Jab, cross, hook, right kick...

I now have 2 personal reasons to love Apx Alarm. Besides providing my husband a secure job, they sponsor the Throwdown Elite Training Center in Orem, UT. Because of this sponsorship and their relationship with this gym, they have paid for a one-year membership for all Apx employees. Lucky for me, I am considered an employee because I worked part of the summer in the office for Rick's team (as well as previous summers). So you know what I did? I signed up for a Muay Thai kickboxing class! Laugh all you want, but it is the most fun I have ever had working out (besides dancing...DUH!). My trainer/teacher rocks and I actually look forward to going everyday! One girl in the class told me she lost 60 lbs! Just you wait! I'll be ready to kick your buns in no time! Yeah right, but I'm going to enjoy the class anyways :)

Yes, of course I went with my signature color!! (If you can't tell, the gloves are purple.)

Vote Yes on Prop 8!!

California residents are faced with a decision come voting day that could affect so many others in the future. Proposition 8 needs your votes! I know I don't live in California anymore, but I have friends and family there that need all the support there is! If you have loved ones who live in California, please encourage them to vote November 4th.

Yes on Proposition 8! Why?

• It restores the definition of marriage to what the vast majority of California voters already approved and what Californians agree should be supported, not undermined.
• It overturns the outrageous decision of four activist Supreme Court judges who ignored the will of the people.
• It protects our children from being taught in public schools that “same-sex marriage” is the same as traditional marriage, and prevents other consequences to Californians who will be forced to not just be tolerant of gay lifestyles, but face mandatory compliance regardless of their personal beliefs.

Go to www.protectmarriage.com for more information, downloads, or to donate to the cause. Please get the word out!

Unka Ty

My brother, Ty, came down this last weekend for General Conference so we got to spend some time with him. He had come for the blessing, but things were so crazy, I didn't feel like I got to see him. He watched the Saturday conference sessions with me while Rick went hunting and we took him for his first experience to "The Mayan". Dinner and entertainment in one. It's a fun restaurant that features a short diving show every 20-30 minutes for those who aren't familiar with it. Pretty fun. Thanks for hanging with us Ty!

It's hard to see, but these cliffs are somewhere around 30-40 feet high.

Better late than never...

Here are a couple of older pictures from a quick boat trip to Grandma Judy's house in early September. My posts are starting to get out of order. Ahhh! I haven't been keeping up on downloading pictures from my camera. Whoops! My sister, Nicole, came into town so we got to visit with her. It was so fun to see her because we hadn't seen her for awhile.

Alpine Loop

I got so wrapped up in posting about Keira's blessing that I forgot to post pictures of what else we did that weekend. Grampa Paul & Gramma Jenny and Grandpa Craig & Grandma Lynda joined us on a drive to the Alpine Loop. We had tinfoil lunches at a campsite and enjoyed the beautiful Fall colors. We also took them to the spot where Rick proposed. For those who don't know the story, he had carved "R + L" on a tree and just below it, "Leah Will you Marry Me?" Unfortunately, someone chopped it down - don't know why. I was pretty sad. We made it a tradition to go to "our tree" every year. So sad. Anyways, the drive was so nice and we had a great time. Thanks for playing with us guys!

Baby Blessing

Finally, at 4 months old, Keira was blessed in church this Sunday. It was a beautiful day and it was so wonderful to have so many family members join us (and friends Steve and Sandra Hawker. Thanks guys!). We waited until we returned from our summer in Connecticut so all the grandparents could be there. Thanks for your support everyone!! Keira was a perfect angel up until the blessing. She cried a little bit, but she survived, and it was still a beautiful blessing. We had to shorten her morning nap so we could get to church and she wasn't a fan of having 12 grown men so close to her. I think she was pretty tired of crowds (we had a wedding just a few days before...Congrats to cousin Jake & Ashley!).


Keira's dress is a replica of mine when I was blessed. The reason for the replica is that she was 4 times my age - I was only 1 month old - so she was too big for my dress. Luckily, Grandma Judy had a woman in her ward willing to pull it together for me in less than 2 weeks. Phew!


I had a wonderful surprise when my oldest sister, Rochelle, and her youngest boy, Carson, showed up at sacrament meeting. I had no idea she was coming! A big thanks to Grandma Judy for making that happen. Keira has finally met 2 of her 5 cousins born this year - Olivia Horner and Carson Petersen. Yep! That's 6 kids born this year in my family.

Terri & Olivia, Rochelle & Carson, Leah & Keira

Keira & Cousin Carson - Keira isn't putting up with silly boys!

Cousin Livi and Keira - both of them look more like their Daddy's

I also finally got to see my baby brother! It's been 2 1/2 years since I've seen Unka Ty as he returned from his mission in Brazil this May. He's as handsome as ever. We hope to see him again soon. He's attending BYU-Idaho so it's just a short drive for a visit. (I just realized I didn't get a picture with him - grrrrrr!)

One last thing...I am well overdue in announcing the birth of the last baby cousin this year. My sister Jill had Penelope (Penny) Ann Holyoak on Sept 3 (ok I'm a month overdue in announcing this...sorry Jill!). Congrats and can't wait to meet her! (All other cousins posted previously - see post from June 13, 2008.)