Halloween Week

It has been a busy week at our home.
Robert has had a lot going on with school...mid-terms, papers to write, and homework. I have seen a lot of dedication from that boy, and I'm proud of him. He has also been attending institute, and doing his scouting duties with the Webelos. Work will start up again for him in a few weeks, so he will really be busy then. He had his interview with the Bishop for his mission papers and should have his last one this week with the Stake President, then they will be sent in and we wait. We should know before Thanksgiving! Any bets on where he will go?????
Brian is enjoying school. He really likes his ballroom dance class that he is taking and it is fun to see him practice around the house.
Gio and I have been busy with work, boys, etc.... Life is good and we can't complain.
Tonight Gio took Brian to Cornbellys. It is a pumpkin patch/corn maze that is close to where we live (20 minutes or so away towards SLC). They had a really fun time tonight. I stayed home because I picked up an extra shift at work....
Here are some pics that Gio took!!!








They also purchased a 20+ lb pumpkin that we will be carving tomorrow...I'll post pictures when we are done.
I found some pictures from Halloween 2002 that I thought I would share...the boys were so cute back then!



Hope you all have a wonderful week! and of course....
H.A.P.P.Y H.A.L.L.O.W.E.E.N BOO!!!

THRILLER ,Mission papers, and blog stalking....

This past weekend we decided that it was time to begin the Halloween season so we went to see "THRILLER". It is a dance production put on by Odyssey Dance Theatre up at University of Utah.
The boys weren't really sure about it, but again, wanting to make mom happy they said they would go. We invited Kourtney to go with us, knowing that she is a dancer.
We started out the evening by going to dinner at one of our favorite spots...Burger Supreme. With our tummies full we headed up to SLC. Thank goodness for map quest to help us find our way!
The dancers where all in character when we got there, and we found out rather quickly that Brian isn't a fan of Zombies....they were walking around the auditorium freaking people out, and they did a good job with Brian. I didn't think to take my camera so the pics aren't that great...but it least a few for the memories.


Giovanni and I spent a great day together today. I love it when he doesn't have to work and can spend the day with me. I love coupons too! They make dates so much easier. We went to the movie and a cheep lunch, then took the boys to Fat Cats to bowl and out to Cold Stone, then home for a family home evening message. It was a nice evening to have both the boys home together. It doesn't happen to often as Robert is usually out with his "homies", school, institute, cub scouts (he is asst Webelos den leader), or with Kourtney.


This past week Robert also finished all his paper work for his mission. He only needs to have his interviews with the Bishop and Stake President, then we wait. Hopefully those interviews will happen in the next week and we should know by the middle on November when and where he will be going! I know that he is anxious to find out, as are the rest of us. Of course we would love for him to go to Italy..but anywhere will be great and the right place for him!

On to another subject.....
I also realized this past week that I'm a blog stalker. I love reading blogs! I have found some amazing ones and others that are not so amazing. There is everything out there, you just need to look for it! I decided that I was going to add my favorite ones to my blog so that I can share them with my friends. One person I know said that she wished I would put them up, because she is like me and loves to read them and find out interesting information...so we'll see how it goes to put them all up. It was hard to decide. I know that it will make it easier for me to look them up when there is a new post!!!

I only wish that I were a talented blog writer like some of these women and men are! I do our blog because it brings me enjoyment. I'm sure there are not a lot of people who read it, and that is okay...but I love to read other people's, especially the ones that really give you great information or make you think.

Gotta' go...off to Brian's class to play helper for the morning before work. I sure do love going there. It gives me a chance to be involved with the kids and to see how things are going in school for Brian. I sure love that boy!!!

BASKETBALL IS FINALLY HERE!!!

Can I just tell you that my family has been waiting all summer for the NBA to start! And it is finally here! We LOVE the UTAH JAZZ!!! And have been looking forward to a new season. Who know's how they do, but either way, we love them!
Tonight there was a free scrimage game and meet the players up in SLC at the Energy Solutions Arena (I still call it the Delta Center). Giovanni took Brian up there for a father son date and they had a great time! Here are a few pics that Gio took. (Sorry if some aren't so good, all he had was the camera on his phone).
It was a real treat for Brian to meet Bear, again!


Here a few other pictures of the NuSkin Jazz Dancers and the Jazz Basetball team!


I think the best part of the evening was Memot Okur giving Brian his wrist band and following Coach Sloan home on the freeway!
Looking forward to a great season!! GO JAZZ!!!

SAN FRANCISCO

What an amazing 4 days Giovanni and I had. We took advantage of my JetBlue benefits and took a quick trip to SAN FRANCISCO! It is amazing to think that it has been 24 years since I have been there! What was I thinking waiting so long!
This is one of only two or three trips where we haven't taken the boys with us! IT WAS GREAT! I hate to say that, but it was so nice to have some down time and enjoy each other and not have to worry about the kids or do what they wanted to do. We were on our own schedule and it was HEAVEN!
We got to SF on Monday morning, picked up our rental car and went straight to FREMONT. That is where I grew up from 1st grade (1971) until after I graduated from High School (we moved to Utah in 1985). I have to admit that it was surreal to go back and see my home where I grew up and to go to the elementary school and high school where I spent so much time. (Didn't have to much time to go to the Jr. High).






We went by my grandmother's old home. It has changed some because they made the street wider and took out part of the lawn, but it seems to be maintained well. Then we passed by our LDS ward house. What memeories I have from that building!



After that it was off to have an early dinner with family! We spent a few nice hours with Michelle' (David's ex-wife), Christopher (Dave's son),Michael, Steadman, and Kelsey (Michelle's kids). It was so nice to see Chris and Michael again. I can't even remember the last time I saw him. It really brought tears to my eyes when he walked in the restraunt. It was nice to catch up with Michelle' as well. It has been since 1985 when I saw her last. She still makes me laugh like she always did. We went to La Casita for lunch. A favorite Mexican restraunt of our family when we lived in Fremont. What memories!!!



The next day we went to lunch with our friends Max and Cybele. We went to a wonderful restraunt in Berkely by the bay and spent a splendid afternoon with them. (I cant believe I didn't get a picture of Cybele!)

Then on Tuesday evening Gio and I went to go see "WICKED"!!! It was A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!!!
We had a wonderful time and it was so much better than we could have imagined. Even Gio was surprised!!!

On Wednesday we spent the day at Alcatraz and Fisherman's Wharf, and then went to the Golden Gate Bridge. We walked a ways on the bridge, but I am so afraid of heights that I just coulnd't do it! We were there long enough to get a picture of Gio. It was a great day and the weather couldn't have been better!!! The boat ride out on the bay to Alcatraz was so nice and at the prison they have a really neat tour that you can do (with a headphone set).





At Fisherman's Wharf there was this one area where there were so many sea lions, it was jut a sight!



On Thursday morning we had about 3-4 hours before we had to get to the airport to catch our plane so we thought it would be nice to go to the Oakland Temple to the visitor's center. What beautiful grounds and what wonderful memories I have.



And I just had to add these two photos...What a difference a few years makes!!! I was probably about 2 or a little younger when this picture was taken!


What a WONDERFUL vacation we had. It was a great walk down memory lane and also wonderful to make some new memories with Giovanni as well.