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Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Busy busy busy!!!!

It is a wild ride at the Eames home this season. Our 3 girls are discovering they LOVE theater. Taylor is rehearsing 3 shows, Katya has 2 and Brynn just has the one where all 3 girls are on stage together. They are doing so wonderful! I am amazed at how easily this comes to them. They will be on stage Dec 11th, 12th, 13th, 15th and 18th. If you will be in town or already live here and want to go call or email me and I will get you a discount and info.

While I am getting them to rehearsals (except Tay's Wed one THANKS LAURIE LUND!!!) and soon to be performances I am also the music director of the show at the elementary school. And I sing with a professional choir and have 19 more concerts to go before the 23rd. Our big concert on Temple Square is Dec 23rd at 8:30 pm in the Assembly Hall.

In between all that there is normal life and all that has to be done in preparation for said activities and Christmas! But we are loving every minute of it and it keeps us busy and out of trouble.

With that said you can see why I have not updated my blog! Here is what has gone on in the last couple weeks.

I went with my girlfriends Lisa, Joelle and Stacey on our annual girls night to the Utah Chocolate Show. It was smaller this year but I think I had more fun! Joelle's sisters came along with us this year. We had such a great time trying all the chocolates and all other kids of food there. The chocolate fountain was a popular place. There was a cake contest. Those were some AMAZING cakes! After we gorged on all the sweets it was time to put real food in our belly. We headed down to Johnny Carino's (where we go every year) Our fav waiter has since left since last year but we had a great replacement!!! He was awesome! We had a wonderful time talking and sharing pictures. It was a great night!



Joe and I were able to get out one night so we hit the Laughing Stock comedy show at the Off Broadway Theater where our girls perform. What a great show!!! I love that place. It is almost like a 2nd home.


We had Joe's dad's birthday lunch. All Joe's family that lives here was there even his ex step nephew! He is a really great guy. He is my age and fun to talk to.

We also had MY dad's birthday party! My brothers gave our dad such a great gift!!! They cut the pocket off of one of their mission suits and put their name tag on it and put it in a special frame!! It looks so cool!

We did some yard work and raked up all the leaves. I think my tree needs to grow less leaves....
Ry had a blast jumping into the piles. I tried to make a virtual flip book but I can't find a place to make one...


Thanksgiving was at the Jensen's home. They own the theater that we are so fond of. We had a great night with them and their family. We had a late dinner which I was totally ok with! I had all day to prepare the rest of my desserts and I didn't feel rushed. It was very nice. After we stuffed ourselves beyond capacity some of us fell asleep while others talked. Soon we had a roaring game of American Idol (karaoke) on the Wii going. It was SOOOOOOOOOOO fun!!!! Every one took turns singing. We started cleaning up around midnight and bid our farewells.



Well thats been our life in a giant nutshell. We are staying busy but like they say the busier you are the more you tend to be able to fit in.

We are so excited for this Christmas Season that has begun. I love how nearly the whole world becomes just a bit nicer to one another. I love the music. I love the parties and friends and socializing. I am especially grateful for the birth of our Savior. With out Him life would be meaningless.

Merry Christmas everyone!!!

Monday, November 17, 2008

The BEST Weekend EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What an amazing weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My 2 best friends Breezy and Danita flew in for the weekend so we could celebrate being best friends for 20 yrs!!!!

We decided he best way to do that was to go see New Kids on the Block!!!

OH MY GOSH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (really wanted to use a diff word... ;) )

It was UNREAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I will start at the beginning. Breezy was supposed to be here Fri night at 6:30. Her flight was canceled due to plane malfunction. She was able to get on a later flight that was to get in at 11:30pm. Danita got in just before 9. We went and grabbed food and went to the OBT for the comedy show. What a riot!!! The did the best game of Hecklers I had ever seen!!! Then they did Late for work just for me and Danita cuz we had to leave before the 2nd half of the show. It was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO awesome!!!!!

We left there and went to the airport to get Breezy! Her flight was another 30 min late! Oh well she got here and it was the BEST to finally see her again! We started for baggage claim when she said all she had was the her backpack. It wasn't even full!!! D had packet 2 suitcases and I had a huge full packed duffle and I still forgot stuff!

We headed to our hotel up in Ft. Union. We settled in and talked FOREVER and probably annoyed our neighbors. Oh well!!! Then we hit the hot tub! The place we stayed had a 24 hr hot tub (I made sure they did) It was so nice to relax and enjoy. We stayed up WAY too late and woke up just at the tail end of breakfast.

After breakfast we watched the rest of 27 dresses that we had started to watch in the dining room. Then we all slowly got ready for the day. We went to Ross and went shopping for D so she could find a jewel colored shirt for our photo shoot.

YES!!! I said photo shoot!!! D has a photographer friend in Springville that came up and did our pics. She was awesome! We got some amazing shots. I can't wait to see them! I did things with my foot that NO ONE had better tell my dr. But I was very careful and ony once almost hurt myself.

We left Salt Lake and went straight to the Cheesecake Factory. YUM!!!! There was a slight wait so we went and hung out in Nordstroms. Looked at shoes and D and I got our make up done at the Lancome counter. We looked smokin hot and ready for our big night! Dinner was SOOOOOOOOOOOOO yum!!! I love avocado eggrolls!

We ran back to the hotel to quickly change into our concert attire and poof up our hair. After we were satisfied we looked like older versions of our 15 year old selves we headed out to go see NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The concert was beyond words. I wasn 't expecting much. I was blown away and am completely in love with them again!!!! We were all screaming and finding ourselves giggling all night. They were even more amazing then when we were teenagers. I will be glowing for weeks!!! It was so awesome!!!!!!!!! After the concert we tried to use my E Center contacts to get back stage but the people I knew have all left. We were so sad..... We ran around the building and watched for them to get on thier busses. We watched Joey leave and thats all the cold we could stand. It was after 1 am and we were FREEZING!!!!!!!!!!!

We popcicled our way back to the car and went to eat at the Waffle House in Ft Union. It was so good and warm. Near 2:30am we headed back to our hotel. We went to the hot tub again and warmed up even more. After we got back to the room Breez crashed hard and D and I uploaded pics and vidieos to the internet. I crashed somewhere around 4. Danita stayed up til 6am!!! Silly girl.

We slept in til we had 40 min to get out of the hotel. We missed breakfast. We were almost ready and they came looking for us. We were out of there by 12:30 AND starving. In keeping with our anniversary theme we headed to Red Robin. We tried 2 new sandwhiches. They were really good! We left there in search of a park to inhale our cheesecake from the night before. We settled on the one down the street from G-ma Eames house. Joe was there getting the kids so we had them stop by so we could take pics of them for Breezy to take back to her kids. They are all really good friends too. We then took Breezy to the airport.

I hate "see you laters"

Danita got to spend the evening with me at her brothers house and then my choir rehearsal. Monday we had lunch with Tomoko and Angie. Roomamates of Danita's in Provo froma few years ago. That was way fun and I have a new friend!!! Angie just lives in South Jordan! We also went to the play reahearsal for the school then it was time to get D packed and to the airport. Again I had to say "see you later"

2.5 days was not enough......

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Updates to come....

So don't get your panties in a wad Amy!!

I'm workin on it!

We have been unbelievably busy since my last post.

Joe and I went to Vegas, we took the kids to see the Halloween show at the OBT (where they will be performing in Dec), I had foot surgery, we had Halloween Parties all over! The girls have play rehearsals on Mon, Wed, Wed, and Sat. Tay has acting lessons on Thurs. I direct the music for the play at the school so I'm doing that and recovering from surgery and getting everyone every where. We had my niece Megan's 1st b-day. I have also been subbing at the school. Not to mention dr appts. Joe and I also went to the Real game which they won so it kept them in the play offs. They beat LA and now will play NY this weekend!!

So we have been busy. I will publish posts with pics highlighting all the big events and some small ones.

Vegas Baby!!!

We had a great trip!!!! What a blast!!!!!

We got in Fri night and had been told of this club so we went and checked it out. It was fun and while Joe went to the bar to get a diet he walked upon a scene of a guy cleaning up a spill near a preg woman. He looked down, looked at her nad asked "did your water break?" She nearly died from laughter. She loved Joe right off nad got her husband. They came back to where I was and we all hit it off. We talked with them and got all the local scoop on Vegas. He is a chef at a great Medditeranian place. Sat we met him there at lunch. He cooked for us then came out and hung out with us. Sat night the club was having a jungle theme night. They invited us to go with them. So we did and hung out with them til dawn! It was so much fun! They are great people! During the day Sat before lunch we did some window shopping at the new mall ther ein Vegas. AWESOME place! We did some real shopping at the Armani store. We had lunch then we hit the strip for a while then we went to savers to find jungle clothes. They were having a great sale so we walked out of there with a crap load of winter clothes for the kids!

Sunday we slept ALLLL day. After staying up til 4 one night and dawn the next we were pooped. We made it down to the strip at dinner time and hit this great Japanese place in the Paris. Great food and beautiful place. We walked the strip a bit longer then headed back to the hotel to sleep again.

Monday the sun FINALLY came out!!!!!! I decided to take a vaca day and wore jeans and a tank top. After a few guys OBVIOUSLY were staring and "not" staring Joe and I decided to make a game out of it. It was HILARIOUS!!!!!!!!! We laughed all day at the guys who blatently stared, the ones who looked then looked at joe and looked away really fast and he ones who tried to look like they weren't looking. It was a blast! I got a henna tattoo on my lower back. It looked so pretty! AND we for got to take a pic of it! Rrrrrrrrrr!

Monday night was the whole reason we went. Terry Fator!!!!!!! What an AMAZING show!!!!!!!! I would have paid double to see it. It was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO good!!!! 3 times I was so overwhelmed by his amazing talent I was brought to tears. After the show we had the chance to meet him and get pics with him. He is a great guy and so real. In the audience was Tony Orlando (google him) We got to meet him after the show as well! He was a great guy and told Joe that he was a very lucky guy to be married to me.

Tues we hung out on the strip for a while then headed home. In the Bellagio there is this atrium area. They had it all decorated for fall. It was so beautiful!

We had a great time and can't wait to go see Terry again!

My last surgery for 2008 (I hope!)

On Monday we had our last Hoorah as a family before my surgery on my foot. We took the kids along with a bunch of my family and some friends to see the halloween show at the OBT. Dracula vs the Hunchback. 2 hrs of straight hilarity ensued!!! It was awesome!!!! What a great show. If you missed it you can blame me....... I wasn't doing my job to blog about it.

After the show we met Dracula outside and Ry used the force on him

On Wed the 22nd I went in for bunion surgery. I really hadn't planned on one last surgery. I really had had enough of them. BUT there is always a but... I wanted to see this new dr and see how I liked him and get his opinion on my foot. After talking to him he really wanted me in to get it taken care of before it turned into a bigger problem. He promised I would be able to stand for all my Christmas concerts and the surgery was free since my deductible was met so I said ok lets do it one more time...



Now here I am 2 weeks post op. I am doing far better then I would have thought. I am able to be to the rehearsals and direct the kids in the songs. I can do most house work so I am feeling productive. I have to take a pain killer every night so I can do my therapy. If I don't the pain lingers and makes me not want to continue to move my toe around. I keep hoping its not going to become an addiction. I'm in this stupid boot till Christmas....

Halloween Fun!!!








Halloween had a late start this year with us being so busy with rehearsals then me being laid up but we pulled it together at the last minute.

A few days before we had a ward Halloween party. The kids had a costume parade. It was a great night.

Every year we have all the trick or treaters and their families come in from the cold to have donuts and hot drinks. This is our 2nd yr of doing it and it has been a great success. We love it!

I got the house all decked out and it looked like a spooky dungeon.

The night before Halloween we carved pumpkins. the kids had a really fun time getting all gooey and gross. We roasted the seeds and they were YUM! We stuffed the kittens into the pumpkins. They weren't too happy about it but it made for good pics!

This year Katya was a hippie
Taylor was a toaster (yah she's weird)












Brynn was Pebbles
Ryan was Spider-Man













Corde was Clifford the Big Red Dog

They had a great time trick-or-treating. The weather was PERFECT!!!!!!!!!! They all got TONS of candy. Katya went alone with her friends for the first time and she loved it.

Monday, October 20, 2008

Got tagged again

So I was a bit slow (still am) on getting the pics form our AMAZING Vegas trip off our phones. I got tagged by my friend Emily Sorensen in the mean time so here is some more about me....


Tagged--High school!
1. Did you date someone from your school? Pete Mickelonis, Travis Ougheltree, John Rupp and Jason Weed
2. What kind of car did you drive? I got rides
3. What was the most embarrassing moment of HS? I seriously can't think of one...
4. Where you a party animal? yah... I still am!
5. Were you considered a flirt? yes very much
6. Were you in band, orchestra, or choir? choir. Singing is still my life
7. Were you a nerd? In some circles I was. I was a floater. I had friends in all the "groups"
8. Were you on any varsity teams? no
9. Did you get suspended/expelled? no I could usually sweet talk myself out of anything
10. Can you still sing the fight song? not even a tiny bit
11. Who were you're favorite teachers? My choir director Mr. Kuehn
12. Where did you sit during lunch? I ate in the music building
13. School mascot? Trojan Warrior
14. Did you go to Homecoming and with who? What year? Sophomore - Travis Oghletree Jr - Pete Sr - Jason
15. If you could go back and do it again, would you? Some parts
16. What do you remember most about graduation? Super balls EVERYWHERE
17. Where did you go senior skip day? Down Town Portland. We were going to go to the beach but we left too late
18. Were you in any clubs? nope
19. Have you gained any weight since then? yah
20. Who was your prom date? Jason Weed and Mindy K (LONG story)
21. Are you planning on going to your 10 year reunion? Didn't go. Was told that was a good decision
22. Looking back, what advice would you give yourself? Don't date Jason

Thursday, October 9, 2008

A 'tag' from Amy...



Three names I go by-
Jen
Sexy
New Boobs Jen

Three restaurants I love-
Cheesecake Factory
Red Robin
Melting Pot

Three trips to plan in the next year-
Caribbean cruise
Las Vegas
Portland. Or

Three things I want badly-
A cleaning wife
Endless cash flow to help my family
Remodeled bathroom/laundry room

Three pets I have had-
(currently)
2 dogs
8 cats (anyone want a kitten?!!)
4 fish, a frog, a snake and a hamster

Three things I did yesterday-
Got my hair done
Taught 60 kids a new song
Had a girls night with my ward friends

Three things I ate today-
Piece of cinnamon bread
Chicken tacos
Cupcake

Three fears I have-
Loosing Joe
House burning
Loosing Breezy or Danita

Three things I plan(ned) on doing today-
Get nails done (hair dresser took too long LOL!)
Getting hair done
Laundry

Three things I plan on doing tomorrow-
Get nails done
Go to movies with Amy and Justyn!!!!
Pack for vegas!!!!!!!!!

Three favorite holidays-
Christmas
Halloween
St Patrick's Day

Three favorite beverages-
Water
Dr Pepper
Very Berry Raspberry Lime-aide @ Red Robin

Three things I can't live without-
(Other than my family)
Cute shoes
Books
Joe

Three people I tag-
Holly P. , Janelle , Emily S & Emily R (same name counts as 1 right?)

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Sunday Drive

After Conference we decided to take a drive up the canyon to see the color change. It was so beautiful! I took so many pictures.

We took pictures of the kids and they are so wonderful I have decided that Danita will come back every year in Oct to take our pictures there.

WOW!! We have been busy!

Between all the soccer games


acting classes




gymnastics and play rehearsals we also fit in G-ma Eames's birthday



family pictures



Melissa's birthday party


buying a new car, a visit from my sister Holly, dr appointments (to set up one final surgery...), Joe and I went on a benefit motorcycle ride for Cpt. Terry who was shot in June, and auditions for the Christmas play at the OBT. All 3 of the girls are in it!!! They are so excited!! Then the best thing of all happened!!! Danita my bestest friend in Oregon came to surprise me last night!!!! She came with her sisters Jaeda and Casey and Casey's room mate Candice.

I will highlight the best ones in their own blog so make sure you take a look to see all the great pics!

Danita!!!!!!


9pm last night....

We had just come home from the movies with the kids. Joe and I were sitting down to watch our shows we had tivo'd when the doorbell rang.

I ran up the stairs thinking who the heck is at our house at 9pm!?

I opened the door and there was my best friend!!!!!!!!! DANITA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was SOOOOOOOOOOOO happy to see her!!!!

She was with her sisters and her sister's room mate. They came in and we talked, looked at pics and surfed the web watching videos. Jaeda played with the kittens and Casey played with my kids. Then we all left and wet to Red Robin where we had the BEST waiter in the world!! Peter at the District Red Robin ROCKS! The bar tender was awesome too!! He found me a lime when they thought they were out!!! Just for me!!!!! I yelled "THANK YOU!!!!" Across the whole restaurant. He help up the pitcher he had in his hand and yelled back "Your welcome!"

We had the best time and ate YUMMY food.

Thanks for coming to see me Peanut!!!!!!!!!!! LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!

New Car!


After our motorcycle trip Joe has talked nothing (well almost) but upgrading the bike. When our friend (friends we rode with) called to say his dad was selling his bike (the one they rode) Joe was all over it and really wanted to get it. I wasn't really fond of the color. So he began looking around for other bikes.

I asked him how we were going to pay for it and he broke it all down AND added that in the spring we would get a new car with the tax return. We began to look for what we wanted to purchase in the spring. We decided on a Mazda 5. A few days later I was thinking in the shower... getting a new motorcycle now is so stupid! We would ride it for what 3 more weeks then store it all winter?! We need a car that fits us all before winter hits. Gas is too expensive to drive the truck all winter.

I took my thoughts to Joe and he reluctantly agreed. We began actively looking for a car. We're getting paid 5k from a side job in a month or so so we wanted to be out the door that much or less no matter where we bought it from. Our civic is paid off and we can get about 10 out of it. It proved to be harder then we thought as there just weren't very many Mazda 5's to be had that worked for us.

There was one in Spanish Fork that was perfect it was just so far we had to plan a time to go see it. That day came and Joe called me to get eh phone # to make sure they knew we were coming. I logged on again that afternoon, having already been on that morning and saw nothing new, and there it was!!!! It had only been listed for 2 hrs. It was our car!!! I called Joe and he called the people and we ran straight up to Syracuse, drove it and bought it in less then 2 hrs. We are so thrilled!!! We love it!!!

We got a great deal on it. It is worth way more then we paid for it AND it came with a dvd system!!!

Benefit Ride

Joe's cousin Darren is a police officer. The police captain of Lehi was shot twice in the head in June buy a crazed woman when he pulled her over for reckless driving.

His med insurance is not covering all his medical bills so they have been having fundraisers for him. We were told about a benefit ride from him.

We rode from the Lindon Harley store and headed south to Spanish Fork and rode the Mt Nebo loop. It was SOOOOOOOOOO beautiful!!! I took so many pictures with my phone. We had a great time. We came back up north to Lehi to have a bbq lunch at the park.

There were over 300 motorcycles on this ride. It was incredible!!! We were so glad to be a part of it.

Soccer Days