Cookie Monsters

Yesteday afternoon when Alex, Carsen and I went to pick-up Jorge from tennis at BYU, conveniently we were parked by the Brick Oven. Because I had two hungry boys in the car they started talking about where to go to dinner. Carsen wanted to go to the Brick Oven, but Alex wanted to go to the J-Dogs. I told them to flip a coin, and "heads" turned out to be Brick Oven. After the boys had finished their huge calzones, they started talking about what's for dessert.


This is Alex's and Carsen's plea for the dessert.


They decided to share the "Cookie Monster". Huge chocolate chip cookie, freshly baked on the bottom, topped with fudge, ice-cream, whip cream and a cherry on top.


Snarfing it down like there was no tomorrow.

Still not full and still going strong...

Finally, they couldn't have one more bite.

Chosen Spanish words?

Today was Jorge's first U.S Tennis Tournament at BYU. He won the first game, and had to play another one against an opponent, who was fresh and it was his first game of the day. Every once in a while I heard Jorge "talk" in Spanish when the game wasn't going his way. I thought that maybe it was some chosen Spanish words that I didn't understand because I didn't hear him say "Ay Carramba" once. Towards the 3 set, Jorge started cramping up in his left leg. We would see him limping around, and trying to play as best as he could. He lost the first set, won the second and barely lost the third. All in all, it was a good game. Just felt so bad that he was in so much pain. Good job, Jorge!

After driving home I asked Jorge what was he "saying", suggesting that it was maybe Spanish swear words and he said that he doesn't swear (good boy), but it was mostly "stupido" geared toward himself for hitting the ball into the net etc. I'll buy that.

Next week he will be in another tournament and we are going to load him up with bushels of bananas and gallons of Gatorade. No more cramping up on our watch!


Jorge serving. Can you hear him grunt?


Is he trying to take-off in this one? He is flying!

"Older by, like, 60 years"

I took Alex and Elle to the Hale Center Theater last night to watch the latest play called "The Hasty Heart". We got there early, so they both got to see all the people who were coming in to see the play. Of course this is not their first time at the Hale, but for some reason they started question the age of the audience. Alex was very poignant at his realization that the rest of the audience was, in fact, older than him by about 60 years. Yep, a lot of gray haired ladies and gents (not me).

The play was interesting, and I definitely needed some serious subtitles because one of the main characters was a Scot.

Next up: Aida

Wakeboarding on a sunny day

Because I'm such a kill-joy, I thought we would work around the house all day Saturday, but it was not meant to be. We received a phone call from Munch, and he invited us to go to Deer Creek to water-ski/wakeboard. And off we went. The work could wait...

Getting ready to launch the boat.

Those are some huge muscles.

Alex was first to wakeboard. The water was FREEZING!!

Then it was Taylor's turn. He boarded 1/2 hour straight. What strength and stamina!

Pregnant Mican didn't waterski this time. Morgan posing on her shoulder.

Rod trying to squeeze into his wetsuit that was wet already because Alex used it. How is it possible that a 13-year old and a 43-year old can fit into the same wetsuit??

Rod wakeboarding.

Jorge was the only one not wearing a wetsuit, and he was shivering when he got out of the water. We called him the Macho Man!

And last one to go was Chris, before Alex got in to make a few more turns.

Thanks Chris and Mican for a quick fun on a sunny Saturday afternoon.

And then we went back to work around the house.

Happiness achieved-again

What brings you happiness into your life? Think about it seriously. What really makes you happy? Because you know that nobody can make you happy, but yourself. You have to find it yourself.

One of the things that make me smile from ear to ear and brings me one of the biggest joys in life is Hula (well, anything Hawaiian, really). I started dancing hula again on Wednesdays after a two-year break, and even though I was sweating like a pig during the class (and if you don't know how I feel about sweat, ask me) but I am willing to overlook the sweat when I dance. Today my thighs are burning, and it hurts to go down the stairs, but I'm SOOOO HAPPY!

Aloha!

Labor Day gift to nature

Yesterday was Labor Day, and it poured like crazy at our house for a good 1/2 hour. Because I didn't get out of bed yesterday for it being a holiday, and I had a good book to finish, and all kinds of House Hunters International Marathons on TV ( I want to move to a 1.5 million dollar house in Mazatlan), I actually only glanced outside once or twice when it was raining. After it stopped raining, I lost interest what was going on outside. So, this morning I was driving to work and lo and behold...snow on Timp. Brrr. Winter's coming, I just know it. It was 38 degrees (metric: 3 C) this morning at my boss' house in Lindon.

Top row at the football game

Summer's over. Why do I know this? Because BYU had their first football game. And I went. Don't be surprised if I don't go again this season. I'm a football fan, don't get me wrong, but I rather lay on my bed, and watch the game on TV because then I can be doing something productive at the same time, like fold clothes, or knit (I haven't knitted since I made that purple sweater for Rod's girlfriend when he was on his mission. And I thought I was making it for his sister, which ended up with her anyway. And THAT I call karma), or if the game is not going well (not a chance, right?), I can read a book or dust, or clean otherwise.

Well, BYU won the game against Northern Iowa.

And I have to give Kudos to Steve for being such a sport, a true blue BYU fan for being released from the hospital just a few hours earlier and then making it to the game.

Did I mention that it was 100 degrees F (those with metric sense, it was about 37 C), and we sat on the top row, luckily it was in the shade except the wall behind our backs was steaming hot. So, yes, the sweat was dripping.

Go Cougs!


Jorge and Alex at the game


Ahh...football season is here!

Aloha Oi

Our backyard neighbors used to have a big mess in their yard until this summer they decided to redo it, and it is gorgeous now (just don't look over the fence to our yard). On Friday night while I was making dinner, I kept hearing music and I peeked through my blinds in the kitchen and I so wanted to be part of that party. Yes, they were having a luau...with Hawaiian music...with hula dancers. I was aching to be in Hawaii. No kidding.

When almost nobody's watching

Alex sporting his new blonde "fro". Sometimes the wig is on his head, sometimes it is acting as his chest hair...depending on the situation. When he is "Alejandro, the Latin Lover" (say it with a Spanish accent) the wig works as his chest hair.


Jorge got on the action too. He looks good as a blonde man. We gotta do something with the black eyebrows, though.


And then when you thought it was safe to let your children roam in my house, this lady appears. I'll give you a few a minutes to come up with some answers on what might be going on in this picture. I bet you will never, ever guess. Let's just say it was Mari's special touch. She was laughing the whole time when she was working on this masterpiece. If you click on the picture, you will be able to see the 4 huge mosquito bites I got the previous night. I felt like a leper on one side of my face. I even had to part my hair on the other side. That was awkward.


Ok, start guessing.





Nope, not that one. Are you kidding me? I wouldn't do such a thing.




You are close, but no. Did you say, sweat on my forehead? Nope, but it looks like I'm sweating, huh.


Give up?



Ok, Mari gave me a special hot olive oil deep moisturizing treatment on my hair. While she was at it, she slapped some honey on my face. She said something about honey being good for my skin. The nice thing was that I kept licking my own cheeks. As a result, I had much softer hair, and a deliciously sweet face. Surprisingly, I didn't feel like slicing tomatoes and onions and throwing them up in my hair.

One goes, One stays

Last night we had a nice dinner at Sundance with Mari and Jorge. Mari left to go back to Mexico early this morning.


Mari, Alex, Rod and Jorge


Mama and her son..until Christmas...


Alex

Jorge

Rod

Me and Mari during dinner at the Foundry Grill.

We are going to miss Mari. We are like sisters separated at birth. Love you Mari!