My New Toy

I got so tired of my little camera not taking good pictures. I mean, it took ok outside pictures, but inside or at night....forget about it. So, with our NYC trip coming up, and so many other worthy picture taking activities, I convinced Hugh that we needed a REAL camera. I don't know anything about SLR photography (I don't even know what SLR stands for) but I bought a REAL camera. A Nikon D40. It's so pretty. I took it out to girls' night last night, and I didn't have to re-take a single picture because it was blurry or the lighting wasn't right. Excellent! I took a few pictures around here just to see what it can do, and I'm amazed at the quality. I'm very happy with my new toy.

Courtney & Connor. Notice her Cardinal colored

fingernails.

Caitlin. The colors are so bright!

This is a single flower in my centerpiece.

Tomato & Basil Pizza at BJ's.

January's Smokin' Hot Ladies Night Out

We had another WHS girls get together last night. Laughed until it hurt. We went to BJ's (Wendy, thank for the introduction!!) and had a great time. Our long lost classmate, Julie Diana, joined us, and it was the first time she had seen many of us since high school. (She wasn't able to make it to the reunion last summer). She is amazing. She was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphona when she was in her late 20's, and she went through chemo and radiation and KICKED ITS BUTT! She even went on to have another child after they told her she would never be able to have any more children. She has been in remission for almost 10 years. Awesome! She looks amazing too. We just recently re-connected on Facebook (I love Facebook...all of my friends live in my computer!!) and so she was invited to join us last night. So, we spent a few hours catching her up on other classmates, and telling stories and LAUGHING. I am so blessed to have so many wonderful girlfriends. I don't know where I would be without them.

Check out her biceps! She doesn't even lift weights!

I hate her.

Kristi & Debbie

Jen, me, and Tracy

Jen said that she looks abnormally small in this picture

but then she said she realized it is because my boobs are

bigger than her head. Unfortunately, she's right.

Me and my person

Debbie I., Debbie G., Jen, me, Tracy

Standing is Michele, Julie & Kristi

Almost Famous...

The Phoenix Fire Department did a campaign recently where they took pictures of local "celebrities" and put them on billboards with the slogan "Watch Your Kids Around Water". Here are some of the billboards......

Kurt Warner & the Gorilla! Big time celebrities!!

Chief Khan & Mayor Gordon! Total powerhouses!!

Beth & Bill....who DOESN'T know Beth & Bill?!?!

My dear sweet Hugh is ALMOST famous now, you know, being a PIO (that's Public Information Officer) for the department. Even our UPS driver stopped at our house one day and said "Is your husband Hugh Chase?" and I said "Why, yes he is..." and he said "I just saw him on the news last night!!" See, almost famous. So almost famous that he was in fact photographed for the campaign! And came THIS CLOSE to being on a billboard. I'm SURE the reason he didn't make it is because they had to make room for that so-so celebrity Kurt Warner. I mean, really, is Kurt Warner a bigger celebrity than Captain Chase? I don't think so....but whatever.

Check this out...wouldn't it have looked amazing 20 feet tall??? I think so....

Happy Birthday Wendy!

The boys. We made them sit at the other end

of the table so us girls could talk. :)

One of the MANY pictures we took of ourselves.

Yes, we are aware that we are dorks.



I know this picture is blurry, but I

look skinny, so it's going in!

Blowing kisses!

Wendy tried to jump in the picture. Can you see

her eye??

Don't ask......

My Wendy had a birthday on the 20th, so we went out last night to celebrate! It was Bryon & JoAnna, Molly & Andy, Melynda & Justin, Wendy & Loren and Hugh & I. We went to BJ's, which was awesome! We laughed, and talked and laughed some more....my favorite! Seriously, I had a headache from laughing so hard. Wendy & I have a bad habit of taking pictures of ourselves, and sometimes we get a little out of control. So, here are a few pictures, but I had to keep some of them private!!! Delete! Delete! Delete!!!

I love this picture....

It made me tear up. I know President Bush wasn't a favorite, but I loved him. I'm so glad that he can now leave DC and get on with his life without the utter and complete stress of being the President. Seriously, who would want that job????

They Won! They Won!

Connor's team won their football game last Saturday 12-7. It was awesome! It was definitely much more fun to watch than the annihilation that was last week's game. Connor did great (the little time he played) and he had FUN - which is the most important thing!

Miracles Happen

Today, January 16, 2009, Stephanie Nielsen posted on her blog. It's truly a miracle.

Connor's First Football Game

Getting ready for the same the start

Huddle before the game

See the size difference?

Waiting to be put in....

He's totally ready!

He survived the first game!!

Connor had his first tackle football game yesterday. Nerve wracking....to say the least.....especially since Connor is the smallest one on the team. Doesn't matter though. He is totally aggressive...not afraid AT ALL to "get in there". Their team, the Devils, is a fairly new team, and unfortunately, that was quite evident at the game. They got CRUSHED. I swear, you would have thought they were playing the Cardinals (speaking of the Cards, did you see that game yesterday??? Go Cards!!). Hopefully, each practice and each game will help them grow as a team. And maybe as the weeks go by, they will play the WHOLE field, and not just the 10 yards near their endzone.

New York...Here We Come!

For a while now, Amy has been wanting to take a trip. To New York City to be more specific. And she needs to do this....like...NOW, seeing that she is expecting. So, it didn't take too much persuasion when she called me last week and asked if Hugh & I wanted to go to NYC with her and Kort. She found some great rates on airfare, and we found a deal on a hotel room. So, here we go again! This will be my third trip to NYC in three years and I am just as excited as I was the first time we went! There is so much to do and see there. It is such a great place to visit (visit...I don't think I would want to live there). And, to top it off, two other couples are going too....Brenna & Cody and Bonnie & Kamon. Great friends, great city. Can't go wrong! We leave on February 26 and get home on March 2. Woo hoo!

It's A Girl! It's a Girl!

I am very proud to say that I am going to be the Favorite Aunt to my newest little niece, being born to Kort & Amy in June. I can't wait to spoil her and take my spot as Favorite Aunt. It is a position I hold near and dear to my heart. I'm so exicted to meet her!

Phoenix Suns

For Christmas, Connor's "friend" Madi gave him 4 Suns tickets. (Her parents have season tickets, and they couldn't go, so they let Madi give them to Connor). What a treat!! So, Hugh & I took Connor & Madi to the game last Friday. It was a great game. (And side note, it was the first Suns game I have been to in the Arena. The last game I attended was at the Madhouse on McDowell.......). Connor & Madi even made it onto the JumboTron for the Smile Cam. Adorable!!

Connor & Madi

On the Jumbotron.....can you see them??

Madi, The Cheerleader & Connor

Me & Hugh....notice the new hair on me. I got bangs!

Me & Connor

Ice Cream!!

New Year, New Hair

Last night, I hated my hair. It's driving me crazy! I need a new hairstyle, but I don't want to cut it. I love long hair. I found this picture. It's my dream hair.

New Year's Eve!

Last night, we had a few friends over to hang out, play games, eat, and most importantly....LAUGH while we rang in the new year. (Ed & Heidi....you were totally missed!!!) We played the Newlywed Game which ended up being HILARIOUS, and then played Left Right Center and Kort won $30!!! Lucky guy! We let our kids stay up until midnight (they were banished to their room all night where they had their OWN party) but they came out and joined us out front at midnight. The kids then went to bed, and we played a little Guitar Hero on Connor's XBox. The last of our guests left at 1:45. It was fun, but my stomach hurts from laughing so much. That's ok, it's a good hurt.

Look at the signs the girls put on their

bedroom door.

They are ready to play!

Kamon & Bonnie and Amy & Kort

Wendy & Loren and Cody & Brenna

Me & Kamon (sorry, there are no pictures of Hugh

& I on here because they ones we took were not

very good pictures of me. And since I control the

blog, they are not going up on here!!)

The question was "Who was the last girl your spouse

dated before you two got married?" I loved her

answer. It says "Jordache Jean Girl".

Don't remember the question, but their responses

were great.

The question was "My wife will never win a contest

for her ____." The answer from Bonnie: Athletism.

Kamon got it right.

Kort & his winnings from Left Right Center.

Wendy & I trying to do a cheerleading pose. Didn't

quite make it.

Wendy & I with Courtney who snuck in.

Cute!!

Prom Pose.

Kort & Amy

Brenna & Cody at Midnight. Kort & Amy are

making out in the background.

My four children....

Their last New Years Eve before they become parents!