Monday, Feb. 18
Caribbean Cruise-Day 2

A day of laying in the sun. The weather was perfect, about 85 degrees.
This is a pic of just one of the many appetizers we sampled at our dinners. Smoked Salmon. Everything was presented so beautifully like you see on those cooking shows.

I'm glad we're not too into gambing, we did play black jack a couple times and some slot machines. I really liked the penny slots; It seemed like I could play forever on $2. Thats my kind of gambling. It about killed me to put $5 on one game of black jack. I'm way to cheap and I know I'll always lose.



On our way to dinner, we usually stopped to check out the sunset.
Mom, Kelsie, Me, Carlie

Sunday, Feb. 17
Caribbean Cruise-Day 1

Patiently waiting at the Houston Airport for our transportation to Galveston.
Riding to our ship. It seemed to take forever, we were so excited to start our week in the sun.
Here we are when we first came aboard the ship and went on one of the decks.
Carlie and Josh- we were on our way to dinner.
Kelsie and I were hopping out of our seats to be apart of this Trivia Game Show they were holding the first night before the main show. We did pretty well, I answered all the questions about kids shows and movies- They played a clip from Aladdin and Care Bears and I buzzed in within milliseconds. I only lost by one question to another lady who was from Canada. The most hilarious part wasn't from any of us 6 competitors. I was when Kelsie buzzed in and then couldn't think of the answer and my mom was yelling out to Kels from her seat in the audience. The "Host" stopped things and announced to everyone that there was a cheater in the audience. He made my mom come up on stage and stand facing the corner. Everyone was laughing so hard. She was allowed to leave and go back to her seat after a couple more questions.

Thank you Tiffani, Taniel, and Alex

I am so grateful to have married Bart and inherit such wonderful sister-in-laws and neice. It has been so hard to think of leaving the kids for so many day's but it makes it so much easier to know they will be loved and taken care of by their aunts and cousins. The kids sure are excited we are leaving...They can't wait for their "vacation" to begin. The fact that they are so excited is going to make our vacation more wonderful. we can't say THANK YOU enough!!!!
We love you guys!

Will Cupid Shoot Me?
Well, I was lucky enough to work on Valentines Day. If any of you have missed out on enjoying a day filled with love, and candy in a classroom filled with 28 nine year olds you are sure missing out. We had a fun day yet, I was very exhausted when the day was over.
I need to share a funny story about J.
Jadon was in my classroom before school started and he pointed to a cupid shooting an arrow by the Feb. calendar and said, I sure don't want to get shot at and have to love a girl." I humored him and teased a little about girls and then he asked if a cupid was really real. I told him he was just made up but people share stories about falling in love and such on Valentines Day... etc.. Then, a little saddened, he said, " OH, Darn, I really did want to get shot with the arrow." AHHHH wanting to fall in love at age 5?? I 'm in trouble.

Carlie?

I helped Zhoee tuck in 5 babies, all laying in a row in her room by her book shelf. She sat by them in her rocking chair and took out a book to read to them. I went to my room to do some things and came back to her entire shelf of books laying on the floor beside the babies. She announced that she read all the books to her babies and now they were asleep. I told her we should pick up the books then, and she complained, "No, not me."

and I said, "Well, who will clean them up then?". She responded with, "Carlie???"
Hah, her aunt won't always cover for her!

9 Days

In a short while we will go 9 days without our children. We stayed up late last night looking over our excursions we have planned and talking about how excited we are. I got teary-eyed just thinking about saying good-bye to the kids for 9 whole days. I will cry so hard.
I am the most worried about Zhoee being mad at me when we get back. She is the biggest mommy's girl and sometimes can't even function without snuggling or being held by her mom. (she's in my arms as I type this) She could be playing with Bart for an hour laughing and having so much fun and if he ever says "my Zhoee" or anything like that she say's "No, I mommy's girl." When we visited the Oregon Coast she would not even look at me when we got back and she stayed very mad at me for the next 2 days(she was only 10 mon. old). My boys are more easy going and don't need me to be happy. I just couldn't even imagine the stressful chaos of taking our kids with us on a cruise, but saying good-bye is going to be torture.

Sneaky Boys

I thought Bostyn was taking a nap in his crib and I thought Jadon was playing Lego's in his room. I went up to check on them and couldn't find them, EITHER OF THEM. After a panicky moment I discovered them in their "hut" kinda behind and under the crib, enjoying a stash of goldfish together. Brothers, how sneaky.

Church Basketball

OK, so I only went last week because I felt pressured when they said if I came they would finally have five players and wouldn't have to forfit. But, what a good time I had. I came home telling Bart I just had to keep playing throughout the season. It was just the right competetivness (Not like the men, that's another blog) We just laugh with each other but we really can be impressive and competetive, too. I absolutely love the athletic gals in our ward that come to play. Some of whom, I played b-ball and v-ball with at good ol' Box Elder. We all get a great workout and have fun and I absolutley love becoming better friends with other busy mothers because otherwise we wouldn't find the time to get to know each other better. What a great program!!!

"Chocut Milk peees"

If Zhoee had her choice she would drink chocolate milk as her meals. Lately it is all she wants. She won't drink it unless it is in her Princess sippy cups, or if those are all dirty her Dora cups will work. She has now started to move her stool over to the cupboard and help herself. You can imagine the messes she creates. At least she's getting her calcium!

Fare skinned

Bart and I refuse to be winter white on our cruise. So, we have started tanning together. Tanning used to be second nature to me when I was in college. After all, you better be tan when you have to wear spandex that don't cover any of your legs.(for volleyball, not fashion) But, my body hasn't seen a tanning bed since then and it was quite awkward for me, laying there naked. When we got home I told Bart that I hoped my butt didn't get burned too bad and he kiddingly said, "Oh my heck, you went naked."
Good thing, Bart didn't, cuz the next morning he was fried!!! My skin on the other hand had no signs of a tan or burn. I'm going to double my time tonight!

Super Tuesday is Here

I just returned from voting and I have my nifty sticker on to prove it. Bart and I have kept up on all the election stuff this year, watching all the debates, and reading up on all the ideas and issues. Voting was actually the easiest and quickest thing I have accomplished all day. I must mention my cute mom is a voting official and is helping voters from 6am-9pm, what a die-hard.

Colorful Snow

OK-So I'm blogging too much. But, in my defense, Bart gave me a binder with all our blogs neatly organized much like a journal or scrapbook for Christmas. He commited to copy and print all the blogs at the end of every month and add them to the binder. It was so thoughtful becuase I had been complaining about how little time I have to catch up on scrapbooking. I made a goal for myself, since, for now, this is my journal and scrapbook to take 10 min each and every day to record something fun we did or a thought I had during an ordinary day. I know I'll look back in 20 years and be so gratful I did.

I found this great idea in a kids craft book I have. When Jadon got home from kindergarten we filled 4 spray bottles with different colors of water and the kids went to town painting the snow in the backyard.

This is what I get to see every morning:
Bostyn is at that fun stage where every morning we wake up to his "talking" and when I come into his room he has already pulled himself up and is standing there, just waiting for someone to come play, he gets a huge smile on his face when he sees me.

Fun Grandparents!!!

As we were watching the SuperBowl Jadon started making farting noises with his hand in his armpit. I started giving him the lecture on manners and Carlie and Josh were impressed and asked how he got so good at it and who taught him. Jadon answered, "Well, My Grandpa Tucker, he didn't really teach me, but I saw him doing it one time." Honestly!!!
-I just have to add another funny story. When Jadon was about 3, we were at the sand dunes and Jadon came up to my mom and was doing a really goofy dance and wiggling all over and my mom asked, "Why are you acting weird?"
He looked at her like he was offended and said, "It's what my Nana Tucker do's!"
We still all tease her about that one, and probably always will. So, now there's a new one to tease Richard about! (Besides him teaching the kids how to spin the toilet paper off the roll)

We've made it 7 years!

Yes, Today is our 7-year anniversary (also Groundhog Day!) We celebrated on Friday night and went to SLC. The kids were so excited to have a sleepover at Grandma and Grandpa's house. I picked up Bart at the Bank and he was holding a vase of 2 doz. yellow roses. What a sweetheart!!! We cruised through Ikea and then of course since I got to go to my store, Bart HAD to take a quick stop in Cabela's. We just had a good time with each other and no kids. We had a nice dinner and then we went to see 27 Dresses at Jordan Commons. Definitly a chick flick, Bart was a really good sport on that one. Our big Celebration will be the Caribbean in just 2 weeks. I thought it would be fun to post a pic from each year of our marriage. (I'll have to scan our first year in becuase I think we still developed pics then and don't have them on the computer)

July 2002. Kolob Reservoir, close to Cedar City

Sand Hollow, close to St George 2003 (Jadon went to stay with Grandma Romer for a couple days while Bart and I finished finals, and played, oops)SUU graduation May 2004
Mt. Timpanogas, Sept. 2004
Zhoee joins us, Ogden Regional MC, August 2005
The Beautiful Oregon Coast. June 2006

Las Vegas, Nov. 2007

Bart Sold His Banshee???

For quite awhile Bart has been throwing around the idea of selling his sand dune four-wheeler, his Banshee, he purchased right about when J was born. He has had some fun times on it, that's for sure. He doesn't ride near as often as he used to and now he rides the 4 wheel drive one more and wanted to use the money to buy a new motorcycle. Soo.... He put in on KSL right before we left on our anniversary date and he recieved a few calls that night and then ended up selling it to someone who offered him full price, cash to pick it up the next morning. He said he felt sick to his stomach about it the entire way home. So... Sat. morning came and Bart trudged through the backyard to the shed and uncovered his 4-wheeler to get it ready. The next thing I knew he came in the back door and said, "I'm keeping my Banshee." I figured the guy came and decided he didn't want it for some reason. Nope. Bart said he uncovered it and then it hit him, he just couldn't let it go. After a year of debating to sell it, it took getting it sold for him to realize he couldn't ever part with it. Bart had called the poor buyer and told him the news and he was quite sad about it but....Bart just wouldn't be the guy I married without his banshee. (I'm acutally glad he kept it after witnessing how torn up Bart was last night after he thought he had sold it)

At the top of Sand Mountain, Easter weekend 2007

Bart has stripped this thing down to nothing to do upgrades.
Top of Sand Mountain, July 4th weekend, 2004

I WENT DARK
My late high school years was when I started highlighting my hair lighter. My senior year I went to Mexico City, Puerto Vallarta, and Guatelajara, for a 2 week long trip and since they rarely see blonde hair there I was followed and stared at the whole time. Men were saying, "OHH, look at the white hair, come let us touch your hair." Stuff like that. (Kelsie had a similar experience last time she was there, but they called her "Barbie") Well, as I was thinking about what color to put in my hair this trip to the salon, I thought about our cruise in 2 weeks to Mexico and Jamaica and remembered how I was uncomfortable and kinda scared that my hair brought me so much attention last time. So I told her to make me really dark, I thought it would be fun anyway. So, Bart was a little surprised when I came home, but he likes it. Zhoee, still keeps touching my hair and saying "Mommy's new hair."

OK here are the pics.
This is 2003? I think. Summer 2007, I had dark added with blonde here. This is 2004! Yikes, that sure doesn't look natural. Don't we all look back and wonder what we were thinking at times. (I'm with Bart's sisters, mom, and grandma, look at those blondies, I definitely won't fit in now) Today! Thanks J for taking my pic.

Our Appeal to the Insurance Company

This is a good one: I'm still laughing about this so I must share. Well, we recieved a bill last week for over $1,000 to Ogden Regional Medical Center. (keep in mind Bostyn is now 9 months old) Last year we had IHC through Bart but we also decided to pay a premium to get Altius through the school district to for double insurance coverage. We only paid to have me double covered though. I checked with both insurances 3 months before he was due and was told whichever insurance was through my employer was my primary insurance and I had to deliever at that contracted hospital. DONE! (I loved Ogden Regional, so that was great news) Well, today I called IHC and the lady was all confused as to why I would deliver Bostyn at Ogden Regional when Bostyn was covered by IHC. I explained that my primary insurance was Altuis and therefor needed to deliver there. Then she said "Well, thats fine but you needed to be at Ogden Regional and your baby needed to be at McKay Dee." Here's your sign. That would have been more than dificult! How funny (and frustrating) is that?

Our Deep Thinker
My mom and Jadon were on their way to school today and noticed the school flag at 1/2 staff. My mom asked J "Do you know why the flag is 1/2 way down like that?" He replied "Yea, Cuz President Hinckley died. But, I think we can raise all the flags back up again as soon as he's resurrected."

Remembering President Hinckley

My mom called us to tell us the news before it was spread across the TV and radio last night. At first I was shocked and sad. I guess I thought he was invincible and would just keep on living forever becuase of his optimisim and activity level. But, when we were watching the coverage on TV I told Bart I wasn't really sad at all. I was happy he was finally with his wife and so happy for all the service, inspiration, encouragement and love he gave to the world and to me. I was glad to spend our Sunday evening thinking about his life.
My sister in law, Megan, gave me Sister Hinckley's book, called "Letters" a couple years ago for my birthday. I loved reading about Pres. and Sis. Hinckley's life together completely through letters she wrote to family, friends, and to her husband. They sure loved, served, and respected each other and I get a smile on my face knowing they are together again. What remarkable lives they lived, I know my testimony is stronger and I am trying to be a better wife, mother, and church member because of their example.