Super progressive, 100% motivated, and chill dude!

I found Kalens love language.. take him snowboarding! After thinking about how much he loves it, that is what I got him for his 10th birthday this year, a trip to a resort. I had to work but my cousin Kaylie and her family gladly took Kalen along with them since his birthday was on a holiday. When I picked him up that evening he was so happy and couldn't stop talking about how much fun he had. I was sad that I didn't get a chance to watch him so I took him and Rylee again last Friday. He was amazing to watch, he barely stopped taking runs to eat. It's sick!

My Dad came along to watch for something to do, since his retirement he can get pretty bored staying home. It was Rylee's first time snowboarding and she did well. I think if she had lessons without me there she would do excellent.. now we just have to save up for it!


Realizing the talent that Kalen has, I came home and looked on KSL for a used board,boots, and bindings. I found a sweet deal and only paid $150 for barely used Burton gear that will last him a couple years. I looked at a resort called Brighton and we can get a season pass for him for $50! That's really exciting to be able to afford to support his love of snowboarding. Watch OUT Jeremy Jones.. besides you're getting old!

Best Brother Ever!

Rylee got an art easel for Christmas this year and we have got a lot of good use out of it. If I would have known how popular it would be I would have bought one years ago! Today my sweetie told her brother she had a surprise for him. I didn't really pay much attention to what it was.. until I came upon this..

How well do you know Mom?

What is something mom always says to you?
Kalen- Googly Bear
Rylee- What chore do you want to do?

What makes mom happy?
Kalen- When I get a good grade
Rylee- When I do my chores

What makes mom sad?
Kalen- When I got a bad report card
Rylee- When I don't listen to her

How does your mom make you laugh?
Kalen- When she says "nuggets"
Rylee- Telling me funny stories about when I was a baby

What was your mom like as a child?
Kalen- Not very outdoorsy
Rylee- She was smart and she never got bad grades (what they don't know won't hurt em)

How old is your mom?
Kalen- 31
Rylee- 30

How tall is your mom?
Kalen- About 4'
Rylee- I think about six feet tall

What is your mom's favorite thing to do?
Kalen- Go shopping at the mall
Rylee- Hang out with me!

What does your mom do when you're not around?
Kalen- She has parties
Rylee- She hangs out with her friends and has a party

If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
Kalen- Being a fashion Mom
Rylee- Writing a book about me

What is your mom really good at?
Kalen- Sewing and shopping
Rylee- Working at Lowe's

What is your mom not very good at?
Kalen- Going Camping
Rylee- Skateboarding

What does your mom do for a job?
Kalen- Works at Lowe's
Rylee- Flooring!

What is your mom's favorite food?
Kalen- Ribs
Rylee- Ribs

What makes you proud of your mom?
Kalen- That she's nice
Rylee- She listens to me

If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Kalen- Wonderwoman
Rylee- Hannah Montana

What do you and your mom do together?
Kalen- She used to sled with us
Rylee- We talk about stuff

How are you and your mom the same?
Kalen- When she was little she looked the same as me
Rylee- We both like shopping

How are you and your mom different?
Kalen- She likes shopping and I like going outside and hiking and camping
Rylee- That you are patient and I am not (she thinks I am patient?? lol)

How do you know your mom loves you?
Kalen- She takes care of me and she feeds me everyday and she just loves me
Rylee- She is nice to me and tucks me in and cleans my room

What does your mom like most about your dad?
Kalen- His hair
Rylee- He was hot when he was in high school

Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
Kalen- The Pineview Dam (I helped him figure this one out)
Rylee- Pineview Dam (she heard the end of Kalens interview)

Out of the mouth of Rylee

"I'm scared that if you get a new phone, I won't remember your number when I need to call you".

"When I grow up I'm going to be a good mom and take my kids to church every Sunday"

Another cute thing Rylee did the other day was ask me about her Dad and I. She said, "Mom just tell me, I really want to know what happened and just tell me the truth. I lay in bed at night and I can't stop thinking about it, I just want to know why you got divorced".

She was smiling and I could tell it was a little hard for her to ask me, she probably didn't want to bring it up but she was dying to know. Adult relationships are too difficult for children to understand and quite honestly is there ever a good enough reason to a child about WHY in the heck their parents couldn't figure it out and keep the family together?

Favorite Books

The worst time of my life was when I was going through my divorce back in 2003. It was almost unbearable. One of the many self help books I read was called "The Language of Letting Go" by Melody Beattie. On her website one of her readers expressed their feelings about the book and it matched mine perfectly, "This book got me through some of the worst days of my life but practicing the concepts in it brought me into the best years I’ve experienced."


One thing that is important to me is having healthy relationships with people in my life and Ms. Beattie's books are perfect for that!

UNIQUELY ME

"The only way to get through life is to laugh your way through it. You either have to laugh or cry. I prefer to laugh. Crying gives me a headache."
Marjorie Pay Hinckley

• I get car sick while driving if I'm sitting in the back

• I enjoy being alone/shopping alone

• My whole life I always wanted to be a Mom and have a deep love for babies! Even now I always have to peek inside a car seat and get a fix of a cute baby. Toddlers are also a joy to me because of their sweet, innocence and funny personalities.
  

• Not very many things bother me, I'm pretty easy going and choose not to sweat the small stuff
  

• I pick up garbage/litter off the ground and throw it in the trash and make my kids do it too

• My kids are allowed to stay up as late as they want on the weekends or when there is no school, I feel like if I let them have control over their lives we will have a better relationship and I enjoy being around them (MOST of the time :)
  

• I was never embarrassed of my parents growing up, I enjoyed being around them

• When I was little I would always cut my dolls, barbies, AND friends hair

• I don't follow the rules/directions, I like to make my own up or tweak them
  

• I hate asking for help and letting people do stuff for me

• If I really like you then I will boost your self-esteem and tell you all the things I love about you

• I save my favorite kids outfits so I will never forget how little they were and also so they will be able to have something to look back on. (I give most things away)

• Pink is my least favorite color

• I used to dress up my little brothers in my clothes and do their hair and put makeup on them, then take their picture.. I wanted a little sister really BAD!

• As a kid I couldn't wait to grow up and be an adult, drive a car, date, no curfew, and make all my own choices.

• I am NOT a morning person, I hate it when people try and talk to me and be all happy in the mornings.. JUST LEAVE me alone.

• When I complain or say something negative about someone I feel really guilty and it eats me up inside and I wish I would have kept my mouth shut, that's why I private blog
  

• I am very impulsive and make QUICK decisions.. I can't stand people who are indecisive and want everyone's opinion before deciding

• I try to understand what people are saying by asking a lot of questions even if I sound stupid
  

• I don't like attention and compliments from most men

• My favorite place in Utah is in Huntsville, the family property and Pineview Dam

• I love being a blond and despise blond jokes

• My feet are abnormally small and I can fit a size 4 children's shoe

• I loved giving birth to my two children.. HATED being pregnant

• When I was in sixth grade I saved enough money to buy my own plane ticket and flew to Utah to visit relatives and be in my cousins wedding ALL BY MYSELF!

• Most of the time I cut and dye my own hair

• I have so many ideas and not enough time

• I wish I was raised in Utah and had more connections to get a design job

• It has always been very important to me that my children have a good self esteem, I used to clap for them when they would do something neat or cute and tell them how awesome they are.. still do!

• The last thing I ever wanted in life was to get divorced and be a single mom. Sometimes you just don't get everything you want.

• I think honesty is the best virtue even if its embarrassing to admit something, at least you can sleep at night

• I usually have to do it the wrong way before I learn the right way
  

• I feel that most people don't try to piss you off on purpose, take road rage for example, I don't understand how you can get mad at someone when you have no idea what is going on in the other car.. I try to understand what might be happening because I know I do dumb things ALL the time and hate being judged

"Be kind. Everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."
Marjorie Pay Hinckley