WHAT WERE WE THINKING?

Jessica & Cameron have been wanting to go SKYDIVING for a while now and have had trouble getting a date and time when they could both go. Well, they finally got scheduled for Thursday, December 13th and they were really excited to go. Jess wanted me to go down to Eloy with her to watch and take pictures from the ground. So I went with them and after we watched the "SCARY" safety video Jessica asked if I could jump too. The lady said sure, no pressure though...

Well, after some prodding by Jessica and Cameron, I decided I would at least fill out the paperwork. Then I decided to go ahead and pay. I could still get my money back - until I had the pack on! We went out to the observation field and saw some of the jumpers coming in and it looked so fun and the landings looked so soft and easy - it was making it easier to say I'd do it. I still almost went to get my money back probably at least 5 times in that 1/2 hour.

I ended up with the pack on - now I for sure at least lost my money, but I wasn't on the plane yet! That's when you're in the "no going back zone"...After I met with my instructor, Jay, I felt pretty good, he said he jumps a couple thousand times a year, sometimes more than 10 times a day! We marched over to the plane and on we went!

Jessica was the first one on, which meant she was going to be the last one out! There were 20 jumpers total on the plane. The three of us tandems with our instructors, our three photographers and then 11 solo jumpers. My stomach was getting so sick on that plane with butterflies! They talked to all of us at 7000 feet and told us we were half-way up. They asked us how we were, and I flat out told them "Umm...not good, but I'm ready!" They got us all hooked up to them - and it felt pretty secure and tight to me, then he just started scooting us over to the open door where everyone was flying out! There was literally no going back - he got to the open door and rocked twice and then we were flying!

I was so scared, I think all I did was scream "Oh My Gosh, what did I do?" over and over! During the free-fall you go about 120 miles per hour. I guess it lasts about a minute - which seemed like an hour, I swear! Jessica said she loved it! You can tell, by the smile on her face.

Then the instructor gives you the pull signal and you grab onto the golf ball and "PULL". Both Jessica and I got to pull our own parachutes out. Jay let me pull on the straps and we started spinning to the left - then to the right! That's when my stomach was going to lose it...

They told us there would be no rollercoater dropping feeling - they forgot to mention the "teacup" spinning feeling, which I hate!

I got down to the ground and was so proud of myself for doing it and seriously I thought it was fun - but I don't think I'll do it ever again. Jessica got down to the ground and the first thing she said was "That was so cool - I want to go again!"

You can watch the video's of our jumps at: www.skydiveaz.com

Click on 1st time jumpers then view video - 12/13/2007

T.M.A. TWISTERS

The competition season is upon us...

Courtney's 1st cheer competition for the year was today and she hit all her stunts! She was so cute, too bad I can't take a good action picture...This one is half way up in the pyramid. It's so hard, because I want to just watch - but then I also want to have a picture. What's a mom to do?

Here she is with her "cheer friends", Brekyn, Courtney C, Calli and Alyssa, waiting for the awards to begin.
This year's competition schedule:

January 12th - Phx Convention Center

January 19th - ??

February 9th - Nationals/Las Vegas

February 23rd - Phx Convention Center

March 8th - Tucson

March 28th - Nationals/Las Angeles, CA

April 5th - State/Veterans Memorial Coliseum

I know, I'm a FREAK!

So, I know I'm kinda crazy and everything - and that nobody even reads this goofy thing but me, Chris, my kids sometimes, and you guys (Kristen, Amy & Kelli)!

But I just wanted to say

"I GOT BON JOVI TICKETS!"

He's coming April 11th...2008

G N O "Girls Night Out"

Jessica & Courtney went to the Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus Concert

on Friday night.

Katelin and Rachel went with them and they all had a really great time! They said it was the best concert ever!

Jessica & Katelin at the concert

Courtney & Rachel

Hannah Montana!Jonas Brothers
Miley Cyrus

GO DEVILS!!

Chris and I went to Los Angeles this past weekend to see the ASU v UCLA game, which the Devils won (yeah)! We went with Rich, Kelli & Richie, Mike & Lachelle, Kristen & Dave, Jason & Evonne, Steve & Alli. We shopped, went to "WICKED" Friday night, the football game on Saturday afternoon and a really cool Brazilian restaurant called Fogo de Chao after the game. All in all, we had a great time - met some new friends, lived through a ride to hell and back (sorry, but it's true) and found out where they tow big 12 passenger vans to in LA!

By the way, I waited until Kelli posted so that I could steal some of her pictures and I'll probably steal some from Kristen once she gets hers on!! Forgot to take my camera most of the time - how come we never took a picture of the van??

"WICKED"

"Fiyero"

After the show, we went around the corner to the stage door to see the actors coming out we almost missed Fiyero - he was being sneaky! We saw him walking down the sidewalk and had to have our picture with him - after we did, it was so funny - he went walking away with some of the other cast members (boys) rubbing his back! We all had a good laugh!

"Elphaba"

Our picture with "Elphaba" Eden Espinoza, minus the green!! She was so nice, we thought we'd be funny and asked her to run through a "soccer tunnel" and she did - twice!

The ride to "Fogo" was one we wont soon forget! We didn't want to miss our reservation, so Chris drove! Those 7 miles were completely crazy! If you've ridden with Chris you know what I'm talking about, if you haven't - well..have you ridden in a NY taxi???

MCC Fashion Show

For Jessica's Fashion Design class, she had to make an item of recycled clothing out of something from around the house. She decided to use Capri Sun packages(actually, Tyler's idea!) and Courtney got to be her model at the fashion show at MCC on Tuesday. The dress turned out so cute and Courtney was the best model there! Jessica is in the background of the picture in the yellow top...She came out and was introduced as the designer, but I missed the picture! I forgot my camera and only had my phone.

Halloween 2007

We had some pretty crazy and fun costumes around our house! All the kids are old enough that I just say, okay, what do you want to be? They pick it out, they get themselves ready!! All I do is pull out the money...They all turned out pretty cute!

Jessica was an "eskimo" it was only about 90 degrees this halloween! This is Jessica, McKenzie & Katelin going to a dance party!

Tyler was an "old school" basketball player - with his friends Austin, Dallin & Christian - love the ultra short shorts!
Courtney was "little red riding hood" Here she is, trick-or-treating with her friends, Taylor, Lexi, Delaney & Caitlin in front of our house...

and finally, Dillon was "Nacho Libre" yikes!!

We went to see Spuhler's before trick-or-treating so that we could check out the cutest pirate family ever..and then we went to Grandma's - thank goodness there was no big bad wolf!

Courtney, Lexi, Bennett and DIllon at Grandma's house.

"PLANET ORANGE"

Jessica & Sam having a blast at the Suns Game Thursday night!

Thanks SO much to Grandpa and Grandma for letting me use the tickets!!

My Daughter/My Friend

Jessica and I were going to lunch one day and we just took this picture in her car. I love being able to spend time with her - I know she thinks she's old and wants to be on her own now, and I shouldn't be selfish, but I still want her to hang around for a while.

I know I need to appreciate the time we have together because soon she'll be off at college or meeting some guy and not wanting to spend time with mom anymore.

Thanks for going to lunch with your "old mom" once in a while, Jess!

Puerto Penasco

We went to Rocky Pointe for fall break with the Barney's and we all had a great time - that is until it took us almost 8 hours to get home at the end of the trip! 3 1/2 hours to go 1.4 miles through the border crossing! YUCK! We have no pictures of Tyler and Taylor because they were always gone on the Rhino or quads.....

Don't Worry About It...