Baby Wright's Baby Shower_03032009!!

Over the past several months I've been dwelling WAY too much on the "things" that I don't have or have lost instead of appreciating the "things" that I do have. This last week I had a few experiences that brought this fact to my attention & helped me see the error of my ways!!

I'd like to share one such experience now!!

The last several semesters of my college "life" I had the WONDERFUL priveledge of "volunteering" at the Orem Institute of Religion & becoming good friends with the office staff!! I spent nearly every morning (& every evening) helping w/registration & what ever else they requested!! One of these staff members is a friend of mine that I made in one of my wards (Orem College 16th), StashaLee!! StashaLee & Doug met in our ward & were married in 2007. I've become good enough friends with these ladies (& Doug), that I was invited to a baby shower for Doug & StashaLee's boy that is due in the next 5 weeks!! Following are just some of the pictures from this occasion:

{MOST of the attendees}

{YES...I picked this out ALL BY MYSELF!!!!}

{A couple of the other gifts given/received}

The reason I post this as one of my "experiences" is because of the great LOVE & acceptance that I feel from these WONDERFUL Sisters by being included in this time-honored "female" tradition!! These AMAZING Sisters helped to keep me active & going strong during this period of my life!! I am FOREVER indebted to them!!!

LYB!!!!!

Nick's B-day Celebration 2009!!!

So...I LOVE to eat & I LOVE to celebrate special occasions & when the opportunity comes that they come hand-in-hand...I'm ALL for it!!!

Tuesday (03/03/09) was my good friend Nick's b-day!! He's not been around to join in the festivities the last couple of years because he's is in the Caribbean going to medical skool @ St George's University. This year HE'S lucky enough to have his new wife, Ku'ulei, there to celebrate it with him!! I miss them both VERY much, but that's not the point of this blog!! The point is...well...there really is no "point" I just wanted to let Nick & Ku'ulei know that we're thinking of them if though they're MILES away!! I hope you had a good one Buddy!!! BACOCNAOI...ACS!!!!!!

This year a few of Nick's friends got together at Bangkok Grill (one of Nick's favorite food establishments) to commemorate Nick's arrival to this world!! 3 out of the 4 of us enjoyed the Masaman (my FAVorite!!!) It was good getting together!! Oh how I miss the old days!!!

{Skoot, MandyAnn, Rob & Ben P enjoyin the BG!!}

I hope EVERYONE...ESPECIALLY Nick & Ku'ulei...had a WUNDERBAR day this last Tuesday!!! Whether it was celebrating a special day or just having a "good one"!!!

LYB!!!!!

One Non-Stop Weekend!!!

There are two types of weekends that I LOVE!! The first is where you can sit around doing absolutely NOTHING...and feel good about it!! And the other is where you have SOOO much planned that you can hardly breathe!!! This last weekend was the latter!!

Babysitting (aka Kid Watching) Some of My Cousins

It all started Friday night when I got to spend the evening watching some of my cousin's kids...Darron & Heather's: Halle, Ava & Thomas and Ryan & Melanie's: Maxwell!!

It's been a LONG time since I've "watched" kids & it was fun getting to do it again!! One of the reasons I like spending time with kids is because I consider myself as having "Peter Pan Syndrome"!! One of these reasons is due to the unconditional LOVE that children have for others!! I wish I had this type of LOVE!! The reason I say this is because I haven't done much with any of these kids...even at family functions...and they welcomed me right in!! Here's a small example: Halle was SOOO helpful especially with Maxwell!! Maxwell is VERY shy & I didn't get to spend much time with him before Ryan left so I'm sure that added to his bashfulness!! Thank goodness for Halle!! She helped him feel welcome & helped to lighten the mood!! Gradually Maxwell came around & joined us for a little dinner!! After we finished dinner we made our way downstairs to the "toy" room. Halle had put "Cars" on the TV for Maxwell earlier so I just finished watching that while I also got to play with the kids a little!! Overall it was a very good night!!

Golfing at The Ranches w/Andy, Ryan & Rich

Earlier in the week my friend Andy called to see if I'd be available (and willing) to go golfing!! LUCKILY I hadn't had anything planned for Saturday yet so I agreed!! It doesn't take much twisting of my arm to get out to play golf...or to spend time with my friends!!! I was SOOO happy that I got to go...even if I didn't play well!! But let's be honest...when do I ever play good golf!!!

BYU-Utah Basketball Game w/The Landlord

Saturday morning JUST before heading to the golf course The Landlord sent me a text aksing what I'd be doing at 3pm that day!! I told him that I'd be on the "links" & he said that he had an extra ticket to the BYU-UofU basketball game!! I told him that I'd LOVE to go but it all depended on what time I got done golfing!! He said that that would be fine!! I wasn't expecting to be SOOO long at the golf course, but we didn't end up getting to the game until 25 seconds left in the first half!!! Which was fine...according to the Landlord...because BYU wasn't doing very well!! I must be a good luck charm for BYU cause they ended up "pulling it out" & beat the U by 13 points!!

Bowling at Miracle Bowl Before Dave F Leaves for PA

Jessica & Andrea planned a surprise dinner/gathering for Dave F who is heading back to PA to be with his family!! I have some of the AWESOMEST friends that think SOOOO much of others!! The reason I say this is because Jessica & Andrea sat at Iggy's for OVER an hour just to get a table big enough for the 16 friends of Dave's that ended up showing up!! After dinner at Iggy's we went bowling at the Miracle Bowl!! I LOVE bowling...even though like golf, I'm not all that good!!! But being with GRRRREAT friends makes up for the bad bowling!! Don't let the picture below fool you...Andrea & Matt REALLY did have a good time!!!

LYB!!!!!

Chelsey & Monika's B-day Celebration!!!

What a Saturday night I had!!! I got to celebrate the births of a few of my friends!! Monika & Steph D's birthdays were on Thursday while Chelsey's birthday was on Saturday!! Steph D & some of her friends made the long drive to Mapleton from Riverton, while Chelsey made the even LONGER drive from St George!!

When I asked Chelsey what kind of cake she wanted she IMMEDIATELY told me that she wanted her Mother (Ma Judy) to make pear pies!! I'd never heard of "pear" pie before, but I'm glad she suggested it because Ma Judy made some AMAZING pear pies!! Thnx Ma Judy!!!!

Thnx also to my cousins Kacy & Darin for allowing us to use their home!!

{The PAAAARTAY party!!!}

{Yes...I DID make the cake & Ma Judy made the Pear Pies...MMMM!!!!}

{Didn't Jessica, Andrea & Lisa do a GRRRREAT job decorating?!?!}

{Smokey watching over us playing UNO...gotta LOVE it!!!}

LYB!!!!!

An Iggy's Weekend!!!

This last weekend I got to try out a new restaurant, Iggy's Sports Grill...TWICE!!! Once in Orem with some friends, the other in Centerville with some family!! They've got quite a wide-spread menu...burgers, samiches, pizza, pasta, seafood...TOO many choices!!!! I got the Halibut Fish N'Chips Friday night & the Chicken Strips Saturday afternoon!! Both were...GRRRREAT!!!!!

{Good food & Good Friends}

{Iggy's Chicken Balls}

{"There are several things considered sacred in this life. One of those happens to be another mans fries. If you remember that you will live a long and happy life." (Name that quote & you'll win a prize!!)}


{Family time at Iggy's Sports Grill}




{We missed you Charlie, Haley & Kannon!!}

LYB!!!!!

Valentines Weekend 2009

This weekend was like most of my weekends lately...I got to spend it with Family!! This weekend was with "the Landlord" & his family!!

Friday night I was invited to go to dinner with "the Landlord", Beckham & Avi. We went some place I hadn't been for months...Burgers Supreme!! MMMM!! The kids were excited as well...at least at first. You can tell from the pictures that things changed thru the meal!!

As I've mentioned in an earlier blog "the Landlord" owns a flower shop!! And as you know...Valentines is a VERY busy time of year for florists!! In fact...Valentines is when florists make most of their money that helps them to stay in business for the rest of the year!! This Valentines "the Landlord" asked if I would help make deliveries. I helped them out last Mother's Day & it was VERY rewarding seeing the joy that these Mothers experienced from such a simple act of kindness by their LOVEd ones!! I wanted to witness this "joy" again so I HAPPILY & WILLINGLY agreed!! Sadly, this year, I only got to make about 3 deliveries & none of them were home so we just had to leave them at the door!! :'( All well...maybe next year!!!!

{Amy hard at work preparing the AMAZING flower arrangements!!}

{Some of the AMAZING arrangements created!!}


{Sadly...none of these balloons were sold!! Why not?!?!}

{This one's for you Sis...Happy Valentine's Day!!!!}

One of the funnest parts about Valentines this year was after the snow stopped falling!!! I got to spend some "quality" time with Mator!! After cleaning the Landlord's driveway I went across the street & started cleaning off the walkways of the church. The best part about cleaning off the church walks is doing donuts in the parking lot!!! I've been contemplating selling Mator cause I'm getting desperate for money (DANG economy!!!!), but after this weekend...there's NO way I could get rid of him!!! It's just WAY too much fun!!!! I can't wait for the weather to warm up so I can hit the trails!!!

LYB!!!!!

Way TOO Long!!! But It's Because...

...I've been having TOO much fun with my family!!!!

I have a confession to make...I make some of the BESTEST cookies...EVER!!! There's just something about 'em!! I can't explain it!! Those that have had them know what I mean...right Mel D-M?!?!
I can't take ALL the credit this time though, cause my Mother & Sister "chipped" in (ALL puns intended)!!!

{Yes...I'm ACTUALLY doing it...I PROMISE!!!}


{Gotta use the mini ice cream scope to get the perfect shape; How the family likes to eat the cookies!!}


{The finished product...YUMMMMMMM!!}

I LOVE helping people!! It just makes me feel good!! Even if it's something I've never done before...at least I can learn & I'll know how to do it (or at least look like I do) down the road sometime!! I'll admit...I can't do everything, but what I CAN do I'm VERY good at (see story above)!! I mean I'm NO mechanic or AC/Heating man (I rely on Uncle Rodney for pointers in those two departments...THANX Uncle Rod!!!!) One of my favorite ways to think of myself is..."a jack of all trades, but master of none!!" The reason I say this is because a couple of weekends ago when I was up at my parents my sister aksed me to help her put together a new bookshelf that she bought!! Check out my workings!!!!

Now for a little trip down memory lane...

Growing up we would frequent Grandma & Grandpa Miller's EVERY Sunday (or more)!! Back in the TV room there was often set up a card table with a puzzle-in-progress on it!! When I would sleep over...which was VERY OFTEN...I would help Grandma put the puzzles together!! Oh the memories!! Most of the puzzles were "landscapes"...they were BEAUTIFUL!!! Where did those puzzles end up?!?! I'm gonna have to track them down...SORRY...I digress!!! Anyhow...the other week I was up in Bountiful & saw some puzzles that Mother had bought for the kids & I was feeling in a "puzzle-making" mood!! As you can see from one of the pictures...I put ALL my focus into it!! Mother even came over to give me some help!!! LOVE YOU MOM!!!!

For Christmas the "Boyz" bought Father a game for Christmas that we used to play every year right around Thanksgiving/Christmas/New Years/Super Bowl!! It's become a classic & as most things do...as worn out!! Well...Charlie & Haley found this EXACT game someplace while they were on their "second" honeymoon!! It's called "Electric Football"!! While I was putting the puzzle together the other weekend Father played this "treasure" of a game with Taylor & Rachel!!

I SURE do LOVE my family and ALL the wonderful memories we have!! As most families...we don't get along ALL the time & there's one or two members of the family that are just a little TOO competative...okay...VERY competative!! But without the competition...where would the fun be!!!

LYB!!!!!