Snowy Spring

Just when we think that it's all done snowing, it snows again.  These shots were taken on a March morning when the snow around the house looked absolutley brilliant!

One BIG birthday bash...

We have six birthdays between December 18th and April 23rd....we are heavily stacked at the beginning of the year. Add to the mix Garrett and Elise (both in April), we've got 8 birthdays in five months. So, this year Mariah asked if we could go to Benihana for our birthdays.  She missed the December Benihana event.  We went..we ate...we had a really good time! 

Mariah and Garrett (can I tell you that they REALLY enjoyed the meal and themselves)

Me and Riah

Bradley and Elise

Dom and Dean

Elle was missing...she was at a softball tournament in St. George.  It wasn't all tragedy...at least Elle was there for the December Benihana fest.

Part of the fun of Benihana is watching the making of the food. Our guy was cute...he put the fried rice in the shape of a heart and made the heart "beat" with the spatula.

Yummy veggies and shrimp appetizers

Add the seafood and chicken

Add the red meat...

The cheesy and requisite birthday drum and tambourine

Ice cream and candles for all birthday celebrants.

Extinguishing the candles

Back at home....a cake for Bradley (made by Dom)  See everyone laughing?  What you can't see is that Garrett is just out of this picture...and for sure he has said something hilarious...he's always saying hilarious things.

If you only knew the escapade it was getting those candles lit, you would understand why I took the action shots of the candles being blown out.  Let's just say that kindling and flint is not an effective method for candle lighting.

 

Dean and Bradley

Man, have we had the snow....

Just when we think that it's all done snowing, it snows again.  These shots were taken on a March morning when the snow around the house looked absolutley brilliant!

February Birthdays

In February, we have two family birthdays!  Mariah celebrated her 17th Birthday on February 24th!  I can hardly BELIEVE she is 17!!! 

Then just a few days later, Adam had his 27th Birthday on February 27th. 

We celebrated at our house with some good food...I think Dean made tempura and two birthday cakes!

Super cute picture of Mariah and Garrett

Bon Jovi Concert, Salt Lake City, March 22nd, 2011

Each year my company has a VERY BIG user's group meeting for our clients.  Seriously, there are like 6,000 to 7,000 people who attend from all over the world.  It's quite an event.  This year, my birthday was right smack, dab in the middle of the conference.  Over the years, I've spent a fair amount of birthdays on the road, but not this year.  I took off two days for my birthday....and in turn, did not go to the conference.  When folks asked why I wasn't going, I said, "First, it's my birthday on Monday, and second, I have Bon Jovi tickets on Tuesday."  My former boss said, "That's the best reason yet I've heard not to attend." 

I actually really missed seeing the clients.  After 14 years in the biz, I know many of them, and I consider several of them friends.  I won't miss next year's conference for sure...it's in Vegas, baby!

So...the concert.  

Can I tell you that I have a serious crush on Bon Jovi.  The man is HOT. 

I also really like his music.  Slippery When Wet came out when I was in high school, and that whole album pretty much defined my senior year.  Over the years, I've belted out the lyrics to "Livin' on a Prayer" more times than I can remember. I also think Jon Bon Jovi is a good guy.  He's done some great nonprofit work, and I just think he's an all around good person.  In short, I love Bon Jovi.  When I heard he was coming to Utah, you'd better believe I was on that computer at 10:00 AM snagging my tickets.  We had awesome seats right by the stage. 

Here are some of the sites and sounds from the concert....enjoy!



This is me and Dean, pre-concert.  I'd like to point out that all of my private parts are covered....but there were a lot of ladies at the show bearing some serious cleveage.  I'm not sure who the audience was for that type of dress (or lack thereof).  On the TRAX, I thought one woman's boob was going to come flying out.  I keep checking to make sure they were still in place.  She managed to keep them in, but I'm telling, you, one jumping incident would have exposed those babies.  Dean and I are getting older....and this is about as dressed up as we get for a concert; we're way too practical. And old...did I mention that we're old.  So old that I will definitely consider wearing earplugs to the next concert I attend.  I'm fairly certain I have some hearing loss going on...

"It's My Life"

"Runaway"

"Hallelujah"

"I'll Be There for You"

"Who Says You Can't Go Home"

"Blaze of Glory"

"Dead or Alive"

"Livin' on a Prayer"