Martina McBride Concert with the Girls!

Clear back in August when the sun was shining and the days and nights were warm my sisters, my mom, Katie's friend, Kristen, and I went to the Martina McBride concert! It was so fun! Probably one of the best nights - ever! I love Martina McBride, her songs have been so inspirational and uplifting to me throughout my life. I would have to say one of my favorite songs is "I Have Been Blessed" I call it "my song" because it describes my life perfectly, I even insisted that we have a hardwood floor in our house to go along with the song! Fortunately I have a wonderful husband who pretty much complies with whatever I want! I love you, honey!!!

The concert was absolutely amazing! Julie was able to get awesome tickets on the floor, only a few rows back. Katie and I wanted to get some pictures so we walked right up to the stage and no one stopped us so we stayed there. Soon everyone else joined us and we danced and sang all night long! It was so fun to be right up front and feel the energy and excitement of the band and the crowd. It was fun to actually have Martina see us and wave at us! Katie, Kristin and I were even on the big screen several times - call us vain, but it was fun to see ourselves on the huge t.v.!!!

I am so lucky to have such a close family! I love that we are all best friends and that we enjoy hanging out and doing things together! You guys are the best!

Martina McBride

Jamie, Kellie, Julie, Mom (Tracie)

Martina, again!

Katie, Jamie and Kristen

Katie, Julie, Tracie, Kellie, Jamie and Kristen

Happy Birthday Macie!!!

I can't believe Macie is already four years old! She had her first "friend" birthday party this year and it was fabulous! We went to Chick-fil-A, along with 8 of her friends and had a great time! She loved having her friends and cousins there, and all of the fun new presents were an added bonus! She was even more excited to give out the party favors we brought for all of her friends, I love that she is so giving! She and I were at the store on her birthday when she found the cute birthday hat she is wearing in her pictures. It looked so cute on her that I couldn't resist buying it and I'm glad I didn't because she wore it all day and looked absolutely adorable! Aunt Kellie made her a real homemade cake for her party! She was so happy and so was I! I hate making cakes, probably because I'm not very good at it! I usually go with store bought cakes or brownies, so when Kellie offered to make her a "real" birthday cake I was elated! Macie wanted a pink and blue purse cake and was very happy with the results! Watch out Kellie- I have 3 other kids who are now going to want "real" birthday cakes!
Mae also had a family birthday party that night at our house and was completely spoiled, as usual. We got her the Cupcake Maker she has wanted for about 2 months. She was so excited when she opened it that she started screaming! She also received tons of baking accessories from Grandma Tracie and Grandpa Ed, I think our kitchen is going to turn into "Macie's Bakery". Her many other gifts included Tinkerbell and Hannah Montanna products galore, barbies, magnet dolls, clothes, a little piano and of course, princess goodies!
It is so amazing to see her grow and watch her turn into such a beautiful little girl! She is not at all a baby anymore and I am just not ready to let her grow up yet! To me she will always be my sweet little baby! I am so proud of her and love being her mommy!
Macie is full of life and energy and is ready explore this new world of being four! I know she will enjoy every moment to it's fullest! Happy Birthday my Little Princess!!!

Life Is Good!!!

Mark and I went to LasVegas the first weekend in November for a DRI convention. I know that sounds boring and quite frankly, it is! Who wants to go sit through legal mumbo jumbo when there is so much other fun stuff to do?! Really I'm not complaining, it's actually pretty awesome! Each year Mark's firm sends us to one of these conventions and we get to choose where we go. After going to places like Miami, San Diego, New York and resorts in Arizona (where I want to live-in the hot, hot sun!), I was quite disappointed when Mark forgot to book our trip and we ended up headed to Las Vegas. We can drive there any day!

As usual, when I have a pessimistic attitude, Mark proves me wrong! We had such a great time! We stayed at the Bellagio, which is absolutely amazing! The morning that we left, Salt Lake had it's first HUGE and unexpected (at least to us!) snow storm of the year. After sitting on the road for forty minutes in stand still traffic, getting the kids to my parents and the dog to the doggy sitter we missed our flight by ten minutes and had to buy new plane tickets! Needless to say, it was wonderful to walk into our executive tower suite that over looked the city from one side of the room and the pools from the other side. We even had a huge window with an awesome view over the jetted tub! Talk about relaxation!

Tim, another attorney at the firm, and his wife, Allison were there also. It was so fun to hang out with another couple and tour the city together! We had tons of fun shopping, eating out, sight seeing and yes, even a little gambling! Mark bet on the U football game and the Denver Broncos while we were there and I was totally stressed! Both teams played at the same time so we went to the ESPN Zone for dinner to watch both of the games, they were both losing for most of the night and finally in the fourth quarter they both came through for us and won. I think Mark will be betting on a lot more games in the future because for the first time I was actually into the game, yelling and everything! Football is much more interesting when money is at stake! We took $20 of our winnings and I learned to play 21, which I am not very good at - we played $2 tables and I lost, won and then lost all $20 within two hours! Allison, on the other hand, is a pro - she more than doubled her money! I am so happy to have made such great new friends! Thanks Tim and Allison for such a fun time!

We also went to dinner with one of my best friends ever! Danielle and I have been friends for over fourteen years and it was so great to spend time with her! She currently lives in Vegas and knows all of the "in" places to go! She even took us dancing at a club with a live band - way fun! We love you Danielle!

I think the best thing about this trip was that Mark and I were able to spend a lot of time together just talking about life and kids and all of that other stuff that we sometimes forget when we are trying to survive this crazy thing called raising a family. It was nice to refocus on all that we have and what a wonderful life it really is! Our children are amazing and Mark is absolutely incredible, he has to be, he has me for his wife! We truly have been so blessed with such an amazing family! I am so grateful to be surrounded by family and friends who are absolutely the best ever! I really have to say "Life Is Good!"

Our first day atBellagio



Tim, Allison, Mark and Jamie



Jamie and Danielle

Pumpkin Pictures!!!

This year we didn't have time to go to the pumkin patch for pictures and I was so stressed out! Difficult life, I know! I was so determined to get the pictures that the day after Halloween I insisted on dragging everyone to the pumkin patch for the yearly ritual, which I think was skipped last year - maybe that's why I was so stressed about it! Anyway, we went to the deserted patch and gathered up as many good pumpkins as possible and staged our own little photo shoot. It was quite stressful and I think everyone thought I was about to rip their heads off, which may explain all of the painful faces!!! We did discover that the pumkins are FREE after Halloween, which Maya and Macie took full advantage of!

Happy Halloween!!!

We had a great Halloween!!! The kids were off track so Matt and Jacks were able to play at the tree house with their friends and, of course, with their PS2. While the girls were at work with Mark I was able to spend the early afternoon visiting with our neighbors, the DeMie's - how relaxing! After Mark and the girls came home we went to a late lunch at one of our favorites - Red Robin! Yum!!! When it was time for trick or treating the boys informed us, in a round about way, that we are no longer "cool" and they insisted on heading out with their friends. Mark and I had a great time watching the girls run from house to house getting their treats. Macie was so funny, if someone gave her a candy she didn't like she would sit down then and there and take the candy out of her bag and give it to Maya - we wouldn't want it to contaminate the good candy! Maya tired out pretty quick, but Macie was not giving up so easy. She kept saying, "Next one!" then would run off without Maya, who was in her dress up shoes and simply could not run. She was a princess and everyone knows that princesses just do not run in their glass slippers! In the end though, the desire for more candy kept Maya going long after Macie had Daddy carry her home!

Two New Attorneys to Help Dad!!

Macie is always begging Mark to take her to work with him. On Halloween Mark was only working for half a day so he brought his two little attorney helpers. They were elated!!! They love going to his office and coloring with highlighters, which is something they can only use at Daddy's work. They also love being adored by Mark's secretaries and getting sodas out of the office fridge, for some reason they taste better! Mark is such a great Daddy!!!