The CD is done!!! I finished recording and finalized it last night. I just need to make copies, design the cover, and finish it up.
Be sure to enter the contest below for a free copy.
And don't worry, if you don't win, I am going to sell copies for really cheap. Once I figure out how much it is going to cost me to copy it (per CD), I will let you know how much they will cost.
Just be forgiving, and remember that it IS a homemade CD. Don't expect professional, and there are some mistakes, that hopefully, I'm the only one who notices, but overall, I think it turned out pretty durn good!
Yeah!

p.s. I ran just over 18 1/2 this morning. (Yes, the and a half is important) I didnt' quite make it to 20, but it was a good run.
The weather was perfect. Now I think I can get excited for the marathon.
I'm running a 20 mile race next week in Provo. Wish me luck!

p.p.s. Come enter the contest.
p.p.p.s. Make more comments.

Nickname Contest

Ok, I decided to make the nicknaming my husband thing a contest. That way, hopefully, I'll get more comments. You know how much I love comments.

I've decided that maybe I should have a nickname for my hubby, you know to protect his identity. I decided that since I'm going to be rich and famous one day, there's really no need to change my name. I'll be a household name pretty soon anyway....Hee, Hee!
I've gone over in my head all my usual nicknames for him; Honey, babe, dear, CLINTON (when I'm yelling at him), Captain Erotica.
Sometimes, when I'm really mad he just gets called "KJTJTPETECLI..OHWHATEVERTHEHECKYOURNAMEIS!"
Actually, everyone in my family gets called this name on occasion.
At any rate, none of these names seem to be appropriate for the blog.

So, I need your help. Help me come up with a clever nickname for my hubby.
To help me you need to LEAVE COMMENTS!

The Rules: Leave a comment with any suggestions for a nickname for my guy.
The Prize:
Okay, this might seem lame to some people, but it's a big deal to me. I'm almost done finalizing my CD. OK, it IS homemade, but if you haven't listened to my site at mp3.com, you should. I think it's turning out pretty well.
So, the prize is a free copy of my CD (when it's done).
If you don't want that, then, well, you've hurt me deeply, and I don't know if I can be your friend anymore.

So, leave your comments, and tell your friends!

Random 10 Friday

Warning: Random thoughts ahead. Process with caution!

I always like to blog in the morning. While I eat my breakfast. TJ & Peter are occupied at the kitchen counter eating breakfast, KJ if off to school, and I have a few minutes of sort of quiet (other than TJ trying to pour his milk into Peter's cereal, Peter screaming because she dropped her spoon, oatmeal in someone's hair...you know, the usual stuff).
It sets a good tone of time-wasting for the rest of the day. I'm really good at that. I like to put off my housework until the very last second, and then complain to my husband about how I didn't get anything done. The truth is, I really could get my house clean in probably an hour. Why I put it off, I don't know. Probably because I HATE Cleaning so much.
It's not really the cleaning I actually hate, it's the idea of it. Especially when I let it go a couple of days, and it's really, really messy. It's a very overwhelming feeling looking at a huge mess, and wondering where to begin. Once I get going, I get in my rhythm, and I can get done pretty fast.
I should start thinking about cleaning, the way I think about running.

*****

I'm planning on doing 20 miles this Saturday. The idea at the beginning of running 20 miles is pretty daunting. But once I take the first step, actually make it through the first mile (that is still always the hardest mile), then I get in my groove, and before I know it, I'm done! And I can brag all day about how I can't walk down the stairs because I ran 20 MILES!!

I'm still going through kind of a mental funk about my 2, yeah, TWO marathons coming up. When I ran Ogden, I was so excited, and a little awed about the idea that little old me (or I...whatever, English teachers...) could run a marathon.
(By the way, before I "dropped out" of college to focus on my career as a housewife, my major was English. You'd never guess now, would you?!)
Ok, back on topic. Yeah, I still love running. I hate the heat, and I am VERY excited for Fall, and for the weather to cool down. I hate getting up in at 4:30 in the morning. But I still do it. I do love the new friends I've made in my running groups, and I love going to races.
I prefer to train in the winter. I actually LOVE running in the rain or snow! It's so beautiful and refreshing to me. Not the ice, though. That's way too scary. I might slip and fall on my arse.

*****

I've decided that maybe I should have a nickname for my hubby, you know to protect his identity. I decided that since I'm going to be rich and famous one day, there's really no need to change my name. I'll be a household name pretty soon anyway....Hee, Hee!
I've gone over in my head all the my usual nicknames for him; Honey, babe, dear, CLINTON (when I'm yelling at him), Captain Erotica.
Sometimes, when I'm really mad he just gets called "KJTJTPETECLI..OHWHATEVERTHEHECKYOURNAMEIS!"
Actually, everyone in my family gets called this name on occasion.
At any rate, none of these names seem to be appropriate for the blog.

So, I need your help. Help me come up with a clever nickname for my hubby.
To help me you need to LEAVE COMMENTS!

p.s. this is really just an excuse to get comments. I thrive on comments. I'm so obsessed with them, that I find myself checking my email 20 times a day, hoping, waiting for comments.

By the way:
Random 10 Friday!!!!!

1. Sola - Monica Naranjo
2. I'm Not That Girl - Kristen Chenoweth (Wicked)
3. The Day that She left Tulsa (In A Chevy) - Wade Hayes
4. On the River - Sherrie Shepherd (fancy that--I promise this is legitimately random)
5. Feel Your Love Tonight - Van Halen
6. Hold On - Sarah Mclachlan
7. Night to Remember - Shedaisy
8. Bizarre Love Triangle - New Order
9. As I Am - Miley Cyrus
10. Only Time - Enya

Bonus: You Really Got Me - Van Halen (this song still reminds me of Sanjaya)

Throwback Thursday

It's been awhile since I've done a throwback Thursday. So, while I was searching for the picture of my Grandma yesterday, I found some fun pictures of me as a kid.

Since, its the first week of school, I thought it'd been fun to take a little walk down memory lane.

Here is a pic of me and my older bro, Josh, on my first day of Kindergarten, in 1983. His first day of 3rd grade. The one thing I remember about this day is that I loved my shoes, and I remember that my name tag was pink, and I like that because it was my favorite color.


I was born loving to perform. Here I am, on some stage we found on our drive home from visiting our cousins in Colorado, singing, "I love to walk in the rain" I remember this. I was 5, summer 1983.


I believe I was pretending to have "a baby in my belly," and fell asleep. I know....don't ask. I was a strange and creative child. 1983.


This picture is just too cute for words. Is it okay to call my child-self cute? That's not conceited is it? Christmas 1980.


Ever since my friend, Motherboard, did her post about Wonder Woman, I have been wanting to find this picture. She won an award for this post, by the way, so go read it. It's AWESOME! She is an amazing writer, and an even more amazing person.
My mom made this costume from scratch because she couldn't find a pattern. They didn't have the awesome pre-made ones at Target like they do now. Or if they did, we couldn't afford them. I didn't notice the difference. I wore this outfit til it was threadbare.
I totally idolized Wonder Woman when I was little. I loved to watch the TV show with Lynda Carter. I still love her.
My kids are way into supers, and a couple of years ago, we all dressed up as supers for Halloween. Once again, I got to be Wonder Woman. Here I am, as Wonder Woman, Halloween 2006.

It's funny because KJ was also Wonder Woman, and she was around the same age I was when I wanted to be Wonder Woman for Halloween.

KJ-Wonderwoman, Peter-Supergirl, TJ-Spiderman, Halloween 2006. Clint was Batman...too bad, he never let me take a picture of him.

Alzheimers?

Over the past few days, I've had a ton of thoughts running through my mind.
I don't know if any of you do this, but when I'm thinking about something, I always try to figure out how I would word it if I wrote it in my blog.

So, I logged on today, to do a little writing, and...

everything has vanished....from my head. It's like my hard drive crashed. I'm don't remember one thing I was going to talk about. NOT. ONE. THING.

I don't know if it's normal Mommy forgetfulness, you know, because school started, life has been crazy, trying to get on the schedule again....or if I really am starting get alzheimers.

You laugh, but I'm totally serious. I really think I have alzheimers.

My great grandma Ruth had alzheimers for 20 years. I remember her as a small child, asking me the same questions, telling the same stories over and over.
She passed away at the age of 91. I was 23...I was pregnant with my first baby. I found out I was having a girl, came home from the doctor's office, and got a phone call telling me that Grandma Ruth has passed away.

I Loved my Grandma Ruth. I really think we are kindred spirits. She was such an inspiration to me. Every so often, I feel her prescence. I'm sure she's not actually coming to visit me from the spirit world, but I know the memory of her is still very strong with me. She played the piano, directed a county-wide Relief Society women's choir, wrote short stories, sang. She was my role model. I remember, once she started to lose her memory, she always remembered me as "the one who plays the piano." It didn't even bother me that she couldn't remember my name, because it meant so much to me that she remembered that I played the piano.
If everyone else were to remember me that way, I would be just fine with that!
She was also a fabulous cook! A trait that, unfortunately, I did not inherit. I remember going to her house, and it seems she always had popcorn balls for us.
My great grandpa Clyde, her husband, passed away before I was born. But I used to love going up in the attic (even though it was a little scary), and look at all his old stuff. His cane, his hat, his clothes.
I felt I could get to know him through those things.
When Grandma passed away, my Grandma Jean (her daughter) gave me all of her old music.
What a treasure! There are little notes made my Grandma Ruth on some of them. They are something I will always treasure.

I know there is a picture of me and Grandma at her 80th birthday party. I searched and searched, but couldn't find it.
Here are a couple of pictures from the book that Grandma Jean made for her 80th birthday. They are photocopies, but still you can see what a beautiful person she is.

Grandma Ruth at age 80


Grandma Ruth and Grandpa Clyde, I don't know when this was, maybe in the late sixties or early seventies. He died in 1975 or 76, I think.

1st Day of 1st Grade!

Today was KJ's first day of school! She was very excited, but also nervous. Last year she just thrived at school, absolutely loved it. So, I was surprised to hear that she was nervous. So, I asked her was she was so nervous about, and she said she is scared about eating school lunch, and science. I don't know where the science idea came from, but I understand the school lunch thing.

First of all, it's nast. But besides that, KJ is the pickiest eater on the face of the planet. She is strictly vegan. But, not on principle. It's just because she simply doesn't like stuff....you know, like bread, meat, cheese, basically all foods, except fruit and vegetables....and chocolate milk.

So, today, I packed her a nice lunch sack full of rabbit food and sent her on her way.
We were running ahead of schedule, had plenty of time to kill, so I took her out on the porch for the annual 1st day of school photo op.




We were just getting ready to head out the door, when KJ comes running up to show me that her very, very loose haggle tooth...

...had finally fallen out! Right before we left.

So she had to run for the bus, but she made it and had a great day.

She didn't have much to say about it except that she listed the names of all her friends in her class, and was soooo excited that she gets THREE recesses!

She's come a long way in the last year.
Here she is on the first day of Kindergarten, one year ago.


Good Job KJ!
We're proud of you! You'll do great in First Grade!

Coeur d'alene

I know, it's been a week since I've blogged. *gasp!*

Because, I've been enjoying the past few days in beautiful Coeur d'alene, ID, with my hubby. Without kids. It was just what I needed. Clint had to go there for a conference for work. We went to some really nice dinners, one of which was in this cool floating restaurant on the lake, met a bunch of Carrier dealers from the west part of the country, realized how much people not from Utah really drink (yes, I know, I'm so sheltered), shopped---A LOT, wished I could go out on the lake, but it rained HARD for two days straight, went for a really great long run on the Centennial trail that follows the lake's shoreline, tried to change hotel rooms because the shower in my room was possessed. It went from scalding-lava-like water burning my flesh to Ice crystals forming on my nose and eyelashes with even just the tiniest twist on the knob. And we didn't have a fridge and that bugged me. I know, we've been too spoiled.

Here are some of the pictures I took with my little old camera while we were there. Just so you know, my camera isn't exactly the top of the line, and I ain't no professional photographer. This just goes to show exactly how beautiful this place is. These pictures turned out pretty good, and it doesn't even begin to portray just how beautiful this place is. Can you tell I totally fell in love while I was there?

I have decided that when (not if), WHEN I become rich and famous, I want to buy property in Coeur d'alene. Holy cow, this place was so beautiful! There was this one street we found, and I ran along on my little jog, that had some beautiful 100 yr old homes with emaculate landscapes and private access to the lake. They only cost like in the millions. You know...pocket change....someday......



The thing I noticed the most about CD'A, was the signature flavor of everything. Huckleberry. They had huckleberry pancakes, syrup, jam, hot chocolate, shakes (delicious). Huckleberry sauce on the salmon, huckleberry coke, huckleberry shrimp, chicken, steak, potatoes (of course...it IS in Idaho!), we even bought a little bag of fresh huckleberries from the farmer's market. Delicious! I wouldn't be surprised if they sold huckleberry toothpaste.

And there were red geraniums EVERYWHERE! If I thought they'd grow like that in my yard, I'd plant 'em today!

Here are some cute pics of Clint and me, all dressed up!





So, I've had my fun.
Now, it's back to business.

School starts tomorrow...YEAH!!
...or YIKES!!

I'm feeling a little of both.
Out.

Manic Monday

I think I'm going to start a Manic Monday. Just because this is the day when we catch up from the weekend, we're always running around like crazy, doing laundry, dishes, cleaning house, driving to and from Karate...twice, breaking up fights, trying to get back into the routine (although there hasn't been much of one over the summer). By the end of day, I'm usually ready to crawl into my hole, and my crazy lady is just screaming to get out. We usually trade places by 6:00 on Monday night. I'm usually trapped inside, while the crazy lady takes riegn and all Hell breaks loose.

I'm in the multiple personalities frame of mind right now because I sat around ALL day yesterday reading Stephanie Meyer's "The Host." It's a good read, and different from the Twilight Saga. Well, mostly...sort of....
Okay, it's Bella playing the part of a body snatcher, and Edward playing the part of the long lost human lover, and Jacob playing the part of the new-found best friend/body guard/who's in the love with the girl who's in love with someone else.
But, I liked it, so shut up.

I'm also calling this post Manic Monday because there are so many thought running through my head, and I always have trouble deciding what to post about after the weekend. Do I want to post everything from my weekend? Or just forget about it and move on to the next week? Or a little of both?
Ok, I know, I'm obsessing a little bit.

Friday night, we had our LOVE family reunion. My Grandparents on my Mother's side of the family. It was great! I don't know if I've mentioned this before, but I absolutely LOVE my extended family. I've always been very close to all of my cousins, and consider many of them among my closest friends. (It helps that before we moved to where we are now...we lived in a sort of family commune of sorts. My Grandma decided to subdivide her farm land and sell it and gave all of us the "option" of buying lots at a discount, so many of us took advantage. Thanks for Grandma, Clint and I were able to build a house right after we first got married. We moved from there 2 years ago, but still keep in close touch with the family)
We drove up to Croydon Park and had a little campout. I didn't stay the night for a number of reasons, but it was fun to catch up with everyone, and have fun with my "crazy family!"

I know you can't see any faces in this pictures, but I just wanted to show you how big my family is! Isn't it awesome? Yes, this is my mom's immediate family!
I don't even know how many cousins I have, but they're all great, so who cares?!!


Grandma and Grandpa Love with some of the great-grandkids. Aren't they a cute couple?
They were high school sweethearts. I love their love story.


This is Devil's Slide. It's off the side the of the freeway on the way up to Croydon. I took this picture on the fly. Please don't report me to the authorities. If it makes you feel better, my kids were riding with my mom, so the only person I was endangering with my crazy driving/photography was myself.

I did my long run on Saturday morning. We (the group) ran from Cherry Lane in Layton to Murdock Chevrolet in Bountiful. 18 miles. What? EIGHTEEN MILES!! Oh yeah, baby. I'm on my way! It hurts like hell in the process, but it sure feels good at the end to say, I just ran 18 miles!
It'll feel even better come the first weekend in October when I can say I just ran 26.2 miles!
I'm training for the St. George marathon. I'm considering doing the Logan marathon, too, which is two weeks before and use it as a training run.
I know, I'm crazy. But who isn't who runs marathons?

And on to bigger and better things.
The hubby and I are off to Couer d'lane tomorrow! Sans kids! Many thanks and gratitude for my beautiful and wonderful and loving SIL for watching the kids for us.
I'm excited for this much needs break, and romantic getaway.
Okay, it's for work....all of our trips are, but at least we can spent some time together.

See you on the flip side...of next week!!

Random 10 Friday

Last night, I drove down to beautiful Thanksgiving point, braved the masses, settled in my lawn chair on the grassy knoll, with the tallest man made waterfall in the background, kicked off my shoes, and enjoyed the incredibly funny comic relief of Mr. Brian Regan.


He has got to be the funniest guy on the planet! Hilarious! This is the 2nd year in a row that we've gone to his show. That man is a genius!!
My cheeks still hurt from laughing so hard! LOVED it!!

Here is a little clip of some of his hilarity. He didn't do this joke last night, but I've heard it before. I could talk about this all day.



And, here is my Random 10 list:
p.s. see the post before this one, and go listen to my songs!

1. Before You Lie - Chely Wright
2. Bop to the Top - Ryan & Sharpay (High School Musical)
3. Follow You Home - Nickelback
4. Bang a Drum - Chris Ledoux
5. Seminole Wind - John Anderson
6. My Stongest Weakness - Wynonna
7. It's Not Over - Daughtry
8. Life's What You Make it - Hannah Montana
9. 42 - Coldplay
10. Even a Fool Can See - Peter Cetera

Bonus: Amores Extranos - Laura Pausini

Lend Me your Ear

Okay. I've been working for a week to get my few songs that I've recorded into mp3 form, so I can share. I'm still working on getting my songs onto project playlist, so I can just do a pop out player, but in the meantime....

I really, really want your opinion. So, please go hear (no, I didn't mis-spell, that, pardon the pun)(ha ha), and give 'em a listen.

Yes, I know there are a few mistakes. I need to re-record them, professionally. But I really wanted to get something out there.

Let me know what you think! Honestly. Maybe I totally suck, and I dont' know it, and nobody has had the guts to tell me, yet.

...or, maybe, I might be on to something great, and maybe one of you might know somebody in biz?......

Please.Leave.Comments.....PLEASE....
Sher

Ok. The link doesn't work, sorry.
Go here:
www.mp3.com/artist/sherrie-shepherd

Update: Ok, the site is up and running now....so, if you tried before and couldn't listen, try again...and tell me what you think!

Tag, Tag, and Tag

I've been saving this one for when I couldn't come up with anything to blog about. Life has been pretty mellow. You know, just the usual crazy. Not CRAZY crazy. Just regular crazy. My lovely friend, Motherboard, did this tag (or tags) on her blog last week, and I wanted to copy. She also did a lovely post today about visiting teaching. I know it wasn't meant to be a guilt trip, but what can I say? I must have a guilty conscience. And, I might be the tiniest bit self-absorbed, because I know everything everyone says and does is ALL about me, right? RIGHT!? So, I promise I'll be better. PROMISE!!
Ok, on to the tag...

The Music Tag
List 7 songs you are into right now. No matter what genre whether they have words, or even if they are not any good, but they must be songs you are really into right now, shaping your summer.
Post these instructions in your blog along with your 7 songs.
Then tag 7 other people to see what they're listening to.

Ho Man! This is hard. Where do I begin?

1. Dreaming wit a Broken Heart - John Mayer
2. Viva La Vida - Coldplay
3. Chiquitita - ABBA
4. Like Whoa - Aly & AJ (Ok, am I a dork for liking Disney channel songs?)
5. Realize - Colbie Caillat
6. Around the World - Daft Punk
7. Feel Like Tonight - Chris Daughtry

Six words that describe my life right now:
1. Crazy (the next song I write will have this title, because it seems to be my theme)
2. Busy
3. Children
4. Driving
5. Music
6. Running

Mosaic
a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
b. Using only the first page, pick an image.
c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into mosaic maker.



The Questions:
1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One word to describe you.
12. Your flickr name. (kid version: favorite animal?)

Whew. That was fun. Consider yourself tagged if you want to play. Let me know if you play by leaving me a comment... its fun to learn about you!

A Good Perspective TAG

I got this in an email today, and I thought it was such a nice twist on all of my usual complaints, that I just had to share it!

I AM THANKFUL:

FOR THE WIFE
WHO SAYS IT'S HOT DOGS TONIGHT,
BECAUSE SHE IS HOME WITH ME,
AND NOT OUT WITH SOMEONE ELSE.

FOR THE HUSBAND
WHO IS ON THE SOFA
BEING A COUCH POTATO,
BECAUSE HE IS HOME WITH ME
AND NOT OUT AT THE BARS.

FOR THE TEENAGER
WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING DISHES
BECAUSE IT MEANS SHE IS AT HOME,
NOT ON THE STREETS.

FOR THE TAXES I PAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM EMPLOYED .

FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS.

FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT.

FOR MY SHADOW THAT WATCHES ME WORK
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM OUT IN THE SUNSHINE

FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING,
WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING,
AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXING
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME

FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING
I HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT
BECAUSE IT MEANS WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

FOR THE PARKING SPOT
I FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM CAPABLE OF WALKING
AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TRANSPORTATION .

FOR MY HUGE HEATING BILL
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM WARM.

FOR THE LADY BEHIND ME IN CHURCH
WHO SINGS OFF KEY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I CAN HEAR.

FOR THE PILE OF LAUNDRY AND IRONING
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR.

FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES
AT THE END OF THE DAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD.

FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFF
IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM ALIVE.

AND I AM THANKFUL:
FOR THE crazy people I work with
BECAUSE they make work interesting and fun!

AND FINALLY, FOR TOO MUCH E-MAIL, and/or comments (hint, hint)

BECAUSE IT MEANS
I HAVE FRIENDS WHO ARE
THINKING OF ME.

SEND THIS TO SOMEONE YOU CARE ABOUT.
I JUST DID.

Live well, Laugh often, & Love with all of your heart!

Tag, You're It!

A Really, Really Good Day

What do you get when you mix really great music, the mountains, and a good run?

To explain, I need to back up.
Yesterday, we went to the Dinosaur park with the kids, cousins, and friends. It was fun. I don't really feel the need to explain more. There were dinosaurs there. The kids like it. Go figure. I'll post some pictures for your viewing pleasure.




5 seconds after we got home from to Dino place, all my sisters-in-law and their kids came over to swim in the pool.

So, I did my time with my kids, let them have their fun. I know I don't sound so excited, I'm just trying to get to the good part.

Kay. Then, last night I went out to dinner with some of my old high school friends. We haven't gotten together in years, and it was great to catch up.

Let me tell you something about our little group of friends. The summer between our Junior and Senior year, my friend Nicole and I went to a BBY (Be the Best You)camp at BYU. It's kinda like EFY. Anyway, that's not the point. But we hitched a ride home with my cousin, Jedd, who was going to BYU at the time. He was playing this CD in his truck. A group I'd never heard before. Thus, I was introduced to the wonderful world of ABBA-hood. It's history from there.

Nicole and I loved ABBA so much, we went out and bought the greatest hits CD when we got home, then got all the rest of our friends into it.
You could say we all went through a bit of a disco phase. I remember coming to school dressed in our parent's old 70's clothes. And the best way to pay a compliment was to say "you're shirt is soooo ugly!"

Here we are all dressed up in our disco clothes, getting ready to go Disco dancing at the Bay. Do you remember the BAY? OH, yeah!!

That's me on the left with the awesome sunglasses and orange pants. My mom actually wore those pants in the 70's. AWESOME! Then, there's Heidi, Jamie, Christy, Chan, Jodi and Nicole. Four of these girls were there last night, plus Amy (who wasn't in the picture) It was great to get together and catch up.

Ok, so we may have gotten a teensy bit obsessive about the whole ABBA thing. I remember my Mom telling me she thought I had been born into the wrong decade.
I still love their music to this day.
Anyway, to make a short story long.....after dinner we went to see Mamma Mia. I had been saving this movie for my girls, my fellow die-hard ABBA-lovers. It was soooooo AWESOME!!! I had to hold back from singing the WHOLE time. My mind was flooded with nostalgia the moment the first song came on!
And can I just say. Uh, HELLO...Meryl Streep....you so totally rock!!



Ok, so anyway, after the movie, I drove down to Lehi to stay at my sister's house, got up at 4:15 this morning, and drove to Provo to run the Provo River Half Marathon.
I finished in the fasted time I've ever done a half marathon, totally running on an ABBA high. Oh, yeah, I ran the whole thing listening to ABBA on my I-pod. Who knew I had my secret weapon for speed all these years?
The course was absolutely beautiful! We started up Provo Canyon, ran down, passed Bridal Veil Falls, and along the Provo River Parkway Trail. Absolutely gorgeous. The mountains there are so majestic.
There is just something about running, amid the beauties of nature, and listening to music that I love.

This was a really, good day!

What Have I Been Up To/Random 10 Friday

First of all, I bought myself a new little toy for running last week. My big i-pod is so well, big, and bulky, I decided it was time to down-grade to a shuffle. It's so cute and little and I can clip it anywhere, to use it when I run. AWESOME!

Speaking of music.....yesterday, I accompanied my super-human, mondo-talented, musical genius of a brother Spencer for the Utah State Fair music competition. As I have mentioned before he plays the bass, and probably better than anyone his age, or anyone else, for that matter, in the state!


So, afterward, we came home with the idea that we would record the two Concertos that he had just competed with.
Let me tell you something. Playing music, writing music, arranging music, is soooooo much fun, and I LOVE IT!! Recording music....is tedious, boring, frustrating, and it's hard work!
Whenever I'd caught wind of a music artist saying that being in the music industry is hard work (I'm sure being famous and going to photo shoots all the time is very tedious, too), I've always thought, yeah, you have it so easy. You just get to do what you love all day long. Now, I understand. It IS hard work.
But, I put three of my songs on a CD. I really, really want to share them, and get your opinions. I just can't figure out how to get them on here.
So, if anyone knows how to get a song onto your blog (other than Project Playlist) let me know!
I have downloaded my songs into i-tunes. Just don't know where to go from there.

So, here is my Random 10 list: (and sorry, the first few are not really random)

1. Solitude - Sherrie Shepherd
2. On the River - Sherrie Shepherd
3. Baby Mine - Sherrie Shepherd
4. The Pursuit - Spencer Jensen (my brother)
5. Knockin' on J-dub's door - Josh Jensen (my other awesome brother)
6. We're Yound and Beautfiul - Carrie Underwood
7. Bohemian Rhapsody - Qeen
8. Ghost of a Dog - Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians
9. Oh, Atlanta - Alison Krauss
10. I'd Like to - Corinne Bailey Rae

Bonus: Love of my Life - Jim Brickman

Shep Family Reunion

We just got back today for our little family reunion. My husband's family does this every year.
It's not an extended family reunion where you go for an hour and sit and look at a bunch of strangers you may or may not be distantly related to, eating potluck dinner with 70 bowls of orange jello salad, and a little hoagie with nothing by mayo and cheese, because by the time you got up in line, all that was left was some mystery meat that Great Aunt Edna made, and you can't be completely sure that it wasn't her cat she cooked up and served.
(for the record....just so I don't offend any of my extended family, I do NOT have a great Aunt Edna, and the food at all of our family reunions is delicious!)

No, this reunion is just with his parents, grandparents, and siblings. It's so much fun!
This year, we went camping up at Pineview, rented waverunners, and had a great time swimming, camping, gettin' dirty, playing with cousins, and just takin' it easy.

Let me tell you, there is something about being in the mountains that just rejuvenates the soul. I have always LOVED being in the mountains. LOVE it! Growing up, all of my family vacation were camping. I grew to absolutely love it. I love nature and the outdoors, swimming in the lake (I definitely prefer this to the pool), hiking, etc. I love it all.
And holy cow, you should've seen the sky and the millions of stars. I wish I could've somehow captured the stars with my camera. It is AWEsome!
Ok, can you tell, I'm feeling a little bit better than last week? I think taking a few days off to relax, spend time with family, and enjoy myself really helped. Not to mention it reminded me what a super hunky-hunk my hubby is!

Here are some fun pics!

Here are Clint and TJ on the waverunner


KJ in the water


Cousin RE


TJ


Cousin RM


Look at this guy! Seriously, he has to be the hottest guy EVER! This picture totally could have been taken straight out of a magazine. But, no, I took it. And he is ALL MINE!!


Cute Peter!


Cousin JJ


KJ


Peter


Uncle Dave & Cousin BM


My other very handsome boy


Grandpa Jim & Uncle Dan


Me & Peter on the waverunner


All the cute girl cousins, playing in the sand


Cousin TJ (not to be confused with my TJ)


Cousin DK


Cousin NJ


It's really exhausting play that hard all day!


Sorry there are so many pictures. I just couldn't decide!