The Beauty of Adulthood

I couldn't help but contemplate the beauty of adulthood as I grabbed a bag of Oreos and a glass of milk for breakfast at 11:15 this morning, having awoken for the day 15 minutes earlier. You would never get away with this as a child! Parents try in vain to steer their kids clear of bad habits, junk food and late nights just to find out that when they are older, they will do it anyway. So I ask myself...what is the point of doing this to your children?

I want to take a little poll just because I am curious. I want to know if you were forced to eat healthy or a certain way as a child and if you still do it or if you eat worse now because of it. Vice versa....if you were not forced to eat healthy, I want to know if you pig out on oreos for breakfast or if you wait to have a so-called "real" breakfast. Check it out on the right.

Please leave a comment with insight. Whether you have kids or not, I would actually really love to hear your perspective.

...and this does not just apply to food, going to bed early or waking up at a decent hour. I expand this question to all things you make your children do that you don't do yourself. Bathe everyday! Come on!

...and, no, I didn't eat a whole sleeve of oreos as might be mistaken from the picture above. That's just gross.

**Disclaimer: My oreos for breakfast is not a reflection on my mother's child rearing... she gave me ice cream. :) Thanks Mamman!

Sweeeet!!!

Sheesh. Sorry it took so long to post something new!
So..... some of my friends at worked asked what I wanted to do for my birthday and naturally I said I wanted to go to a candy factory.... so off we went. It was great. Their normal clientelle is approximately 5 years old so it is a great place to take kids and it's free!! (I wouldn't try to leave without buying them something from the candy store though!) Here are some fun pictures.

In front of Sweet's Candy Factory

My pile of taffy

Courtney, Laura, Diane, Me, Brandi

Did you know it takes a whole week to make a single jelly bean!? We got to taste unfinished/polished jelly beans right off the line and they are actually better than the finished ones! We also got to taste fresh chocolate covered cinnamon bears, and egg nog & caramel taffy straight off the line! It was still warm!
They have pipes that are filled with corn syrup, sugar, chocolate, etc that gets pumped to the different rooms of the factory. They are the only candy factory that stirs their chocolate by waterfall...and you can take that to the bank! :)

The Book of Mormon by Dr. Seuss

Thanks Aspen! This is cute. Enjoy.

What if Dr. Seuss Wrote the Book of Mormon?
by K. Taylor

Nephi:
Of goodly parents I was born
I've never drunk, I've never sworn
This is Lehi, he's my dad
Laman, Lemuel, they are bad
And who is this?
Why this is Sam.
Sam:
Yes, this is Sam, Sam I am
Laman:
That Sam I am, that Sam I am
I do not like that Sam I am
Sam:
In a tent, my father dwelt
Laman:
And it's so hot, I think I'll melt
Lemuel:
Our father's brain is out of whack
Laman:
Yeah, it's too hot, I'm going back
Lehi:
Then go and get the plates, my dear
Laman:
On second thought, I'm staying here
Nephi:
You said you'd leave and go away
Now all you want to do is stay?
Lemuel:
That Nephi always gets his way
Laman:
Here we are in this damp cave
Sam:
We would not be here if you'd behave
Nephi:
I will go and I will do
There's the angel, that's my cue
Laban's had too much to drink
Now he'll lose his head, I think
Nephi:
Look what I found, a brother from the quorum
Sam:
We will take him home, we will call him Zoram
Laman:
Our gold and silver we have spent
I do not like it in this tent
Lemuel:
I cannot read the Liahona
I must have drunk too much Corona
Laman:
We hate it here, we have no lives
Lehi:
Then go back to the city and get some wives
Lehi:
A tree, a tree, I see a tree!!
The fruit is white, the fruit is free!
A floating building, could it be?
Why do they laugh and stare at me?
Laman, Lemuel, come and see!
Laman:
We will not eat your precious fruit
Lemuel:
We will not wear a tie and suit
Laman:
We will not help you build your boat
Lemuel:
We do not think that it will float
Laman:
No not this boat, it will not float
Not even in a shallow moat
I do not care what Nephi wrote
Lemuel:
We will not eat your fruit I say
Laman:
We will not eat it on a tray
Lemuel:
And we won't eat it in a tent
Not even if your clothes you rent
Laman:
We'd rather have a can of spam
L&L:
We will not eat it, Sam I am
Sam:
You do not like it, so you say
Try it, try it, and you may
Try it and you may I say
Laman:
Sam, if you will let us be,
We will try it, you will see
L&L:
Say, we like this fruit of life
Sorry that we caused such strife
You've saved us from an awful jam
Thank you, thank you, Sam I am!

Proceed with Caution

Check Us Out! Payson Games Footage

This is our Timed Medley. It consists of 9 tunes. You may recognize the tenor in the middle. ;D



This next one is our MSR (March, Srathspey, Reel- types of scottish tunes). You can't really see the tenors but you can sure hear us. We are the drums with the different pitches. Listen for it!

We Rocked the Payson Highland Games

For those of you who don't know how nerdy I am yet, I play in a Scottish Bagpipe Band. No...I don't play the bagpipes. I play the tenor drum (much more fun and exciting). I have been playing since the summer of 2001 and enjoy every minute of it.

The band is called Wasatch and District Pipe Band since we have players that come to participate from all over the Wasatch Front. We have players from north of Ogden down to Payson.
I am the lead of 8 other talented tenor drummers. I love my position and enjoy seeing everyone continue to improve. Below are pictures of the 2 tenors that competed solo at the Payson games. They took 1st and 3rd place out of 5. I am proud of all the tenors for their hard work and improvement.

Overall, we took 1st place in the band competition! Wahoo! It was a ton of fun. I look forward to the Payson games every year because they are fairly small and it is just a fun relaxing competition. We also have traditions... like going to the "One Man Band" restaurant for brunch and getting snow cones for the ride home after the games (That of course is the best part!)

A Tribute To My Grandfather

My grandfather passed away in June 2007 having lived a long and fruitful life. Words cannot explain how many people loved him or how many people he loved throughout his life. My grandpa had a wonderful sense of humor, even up to the last day. The day before he passed happened to be his birthday and I was sitting holding his hand. His hospital bed faced a large window that overlooked the valley. When night fell, he pointed to the window and said, "Who's that funny looking fart?". At first I thought he was loosing it. But then, realizing that he was looking at his own reflection, I couldn't help but burst out laughing. That's my grandpa for ya. He had his wits about him to the very end. Here are some memories of his life here on earth. This is how I have and always will remember him. I know he is watching out for us every minute of the day. I love you grandpa. This one is for you.