For reals!

Beat that Sarah!

I want to know your score, although its kind of addicting.

74 words

Speed test

Penelope

I stole this video from my friend Chloe's blog. Have you ever found yourself in a conversation with a 'one-upper'? Sometimes I have to stop myself and make sure I'm not the one doing it - and hopefully I will never encounter a 'Penelope.'

Have a laugh!

here is another clip I found of her. http://thespinningkick.multiply.com/video/item/134/

Good Times with Ben

This is one of the first big things Ben and I did together. I went up to meet the parents and go quad riding and try to impress the family. Here we are on top of Squaw Peak (sp?) looking down on the Verde Valley. Notice my frumpiness - I was wearing some of Ben's jeans and somehow they enlarged my midget frame. Hmmm...


Me on one of the fabulous quads that Dave and Debbi let us borrow. I tried to be tough for Ben and my future in-laws. Sam and Rachel came with us too which made it even more fun! This was 2 weeks before Sam and Rachel's wedding.


This is my attempt to take a picture of us while we were on the quad. Probably not the safest thing but it makes for a fun memory and picture!


This is our 2nd trip on the quads together. This was 2 weeks after Sam and Rachel's wedding and we drove around the red rock/Sedona area. Oh boy it sure was fun being around newlyweds while Ben and I were in a new relationship! You know what I mean... constantly wondering if that could be you. Well, I was right the whole time!!


Ben thought it was funny to have me stand at the edge, while the wind howled past me and take a picture at the same time. Har har!


The gushy newlyweds. EW! See now you know what I had to deal with?!?! Just kidding Sam and Rachel, you only inspired us even more...


Another motion picture on the quad. I almost can't tell who the girl is in the picture. Hmm cute!


These last two are for cute-y Ben. As I write this my poor husband is passed out on the bed with a fire-engine-red cracked nose and watery eyes. Poor guy worked in a lot of insulation today and it didn't fair him or his allergies well. Please remember him from the good ol' days. Rest in peace my little sneezer.

Easter Pageant

This past week Ben and I went to the Easter Pageant at the Mesa Temple! Sarah and the girls went with us and we grabbed some good ol' Taco Bell on the way. Ben is pretty sure this was his first time to go, but he still didn't understand why we got there 2 hours before it started. I'll tell you why...because you want good seats! When we got there we were ready to play some games and do people watching while we waited.

Ben and I hanging out as the sun gets lower and lower. Poor Ben and his allergies. When we first got there Sarah and I were like, "Oh my look at those orange blossoms! They smell so good!" While Ben is like, "Yeaaaaaaah.....orange blossoms......Aaaachooo!"

Ben, me, Sadee and Emma playing Old Maid. Emma and Sadee like to ask you if you have the Old Maid right from the beginning. Ben really likes to help Sadee out when she is picking from me and some how I always end up with the Old Maid!

They started to make some announcements so we had to end our game. It was a great pageant and even more memorable with Emma and Sadee and their innocent questions about what was going on. Ben and I are doing great and we wish everyone a Happy Easter!

Moments

Ben has gotten me listening to more country lately. I always hear this song and then I saw the video and now I always want to watch it! The words and message of this song are very touching to me and teach me the lesson of never judging. We never know what someone else is going through or what got them to the point they're at.

Listen, watch and love!

Soccer, soccer and more soccer

Well besides working, going to school, church callings, paying the bills, and actually spending time with each other - Ben and I have become very busy with soccer. We both play on Tuesday nights in the Mesa Co-ed competitive league. Ben is goalie (and if we are lucky, sometimes plays on the field and scores for us) while I am his right fullback. On Wednesdays Ben plays goalie for a team in the Tempe league who has had some injuries and needed some help. I get to watch but if they ever need a girl I am always prepared! On Saturdays we play pick-up games (more informal with no refs) with people from our Tuesday night team and other random people. Last night - Monday - we played a pickup/kind-of-competitive/I-should-have-gotten-a-red-card game with some people from our team and some random team that thought they could beat us. It was fun and hilarious because this other team was all "Oh yeah they want to play us, scoff whatever." Not to mention they had all guys but one with 5 subs while we had 7 guys 4 girls and no subs. We ended up beating them 7-4 and it was quite amusing. This team we played would constantly be like, "Hey you're off sides, our ball" or "Hey that was a foul, our ball." Finally, I'm like alright you guys want fouls??... I'll give you fouls! It got a little heated in the 2nd half when this huge guy I am playing against is a retard and high-kicking the ball instead of using that bulbous head of his to go for the ball. Here I am 5 foot nothing with his a cleat near my face, so I put my hands up to protect my money maker. The ball hits my hands (luckily it wasn't his foot hitting my head!) and he's all, "Hand ball!" I'm like, "Dude, you're high-kicking it what do you expect me to do?" He said, "I didn't touch you." I'm like "Alright we playing that way?" Later on I happened to slide-tackle this guy as I'm going for the ball before it goes out of bounds. As we both hit the ground it goes off his foot and out of bounds. Our ball to throw in right? Nope! This other guys picks it up from their team to throw in. I say, "Whoa whoa it touched him last!" (pointing to my new friend Ahmed who is just getting up off the ground, dusting himself off and putting his shin-guards back into place.) Ahmed goes, "Well it was a foul but whatever." I was really fired up by now because this team was just ridiculous. It faired me well to get a little mad because I played better and we won. It's these kinds of games where we have no subs, are sprinting back and forth down the field, and win that make you love the sport.

Now that I have vented - sorry mother - here are some funs pictures from last year. Ben and I were only dating at this time and headed up to Colorado for Emilee's blessing when I still had my black-eye. The family and I all made jokes about how I may have received said black-eye other than from soccer. (coughBencough)



Right after the game. I was pretty ticked off. It happened when me and this dude both went up for a header. He happened to be taller than me and his elbow came down on my face.



I look like Sylvester Stallone with my slanted eye. "Adrian!!!!"



Me and my best friend Jayme. You can still see a little chubbiness when I smile.



Side view.



I think we were already in Colorado when we took this. The yellow stage of healing...

I'm proud to say no black-eye's yet this season! With my husband as the goalie I am trying to be careful when going up against another guy because if I happen to be limping afterwards, I fear for what Ben might do to that person. I'll try and take some pictures of Ben in goal tomorrow night so I don't look so narcissistic.

Old Pictures..

Hi everyone! Don't be mad at me for not posting any new stuff. We can't find the charger for our camera...ere go... no new pictures of our apartment!:(

Here are some from the Christmas break we spent up at the Millers. We all went shooting Christmas day as the food simmered. Well...minus Katie, Debbi and Deanne because they are the ones that simmered the food.



Lori was supporting the cause by handing us our refills of shells and eating Swedish Fish.



Nice stance Nate!



Learning how to put the shells in without pinching my finger.



Cute Ben. He loved showing everyone up. Although I'm pretty sure everyone can attest that I gave him a run for his money!




It was fun watching the boys play around and have some friendly competition.



Dave was our 'puller'. They had pigeons and rabbits to shoot at. Don't worry not real ones! I had never seen the rabbit ones before. They role on the ground and are pretty bouncy. I think they are a little more hard to shoot at.



It was pretty cold and windy!





I wish we could have family get-togethers like this more often. It was fun to shoot and fun to watch the boys show off!

So I'm taking a parenting class...

...and I wanted to post a tribute to one of the best parents (besides my own!) that I know. My sister, Sarah! She has 3 beautiful girls and lovingly deals with them day after day. She always has the best little crafty things for them to do and the best snacky things to munch on when they are famished. I have also taken note of how she deals with discipline. She has the most passive way to get the point across to the girls. For example, here's Chloe...



Here she is angry at Sarah for trying to get things done around the house while ignoring her. Talk about passive discipline, here Sarah tries to ignore the bad behavior as she is no where to be seen.



Again, Chloe is still angry and has even gone into a coughing mode due to her incessant cries. Take note that she is still enjoying her Corn Pops.



Ahhh! The finished product! Chloe has managed to peacefully take a nap. You have witnessed a successful parenting style because the child has learned to manage without the parent, work through her anger, and fall asleep in the "begging for her life" position with her hands clasped. All is well!

Disclaimer: May I note that Sarah had everything to do with this. She was even the one taking the pictures.

A few of my favorite things...

I know I already put some wedding pictures up, and I promised some of our new home - but I had to post these! These are some that really capture the love my family has for each other and the reasons why my wedding was so memorable. The next few are a little bit more of Ben and me.












I am really glad we shot some of Ben in his uniform because I think he looks very handsome and also I get a little glimpse of what my husband went through and accomplished these last 4 years.



Another one of Ben is his honorable Class A's.



My lovely (and tired!) parents - the next picture will explain the 5 reasons why they are probably so tired. Can you imagine raising us?



My siblings - Stan, Sarah, Ross and Jeff - it seems we can't take a normal picture. I have many fond memories of growing up with my 4 best friends. Love them!



My sister-in-laws from left to right - Alisha (the veteran), Lori, Katie, Deanne and Rachel. Love these girls!



Grandma Brady and Ben



My best friend Jayme



All together!



Ben's family



My family



My momma



My parents Jeff and Jeanette



Ben's parents Debbi and Dave



Ben's siblings from left to right - Sam, Nate, Jake, and little Katie in the front. I think someone is goosin' somebody in the back! I sure have enjoyed getting to know the new additions to my family. They are so fun and treated me like family when I first met them. I love and miss you guys and wished everyone lived a little closer!



Ben dancing with his Mom



My only sister Sarah - lots of people say we don't look alike, frankly I don't know what they're talking about.



Ross and Grandma Taylor - classic picture



I think the picture says it all!



Dancing with my Daddy



Our nephews (even though I technically don't have any!) Little Ben and Isaac



Our nieces left to right and top to bottom - Jillian, Chloe, Emilee, Olivia, Sadee, Emma, Ryley and Aubree - is there a coincidence to these names??



New friends Ryley and Sadee



The one's who stuck around for more pictures - Mom, Sarah and Ross



Little Ben and Big Ben



Kevin and Ryley



Dad, Mom, Ross and the grandkids (with a few Miller grandkids in there)



Alisha and Jillian



Sadee and Ben - I think somebody has a crush!!



Chloe and Stan - one of my absolute favorites