Keeping it Real

Last weekend we went to a Salt Lake Real game with Nate's business partner Aaron, his wife Andrea, and their kids.  Nate LOVES soccer and is so proud that our little state has a professional team. (and that they are good!) 

 

I hope Mabel enjoys soccer as much as her dad!

I gave my favorite player, Kyle Beckerman, 

a little pre game good luck smooch.

 

Prior to the game there was a dinner sponsored by RPAC (Realtors Polical Action Committee).  Nate and I were expecting the dinner to be stadium food...burgers, fries, etc. 

I was so glad we were wrong!

The food was delicious, and of course I was happy as a clam because there was a lovely spread of cheeses. I love cheese. I forgot to get a picture of my favorite dessert. (probably because Andrea and I were stuffing our face with them!)  They had fresh Utah peaches sliced in half warmed and drizzled with some sweet glaze with blueberries in the middle. They were heavenly!

Aaron and Andrea's kids got to go out on the field when the flag was being taken out and their girl Abbi got to accompany the Real players as they walked on the field. 

Nate was pretty jealous.

It's been awhile since I have been to a game and I forgot how excited the crowd gets!   

They throw streamers on the field when the first goal is scored...

and everyone sings this song:

IF YOU BELIEVE THEN JUST STAND UP ON YOUR FEET
AND SHOUT IT LOUD REAL!
HERE AT THE RIOT THE BATTLE HYMN'S BEGUN.
WE'RE HERE FOR RSL!

The weather was perfect and they beat Seattle 2-1.

Leo the Lion and Nate.

Thanks to Nate's parents for taking care of our sweat pea so we could go! 

(big event: it was the first time anyone else besides me or Nate put her bed)

Cowboy Up!

The Oliverson's hosted their annual neighborhood party a few weeks ago and it was a blast.  We actually went to their party last year when our house was under contract (our soon to be neighbors were super sweet and invited us - love the Jenkins!) but we had much more fun this year since we knew everyone!

The Party Animals

The theme was Cowboy & Indians....

not super PC but we went with it.

Plus is this the cutest little cowgirl you ever did see?

Tyler Williams. Nice.

The Walters - had to get a shot of Mike's sweet mustache!

The food was tasty...

 

 as you can tell from my plate!

(I shared with Mabel of course)

The little kids got to play on the mechanical bull before it was set up.

Mabel wasn't too sure of the hide. Like mother like daughter!

I look just like I did during my professional bull riding days!

Nate's turn:

Love that face!

 

Nate obviously did not get his bull riding skills from me!

Megan was a bull riding model!

Bishop Dabo lasted the full 8 seconds!

Kara's look of concentration:

 GO Matt!

Jacob was making it look too easy.

Jocelyn was the bull riding Queen!

Thanks Andy and Jocelyn, 

  we had a great time!

our home away from home

we have been so lucky to spend a lot of time in colorado this year. 

frontier has had some awesome deals and of course it helps that mabel still flies free.

my mom picked us up from the airport and had this birthday hat and balloon for me - 

 

thanks mom! 

and thanks for giving birth to me 29 years ago! 

my aunt cathy and my nana both came out as well;

we had such a great time visiting and catching up.

i love these ladies!

mabel isn't spoiled at all when she goes to nana's house.

pedicure while eating some yogurt.

here is my mom preparing a prop for her early morning seminary class the next day.

she works so hard on each lesson and the kids love her class.

 

we break for sombreros and puppet time!

my step-dad kraig stayed home with mabel while nana, 

aunt cathy, and i went to my mom's class. 

good morning great ones!

the temptation sombrero! 

turned out so awesome. the kids were cracking up!

i was so glad mabel got to spend some time with my nana.

she lives in california and we don't get to see her nearly as often as we would like.

she loved looking at nana's long nails and trying on her rings.

  baking and reading

girl chat on the deck with some grilled goodness.

my mom's food never disappoints.

 

one night as we were all getting ready to go to bed 

i made jacob stop so i could take this picture of him.

oh you know, just a little before bed snack!

• two pieces of sourdough toast
• 3 muffins
• a peanut butter cookie in his mouth
• half of a carton of minute maid

 

we took a field trip to see kelsey and josiah's new apartment.

super cute little place.

happy to have a place of their own!
(they used to live with josiah's sister)

 

kraig and jacob watched mabel while we spent a few hours (not nearly enough time!) at the antique gallery.  loooooove it there. my mom's eagle eye found a perfect vintage bird print for our downstairs bathroom.  i have been looking for one forever!

we had planned to stay until tues the 11th but changed our flight when nate called and told us got called as the 2nd counselor in the bishopric in our ward! we were so happy we got to make it home to spend that special sunday with nate. when we sang the closing hymn in church and i looked up and saw our new bishopric everything felt right in my heart. (besides me bawling like a baby) bishop dabo will be a wonderful leader and nate is excited to serve by his side. i am excited and a little nervous for this new experience (wrestling mabel alone at church is SO MUCH FUN!) but I am so glad we have so many supportive neighbors, friends, and family. yesterday was nate's first sunday conducting sacrament meeting and he did great!  when he finally got home for the night (besides the 15 minutes when he stopped at the house to scarf down some dinner) he had tears in in eyes as he talked about all the good people who serve in our ward. 

Looking good in a shirt and tie even back in the day!
We love you Nate!