Saturday Fun

Brooke called me on Friday and told me that a bunch of people were going to go sleding up by Veyo on Saturday.

Brooke, Nick & Candice, Jake & I, Cody & Crystal, Anne, Chelsey (Nick's sister) & Brandon, & Chris (Nick's Brother).

We all met at Tire Pro on Bluff street and purchased our tubes. We all loaded up and headed toward Veyo. Jake & I took one of our 4-wheelers, which was great so that we didn't have to hike up the hill every time. Anyway pictures are better than words.

As you can see we had TONS of fun!! And then...... as Jake was loading the 4-wheeler into the back of his truck.....

Yeah that's kinda of a mood killer.

The next thing I know Jake and I were at the Nissan dealership looking at new trucks. (We had been talking about purchasing him a new full size truck for the last few months). One thing lead to another.

So.... Yeah .... Jake has a new truck. I don't have pictures, but he is sooooo excited.

I don't know how he can be so lucky. He breaks the back window in his truck and ends up with a new truck!!!

Gaming Weekend

I am not a gamer!!! I haven't been into any type of console gaming since the good ol'days of old school Mario Brothers. Once the games turned 3 dimensional I lost all interest - and skill. I have heard many conversations of how fun Guitar Hero and Rock Bank are and addictive. I always brushed it off.

Jake's brother bought Rock Bank for the Xbox 360 this weekend and brought it over to our house. After a little persuasion I agreed to be the singer. Yikes!! I am as tone deaf as you can be! It wasn't long until I was told maybe I should try one of the instruments. Suttle way of telling me that I'm a very poor singer.

Both Jake and Tyson had tried to drum and neither of them could get the hang of it. Since they were both playing the guitars (bass & lead) they thought I should take a stab at the drums. It took a few songs, but I started to get the hang of them.

This all started on Saturday late afternoon. Next thing I knew it was 1:30 in the morning!!!! Yikes, time to go to bed. Falling asleep I saw the beat colors all night.

Sunday woke up late and we started playing again. I took breaks to work on laundry and do the dishes. I even took a break to take a quick shower and get dressed. 9:00 to 3:00, with the short breaks.

OK I'm addicted!! Good thing that it isn't our game and that Tyson took it home with him.

We did accomplish a few other things this weekend before and after the game feast. Did some Christmas shopping on Saturday. Had a great visit from a friend and her family - so glad they came to visit and see our new house. Sunday evening we even put up our Christmas tree and all the snowmen decor.

I'm exhausted and my arms are killing me from pretending to drum for hours on end. I guess that I have to change my views on some of the console gaming.

Christmas Lights

My sweet dear husband, with his dad and brother, put up our Christmas lights today. I am so excited, our first Christmas in our new home. Neither Jake nor his brother Tyson like latters or heights very much, so this was a great undertaking for them. They all were so cute trying to be the ALPHA male on how each of them thought the hanging of the lights should happen. In the end it turned out so good.

And the finished product with and without flash.

Pictures of the inside of the house (the ones that didn't show the mess from the MEN putting up the lights)

I will get actual pictures of livings space when I get a few things cleaned up.

Remembering my youth

Ok so I guess we have established via a few of the comments on my page that I was a little fanatic about New Kids on the Block (NKOTB). I make no excuses - every generation has that one person or group that girls go crazy over. For me it was NKOTB.

Anyway - when I first heard that they were re-uniting and going on tour I was planning on going to the concert in Vegas. I don't particularly like the Mandalay Bay Concert Stadium, but hey it is NKOTB. Then life got a bit hectic and next thing I knew I realized that I hadn't bought tickets and more so than that I remembered a few days after the concert was over. A sad girl was I.

Then I remembered that they were going to SLC as well. Checked Ticketmaster. Not only had I not missed the concert, but the ticket prices for the cheap seats had been reduced. IT WAS MENT TO BE!!

I asked Jake if he would take me. Apperently his love for me draws the line at attending an NKOTB concert. He was willing to go to SLC with me (as I'm not good driving long distances myself), but no how no way was he going to go the concert. Hmmmmm. So I called Shondell my best friend from Jr High that I'm still very close with (she lives in Ogden). Of course she wanted to go!!!

So this last weekend we packed up and headed North. NKOTB here I come. Shondell and I were both pleased to find that Natasha Beningfield was the openning act. She was amazing - that girl has some pipes on her!!

Finally that anticipation was over. The long build-up and then they were on stage. Shondell and I had so much fun - we sang, we danced, we swooned, we giggled - we became 14 again!! Neither of us knew any of their new songs, so we had a moment here and there to catch our breath (as neither of us have the energy of a 14 year old any more). All in all it was a great time. Fun was had by all. My only problem is that if the NKOTB look so much older that they did way back when - does that mean I've aged too?

ER Visit

First of all I have to say, this time it wasn't me!!!

Friday, Jake called me at work around 3:00. He started by telling me that he was in Mesquite (for work) and that he was "OK"...... NOT A GOOD WAY TO START OUR THE CONVERSATION. He was in the ER due to a work related injury, he is OK.

Someone who set up the bed at the shop that he was supposed to install in Mesquite forgot to put a safety bolt into the wallbed unit. Jake was finishing the install and sat on the bed to put a decorative plate over the springs. A side arm was not attached w/ the safety bolt and it sprang up and became a samuri sword.

He has a 4 inch laceration on his calf muscle. 6 stiches to hold the muscle together and 6 stiches to hold the skin together.

Update

Ok so I've been really bad at keeping up on my blog. But I have been really busy! So here's a play by play of the last few weeks.

1. We are into our new house. We have unpacked all of the nessessary items for living, but that's about it. No decor - spare bedroom still a mess - still have numberous "where to put this" boxes. I kinda feel like I'm a bit of a slacker as we moved the middle of August. Brooke moved the week after we did and she is all put together in her new house already. She does stay at home with a daycare and so I guess I shouldn't be to hard on myself.

2. Jake and I had our one year anniversary!!! I can't believe it flew by so quickly. We went to Las Vegas, did some shopping, ate at "our special restaurant", I went to the spa and Jake took a well needed nap, then we saw the show Ka at the MGM Grand. It was pretty good but O is still my favorite Cirque show.

3. I have a friend who was in a car accident in the beginning of July. She was out of state at the time and it took some time, but she is back in Utah. I've been up to SLC to visit once and hope to go again next weekend. She is doing so good and I am so proud of her.

I feel like I go and go and someday I'll actually accomplish something, but until then life is great. Hope all is well with everyone else out there in blogland, even if I don't post often I still check everyone's blogs frequent!!

Love all,
Peggy

Memory Tag - You it!!!

Many of my blogger friends and family have been doing the memory tag and it is fun to read all thier memory comments, so....



Here are the rules:



1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!



2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments. I can't wait to see what people remember.

Finally!!

Well about a month ago Jake & I put an offer in on a house that was accepted. After calling and telling dad the good news, he suggested that I call around and see if any soil reports on file for the house (due to blue clay problem in St George).

While trying to get a copy of the report, I called the City of Washington's building department. Figuring they would have one on file. The lady was really nice and started researching the house. She didn't find a copy of the soil tests, but she did find out that the final building inspection had never been completed, so the house had no Certificate of Occupancy.

The house was built 5 years ago and it just fell through the cracks, and people started living in it. We contacted the sellers (which it is bank owned due to foreclosure) and they had to get the CO.

We have been waiting patiently, but were starting to get a little worried. Today I got the call that the house has now passed final inspection (they had to do a few minor things like more fire alarms and such).

With our interest lock going to expire soon (we locked in at a good rate) everyone now is scrambling to get the house closed before the lock expires. So if everything goes as planned we will be closing on our new house next Friday and moving in the following weekend (carpets need to be cleaned and such before we move in and Jake is gone part of the week, so we have to wait to actually move in).

Keep your fingers crossed. I'M SO EXCITED!!!

Oh yeah, I guess I could let you know some details. The house is less than a mile away from my parents (Peg's), on the opposite side of the freeway. 3 Bedroom 2 Bathroom 1547 Sq ft, sits on the top of the hill with nice view of Red Cliffs area. No neighbors behind us (just a small wooded area that is too steep to have housing development).

Broken Wrist

OK - per Christy & Heather's request here is the really dumb story as to how I broke my wrist.

Sunday after the reunion Jake and I were at Albertson's doing our weekly grocery shopping. We had just checked out and was headed for the truck. Jake had the cart, as he always unloads it into the vehicle. I was walking to the passenger side to get in. The next thing I knew I was on the BURNING HOT asphalt (temp outside approx 110 degrees). I don't remember feeling like I was going to fall or anything, I don't even remember the actual fall. The best I can guess is that I passed out, since all I remember is walking then being on the ground hurting and burning.

Jake hadn't heard me fall since it apperently happened right as he hit the unlock button for the truck and the unlocking sound masked my falling sounds. I had just disappeared then he heard me saying I needed help.

He had to phyiscally pick me off the ground as the position I was in was not condusive for my skinned knee or injured wrist to assist in my standing up. When we got home Jake unloaded the groceries and then I decided that the wrist was in bad enough shape that we needed to get it x-rayed.

We went to ER, x-rayed, and found that the Lunate bone in my left wrist is broken completely through and is "somewhat displaced". They don't know why I passed out, probably just the heat (and we had just eaten at McDonalds before shopping, so it wasn't lack of nourishment or fluids)

That Monday I went to Orthopedic Specialist Doctor. He decided to put me in carpal tunnel brace instead of cast, with my promise not to take it off for 3-1/2 to 4 weeks, which he did since it's so hot here and casts are more cumbersome, and I'm old enough to not take if off even if it's feeling better. Then I can only take it off for short intervals for the following 2 weeks after. If I'm having trouble moving the wrist or have much pain during the 2 weeks of short intervals w/o brace, I have to go back in to have re-x-rayed. At that point they will decide what the next course of action will be. So lets all hope in a few more weeks that wrist movement is easy w/ no pain!!!

Anyway - I'm a klutz.

Quick Post

OK lots to write about, but I'll make this short since I'm typing with one hand.

1st - Bulkley Family Reunion - great to see everyone!!!

2nd - Hot Air Balloon Festival - over 30 balloons all at once - beautiful

3rd - New niece born - June 28th @ approx 2:30 A.M. - 7lbs 11oz - dimple in her chin - Patsey Anne Blake

4th - Broke my wrist today - I'm a Klutz!!!!

Various Pictures Below.

Jake's Family Reunion

Today was the family reunion for the Alvey's (I think that is how you spell it). His grandmother's on his dad's side of the family. Anyway, I was pre-warned about the hullabloo that would take place, so I was prepared.

After lunch, Uncle Ben started hauling out his ammo. He had a few tubs of water balloons and water guns prefilled for the war. No, the kids didn't instigate the water war, it was Jake's uncle!!! Jake knew it would happen, so we had gone to Walmart and purchased our own 108 oz water guns (biggest one there!!!).

After the first attack was made all hell broke loose. People started scrambling to thier vehicle to collect thier stashed ammo. The funniest was when Jake's great aunt (his grandma's oldest sister - brown shirt in the picture all the Alvey siblings below) decided to particiapte and soaked some of her other siblings that were being respected as elders and not getting wet. Once they were wet no one was safe!!!

Jake's Grandma Thema is in the blue shirt.

Jake terrorizing Clayton (his cousin)

Uncle Ben Instigated the whole thing!!

Nothing New

Ok so 2 weeks have past since I blogged last. And I really don't have anything new to report. Last weekend Jake & I stayed close to home and just relaxed. Which was nice since he has to drive to California every week and he's getting a little burned out.

This weekend was pretty much the same. Anne came over on Saturday and cleaned for a few hours to work off some of the money I gave her for her New York trip she is saving for. She did such a good job!!!

Sunday I took family pictures for Heather, Shawn & family. Heather and Shawn are moving away soon and they wanted to get family pictures done before they leave, and since I tend to have a pretty good eye with photography, they have had me do it.

After pictures we went to breakfast and then strolled through Home Depot and dreamed of what we would do to a future house.

Well that's pretty much it. Pretty boring, right! Well, maybe more excitement next week.

Saturday in Garfield County

So those of you who know me, know that if I have to pack my own toliet paper for an outting it's probably not my biggest idea of a fun time. Although I am starting to enjoy some outdoor activities.

Jake's dad does community service for his dedicated hunter's license. For his community service he has a deal that he goes and monitors guzzlers around Garfield county. This weekend Jake and I were invited to go 4 wheeling with him while he checked a few of them.

Friday night we loaded up both our four wheelers, Jake's new 700 Raptor sports wheeler and my 360 Praire (Jake's old wheeler), and head off to Panguitch to stay the night at my Grandma Shirley's house.

Saturday morning we get up and meet Bart (Jake's dad) right outside of Red Canyon. Unload the bikes and off we go. I'm not real experienced at 4 wheeling yet, so Bart made sure that we only took easy trails.

Just after starting on the trail I decided to pull the camera out and take some landscape pictures. In order to save time, I decided to leave the camera around my wrist for easy access. BAD IDEA. The next time I stopped to take pictures it would not turn on due to all the dust that had gotten on the retractable lens apperatus. It took us about 20 minutes to get it dusted off enough for it to start working again.

At our first stop I just relaxed while Bart and Jake checked on the guzzler.

Our second stop we decided to have a few snacks for lunch. YUMMY, beanie weanies, pears and cheese w/crackers.

I guess now is a good time to tell you that I have this wierd facination with "funky" trees. I love when a tree is bare with branches that are twisty and curled and look a little eire. I had told Bart about this facination earlier, so after checking the second guzzler he said he would take me to close spot that had some "funky trees". Up the trail just a minute or so away we come upon a batch of cool trees. I took a few pictures and Bart said we needed to go up the road a little more. Jake and Bart were in front of me and as I came around a bend straight ahead an entire area of trees, but off to my right was a view that took my breath away and stopped me in my tracks.

I had taken few more pics than this, but was informed that memory was full. ??? What??? How could my memory be full, I had just transfered all my pictures to my computer and cleared the memory card. After trying to figure it out for a few minutes, Jake asks about the memory card. The memory card?? GREAT, low and behold it's still in my laptop, so much for taking a bunch of pictures.

My luck with taking pictures is terrible. Half the time I forget to grab the camera, then when I do I forget to take pictures or I run out of battery and dont' have any back-up. And now when I remember the camera, remember extra batteries, and remember to take pictures - I don't a memory card. No matter what color I dye my hair I will forever be a blonde!!!

Off we go to find the 3rd and last guzzler for the day. After riding for about 20 minutes or so, we come to Tropic Resevoir. The water was the most awesome blue/green color. Toward the shoreline it was dark blue and at the deep areas it was a blue/green color that is impossible to describe. Sorry no pictures, no memory card.

On our way to find the third guzzler we ended up on a trail that made a little nervous. The right side of the trail was a little bit of a downhill slope. The trail had "whoopties" every 15 feet or so and just kept going up. Sorry no pictures, no memory card. About a mile or so down this road, we were at a dead end. Not a good looking dead end either. We had to turn around in a tight spot with now drop off areas both ahead of us and on one side of us. Did I mention that I'm not real expierence at 4 wheeling.

Never did locate that last guzzler, but it was time to start heading back to the truck. We were all starting to run low on fuel. So now instead of our leisurely ride both Jake and Bart kicked it into high gear and head back to the truck. Of course, I'm bring up the rear and trying to keep up. The entire time I was in a cloud of thier dust and at time unable to even see the road in front of me.

Back at the truck with pretty much fumes in all 3 wheelers. Trip odometer says that we went 61 miles throughout the day. 7 hours of riding. Did I mention that I've only riden a wheeler for short times only a few times, and most of those time I was riding w/ Jake, so I only had to drive part of the time.

I was exausted. I'm glad I didn't have to do anything while they loaded the bikes up and tied them down.

So now it's Sunday and my arms are sun burned, the muscles in my arms are so sore (I didn't realize that I have those muscles in my arms), and my back has felt better. So the moral of this story. WHEN DO WE GO AGAIN!!!

ME IN MY BABY BLUE HELMET, GOGGLES. MY GLOVES MATCH TOO.

JAKE BEFORE HE DECIDED TO WEAR HIS HELMET. THE GOGGLES AND HUNTING CAP JUST WEREN'T A GOOD LOOK FOR HIM.

New to blogging

Hey all. I'm new to this blogging thing. My Grandma Shirley told me that all my cousins are blogging and it's a great way for us all to keep in touch. So here I am and I'll try to keep up to date. I've always been really bad at keeping a journal, so we'll see how I do.

I'm Peggy Sue Smith and my husband is Jake Edward Smith. We were just married on September 22, 2007 and loving the newlywed time. It took me a long time to find him, but he is worth the wait. I met him in January of 2006 at the ripe age of 29 and he was 25. I had never dated a younger man, but he won me over.

I work for an accounting firm and love my job. It keeps me very busy as I am also the personal assistant for the head partner. With that title I also help run all of his outside business interests, which include the accounting firm, storage units (with another facility in the works), commercial office buildings, retail shopping center management, we just finished a set of townhomes (which are for sale if anyone is interested), and any other tasks he finds for me to do.

Anyway, that's just a little about me. There should be more to come. :)