How to Wear a Bike Helmet

Yesterday I bought a round of bike helmets at the Utah County Health Dept. They charge $10 per helmet, kid or adult. Very good deal.

After work, Luke and I decided to go on a bike ride. We put our helmets on and got ready to go. With my helmet on, it hurt my throat when I talked. I asked Luke if that is how it was supposed to be. He responded with, "Don't use your bowels." "Bowels??" I asked? "Yeah, mom. Don't used your bowels, A E I O U, and it won't hurt when you talk with your helmet on."

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh, I see, now!!! Well, not really. How can I talk without using my bowels???

Spring Break '09

The kids were with their dad this Spring Break, so Mom and I headed south for Spring Break '09!!

We drove out of Provo in a snow storm and arrived in sunny Vegas 6 hours later.

We had such a great time. Thanx Aunt Naomi and Steve. We love you!!!!

Vegas Friday

Friday morning I went to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saint's Vegas Temple. I think it is, hands down, my favorite newer temple. It was beautiful inside. Such a wonderful, peaceful feeling. Of coarse, Salt Lake and Manti will always be all-time favorites!

After leaving the temple, I stopped at Wal-mart for windshield wiper fluid. Funny story, last night, very, very late, I heard my dad tell my mom he thought i put the windshield wiper fluid in the radiator reservoir. Very funny. After leaving Wal-mart, I thought I would take a "different" way home than I went to the temple. That was very exciting, but I got home. Now, why do I need GPS???

After the temple, we went to visit Aunt Naomi's oldest son, Benton. He lives in Henderson with his lovely wife, Rhonda, and two awesome sons. Rhonda was out of town doing her own playing, so we missed her. Hi Rhonda!Brian is above and Colton is below. They love sports and each other.
My mom almost lost her picture taking privileges when she took about 3 pictures of Naomi and I with very little of our heads!!!

Benton's backyard is beautiful. In a couple of weeks they will be swimming, for real. Brian did jump in, that was pretty funny!!!

After we left Benton's house, we went to Gold Coast for a little gambling. When I say little, I mean I put $3 in the penny slots. For some reason, they didn't comp me any food or a room! I did buy some prizes in the gift shop for loved ones and a pink windbreaker to keep me warm on our journey to "the strip."
After the penny slots and a super yummy dinner at TGIF, we headed to experience Vegas night life. Yes, you are probably thinking that might be too much for a good little Mormon girl, and you are right! It was a lot of craziness :)

When I saw McDs, I missed the kids, but was happy they were home and not with us!

This picture is in front of the Forum Shops. It was beautiful.

Yes, Donny and Marie in Sin City.

My Aunt Naomi worked here at Caesars Palace in the reservation's department. She met her husband Steve there about 8 years ago.

Being in Vegas made me want to go watch Ocean's 11 again. Not 12 so much :) This is the Bellagio and the water show in front of it. The water show was amazing.

Water Show

A downtown view

Bally's and the Vegas Eiffel Towel. Might be the closest I get to the Eiffel Tower.
Now, last, and most definitely least...my Aunt had heard about the "show" at the Treasure Island casino. So, we decided to head down there cause it was just down the block. Well, if the blocks are a mile long, it was just down the block! It wasn't quite the family show we were expecting. Be forewarned: this is not a show to take in.

Getting back to where the shuttle dropped us off was quite the experience. The more intoxicated people got, the harder it was to maneuver the wheelchair. I finally stop trying too hard to miss them. Wait, ok, I tried, just not very hard :)

We had a lot of really funny experiences on the strip. I can cross the stip off my list of things to see and not go back there again. I love my mom and aunt to taking me there. And neither of them reminded me that it was MY idea to go to the strip. They are so awesome.

Just to remind myself, and others, the temple was the high-light of this day.

Vegas Saturday

Saturday in Vegas brought more laughter, shopping, eating and a movie. This day actually started with a yummy treat from my cousin Paul (please see good-bye Vegas post for a picture of said cousin.) Our little Paulie is a manager at a Krispie Kream on the strip (shutter.)

We started our shopping at the outlet malls. Our fun there included me running, literally, from a sales man in Vitamin World. I was pushing Mom in the wheelchair at the time and she admits to experiencing some horror while flying through the air. But, I was afraid a simple, "We're not interested" was going to suffice with this salesman. So, I kicked up my heals and started running. Great fun, great fun.

After we girls had decided there was no more fun to be had at the outlet malls, we headed to a different mall, virtually, around the corner. This was a very high-class mall. We almost couldn't afford to breath the air :) It was one of those outside malls. It was beautiful. We went there for dinner and a movie.

Dinner was at California Pizza. I had never been there. It was super yummy. We had lettuce wraps and a vegetarian pizza with goat cheese and eggplant. Oh, my heck, it was so scrumptious! I could eat it any day of the week!!!

Before dinner, we went to buy the tickets to the movies. Well, this was an experience. We have DVR and so does my Aunt. None of us watch commercials any more and had NO idea what any of the movies were about! So, through the process of elimination (we eliminated kid movies and any rated R) we selected State of Play. The ugly orange pix below is from the theatre bathroom. Have you seen an uglier color? Personally, I have NOT!! And, yes. Those are napkin dispensers in the bathroom. Have you tired to wipe your wet hands on a napkin? Seriously people. What do we pay $10 a ticket for?

So, I think, I might have permission to share this story. But, if not, hope you get to read it before I pull it!

So, we get about halfway through the movie and Mom leans over and says, "I am going to throw up." A couple of things go through my head. Mostly, please don't let this happen cause I can't get my mom out of here if she is actually sick. After making sure she didn't want to leave, I grabbed my purse and went to find something to buy for her to throw-up in. Good news, the theatre was very kind and only charged me $4 for an empty cup!! After using the cup for the intended purpose, she promptly feel asleep. I look over and my Aunt was also asleep. Wow, how was that for excitement?? I tried to enjoy the movie, but was pretty worried about how to get these tired, sleeping beauties of the the theatre when the time came.

We did make it home, with possibly only one problem: my Aunt put us right back into the mall parking lot shortly after we exited it. Not a big deal, right? Well, we all nearly peed our pants we were laughing SO hard. Yes, we actually did A LOT of laughing to the extreme during this trip.

This is my myself, Aunt Naomi and my mommy (l to r).

Good-Bye Vegas!

Sunday morning found us saying good-bye to our lovely vacation.

I got up early Sunday morning and sat on the patio reading, chatting with a friend, and enjoying nature. I love nature and the world God created for us.

This is my big teddy-bear of a cousin Paul. Isn't he adorable? And girls, he is available, so, if you are interested, let me know!! He has had some amazing challenges that he has triumphed over. We love his so much. Paul, did I embarrass you???

This is my mommy, Paul and me.

These pictures were taken at the In n' Out burger drive through. I love those burgers more than anything. Others in my life have said they are, "OK." I challenge them to a dual at dawn!!

Happy Birthday to ME!

Thirty-six years ago, I was born. My mom can provide the painful details, but, I will just say, I was born. Today was a great day. Ali got her braces off, hurray! I worked a bit. And then the Sorensen clan, sans the Soelbergs, headed to the park for pizza and playing. And play we did! We always have such a fantastic time together.

I got some beautiful flowers. Thank you friends!!
OK, after climbing the ropes, Josh realized that there was a football on the top of the roof over the pavillion. So, of coarse, you send a 5 year old after it.

Josh helped Dana give the blessing on the food. Just as a side note, Dad ALWAYS calls on Dana to pray over the food. And I do mean always!

Here is Papa arriving with the pizza and Nana's wheelchair.

I want to thank everyone who helped make my 36th birthday a smashing success! I love you all :)

Off with the braces!!!!

After almost 2.5 years, Ali's teeth are free!!

She is so happy.

Enjoy the documentation of the big day.

What a difference 5 days make...

Spring Break '09

What a difference a few days makes :)