Monday, September 28, 2009


{I took my kids to hell and back}



Every morning we (Riv, Jax and Myself) listen to a morning show called "Radio from Hell" on X96.
It is witty, entertaining, hilarious, and out of the norm.
A week ago, the show announced that it was doing a live broadcast near our home at the waffle house Monday morning.
Riv came begging for me to take him to see the show, and meet Kerry, Bill and Gina.
Well of course this was a proud moment for me!
My son loves music and witty banter as much as I do! Awe!!!!
So I say, "OHHHH Yah we are going!  And I don't even care if you are late for school!"



We walked into the restaurant, and the boys froze.
They were looking at people that they have only heard.
It was very educational for them to watch how the show is run,
understand the 3 second delay, see the expressions on the DJ's faces as they talked, and get an eyeful of the equipment.
I ordered each of them breakfast, but they were too excited to eat!!!!
We stayed for an hour, and at their next break, we introduced ourselves and expressed our love for their show.
I asked if I could get a picture so that I could use it as an excuse slip for school :)
Bill and Gina were so kind and obliged.
The boys were still freaking out when I picked them up after school!!!
I asked them both what the other kids at school said about it.....
And I guess my boys are the only ones allowed to listen to this morning show out of all their friends...........
hmmmm what does that say about me as a parent???
{Anniversary Party Details}


Coming soon........

I am now out of my dance induced coma, and my feet are able to handle small walks with slippers on.  The bruises on my ass bones are showing signs of deep purple, (from falling while hula hooping), and the alcohol is finally out of my blood, so the dizziness is gone.
Oh Yes!!!! It was all worth it! I want to rewind and do it all over again!!!!
Can't wait to give the re-cap of events....I'm sure it will be the longest blog that was ever blogged on a blogspot by a blogger :) I like saying blawwwg.
To be continued........
If anyone has pictures from the wedding/anniversary party,
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE
email them to me at
I am going to make an online album with all of the pics for everyone to see.
Thank you and have a great day!

Sunday, September 27, 2009

{Did you know my aunt walks on water?}



I thought she was BEA-U-TI-FUL!!!!
I wanted to be like her.



She was a UCLA graduate. Smart and successful.
I wanted to be like her.

Always trendsetting (yes acid-wash jeans and bi-level haircut was kick ass at one time)
I wanted to be like her.



She looked like a movie star bride.....
I wanted to be like her.



Today is her birthday, and also a monumental acknowledgment of her new life.
She receives her 6 month sobriety chip.
She is a survivor.
She is loving.
She is courageous.
She is kind.
She is soft.
She is my aunt.
The aunt that I still look at with little girl eyes.
The aunt that chooses to be a positive roll model in my family's life.
I want to be like her.

Happy Birthday Aunt Tracy!!
I am so proud of you!
Lub, lub, lub uuuuu!!!
your Mertz :)
(in my childhood, my aunts truly did walk on water in my mind.....their impact on me was something I don't think they can ever grasp...)

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

{Viva La Brunch}



Grandma wanted to try our favorite restaurant Pago for her birthday brunch.
We all met up at noon and started sipping on coffee.
When I say coffee, I mean strong and smooth with hints of chocolate.



The boys made G-ma birthday cards....
Jax's said, "To: Jax  From: Grandma" :)
We knew what he meant.




Gifts from Tracy



Grandma ordered some kind of vinegarette salmon on a potato cake
She purposely dressed to match the mint leaf in her tooth!
I ordered almond crusted french toast with wild berries dripping from the top, and the other three ordered eggs benny.  All dishes were delightful!!!


The staff brought G-ma this ice cream with teramisu pieces mixed in.
I'm serious!!!
Freakin GOOD!!!!!


I'm calling a short intermission.....
The G.E.D. (genetic eye defect) was in full force this day.
Not one picture of Randy OR his mom with open eyes!


Look familiar??  There's something about G.E.D., that makes others over compensate when sitting next to people with the disorder.



We ended with a short walk on a warm sunny day on the streets of 9th and 9th.
Muah, Muah to you grandma!!!
You were radiant! Love you!
{Pee Wee called and wants his bike back}



Holds 1/2 gallon of gas and goes for miles.
It will get speeds up to..........well, I don't want anyone concerned, so we will say, speeds up to, below or possibly above 30 mph!

 


No License needed.
Just a license for the wild side!
Biker jacket, fingerless gloves, and helmet.....a total MUST!!!
I am a little concerned, because just after I took these pictures, I drove down the road and saw this sign.


Seems a little coincidental.....don't you think????
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Sunday, September 20, 2009

{79 years young}










Happy Birthday Grandma
We Love you!!!


{And I thought we had a rusty ball and chain!}



Happy Anniversary to Mike and Amie!!
~23 years
~3 kids
~numerous homes...I think 4 or 5
~railroad
~homeschooling
~truck wash
~sending babies off to fly

That's a good resume!
Congrats!
Hey Gardners!!!!  We love ya!

Saturday, September 19, 2009


{Fat Friday's}



When we were uptown last weekend, we came upon this little restaurant.
The owner personally came over to meet us, and offered free dessert on our next visit....
Who in hell passes up free dessert???
We decided to grab our FREE LOOT this weekend before he renigged the offer.

We met up with Derek, Lisa, Dalton, and Jerry.

The menu is small, offering only salads and specialty Italian sandwiches.
Randy took one look at the menu, and said, "what are panini's?" but sounded more like PA-NAN-AS and then trying to pronounce again, it came out PEN-AN-IS.
Well, all I could do is shake me head and say, "that's the man I love right there". Culturing Randy will be my most challenging work!
Bless his little heart :)

Another Friday night of great conversation, good wine, and lots of laughs!



After dinner, we walked to the piano bar, Keys on Main, where they have dueling pianos playing music requests.....of course the request needs to be sporting a few greenbacks with it!
They finally played Derek's long waited song......
Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond.
We were all shouting out words and swaying side to side with Derek's phone lighter.
Yes, we are easily entertained.


{No words necessary...picture tells it all}



Let's count them..... try #1


try #2

try #3

try #4


try #5
We got tired and gave up!


Thursday, September 17, 2009

{Why you gotta be that way?}



We all knew them....what do they really get out of it?
And it starts in kindergarten.
A little sweetheart in my life is having to deal with rude, mean, ugly girls right now, and it makes my heart hurt.
That information will make a grown woman want to spin little mean 5 year old girls in mud, and yell, "take that, you little shits! Quit messin' with my family!"


Our kids have a long road ahead of them.....I want to bottle them up like beautiful fire flies....
To never be hurt, and let their light shine without taint.
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{Deep thoughts and opinions....By Lexi}


Sent to me by Aunt E
Lexieism for the day: The little boy Devon that rides to school with us told Lexie that when she gets in third grade like him, the PE teacher will teach them to juggle. Lexie said juggling isn't for girls, she isn't going to do it because if she wants to join the circus she will be riding the elephants!!
Where does she get this stuff?

{A groovy kind of love}


Paula: beautiful, kind, generous, committed and loving

+

Jay D: gentle, sweet, strong, giving and thoughtful

=

Great marriage and beautiful baby!!
Happy 4th anniversary
And what is it? 14 years together?

Love you two!!! (and the beautiful baby!)

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

{The shit kickers}
This is an altered card that Grandma B sent Randy and I for our anniversary.
For those of you that weren't there, and for those of you that may not remember.....Let me take you back to the afternoon of September 9, 1989.........
After hyperventalating into a paper sack for 5 minutes, and my dad telling me that we really need to get this thing going because I have stalled long enough and people are waiting on me, (for real!)
I wobble knee'd to the top of the red carpet.....
the carpet that I would walk down to become Mrs. DeVries.
As I look to the bottom, I see Randy fidgiting and scared too.
Awe....he's so cute!
THEN I see my wedding nemesis.......
The snakeskin boots.
I say, "Godammit! I told him not to wear those!"
He see's my reaction and gives me a little "ha! ha!" smirk.
The boot story goes down in history as part of Randy's rebelious side.  And of course, the boots were a huge part of the fun and great memories.  I really am glad that my rebel with a cause didn't listen to me......but just for that one time.
Thanks G-ma for the card......couldn't be more perfect!!

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

{I just don't know........}

It seems Oprah's prodigy's do GREAT on HER program......in small, concentrated amounts.
Yet fall short when they take on their own.
I've only watched 20 minutes so far, and I'm irritated!
Already WAY too dramatic and shows signs of bad acting....yes acting...reading script. LAME!!!
The jury is out.......but leaning on the charge of  murder in the 1st degree.

Monday, September 14, 2009

{The response is overwhelming!}
Oh!!! Don't think we don't know the hysterical magnitude of our matching "candy cane outfit" picture.
We have had unbelieveable feedback, laughter, and make fun of remarks.
I have thrown all of my pride out the window by displaying certain pictures of myself on this blog.
I'm OK with it.... and I hope that I might have brought a little giggle in your day with them.
BUT, if you thought the c.c. picture was bad, just wait until you see the slideshow I am making for the party!!!!
Beware!!!!!  Some of you are in the pictures right along with us and our bad mullets and mascara!
Thought I should prepare you for the public humiliation.
{Aunt E's email of the day}
 
Looks like you two had a delicious anniversary. Randy even had his eyes open for the pics. You two still make a cute couple.
Everything is a go for the BIG Bash. I think Gene has decided to drive the motor home up towing the trailer. It just wouldn't be a fun trip without hauling something around. Last week I thought we were flying...
Ms Lexie tried to wear her Burger King crown to school the other day. I told her she couldn't wear it, but of course she had a great reason to. She had to wear the crown to cover the "bald" spot on her head...she thinks the part in her hair is a bald spot.
Have a great Sunday.

Love
Auntie E
Gotta love Lex and her "I'm big enought to make my own decisions" attitude!
Gotta love Gene and his addiction of pulling a trailer!

Sunday, September 13, 2009

{What a day......}
We were at the park for registrations at 9:30 am.
The ride started at 10 and made stops in Heber, Midway and came back through Provo canyon.
Randy said it was a beautiful route and that the Heber Home Depot and Mayor of Midway were very kind with words and donations.
This was the first year for the Memory Walk.  I lead the walk with Miss Kitty by my side.  Ok...I was the ONLY walker, but I plan to organize, and promote next years walk.  I invite anyone who would like to join me!!!
I am proud of the support within our community.
Donations were made by:
High Point Coffee
Midvale Mining Co.
Costco
Crystal Inn
Midvale & Murray Police Dept.
Home Depot
Sinclair Gas
Bateman Gas
Barcode Labeling Systems
And many, many more that I am regrettably forgetting.
Please show your support back to these companies.
The Midvale Police Dept. volunteered personal time to help with security and lead the route for the riders.
The men also gave up all of the money that they had saved from dept. paid personal time,  and made the donation for the 2009 shirts to be printed.
HUGE sacrifice!!
Dad, Adam, Riv and Jax all jumped right in, and made sure that everyone was served their hamburgers and hot dogs with a smile :)  Jax took his "pickle/condiment" job very seriously.
Those boys worked the ENTIRE day!
I couldn't be more proud of them.
They showed love and respect to an uncle that they have never met.
I have good boys!
I was very touched when Matt-daddy, from our favorite club came with a posse for the ride.
I can't tell you how healing it is to have the support and time of others.
Another great support was Gary (on the orange bike), Falita and her family.
For those of you that don't know or remember, Falita was Damon's girlfriend.
And Gary is Falita's husband.....which makes this story even more amazing.
My brother's girlfriend's husband is riding for his wife's boyfriend's family's cause.
Did you get that????
The boys also helped in the raffle give-a-ways.
They would choose a prize, bring it in front, and present it to the winners.
We must have had the lucky tickets, becuase our numbers were being called so much, that the D.J. started saying, "Oh! It's the girl in the front again!"
I'd do a little dance, make some funky look on my face, and collect my prize....
Seriously!!!  We made out good!
At around 3pm we did the balloon ceremony.
The balloons represented ALL our loved ones that have passed.
Everyone took a reverent moment.....
As my tear filled eyes scanned the crowd,
I saw love, pain, heartache, yearning, and teared faces from my peers.
The energy was strong.
So strong, that I truly felt that Damon, my aunt Janin, my Grandparents, and friends that have passed, 
knew that my love in a balloon was coming their way.
It was a beautiful kaleidoscope of emotion, being let free to fly to the heavens.
My brother would have been in awe of the love and support that was backing him that day.
Yep....I had to sign off with Randy's tradmark pose.
It just wouldn't be the same without it!