My Own Fancy Cake!

I was out with Jon on Tuesday night, look what was waiting for me when I got home....

Okay this cake is so gorgeous and you wouldn't believe how soft and yummy it tasted! Mandy ROCKS because she knows that my favorite flavor in the world is coffee, guess what the flavor of the filling in the cake was??... COFFEE... with chocolate cake... needless to say, I didn't share this cake with ANYONE!

Mandy, start a business, you are AMAZING! Oh, and don't worry, I have a birthday cake for you, a Betty Crocker special! I bet you can't wait!!!

Happy Birthday Dad...

Yesterday, July 14, my dad turned 51... yikes! And his brother Rod turned 56. So we went to dinner to celebrate... I was the third-wheel because I'm still without hubby.

Did I ever tell you what we got my dad for his 50th birthday?!?!

Happy 29th Jon!

Jon's birthday was on the 7th of May so I'm a little bit behind with this "Ode to Jon" post! But I just want to talk a little bit about how wonderful my hubby is... not perfect, but wonderful!

10 things I love about Jon, in no apparent order:

#10. He listens better than any man I've ever met!...
#9. He's HOT... just look at him, he's sooo handsome!
#8. He loves ME... all my flaws and moods and all... he actually loves me... and believe me, he knows EVERYTHING about me!
#7. Best DAD EVER! The boys love rough housing with him, they adore their dad. And as for Anabelle, she just stares at him the moment he walks through the door.
#6. He's hilarious and doesn't even know it! I don't think I've stopped laughing since I met him, sometimes with him, sometimes at him... but he laughs at himself too!
#5. He's honest. He's honest even when he knows he's going to be in BIG trouble!!!
#4. He checks my blog and leaves comments... I don't know, I just think that's cute!
#3. He treats me sooooo good! Every night, and I mean every night, he plays with my hair until I fall asleep.
#2. He has a relationship with God and I love that about him. He has a strong testimony and strives to do the best he can in this crazy life.
#1. I love him just the way he is. I am so lucky because I got "one of the good ones".

One of my fondest memories of Jon:
Okay, back to senior year when my life was OVER! Here's the scenario... There was about a week left of high school, my freakin' softball team just got knocked out of the state tourney by Mt. View (yes we were suppose to take it that year), Jon was leaving on his mission in about 3 days... and I thought I was going to curl up in a ball and DIE! Anyway, I was feeling pretty sick about being out of the state tourney and Jon could tell. He called my dad and they talked about different ways to cheer me up... I couldn't be cheered up! Jon explained to my dad that they had to do something "real big" and "unforgettable" so that I would never forget it. Well, my clever dad and cute boyfriend came up with this plan...
On Friday night Jon told me that on Saturday he had some plans for us but that I had to wake up at 6:00 am... my response... "NO"... my plan was to fall asleep and never wake up... I was so dramatic! So on Saturday morning, with my alarm reluctantly set, I woke up, and when I woke up Jon was sitting there waiting for me. He told me to hurry up, jump in the shower, that I had 45 minutes until we were leaving. About 30 minutes later Jon told me that my time was up! I climbed into my dad's car and then my mom and dad got it too... what the?!?! We got on the freeway and headed to Salt Lake. I was trying to guess what we were doing but I never would have guessed that we were going to end up at the airport and fly to Las Vegas for the entire day! We went on EVERY RIDE they had. Ate all the yummy food. And my dad even gave me a quarter to put in a slot machine... I got in trouble of course, I looked like I was 14! And then around 5:00 we flew home, just in time for Jon to take me out to dinner at a really nice restaurant. This was a day that I'll NEVER forget... how cute is Jon? How cute is my dad and mom? This was and still is one of the greatest days I've had... it was flawless!

One of the most "Jon" moments:
So we were dating and it was my senior year. I was in this seminary play that he came to watch one night. Anyway, after the play we went over to Joe Ghiz's house to hang out with everyone and ended up staying pretty late. It was March and there was snow all over the ground... it was freezing. Jon was taking me back to my car which was parked at the church right by Alta. It was after midnight when he dropped me off, and being the gentleman he is, he dropped me off and drove off before I got into my car. So there I was, in this dark parking lot, freezing and I couldn't get my key in the key hole. Once I worked that out, I couldn't turn the key because the key hole was FROZEN. After maneuvering that for a couple of minutes I managed to get in my car... Jon was probably half way to Provo by now. Anyway, I got in my car and turned the key and "click"... nothing but a click., My car wouldn't start! Luckily I was one of the only people in high school with a car phone (more like a car brick) so I called my dad and he had to come save me! Oh Jon, what a guy! I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED! I swear they made a CSI about this exact situation, but the girl didn't have a car brick!

One of the sweetest memories from Jon:
Okay so he's going to kill me but there are 2 I want to tell people... the first one is that for Valentines Day one year after we were married, he got me this gorgeous journal, and inside there were strict orders that we were suppose to use this to write things that we loved about each other in it. To this day, I find this journal hiding in crazy places and when I open it there is a letter to me from him telling me the things he loves about me... so cute! The second is this story... One random day Jon came home from work with a couple dozen roses for me. I was so surprised and happy! He then proceeded to tell me a story about a man who was traveling by bus with a dozen roses. There was a girl who was intrigued with the roses and kept staring. Finally the girl asked who the roses were for and the man explained that they were for his wife... but seeing how much the girl loved the roses he offered them to her. The girl said "won't your wife be sad" and the man told the girl that his wife would be so happy and proud of him for giving them to her instead. The girl took the roses and was so happy and excited. Just then the bus stopped and the man got off, it stopped at the cemetery, his wife had passed away and he was taking the roses to her grave. So I looked at Jon with teary eyes and asked him why he sucked so bad by telling me such a sad story. He didn't say anything just lead me to the car where we drove to an old retirement home. When we got to the front desk he told me, "Tice, we're going to brighten someones day". Just then he took a rose from me and handed it to an old lady in a wheel chair. She cried. We proceeded to do this 24 times, until all the roses were gone. What a day, what a guy! Now he's going to KILL ME!

So that's a little bit about my husband! I was trying to think of an embarrassing moment of his but I can't... what's wrong with me!!!??? I'll think of one and post it later. Jon, I just want you to know that I love you so much, even though you are an old fart! You are my perfect match!

Lots of stuff in one blog!

Grandma came to visit!!!... and although it was for less than 48 hours, it was well worth it and a lot of fun. On Friday night we had Jen and Ryan over for games and dinner (Jon won… grrrr!). On Saturday we had Brayden’s first birthday party (yes there has been 2, and one more still coming). We went to the park and played, ate cake and ice cream, hit candy out of a piñata, and opened presents… it was a lot of fun for the kiddo’s. Then on Saturday night we went to the Powell’s Valentines Day party (previously posted). Some of you want to know what my mom won… I’ll never tell, but maybe she will when she updates her ever so neglected blog! Then on Sunday we went to our way too early church (8:00 am) while my mom stayed home with Anabelle who was sporting a little cold. After church we met up with our friends Michelle and Nick and their son Drew and ate a yummy picnic at the park… all in all, it was a busy weekend but WAY fun, and even better with the company of Grandma Jones (sorry mom, but the “hip” title of “Tam the Gram” isn’t sticking with the kids… you ARE grandma Jones!).

Here's what my mom won! She turned the label around!!!

Here's the kiddo's at the "Superhero Party"

"Super Parents!!!"

Super parents making out... he made me!

The Belle of the Ball

Happy Birthday Brayden!

So Brayden is officially 5, February 21, 2003. Again, I am reminded of how old I am getting! I can’t believe we have a 5 year old Jon! On Brayden’s “official” birthday we went to Chucky Cheese. We were supposed to see Grandpa Jolley who was visiting from Utah but he got a terrible cold and had to postpone his trip. Unfortunately for us (and fortunate for Brayden and Jack) we talked about going to Chucky Cheese so much that even without Grandpa, we were bound to go. So now when Grandpa comes at the end of March, we’ll be going again… what a spoiled little 5 year old!... but worth everything to us.



Today we went to the zoo for Jack’s preschool field trip. I kept Brayden out of school so he could come with us, and it was SO chaotic! I was happy that I left Anabelle with her aunt Jen so I could chase after the boys. I honestly think the only animals we saw were turtles and iguanas because the boys wanted to play in the “play house” for the entire time. I don’t think I’ll be getting a zoo pass this year!!!




Okay, so I really am going private, I’ve just been super busy and now that I have time I just want to post!! If you haven’t emailed me or left me a comment with your email address then do it… or else! And believe me, if you think you are a weirdo for admitting that you check my blog you are NOT! I’m a pretty impressive blog surfer myself!!!

Oh, and one more thing, I cut 10 inches off of my hair! I couldn’t donate to Locks of Love because my hair was so layered, bummer! Anyway, I was going to take a picture to show you, and ended up doing this... face it, I'm married to Jon, he's taught me to act like this!







What's wrong with me you guys?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!!!!!!!!

My ZZZZZZZ's are long gone!

What is wrong with me? Every night this week my internal clock has gone off at 3:00 AM, which has left me wondering around the house. Some nights I move out to the couch and read or watch TV, some nights I tease Jon until he starts talking in his sleep, but tonight it’s bloggin’ time!... Great, I’m already being cheesy, maybe I should stop now! Ahhhhh, I’m looking at this freaky picture on my blog (sorry Brooke!) and I just looked over and my curtains are WIDE OPEN… excuse me, I’ll be right back! Okay, so I really just tip-toed up to my windows and shut all the curtains and blinds thinking that my blog stalker was going to get me… STAY AWAY STALKER! The truth is it was probably just some random person leaving me a friendly comment, but what about that last comment was interesting (or however he/she spelled it)? Anyway, hopefully it was a one time thing and now they are gone!!

Okay so first things first, I love all the people who have been checking my blog… I had no idea you guys were out there… it’s called COMMENTS PEOPLE! Even if I don’t know you, they are fun to get… and actually if I don’t know you and you emailed me, you probably think you are the only one, but actually there has been a few of you (Jill you aren’t included in that, of course I know you!!).

So Brayden turned 5 last night at 11:40pm… what a labor that was… 5 years ago… 5 years ago?... 5 YEARS AGO… people, I hate to fill you in but if we went to high school together or played ball together… WE ARE OLD! I’ll blog the details and pictures of his fun birthday parties (yes, that is more than one) tomorrow.

Okay so “LOST”… what the…? Camille I’ll be careful about not spoiling this, but HELLO… another Oceanic 6 was revealed (was that the last one, I’m only counting 5 but it’s 3:30 AM). I’m dying people, where is this going? I’m sure I haven’t mentioned this but my friend Camille Goldy actually threatened my life (or maybe it was my sister Milli) if I didn’t start watching LOST. So this summer I watched the ENTIRE 4 or 5 seasons on my laptop and neglected my kids… (hey, it’s HOT here, we all stay inside and hibernate!). So anyway, I am now in love with the HOT cast of LOST, it’s SO GOOD! Let me know what you think about it.

What else??? Maybe I should try going to bed… nah! So I’m behind in the times and this may not sound very cool but I got a scanner a couple of days ago. Another upcoming blog that no one will really be interested in is “Birthday spotlights”. My birthday people consist of my mom (January 23), my father in law (Kent- January 25), this isn’t a birthday but my grandma’s Jinny who died on January 25, 2007, my past coach Vaughn Alvey (January 22)… you rock Vaughn, and my sister Milli (February 8th)… (I just had to spell February 7 times before getting it right… man, I should spare you all and just go back to bed!!)

Okay so the countdown is on. Veronica, Steph, I can’t remember your emails from work and I need to send you an email, I know you read my blog because you get bored at work… I mean, no you don’t! And all the other people that haven’t responded, I really AM going to change it to private soon, probably on Sunday, so hurry up, I don’t want to loose any readers, although I’m sure after this post you will ALL move on!

I love you all…

TC—Night, night!

Happy Birthday Jack!

Last Saturday was Jack's 3rd Birthday! Mom was feeling a little (a lot) under the weather and dad was obsessed with getting the pavers in the yard complete, so our little guy went a little... neglected (well except by Brayden who ran around all day singing "Happy Birthday Jack"... thanks for stepping up to the plate Brayden!!!) So after a little negotiation and a little planning we decided to have his birthday party at (the one and only) Chucky-Cheese! This has to be Jack's numero uno place to be in the entire world!

Here's some pictures and a little re-cap of the night...





"I'm THREE"... it seems like 3 fingers is the hardest!







It made the entire night when Chucky showed up to party!








Cousin Maddie








Cousin Michael enjoying his drink... he drank all night!







Brayden won vampire teeth!








Mommy and Aunt Jen enjoying the company!









Our basketball tourny... this is Jen and Jon playing... but guess who was the champion... ME!!!






Jack's beautiful donut cake... (I put a lot of work into this party... shame on me... but he didn't know the difference!)








So many presents!








What a fun night!








Bob the Builder





And because Jon had the camera... we got a shot of Jack's butt crack!!!... ladies, do they every grow up?!?!





Favorite gifts:

A pirate ship from Grandpa Jolley and Nana



"Jackie Bear" from Grandpa and Grandpa Jones















Diego's "rescue pack" from Uncle Ryan, Aunt Jen, Maddie and Michael!











Leap Frog 'ABC' Magnets from Grandma Jill and Grandpa Lynn


Thanks to everyone who helped make Jack's 3rd birthday memorable. We missed all of you that live far away, but Jack knows you love him. Jack... mom and dad love you... STOP GROWING UP!