Big Bear or bust

We were able to get away for the weekend and enjoy some time with our friends from CA...Marvin and Maria and their daughter Arianna. We were bummed when we arrived in Big Bear to find NO SNOW...but we still had a great time. Dan tried his legs at skiing for the first time and enjoyed it. He was sore but had fun.

Blake was sick for most of the trip unfortunately but that didn't stop him from running and playing with Arianna.

Music Time

Blake started his first music class with Musikidz today! He had a great time and I am so glad. We really needed something to get us out of the house and get him mixed with other kids and this was perfect.

It is a class that is offered through the City of Henderson and is once a week and for 45 minutes.....so it is perfect for him. It is a "mom and me" class and so much fun. They were able to play with a drum today, and rhythm sticks. They marched, and jumped, and ran. They chased the bubbles and played with musical balls and a parachute. It was a great class and I can't wait for next week to see what he gets to do then.

End of class bubble time.

Dancing with scarfs

Blake and his rhythm sticks

Play ball

We took a trip to CA to watch Morgan and McKenna (my brother's girls) play baseball. We also had some friends join us for the game too. Morgan and McKenna had a pretty big cheering section! This is their first year playing and they both really enjoy it and are pretty good.

Blake didn't really like the game too much. He got nervous every time the crowd would cheer but he did like spending time with his cousins.

What a fish

The weather finally warmed up enough for us to get out and see what Blake thought of Grandma and Grandpa's pool. We honestly didn't know what to expect but we were sure pleased with the results....

We had purchased this cute pool float, complete with moveable sun-shade and all. Blake had on his "little swimmers" and his Hawaiian-print swim trunks and he was ready for the pool. He definitely looked like an island native in his outfit...too cute. But now the real test; would he scream as soon as he touched the water? Would he love it and end up a future water polo star?

We headed outside and slowly eased him into the water and....nothing. He didn't cry. He didn't laugh. Nothing. So after a few minutes of getting use to the water we put him into the float and all was well. He hung out in there for the rest of the afternoon and was so content. He loosened up a bit and started to play with his toys, he even didn't mind when he got a little water in his face. It looks like we are going to have a summer filled with time in the pool and a happy little boy. This is good news. We have a little fish on our hands and we couldn't be more excited about it!

B-Ball

We decided to celebrate the last days of summer and the last game of the Las Vegas 51s season with a night out at the ballpark. It was a fun night and we had a good time... even better that the 51s actually won!

It was Brian, Cindy, Dan and Aranne.... Go 51s!

The Six-burgh Steelers!

WE DID IT!!!!

You notice that Ben is giving me the eye in this picture!

Getting ramped up for the game....

So... after a long season, of UPS and DOWNS, tons of injuries and nail-biting games we finally came out on top, after a too close for comfort Super Bowl Game. But what a game and what a season. (I do love that I act like I had any part in any of it. But I so feel like I did!)

We spent most Sunday afternoons over at our friends' Brian and Cindy's house (who are from Pennsylvania actually) enjoying the games, so of course we had to go there to watch our team WIN the Super Bowl. We had a great time and they had lots of fun in the final moments while I nearly had a heart attack no knowing if we were going to be able to pull it out or not!

Dan enjoying some of the cookies that I made in honor of the big game.

#92 - Harrison. Dan's Favorite player

Cindy and I with our Terrible Towel

Our friend Dan and Cindy cheering on the "D-Fence"

All of us watching the commercials during half-time with our "cool" 3-D glasses on

What a great season... I can't until next season for more football and to watch my Steelers play. I am hoping they come to this side of the country this year so that I might be able to actually see a game in person.... (fingers crossed)!

Fight it out...

Tonight was a first for me (actually both of us). We were invited to watch the UFC fight between GSP and BJ Penn by some friends so we decided we would come. Neither of us usually watch UFC but we thought we would go and see what all of the fuss was about.

We had a good time. We enjoyed everyone's company, the food and just hanging out, and it was fun to actually watch the fights. But....oh, so brutal. The poor guys are literally just beating each other senseless. Not my sport of choice that is for sure. Fun to watch every once in a while like this but nothing I could stand watching on a daily basis for sure. You just feel so bad for these guys, but then I remembered that they choose to do this... WHAT?!

Blogging Slump

I feel like I have been in a slump the last few weeks, ever since Christmas really. I know I have posted a few things, but definitely not my normal for sure. It is not that we aren't doing things because we are, but I just don't feel like they are "blog-worthy" and I don't always have pictures to go with the events and that makes me not want to post either. But tonight I thought I would take a minute and just re-cap about the past few days, or weeks, and fill in the gaps about what has really been going on in our lives.

* My knee recovery is going great actually. I am continuing with physical therapy 3 times a week and am back to 80% according to my last doctor visit which was last week. I can straighten it no problem but still have some pulling sensation with the bending, but it is getting there for sure.

* I actually started a new job last week too. It is not a permanent job or anything substantial but it gets me out of the house a little more and brings in a little bit of "extra" money. I am helping a friend of mine with some data input a few hours a week for right now. It might turn into something different when I am done with this certain project but for right now that is what I am doing and I am fine with that. So far, so good.

* I am busy working and planning with the YW in the ward for an upcoming Valentine's dinner and sweet auction to help us earn some money for Girls Camp. We have been making centerpieces, posters, paddles, etc. and hopefully we will be ready for the dinner that is coming up on Feb. 13th.

* Dan has been working, working, working. He not only has been busy with the new contract at Mandalay Bay but he has been doing some systems at night and also just picked up a new contract with a Toys R Us and a Century Theater as well. He will be busy for a while with those for sure.

* Dan has also been busy with a special project in the house. He just finished building shelves and customizing the closet in the "nursery". I love it and am so excited. It really looks good. We are going to start working on painting and really putting it together now. Just in case... you never know!

* We of course have been busy on Sunday's cheering for our Steelers and it has paid off. They made it all the way to the Super Bowl and we could not be more excited. We can't wait until Feb. 1 when we can watch then win and make it #6 for them. Go Big Ben!

So... like I said, we have not really been doing anything exciting but we have been busy all the same.

Weekend Wrap-up: Parties, Parties and more Parties

This weekend was one big party and it is about time. Friday night was a potluck with the ladies that come to card class and scrapbook class every week with my mom and I at my mom's house. It was small but it was nice. We had a good time and were able to just hang out and enjoy the evening.

Saturday we went to a Christmas party at our friends' Brian and Cindy's house. It was crazy. They had over 60 people in their house. It was really fun though. We ate and ate and ate, and talked and laughed. After everyone left and it was just us there we watched the Dark Knight (a good Christmas movie?)

Sunday was another party for me. The Steeler's won their game and are clinched the division title! Not everyone threw a party for this one, but over at our house we were celebrating!!!!

Run for Nie

Thanks to THIS great lady (who I actually got a chance to meet) we were able to participate in a great event this weekend. Things have been circulating all over the Internet and blog-world about THIS COUPLE and I have wanted to find a way to help but didn't know how until now.

Bright and early Saturday morning I rallied the troops and we headed out to Summerlin to participate in the 5K Run/Walk for Nie. I was really the only one who knew what the cause was but I got my mom, dad and Dan on board for a little morning exercise. We got there with our running shoes on and headed out on the course. When we finished up we grabbed some fruit and muffins and were on our way. It was an easy way to help out for a good cause. There was a pretty good turn out and we were able to help raise over $700 for the Neilson family. It feels great to be able to help out in any way that we can.

SPT: 100 Things #28

#28: I love to Snowboard

I do love to snowboard. I am not very good at it, but it is something that Dan and I have found that we can do together and that we enjoy and that makes it even better. We took our very first lesson in 2005 and then bought our gear in 2006 and have been going ever since.

I told him that I wanted to try it out but that I had to have a lesson. I am the kind of person that gets frustrated very easily if I don't know how to do something and especially if everyone else does. I knew that he would be able to pick it up and that I would have a harder time so if I didn't get a lesson and at least have some idea of what I was SUPPOSE to be doing that I would get angry and give up. So we took the lesson together, got the basics down and then were on our own. I was pretty proud of myself for sticking with it and giving it a go. I was not fabulous by any means (and still am not) but went back the next day for more. Dan has gotten pretty good and attempts jumps and turns, while I on the other hand feel like I have had a successful day if I go up and down the mountain without having a horrible spill. We have Mt. Charleston close by so that is where we go most often. It does not have the best snow but it is close and that makes it nice. We have been to Big Bear in California and that makes a fun trip, and we have also been to BrianHead in Utah and so far that is our favorite. We will see what this season brings us!

I am still not a huge fan of the chairlifts. In fact I HATE them. I nearly panic when it is my turn to get off but I know there is no other way to get to the top of the mountain. I fell one time pretty bad (my jacket got caught somehow and nearly ripped my arm off) and now I am pretty scared of them! But snowboarding is a great activity and so much fun for us to go and enjoy the outdoors and the time together. We are for sure not the best ones on the mountain and got started a little late in life, but it shows that you can teach an old dog new tricks and they can still have fun!

Hockey Game

I went to my very first hockey game tonight. It was the Las Vegas Wranglers versus Canada. I can now say that I am not a hockey fan. I decided that I would give it a try and go to the game and the game was fun but I did not get it at all. I had a good time hanging out with friends and the experience but I have no idea about the rules or anything about what is really going on. I don't understand why they get called for the penalties when they do, whey they start the puck off on the side of the rink... all kinds of weird things. I guess I will just stick with football.

Weekend Wrap-Up

This weekend really was calm for us and we were glad. We are back onto the schedule of every other weekend having something major to do. We are glad that our lives are busy and full but sometimes it can get a bit overwhelming. Last weekend we had our family in town, so this weekend we had nothing to do.

Dan had a scout training session that he attended all day on Saturday. It was pretty repetitive since he has been a scout his whole life but he was glad he was able to go and now has the card proving he went and doesn't have to do it again for a long time. He will go to an over-nighter in April and then be done for sure. He will miss the overnight camp-out with the boys at the end of the month because we will be out of town but at least he got the training done.

While he was at the training, I was able to spend that time doing some time scrapbooking. YEAH! I feel like I never really have the time to do that. I am always working on stuff that my mom and I have to do for classes and things but never have a chance to work on my own stuff so it was nice to be able to just do some of my own things.

Sunday was spent at church and then just relaxing at home. I wasn't able to watch the game but I am excited that football season has officially begun once again and the Steelers are off to a great start with a win against Texas!! Go BIG BEN!

We should have spent some of the weekend cleaning and getting ready for this weekend since we are going to have visitors coming but we didn't. We will just do it during the week and hope for the best!

8 More Years

That's right I will have a fascination with Steeler's football for at least another 8 years. Ben signed an extension of his contract with the team for 8 more years. Read all about it here. I for one am not complaining and look forward to football season and the games with BIG BEN playing and hopefully winning (those are the best of course).

Oh, and I forgot to mention that he is now 26 years old and celebrated his birthday on Sunday... Happy Birthday to Ben!



By the way did anyone notice this is my third post today? Boy it is a busy Monday. I better get to work now!