Our Patchwork Family

Lizzie's driving!

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:43:00 +0000

Lizzie finally got her driver's permit. She's a senior in high school so we figured it was time. Today we took her driving for the first time in her life. We lived through it!

Lizzie so happy to have her permit.

First time behind the wheel! She looks a little nervous.

Lizzie's friend, James, came along for the ride. He looks terrified.

Stop, foul squirrel!

You must not hit the children, Liz.

Actually it was a really fun time and Liz did a great job. We are teaching her how to drive on the Saturn because it is a stick shift. We found a new subdivision in Provo that doesn't have any houses on it yet, but the streets are paved. We'll be going back to that location again!

William's braces

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 03:01:00 +0000

William got braces on his front four teeth about 6 weeks ago. He had a cross bite and some of his top teeth were pushing against his bottom teeth. This is just phase II of William's orthodontic plan. Phase I involved a spacer that had to be adjusted every night on the roof of his mouth.

One last shot of his "before" teeth before he went back.

This was about 5 minutes after his braces went on.

This is literally 3 days after the braces were applied. He had been in so much pain for days and it was his teeth moving at such a rapid rate.

Lizzie had to get some camera time in. Lizzie is my only kid out of 4 who doesn't need orthodontic work.

Now that it is 6 weeks later, we have noticed that William's bottom teeth are straightening out a little since the top teeth aren't putting such pressure on the bottoms.

Halloween Party '09

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:16:00 +0000

We held our family Halloween Party on Friday night, the night before Halloween. Even though I had been sick for three weeks leading up to it, the night was successful. Everyone had a great time!

Helga, the barmaid from Germany.

Cousin Rachel and sleepy Joker.

Rachel and her friend, Justin get down with the Star Wars theme.

Dipti and Stefanie. This was Dipti's first American Halloween.

Mom, me, and Stef.

My mom was a fortune teller but I think she looked like David Bowie!

Roscoe and William. Roscoe was scared when he first saw William in costume!

Why so serious?

Lizzie and I as Mafia bosses.

Katie was the purple fairy. With sass, of course...

Christian and Jimmy, the two hottest babes at the party!

Homecoming

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 03:04:00 +0000

William spent the entire summer in Georgia with his dad- 10 whole weeks. His sisters joined him for the second half. They got home August 15th and we were so happy to see them again. William grew about 3 inches while he was gone. Lizzie's best friend Millie came to the airport with us.

Finally getting his mouse ears from Disneyland. I feel bad that we couldn't take him.

Disneyland

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 02:50:00 +0000

Way, way back in June we took Drew to Disneyland for her first time. It was so much fun. I can't wait until we go back. With all the kids next time. In my defense, we were exhausted and the pictures of Christian and I really show it.

311

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:22:00 +0000

I'm a little late in publishing this. We went to the 311 concert back on June 11. It was fun. There were a whole lot of white Rasta kids from the suburbs trying to act cool but the music was amazing. Mark, Britnee, Eli, Jeff, and Katie were all there. I got to meet Eli's cute new girlfriend, Cheri as well. Very nice girl!

Cheri and Eli

311

Ziggy Marley and the Wailers

my awesome rain boots

looking tough

did I mention that it rained the first few hours? Britnee and I put on our sexy ponchos

Mark and Britnee

Katie and Jeff

Blackberry

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 16:13:00 +0000

I ordered a Blackberry. I'm excited! I can't wait for it to get here.

William

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 18:58:00 +0000

William left this morning to spend the summer with his dad in Georgia. I have never been away from my boy for so long! I have never been away from any of my kids for more than 5 days at a time. There are 75 or so days till he gets home. I hope it flies and that he has fun. We went to the park on Sunday and had a lot of fun and took some pictures.

Rubberduckzilla!

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Fri, 22 May 2009 04:49:00 +0000

Have I mentioned how much I love Japanese commercials? I think I have.

Photos with Mark Johnston

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Fri, 08 May 2009 20:20:00 +0000

Our friend, Mark Johnston, is a photographer of the highest magnitude. We are so lucky to have him as a friend. About two weeks ago he, Christian, Katie, and Mark's girlfriend Britnee, went down to Utah Lake on a super cold day and took some awesome photos.

On a side note, neither Mark nor Christian smoke. They just had cigars and cigarettes to get into the characters.

The truth

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 03:05:00 +0000

Obama rocks. 'Nuff said.

Photo Tag

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 02:28:00 +0000

My friend Donna tagged me with this one. Go to the 4th folder in your picture files and post the 4th photo in it.

This is Katie and me at Muse Music back in February. I took the kids to a local music concert and we had so much fun! I love spending time with my kids doing fun and different activities with them.

I tag whoever wants to participate in this madness.

April 1st

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 04:52:00 +0000

Also known as April Fool's Day. We did absolutely nothing to fool or trick anyone today. We are boring. The End.

Meeting my family

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 03:56:00 +0000

My dad is from New Jersey and he and my mom divorced when I was too young to remember him. He's had a lot of things he has had to deal with over the years and has not been a part of my life. About 10 years ago, I found his sister, Barbara, and through her found my Grandma Brown. I never thought that I would have the opportunity to meet any of them but since I went to New York I figured this could be now or never. My sweet grandma is now 84 and I am so glad that I finally got to meet her. Melissa came with me and documented the whole thing.

Me and my Grandma Brown at cousin Margarete's house.

Me and my dad's sister, Aunt Barbara. She was the initial contact all those years ago. When she saw me for the first time she said "You look like your dad!"

Aunt Barbara's husband, Ken, showing off a hat.

Looking at family pictures. My cousin Margarete is showing me her family albums. My grandma is standing at her left.

Me and Grandma Brown. We went to eat at a local diner.

Broadway

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 03:39:00 +0000

Melissa and I went to see the Broadway musical "Hair" the last night I was in town. We bought our tickets at 3:30 the afternoon of the show and had awesome seats. Fourth row from the stage. At the end the cast has audience members come up and dance and sing with them and I went up. I wasn't going to do it but Melissa said I would regret it if I didn't. I think she may have been right. It was so invigorating!

Looking fancy. It was only about 40 degrees outside.

Warmer in our coats.

Being silly.

The cast that we saw.

The Playbill cover picture. This really was an amazing experience.

More New York

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 03:20:00 +0000

Here are a few more pictures for your viewing pleasure.

Even the police station in Times Square is up in lights.

Museum of Natural History

Two crazy girls on the town

Me and Chris at Times Square

We missed the last ferry to the Statue of Liberty and never made it back out. It was cool to see it across the harbor though.

Vendor dog! It was delish

Central Park

Memorial to John Lennon

New York City

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 00:03:00 +0000

I was able to go to New York City from March 17 to 22. My best friend, Melissa, was hired as a flight attendant for Delta Airlines last year and moved from Provo to Queens. Our other best friend, Chris, went too. We had so much fun. It was my first time in the Big Apple and we lived it up! I got there in the early morning hours of St. Patrick's day and after a short nap we took the subway down to Times Square. We saw the St. Patrick's day parade up 5th Avenue, ate New York pizza, and went to a couple of bars. So different there than in Utah. There were hundreds of firefighters in uniform who had just been in the parade buying rounds and toasting each other. Melissa and I got in the spirit by buying green top hats in time square.

Coin Slot Cream

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 04:09:00 +0000

Friday night at Muse

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 23:51:00 +0000

Last Friday night, the kids and I decided to go to a live music show at Muse Music in Provo. Going to that type of event is fun for all of us and WAY better than watching yet another Hollywood movie. We have set a family goal to do one activity like this a month, whether it is Gallery Stroll on the first Friday night of every month or a concert or museum. It beats a weekend with nothing to report to your friends come Monday. Here are a few of the pictures from that night.

Some crazy kids with a homemade Chinese dragon. They were running up and down University Ave.

Liz and the only picture we got of any of the performers.

Our family friend, Mark, met up with us about an hour after the show started. This is the best picture of me to come out of the night.

Me and my Katie

Me and my Lizzie

I have nothing to say about this one.

We were trying to look cool. I don't think we achieved it.

The best neon sign ever. I want one in my house.

Cool old school photo booth.

This is in the front part of Muse where they have a small cafe. I had an amazing turkey and pesto panni and Liz had the best grilled cheese sandwich that I have ever tasted, EVER. William and Katie both had Apple Cinnamon muffins.

We really had a great time even though Christian was at his Friday night game night with the guys. I had great fun getting to spend some time with my kids and we all just loved the show.

Spring is in the air!

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 22:54:00 +0000

I know that I'm a little premature on this, but today is so beautiful. I can't wait for spring to come and flowers to grow. I think that if the weather holds I will be working in the yard just a little this weekend. I can tell it is getting close though, because I have such an urge to open all the windows in the house and clean everything! Clear out the storage room of everything we don't use and don't need and make a D.I. run. Yay for spring!!!!!

More Vegas.

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 05:29:00 +0000

One of the things we did on our trip was go to Madame Tussauds wax museum. I wanted to go so badly and the other 3 were vetoing it. We were able to get discount tickets and that softened their hearts some. Afterward they were all happy that I insisted so much.

I think this one speaks for itself.

Yay, Obama!

Steff could have gotten our asses shot up flashing those gang signs.

So Christian and I couldn't get married in Vegas because he got plastered and married George Clooney instead.

I've heard that I looked like Cameron Diaz a few times. What do you think?

Johnny Depp looked the most real to me. I kept expecting it to move!

Threesome between Joe, Jenna, and Steff. Sexy!

If I play my hand right I may be the next Playboy bunny.

Christian could be the next James Bond. At least I think so.

Vegas, Baby!

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 05:16:00 +0000

We went to Las Vegas January 16-19. Our friends, Joe and Steffanie McCombs, came along with us and we had a blast! We stayed at the Luxor, went to see Phantom of the Opera and Zumanity plus exhibits and shopping. Only a very small amount of drinking for Christian and me. The frozen daquiris you see below were basically it.

Mine was 28 ounces but Christian's was a whopping 44 ounces!

Steff was trying to take our picture at an Italian restaurant that we went to and we couldn't get a good one. Either my eyes were closed or his were. This picture is a perfect example. This was taken BEFORE we drank.

Me and Steff getting lucky with a leprechaun.

Not sure where they were taking the port a pots but they were flying high over the strip.

Metal man was awesome.

Thank you, India

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 01:25:00 +0000

I love Bollywood. I never wanted this commercial to stop!

Sheryl

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 06:26:00 +0000

Sheryl is a student at Ameritech College of Nursing. I had the privilege to work with her one on one during her final semester of school. She is so smart and quick to pick up on things. Now that she is finished I really miss working with her. She is going to be an awesome RN!

Poor girl was sick with a cold her last day with me. She had to wear a mask so she wouldn't pass it along.

Here we are at about 5:30 am at the end of our shift.

Crazy year so far

noreply@blogger.com (Heather) — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 23:00:00 +0000

I know that we are only in to 2009 3 weeks but we have had a lot of stuff going on. My 33rd birthday was January 7th. I feel better at 33 than I did at 23! Christian and I went to Las Vegas for MLK weekend. I'll put up the pictures soon. Katie fell down the stairs at her dad's house and broke her toe. We started a new semester at school so we're back in the grind. I had my first preceptor student at the hospital and she finished her time with me on Tuesday night. Sheryl is going to be a great nurse! I would write more now, but it's time to get ready for work. I'll expand on all of these when I get time.