Girls Night Out...

It was so much fun to have EVERYONE home this summer. But even with everyone home, we still struggled to get everyone together at the same time...especially us girls! So I made invitations and we planned a "girls night out".


We started at the Cheesecake Factory...


and ended in a parking lot, that will remain unknown.


Brook had been wearing a pair off AWFUL looking shoes all summer. She was trying to get every penny out of them, but her social life (and mine) were suffering because of these platform/furry/sandal looking shoes. I had been working hard all summer to get rid of them, but not until the middle of July did we bet during a round of golf at Heather Gardens! It was a close game, but I came through in the end and won! Goodbye shoes!!!!


It was decided! We would destroy them during our "Sister Date" and that's how we ended up in the mystery parking lot. We brought matches, fireworks, and the camera...only forgetting the supplies to put out the fire and clean it up! Opps (which is why it will remain anonymous!). It was such a fun night.

This girls night was one for the books. We didn't eat cookie dough, talk about boys, or have a pillow fight in our underwear, but we had an absolutely amazing time! I love my sisters. I miss them horribly, and hope that we all live closer someday (or at least have "sister trips" every year).

Summer Highlights...

Being a teacher, I'm super protective of my summers. This summer in particular was incredible because everyone was home, and it seemed like it was non-stop fun! Here are just some of the summer highlights...

Traditionally kicking off the summer with the Bolder Boulder...

Golfing...

Sister nights (some more memorable than others, post to come!)...

Family vacation to Vail and Beaver Creek...

Hiking Bryce Canyon...

Crafts, crafts, and more crafts...

A million different adventures with Nate...

Daddy-Daughter Date...

About 10 years ago, my dad told my sisters and I, "When you're 70, you won't be playing volleyball, basketball, or soccer anymore... but you will be playing golf!" So he bought us all clubs and taught us how to play.

During the summer, my family gets out to play about once a week. Some of my favorite memories with my family are tied to golf.


At the end of each summer, my dad takes each girl out one at a time for a "Daddy-Daughter Date". This time with Dad is priceless and invaluable. My date was last weekend. We went to a beautiful course out in Castle Rock, and had an absolutely AMAZING day. We both golfed great (I shot a 97... don't judge!) and the weather was perfect.


I love this time with my dad. Time flies. From rag-doll to an adult sized rag-doll, life is better than ever! Thanks for an amazing day, Daddy-O :)

Who got the better deal?...

So, I get to babysit Lauren Brea (Maxene's new baby)...


And Maxi pays me with Crest White Strips that are laying around the house!

Who gets the better deal?

"That got a little out of hand"...

My family loves to make bets. Let me rephrase that. My siblings and I love to make bets. My dad always says, "You may as well bet a million bucks because no one ever pays up anyway!" Everyone knows that any game is a little more interesting if there's something on the line. So we were getting ready to play rummy, and we were all throwing out different ideas...

1. Loser has to make each winner a batch of homemade cookies.
2. Loser (boy or girl) has to wear Brook's nasty shoes to church on Sunday.
3. All 4 winners get to give loser the biggest wedgie EVER.
4. Loser has to wear a rubber band around their head and get snapped by all the winners.
5. Boys have to wear mascara to church, girls have to wear a tie.
   

This went on for a while until we decided that Idea #4 would be fair.

Macy lost...Nate was having a little too much fun...


Here is a little video clip when it was my turn...



After we played, we all were having such a good time, that we decided to play one more game. Someone (I don't remember who) had the idea to play this game...

• Five rounds total
  
• Each person draws one card and doesn't look at it.
• At the same time, everyone puts the card up to their forehead for everyone to see.
• The person with the highest card is the loser.
• The loser gets whipped by each winner with a licorice stick.
• Loser gets to pick where they will be whipped (has to be on skin).
  

There was a ton of laughter, followed by tears and a few awkward moments. Macy lost first, then Nate (no one wanted to whip Nate because he was our guest, but we did anyway!), then me, and Macy and Nate again!

Needless to say, things got a little out of control!

Muddy Buddy Pie?...

To help with the development of my cooking skills, I've decided to always sign-up when the food sign-ups go around in Relief Society. So two weeks ago, a sign-up went around for pies.


I hate pie.

If there was a table full of desserts, pie would be the last thing I would pick. But rules are rules. I signed up anyway to make a pie.

As the time got closer to the ward social (by closer I mean a few hours before the social), I decided that I was going to make Muddy Buddies (also known as Puppy Chow), and put them in a pie pan. That counts right?!


Brook was making a real apple pie, and as usual, her's turned out beautiful and delicious (I didn't try it because I hate pie, but everyone raved about it!). And as for me, I couldn't find a pie pan, so I put mine in some random bin.

Dessert is dessert, and people will eat whatever you bring. So now I have a new promise... next time I sign-up to bring something, I'll really bring what I sign-up for, and I'll put some effort into it!

Step Surprise...

Pre-workout conversation...


Me: What are you doing for your workout?
Brook: I'm gonna run 8 miles in the reservoir. What are you gonna do?
Me: I'm gonna run to the club, and go to a class called "Step Surprise" and lift upper body!
Brook: Step Surprise? What's the surprise?
Me: The surprise is that the class sucks! They don't tell you until the end. SURPRISE!!!!After I got to the club, I was excited to do the class. I learned quickly what the surprise was... I SUCK, SURPRISE!!!! It was repeat this, L-step that, tango/mango and then some. After 15 minutes, I humbly put my step away, and with a smile on my face I walked out of the class. I ran stairs and jumped rope instead (I'll stick to mindless workouts).