I'm BROKEN...

FYI
If you are nearing the age of 40 it's time to hang up those semi-high heels. They tend to break your feet.
Believe me... I KNOW!

But hey, I scored a fancy-flat-sandal-boot-like thing.
I'll look so stylin' on Sunday!

Fears CONQUERED!

On our recent trip to Atlanta Georgia it was decided mom could have a day, apart from the Braves games. The boys decided
"Mom's Day" would take place at

SIX FLAGS.

I was good with it... I like roller coasters.
However... Dillon DOES NOT!

But he decided the time had finally come to face his fears. So before we left, he got on-line and studied each roller coaster carefully. He came up with a game plan to start little and work up from there.

As we approached SIX FLAGS Dillon quickly realized there was no "starting little", for there was nothing "little" to be seen. As he took a deep sigh Dad told Ty and I to leave him alone (Dad didn't always like roller coasters either). However, we couldn't... we just couldn't.

Poor Hummer heard comments from Mom like... "Dillon if you don't do it you'll feel bad when we get home. I don't want you to feel bad when you look back on our trip." and from Tyson "Suck it up Bro."

Finally Dillon stepped inside the gate and followed the plan he had laid out back in Utah. Check it out.

Here it comes...

Buckle up...

VICTORY!!

From then on it was

ROLLER COASTER HEAVEN!

Oh and if you were wondering if there is more at
SIX FLAGS than roller coasters...
yeah, Wonder Woman lives there.
(So does Bat Man and Robin ... but I don't think the boys care.)

Missed Cycle...

Oh you!!

You clicked here because you thought I was making an announcement.
You did, didn't you?
Ummmm, sorry to disappoint but NO!

Well actually yes, we are making an announcement.
But not the kind you are thinking.
It's about Tyson's missed cycle here!

In baseball you can

"Hit for The Cycle"

which means you hit a homerun, a triple, a double and a single ... all in the same game. It's rare.
Many players go through their whole career and never do it.

Monday night Ty missed it by a SINGLE!!
(go ahead, let out a moan)

He was intentionally walked on his last up to bat. However, we were so excited!! Funny how ALMOST doing something fabulous can be so much fun.

Way to go TYSON!

Deseret News:
GRANTSVILLE 16, UINTAH 4: Tyson Hutchins nearly hit for the cycle, as he hit a double, triple and a home run and had six RBIs for Grantsville.

Tooele Transcript Bulletin:
After just three innings, Grantsville jumped out to a 10-0 lead against Uintah and held on to beat the Utes 16-4 to stave off elimination. Tyson Hutchins had a spectacular day at the plate by hitting a perfect 3-for-3 and barely missing out on batting for the cycle. Hutchins belted a home run, triple and a double while drawing two walks and even batted in six runs.

Do you Twitter? ... Facebook?

Why??

I'm debating if I should join the masses.
(Even though Tyson told me he wouldn't be my friend.)

AND
Is it SAFE to let my 13 year old join?

Please enlighten me!

Teenage Drama!

Ty: "Mom!! I've lost my wallet. It's gone. I'm dead. What will I do? WHAT WILL I DO?! I'm dead. I'm dead, Mom. "
Mom: "Where have you looked?"
Ty: "Everywhere! Seriously Mom, it's gone! It's GONE!!"

PANIC ENSUES.
Does PACING really help?

Mom: "Have you checked your baseball pants?"
Ty: "YES Mother!" (can you hear the "Duh, Mom" tone?)
Mom: "Maybe you ought to check again."

PANIC SUBSIDES.

Note to Jeff:

You are fair skinned.
You have red hair and freckles.
If you are going to stand outside

for 10 hours...

wear SUNBLOCK!

(Lovin' the "tan line" though!)

I Love You,

Krista

Where were you at midnight?

We were with...
Harry Potter
and the
half blood prince.

Here we are in
"The Best Seat in
The House"
FRONT ROW!
(Ummm yeah, I thought I reserved the back. They need to make those theatre maps a little more clear... LOL)

It was FANTASTIC!
Taylor Matthews, Danny Nelson and Tanner Hutchins joined us.

FYI...
If you are wondering if we were the only people up, the answer would be "NO"!
However, we might have been the only people not in costume (seriously). It took me 44, count them, 44 theatres to find 6 empty seats.
Maybe that should have given me the head's up on the front row thing.

Man Land

Two weeks ago...
if I could have counted how many times I heard
"You're such a good sport Mom!"
I'd be in the record books!

For you see, it took a very, very, very
"Good Sport" to join (and enjoy)
the trip I took with my men.

Repeat after me:

32 HOURS at the ballpark in 4 DAYS
a.k.a

"Man Land"

Off to Georgia we flew to watch
The Land of the free and the home of the...(yes, that's how my men sing the National Anthem as well as taunt Yankee and Red Sox Fans)

Why do we love the Braves?
That would be because of the great
Dale Murphy

He's a Hall of Famer, a Mormon and a good example!
(That scores points with us!)


First Stop...
The Braves Hall of Fame
This is the World Championship Trophy.

The Braves were the World Champions the year our baby Hummer was born. 1995 was a lucky year indeed!


Second Stop...
The Stadium Tour


Third Stop...
Batting Practice

(Diaz threw the boys a ball! Woo-Who!)

Let me mention that batting practice lasts 3 hours. Fun for the 1st hour. After that, not so much (even for the "Good Sport"). By day 4... I was not taking pictures of myself, I was asleep in any shade I could find. Love the hair? Yeah, did I mention it's HUMID there?

Fourth Stop...
The Games
and not just any games.
The Yankee's and the Red Sox were in town!

It didn't take Hummer long to realize that there's a lot more at the ballpark than a ballgame!



Tyson loved seeing all the players who were "living the dream".
Chipper ... Big Poppy ... Jeter ...
Damon ... A-Rod ...

After the last game we walked through the parking lot to stand in the exact spot where Hammerin' Hank Aaron hit his famous 715 homerun ball.
I couldn't have been more proud to be a
"Good Sport" at that moment.

May this always be
"The Land of the free and the Home of the BRAVES!"

Dad...
Thanks for "taking us out to the Ballgame"
and "buying us peanuts and Cracker Jacks". We "didn't want to ever come back". We loved to "root, root, root for the home team".
And we love you!

Sorry they lost :(

I can't end without saying to all you Yankee and Red Sox fans...
GET A NEW CHEER!!
Ugh!

Bitter-Sweet

Today was one of those bitter-sweet kind. After 5 years, our ward received a new bishopric.

It was time... but it was hard.

Jeff has loved serving with Bro. Boman and Bishop Cole. They've become 2 of his dearest friends. They are men of honor... men of integrity... true men of God. They've influenced our whole family in ways that will last for eternity.

We love them.
We, of course, love Jeff too. We're so proud of the way he loves and honors Heavenly Father. We know the new calling he received today will bring unimaginable blessing. Isn't that how it always is when we serve the Lord?

--------------------------------
Bishop Thomas, Bro. Butler and Bro. Marshall... you have our FULL support and love.

Dear John,

I have to post this... I have no choice.

Watch it... it's short.

It made me fall on the floor LAUGHING my head off
and I'm not even kidding.

I suppose it's because I can relate on such

a personal level.
(Did you know me at 16... or 18... or...)

DANG it all to heck!

I'm in the Dog House.
My teenage son came home from football camp to find that I'd TRIED to move his iTune file over to "Mr. Greendrive".

Let me just say...
Playlists are gone.
Apps are missing.
10,000 songs are somewhere.
(just not sure where)
He growled.
I growled.
We're hoping they'll show up tomorrow.

JUST July

What a ridiculous thing to say...
"JUST July"

There is nothing JUST about it.
It's the perfect month.
It's starts off with the perfect holiday.
One that contains no stress, not one iota!

I love JUST living on the 4th of July.
Love it! Love it! Love it!

WHY?


Because...
There is nothing better, in the entire world, than being with every single member of my family!
(I'm serious ... EVERY!)


Because...
The pre-parade breakfast made by my brothers tastes better than anything on earth!


Because...
The Grantsville parade always, always has an
"Abstinence Float"
(First comes love...)


Because...
Rough old "Biker Dudes" throw lots and lots of candy to little kids, holding big bags.


Because...
Our Hummer has yet to watch a parade with us.
(He's always in it.)


Because...
You can see grown men wearing silly and odd accessories.


Because...
My Dad gets to be with his sisters.
(Love you all!)


Because...
Simple things are so much fun.
(Ty, you're such a good sport!)


Because...
There is always water.
(Like it or not.)


Because...
There is usually sliding.
(Sorry it's broken now.)





Because...
We have a birthday boy. One that was really born on the 4th of July!
(Can't believe Lincoln is 1 year old!)






Because...
Parents are in bliss with all of their children and grandchildren nearby.


Because...
Tay-Bug always plays his guitar.
(We'll miss him when he moves.)


Because...
Big boys jump on trampolines.
(If only to out-do each other.)


Because...
No one cares that the baby is emptying the pool.
(To busy jumping on the tramp.)


Because...
Jeri always has cake.


Because...
You can shoot off real, live, literal CANNONS and not be arrested.
(Thanks Trace!)






Because...
Old men rest!









Because...
Busy men smile.








Because...
Teenagers laugh.


Because...
Playing with matches is a good thing.


Because...
I get to hang out with the people I love the most.

The best reason I JUST love July is because...
everyone is HAPPY!
Hence,

"Happy 4th of July"