Amanda's Visit To UTAH!

Amanda's Visit

Amanda is Rick’s sister Tammy’s daughter. Our Amanda Zeller came for a surprise visit to our home last week. We were so happy to have her. She is a darling girl. We enjoyed her sweet disposition and easy going personality. I love her accent. It’s very cute. We enjoyed her stories about her family, friends, boyfriend, and small hometown of Davenport, WA. We just love her. Here are some of the things we did while she was here.

Cherry Hill

Hanna and Chantel strike a pose.

Amanda above and Corbin below, ride Cardiac Canyon. They look pretty relaxed.




Amanda and Corb wait in line to ride.

Sill's Cafe

One of the stories I remember from Amanda’s mother Tammy is a story of her First Scone at Sill’s Cafe.

Sill’s has been around forever. It was one on my high school hangouts. It’s still small town hospitality. You seat yourself and the regulars aren’t afraid to get up and get their own coffee if the waitress is busy.

We really enjoy these yummy large helpings of golden fried dough smothered in sweet honey butter. They go straight to your butt. But soooooooo worth it....true comfort food. Amanda didn’t finish hers, so not sure if she loved them as much as us.

UTA Frontrunner

This was something new for us too, the Utah Transit Authority’s Frontrunner. The Frontrunner is a new train that runs from S.L.C. to Ogden. We’d never ridden it before because it’s relatively new. $7 lets you ride the Frontrunner round trip and any other form of UTA transportation such as TRAX (S.LC. light rail system.) I really enjoyed it, and Amanda got a backyard view of the Wasatch Front. “Backyard” meaning....a lot of junk yards. lol.
The Frontrunner

Amanda, Corbin, and Channy on the 32 min ride to SLC.

Clark Planetarium

We went to Clark Planetarium at the Gateway. Amanda shows the weather for Washington at the 2 News Fresh Air Forecast cubby.

They were taken with this machine that had these balls that rode a wild rollercoaster around the building.

Dick’s Rock Wall

We went to Dick’s to climb the Rock Wall. It’s the largest indoor Rock Wall in the country. They all did great. Even Amanda who said she was afraid of heights. I was afraid she was going to cry at one point though. Channy and Corbin ate it up. They love to climb the wall.

The Olympic Fountain at Gateway

The Olympic Fountain is a favorite of kids. It is in the heart of the Gateway, an outdoor mall in SLC. The fountain sprays up with the beat of music, and giggles and screams abound.

Below, Corbin, Amanda, and Chantel

The Mayan

The Mayan is a jungle themed restaurant at Jordan Commons. Jordan Commons is a high school turned theater by the Jazz owner Larry H. Miller. It’s pretty cool. We went and saw Get Smart and then went to eat. The Mayan has less than average Mexican food, but the atmosphere is what you go to see. Divers high dive into pools, jungle music plays and the light show and jungle atmosphere entertain you while you eat. Maybe if you drink the food would be good too, hee, hee. We wouldn’t know.

Channy, and a bird. :)

Channy and Amanda wait to eat.

TRAX in SLC

Here Amada waits for TRAX to come so we can head home. She was tired and cold so she laid down on the hot cement to rest and warm herself.

SLC Airport

And she was off. Here is Amanda on her way to her first Air plane ride. She made it home just fine.....She’s all grown up, Tammy. Thanks for coming to visit Amanda! We’d love you to come again. There’s lots more we could do.

Ragnar Baby!!!!!! Team ONE NIGHT STAND!

Wasatchback

Run, Drive, Sleep? Repeat

This was so freakin' fun I just can't even tell you. I'm waiting on more pictures from my team mates, but here is a little taste of 181 miles of crazy fun.

http://s290.photobucket.com/albums/ll268/OneNightStand2008/?action=view&current=eb834c30.pbw

The ABC’s of Me

A-Attached or single: Attached, for about 22 years, and happy to be so.

B-Best Friends: Brenda Saddler. It’s a no brainer. She’s been my friend since I was 3 years old. Love her like a sister, man.

C-Cake or Pie: Both if my conscience would let me. My jeans say, “You’ve got to be kidding....right?”
D-Day of choice: Ummm, I guess Sunday because we all chill and just hang out. That is if Rick isn’t working.


E-Essential item: iPod, I can’t run without it, clean without it, watch games, do yard work. I just don’t know what I did before they invented it.
F-Favorite color: Red.....it’s a power color. :)

G-Gummy bears or worms: I ate a lot of Gummy Bears at my last race. They were the itty bitty kind, and they rocked. Thanks for bringing them Teresa.
H-Hometown: Kaysville, Ut. Great place to grow up when I was young, but now it’s not a quaint little town anymore....kinda sad.

I-Indulgences: I love any thing that has cream cheese as an ingredient. Yummy!

J-January or July: I’m with Amber on this one. January sucks!!!
What’s not to love about July? Sun, fun, fireworks, picnics, races....love, love, love July.

K-Kids: 3 kids. Love um all........I have to.....I’m their mother.
L-Life is not complete without: Rick, my kids, my family, my friends.

M-Marriage Date: May 28, 1987 (man, I hope that’s right. I’m like a dude when it comes to dates)

N-Number of Siblings: 5, 2 have passed away.

O-Oranges or apples: Oranges, juicy, yummy. Apples are just ok.

P-Phobias or Fears: I’m afraid of heights. I’m ok to look down as long as I can sit while I do it.

Q-Quotes: If you ain’t dyen’ you ain’t tryin’. My running friend Teresa gave me a magnet that said that for Christmas. Words to live by.

R-Reason to smile: The sunshine, flowers, a baby’s giggle, hugs from you kids, runners high, laughter with friends, chick flicks, flip flops, beautiful mountains, the sound of a stream, a good book on a rainy day, being in bed in a thunderstorm, a sun rise, hot cocoa by a fire, the smell of nature in the morning, Rick’s crapes, chocolate cake, good food, vacations, the sound of waves crashing, fireworks, being in love, the love of a family......I could go on and on.
S-Season: Summer, I like it HOT!

T-Tag three friends: Ummm, Alisha, Mikin, and Jill.

U-Unknown fact about me: Wow, that’s a hard one. I’m pretty much an open book. I dance around the house all the time...Ok, I sing too. :)

V-Very favorite store: Kohls, I guess. I spend a ton of money there anyhow.
W-Worst Habit: I let the wash really pile up sometimes, and I probably swear more then most women in Utah.

X-X-ray or Ultrasound: Who wants an X-ray? That’s never a good sign.

Y-Your favorite food: I really love Watermelon in the summer. :)


Z-Zodiac: Aries

Family Bowling Night

Yes, All Of Us Went!

It’s been a long time since all of us went bowling. Even when we do go....I don’t bowl, but this time I said, “What Ever!” It was Corbin’s idea. And we all had a really great time. I even WON the first game. Shocking to all of us, let me tell ya. Rick not surprisingly won the next two. It was good to hang out together. ME!


Rick giving Chantel a few pointers.

Channy!

Challis

Corbin chillin'

Go! Corbin!

Bridal Veil Falls

A Beautiful Thing To See On A Beautiful Day.

While Rick’s parents were visiting we went to Bridal Veil Falls (a 607 foot tall double cataract waterfall on the south end of Provo Canyon.) It was a nice little walk on a beautiful day. We’d been to dinner at Applebee’s in Provo and had visited Rick’s Aunt Joan, some of her grandchildren, and Rick’s cousins Heather, and Sam. We had a great day. After Provo we went to Emigration Canyon to have dessert at Ruth’s Dinner. We enjoyed our sweets on the tree shaded patio with the sound of nature all around us.

Flashback Friday.

Dancin' Cuz My Mama Made Me!

This month Chantel has her first dance recital, so I thought I’d take a look back at some of the great dance costumes I’ve sported.....cuz, I used to do a mean shuffle-ball-chain back in the day. Miss Becky would be so proud to see me jammin’ in my kitchen today.

Me and my sister Kristi. My sister and I have some serious game faces on. We are clearly doing some kind of "duck dance". Quack! Quack! Follow my lead baby sister, and shake what your Mama gave ya. Oh, one more thing about this picture, my mother Windexed the crap out of it, and lucky for me my scanner scanned through the glass, cuz the picture is stuck to the glass.

My sister and I again. How are we supposed to dance with those tails? We are kangaroos. My grandma and my mom made all of our costumes. I remember them sewing and being so anxious to try mine on. I wish I could find the Chicken Pox costume pic. It was so cute. Maybe I’ll have the video tapes made to C.D. someday.

This was likely the last year I danced with Miss Becky before I moved to Kaysville. We thought we were so glamorous wearing makeup. Oh, those were the days. :)

Baseball

Play Ball!

Last night Rick and I went to watch Corbin play baseball. It was a blast! I love to watch baseball, and Corbin gave baseball up in Elementary to play competition soccer. Corbin’s friend Bryan asked him to play as a fill in for his team. Corbin was so nervous. But, he hit and got on base. He laughed a lot and had a great time. It was freezing cold and rained, but it’s all good. Here are some pics.

End of School Awards for Sports

Bye, Bye Syracue Jr. High!

This past week Corbin graduated from Jr. High, but before they left they handed out the Sports Awards. Corbin got awards with his 4X4 relay and the 4X1 relay team. Corbin’s 4X1 relay team found out that they have the new fastest time record for North End. Congrats boys.

One more thing about Jr. High graduation, they had a 9th grade dance. In my experience, Jr. High boys don’t dance, but Corbin and his friends hit the dance floor and danced every dance. They really know how to have a good time. Maybe too good of a time. I’m wondering if Chantel will be able to go to Syracuse Jr. High after Corbin....I’m afraid they may be predigest of the Gatten family. Way to go Corbin, we’re gonna have to move again!

Graduation/Family Party

BBQ

What fun. We had a BBQ at our house for Challis’ friends and our families. We got to spend some time with the kids who graduated and with family members we hardly ever get to see. There were also some of Corbin’s friends and our good friends the Saddlers, who are like family to us. We love ya all. Thanks for comin'.

It started with a handstand contest, we ate, visited, the kids played, and the night ended when the misquotes decided to start snacking. We really enjoyed seein' everyone. I hope we get together more often and hang out like we talked about. Here are some pics of the BBQ.

Taylor Saddler showing off her handstand skills

Some of Challis’ friends: Rex, Regina, Jessie, Lacey, Challis, Tyson, Theo.
Melissa and Challis
Taylor Saddler and Corbin
Corbins’s crew LtoR: Braiden Reich, Darren Stapleton, Corbin and Taylor Saddler. Madison Saddler
Eating

Rick cutting up the graduation cake.

Riley Jaques
Madison, and Brenda Saddler

The Kids

Brenda and Steve Saddler

Joe Harris and Brooke Gatten.

Tom, Hayliann, and Wendy Gatten

Misty and Matt Gale, and Oren Gatten

Ashley Gatten, and Hailee Gale (I just love this pic.)

River and Ryder Gatten

Alyssa, Jake, and River Gatten

Ryder Gatten (how freakin' cute it he?)

Tyler Gale

Caden Harris and Mylee Gatten

Ian Harris

Kaylee Harris

Brooke Gatten and Amber Harris

The Clean up

Thanks guys we really enjoyed havin' ya!
The End.