Twilight Prom

My good friend Tara scored some "VIP" tickets to the Twilight Prom & Midnight Premier at Jordan Commons last Thursday Night and was so gracious to include me!! It was such a fun Girls Night and best of all we got to see the much anticipated movie Twilight!!

Melanee and I with our Twilight apples getting ready to meet up with the Utah county girls!

Tara, Me and Mel...old high school buddies!
Of course we got to walk the Red Carpet!! Notice Tara and Carla's sweet corsages that their sweet husbands got for them!! Joey in NO WAY supports my Twilight obsession!!
Taking a shot with the new love of our lives...Mr. Edward Cullen himself...we must have been in the sunlight...he's just glistening!! ha, ha!
They had a lot of fun vendors to check out and some crazy model look alike's!! They kind a creeped me out!! I think I'll stick to the cardboard cutouts!! I was getting my nails painted when everyone was getting the motorcycle shots :( My sister's hair school was doing hair/make-up/mini manicures at the prom...so it was fun to see her there!!
Me sitting on "Jacob's" motorcycle!!
Me and my black sparkly nails!
They had a Twilight inspired dinner planned! Everything from Bella's mushroom ravioli to Emmett's Victory Venison Sausage!! Clever name, right!?!

We also got candied apples for dessert!!
Me and Mel sporting our new vampire teeth!!
All the girls...Lauren, Carla, Carlie, Tara, Me and Melanee waiting patiently for the movie! They handed out a gift bag full of goodies...we also had free popcorn and drinks!! I unfortunately took too much advantage of the free drinks and had to pee so bad by the end of the movie!! I didn't think I was gonna make it!!
The Movie:
I wasn't sure what I thought about the movie at first! I new going into it that it wasn't going to be exactly like the book! But I think I analyzed it too much the first time I saw it! There were parts of it that I thought could have been better or different, but overall I really liked it! I loved the baseball and ballet studio scenes! And I loved Rob as Edward!!

I went to see it again on Friday night with my book club...and ended up liking it much more the second time! I tried really hard to just watch the movie and not think about the book!

Me, Marcie and Katie
The good news is... the movie made enough $$ opening weekend that they are going ahead with the 2nd movie, New Moon!! The bad news is... Joey has to put up with my obsession while I wait for it to come!!

Celebrating my Veteran!

With today being Veteran's Day...I just wanted to highlight some of Joey's military career! Beware...this is a long post with a lot of pictures!This was in the SLC airport before Joey left for boot camp with all the neighbor kids!

Boot camp graduation...

Both our families flew up to San Diego to see Joey's graduation!
Joey's BAD*** Picture!!
Where'd he go??
This was taken at Joey's baptism in San Clemente, California. Here he is with all his marine buddies and the guys he lived with for a year! He had a pretty unique unit being that they were all from Utah!
Joey in Kuwait...nothing but sand and sky!
Boys and their toys!! (Joey is 2nd in from the right)
Joey eating a HUGE can of peaches in Iraq.Another one of his toys!!

Some of the guys...
Rich and Joey in front of Babylon.Fox Company...in memory of SSGT. James Cawley

Joey is the 3rd from the right on the bottom row

The day Joey flew in to San Diego after their time in Iraq! (Don't mind my red face...I had been crying!!)
Joey and Jordan, with his daughter Hailey...they were both pretty happy to be home!
Joey training in Ukraine...
Playing with night vision in IsraelLove this guy- in this uniform!!
Joey, I am so proud of you! You have accomplished so much in your life! I'm so thankful for the sacrifices you have made for our family and for our country! We love you so much and appreciate all that you do!

Marine Corps Ball

Every year the Marine Corps has a Ball to celebrate it's birthday. I thought it would be fun to post some pictures of us at the ones we've attended. This is the only thing that I miss about Joey not being in the Marines anymore!

Joey and I at our first ball in California 2002 with Rich and Mary Nelson

Gotta love Joey's cheezy smile!!

All the guys Joey went to Iraq with... (2002)

Mary & Rich Nelson, Katie & Jordan Udall, Joey & I standing with Rick Leventhal the Fox news reporter that attached himself to Fox Company while they were in Iraq. (No I am not just fat in this picture...I was pregnant with Aspen!!!)

Joey and I at the last ball we attended.

Joey was in the sword ceremony his last year.

Happy Birthday!!

Today is the United States Marine Corps's 233rd Birthday! I pulled this quote from this years message from the commandant:

"...Only a few Americans choose the dangerous, but necessary, work of fighting our Nation's enemies. When our chapter of history is written it will be a saga of a selfless generation of Marines who were willing to stand up and fight for our Nation; to defend those who could not defend themselves; to thrive on the hardship and sacrifice expected of an elite warrior class; to march to the sound of the guns; and to ably shoulder the legacy of those Marines who have gone before.

On our 233rd birthday, first remember those who have served and those "angels" who have fallen- our reputation was built on their sacrifices. Remember our families; they are the unsung heroes whose support and dedication allow us to answer our Nation's call..."

Just wanted Joey to know I was thinking about him today...and that I love him so much!

Happy Birthday, Marines! Semper Fidelis!

History has been made...

I felt like I should probably do a post regarding the Presidential Election for 2008. Especially because it was the first election that I voted in. I sat in my living room with my husband Tuesday night watching the news as our 44th President was chosen. Barack Obama is the new president of the United States. He is the first african-american president...which is crazy...but sort of awesome in a way too. I'm so grateful that we live in a country where anything is possible! It was a little dissapointing and although I did not vote for him...I am supporting him and cheering him on! I hope that he will do good things while he leads our country! I found these two quotes and thought they would be nice to include...

Barack Obama: "If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer...This is our time, to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth, that, out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope. And where we are met with cynicism and doubts and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes, we can."

The President and his family!

John McCain: "I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him, but offering our next president our good will and earnest effort to find ways to come together to find the necessary compromises to bridge our differences and help restore our prosperity, defend our security in a dangerous world, and leave our children and grandchildren a stronger, better country than we inherited. Whatever our differences, we are fellow Americans. And please believe me when I say no association has ever meant more to me than that..."

God bless the USA!!!

Halloween

Here is how our day went...

I had to work for a couple of hours in the morning, which was a bummer! After I picked the kids up from Terah's house we went home and put them in their costumes. Aspen was a black kitty and Clayton was a monster. I think their costumes turned out pretty cute! I don't know why I think I need to make their costumes every year! I end up having my sewing machine/crafty crap all over the house for the entire month of October and then I wait until the last minute to finish them! I think maybe it's because by the time October comes around the next year I forget how much of a pain it really is! I do enjoy making them though...
Anyways, I took the kids back up to my work to show them off...I had promised my boss that I would bring them in! On the way home I decided to stop at my sister's hair school to say hello. Well on the way home I noticed that my wedding ring was missing!!! I started to think back to when I had last seen it on? I remembered having it on while I was working...but couldn't remember if I took it off to put lotion on or put gel in Clayton's hair?? I thought it especially weird that I had my wedding band on and also my promise ring (usually if I take off my wedding ring I also take off the promise ring). When I got home I searched my house, took my drain apart in the bathroom...but could not find it!! I called Joey and told him he had to tell me the truth and couldn't joke around with me if he had it...but he did not and hadn't seen it. So I called my work, my sister, the babysitter...but they all searched and could not find it! I felt so sick about it...but Joey was so good about it. He just kept telling me, "it's okay...it's not a big deal". But it was a huge deal to me!! I just prayed somebody would find it and turn it in!
So after all of that...we took the kids over to my Dad's house and had dinner...the kid's had fun playing with their cousins, Ethan and Nathan. Mo and Pete came over...Pete dressed up like a Polygamist and Mo dressed up like the perfect Peggy Bundy!!
Joey ended up going to the urgent care later that night because of an allergic reaction that gave him a rash/hives all over his body...which we have still yet to figure out!!
So the kids and I went to Joey's parents house and took the kids around the neighborhood trick-or-treating. The kids had lot's of fun filling their bags with candy...as if we need more to add to the 2 bags that we bought and didn't hand out! When we got back from going around the neighborhood...Clayton decided that it would be a good idea to throw up all over Grampa John and all over the couch and floor! I think he just had an upset stomach from all the candy he'd been snacking on!! So it was an interesting Halloween...to say the least!! Here are some pictures from our night...
Aspen really wanted to be a black kitty...just like "Dora" was on TV.

Clayton was such a cute monster!!

The usual family picture!!

Cousins: Nathan (Yoshi), Clayton, Aspen, and Ethan (Mario)

Me and my sister...Peggy Bundy!

Oh and a little side note: my sister called me on Saturday afternoon...she found my ring in the middle of the street on 7th east and 2100 south!! I was so excited and relieved!! What are the odds that she would find it...I still have no idea how I lost it??

Getting the word out...

The following announcement is a documentary that will be aired on PBS. Joey was part of Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marines that pushed into Baghdad in 2003. He carried an M-16 and an AT4 (anti tank rocket), and marched through the streets of Baghdad. This documentary started out 5 years ago and was about Fox company and their experiences in Iraq. It evolved into a study of 4 of the guys from his company and how they adjusted to civilian life after they got home from battle. The guys it highlights are all guys Joey lived with, associated with, trained with, and fought with. It will be shown on PBS on Wednesday, November 12th at 9:00 pm for anyone who might be interested. The trailer can be viewed at http://www.reservedtofight.com/. Just wanted to let you all know, I definitely think it's something worth watching!

MIRRORLAKE FILMSis pleased to announce the Premiere Broadcast of the feature documentaryRESERVED TO FIGHT
THE HARDEST BATTLES ARE FOUGHT AT HOME

Directed by Chantelle Squires
Produced by Manju Varghese and Coby Broyles
Featuring Mark Patterson, Matt Jemmett, Earl Simmons, and Chris Nibley

In 2003, Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marines was the first reserve unit activated for Operation Iraqi Freedom. They were also the first to return home.Reserved To Fight shares the experiences of four young Marines as they readjust to civilian life after serving in Iraq. The film is an intimate portrayal that explores the veteran's feelings of isolationism, difficulty relating to their loved ones and the reality of coming to terms with psychological wounds.
Reserved To Fight will broadcast Nationwide on PBS throughout the month of November 2008. Please visit http://www.reservedtofight.com/ and check local listings for screening times in your area.