Simply Seamans

A Proud Aunt...

2012-01-29T22:04:00.000-08:00

So Friday Sarah became a new Aunt. Rachael and Brad were blessed with a healthy baby boy. Of course the sex of the baby was not known until the birth so it was a definite surprise to all. Welcome Brett you beautiful boy you, and congratulations to the Carpenter Family, we love you guys...

Should of called in Sick...

2012-01-28T21:44:00.000-08:00

Another day at work,

Jon was dispatched to one of his customers sites because the automated temperature controls were not working in the room known as the "Cadaver Lab", oh and while your there could you see why the exhaust fan is not working in that room as well. Needless to say Jon's co-worker was not so hot on working in the Cadaver Lab so Jon offered to do the work. Nothing like chillin in a room with two Cadavers repairing ventilation problems. Breath deep my friend....

Milkshake & Fries...

2012-01-23T17:00:00.000-08:00

While Laurissa was at her rehearsal on Monday, dad and Alison ventured to Wingers to get her a order of fries and a milkshake. We sat and talked about school, friends, and boys.... Okay not boys thank goodness. We had a good time together and now that it is up on the Blog, we are awaiting the guilt trip from everyone else in the family...

She got it!!!

2012-01-20T16:01:00.000-08:00

For Christmas we got tickets to see a performance at a local playhouse. While attending that show at the Desert Start Theater, they announced their first ever all child production. Laurissa auditioned and was given on of the roles that she wanted. She will be part of the "Voices of Good" which will included lots of singing and dancing, and she will also be participating in the Ollio at the end of the performance. Opening night will be on Friday March 30th and then there will be a matinee and evening performance on Saturday the 31, show times have not been announced yet but will be shortly. Good luck Laurissa we love you and can't wait to see you in action.

Family Night, Movie Night...

2012-01-18T15:45:00.000-08:00

On Monday we decided to venture out to the dollar movie and enjoy "Puss in Boots" on the big screen in 3D. The kids loved the movie and it as fun to get out together and enjoy a night together.

A Snowy Morning Walk...

2012-01-10T22:35:00.000-08:00

Yes those are our friends way ahead of us in the picture...This year dad is trying to get a little fit and has asked his eldest daughter to join, a little daddy daughter time you could say. So on Saturday, Laurissa and Dad went up to the tippy top of South Mountain for a Saturday morning walk with friends. Although we were planning on walking the mountain trails, the snow storm forced us to stick to the sidewalks. We walked almost 2 miles, uphill both ways, (just like Gramps). Even though it was on the sidewalk, the snowy terrain added more difficulty to the walk and gave us one heck of a cardio workout. Not a bad beginning to the year, and dad got some quality time.

Happy New Year!!!

2012-01-02T23:57:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to all! Hope you all had a safe and memorable night. We ended the year at home with the family. We did our usual for New Years, too much food and movies, games, cider, and fireworks... Jon's favorite was the food, taco's, meatballs, lil' smokies, chips, cheese and crackers, smoked salmon, shrimp, artichoke dip, hot wings, chocolates... Like we said "too much food" and no food theme. But there were no complaints.

We are hopeful this new year will bring us lots of joy and new memories to last a lifetime.

It's a Wonderful Gift...

2011-12-31T22:00:00.000-08:00

So this Christmas, Jon's Dad gave the family tickets to see "It's a Wonderful Life" at the Desert Star Theater. This particular theater is well known for it's twists on all the performances it puts on. We attended the December 31st matinee performance and as expected, it was very entertaining and kept all of us laughing throughout the show. From George Baily loosing his hearing in his right ear because of the shoulder use of a "Ghetto Blaster" to his guardian angel being "Jonny Angel" a 50's greaser with amazing hair, it kept us in stitches. We really enjoyed the show and would like to thank Tom and Shirley for the memorable after noon.

Merry Christmas To All!!!!

2011-12-26T22:29:00.000-08:00

Well Christmas has come and gone and we hope you had a joyful Christmas holiday. Just wanted to share with you some of our holiday fun...

A Very Electrifying Performance

2011-12-20T21:44:00.000-08:00

Let us just say WOW!!! Kason's preschool had their Fall/Winter performance tonight and again WOW! There was a lot of energy in the room tonight, and Kason supplied half of it. Mrs. Vickie did a spectacular job coordinating this performance, as parents we can understand how difficult it can be to organize an event such as this with a couple of children let alone with Twelve of them. Thank you Mrs. Vickie for all your hard work and way to steel the show Kason. You definitely stood out and made yourself known. and I love the moves kiddo...

Ali's Christmas Program!!!

2011-12-16T22:54:00.000-08:00

So for the last two months, Alison has been participating in the Midvalley School Choir three mornings a week and on Thursday night she belted out the Christmas hits. Alison did very well she showed off her golden pipes and sang her heart out. After the awesome performance we celebrated with a late dinner at Arby's, just us and Grandparents Shafer. Hey it's "good mood food" and it was yummy, we were sure to ring the bell upon exiting the establishment at least 15 to 20 time you could say our experience was Grrrreat!! Way to go Alison you did awesome.

Here are some pictures of the night. Alison and the whole choir, Alison belting out the notes, and Alison and her best friend Ashley who we call her secret twin. Just in case, Alison is the one on the right. The video on the other hand was shot by Laurissa who is still trying to earn her Video legs... I'm currently having problems getting it to load so I'll keep trying... You keep looking...

Laurissa's Passion...

2011-12-09T23:35:00.000-08:00

This school year Laurissa has enrolled herself in a theater class and she is loving every minute of it. On Thursday Laurissa had her first school performance, a small performance but a good one in dad's opinion. Dad can sometimes help a little too much by telling her how she can improve the things she is doing when his advise is not wanted. Dad was very impressed by the way she presented herself on the stage, she didn't rush her part and she was not a stiff statue on the stage. It never seems to amaze us how well she does on stage, she truly loves the stage and has a passion for acting. Sorry the video quality in this is not that great and she is on the right..
We Love you Lissa..Keep it up...

Happy Birthday Grams!!!

2011-12-05T23:19:00.000-08:00

So Sunday we celebrated Cathy's birthday (Jon's mom), and enjoyed a delicious dinner and dessert. We thought the house was going to burn down with all the "old bags" candles on her cake. I won't tell you how many candles there were but Jon had to light the cake with a blowtorch. We are just fortunate didn't need to break out the fire extinguisher...
See for yourself...

Ode' To Mow-vember...

2011-12-01T23:03:00.000-08:00

So as some of you may know November was also known as "Mow-vember", a nationwide effort to raise awareness for men's health by growing a mustache during the entire month of November. Jon thought he would partake in it even though it was against Sarah's wishes. After a month of Sarah putting up with Jon's cavalier look, and Jon putting up with Sarah's snide remarks, Jon went back to the "goat"... All in all I think Jon's was pretty impressive however the fact that there were no pictures taken of Jon during this time period really show how much Sarah hated it.

Besides, no one looked as good as Kason...

Good Luck Tom!!!

2011-11-27T22:55:00.000-08:00

Well what better way to celebrate your last day in America than with your family. Sarah's brother Tommy headed off to the U.K. to star his new job. We were fortunate enough to spend a small thanksgiving at mom's where all the siblings were able to be together before he left for who knows how long (Sarah seems to think FOREVER). We had a nice night out on Friday the day before he left so we could sit around and tell stories and share our favorite memories together. I must say it was a very memorable night. Good luck Tommy, we miss you already keep in touch...

Happy November...

2011-11-20T22:53:00.000-08:00

Well with Thanksgiving upon us we look back at the things that we are thankful for. We have been very blessed this past year and have had the joy of making memories that will last for a lifetime. Jon is so thankful that we have acquire a garage in our last move so he has a place to put all his Halloween stuff that he has failed to get put away yet, well at least the neighbors don't have to look at it all. Kason had the honor of dressing up as a pig although dad thought he was just an Indian... You decide...

"Hello Snow!!!"

2011-11-05T23:26:00.000-07:00

So here it is the first week of November and we finally had our first good Snow storm. Dad was still taking down the halloween stuff this weekend while the kids played in the snow. Kason and Alison built a snowman outside Laurissa's window for her because she was feeling under the weather. Then they proceeded to build a snow fort but stopped short to take a little sun tanning break...

Soak it up Kiddos!!!

Happy Halloween!!!

2011-11-01T21:32:00.000-07:00

Yes, Yes, Yes, HAPPY HALLOWEEN KIDDIES! We had a great Halloween the kids got WAY too much candy, with Laurissa as a Fairy, Alison as a Witch Doll, and Kason as a Blue Power Ranger, they made out like bandits. Dad (The Joker) went crazy like he does every year with the decorations, spook alley, and scaring kiddies. Then there is poor mom, aka "the Ghostly Woman" who has been a single mother for the last 2 weeks. She is such a trooper and looks forward to dad putting in just as much effort into Christmas Lights.

So here's the video that shows the front yard the day after halloween. Sorry there was no video of Halloween night but I was pretty busy with all the guests I had that night and I totally spaced it. Maybe next year.

And then the picture of the house sorry for not having any at night as you can tell by the previous post it looks sooooo much better at night, but due to the storm that moved in late on halloween night I needed to break down all the lighting and fog machines that night. Bummer I know, but we had a fun night and I raised 60lbs of food for the "Utah Food Bank".

So as you can tell you start in the front yard and enter at the front porch. Then you go through a gallery and on to the back yard (keep in mind there are alot of props that work off of motion sensors and air pressure, scares the crap out of everyone who walk around). The last part is the maze in the garage, some say it was the hit. It featured walls that changed so you had a hard time getting out.

WE LOVE HALLOWEEN!!!

Whoa Kason...

2011-10-27T21:23:00.000-07:00

Yep He had his hands full. We went to lunch yesterday, one of the things we do during the day with Kason and Kason choose to have the corndog. He had to tell dad about the fun time he had at the Pumkin patch, and show him his pumkin. We enjoyed our lunch and as you can guess Kason did not conquer the corndog that day, the corndog won...

Kason and the Pumkin Patch...

2011-10-27T21:08:00.000-07:00

So Wednesday Kason Ventured to the Pumkin patch with his preschool class. The day was filled with running around the pumkin patch, story time, snacks, and of course picking out their own pumkin. They had a great time and enjoyed the beautiful weather. Thanks to Mrs. Vicki for the fun memories...

OKAY... One Little Peek.

2011-10-22T23:48:00.000-07:00

So with Halloween just around the corner I got out today and set up the front yard, (just the beginning of my Halloween display. With only a week left it is CRUNCH TIME! Be sure to keep checking in to see the rest of my crazy ideas.....

The Big Move!!!

2011-10-11T23:37:00.000-07:00

So we decided to move...

Yep we found a nice little place kinda like our old place but much nicer with newer features such as 2 newly remodeled bathrooms, a recently remodeled kitchen with new flooring, cabinets, an actual dishwasher (Sarah is liking this feature), appliances, new carpets, and lighting fixtures. It also comes with a two car garage and storage space. The rent was a little more but it's worth it, we finally can park all our vehicles in the driveway and not in the street which means, Yes, no parking on the grass in the winter months. So goodby "7902 Olympus Street" we will miss you and esspecally the spooky tree in the front that Jon carved on his own...

And hello "7906 Olympus Street", Yep it's right next door. The neighborhood is really nice and the neighbors are very friendly. I think we've settled in fairly quick and it feels like home. So don't forget to make the needed changes to your address books and make a note of the new address, 7906 Olympus Street Midvale Utah 84047. Sorry the blog has been neglected for the last month, but now we are back on track...

Clearing out the Veggies!!!

2011-10-10T22:39:00.000-07:00

Well it's that time of year when the weather starts to turn and the chill is starting to bite the leaves of my little sweeties in the garden. Looks like it is time to begin the clearing of the garden (boo hoo). Considering the garden had a slow start due to a late spring we were able to furnish ourselves with plenty of much needed and desired veggies all summer long. This is the last of the harvest that was collected on Sunday before the plants were pulled this week. So now that the garden is at it's end for the year, it looks like it is time for me to get started on Halloween... Oh boy, what will I do this year... Stay tuned...

Curtain Call...

2011-09-25T23:26:00.000-07:00

Yep once again the Childrens Theater came to Midvale and Laurissa played the part of the Red Knight in King Arthurs Quest. Here she is in Costume on stage striking a pose and with her "mini" after the show. She had a great time and was able to get extra credit in her Theater Class at school. She's our little "Drama Queen". Way to go Lissa!!!

Family Night in the Mountains...

2011-08-29T21:51:00.000-07:00

Just another family night... OK maybe not just another one. We ventured up into the mountains to celebrate the birthdays in the month of August. Some subs, cake, Frisbees, and hikes. a short but fun adventure, not to mention the weather was awesome...

Back to School!!!

2011-08-24T21:15:00.000-07:00

Well the girls started school this week and are setting back into the swing of thing as are mom and dad. Laurissa began middle school this year and is adapting well to middle school life and scheduling. Alison is excited to be a 5th grader and so far is enjoying her new teacher and really love being in the same class as her best friend Ashley. Kason will be starting in the beginning of September and I'm certain you'll be hearing about that...

2011-08-21T18:23:00.000-07:00

With the girls back to school tomorrow they were itching for a professional manicure so they could look their best for their first day of school. Could you think of a better time to pamper the ones you love? Sarah picked today, a beautiful Sunday evening, perfect time to bond, and their nails look "Fabulous!!!" Dad is just thankful that Kason didn't bond with mom tonight..

Father and Son Campout!!!

2011-08-20T14:14:00.000-07:00

The best thing about living in Utah is you can hop in your car, drive 30min and end up at an awsome camping spot...

Yesterday Kason and I departed on a Father and Son camp outing at Jordan Pines, (a church activity). We arrived got our tent set up and had a church supplied dinner, hamburgers, hot dogs, vegetables, chips, you get the idea (yumm-o). The Kason explored the woods and made new friends. After the sun went down, the kids had their fair share of "Sm ore's" and then took to the woods in the dark equipped with flashlights and glow rings, (I felt sorry for any other campers within 500yards). The kids ran until they were pooped, then it was off to bed with weather conditions clear and around 45degrees overnight. Waking up to a beautiful morning and another church supplied breakfast, pancakes, potatoes, sausage, bacon, eggs, juice, chocolate milk, hot cocoa, you get the point... Then time to pack up camp and prepare for our hike to Donut Falls. The hike was enjoyable and Kason barely made it but he enjoyed the rock climbing.

Just Splashing Around...

2011-08-14T15:18:00.000-07:00

And now time to play a game.... How about "Where's Kason"

Went to the pool yesterday and enjoyed hours of watery goodness... We enjoyed a day at the pool in Kerns, they were hosting their "Water and Ice" event where they open up both the entire recreation center and the Utah Olympic Oval for patrons to explore and enjoy all they have to offer. They even hosted a car show and motor cross. We looked around and checked all the booths and entertainment but decided to hang at the pool. (Big Surprise)

Girls Camp Rocks!!!

2011-08-13T13:53:00.000-07:00

So Laurissa spent the last week at girls camp in Heber Valley with the young women in our stake and from what we can gather, she had a blast. She spent time with friends and took the opportunity to make new friends. With such activities like the Legacy lake hike, nature hikes, crafts, skits, movie night, service projects, and of course the food. Oh yeah we love a well cooked meal and they were fed well, they even had to cook their meals. Laurissa loved this experience and had allot of fun. Dad was pretty impressed with the rope course and zip line she got to do (Lucky)...Here are some of the pictures she wishes to share with us.

Super Hero Cousins!!!

2011-08-12T13:23:00.000-07:00

Had the cousins visiting Utah for a couple of days and enjoyed time with them, playing video games, eating chili dogs, watching movies in the front yard, etc. But Kasons highlight during their visit was playing "Super Hero's" So look out you daftly villains, "Captain America" is on the prowl with his trusty sidekick "SpiderThor", to the rescue!!!

Harvest Days Summer BBQ!!!

2011-08-07T12:13:00.000-07:00

Well we had our big summer BBQ on Saturday and cooked up Jon's slow cooked pork whiskey ribs and smoked a 12lb Tri Tip Roast in the smoker for 8hrs. We also had some rotisserie chickens and fresh fried catfish, you add all the side dishes that everyone brought and we had a feast fit for a King. We realized later in the evening, that we failed to take any pictures of the BBQ. I guess with all the cooking, food, water fun, bouncer, Wii games, marshmallows roasting over the fire pit, fireworks, and just being with good friends and family we just were having too much fun. Wish everyone could have come, maybe next year huh? Here are some pictures from the block party that took place on our front lawn 4 days before our BBQ, but the ribs at the top, those are Jonny's babies from Saturday. Yumm-o!!

On Vacation Part 2!!!!

2011-07-30T23:17:00.000-07:00

Well,,, finally settling into the daily grind again but wishing we were still on the water. But does anyone really ever want to come home from Vacation? Now that Jon has finally got the pictures in order we are proud to present the 2011 vacation slide show, enjoy. Our vacation started on July 15th as we ventured to Lake Havasu, Arizona for 4 days visiting Jon's parents who live in Arizona, spending time with mom, dad, aunt, uncle, and of course the POOL! And let me tell you, the pool got a workout from us. Top that off with good food, the sights, and just flat out relaxing with the kids made it a much rewarding experience. We then traveled to Lake Powell in Page, Arizona for another 5 days where we stayed with more of Jon's Family. We stayed with Christain and Heather Jon's brother and sister and also were accompanied by Jon's parents in Utah who didn't want to miss out on the fun. We enjoyed being on the lake during the day and hanging with the family at night, not to mention the sights, fishing, boating, swimming,,, well you get the point. We Seamans folk are water trolls, we love our water... The time away as a family was a much needed experience and we couldn't get enough of the sunshine and the heat. The kids couldn't get enough swimming in the day, and Sarah just soaked up the Arizona heat, Jon didn't think Sarah could get any hotter, Jon was wrong... Thanks to everyone who made this trip possible. From the vehicles, the lodging arrangements, the entertainment, to the food, you made this trip a for sure memory.
Enjoy the slide show..
(don't forget to mute the music at the bottom of the page before starting the show)

Sushi Anyone!!!

2011-07-28T22:06:00.000-07:00

So Jon's Aunt and Uncle were visiting from Southern California and came over for a night of take out from our favorite Chinese restaurant. Jon decided to break out the Sushi skills and made a platter for everyone to share. It was yummy and didn't go to waste.

Happy 24th of July!!!!

2011-07-26T22:51:00.000-07:00

We returned home from our family vacation just in time for the neighborhood fireworks to celebrate the 24th of July (one of those silly Utah holidays when the Mormon Pioneers settled in the Salt Lake Valley). The kids enjoyed a different type of entertainment that night, after the 6 hour drive they were tired of the mp3 players, Nintendo DSi's, or DVD's in the car. Oh and the the radiator hose burst on the car within 2 hours of being home,,, Oh well, back to reality...

On Vacation!!!! (to be continued...)

2011-07-16T08:34:00.000-07:00

check back soon were having a blast!!!!

Happy 4th Everybody!!!

2011-07-05T10:32:00.000-07:00

Well to wouldn't be a true 4th of July Without a Parade.

We started out the day with a flag Ceremony and Pancake breakfast at the Church which Jon did the sound system for (a DJ's work is never done). We then took the family to the West Jordan Parade and enjoyed the free for all of candy, then ventured over to a local park to enjoy the 4th of July festivities, booths, food, games, playgrounds, etc. And what would the 4th of July be without barbequed hamburgers and fireworks. We indulged in Jon's jalapeno, onion, and garlic patties with pepper jack cheese (Mmmmm) and all your traditional fixings that go with a barbeque. Then we enjoyed a well displayed firework show from the neighbor next door with the family.

Just a thank you to all the our service men and women who serve, fight, and sacrifice all they do to give us the freedoms we have and sometimes don't appreciate enough.

Ali Bear Turns "10"!!!

2011-06-19T15:31:00.000-07:00

Well Alison celebrated her "10th" Birthday (she growing so fast), and had a sleep over with a bunch of friends and cousins. We started out with Bagel Pizzas, and then the kids played the Wii for a while (of course), then opened presents and had the delicious cake, (Alison ate her face on the cake), then we loaded up the kids and left for the drive-in movie. Alison choose the movie (Green Lantern followed by Thor) and boy what a fun time. After the first movie was over some of the kids needed to leave, the rest of us made it through the second feature Well at least the adults did. Finally around 2:00am we headed home for the night. Finishing off the sleepover with a pancake breakfast, (buttermilk and chocolate chip pancakes, waffles, eggs, bacon, fruit, doughnuts, O.J.) can you say Burrrp!!! It was a long night for Mom and Dad... Happy Birthday Princess!!!

What the Crepe!!!

2011-06-04T23:23:00.000-07:00

So instead of celebrating Kason's birthday today we were able to witness the marriage of Stephanie Lamb (Sarahs Cousin) to Rob Knudsen. It was a beautiful ceremony and the luncheon was delicious, but the most memorable part for the kids was the unlimited Crepes (Yumm), as you can tell Kason and cousin Kylee are loving them, and of course, Jon was the D.J. like always. Congratulations Steph and Rob...

Arrrr! We Having a Treasure Hunt...

2011-06-03T23:35:00.000-07:00

So Friday we celebrated Kason's birthday with a Pirate theme, we bounced in the bounce house and played on the swings then stuffed ourselves with over 40 hot dogs, delicious salads (macaroni and Cole slaw), chips, cupcakes and refreshing lemonade. Kason was asked what his favorite part of the party was and he loved his dad being dressed up like a pirate, although I think the funnest part of the party for the kids was the treasure hunt in the yard. Although we celebrated his birthday a day earlier, We partied like a scalley waggs, and the scalley waggs out numbered the grown ups for sure. Happy birthday Kason, we love you and the joy you bring into our lives...

15 Years Together...

2011-05-18T23:00:00.000-07:00

Well, Wednesday we celebrated our 15 year Anniversary with a nice quiet dinner and then a Soccer game. Yes 15 years have gone by, and they thought it wouldn't last... I am thankful everyday for the love of my life, thank you for being the most amazing person and for loving me the way I am. You are my everything, and my love for you grows stronger everyday.

Our Soccer Star!!!

2011-05-18T22:00:00.001-07:00

Alison played her final game on Wednesday with a win, she has found a sport she loves and she excels in. Her team "The Nighthawks" was filled with tons of talent and the kids had a blast plus finishing with a 6-2 season is something to celebrate... Way to go Nighthawks!!!

Be sure to check out the slide show further down on the right of this page.

Sunday Afternoon...

2011-05-15T19:21:00.000-07:00

Finally getting able to enjoy the warmer weather Alison and Kason enjoy a snack on the back porch after church, Ahhhhhhhhh!!!!!

Happy Mothers Day...

2011-05-08T22:43:00.001-07:00

So happy mother's day to all those mothers out there. Sarah unfortunately was not able to sleep in due to her responsibilities at church but she was able to enjoy a pleasant family breakfast featuring Eggs Benedict, Hash browns, Watermelon, and a Diet Coke (our morning joe). during church Laurissa gave a beautiful talk on mothers and was praised on her efforts, Alison participated in singing a song dedicated to moms during sacrament as well. Then she returned home for a much awaited nap. We ventured over to mom McNary's house for dinner where we enjoyed a wonderful meal all us boys chipped in on and had the opportunity to speak with Steven on the phone, Sarah's brother (currently on his mission). Sarah was pampered with a foot rub and a pedicure with color while enjoying a bowl of ice cream before retiring for the night. Thanks Sarah for all you do, we love you sooooooooooo much!!!

Hope all you mothers had a much deserved day of relaxation and pampering.

Happy Easter!!!

2011-04-24T21:08:00.000-07:00

Yep, the kids woke up this morning eager to see if the Easter Bunny paid us a visit. Fortunately for them, He Did! The kids had the opportunity to wake up, open baskets, hunt for Easter eggs, get all hopped up on candy by 8:00am and then go to Church at 9:00am. We had Jon's family over for dinner and with a little teamwork a wonderful dinner with all the trimming was prepared and were able to celebrate the resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ with the ones we love.

Sarah Goes To New York...

2011-04-02T21:20:00.000-07:00

So Sarah left her family to visit her great friend Jan Yost West in New York to assist her after her delivery of her baby. Sarah had a great time, she was able to visit and catch up with her buddy. She was also able to take a break away from her children so she could care for Jan's kids.

During her trip Sarah was able to visit the Palmyra Temple.

Walk around in the Sacred Grove.

Visit the house of Joseph Smith as well as tour the inside.

Sarah was also able to see the printing press where the Book Of Mormon was first published.

And finally she was able to see Niagara Falls, although she spent the majority of her time in New York doing mommy duties and doing all she could for Jan and Jon West, it was a blessing that she was able to visit these land marks and learn about the history of them.

Sarah had a great time and was blessed to visit both great friend and inspiring places and we agree she needed a much deserved break from us, but boy was she missed...

The "Holi" Celebration...

2011-03-28T22:09:00.000-07:00

For the first time we visited the Hare Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork Utah to celebrate the coming of spring. "Holi" is an India tradition celebrating the beginning of spring, the festival includes wonderful traditional dishes from India to eat, music all day, tours of the temple, and of course the trowing of color. The bright color is made from a chalk like substance and is available for purchase on site. While attending the festival attendees are encouraged to hug one and other is permission is given and spread color around, then every 2 hours they count down and throw the color in the air. It was a crazy experience and will be a festival we will attend yearly. The kids had a blast and being able to experience this with their cousins. However the only down fall to attending this festival is the cleanup. Enjoy the pics and defiantly check out the video, it is amazing.

Who's That Birthday Girl...

2011-03-25T00:32:00.000-07:00

So Laurissa has turned 12 and her wish was to have a late night "Duct Tape Party" and along with it she begged to have a wide variety of delicious fruit on hand. We caved to her wishes and let the kids make there own edible fruit arrangement. They started right after school and began the decorating, then they went crazy with the duct tape 11 rolls (3 large grey, and 6 designer patterns). Not to mention the rolls her friends brought and the rolls she got in her presents, that's allot of duct tape. After they made beautiful fruit arrangements and partook in allot of fruit. they then had cupcakes, opened presents and then we let them tear up the house until 1:30am (because we are such awesome parents). Other than someone getting shot in the eye by a party popper, it seemed to go off with out a hitch. Happy Birthday Sweetie!!!

Happy Birthday Jon!!!

2011-03-19T12:15:00.000-07:00

Yes I turned 35 years old and I don't feel a day over 20(okay, i do, who are we kidding). I came home from work to a beautifully decorated house and presents and cards just yearning to be opened. Had a little pie and then headed off to the Bayou for some Cajun eatin'. Yum!

Spiderman Spends The Night...

2011-03-13T15:02:00.000-07:00

Jon and Sarah ventured out on their weekly much needed "Date Night" and left Laurissa in charge. Laurissa always does a great job babysitting, doing activities to keep the kiddos happy and entertained. Tonight was face painting, and Kason was so happy with his Spiderman face that he refused to take it off for bed. Sleep tight Spidey!

Disney On Ice Comes To Town...

2011-03-08T17:35:00.000-08:00

Well needless to say the kids were excited to fine that they were going to Disney On Ice. Laurissa and Alison had a great time and enjoyed the entire show, Laurissa insisted on buy her own Disney cup and paid only 4 times more than it's actual value. Poor Kason was beside himself and couldn't understand why the Toy Story segment took so long, all he wanted to do was see Buzz and Woody, poor guy.. All in all they had a great time and Mom and Dad caved in and got them some silly light up Mickey ears but Kason's head was to big and he stretched the ears to the point that it shorted out the wiring. Oh well, can't win them all...

Snowday At The Zoo!!!

2011-03-06T18:11:00.000-08:00

So Mom and Kason ventured off to the Zoo with some neighborhood friends and yes us Utahans do go to the Zoo in the snow cause we is crazy folk... The kids had a blast playing and seeing all the animals. We can't wait for the weather to warm up so we can experience the zoo with all the crowds and hot stinky dung.

The Girls Sing The National Anthem

2011-01-28T22:53:00.000-08:00

After a beautiful choir performance in December, The Midvalley Elementary choir was invited to sing the National Anthem at the Utah Flash basketball game last week. They did a great job and were very excited to be on the court singing and thought it was an awesome opportunity to high five the players as they ran onto the court. Being with a majority of students from their school just made the rest of the night fun for both Laurissa and Alison, Kason just enjoyed the game and the other available activities.

Way To Go Girls!!!

Happy New Year!!!

2011-01-05T22:29:00.000-08:00

So another year has passed, and ringing in the New Year with California rolls is a delightful treat. Along with all the other food that was prepared Jon decided to attempt California rolls and was quite successful. Good food, family, and friends. Is there any better way to ring in the New Year?

"2010 In Review"

2010-12-30T21:04:00.000-08:00

So 2010 came and went and as you can tell, we have failed to frequently update you on what has been going on. We are getting back on track for the 2011 year, but for now, here's the condensed version for the 2010 year..

Enjoy!!!

Well we rang in the new year like everyone else, and Sarah and I celebrated our 34th Birthdays. Laurissa turned "12" (OMG!) and is just the sweetest daughter a parent can ask for. Sarah completed Cosmetology school and graduated at the end of March (Yeah we celebrated with a trip to Las Vegas). In April we had a blast hunting for Easter eggs in the SNOW! (burrrrrrr). In May we participated in organization of the first annual Williams Syndrome Walk. It was very successful and a joy to participate in. In June we celebrated 2 Birthdays, Kason turned "3" (YES 3!!!) and loves to dance and ride his bike. Alison turned "9" (WHAT!) and is full of energy and loves to be in the sunshine. We spent allot of time at Lagoon amusement park and took advantage of the season passes, enjoying rides, food, and the water park. in August we spent a long weekend at Yuba Lake, even though it was a very windy weekend, we had a blast. Yes like every year we went all out with Halloween and also had a Halloween Party, may need to pick just one next year. You can also see the spook alley on You Tube do a search for "Jon's Haunted House Spooking For Food" it is posted by redcarpetbarn11 that is Sarah's sister. Thanksgiving was fun and we got to do it twice this year, we brought all the pies (YUMMY!). Then Christmas arrived and what fun we had, The opportunity to celebrate the birth of our savior. Hope yours was bright...

Well that is it in a nutshell... Stay tuned, 2011 will be updated shortly..

Happy Halloween!!

2009-11-02T11:52:00.000-08:00

Here are some pics to show now but check back soon to view the video we will be posting soon. We hope you all had a SPOOKTACULAR HALLOWEEN!!!

Yes Halloween has come and gone and yes like always Jon did more than expected with this year it was on a Saturday night so Jon not only had a spook alley in the front yard and car port but opened it up to the back yard adding live actors and more props and displays as expected. Also we decieded to advertise it on the community Calandars with several news channels and handed out flyers to the kids school and classrooms. Then decided to to also host a food drive in the hopes that with admission being free, we could get people to donate to the "Utah Food Bank". It ran Friday and Saturday and it was a pretty good success, the turn out was impressive. We Collected about One Hundred pounds of food and Jon got to do what he love this holiday. Jon also made costumes for not only himself (an 8 foot Grim Reaper), but for kason (Flinstones Bam Bam) and Laurissa Transformers (Arcee). Alison was a vampire and sarah was a Mad Scientist.

It's Showtime!!!

2009-09-18T11:40:00.000-07:00

Laurissa and Alison had yet another wonderful performance in “The Princess and the Pea” with the Missoula’s Children’s Theater. They each got a part and rehearsed for a week and performed that weekend. They did very well and it showed, they just love being on stage performing. Great Job Girls

Good Eats!!

2009-08-22T11:34:00.000-07:00

Our Summer B.B.Q. was yet another success, with this years menu we provided the meat and the guests brought the sides. This year, My Traditional Pork Ribs (12 racks), one 12 pound dry rubbed smoked Brisket and (2) Smoked salmon fillets. To Put it blunt TOO MUCH FOOD!! But boy it was good, plus with the games, bouncer, friends and Fireworks, it was a great time. We wish you were there.

Our Beautiful Garden

2009-08-12T11:32:00.000-07:00

My Garden did well this year with plenty of Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Tomatilios, Cantaloupe, Watermelon, Honey Dew, Jalapeños, Banana Peppers, Bell Peppers, Celery, Artichokes, Red and Green Cabbage, Corn, Strawberries, Carrots, Butternut Squash, Yellow Squash, Zucchini and Cauliflower. Needless to say we ate well and had plenty of Salsa and Zucchini Relish from our garden. Then the herbs, Basil, Onion Chives, Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, Mint, Oregano, and Cilantro. It was a good year for our garden and we look forward to another next year..

Happy 4th of July

2009-07-04T21:35:00.000-07:00

We want to wish everyone a happy 4th of July. We had a great time enjoyed good food and friends with fireworks. We spent time at the local park to enjoy the festivities and roll in the hay.

OUR LITTLE PERFORMER!!

2009-07-02T11:43:00.000-07:00

Well just see for yourself!!

"HAPPY BIRHDAY ALISON"

2009-06-17T09:17:00.000-07:00

Yes our little girl is growing fast, just turning 8 yrs old and has decided to be baptised. she is growing so fast really enjoys gymnastics and playing on the bars.

We Love You Ali-Bear!!!

This "IS" the Place..

2009-06-15T10:04:00.000-07:00

On Friday Sarah took the family to "Utah's This is the Place Heritage Park" and had a good time both learning and playing.

Planes, Planes, Planes..

2009-06-08T08:53:00.000-07:00

The whole family took a trip up to Hill Air Force Base on Saturday to enjoy the Air Show.

What a fun experience for the whole family, with all the static displays for the kids to see up close and go in to the amazing aerial displays in the sky. we had a great time in the beautiful weather and the kids will never forget it. This will definitely be an event we will have to experience again..

"Happy Birthday Kason"

2009-06-07T22:50:00.000-07:00

Yes so on Thursday our little man turned 2yrs old and hopfull had a good birthday. With having a funfilled day with mom and then playing with dad at night, then don't forget the BBQ on Sunday with friends and family, we just can't see how he couldn't. We appreciate all those who were able to come out on Sunday and wish that those who are not near could have been there. In all we enjoyed his B-Day and made some good memories.

Here, see for yourself.

And check back soon, We will be adding a slide show to this in the next few days..

"Lemonade Anyone?"

2009-06-01T13:35:00.000-07:00

Well this last weekend Laurissa decided to start her own business. She has been bugging dad for weeks now to help her make a lemonade stand and the day finally came. It is both mobile and well organized, she set off on her first day of business and made $6.00 in 3 hours and boy was she excited. She looks forward to the additions and modifications dad has planned to make the stand more efficient and easier to work out of.

"Hair Show"

2009-05-30T13:14:00.000-07:00

Well Sarah participated in a bridal hair show her school put on May 27th. She Entered to do an "EXTREME" model for the show and I think she did a great job. Everyone loved her originality and we can easily say nobody else could come up with this idea.

Way to go Sarah...

Fun in the Sun..

2009-05-12T09:34:00.000-07:00

On Saturday the family went to Lagoon, Utah's own little amusement park and enjoyed a day of rides and sunshine. Sarah spent the majority of the day hitting all the big rides with the girls while the boys hung out in the kiddie area hitting the rides such as the Choo Choo Train, Air plains, Boats, Cars, etc. It was a great family day together and by days end we were all pretty tuckered out. Good thing we have season passports, we are looking forward to wearing them out this Summer..

A Beautiful Day For A Race.

2009-05-10T09:26:00.000-07:00

Well Jon kept to this years commitment to run in the "Race for the Cure" this year, and after training since January and losing 30 lbs he ran the 5k IN 30.33 his best time ever. It was a fun experience and we look forward to doing it every year. Now Jon's only thought is if he wants to do the MS-150 bike tour this year..

We will just have to see...

Oh, Rainy Day!!

2009-05-02T18:15:00.000-07:00

This Saturday Jon and the kids went to the "Walk for Autism", and as a family we were able to raise $135.00 in just over 24 hours. We wish to thank all those who donated to this cause, our close friends have two children who are affected by this disorder and we joined there team the "Buckle Boys" in support of them. It was a very cold and rainy day and the wind didn't help a whole lot as well as the morning rush and confusion Alison was fine but Laurissa forgot her sweater and Jon for got the umbrellas and thought he had put his sweats in the car and hadn't. It was a very cold day but they were able to though it out, not to mention the feeling of satisfaction Jon and the kids felt.

Early Day & A Movie..

2009-05-01T22:00:00.000-07:00

Well because the kids were so excited to see the new "X-MEN Origins" movie dad decided to check the girls out of school and go to a matinee. We even made our own T-shirts for the show, I know we tend to over do things sometimes... I wonder who I get that from, anyways the shirts had a custom design on the front in the center and the back had different statements on the back for each of us.

Kasons: "Logan is the man..."

Alisons: "Future Mrs. Wolverine."

Laurissas: "Wolverine is so HOT!"

Heather (laurissas friend): "Sabertooth is the cats MEOW."

Sarahs: "Wolvering is going to be my next husband."

Jons: "X-23 ain't got nuthin on Wolvering." (you kinda have to know who X-23 is.)

Needless to say we had a great time at the movies and we all loved it, next movie "TRANSFOMERS".

"Oh, Sunny Day"

2009-04-20T10:19:00.000-07:00

Well Saturday was such a beautiful day we went on a bike ride to the park and enjoyed the sunny weather. It finally feels like spring is here and biking to the convenience store for treats, the park to play, McDonald’s for lunch, and then home gave us a couple of hours of fun.

"Crazy Hair"

2009-04-18T10:16:00.000-07:00

Well, like every year “CRAZY HAIR DAY” has come again at the girls’ school. Laurissa went with the traditional bed head with the added short pony tails in the back, Alison however wanted to go with the bride of Frankenstein look. So needless to say dad when to work and created the doo, with a spring touch of course.

Easter 2009

2009-04-14T09:34:00.000-07:00

Well we hope you all had a "HOPPY" Easter, we had a blast the girls had a hard time going to sleep and Kason now has gotten the idea on what to do so he really enjoyed it this year. Wish you all could have shared it with us but since you couldn't, Watch This..

Laurissa's 10th Birthday

2009-04-06T00:06:00.000-07:00

Well Laurissa turned 10 on Wednesday the 25th and she woke up to her requested breakfast of Huevos Rancheros, Potatoes and Fruit. Then she had a wonderful day at school with treats delivered to the whole class, she went in for a cut, style, blue extensions and nails. Then she got her Chinese food for dinner. On Saturday she had her party and had a great time, then a small family b-day dinner at Grandmas house on Sunday. What a week, we are looking forward to seeing what the next year has in store..

Soon to be "10"

2009-03-23T19:42:00.000-07:00

Well Laurissa will be "10" this Wednesday the 25th and here's her invite we made up for her. Dad asked her what kinda "Girly Party" she wanted to have and she replied I don't want a "Girly Party", I WANT A "TRANSFORMER PARTY"...

A Beautiful Day!!

2009-03-14T13:36:00.000-07:00

This weekend we decided to go on a little hike and enjoy the beautiful weather. So on Saturday the whole fam damily plus a friend went up and hike the shoreline trail, it was a nice hike about an hour and the kids loved being in the hills plus the view (beautiful). After we grabbed subs and went to the park. Spring is nearly here and we are getting antsy, can't wait for this summer..

"Look at the Little Girly Man"

2009-03-13T11:37:00.000-07:00

Once again the girls have attacked Kason and given him the case of the “Girly Mans” Here he is seen sipping tea and enjoying a lovely evening at home. Dad can’t figure him out, sparkly shoes, tights on his head, and now this ..
Ohh Lord help this child…

Why are kids so weird?

2009-03-05T11:26:00.000-08:00

Here are some examples why parents love being parents..

Happy Birthday Sarah!!

2009-02-28T11:07:00.000-08:00

Well Sarah celebrated her 33rd Birthday (shhhhh don’t tell anyone) and Jon took her to a Hotel for the weekend and sent the kids off to their cousin’s house. She had an enjoyable time with her hubby and enjoyed a lovely dinner with friends at ”Pat’s BBQ “ where we had the best BBQ in Utah and had the privilege of listening to the “Legendary Porch Pounders” a wonderful local blues band. It was a great time and thanks to all who came to dinner with us and for those who sent their birthday wishes..

Night at the Circus

2009-02-10T10:55:00.000-08:00

Well the Kids had the opportunity to go to the Circus with dad and boy did they have fun. All the animals and the acrobats and the lion tamers and the cotton candy and the motorcycles and the face painting and the, well you get the point. But in the end, we had a good time.

The Big Production.

2009-01-20T09:51:00.000-08:00

Well another visit by the Massoula Childrens Theater brings the "Little Mermaid" to our town and of course our girls just had to be a part of it. Laurissa got to play the part of a "Seasider" and Alison was a "Town Crier". They both performed wonderfully and we had a great time..

"The Three Amigos"

2009-01-15T09:34:00.000-08:00

Kason thought it would be fun to try out a new hat and boy did the fashion catch on.. It is amazing how a simple article of clothing can entertain children for hours.

Oh well it could have been worst; they could have been dirty...

"Don't you, step on my ruby slippers"

2009-01-09T15:15:00.000-08:00

Well we think Kason is looking FABULOUS in his sisters shoes, although mom says it's cute dad is starting to worry. It really makes dad uncomfortable when the girls dress him up in their dresses. What's next Makeup?

"Christmas 2008"

2008-12-31T21:10:00.000-08:00

Having a hard time getting my slide show to upload so here are some pic until I can get it to work.

We Wish you a Merry Christmas

2008-12-23T08:21:00.000-08:00

Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and visit us after the holiday for more Christmas photos and videos.

"And the award goes to..."

2008-12-03T11:32:00.000-08:00

Well Laurissa has been doing very well in school. From getting a metal for a drawing she created for the "Reflections Contest" to being "Student of the month". She loves school and has a lot of talent.

WAY TO GO LAURISSA!!!

"TURKEY DAY"

2008-11-30T10:48:00.000-08:00

Well we hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day..

This year we spent the holiday here in town, having dinner at Sarahs Aunts house. Usually every year Jon likes to attempt an experimental dish for thanks giving dinner, it started out with the occasional casserole then it went to Ham two years running, Rotisserie duck was last years project. But this year since Jon just built this new smoker of his, he just had to attempt a "Smoked Turkey". So after a lot of worrying and research he committed to it. This hobby of his is almost an obsession, Making him to stay up until 1am to have everything prepared only to wake up at 3am to stoke up the smoker. The Turkey was on the grill by 3:30am and was done by 10:00am in plenty of time to get the gravy made and get cleaned up and travel to our destination for a 12:00pm dinner (or lunch). It was an amazing Turkey and everyone said it was the best they ever tasted Whiskey Smoked Turkey with Smoked Gravy (yummy, yummy,yum). Although it is sad to say that Jon will no longer be doing his traditional Thanksgiving experiments, he will now be doing his "Traditional Smoked Turkey". We are thankful for our family for those close to us right here in beautiful Salt Lake City Utah, and those of you who are not so close. We love you all and wish you a happy holiday season. As we look back on our Thanksgiving holiday and count those many blessings we are thankful for, and as we look forward to the upcoming Christmas holiday and celebrate the birth of our savior Jesus Christ. May God bless you all and we hope you have a safe and inspirational holiday season.

"HARLEYS RULE"

2008-11-24T14:46:00.000-08:00

Well it looks like mom and dad are in trouble. The kids got to sit on our neighbors 2008'Road King last week and thought it was the coolest thing. Especially Kason every time he hears our neighbor Jack leave his house or come home, Kason runs to the front window saying "Jack" over and over it is pretty cute to see. Our neighbor Jack said it looks like we'll have one child in Collage, one driving a Harley and, the other on the back of one.

"Winter is here"

2008-11-10T09:59:00.000-08:00

Well winter has arrived, on November 5th Jon had to work at Snowbird on a service call and this is the view from the customers driveway. If you think that's impressive you should see the view from the living room. Anyway we had a pretty good storm and Jon and the girls made their first Snowman of the year. We are looking forward to a white Christmas, (only 6 weeks left), hope your ready...

"Happy Halloween"

2008-11-03T12:18:00.000-08:00

Wish you all could have been with us this Halloween, we had too much fun. The house was turned into a haunted driveway that people could walk through and get scared. We had last years Dracula's Coffin that opens and closes, and the jumping skeleton that scares everyone, but then Jon decided to go further,(a little too far). We were equip with an electric chair that we made look life like with working dummy that thrashes around, a dark room that made everything glow with hanging skeletons, lasers and fog, then the laboratory with our mad doctor complete with working saw, then you pass by the crazy clown and the evil witch, and upon exiting you are attacked by the jumping skeleton. It turned out great and everyone loved it. Even the local news put it on the air but we were unable to catch it. so we hope you had a wonderful holiday and enjoy our slide show.

"A Halloween Preview"

2008-10-28T09:02:00.000-07:00

Okay, just a peek I'll have more for you on Halloween night. It is turning out a lot better than I thought it would this year.

"PUMPKINS"

2008-10-27T09:10:00.000-07:00

On Sunday the kids carved their pumpkins and Kason enjoyed eating the guts. here some pic of the carving good time. and also a prieview of the girls in their costumes.

"Autumn's In The Air"

2008-10-20T13:31:00.000-07:00

Nothing says Autumn is here like the wind whisking through your legs when your not wearing any pants. Well it's our favorite time of year. Halloween is just around the corner and the decorations are being set up, we will be posting pictures of the house when they are completed. But the Question is "What will I wear?" Well as you can tell, Kason is thinking of being Tom Cruise from Risky Business, Looking good so far.

Stay tuned, More to come...

"BRING ON THE BABIES!!"

2008-10-20T13:24:00.001-07:00

Welcome Abigail Carpenter!!! Another cousin came along on Oct. 18 2008 at 1:15am. She measured in at 6 lbs 8 oz and 18.5inches long. Kason doesn’t know what to think about the little baby but Laurissa and Alison are proud cousins and of course Sarah is one happy Aunt…

A day at the pool.

2008-09-29T13:46:00.001-07:00

Mom and Kason enjoying the pool last Saturday.

New pet for the kidsssss..

2008-09-29T10:15:00.000-07:00

Let’s see how long this pet lasts. Well we’ve had fish but the kids never fed them and dad got sick of cleaning the tank. Then we had mice and enjoyed them oddly enough but after Alison smothered one to death and the rest got sick and died we decided to put the whole pet thing on hold for a while. Then dad made the mistake of bringing a, you guessed it, a snake home after work one day last week. The girls had one once before but while camping left its cage unlocked and lost it in the woods. This one they named cheetah because it’s fast and hard to hold, it’s already gotten out 4 times but luckily didn’t wonder too far from the cage. Kason’s taken an interest to it and likes to touch it and then try to hit it, the girls love to hold it and think watching it eat feeder fish is cool.

The girls are on their way to Broadway!!

2008-09-25T09:45:00.000-07:00

On Sept. 20th the girls performed in their first play, “Hansel and Gretel” they had a lot of fun preparing for the play and they both did a wonderful job in their performance. Honestly, we feel they were the best on stage. Alison played a “Wally bird” and Laurissa was one of the witches “Nasties”. They performed on Saturday at 3:00 and at 7:30 at the Midvale arts center. They now are asking when the next play is so they can audition. Oh boy here we go…

Veggies Anyone?

2008-09-22T10:24:00.000-07:00

Well as you can tell, the garden is doing wonders and we are now officially sick of vegetables (just kidding) Kason has been eating all the small tomatoes single handed. The girls love the garden but are getting tired of harvesting the fields.

Movie Under The Stars!

2008-09-15T10:17:00.000-07:00

Well dad Promised and outdoor movie night and the girls finally called him on it. Last week we Watched Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the Game Plan under the stars. It was a hoot and we'll probably do it once more before the snow flies.