I've been tagged . . .

8 TV shows I love to watch:
The Office
Chuck
Grey's Anatomy
Designed to Sell
Color Splash
The Biggest Loser
Jon & Kate Plus 8
American Idol

8 Favorite restaurants:
Ruby River
Red Rock Brew Pub
PF Changs
Market Street Grill
Any place with Greek food
Cafe Rio
Tepanyaki
Kneaders

8 Things that happened yesterday:
I took Maddie to school
I went to work
Shared french fries with Keira
Played with Asher and Ally
Read books & pretend cried with Keira
Cleaned my kitchen
Made a new chore chart for the kids
Got a neck rub from my husband

8 things I am looking forward to:
A vacation day from work tomorrow so I can get a massage
The Vice-Presidential debate Thursday night
Getting a king size bed, someday in the future
Buying a kitchen table set, also somewhere off in the future!
A vacation (who knows when and where, but still looking forward to one)
A girl's night out!!
A change in the White House come January
The economy improving

8 people I'm tagging:
Lisa
Sara
Denice
Megan
Tami
Melinda
Michelle
Cassie

Family birthday dinner

So thanks to global warming, we are just wrapping up the warmest September I can remember. We were able to slip in one more outdoor family party for the year, thanks to a nice Sunday in the 80s. The cousins all had a blast playing together and the babies were darling as always.

Can you tell we're related? Keira showing off her bling
Keira was so cute opening her gifts. When she opened her card from the Brewsters, she said "Moneys!"
Keira liked her "pink" clothes from Aunt Tamera
Grandma and Allyson
Amber and Asher. This is her first photo with her new glasses.

Livi and Asher
Grandma and Allyson. Grandma kept saying, "She's such a pretty baby!" We think she is!
Asher finally gave me a smile. He was so sober all night!
Allyson just wanted to gnaw on her finger.

Allyson was happy once I took her inside for a bottle

Harrison, Rachel, and Keira had a blast playing with the rockets from Aunt Deb
The girls - Jessica, Amber, Madeleine, Olivia, and Brittney
Creighton was loving Uncle Derek and Aunt Michelle last night.
Dave and Natalie, sitting in the swing - k-i-s-s-i-n-g.

Neighborhood Friends

We always said that the most difficult thing about leaving our old house was saying goodbye to our wonderful neighbors. I never expected to find even greater friendships in our new home, but I have been incredibly blessed with dear neighbors and friends who add so much value to my life. We were all together last night to celebrate Melissa's birthday. I feel so fortunate to call each of these wonderful women my friend.

Lisa Bonacci, my next door neighbor Tamera, Lisa, Liotta, and Melissa
Danielle, Lisa, Tamera, and birthday girl Melissa

Oktoberfest

Ed and I were both working incredibly long and crazy hours at work all week and hadn't seen each other in daylight since last weekend. He had a rare Saturday off yesterday so we took advantage of it. Ed got to see Maddie play soccer in the morning (Maddie scored a goal on a penalty kick that gave her team the win!) and Saturday afternoon we took the kids to Snowbird for Oktoberfest. We ate lunch on the hillside and enjoyed the sun in the mountain air. The kids got balloon animals and we wandered through the vendor booths before driving home to watch the Utes football game. Olivia and her tiger
Harrison and his elephant Madeleine and her dragonfly

Remembering September 11, 2001

May we all have a moment today to reflect on the day that changed our world. While I mourn for the innocent lives lost and lives forever altered by the cowardly act of an angry few, I am also bolstered by the resiliency of the human spirit. I will never forget.

Happy Birthday Bryan!

Happy birthday to my younger brother, Bryan! I love seeing him as a dad to Brit, Creighton, and Allyson. Bryan, I hope you have a wonderful birthday. May you get a Chevron truck with hoses that spray real water!

Wedding Day!

Tiff and Adam were married on Sunday, August 31 in Forest Grove, Or. It was a beautiful day, made all the more special by having so much family there to join in the celebration. Little Asher was absolutely adorable in his outfit
The wedding was held at the Grand Lodge - it was lovely
My older sisters Michelle, Melinda, and me
My mom and mother of the bride, Cassie
Derek and MichelleGrandma Claire, Grandma Maxine, and my momAdam waiting for his BrideTiffany's daughter Ella with her cousin KieranPaul and Tiffany
Tiff and Adam had a beautiful locket made for Ella and presented it to her as part of the ceremony. It has her new initials engraved on it, along with the wedding date and an opening for a photo. Ella was so proud of it!The new family (with their expected baby growing nicely - due this March!)

The cake was gorgeous. The photo doesn't do it justice

The Night Before the Wedding!

The night before the wedding, Cassie and Paul hosted a dinner at their beautiful house in Vancouver, Wa. Paul cooked up some fabulous brisket that I enjoyed in his freshly made-over backyard. Once we finished eating, the family craziness came out.
Adam and Tiffany
Ella was all ready to open her special gift from me
Ella spent a weekend in Salt Lake so I made her a memory book of our time together

Family Brunch at IHop

I was very blessed to spend Labor Day weekend with my family in Washington/Oregon to attend the wedding of my niece Tiffany. Family flew and drove in from Salt Lake, Spokane, and Washington D.C. We met Saturday for brunch at the local IHop. It was wonderful to see Denice and all of the Brewster clan again.

The bride and groom - Tiffany and Adam

My niece Keira looking adorable with her raincoat and baby doll
My great-niece Ella, my oldest sister Cassie, and younger sister Denice
Bro-in-law Paul, my dad, my mom, me, and sis-in-law Natalie
Cassie with her grand-daughter Ella
We had quite a wait so Denice and I had fun helping Natalie to keep Keira distracted. She was so cute with her sticker books, cars, and my coffee creamer. She also taught Denice her favorite phrase, "MINE, MINE, MINE!"

Natalie is such a cute mama