"Ketchup" and Mustard on my Utah Trip

These are the last pictures I wanted to post from our Utah trip in June/July.

When we were in Utah, I found out my very best friend from Alaska, Emily, was also there at the same time! We were talking and I told her I was at the BYU Bookstore and so was she!! Emma was at Volleyball camp, so Emily didn't get to see her, but she saw my other kids! I was so thrilled to see how much her girls Aubrey and Jasmine had grown, since I saw them last summer in Alaska. My kids hadn't met Jasmine yet, and they loved her right away.

We met up to swim in Lehi, but I didn't take pictures of that. Another day we met to eat out and go to a warehouse full of Bounce Houses. On that outing, we also met up with our former Babysitter, Kristy Yamaguchi Swendson and her new baby, Andrew (pictured together on the far right). It was so fun.

Josh was busy with his friend, Drake, from our hometown, but the girls had a great time! Drake came with us to Utah, to attend the BYU Basketball camp with Josh and then his mom came to pick him up.

This is Emily with her darling daughter, Jasmine. Emily is blessed with two ADORABLE, SMART, DARLING girls and I sure wish we could see them more often. I just love them.

Rachel, Aubrey and Katrina having a ball!

"I'n the king of the WORLD!!" Yes, he really says, I'n instead of I'm. It's cute. And Jock-lat instead of Chocolate, Crampa instead of Grandpa, Wiff instead of With. I love this kid.

These two really hit it off. They're the same age and had a blast together. They were all sweaty from running and playing so hard and doused themselves in the drinking fountain.

Here's a close up of the cuties!

We went back for a final farewell, Emily was heading to Disneyland and the California/Oregon Coast before driving back to Alaska. Until next time, my dear friend!

I NEED ONE!

I Love U2

I've loved the band U2 since my best friend in Middle & High School, Emily Mauldin's big brother introduced them to me in 1987. I own every album and I know almost every song by heart. It's been a dream of mine to see them in concert and Damian surprised me with tickets to their show in Las Vegas last Friday. We had a wonderful time, LOVED the concert and then spent the weekend with my family in St. George. It was great.

When I was 2 years old, U2 formed in Dublin in the autumn of 1976 after 14-year-old Larry Mullen, Jr. posted a note on the bulletin board at his school seeking musicians for a new band. From the group of hopefuls that showed up at Mullen's home that first day, a band formed, with Dave Evans or "The Edge" (on the left) on guitar, Adam Clayton (with the dark glasses) on bass, Paul Hewson or "Bono" (with non-tinted glasses) on vocals and Larry Mullen, Jr. (on the right) on drums. All 4 went to school together. They were all between 14-16 years old when they formed the band.

U2 received a recording contract for their first record (Boy) in 1980. They were all 20 years old or younger I've included the cover from my all-time favorite album, "The Joshua Tree," released a few years later. They just released their 15th album this year, "No Line on the Horizon." Their careers have spanned 33 years!

I've enjoyed "researching" U2 for my "piece." I've always wondered where the nickname "Bono" came from. . . "Bono Vox" is an alteration of Bonavox, a Latin phrase which translates to "good voice" given to him as a teenager. He didn't really like it, until he learned it's meaning. He's been known as "Bono" since the late seventies. Although he uses Bono as his stage name, close family and friends also refer to him as Bono, including his wife and fellow band members. I still don't know where the name "U2" came from. . .

Something else that interests me are the band's families. Bono married his secondary school sweetheart, Alison "Ali" Stewart, who is a year younger than him. They've known each other since they were 12/13 and married when they were 21/22. Ali went to the first try-out session when the band was formed, even! She doesn't much care for their music, though, preferring Frank Sinatra. They've been married for 27 years. They have 4 kids, two daughters (Jordan and Eve) that are 20 and 18 and two sons (Elijah and John) that are 10 and 8. They both are hugely active in helping the plights faced in Africa.

Ali's best friend is U2's drummer's 30 year girlfriend, Ann Acheson. Larry Mullen, Jr. and Ann have 3 children together: Aaron (14), Ava (11) and Ezra (8).

Bono's best man was fellow band member, Adam Clayton. Adam is the only band member without a serious relationship and has no children. He was dating Naomi Campbell for awhile.

Bono owns 4 homes: Ireland, England, NYC and the villa he shares in Southern France with "The Edge." They also own a 5 star hotel in Dublin together. The Edge married his high school sweetheart the year after Bono and Ali were married. They have 3 daughters: Hollie (25), Arran (24) and Blue Angel (20). Those two divorced and The Edge remarried a professional dancer employed by the band. They have two children together: Sian (12) and Levi (10).

I know, I know, I'm writing like I actually know these people, but I DID SEE THEM IN CONCERT. That's practically like we're best friends. Now if I can get them to invite me to their villa in the South of France, I'll be SOO Excited!

New Leaf

I would really like to loose weight. I hate to exercise and I love to eat. I can't afford surgery. What can I do? Oh, and I have NO SELF CONTROL.

I'd like to turn over a new leaf and be a totally different person in these ways: I'd like to ENJOY exercise. I'd like to be able to say, "No Thanks!" and not even START the whole bag of potato chips, not even BUY the ice cream. Either that, or I'd like to have the money to get some lipo.

Just wishing.

On a side note, Damian surprised me with a weekend trip to Las Vegas. OK, he told me about the suprise months ago, but when he first told me, it was a surprise! I'll write more about the trip when I get home (I'm there right now!)

Josh is ELEVEN

At Josh's last pack meeting he finished earning everything Webelos. He earned all 22 pins, with the help of his wonderful scout leader and his dad.

He and his family walked across a bridge that symbolized the fact that he's bridged to Boy Scouts from Cub Scouts. His new 11 year old scoutleader is his dad and they do something together with a few other boys every Sat. morning. Josh has a binder with all his future scout stuff planned out. He and his dad have planned the Eagle Scout project that he'll do in 3 years. They're going to get a ton of baseball mitts donated, have the scouts and volunteers clean and oil them. They'll ask the Major League teams to donate autographed balls.

But here's the best part. . . after he's finished his Eagle Scout Project, Josh and his parents will go to South America to donate all the equipment to underpriviledged children. Yay for me!

Damian and I are so very proud of Josh and his accomplishments. He's a wonderful young man and I'm so thankful for this day that Josh was born, eleven years ago. Happy Birthday to my sweet little (big) boy!