Handy Manny

Ok, so not Handy Manny from the Disney Channel, but I do have a Handy Hubby so that's about the same thing, right? And mine doesn't talk to his tools, so I think I'm actually better off this way.

Anywho, a couple of weekends ago I was in Utah (yes, again) for our annual Day Girls Retreat (more pics to come) and while I was away, Toby replaced our sink, faucet, countertops, and put in a beautiful glass mosaic tile backsplash - with the help of Kenlynne & her family, of course. Where ever would we be without them? (Sigh)

Here's what our kitchen looked like before. You can't tell in this picture, but the countertops were ugly, the sink was a white porcelain disaster, and you can see the backsplash is just painted.

After - sort of the same angle, but more of the island in this pic

The section featuring the new (and MUCH improved) stainless steel sink & faucet - doesn't the glass tile backsplash look awesome?

And the other side of the finished kitchen. Seriously, how much better does it look?!

Decoration Day - better late than never

Audrey and I were able to go to Utah for Memorial Day (Decoration Day) weekend. I LOVE Memorial Day! I love going to the cemeteries and putting flowers on the graves. We always end up hearing some story we've never heard before about one of our loved ones. Memorial Day was super important to my Grandma Day and she drilled it into all of us that it should be a special day. She would roll over in her grave if we didn't "do graves" over Memorial day weekend.

My Aunt Afton & Uncle Sherm were in town from Georgia. They are SO fun and I love to see them and my Aunt Louann & Uncle George. We had a BBQ at my mom's house with my brother's family, my aunts & uncles and my cousins, Sara & Jodie and their kids. It was so fun to see everyone!

My best friend from high school, Emily B, went thru the Temple over the weekend so I was able to go to that as well. Most of my good friends from high school were there and we all went to dinner and then went to Emily's and stayed up until 5:30 am talking. It was SO much fun!

Me, Kelli, Candice, Brooke, Emily B, Natalie - excuse us if we look hungover - it was about 3 am when this pic was taken (can you tell I was always the odd one out being the only brunette) we all cheered together at good ol' Manti High School
Audrey is usually so happy that I had to post a pic of her being grumpy to prove it actually happens from time to time.
Future Cheerleader - can't you see it?
My Grandma & Grandpa Day LOVED to golf. Each year my brother glues a pink & white golf ball to tees and puts them by their graves instead of flowers. It looks nice and it just fits them so well. This is Steve's fam by the grave & golf balls.
Like any self-respecting 5 year old, my nephew Brayden was enthralled with the goat poop at the farm.
This will shock anyone who knows my mother - she rode George's Harley.

My mom and dad with Audrey at the farm
Me and my FAVORITE brother, Steve. I considered posting the pic we took where he looks like Popeye, but he is my brother and I'd risk a killer wedgie at some point in the future.
My mom, LuAnn with my dad's sister, Louann

My dad with his brother & sister, Sherm & Louann

My mom and dad with my dad's brother, Sherm and his wife Afton and with my dad's small sister, Louann and her husband George. Incidentally the photo was taken right by my dad's older sister Shirlene's grave.
This is my cousin Sara's little girl - she is so adorable!
We stopped at George & Louann's farm to feed the baby goats. They were so cute!

Feeding the goats
At one cemetery she was mesmerized by the pinwheel

She loved this little flag at the other cemetery

Audrey & my nephew, Kian - cute little people!

Happy Family

My sister probably won't like this post (since it has the stench of perfection), but we just had our family pics taken by an awesome photographer that lives in our ward. Here are just a few of them. Thanks Jill!

Doesn't he look like a smartie pants?

Toby will be mortified that I posted this one.

Audrey was a huge grumpopotomus all morning long.

Still adorable though!

The only hint of a smile we could capture

So serious - she gets the scowl from her father Our happy family
Another hint at a smile - both of our kids got my blue eyes
Such a good big brother!
They really are little buddies - I love it!
Our dude
Seriously, look at those blue eyes!
Again, mortification - I'll hear about it later.
Handsome father & son

Warning: It's a mommy blog

I try to keep general mommy blogs to a minimum. But I feel like it's been a while since I put any pictures up so you'll just have to bear with me on this digital timeline of the last few months.

Toby & his family @ Arches in March

An Arch

Audrey spent most of the Arches trip trapped in this backpack - luckily she learned to nap in it as seen here

No Ryans were harmed in the taking of this photo

Toby & Audrey hiking

Toby & Tysen with an arch in the background

While I know it's hard to believe, my offspring consume veggies

Tysen lost his first upper tooth. He's lost 4 of the bottom ones, but the top ones are always so much more noticeable

Audrey loves to antagonize the dog

Audrey was "mopping" and Bonzai kept trying to bite the mop - she thought it was hysterical

Apparently Tysen's water jug looked more enticing than her small sippy cup at the soccer game

Tysen's playing soccer again this spring - he's on a different team, but they're still blue & white

Tysen & Coach Ryan

Look closely and you'll see my super-cute red extensions in my hair. So fun! (P.S. I'm aware I'm not 18 anymore and that it's not 1984)

My mom and dad have been here visiting - here's Tysen with his buddy Grandpa Day

Me & My Mom - love her!

You feel the need to use a lot of obscenities at the dentist?

Last week Tysen and I both had dentist appointments. Joy! I loathe the dentist, but I don't want to end up with dentures when I'm 30 so every six months I hem and haw and I eventually succumb and go.

Tysen has horrific teeth. Really, really bad. He's only 6 and he has at least 8 fillings and has had 2 root canals and 2 teeth with steel caps (aka "silver teeth"). This time was no exception. He had only 1 new cavity, which isn't too bad for him. But he had one filling that came completely out, which needed to be replaced. And on another tooth he had somehow managed to shear off most of the filling that was in the tooth as well as about 1/3 of the remaining tooth. I asked the dentist how in heaven's name that would happen and he got a wide-eyed look on his face and said "it wouldn't be easy". Fantastic, now I know exactly how to avoid that circumstance in the future.

Now the good news, for the first time in 3 years I had a dentist appointment that did not reveal any new cavities! YAHOO!!! No mortal fear of novocaine & drilling for another 6 months!

What did people do before they had TV? Don't be stupid Beavis, there's always been TV, there's just a lot more channels now.

Now that I'm back to having a life after tax season, I've been able to catch up on most of my shows that were waiting patiently on my DVR for me to return. Here's my recap of what's been going on on some of my favorites. I'll start with the more trashy shows I watch and hopefully it'll get classier from there, but I can't promise anything.

Real World/Road Rules Challenge - the Duel II: This is such an interesting show to me. I record it every season. It's like a train wreck and I am compelled to admire the twisted damage. First of all, CT needs to be in a strait jacket in a nice white room with padded walls and heavily sedated. That would be for everyone's well being. Shauvon needs to ditch the "MySpace" hairdo. It doesn't look good on anyone. Everyone needs to learn to keep their pants on on their knees together. The challenges this season I think have been more interesting than in seasons past, but the actual games of the Duel are kinda lame.

The Hills: I think Lauren has shot herself in the foot by recommending Stephanie for the People's Revolution job. We'll see how that crashes and burns soon. And seriously, Heidi? You married that douche bag? I'm not sure who's worse: Spencer, who behaves like an imbecile, or Heidi, who committed to that whole "till death do us part" thing. I give it 3 years, max. Heaven help us all if they have kids. Those children will need loads of therapy. Let's just hope MTV is there to document the divorce proceedings. Now that's entertainment.

The Real Housewives of New York: I love all the real housewives, New York, Orange County, Atlanta, and I'm sure New Jersey will be grand as well. Here are my thoughts on the current New York cast. Bethenny I adore. She's got this awesome dry wit humor that I love and she doesn't take crap from anyone, especially Kelly. Which brings me to Kelly. Who does this woman think she is? She behaves like some mall rat strait out of 7th grade. And best of all, she's a model, but her face is weird looking. She's got a cute little body, but from the neck up, it's not all that impressive. I can't decide about Ramona. She's hit & miss for me. Same with Alex. I'm kind of indifferent to those 2. Simon bugs the heck out of me. I think Jill is fabulous. She's SO quintessential New Yorker. I love her. I really like LuAnn too. She always verbalizes in a really eloquent way the things that were already going thru my head. I just think she's really poised and classy. I like her. And she has the same name as my mom so I like that too!

Law & Order SVU: There are no words - this show is perfection. I really like that they brought back Stephanie March as the DA. I really like her. I was sad when they killed her off a few seasons back. I did read that they were thinking about replacing Benson & Stabler and if that happens, I'm not sure I'll even watch the show anymore. They ARE that show.

Law & Order CI: I really like this L&O as well. I love Goren. He and Eames just work so well together. There's a great dynamic there. I'm anxious to see how the new dude works out. You know, the guy was in Jurassic Park as the weird scientist dude that kept hitting on the paleontologist? Anywho, we'll have to see how he works with the show. He's only been in one episode so far.

90210: While this show can never be what the original Beverly Hills 90210 is to me in my heart, it is sufficiently shallow and campy for my taste. Naomi sometimes bugs, but I can live with that. I really like Adrianna and Naveed. Dixon could use some acting lessons. I have mixed feelings about Annie & Ethan. But Silver, I adore! And they brought back the original Kelly Taylor which helps immensely, as have the guest appearances by Brenda Walsh & Donna Martin. I really need to see some Dylan McKay though. That would really take this show places.

Grey's Anatomy: Please no one tell me what's going on. I have 3 episodes on my DVR I haven't gotten to yet. Don't spoil it for me please. I need to learn for myself what happens to Izzie.

ER: Ah, my beloved ER. It's over. I cried. I can't speak of it anymore for fear the tears will return. I'll miss you Archie Morris!

Lost: When I was prego with Audrey, Kenlynne's family got me totally hooked on this show. We've been devoted fans ever since. But, no pun intended, they've lost me. The whole time travel thing isn't sitting well with my psyche. I keep watching in the hopes that they will eventually wrap it all up in a nice pretty package for me at some point and I'll get what's going on.

House: Love it, love it, love it!

So that's what's been deleted from my DVR lately. I really think I like TV too much.