Fashion Police

Okay, fashionistas, I need some advice. I am falling in lurrrve with these new Terrain Jane shoes from Land's End. Aren't they cute? My question is, do you think I could get away with wearing socks with them? Or would that just look dorky?

I can't really justify buying more summer shoes right now. But if I could wear some thin socks with these I could wear them in the Fall and the not-so-wet or snowy days in winter.

Oh, one other question: Ivory, Herb Green, or Garnet?

Discuss.

Because this is of the greatest importance, I'm sure.

Madsen Reunion - Welcome! Who Are You?

On our last night in Utah we went to the Madsen family reunion. It was chock full of... people we had never seen in our lives. Seriously, these were some distant relatives.

But that's okay, because we still had fun hanging out with the family we did know. We never get enough time to spend with Madsens. (When are you all coming out here, that's what I want to know!?!) Perhaps I need to send Lance out to Utah to spend some time with his family. With the boys. I would get soooo much done around the house! But that's a genius plan to contemplate for another time. Back to the reunion...

Actually, there's not much to say about the reunion. We prepared food. We talked. We ate. We talked and ate. We forgot to take pictures.

I'm not sure why, but when I'm with the Madsens I always forget to take pictures. That's because I'm usually too busy talking and eating and catching people cheating at cards. (Those Madsens - you gotta keep your eye on them!)

But I did get a few shots:

Poor Uncle Dane. Every time we come to visit he does something to offend Josh and then spends the rest of the visit trying to get back in his good graces. (I have no idea where Josh learned to hold a grudge - must be a Madsen trait...)

Mikail and Dane, who, if they listened to our rock-solid advice, would move out here and become Hoosiers!

Not sure what's going on here, but I'm sure Lance deserved it.

Cutie-pie Josh plays in a box. (Not pictured: Spencer, who was running around like a banshee with all the other cousins.)

Lance and his Mom, Joy. (She was the planner/instigator of the reunion. Thanks, Joy!)

Madsen Reunion - Bed and Breakfast

While in Utah we also had a Madsen family reunion. (Kill two birds with one stone, right?)

But before the Madsen reunion, Lance's parents treated us to a quick overnight trip to Manti. We stayed at the Yardley Inn and Spa, and it was excellent!


The Yardley Inn is in a turn-of-the-century home in the middle of Manti. It was chock full of antiques and lace and frills. Very fru-fru. (I'm more of a modern decor type of gal, but this grew on me.) We checked in, had a bit of dinner, and then got to have a 70 minute couples massage - heaven!! It was just what I needed after such a long trip.


The next morning we went to a session at the Manti Temple, which was really nice. (Yes, we were in Utah Valley, within 30 minutes of something like five temples, but drove nearly two hours to go to this one. Go figure.) It was really nice to be able to go together and not have to worry about the kids.*


After the temple it was back to the b&b for a late breakfast. But first I took a couple reflection shots a la Ashley.


Then I found Lance in the library, studying. That's my guy.


We enjoyed a tasty breakfast of fruit, pumpkin-pecan waffles, and turkey bacon in the dining room.


However, something during the meal kept bothering me.


Yes, it was this portrait. Okay, look at that and tell me it's not a bit creepy to have these two staring at you during your meal.


Their eyes seemed to follow you all around the room. Like at the Disney Haunted Mansion. Only for real. Lance thought I was crazy, but I know he thought it was weird, too. (Don't deny it, Mr. Pus-Producing Infections Guy!)

Well, regardless of the creepy painting, we had a really nice, relaxing time. Thank you so much for the little trip, Joy and Viggo!

*My dad and Kevin got to stay in Provo and watch Super Spencer and Mr. Unusually Large and Strong. There were only a few tears and one concussion, which is successful in my book.

Happy Birthday Dad!

Happy birthday, Dad!
(Be sure to shoot the quail - not your eye!)

Roper Family Reunion - Campfire

The last night of the Roper family reunion we enjoyed an evening around the campfire, complete with s'mores, camp songs, and glow sticks.


Yeah, that's right. Glow sticks. You'd have thought my dad was passing out 1# bars of chocolate with $100 bills inside, the kids were all so excited. (Note to self: include glow sticks in all future nighttime activities. Glow sticks = HUGE SUCCESS!)


Josh liked the glow sticks, but he liked the marshmallows even better. I lost count after 15. (Hey, it was vacation. I let him live it up a little.) ((Okay, I didn't want to fight with him over it.))

We sang a few songs, but mostly sat around and talked. Here's a video of us singing, but it's funniest at the end when my dad steals the camera from me. Goofy dad.

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Spencer loved roasting his own marshmallows. At one point Lance and I realized he didn't have his shoes on. Not even five minutes later he started shrieking in pain - he had burnt his little toesies on the metal fire ring. Poor kiddo.

My dad and I rushed him to the Yurt to put some water on the burns. By the time we got there the blisters were already formed. I felt like the

Worst. Mother. Ever.

But Spencer survived. His toes didn't even fall off or anything. And just that day he got a pretty good sunburn on his face, so we could say that he was literally burned from head to toe.

Roper Family Reunion - T-shirts

Did you notice the t-shirts everyone at the reunion was wearing? (Okay, how could you not?) I actually designed the logo for it. (Do I have a future career in t-shirt design? Okay, I'll just stick to mothering.) I sent my dad a bunch of different ideas, and he and Susie and Grandma made the final decision on this design:


I actually liked this one best:


Or this one:


Here are the rest. Which one do you like best?

Roper Family Reunion - Family Portraits

What does a picture with 50 family members in the same t-shirt look like? This:


Or this (ooh - fancy!):


And what does a picture with my little family in the same t-shirt and with two grouchy little boys look like? This:

How about with my immediate family? (Still including the grouchy boys, in case you couldn't tell.)


But what if we try by the waterfall? Will that help the boys behave any better?

Ah, NO. Pesky boys.

Well, what about a picture of just Lance and I?


Nah. Not that it's a bad picture. It just looks like a high school Sadie Hawkins dance picture. Not so much into the whole matching shirts thing. Oh well.