we celebrate with you philly

So I am a Cubs fan, but tonight when the Philly's took the World Series I could not wipe the smile off my face. Cole got dog piled by his whole team. Amazing. What is it about really super happy men that make them jump SO high?? Even the old guys, geez, they jumped a mile in the air the minute the last pitch was thrown. I have noticed a lot of high jumping in football as well. When there is a touchdown, there is always jumping...leaping... air dancing. With the jumping there is typically chest bumping. Girls can't do this for ahem, obvious reasons, but it is pretty much second nature for a happy couple of fellas.

Well done Philadelphia. Well done.

A poem written by my talented brother....

October Sweet October Fair, Ruddy Leaves instead of Hair


It's morning now on crisp cold mountains
The snow has dusted over tops
And made the crimson golds, and yellows
Shine like polished copper pots

Sweet oh sweet the smell of fall
Drifting down the hills to me
And fresh oh fresh the autumn air
Nature's quiet symphony

Wrinkled stars on frosty earth
A pumpkin here for carving on
Crunchy stars and skating ones
Hundreds huddled on the lawn

My lonely senses autumn fills
Quaffing deep I drink it in
A cherished friend remembers me
Quelling now a blue-gray din

This is autumn as I know best
But better still the years to come
Time will overlap on time
You and I will meld in one
The beauty of earth, of air and sun
As best I know has just begun

every fourth friday

Every fourth Friday I spend time teaching art to my kids, in their classroom at school. Art, one of my personal passions, is not taught nearly enough in today's classroom environment. I have asked both of my kid's teachers if I could come into their classroom once a month. Today I had the chance to go to Hayden's class first - and it was so much fun! The kids know me a bit from coaching soccer, so that was cool. I taught them all about drawing in perspective. Something that Mr. Songer taught me in high school. It is a matter of learning how to draw in cube form, and understanding that perspective has rules. As I was passing out supplies I noticed a little girl crying, so I paid special attention to her, and she turned out to be an excellent artist. She left with a giant smile on her face. The kids were building sky scrapers and all kinds of 3-D boxes by the time the hour was up. I loved every min of it. Then it was off to set up for Emma's class. I got there a few min early, so I stepped outside to...recess...haha!! YES!!! All the drama, all the energy, all the same. I have been going into Emma's class for a few months now, so the kids know me and WOW....I got 7 hugs right off the bat!!! These kids are so sweet, and of course the love me cause I am Artsy Amy, and there is no 2+2 or spelling words when we are using our imagination. I have a few star artists who listen so intently to me, and these kids are really good! Today we made original designs by ripping small pieces of colored paper. We had so many great ideas come out of the group. These two hours each fourth Friday are some of the best minutes I spend with my kids. As I was packing up to leave one boy came up to me and showed me his picture, and I told him he better go home and tell his dad what he had done..he just looked at me and said, "I have never met my dad, in fact I don't know where he is. Its just me and my mom." And I replied, "Then you go home and show your mom what you created, and you give her and extra big hug, because she might need it."

So today. Give your best to a child. It could possibly be the biggest investment you make all day.

you can't tell him not to dream

My mother taught me how to be a dreamer. It was only fitting since her mother taught her to be a dreamer too. Generations of mother's before me have taught their children that they could be anything...do anything...and so... I guess it is no surprise that my son has his own list of dreams. Far bigger than mine ever were...he already is making plans for his future. When I met Andrei Kirilenko of the Utah Jazz a few weeks ago Hayden's first question to me was..."DID you TELL him about ME????!" Ahem...

So he dreams.

That one day he will have to make the tough decision of playing for the Utah Jazz or the Boston Celtics. He has memorized the teams, knows the plays, understands the game. A few weeks ago my friend Brett gave us tickets to a pre-season game and Hayden did the happy dance the whole first half. So I tell him, dream on. Don't worry yet about how you will talk the NBA into not playing games on Sunday. Don't fret over what team you will play for. Just dream.

17 year reunion with my fav fellas from highschool

Over the past few days I have been trying to think of something clever and funny to write about this great group of friends, but all that comes back to me is how very lucky I am to know them. Each one of them have greatly influenced my life. I'm still not sure how I won the high school lottery to be able to be associated with each of them, but I do know that they have all influenced me for the better. Scott is one of the most adaptable people I have ever met, and still to this day continues to amaze me with his desire to learn and understand new things. It was so much fun to listen to him talk about bass fishing and horse racing. He loves life and that is certain. I still have a signed Calves and Buckets business card from Scott...did someone say reunion tour??
Matt made us all medallions our Senior year - INXS medallions no less- that we all wore to graduation under our grad gowns. Today he is still same great Matt, still making sure everyone feels a part of the group, and never putting anyone down. Matt once gave me a lucky pack o pennies...and there is still a lot of luck left...I am sure of it. He is a happy, healthy, guy who loves his life, his wife, and his three girls. It does not get much better.
Jere can make me laugh even if he is not trying to be funny. I loved being his friend in HS and constantly having a side ache from his funniness. :) On top of that he is an amazing poet, I know this because I have a few deepies from his mish. I loved hearing that he has build a room in his basement to start up art again...so so cool! It was great to see him again.
James propelled me into popularity 18 years ago, and was an answer to my prayer one very important day in 11th grade. He is still far and away one of the biggest and best friends I will ever have. He is an amazing musician, as we all knew he would be... on top of that he could school all of us with his fashion sense.

So 17 years. That is a long time. For a minute though...Friday night felt like 1991...and for a minute everything was the same.







group pic: Jeremy, Scott, Matt, Me, and James

Amy's Photography...

Tonight I had so much fun taking family pics for our good friends. They have two gorgeous kids who smile perfect when the camera is ready. Thanks guys I had a blast!

what would you change if you could

Would you do a day over? A moment? Would you take back something you said if it meant not hurting someone you love? All your life. What would you change? Maybe nothing. Maybe everything. Maybe one choice that changed all your choices. A word. A thought. A mood. What would you change? Change. Change. Change.

He sold me my first guitar. So he could go to a dance with a girl he would one day marry. And then unmarry. He was the leader of our rebels group when we were all 15, which in reality, had nothing to do with being rebellious and everything to do with friendship. He wanted to put an end to gossip, and complaining, and for awhile he did. He was Moose. He made us all sing 'Happy Trails to You' each summer night before we left those neighborhood streets to go our own way home. He was my first unofficial date. Big Fries. He was the life of our party.

Change.

When his sister died I went to her funeral and I saw him... this best friend of growing up, of years of sharing the same block, the same friends, the same sunday school class. He gave me a cheek hug. I felt sad deep into my heart and back again. I wanted to tell this friend how sorry I was for his loss. But I didn't. I would change that day. That day I bought the card for him that I was going to write my words in. The words that would make him know that I cared. This friend of mine that took me rabbit hunting and on bike rides. What would you change if you could?

Change.

He died three months later. What would you change if you could? I still had his blank card. I would change that day. Maybe if I listened real hard I could hear him. I listened, and I did. He wanted a favor, and he knew I was listening. I don't know if it was him or me, but somewhere I heard Mike telling me to please do this one last thing for him... to send his mom 6 yellow roses. Roses that would be delivered on a day when her tears fell heavy. She was listening too, and she heard him.

Six unforgetable yellow roses straight from heaven. That day I would not change.

they are known for their kickline

So I have been sucked into what could be classified as the best reality show of all time 'Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders, making the Team'. Somewhere deep inside me I am a cheerleader (and a Broadway dancer, and a thinker...but right now a cheerleader). I like to yell, clap, kick, smile, wave, all of it. The DCC (Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders), have to go through a rigorous tryout, and there is a really mean, pretty lady who runs the show that tells them that A) they can't dance B) they have a muffin top and won't look good in the 'uniform' C) that their high kicks are too low D) that they are not exciting. Any one of these statements taken out of context could still wound you for life. Seriously. As you can imagine it gets way intense. The mean pretty lady calls in the low kickers (or the ones who THINK they are kicking high, and really they are just leaning forward)...into her office and her and her sidekick (a blond with turkey neck) tell the cheerleader that she is off the team. That her high kicks, well, they are just not high enough, and at the end of the day the DCC are known for their kickline. Open tryouts are just a short 6 months away, and there is a part of me that would like to just show up just to say I tried.

I wish I had more...

1. junk in the trunk
2. poptarts
3. money
4. time with my kids
5. jessica simpson heels...hot baby hot!
6. chocolate covered cinnamon bears
7. running socks
8. money making ideas
9. big words in my head
10. time to ride around in Jen's jeep!

one last photo

Tonight I had the pleasure of taking Todd and Fatima's pics before they head of to San Fran for a year. Fati is an amazing beauty, and so much fun to photograph. Ramon smiles biggest when Fati is making him laugh! Todd looks great (it's genetic), and also very, very smart (also genetic), in all the pics. I love the candid ones of Todd with Ramon, and Fati with Ramon. So sweet!

ps I looooove my camera!

let the bake-off begin

4 short weeks is all I have to perfect my chocolate cake and chocolate chip cookies for the ultimate work bake-off. There are extremely high stakes for the bake-off. The loser has to wear canary yellow JcPenny tapered sweats to work, all day long. The loser must walk around the 6th floor (executive level), and work it baby...own it...and work it again. There is a lot of trash talking right now, but Sam never reads my blog, so...I am pretty much super excited to see him in those sweats. A few lunges would be nice too. Actually, word is, he is a pretty decent baker. I am not worried about losing, because I won't. At least, I hope not. So this is how the bake-off is going to go down...first, we bake a 'from scratch' chocolate cake. I have a good idea, and I am pretty sure I will take him and his fancy cake pans down. All rounds will be voted on by our bosses. Second round will be the chocolate chip cookie. I am a bit worried because my boss likes large, flat, cookies with small nuts...and that is not how I roll. So, the challenge is mostly in the judging because there is no way anyone will beat my cookies. If there is a tie, then there will be wild card round, which could get c r a z y.

robyn is real and other things I learned friday night

Our fearless leader calls us a quirky bunch, and really, can you blame him? Except, all this quirkiness works, and is quite enjoyable. The Joe's, Gina, Alec, Jason, Jared, and myself along with our significant others, oh and AK 47, all went dining together at a fantastic restaurant downtown. We were told to be there prompt, and most of us were, a few of us were thinking about the economy and forgot where to turn. All that said, it was a very fun evening. I learned that Joe D had a terrible, terrible experience with Della Reese in an airport, that made him shy away from ever approaching another celebrity again. I learned that Jason has a super cool under pressure wife when she said "Hi Andre..." in a normal, even voice. So cool. I learned that Joe S does not like to share food, and he likes plenty of room in which to arm swing....and indeed Robyn is real. I learned that Alec still is king of restaurants and food as he helped Joe come up with what to order.... sooo good! I learned that Gina is not afraid to try a whole new plate of different kind of food - what to go Gina, oh also I learned that love makes her glow! I learned that Jared has had many brushes with fame, and that he has a small yet strong crush on Rachel Bilson (did I say that right??). I learned that Joe B will eat Indian or Chinese food, it really does not matter. I learned that I am oh so very fortunate to work with so many fellas and a wonderful gal that make my life full and my work days feel short. Each spouse and significant other was so great and we all had a wonderful time. Can't wait for Harvest Dinner 2009.

things I do on my commute

1. I sing. Loud and possibly even in tune.
2. I seat dance. If I need both hands on the wheel then I just put my shoulders into it. Also, if I need a foot on the gas then I don't do any kicks or anything.
3. Once, when cell phones were new and cool, I took a dummy cell phone from work and pretended it was miiiinnneee and that it worked. I pretended to make an important call while stopped at an intersection. I even made eye contact with the guy in the car next to me. I pretended that the person I was talking to was super funny. I liked that game.
4. I occasionally steer with my knees, but only in emergency situations such as when I am trying to eat and drive. This is only in rural areas mind you.
5. When I feel like a hot babe I make my sexy face while looking in the side mirror. This is to make the people behind me jealous. I don't think it has actually ever worked. But one day it will, because I work in Ogden, so ya. It will happen.
6. Sometimes while playing ABBA really loud I roll down my window and nod along to the beat. I pretty much assume all humans love ABBA, but that only me and my family love them best.
7. I once said a bad word just to see what it sounded like.
8. I smile at strangers.
9. I laugh at the dj's.
10. I wave at joggers.
11. I feel bad for the bums.