July FUN!!!

Can't believe it's August and I haven't posted hardly anything in July! It's cause we were just busy having too much fun! Some of the highlights: Cleaning mom and dad's house while they were out of town and surprising them with new living room carpet, celebrating Dad's birthday at Vivian Park, Elle catching her first fish!, celebrating Grandma Wimmers birthday at the farm, letting the kids play in the canal i grew up playing in, taking in a 3D movie, and the simmons family reunion I still need to get pictures for. We LOVE SUMMER!!!!

A Birthday Week

Whoever says birthdays aren't as fun when you get older hasn't seen my friends and family celebrate birthdays!!! My birthday started last friday and went clear till the following Wednesday. I am one lucky lucky girl. 1. Friday: Going to gateway shopping with the girls in my family. Picking out my first new pair of Toms (LOVE THEM), a new dress, and two new shirts from where else but Forever 21, watching the kids and Jake (boys met up with us later) run through the fountains followed by a wonderful dinner at Costa Vida and more opening presents. Thank you Jamie Tessa and Mom for being the best shopping partners around!!!! My family is the best. 2. Saturday: Coming home from Tessa's shower to a brand new outdoor freezer STOCKED full of frozen food...something I'd been dreaming of to making cooking easier for a long time. I love Toby. Then off to surprise date that Toby had planned. Dinner at Red Robin and a movie. Priceless. Oh and did I mention that when we got home Jordan had mowed both lawns, cooked dinner, cleaned up the house and both kids were fast asleep and we'd only been gone from six thirty to nine thirty? 3. Sunday...my actual birtday...breakfast in bed, lunch after church, and a picnic dinner up in Sundance with Toby and kids. It was so beautiful. Then more presents at home. WOW 4. Monday-Celebrate with the Christensens. Can I just say they spoiled me rotten? Bar b que and swimming at their house and don't worry that Kathy brings us food poolside so we can eat and swim at the same time. UNBELIEVABLE!!! Yummy steaks, beautiful birthday cake lots of balloons signs and awesome thoughtful gifts from all of them. And a gift in the mail from Tory Janie and Kids...so sweet. I LOVE my inlaws. 5. Wed- girlfriends. My friends are the best kind of friends you can have. Swimming at Tiani's..grilled chicken, salad, and a cake that says "Happy Birthday Josie". Thank you so much Tiani, Errin, Lindsay, and Shea for making me feel so special. I write this not to brag or talk myself up but for two reasons: 1.To always be reminded of the wonderful people I'm surrounded by and realize how blessed and lucky I am and 2. to thank them. I feel extremely LOVED.

Happy 4th of JULY 2010!!!

Utah Valley 1/2 Marathon

I never would have thought that I would have had the time of my life running 13 miles...but I did! What a rush and now I'm hooked on running. I signed up for this marathon a few months ago and the training has been a little tough and time consuming, and I also had some issues right before including major pain with my knees...but other than that...loved every minute of it. We got to the Provo Towne center mall at 4:30 AM and boarded the bus to ride up to the starting point (which felt more like we were driving to the full marathon starting point, freaked me out) and it started to rain. I was so nervous I wasn't going to make it to the end. My goal was just to finish but I surprised myself and ran the whole time and finished in 2 1/2 hrs..not horrible for my first. I think I just started a new tradition. LOVED IT! Full next?

LA part 4

****PICTURE OVERLOAD**** The last day we were there we decided to take advantage of the time we had with Tory and Janie and their little famly and spend a few hours with them. (The rest flew out that morning) So we loaded up and headed out towards Hollywood Blvd since we were in that "celebrity sighting" mood. I'm kidding. Kind of. Plus I've never been to any of these places before. Toby was extremely sweet and had previously looked up where Audrey Hepburns walk of fame star was (Vine St)since she happens to be one of my all-time favorite actresses and so we first drove to her Star. That was really really really exciting to me. Then as we are walking down Hollywood Blvd we happened upon Sandra Bullocks who is a close second for me. I've never been in front of the Chinese theater and The Kodak theater either...both which were so neat to see. I was able to see Cary Grant and Gregory Pecks handprints who I LOVE and Doris Day's who is my namesake...(which may seem weird seeing as my name is Josie but her screen name was Josie in a movie my parents loved.) Call me old fashioned but those are the "celebrities" that have earned my respect. Like my Dad would say they just don't make them like that anymore:) Toby put his hands in Denzel Washingtons prints since he gets told he resembles him quite often. So while I got to see stars and handprints of my favorites the kids were busy meeting the likes of Buzz Lightyear, Spiderman, and Shrek. Didn't know those "people" are working strictly for tips but figured that out as soon as we were done taking their pictures and there hands went straight out. Lame. And of course we took a picture in front of the famous Hollywood sign. Why it was all so exhilirating to me I don't know but I couldn't wipe the smile off my face all day. Tt sure is a fun place to experience once...and then head back to home sweet home:) We LOVED spending time with Tory and Janie and even more so with little Ayson and Macey...sorry but they're just super cute:) Same time same place next year? ---p.s. Our hotel was located just a few blocks away from FOX studios and as we drove by I had no choice but to make Toby pull over so I could take a picture with Jack Bauer. The sign was so sweet and gave tribute to the FINAL HOURS of 24 which just so happens to be one of, if not the, greatest show of all time. I got to take this picture right before the season and show finale that we watched moments after we got home. It was meant to be.

LA part 3

So the actual event that we were there for is called the "Cedar Sinai Sports Spectacular." It was my first time attending anything like that and I'm not going to lie...I was a little star struck. Kathy once again came to the rescue and watched the kids so that we could go and enjoy the evening. We mingled with the likes of Carmelo Anthony, Carl Lewis, Buzz Aldrin, Quinton Aaron from the blind side, Carrie Underwood and Snoop Dog. I actually didn't meet those last two...but Carrie sang about 20 feet away from us which was the highlight of my night and Toby and the rest of the family did meet Snoop...I had just run upstairs to rescue Kathy from 4 children under the age of 5 so I missed that but hear it was quite the story. (oh and I used TJ as a decoy to take that picture of the lady standing next to him. That's Buzz Aldrins wife, she has to be like 80+ years old and must have had like fifteen surgeries gone wrong. Never seen anything like her.) Janie and I had more clothes on then most of the girls there combined. Just saying. Pretty amazing event, red carpet, Steak and salmon, amazing gift bags, a once in a lifetime evening for me. Unless of course Todd and Kathy get brave and invite us again:)

L.A. Part 2

There are a few places that for whatever reason I've always wanted to go to and one of those is the Santa Montica Pier...probably just cause I keep seeing all of these neat pictures of the Ferris Wheel and it just looks fun! Once again Todd and Kathy came to the rescue and watched some of the kids for us so it would make it easier for us to go. We had a full day that day but it was Tory's birthday so we wanted to do something fun that night. Tob and I brought Cash and Tory and Janie brought Macey and Tj came and off we went. I couldn't believe how cold it was! Isn't may in California supposed to be just a little bit warm? There were all sorts of carni games on the pier and you know what happens to Toby when he's around carni games. Its worse than a kid in a candy store. It's like he can't help it his hand automatically takes out his wallet and he starts handing the workers money. I'd complain but he loves it AND he always wins so...what's to complain about. This time Cash really wanted to try and play basketball so he talked the guy into letting Cash try. And then Toby won Cash a blue monkey. Yeah! Oh and that's my cute niece Macey. We like her a lot.