Squish a Boob, Save a Life!

We have all seen the extra PINK in the stores this month... cereal boxes, detergent, paper towels, measuring cups, even Kitchen Aid mixers! It's everywhere! I thought that I had always understood why as women we need to support the cause and find a cure. Tonight I realized just how important it is... My mom was diagnosed with Breast Cancer! She goes in for a Lumpectomy on Tuesday to have the tumor and tissue removed and then will begin 6 weeks of radiation. I am shocked...

The doctors were shocked that she found the lump by doing a self exam, I guess most women rely on a mammogram to detect breast cancer (my mom had one just last February). She also told me that with her diagnosis it also doubles my chance of developing breast cancer. And if you also have a family history of ovarian cancer (which I do) your chances are even greater. However, my point in saying all this is that when your family has these histories you can go into your doctor and be checked to see if you are a carrier of two different genes BRCG1 and BRCG2 (BReast Cancer Gene 1&2) if you are a carrier on one of these genes then your chances of developing breast cancer is 40 -85% according to then Susan G Koman website. That way you know and can start checking at an earlier age and more frequently to aid an early detection for a better survival rate! So get checked, have your mom and sisters get checked... squish a boob and save a life!

Broadway, Here he comes...

Riley will make his big debuet as Winthrop this Thursday, Friday and Saturday (October 23, 24 & 25) in THE MUSIC MAN! You are all invited... if you would like to come please leave me a comment with your e-mail address and I will send you the details of the location, etc. I just feel better about the saftey of my family by sending the info out that way. Thanks, I hope you see you there!

This is Riley practicing his solo, Gary Indiana.

P.S. I am also making my big break backstage as the curtain opener & closer!

SLC 2 Alarm Fire

I thought I would post this just for fun and so Eric's family that does not live in Utah could see their little brother at work. This was Erics first fire while on the job with SLCFD... he was so excited! The following is a link to channel 4's coverage of the fire. Luckily the houses were abandoned and nobody was hurt!

There will be a short commercial before the video will start!

http://www.kutv.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoid=60744@kutv.dayport.com&navCatId=5&articleID=60744

Campbell Soup and the PTA

So at the beginning of the school year I was asked to sell popcorn at the schools annual "skate night". I said sure, how hard can it be to sell popcorn. That night I was asked to help count Campbell Soup Labels for the school fundraiser, I was told that it only takes an hour every couple of months and if there were a couple of moms helping it would take even less time. So again I said that I would be happy to help, and the nice PTA lady said that she would get back to me on a time to meet and show me how to count and enter the info into the computer. A few weeks have gone by since then and I was just thinking to myself one night that they must not have needed my help after all.
So this morning while getting Riley ready for school, the nice PTA lady called and asked if we could meet this afternoon if I was still interested. I told her that I was still happy to help and said I would be there. So I get to the school and walk into the teacher lounge where she asked me to meet her and I see her and the PTA Pres. and the Principal and 2 other ladies I don't know sitting around a table getting ready to start their big important PTA meeting. They had there palm pilots, agendas and Diet Coke out and ready for and afternoon of serious PTA planning for this school year. I felt way out of my comfort zone (our elementary boundaries cover the wealthiest and poorest communities of our town, and as you can imagine the PTA board comes from the money side of the line. I however don't, our first time home buyer fixer upper is in the poor side of the school boundaries, so I felt way under "blinged") and sat through the whole meeting wondering if they gave me an agenda just to be nice or should I be taking mad notes like the rest of them for a reason I didn't know about. At the end of the meeting I was introduced and asked for all my phone numbers, e-mail, etc. so they would all know how to get in touch with me. The meeting ended and I was handed a big fat 3 ring binder, taken on a tour of the PTA room and shown where they keep everything. Then the nice PTA lady looked at me and said WELCOME TO THE PTA BOARD!!! I was so shocked I didn't know what to say, then she turned and said that she better get back to the classroom she was helping in and walked away. PTA BOARD? Counting a few Campbell Soup labels welcomes you to the PTA BOARD? I now have meetings to attend, activities to plan and not to mention, Campbell soup labels to count!

Team Hoyt

As we drive to Salt Lake and home again I think we pass about 10 billboards with this father and son team on them. The billboard says something like "His father has been behind him for 65 marathons!" Then has a word such as DEDICATION or LOVE or INSPIRATION written in big bold letters. Every time we pass this billboard I think to myself wow what a cool dad! I have always assumed that Dick Hoyt was an athletic man who just decided to have his son, Rick, compete with him. But it was Rick who asked his dad to help him compete! If one on my kids asked me to compete in anything more than a 5k I think I would tell them to dream on. My friend Jill posted this video on her blog (thanks Jill!) with the warning of grabbing a tissue box before you hit play, I thought whatever I can handle watching this little video with out really crying. But I am now repeating Jill's advice GET SOME TISSUES!! I cried during the whole video! Later that night when I had Eric watch the video I thought I have already seen it I won't cry this time, well I was wrong! I eventually had to leave the room because I was crying so much as Eric kept hitting play on every youtube video about this father and son team.
On a different youtube video (a clip from the Today Show honoring todays real life heros.) we watched Dick Hoyt was talking about when Rick was born with cerebral palsy, the doctors told him and his wife that Rick would not be able to live a normal life, that he would be a vegatable his whole life and a burden to their family and the best thing that they could do would be to put Rick in an Institution. They didn't take the suggestion and they took Rick home and raised him with all the love they could offer. With the help of a computer that allows Rick to communicate he told his dad that racing helps him for that moment to forget his disablity and feel free. And from that day on a father lost himself in the service of his son competing in every race possible, not just marathons but ironman competitions! Rick has also graduated from college! I love the joy on Ricks face as he crosses each finish line and recieves each diploma, all because of the unselfish love of his father!
All I can say is the LOVE and DEDICATION this father has to bring joy to his son is AMAZING and they both are not only an ISPIRATION to me, but have become an inspiration to people around the world! They truly have inspired me to be the best mom that I can be, and I hope that I can bring the love and joy into my children's lives that Dick Hoyt has brought to his son!

This is a link to a story on the TODAY show about the Hoyts...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyiApzjIuzw

Now grab the tissues...
A Father's Amazing Love
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGRyYKF5jVY

Jeff and Olivia Family Photos

This is a collage of my favorite photos I took this past weekend of my brother Jeff and soon to be sister in law Olivia and Jeff's two sons Joey and TJ. If you want to see a larger image click on this one to make it bigger! I can't figure out how to post individual photos off Picasa to blog in the same post, and I can't figure out how to save them to "my pictures" on my computer to load them that way... so if anyone knows how PLEASE tell me! I made this by accident and realized I could post it to my blog... so here it is!
It was so much fun taking these photos and I am pretty happy with the way they turned out since it has been years since I have tried to take photos! Photography has always been a love of mine. I have wanted to pursue a Photography business since Riley was a baby but we have never made the investment in a nice camera... so I keep dreaming of the day when I will be able to buy the new latest and greatest professional camera on the market.

Disney Princess Quiz

So I took this quiz last night after seeing it on a lot of my friends blogs, I thought it would be fun to see what princess I am. When I was done with the quiz and told Eric that I was Snow White he replied "Hey, no fare, I want to know what princess I am too!" (being totally sarcastic of course!) So tonight I made him take the quiz and here are his results...Free-spirited and wise. You have a strong passionate spirit that touches and changes all who know you. The wisdom and common sense that you have is really what guides you through life. Even so, you also have a very playful side that loves adventure and excitement.

Pretty good results for my husbands inner princess! At least thats what I thought, but he was a little upset that he was Pocahantas! Who did he want to be, Sleeping Beauty?

This is me...Snow White!

Pure and trusting. You are a gentle soul who can get along with just about anyone. Everyone you meet instantly falls in love with you. How can they resist? You have a pure, lovable nature that's irresistable. Just don't trust everyone who comes across your path.

Do our Princess Personalities really define who we are? Or what princess should we have been?

If you havn't already taken this fun little quiz go to www.greatestjournal.com/quiz.bml?Q=16354

Mormons on Youtube

The things people come up with! I saw this on my friends blog and thought that it was fun... check it out! http://www.ldsmag.com/youtube/080814famous.html

What do you think about this?

Jason is the new Bachelor for the new season starting in January!

I can't wait... He deserves it!

Will you be watching?

Our Last Days of Summer

So I know it has been a long time since I have made a new post (I even got not so nice phone calls from my really mean sister-in-law Monica!) but with school starting we have been pretty busy packing in some last minute summer fun and of course school shopping! (So Monica I will try to make new posts more often so Dallin will have some computer entertainment looking to see what Riley is up to.) So tonight I am going to quickly give a photo overload of a couple of things that we did those last few days of summer. Here I go...

BEAR LAKE

WOW! how I love this place! Warm blue water, sand, sea shells and the sun! What more could a girl ask for? I couldn't believe that Riley was going to start school and we hadn't even made one trip up here all summer long, so one day when Eric got home from work we loaded up and headed to the Lake. We had so much fun that we went back one more time the same week! There is nothing more relaxing than laying on the beach with my sweet hubby soaking up the rays watching our kids play endlessly in the sand.

I LOVE this photo! And it's not because I look so darn hot, but because I am actually in a photo with the kids! WOW, we are even looking at the camera, Thanks Honey!

I don't know what I love about this one the most... Eric's muscles, the smile on his face while playing with Hailey or his FARMER TAN!

Hailey enjoying the warm shallow "Baby Lake" as she would call it.

Eric telling me no, He wasn't going to take his shirt off. But as you saw in the photos above I won! I just like the way he is standing... He is HOT!

Our little Princess who just can't stay out of the mud! She sure did enjoy her free day of playing in the sand with out me getting bugged that she was dirty.

Riley showing us that swim lessons this summer paid off... I think he's hoping that I won't sign him back up as long as he can float with "Superman Arms".

The End!

MEET THE AGGIES DAY!

USU had a open house at the stadium to meet this years football team.

Eric thought that it would be fun to take Riley and enjoy the festivities!

Riley is excited, however I can never get the girls to look at the camera.

Touch Down!

Riley picked the highest seats we could possibly sit in to watch the team scrimmage.

Notice how empty the whole stadium is!

These are the two players that Riley played catch with down on the field after the "blue vs. white" game. They were very excited to get their picture taken... they must be bench warmers?

Riley playing catch, he had just got done throwing the ball.

Collecting autographs... I think this is the QB!

Riley with Coach Guy... the pose was the coaches idea and I don't think that Riley quite understood what was going on!

Trying on the new state-of-the-art helmet. I think this thing has airbags
a sun visor and an air conditioner!

What a way to top off all the fun... A donut eating contest!

This might of been the funnest part of the whole night.

I love living this close to the Temple!

I snapped this shot one night last week while we were on a walk.

Our First Triathalon!

We decided yesterday to compete in our first triathalon today and I am so proud of Riley! He did so well, we went from a start in last place to finishing in 2nd place for his age group. Since he is still a little worried about swimming in deep water, afraid that if he needs to stop he won't be able to touch the ground, we decided last night that I would do the swim portion for our "team" and then we would bike and run together. But after arriving for the race I was able to talk him into trying the swim (since I could swim along side of him). Just when I thought that I had convienced him, he changed his mind and said only if he could us a kick board... so that's what he did. Riley had everyone cheering him on as they noticed him being brave and doing the swim with me. When the swim was over he jumped out of the water and said "I can't believe I did it!".

Next was the bike... however he was still so excited about the swim that he saw no need for speed while putting on his shoes... so you can imagine we were dead last! While biking we were able to catch up to some of the other kids competing in his age group.

So... when we ditched the bikes for the run the race was on! Riley is just as competative as his dad (imagine that!) and he was determined to pass all the other runners, and he almost did! He ran across the FINISH line just 5 feet behind the kid that took first place! A 50 yd. swim, a 1mile bike and a 1/2 mile run only took him 27 min... Not too shabby for a last minute decision to compete!

He can't wait for his next one... Bring it on Dad!

I found Katelyn sittying quietly in my room playing "dress-ups".

Hailey trying to be as big as her sister

Riley singing I am a Child of God for his big audition for a chance to be in our Stakes production of The Music Man. More info on his role coming soon!

Visiting the Zoo!

We went to Willow Park Zoo for story time with some friends, so I thought that I would share some of our discoveries while there...

*Katelyn found Nemo living at the zoo, she was so excited that Nemo now lived at the zoo! But who caught him and how was he going to get back to the ocean?

*Riley thought it was funny that the pebbles of food that we puchased from the dime machine to fee the ducks and fish was really dog food! Why do fish and duck eat dog food? he said with a shocked and discusted look on his face.

*You insert your admission fees into a "on your honor" tube with a slot at the top. Hailey wanted to be just like the BIG kids and put her quarters in by herself. When she was done she was very upset that a treat didn't come out of the bottom like a vending machine.

*And last of all I found that the old Elk with enormous antlers had passed away. However the zoo has obtained his grandson from another zoo who owns the elks son. They have high hopes of this young bull continuing his family heritage of enormous antlers. (Not very interesting I know, unless you live in Cache Valley , even then I know it's pushing it!)

Take a Stroll...

I saw this on my friends blog, and thought it looked like a lot of fun....

Here are the directions....

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I have together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember...

2. Next, repost these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you.

It's actually pretty cool (and funny) to see the responses. If you leave a memory, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave a memory for you!

SLCFD here we come...

In March while in Disneyland celebrating my Grandma Claysons 80th birthday we got a call from SLCFD offering Eric a job. Talk about being in the happiest place on earth! He started a 12 week crash course boot camp on April 21st. And it was 12 weeks from you know where! They pushed the "recruits" so hard physically that they would throw-up and require a IV to keep them hydrated. They pushed them so hard emotionally that 4 of the original 8 "recruits" quit within the first 6 weeks. I was amazed to watch Eric push himself more and more each day to exceed and perform each task perfectly all while he was still trying to jugle being a dad, husband and to fullfill his calling as Executive Secretary in the Bishopric. Eric moved in to his mothers house for the 12 weeks and came home only on the weekends to help save on time and gas. It was so hard on him as a dad, he missed most of Rileys baseball games, & all of the end of school year performances. Kate and Hailey missed him so much, they didn't quite understand what was going on so much, they only knew that Dad was never home. So you can imagine our excitment when he Graduated from SLCFD Recruit Acadamy last week. (The photo is of Eric getting sworn in as a firefighter for SLC. BC Roberson is the guy swearing in Eric, he lived in the neighborhood Eric grew up in, so that was pretty cool.) His training Captains spoke very highly of him, and said that he is going to make a great addition to the SLCFD and they see in him holding a future rank of SLCFD Captain and higher. I do have to say that it was pretty crazy to have another firefighter tell me at the graduation that "he will make sure that Eric always returns home". I think my jaw hit the ground when he said that! I have never thought about Eric even getting hurt... he is so competative. And come on, firefighting is what Eric was made for! I am so proud of Eric he is the best dad and husband, I Love you!

The Kajma's Are Here to Rock the Blogging World!

So here we are...entering the blogging world.....finally!!!! Keep a look out for future blogs from the Kajma's. We're excited to enter the blogging world where we can better stay in touch with our family and friends. Please feel free to comment, we'd love to hear from you!!!