Love Me, Love Me

Life got a little bit nutty.
We had no available weekends to put on our lip sync battle,
so it got pushed to after Valentines day. 

I got numerous texts wondering if we were still doing it.

A good sign it is a favored event!

I am always good to take pictures of the set up before people arrive.

 Once it gets going and my phone is hooked up to the music,
 I don't get many more after that. 

I know there is video footage out there, because this is blackmail at its finest:)

Still trying to hunt those down!

Our showcase this year was:

Yamamoto's- She Bangs, American Idol version with William Hung and Simon Cowell
Blaylocks- Copacabana

Lloyds- Respect
Cotters- My Heart Will Go On

Hogles- Got High, by Afroman.
(Yep, fake joints and all. And yes, our bishop was in attendance. lol).

Rieses- Singing in the Rain/Umbrella by Rihanna, aka James in all leather who memorized

the whole dance. I really think people were trying to get released from their church callings!

Whitmers- Rewrite the Stars
Us- Stacy's Mom
Allens- Hillbilly Rap

Rudds- It's the End of the World as We Know It

I say this every year, but this time I mean it.

Everyone BROUGHT.IT!!

I was shocked after each performance.

The creativity was out of this world and so dang funny!

The competition was tight!!

After tallying up the points we had our winners.

Runner up were the Cotters!
Yes, they brought a full on canoe with them to the party.
Yes, they acted out every important scene from the movie in that one song.

Yes, I have slightly inappropriate sketch I have to share because, well, just because. Haha.

You will know which part in the movie I'm talking about.

We had to zoom in from the video to get this still shot Ben was drawing as they were performing.

Gold. 

The Lloyds stole it with, Respect!

I wish I had each video to post. So, so good.

The week of Valentines Day was a par-tay!

Miss Della at dance exchanging Valentines.

Grammy is always so sweet to drop off goodies to all of the grandkids.

I had just run the half marathon and was ready to pound their cute bundt cakes!

Us sisters went to lunch with our dad on Valentines Day.
When we originally planned it, we didn't realize it was on the same day.

He kept trying to reschedule thinking we had better dates to spend it with.
Nope! We love our dad and were happy to be with him.

What a better way to say I love you than with basically having dessert for dinner.
Crepes with all the toppings!

 

January and February

Here in AZ we get belated "seasons".

I drove up to our tree finally changing colors... in January. 

The backdrop of the pink and blue sky was an added touch of beauty.

It's a good 2 weeks of crunchy leaves everywhere!

I find them tracked around the inside of my house, car, laundry, you name it. 

It does make for some good play time.

I think these girls buried and surprise attacked themselves for a couple of hours!

Along with throwing them in the air and at each other. 

I walked in my room to find her all comfy in such an awkward position. 

We were that house on the street that the neighbors wanted to evict for a few weeks. 

It looked like we started a used car lot for white SUV's! 

I have no idea how it snowballed to this, but it did.
Long story short, I got a new car and still had my old suburban. 

Casey bought a new truck to use for work.

2 weeks later he realized he bought a short bed instead of a long bed.

He had to go back and buy the long bed on top of the short bed.

And we have his personal truck.

The trailer was parked on the side of the house for part of this as well.
We do not have a big yard or driveway.
Trying to leave or park was like car tetris. 

All we could do was laugh about it!

Where's Waldo?
How funny that my purse matches the leather seats in the new car perfectly! 

We love when Ruby comes to play!

The weather was lovely, so we walked to the park for a picnic. 
Their looks and mannerisms are almost identical. 
I love to see family genes correlate in cousins. 

Bored much?

I was walking by when I noticed these 2 bumps on a log.

Surely their lives aren't that miserable.

Or were they in a tv trance? 
I think I turned it off and made them go outside and snap back to reality. 

Being a 6th grader is hard work!
They sure cram in everything those last 2 quarters of school.

Ya know, to make sure they can handle Jr High and more responsibility:)
Rusty had his country oral report.
I love that he doesn't care if I come in and watch.
In fact, I think he preferred for me to come listen. 

Lane on the other hand, no way!

 

He rocked his sombrero while giving his speech on Peru!

Our oven broke.
Which took multiple visits for it to get fixed.

A month later our dryer stopped putting out hot air.
Guess new appliances don't last longer than 5 years these days.

We know Theo, the repair man, very well now!

In the process of taking everything apart, he scooped out a huge pile of lint!

 He said there is no way to prevent this from happening again.

In fact, this was mild compared to other households he's seen. 
Mostly houses with pets.

Goo.

Another reason to never get any.

Our stake put on their very first Daddy, Daughter dance for activity day girls. 

You should have seen Casey's face when they announced it, haha!

He looooooves to dance:)
Yes, that was very sarcastic. 

It's a good thing he loves his girls, because they went and had a fabulous time!

Katie had a baby shower!

It was fun being at her aunts house and celebrating baby Stetson. 

The weather turned on us and gave us basically snow!
My kids were freaking out on the drive to the bus with the fields and houses 

covered in that cold, white stuff!

Back at the school for Rusty's science project fair!
He picked Shiny Penny.
Mainly because he already knew the outcome because they did
this experiment last year in Prenda.

Cheater, cheater.
However, it was a project he could do on his own without
having to keep a plant alive or make a huge mess.
I'll allow it:)

 

Half Marathon, round 2

Apparently the horrible memories of pain from my
first half marathon had dissipated, because

I was in a car headed for my second!

And clearly we weren't the only crazy ones.
You never see an off ramp this busy at 4am!

This time I was the 5th wheel.
Marcie, Austin, Stephanie and Travis let me tag along with them.

I sat next to a lady named Cheryl on the bus. 
She flew in from Wisconsin to run this with her daughter.
Did I mention Cheryl was 65?

The different people that run this always amaze me!

Waiting by the starting corrals. 
I think waking up super early and being in the cold is half of the torture of a marathon!

Oh ya, and using the porta potties, too!

I was sitting on the ground stretching when I noticed a lot of people standing by me getting

their picture taken. I couldn't figure out what the deal was with that spot.

I looked up and noticed the 13 mile marker.

Duh.

I photo bombed a lot of people on accident!

Trying to stay warm.

And then it was time to line up!

They had music blaring, fireworks popping, the MC screaming
 the countdown 3, 2... then lights out, no sound.

They blew a fuse!

The blowup arch for the start line was deflating.

Lol, it was pretty funny.

Backup generator to the rescue and we were off!

I felt really good the first 6 miles.
Almost faster and less crampy than last time.

It was a busy morning at home so I wasn't expecting anyone to cheer me on. 

I noticed Casey's truck and there he was with the girls!
He was amazing to juggle the boys things and rides so he could come support me.

It was the best surprise!!

Not long after I started to slow, but nothing bothering me too much.

I really loved the atmosphere.

I noticed all of the random bystanders cheering on strangers.

People who live on the race route coming out with buckets of jolly ranchers for 

runners to grab.

A family had their own tables set up with griddles making pancakes for

us to carb load on while running!

The funny signs to read and make you laugh.

"Remember, you paid for this"

"Any farts beyond this point can't be trusted"

And then the lead marathoner passed me up. 
Blows me away how fast they are!

Mile 10 and I was feeling it but kept going!

I never stopped, just slowed enough to not slosh my drinks all over me, ha.

The glorious finishing line photo!

I did it! And had a PR even!

My finish time was 2:24:23. I shaved 7.5 minutes off.

Still not that impressive, but I'll take it!
Stephanie whooped us all with her 2:01 time!

The finish line is by far the best part!

We witnessed a proposal.

Got stretched out be the massage therapist and ate all the freebies!

Creamies are heavenly after a long race. 

 

Till next year, Mesa Marathon!

Bozeman, Montana

We have some amazing friends, who also happen to be our neighbors!
We are all spread out age wise, and in different seasons of life.
Funny how true friendships just happen naturally regardless
 of our different circumstances.

January seems to be the month we all
like to find a place to visit together on a couples trip!

This would be our 3rd annual vacation. 

So far we have done Telluride and Bear Lake.
Last year got squashed because covid was still ruining everything.

We threw out sunny Florida as an option to switch it up.
Somehow snow shoved it's way through 

and off to Bozeman, Montana we went!

We had a layover in Denver where we got a taste of true cold weather.

Snow is such a novelty to us!
I felt like a kid pointing it out to Casey through the window. 

We shivered as we exited the plane and couldn't believe the difference

of weather from what we are used to back at home. 

Boy, were we in for a treat on our next flight.
Denver was nothing for what was coming at us next!

(Denver airport)

Snow. Piles and piles of snow!

We were all a bit silent while walking off the plane.
I think we each had the thought it might not be too late to turn around and get back on!

 People were visibly staring at us as we were walking through the airport.
We screamed amateurs!
I could see their thoughts: that's cute, you think that Target sweat suit is
going to keep you warm?

Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore!

(Bozeman airport parking lot)

Casey went and fetched the car rental that was buried under piles of snow.
Such a saint.
I literally had to force my body out the doors when he pulled up. 
I felt like I was in the airport scene on Cool Runnings.
"Sanka, whatcha smokin? I'm not smokin, I'm breathin!"
I thought I snapped a finger off getting the luggage all situated. 
They were so numb I couldn't tell what was still there or not. 
And I may have screamed out loud, WHAT WERE WE THINKING?!!!!

I later learned it was 9 degrees.
Nothing can prepare you for 9 flipping degree weather!

We drove like the snowbirds do in AZ (slippery roads!) to the grocery store to stock up on the
vacation essentials... candy, chips, soda and ice cream!

Of COURSE Jeanette found 2 missionaries the second we walked in!
In a brief  minute she knew everything down to their social security numbers:)
She is the friendliest person and genuinely wants to know everything about everyone.
I need to be more like Jeanette.
Plus, she has a soft spot for missionaries as her daughter is currently serving one.

Ok, we need to have a moment of silence for these fudge bars.
Our friend grew up in Montana and told us we HAVE to get Wilcoxson's fudge bars.
They only sell them in that state.
You don't have to tell me twice!

They also had oodles of ice cream choices that we were not passing up.
We landed on a few flavors that knocked our socks off. 

I don't even like graham cracker flavored stuff and I wanted to pound the whole
dang carton! There was this cream cheese swirl in it, mmm I need it!

They had huckleberry ice cream bars I wanted to try, maybe it's a good thing
they don't sell it in AZ!

Wilcoxson's for the WIN!

At the Airbnb Casey got right to work.
I think his hands were missing a shovel, lol!

And such a bummer that the hot tub ended up being broken, wah!
That was the whole reason we booked that one.
Thankfully a hefty refund helped with the blow.

Chilling and napping to Jim Gaffigan on Netflix before our night life started.

We ate dinner at a yummy brewery then hit up one of
 their many natural hot springs!

As we were getting out of our car, we started talking to young adults getting
out of their car next to us. 
Remember, we have Jeanette with us:)
When they found out that we were from AZ and left 70 degree weather,
one of them said in the most confused tone, what are you doing here??
Good question, we are still trying to figure that out!

I walked outside and couldn't see where I was going from all of the fog!
They had a live band playing. 
The ambience and vibe was so relaxing. 

Inside they had more pods with different water temperatures.
Up those stairs they had a cold plunge in the middle of 2 hot tubs. 

The big pool was normal temperature.
But on the end was the hot, hot stuff!
One guy looked like a red, boiling lobster sitting in the water.

Games and ice cream ended our late night!

The guys left in the morning for a grand adventure of snowmobiling!

 Us ladies graciously declined the adrenaline rush and went to the spa!
I found a place online that looked promising. 
Hard to know when you don't know the area.

The Loft Spa, you have my heart.
Humina, humina, seriously the best facial I have ever had.
Ok, not hard to say since I've only had one other facial besides that, hehe. 
But she was really good and I was butter melting into the massage table!

We enjoyed the sauna and steam room and it was the most
fabulous day, girl talking and relaxing!

The spa was nestled in the heart of downtown.
 We shopped in the cute boutiques and ate a late lunch at a place called, Jam.
I got the biscuits and gravy, hot chocolate from scratch, and a dessert crepe to share.
Ya, it was 2 thumbs up.

They guys text us after we ate so we officially knew they were alive!
They said even though it dumped snow on them,
 it was amazing and really got the hang of it towards the end.


We met back at the house for some down time before dinner.

Everyone we asked for dinner suggestions said Daves Sushi right of the bat.
After the tenth time we said ok, Daves it is!

They fly in their fish fresh straight from Alaska.
Good stuff, go Dave!

Talking, baking cookies and games was our night activity. 

I saw this Grandma's Donuts place on Pinterest and knew I had to have them.
Casey and I woke up and were going to get some to share, but Marc 
had already beat us to it!

They were warm and so so fresh.
And so so GOOD!

We had a lazy morning and got brunch after our donut appetizer. 

Then drove an hour to Big Sky which is the
second largest ski resort in the United States. 

Only one in our group opted to snowboard.
The rest of us drove to a scenic spot called Ouzel Falls
 to check out frozen water falls.

It was about a 2 mile roundtrip "hike".

I'm not much of a hiker, and in snow non the less.

However, the reviews said it was more of a nature walk.

I think we stepped into a snow covered forest heaven.
Pictures do NOT do it justice.

A  snow covered bridge with a babbling stream running next to it. 

 Our hiking line.

And there it was!
I felt like I was in the middle of the movie Frozen!
Elsa surely had to be around the corner.

Oh wait, this wasn't it?!
Nope, there was one more!

We kept going until we got to the big waterfall that was literally frozen solid!
It was basically a frozen wall of water behind us. 

I was envisioning how beautiful this place must be when it's
thawed out and green.

A lady overheard us talking and said it is indeed beautiful.
However, there are tons of bears and you have to be very careful.
Yikes. 

We spotted some moose!
And some moose tracks for ice cream:)

We went up to the ski lodge thinking there was an enclosed lift that could take us to the top.
It was enclosed, but only half way.
Your legs and feet would be daggling and exposed.
Hard pass!
We opted to shop inside and buy Montana paraphernalia
and souvenirs for the kids. 

Next stop was our horse-drawn sleigh ride!
This was fun. Freezing, but fun!

It was only a 20 minute ride to our destination.
Which was plenty.
Any longer and our blood would have turned slushy. 

The sun was setting and the sky was beyond picturesque. 

It took us to this heated tent and campfire.

Inside the tent was WARMTH!!
Oh, and appetizers:)

It was a random spread, but delicious.
Homemade bison chili.
Bison is huge in this neck of the woods.

Cheese and crackers and dutch oven popcorn. 

Even a bar and scruffy woodsman bar tender, lol!
He was actually really nice and interesting to talk to.
He was from Florida and raced dirt bikes professionally.
He was looking for a change and ended up in Bozeman.
Change indeed!

No hot toddies for us, but warm cider and hot chocolate was much appreciated. 

Looks like a scene from the nativity.
Star of Bethlehem much?

Woodfire pizza for dinner and games was how we spent our last night in Montana.

Southwest threw a wrench in our plans by bumping up our flight by 5 hours!
And changed our layover location to Las Vegas.
Despite the disappointment, we made lemonade out of the situation.

We needed to fill the car up before heading to the airport.
I made Jeanette run across the street with me to take
a picture under the American flag!

We arrived in Vegas with a 4 hour layover.
Luckily there are lots of things you can do in Vegas to kill time!
And hello, welcome back to land of warmth!!

We walked outside to find a taxi but surprisingly non could be found.
We saw a shuttle bus that could take us.
In the meantime while we were conversating on what to do, Tait was talking to 
a limo driver who offered us a sweet deal.
It was cheaper than the shuttle bus, no brainer!

Riding in style!

The limo driver dropped us off in front of the Wynn.

You guessed it, Wynn buffet here we come!!
I was excited because I've only had the brunch menu.
This time was the dinner spread.
Hot diggity, every bit was savored!

 

We stuffed our faces then took a Lyft back to the airport.
What a trip!