Fall Break Lodge

 Fall Break has flown by and I am so thankful I got the chance to sneak away to the Lodge with the boys for a few days.  Wednesday morning we helped my mom and dad pack up some stuff from their house (they sold it) and then we headed up to the high country.  In Show Low we stopped at Safeway for groceries and Michael had fun prancing around the parking lot with a skeleton head and arms.  It was hilarious watching him wave and try to pick up stuff with the arms - like the Saturday Night Live skit with the small hands.  Ben could not stop laughing. 

 Thursday we woke up to gray skies, wind, thunder and rain/sleet/snow.  The weather up there is a fickle thing.  We drove into town to make our requisite Wal Mart trip and by the time we got back the sky looked blue.  However, it continued to rain the rest of the day.  Some highlights from Thursday:  watching The Pioneer Woman on the Foodnetwork - she's making homemade pizza and ice cream pie.  Evan says, "Don't erase this grandma!  We need this food."  Later I told the boys that I used to make pizza from scratch when they were little.  Max quips, "And now all she makes is Digiorino :/

 Kim and Brian came up late Thursday night (yay!).  Brian kept Evan entertained most of the day Friday.  Evan built a robot out of Jenga blocks and then he built the word "Robo" out of the blocks in honor of a business he wants to start (more on that later)

 We also discovered just how double jointed Max is.  Freaky.  He then showed us how he can bend his legs in a weird way and walk on his feet.  That boy constantly surprises me. 

 I love when the boys are together makin' music.  For a long time on Friday Joe played guitar and him and Michael sang while we played 5 Crowns. 

I decided to travel home late Friday night - Ben and Max stayed at the Lodge with the folks and Kim and Brian, which left me with these crazies.  Michael stayed awake the whole way home to make sure I didn't fall asleep.

I love spending time with my parents and sister.  It is wonderful to go to a place where I can be me and feel unconditional love.  I can't begin to say how much I needed that.  Plus they all like me!  I can't ask for more than that :)

Fun.

 Sometimes I wonder if I would have any fun if it wasn't for Kim and Brian? (pun intended).  I've seen FUN. three times and Kim and Brian have paid for two of those times.  I am so lucky that they like me enough to invite me to concerts :)  When Kim texted me that she had 2 extra tickets I wanted to give the tickets to Ben and Max.  To Ben because he is awesome.  He helps me out, never complains and always obeys.  Ok, maybe not always but 90% of the time.  And Max because he LOVES Fun. and have never seen them.  Well, after talking it over with Ian and then with Kim I decided that Max is too young to go to a concert without me and I felt that Ben was the most deserving of the ticket. 

 As per usual Kim and Brian style - the seats were amazing.  The concert was amazing.  The whole night was a blast.  The best is how much Ben, Joe and Michael loved being there.  I love how much they all love music. 

My favorite songs they played were "Walking the Dog" (I had yet to hear that one live) and Bar Lights.  They always put on a great show.  I'm so glad I got to enjoy it with my son :)

Keane!

For Mother's Day, Brian got Kim tickets to see Keane in LA and she invited me to come a long!  Joe and I got the share the back seat. 

 We had to stop by the dinosaurs on the way.  Just so I could tell my kids we stopped there :)

 Evan was sad I was leaving and packed me his Redskins Santa hat. 

 I love that boy.

 At the Orpheum.  I think it's the same theater where they do try-outs for So You Think You Can Dance.  It's an awesome venue- small but spacious.

 So excited for the show.  I love my sister!

 We had AWESOME seats.  I think I knew every song.  And they were just as good in concert as they are on their albums. 

 Towards the end of the show, we were able to move even closer!  Yeehaw!

 The next day we stopped by a strawberry stand to get some strawberries to bring home. 

 Strawberries...yum!  Thank you Brian!

 It was such a fun weekend!  Thank you Kim and Brian!

Time for Fun

 In June Brian paid for me, Ian and Xander to see FUN. with him, Kim, Joe and Michael.  The concert was in Flagstaff so...ROADTRIP!  I forgot I love Flagstaff.

 I love FUN.  They put on a darn great show.

 And he told some funny stories.  Plus it was outside and packed.  The boys got up close and Xander ended up sitting on the stage for a lot of it.  (The body guards felt bad he couldn't see so they let him sit there).

 We sat close to Nate's family.  We are all old friends now.  We wish.

 I love music.

Or hadn't you heard?

James

Yes, it's true.  We went to the concert the day of Xander's 14th birthday.  I ordered him pizza and gave him x-box access so trust me, he was fine with it.

I love going places with Ian.  It reminds me of why I love him so much.  We have such a fun time together.

I'm pretty sure he's not going to love me posting these pictures but I like them :).  We went with Kim and Brian too.  I love going places with them - we always have a great time and laugh so hard our stomachs hurt.

 The opening act was some Russian lady that sang great, but she was pretty much a one trick pony.  Not much diversity in her music.

 I love LOVE James.  I've loved them since I was a teenager.  I never thought I'd see them live.  The show started out slow, but once they started playing stuff from Laid, it picked up.  Everyone in the audience knew that album.  I wished they would've played some new stuff too, but I can't complain because think I knew every song.

 My favorite was "Sometimes".  Tim rocked that song.

 The best part was when Tim jumped off stage and started walking through the audience.  Ian and Brian both touched him.  I was too awestruck to even take a picture.  It was surreal and soo cool.

Such a great concert and a great night.

2 date nights! Woohoo!

Whoa! I'm a bloggin' machine this week! A few weeks ago Chris and Merilee came into town. It couldn't have happened at a better time. I was down and feeling sorry for myself (I have that perfected to an art!) and really needed to hang with some good friends :). We got together with Kim and Brian and Marcy and met for dinner at Oreganos. Thinking about those pazookies is making my mouth water :).

Then we went over to Chris' sister's house for games. First up: THE BLOOMIN' ONION OF DEATH!

We didn't play too long and after a while, Ian was left playing with himself. Wait, that's doesn't sound good.

Then Chris busted out Just Dance! and we were in heaven!

Kim and I were up first. Even though Ian tried his best to heckle us, we were the dynamic duo! We rock!

I mean just look at my face! You can tell I'm having a blast! I've never used so many exclamation points in my life! It's just because I was so excited to be out! And having fun!

Next up: the boys. I don't think I've laughed so hard in my life. Those boys were totally hamming it up. Brian never joined in - but Chris and Ian were great entertainment.

Ian was beating Chris the whole time but Chris really stepped it up in the end. I give him most improved. :)
Then Marcy and Mer took a turn. I'm pretty sure Marcy is now hooked on Just Dance.
I love it when Chris and Merilee are in town. The next weekend all the girls (plus Merilee's sister Megan) went to LGO for dinner. We had so much fun hanging out and eating. I love those girls so much - I can't even begin to say how much those two outings lifted my spirits.

These pictures are bittersweet seeing as Ian and I are both injured right now. I sprained my ankle and Ian's back injured again. Luckily he goes in for a procedure Thursday morning - so say a little prayer that every thing will be alright. I will never take my health for granted again.