Snowdrift Faceplant

SOOOO COLDDDDD

Because I'm bored and trying to take a short break from studying, I just wanted to let you all (in Southern areas) know that if you think you're cold, I bet you anything I'm colder. 40 degrees colder. Yesterday AND today the temperature as I walked to school was exactly 1 degree. Not including the freezing cold wind. I've been wearing tights under my pants, two jackets, and a beanie and I still freeze. So as you sit at home in the 45 maybe 50 degree weather, just be glad you aren't here. :)

Thankful For: Sunday 11/22

Sharee:

I'm thankful for Sunday naps.

Mom:
I too am so thankful for Sunday Zone Out Time.

Thankful For: Saturday 11/21

Mom:
I am thankful that I can go to the Temple, and when I do, I can feel peaceful.

Kenton:
I am thankful for repentance, I can repent and do all my posts on the blog from now until Thanksgiving.

Sharee:

I'm thankful for fantasy football...so I can at least be the best at SOMEthing.

Thankful For: Friday 11/20

Mom:
I am thankful for the Book Of Mormon, I am getting peace and some comfort when I read from it each day.

Sharee:

I'm grateful for weekends.

Thankful For: Thursday 1/19

Shauna:
Walks on beautiful crisp mornings.

Sharee:

Grateful I have a temple so close that I can do baptisms when a class is cancelled. :)

Thankful for: Weds 11/18

Shauna: A cold drink when I am hot and a hot drink when I am cold

Tyler: the fact that Christine is so sweet!

Christine: Candy

Sharee: I'm grateful that I don't have Contralateral Neglect or Broca's Aphasia.

Thankful for: Tuesday 11/17

Christine:
Surprises! Like when Tyler gets to come home early when I thought I was going to home alone this evening.

Shauna:
Cell phones so I can talk to my family wherever I want!

Dan:
I am thankful for musik! I have the new John Mayer CD if you want it. But its honestly pretty boring.

Sharee:

My bed! So that after being on campus from 9am to 9pm I can go night night in a warm place.

Kenton:
Good books to read, to expand my mind and forget my other problems for a while.

Thankful for: Monday 11/16

Christine:
babies

Dad:
Roast Beef, carrots, potatoes and onions all in a delicious Sunday dinner.

Mom:
Today I am thankful for great sacrament speakers who weave the gospel message with what is happening in my life.

Tyler:
Today I'm thankful for: My mommy and Daddy! They are so great!

Christine:
babies

Sharee:
Today I am thankful for the sun. It's 27 degrees outside, but at least its sunny!

Dan:
I am grateful that the libster loves me so much more than all the other kids in my family and that I have a picture of her on my screen saver.

Sports and Kanye

First did anyone notice that the Church is advertising on Yahoo Sports? This way, I can get an update on the Chargers and spiritual guidance at once. SCORE!!




Second, I just saw this and I thought it was beyond hilarious. I actually laughed out loud at the balloon boy part. But maybe a bit of background. I don't know when it became anything other than shameful to use a pitch correcter on recorded music. Seems to me that it would be like steriods for the musician. A couple of years ago a famous contemporary artist, Kanye West (and the first person in this sequence of videos) used a pitch correcter throughout his entire album. Since then it has become something of a staple at least in hip-hop music to use one.

Anyway, since pitch-corrected music has become so prevalent, funny people have decided to mock the genre by applying pitch corrected software to things that aren't actually singing at all. Newscasts, books on tape, things like that. Then they put some music behind it. Usually, a pretty average sounding song comes out of it. I love this because it really shows how simplistic most of the radio music (especially hip hop) is out there and how little talent it takes to make this stuff up.

This is unintentional auto-tune at its best.

Sharee's Update

WARNING: may be slightly graphic (in pictures and/or subject matter)

Well, just thought I would give you all an update on what's been the haps up here at BYU. I could really make this a novel, but for everyone's sake I decided to just do brief bullet points of all that's happened lately. So here goes:

-3 weeks ago I severely sprained my wrist and scraped up my body while longboarding down Provo Canyon, landing a first date to the hospital. ...and no, there was no second date.

-2 weeks ago I went to Arizona with Bonnie to see Tyler's last waterpolo tournament and spend time with the family. It was a great break from the very pain&stress-full week.

-On my way back to Utah from Arizona I got my first speeding ticket in Buttville, Arizona. Bonnie helped me stay calm, but I can't say I don't hate the officer, he's a mean man.

-1 week ago I was on my way home from a date in Salt Lake when the sharpest pain I've ever felt hit me. I couldn't breathe but knew I had to get somewhere safe. I first tried the hospital in Sandy, but after sitting in the waiting room for 15 minutes, all alone with an entire adult-male gang (literally) and no security, I felt it best to leave and make the drive even tho it was midnight and I could only shallowly breathe. As soon as I got to Provo I went straight to the emergency room and was given very strong drugs, blood tests and a huge hospital gown. They let me go early in the morning when the tests were done, supposedly not finding anything wrong.

-Halloween was a bust, I didn't even step outside my apartment that day (except to pick up my car from the hospital), trying to feel better from the drugs they gave me the night before.

-This week my ONLY goal was to not go to the hospital. It's now Sunday and I can happily say I've been hospital free for 8 days. :) I did, however, pass out while walking around in my apartment yesterday, and woke up on the ground with my whole body on the kitchen tile floor except my head, which was right where the carpet started and right next to the sharp corner of the doorway. My only roommate home was in the shower, so I just had to pick myself back up and get over it.

-A couple days ago I did what every girl dreads...I was with Bonnie and we were talking, when a guy walks up to us who she knows. They talked for a minute and then he went to shake my hand (i get nervous when people try to shake my hand lately cuz I know it's going to hurt with my sprained wrist) and since I was so focussed on my hand hurting, I thought Bonnie was telling him my name so I just said whatever she said. well, she said his name to me instead. So basically as I shook his hand I said "Hi I'm Matt" at the same time he did, forgetting my own name and introducing myself as him. anyway, it made for a good laugh, but was VERY embarrassing.

-I can say one VERY good thing has happened lately that makes all the rest of this seem insignificant. I don't want to say this lightly, because it is very serious to me and I am very thankful for the blessings I have and the trials I don't have to cope with. At the beginning of the semester I tried to get this awesome job at a cafe in orem, and everything was working out so I could work there, the boss even told me what day to start working and stuff, but the day before my first day, his wife called and told me they didn't need me to work there anymore. I was really upset about it and I tried so hard go get it and I just wasn't understanding why it didn't work out.

(2 months later) Yesterday I found out that the man I was supposed to work for was arrested 2 weeks ago for abuse of a female employee. It made me so sad to hear about it and I feel absolutely horrible that another girl had to go through that. I also am very thankful that I was not able to work with this man, and although I was very upset and confused at the time about why getting that job didn't work out, I know now that this is exactly why. Sometimes we (by we I mostly mean I) just see all the things that are going very wrong, and often times it's true, A LOT is going wrong. But also, a lot is going right! A lot of times it's hard to think of the things that are going the way they are supposed to, and sometimes we don't even know what those things are! I didn't even know that it was a good thing I didn't get this job. Until 2 months later. And I'm sure there are things that take much longer than 2 months to figure out, but a lot more good is happening in life than it seems from day to day.

Just thought I'd share my thoughts with you. These past few weeks have been very difficult for me, and I've had a horrible attitude about it all. But I just want you all to know how grateful I am for my blessings, because I have MANY of them. And I know you have many blessings too. Look for them, count them, be thankful for them, and don't forget them.

I love you!

Love

Shareeba

Fall Fun

While I was feeling really bad and wishing that I could have been there to see Tyler play water polo with my ENTIRE family, I had to settle for the next best thing. I went to a nearby national park and went for a hike! The fall colors were in full force. Here are some pictures.



We hiked the Appalachian Trail!



Saw some great sights!



And JUMPED!! Of COURSE!!



Dan

HHOMMME RUUUNNN

just thought I'd remind you of that night we were on the big screen twice at the padre game!! ..haha....maybe this is why...

What was on the big screen...

So it just dawned on me that in 90 days from today I will be half a century old!!! Seriously, that is creepy to think let alone verbalize or type.
But I am not going to dwell on the sorry state of things in this blog - rather I am going to show you some of the more interesting things that were happening around the time I entered the picture.
So lets start at the movies.

Miss Marlyn Monroe has a spicy flick out, but I would assume that GrammaLainie and Grandpa Ray did not go to see it! The who could forget the killer movie Ben-Hur. I rented this from the video store on one of our last LONG road trips and could hardly get through it ... it's like 4 1/2 hours long. But it does have that great gladiator scene with "Moses" whipping the bad guy. I know that my folks must have seen this.




Then there was the comical movie Pillow Talk - with Doris Day and Rock Hudson. I just can't bring myself to put a clip on this blog however - it all just seems so wierd.

And Lastly, I love Alfred Hitchcock movies so I am delighted to know that North by Northwest was also produced in 1959. The stud Cary Grant is in this little flick, and I actully still like to TiVo this movie when it comes on the 24 Hour Oldy Movie channel ---- oh no, what am i saying!!!

New Family Blog .... New Address ..... and Private.

Due to popular demand - we are now private, which just means that if you want someone to be able to see the blog then we need to add their e-mail address to out permissions page. No biggy but I don't want to leave important family members out.

So now that we are private - BLOG!!!

Dear Everyone

I just wanted to say PROPSSS to madre for making our new TOTALLY AWESOME family picture :) I guess you might be able to tell our family likes LOST. :) What surprises me is how much we look like these people! (we will make an exception...Dan doesn't necessarily remind us of Ben) :) Anyway, also if anyone wants to keep up with our blog after this coming month PLEASE comment and leave your email!! I think people got confused with the 4 deleted comments on that last post, but it was just me messing around. If you comment with your email it will stay hidden and no one will see it but us. We've only gotten a few people to leave their email...I hope more of you are interested in keeping up with our blog, cuz I know there will be many more awesome things to come!!! :) Love you all and miss you!
love Sharee

Privatizing Blogville

To: All you, our faithful followers of our blog
Re: Going Private

By common consent we have decided to take our blog private - BUT we want all of you family and friends who want to see the great things ahead for our family to have access to our NEW BLOGSITE.

Please leave your e-mail addresses and we will invite you to the new blog - NEW NAME - NEW ADVENTURES - FAMILY VIDEOS that will have you rolling on the floor laughing AND more blogging from certain family members who will remain nameless who have not added much in the past!

Please leave your e-mail in the comment section - we have made that section private so others can not see your e-mail address.

OUR BLOG WILL GO PRIVATE ON SEPTEMBER 25 so respond soon, and if you have others in your family who want access e-mail their addresses also.

Pictures worth 10,000 words

What a wonderful two weeks we have had, two open houses, one milestone birthday, and the cherry on the cake - a wedding! These pictures say more than I ever could - enjoy.

Thanks to Mark Hansen for taking 99% of these pictures. And a big thanks to all our family and friends who help us pull this off , you were all awesome!

Happy Birthday Baby Oakes

I cannot believe that my baby girl is 20 today - where did the time go!!!

Here is our list of our 20 favorite things I love about Sharee....
1. Sharee has a very contagious laugh, and if you have ever heard her you know what I mean.
2. Sharee is a very hard worker at school and work. I am not sure if we are spending too much money on an apartment at school when she spends so much time in the library.
3. Sharee is a true Willardson, she LOVES CHOCOLATE.
4. She makes her Jetta look even betta!
5. Sharee is a fun sparring partner, with her brothers, Mom & Dad.
6. Sharee has a true and tender heart, she does not speak unkindly about others behind their backs.
7. Sharee loves music and we love it when she fill our home with her talent.
8. Sharee can punch her brothers very hard and has very strong muscles.
9. Sharee is a world traveler and she has learned to love other cultures and people.
10. Sharee truly cares about the well-being of her friends and is always concerned with those who might feel left out.
11. Sharee bears a wonderful testimony of Christ and shares it often with others.
12. Sharee is by far the best photographer in our family and she loves to share her life with pictures.
13. Sharee is her Daddy's little girl and she knows exactly how to get what she wants from her Dad.
14. Sharee is a great example to her cousins and friends and tries to be a reliable example to all around her.
15. Sharee has a relaxed way about her that helps people feel at ease.
16. Sharee has a very artistic eye and she will see art in places that others would overlook.
17. Sharee's best friends are her brothers and she loves to spend time with them. She is also very uplifting to her brothers and encourages them always.
18. Sharee luffs teh kittehs and teh bunnehs and the willehs. kthx.
19. Sharee is persistent and when she has a goal she works very hard to get it. She is also very smart so she is able to achieve her goals.
20. Our family would never be what it is today without Sharee and we are SOOOOOO thankful that she came to our family!!

It's time to Count Down!

Unlike child birth, when you really can not tell the exact date when a new spirit will enter your home, your life and your world, I do know the time when my life will be changed by a new choice spirit coming into my life and my family. I am so thankful for this upcoming addition to our family.

COLDPLAY!

So me, mom, and Jon went to Coldplay last night and it was such an amazing concert! :) We had seats on the grass, but it turns out Coldplay sets up a few stages all over the place so we were right next to one of the stages!! :) We were literally closer than any front-row ticket could have promised. Here are a couple pictures, but most of the pictures are on my facebook. 

Here is also a video. They had us do the "Mexican Cell Phone Wave" and it was totally awesome! haha. Third wave was a charm. And although they are nothing like MJ, they did play Billie Jean and it was pretty fun. So those 2 things are the first video....ok except i just tried to put it up and it wont work. If I can get another one on here I'm gonna put up a short one that shows just how intense and way incredible their set was with the video and everything, pretty awesome. (this is the video that worked) :)

Anyway, I had such a good time and I was really reminded why I love music so much. There's just something to be said about the feeling a powerful song can create that no words alone could provoke. If you need an encouraging beat I recommend "Glass of Water"...look it up on youtube, totally worth it. :) 

Love ya!

Happy Birthday Dan

Here are 28 of my favorite things I love about Dan-
1. Dan sincerely rejoices in the accomplishments of others.
2. I love how Dan hums when he eats.
3. Dan has baby blue eyes just like mine.
4. Dan is tenderhearted, and puts great weight in considering the feelings of others.
5. He introduced the family to "Guess and Get".
6. He thinks he named all of our family pets.
7. Dan is a GREAT Big Brother - there could be no better brother.
8. Dan works very hard for what he wants.
9. Dan is level headed and can cut to the core of the issue.
10. I love when he calls me and he askes "Are You My Mother?"
11. Dan is a funny story teller, and usually laughs at his own jokes even before he tells the punchline.
12. Dan believes the fourth of July is a celebration of his birthday.
13. Dan has perfected the skill of loading both cheeks up with food while still carrying on a conversation.
14. Dan gives service freely and would give the shirt off his back if that was what it took.
15. Dan loves European futbol and will call me to be sure I know what the scores are for his favorite teams.
16. When Dan gets laughing hard he rocks back and forth, making everyone else laugh hysterically.
17. Dan is an incredible example of the gospel in action.
18. Dan is an excellent guitar player and lyricist.
19. Dan has a large presence and you definitely know when he is in the room.
20. Somehow, Dan knows what is happening in almost any sport.
21. I love the feel of Dan's hair! (He wont let you touch it, but I can!)
22. Dan has a funny way of teasing about muting the tv during certain conference speakers!
23. My second favorite telephone greeting from Dan is when he greets me with "Mine own Mom".
24. Dan is honest.
25. Dan has a way of helping others feel at ease around him.
26. He is a man who askes deep questions and searches to find the answers.
27. Dan says I can live with him when I am old.
28. When Dan was just a few months old family members would comment on how Dan looked so wise. I think thas because he has a mature spirit and great insight.

Love You Dan.
Love, Mom

Michael Fan

In honor of the King of Pop, I have been watching Michael Jackson music videos all day and I just wanted to let you all know I am officially a fan! I must also add how disappointed I am that the world has hidden his extreme talent from me until the day he died. I guess I missed the boat on that one. 

Although I couldn't see Michael Jackson's crazy dance moves live, I will be sure to brush up on my dance skills and hope to someday meet him and tell him that his gift for singing and dancing really was amazing. Until then, his songs will be blessing my life by providing me with perfect exercise music. Thanks Mr. Jackson. The world wouldn't be the same without you, that's for sure.

Here is one of his famous dance moves that I will NEVER be able to master. Whether or not you appreciate Michael Jackson the way I do, you have to admit, this is incredible!

Kenton's Day

On Father's Day we honor our great dad Kenton Thomas Oakes. He is the "Worlds Best Dad" for so many reasons. Some call him "Ken-Doan" and moms call him "Ket 'n" but we just call him Dad. Dad, on this dad and all days we tell you thanks for everything you do and the great person you are!
Love the chillns

Practice

So Sharee and I decided that we needed some dry runs on floral arranging before the reception so that it would seem like we knew what we were doing. We are having fun practicing our floral skills. So here are our latest masterpieces.

Its Official !!!

It was 6:30 AM on a gorgeous Sunday morning and we decided to keep going north after dropping off some friends at the airport. We were headed to Sedona, Arizona. After attending a wonderful church service-we started out, camera in hand, backpack ready, and faces aglow.
We found a little trail off the 89A, which led to Oak Creek. Tyler used his navigational skills which landed us perfectly at the riverbed. As we were still in our church clothes, we jumped from rock to rock until we spotted a fallen tree and decided to rest there.
Tyler had a few surprises planned. After taking some pictures of the beautiful scenery, he had me view the first surprise-which I found in his backpack! It was everything I could have asked for-Bride Barbie Christine and Groom Ken Tyler. We role played their proposal-which included Tyler’s doll “kneeling” (doing the splits on a log because those knees don’t bend).
Tyler then got on his knee (and it got wet as we were still in the middle of the creek) and asked me to marry him. He was so excited that he put the ring on the right finger, but stopped before he got to the first knuckle, as he just wanted to kiss me! We just held each other and shed some tears because of our wonderful story and how we plan to continue in our love and commitment to one another.
We are planning on getting married in the San Diego Temple on Saturday, August 15, 2009. We are so excited to share this time with our loved ones and appreciate all the planning and effort on our behalf.

Dearest Tyler "Otanjoubi omedetou"
I love you and are so thankful you came into our family


Here are 26 of my favorite things about Tyler-
1. He has a great sense of humor and finds the funny side of situations.
2. Tyler will help everybody, like a mentally challenged kid in high school who was picked on until Tyler, the ASB president, took him under his wing and became his best ally.
3. Tyler has an awesome whistle that sports a wicked vibrato and you cannot help but smile when you hear him.
4. Tyler has bulging muscles and confidently shows them.
5. Tyler loves to forecast what will happen on Lost and will be sure that you know he was right!
6. Tyler looks like my side of the family!!! :-)
7. Tyler is a natural born leader, even when he tries to fly below the radar they find him.
8. Tyler is a very hard worker, he will stay at a job until he is satisfied
9. Tyler has Grandpa Johnson's love for plants and nature and loves to get his hands dirty.
10. Tyler has an incredible memory.
11. Tyler is competitive - again taking after my side of the family.
12. Tyler can mix words, nonsense words that are crazy funny.
13. Tyler is a deep thinker, and will study things out until he understands them.
14. Tyler is spiritual, he has cultivated a love for the Lord and his work.
15. Tyler shares willingly.
16. Tyler can fake like he is going to throw up when he thinks something is disgusting.
16. Tyler has always been my hugger.
17. Tyler will make the best out of a situation, he doesn't need things to be perfect to be content.
18. Tyler is a team builder, lifting everyone around him.
19. Tyler has no problem communicating in public or social situations - totally opposite from me.
20. Tyler is open minded, judging after he reasons things out from himself.
21. Tyler loves to play like he is crying - and actually sometimes fools people.
22. I love watching Tyler play water polo, he is sneaky, smooth and it's like watching poetry in motion.
23. Tyler is a great missionary, he is a positive example of the best the gospel can bring to one's life.
24. Tyler is adventurous, willing to try new foods, new activities and travel to strange places.
25. Tyler totally loves his brother and sister, gives them advise and encouragement
26. Tyler has a great love for me, calls me at critical times and is always willing to do whatever he can to lighten my load.

Happy Birthday Tyler.

Obama to ASU

Considering my graduation commencement address from BYU was given by Vice President Dick Cheney, I jumped at the opportunity yesterday to see President Obama speak at Arizona State's Graduation ceremony. We were required to be seated at 2:30 for a 7 pm start to allow enough time for security. Water was being sold at the price of alcohol ($5.50 per bottle). It was more a more comprehensive security screening than if we getting on an airplane. Not only that but it is mid May in Tempe, Arizona so temperatures were in the high 90's low 100's. As pre-Obama entertainment and to kill time after we were seated Christine and I had a contest to see who could find the most awkward/embarrassing sweat mark and there was no lack of qualified candidates.
Part of the reason President Obama was scheduled for the event was because of his support for higher education and accessibility for all. This is ASU's motto and accordingly it was the largest graduating class in the country with over 9,000 graduates. Sun Devil Stadium was full with over 70,000 people. Part of the entertainment included Alice Cooper playing, among other songs "School is Out". The commencement address itself was very inspirational and applicable. Pres. Obama joked about the controversy surrounding the fact that ASU did not award him an Honorary Doctorate degree and used this as a theme to talk about how neither himself nor the graduates had accomplished the body of their work. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity.

My New Favorite Extreme Sport

This past weekend I found my new favorite extreme sport. Unfortunately this sport is so extreme, its a sport you can only watch. :) But its actually a big thing for people who know about it and its a lot of fun to learn about and follow. It's AIR RACING! My mom and dad and I went to the Red Bull Air Races this past weekend here in San Diego. The San Diego Bay is the only place in all of America that these world championship air races are! The Red Bull Air Race Championship happens in 6 cities throughout the world each year. They are: Abu Dhabi, San Diego, Windsor Ontario, Budapest, Porto, and Barcelona. It was soooo much fun to go watch the time trails the Saturday of the races. The planes are so small and fast and its just amazing! You should go to redbullairrace.com and check it out a little bit. But first here are some pictures and a video of what we saw on Saturday. :)

Oh what a beautiful ......

Done!!

Another Family Classic

I've been looking through mom's computer and finding tons of awesome pictures and videos that we've forgotten about, but here is a video i just found that I took on the drive to/from the New Mexico family reunion. Some of it is sideways, but i still love it. Mom's reading, dad's driving, dan is whistling and we're all enjoying the soft sounds of tyler in the back seat singing redemption song. :) hahah

The Meek shall Inherit.....

There is something to be said about those among us who never give up on their dreams. Here are two individuals who, despite worldly circumstances , never gave up. If these do not make you smile, there is something seriously wrong. You may have seen these before, but I personally can never get enough of the underdog coming out ahead.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEo5bjnJViA

Happy Easter Morning!

Today, I read the account of resurrection morning found in John 20. I found it interesting that John notes how even up until the moment that John and Peter arrived at the tomb, they did not understand what had happened. It even says that John "came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed", as though the truth of the resurrection simply did not resonate until he saw the empty tomb. As Mary fearfully considers what had happened to the Lord upon arriving at the tomb, an angel, and then Jesus himself, ask Mary: "Why weepest thou?" She did not understand the significance of what had happened or the literal reality of the resurrection until the moment that she realized that Jesus was alive and standing before her.

I think that when we begin to believe and understand the atonement, the point of the Lord's question to Mary, "Why weepest thou", applies to all of life's problems and concerns. I am grateful that Christ made it possible for our mortal sins, trials, and disappointments to fall away. The atonement takes a lifetime to understand and probably forever to appreciate, yet every person can take whatever testimony they have and try harder to believe. There is no reason to weep, because the hardest things to overcome have already been made possible if we use the blessing of the atonement.

Isaiah 25: 8 He will swallow up death in victory and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the Lord hath spoken it.

HAPPY EASTER!

Happy First Place Morning!

I realize that it is Easter today so I will post something to make up for the distraction. But among all the reasons for hope, I thought this was funny.

The Padres are in first place. And I got a picture to prove it.

UPDATE! April 15, 2009...



Enjoy it while it lasts.

My Peep Show!!!