow-sticks at dark. Saturday was our “Beach Day”. I rented the volcano water slide, had squirt guns, slip n’ slides, got a baby pool and bubbles. The kids had so much fun!! Later we had a Dutch over lunch (with rice, chicken and rolls) then a yummy banana split bar.

We are so thankful to have Callie in our lives and for giving us the opportunity to know her culture. I never thought that we would have so many great friends through the world of adoption. Thank you Callie for coming to our life and for being our girl! We love you!!