The Wedding..nope... wait...OK now...nope not yet...maybe....maybe...YES!!! THE WEDDING!

My sister, Stefani was supposed to be coming up here to get married a couple of weeks ago and the girls were going to be flower girls. They were SOO excited and wanted to have really great hair with flowers in it. So, we spent a few nights trying out different ways of getting curls in their hair that would last. Some of them went better than others. May I suggest that you NOT try

tying it in rags

or pin curls - the WRONG WAY.


We did finally get the pin curls right and they turned out really cute.

We found this little blue suit for Kaden which I thought was freakishly cute, totally matched the wedding colors and it was even on clearance!

So, as we're in the process of sorting out the curls and flowers in the hair and the hemming of miniature suit pants we get a phone call from Patrick to let us know that Stef and Aaron had been on their way up for the wedding, got as far as Point of the Mountain and had then been in a horrible car accident. They ended up flipping end over end five times and were then rushed to the hospital. Aaron was in surgery for several hours and was then unable to travel so, obviously, no wedding and definitely no reception in Washington. The girls were pretty upset about not being able to see Stef (we all were but the girls took it especially hard) and Emily's family prayer the next night went something like: "Thank you for Stef and Aaron being alive. Bless them to get better. Bless that they'll get a new car. Bless that they'll drive safer in that one."

Here are a few pictures of the car they took a couple of days later-they had to cut Aaron out- but amazingly everyone survived with minimal damage - considering the severity of the accident. Basically a miracle! Even the flowers, dresses, cameras and a bag of chips all came through just fine!

The wedding got pushed back until the next Thursday, August 28. Most of us were unable to make it to Utah on that short of notice so Mom and Dad, Terry, Kyrie, Brecken, Dave and Judy, Dayna, Rebecca and Stef's friend Kelsie were there to represent us all. Unfortunately, there aren't many pictures of any of them so if you were there and you have pics of these people let me know! (Is it just me or does every wedding I'm associated with have issues with the pictures?) Stef and Aaron got really lucky though because Mike Mulligan was able to be there for the wedding...

and was even able to attend the dinner afterwards! It was, obviously, considered to be a high honor.

There was a really nice older man there who I didn't recognize who seemed to have his heart in the right place but, unfortunately, he was not blessed with superhuman strength to go along with his kind heart. (who is afterall?)

Along with Mike Mulligan, there were "some others"

Everyone was a little bummed that Mike wouldn't be able to stick around for long

but, even with that news hanging over the day, Stef says it was perfect and I guess that is what really matters afterall.

So, here's to Mike Mulligan... and some others :) hmmmm ... for making Stef's day one we will all remember! We love you Stef.


OH - and Stef - just remember - you may have Italy and some wedding photos but I still have dishes. :) (although I have to say you might be ahead by a teeny, tiny bit) Love ya!

Pushing through the wall

It appears everyone is hitting the wall and enthusiasm has slipped (not just in our challenge, but blogging in general. Come on people, I need to live vicariously through you!!). Anyways, here's the standings at the one month mark. Congrats to Daniel for winning August. We all know however, it's March that really counts, so keep up the good work! Here's the breakdown:

I'll get a system for everyone else to pay their $5 set up soon. Everyone but Daniel needs to pony up!

Participant--Starting Weight----Current Weight---Weight Loss----% Loss

Daniel-------224.0----------------212.6-------------11.4--------5.09%

Ned----------209.6--------------199.4------------10.2-----------4.87%

Rachel-----------------------------------------------------------4.46%------

Steve--------197.0---------------189.0-------------8.0----------4.06%

Jessica-----------------------------------------------------------1.98%

Current Pot: $20

Biggest Loser Home Edition -Week 2

Week 2 results shape up like this:

Participant-----Starting Weight--------Current Weight----------% Loss

Steve-------------197.0-------------------189.8------------------3.65%

Daniel-----------224.0--------------------216.1-------------------3.53%

Ned--------------209.6-------------------202.6------------------3.34%

Rachel------------------------------------------------------------2.50%

Jessica------------------------------------------------------------1.98%

Wow, I don't know how I'm doing it, but apparently it's just in my nature to kick all of your trash.
Remember, next week is the official weigh in to decide August's biggest loser and who will not have to pay the $5, so come on team, do you really want to live in a world where I have statistics to talk trash to you? I need someone who's going to challenge me or I might get bored and have to challenge myself or something. Come on, pick up the pace!!!

S

Biggest Loser Home Edition

After week 1 (and Ned's late posting of his results as he continues to contemplate dropping out) the standings look like this:

starting weight current weight lbs lost % lost

Rachel: refuses to say refuses to say 4.0 2.5%
Steve: 197.0 192.8 4.2 2.13%
Jess: refuses to say refuses to say 3.4 2.10%
Ned: 209.6 206.0 3.6 1.70%

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!

As Steve so lovingly put it: " It's hard to believe I've been married to you for 1/3 of my life!" I love you too!

So, here's to the 10 years we've done and to the next 10 to come. Happy Anniversary to US!!!

Moulton Falls

Mom and Dad (Jones) were down here last weekend and so the kids and I took them to Moulton Falls. We took a picnic with us and spent the afternoon playing in the woods. It still amazes me what you can find around here just minutes from home!

We caught bugs,

Played in the river,

Watched the cliff jumpers

from the bridge

and hiked in the woods.

Kaden had a great time

And Emily left an "X" every 3 feet or so to make sure we could find our way back.

It worked.

It was a good day.

In the last month...

Kaden learned to feed himself (in very general terms!) with silverware ...

The girls got new, bigger bikes...

And Kaden, who has always had a love of music, discovered that it is twice as enjoyable when hearing it through earphones ...

...while talking on the phone!

Seriously, he LOVES this. He will come into the room, grab Steve by the knees and spin his chair around to face him. Then he will climb up onto his lap, put the earphones on, point to the screen and start dancing in Steve's lap waiting for the music to start. Once the music is playing he will reach for the phone and proceed to push as many buttons on that, as fast as he can, stopping periodically to shout "HI" into it. It's the only time I've ever seen him sit in the same place for more than 2 minutes! Just a little bit frightening if you ask me.

Week 1 Results

At the end of week 1, with Ned furiously eating carrots and celery and working out 3 times a day, he weighs in at ______, a loss of ______ lbs a ____%.

Steve who hasn't really changed anything except he is willing himself to get smaller weighed in this morning at __192.8____, a loss of __4.2____lbs a __2.13___% drop.

The Master vs. The Student

In this corner, hailing from the great state of Texas, but living in the land of the Mormons, he enjoys being wheeled on the beach and candle light buffets that go all-night long. Weighing in at 209.6 pounds, the 8th wonder of the world, the man we all can't believe got married, the Holy Heavyweight....Right....Said......Ned!!!!!!!!


And in this corner, also hailing from the great state of Texas, but currently trying to stay dry in Washington, he enjoys destroying Chamberlains in games of basketball and adopting kids from other countries. Weighing in at 197.0 lbs, the best looking man to ever go on a diet, he is the undisputed King of Kilimanjaro........Time to turn another leaf for.....STEEF!!!!!!

Ok, gentlemen, here are the rules:
-This contest is scheduled for 8 months
-At the end of each week, the contestants must enter in their current weight on this blog.
-The winner will be the contestant who has lost the highest % of body weight from their original weight.
-In addition, these contestants and their spouses will be weighing in once a month, the 3 lowest weight losers will add $5 to a pre-paid gift card. At the end of the contest, the contestant with the highest total % of weight loss will win the gift card to shop for a new wardrobe and a BRAND NEW CAR (Car may not be actual size and consist of a matchbox logo).

LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!!!