Deal or No Deal Auditions

I had a great time today standing in line with my friend Jamie who wanted to audition for the awesome game show Deal or No Deal. I too wanted to audition, but after completing the 11 page application form, the final question disqualified me because a member of my household works for an NBC affiliate. It's okay I still love Brett.
Originally Jamie and I went down to RC Willey Friday night because we were going to camp out all night with the other crazies to be in the front of the line. However we are big wimps about the cold and didn't want to have bad hair and bad breath for the audition. Instead we arrived at 9am the next morning and got into line. We stood in line for over three hours and just barely made it through all the switchbacks in the parking lot when we reached the building. Our hopes disintegrated quickly once we got inside. The line continued to switch back with just as many people inside as there were outside. So we were in for another three hours. Needless to say we backed out of our plan and left to go have lunch with our other friends. At least we can say we stood, we saw, we got the heck out of there.
Oh yea, I didn't get a picture with the Howie look-a-like, but I did get a picture of a crazy pink haired lady. I wonder if she made it?

In Memory of our Beloved Roudy

Samantha's ever loved and forever patient friend has returned to the Heavens today for reasons of natural causes. He will be greatly missed and I the mother am truly grateful he slipped into a silent slumber in Samantha's arms instead of a gruesome crunching of bones and bloodshed. He was buried in our backyard today next to one of Daddy's Mimosas trees. Which one? we're not telling... Just kidding we had to bury him three feet down and put big rocks on top of the coffin as well as the burial ground so Abby & Jager (our black labs) won't be tempted to dig him back up.

This precious hamster of Samantha's brought such joy and laughter to our family. He had a canny knack of escaping out of his penthouse capsule to scurry downstairs during the day only to be found again at night when he came out of hiding looking for food. He was also a very tricky hamster in the fact that he could perform paw stands, with the aid of Samantha holding him upside down.

These pictures were taken one week before his passing.

There's a Little Princess in all of Us.

Remember when I said we used up all the Magic in Disneyworld? I guess I was wrong, because Disney now delivers Magic to my hometown with the Disney Princesses on Ice Tour.
Of course it wouldn't be a Disney adventure without a few costumes. So Sammy donned on her Cinderella dress to go to the Royal Ball along with her friends Reagan (Cinderella) and Ally (Snow White).
Oh yea and their moms, who are my friends Cami and Christie

The six of us then met up with seven of our Utah Valley Friends at the Energy Solutions Center. And since costumes are just not enough, our little princesses also needed their faces painted, courtesy of my friend Kayla.



Samantha had a great time, these are pictures she took of her new friends.

I wonder what kind of example I am setting for my child. She's going to start believing that every adventure must have a production associated with it. But why shouldn't that be the norm? I love being with my friends, and I'm glad that they all have daughters for my Samantha to befriend. Life is so much more enjoyable when we have others to share it with. Big thanks to all the Daddy's who didn't have to come with on this trip, even if Brett thinks I'm training my daughter to be the next generation of the SLTA.
Here's a group picture of all the Princesses and their Royal Highnesses, the Queens.


Oh yes, the ice skating was fun too. But the most memorable Sammy quote of the evening happened at the very end, when Cinderella appeared in her golden pumpkin carriage. Sammy had the saddest look on her face and her eyes were brimming with tears. When I asked her what was the matter she told me she was sad because she wanted the Prince to fall in love with her and not that Cinderella!
I'm in trouble as a mother when she becomes a teenager aren't I?

Our New Family Pet

I don't know about the rest of you, but here at the Utley Household we are suffering from some serious cabin fever. Today was finally a pleasant day to be outdoors (pleasant meaning no snow on the ground since November). I sent Sammy out to soak up some Vitamin D and she came back with a new friend she named Kanna Nanna Nooka Gankga.


I wonder if she'll let her father keep it to feed to the fishies?

A New Member of the Family

I'm so excited to announce the arrival of my newest niece Kora Rae Reynolds. Good job Nycole and Quintin she's beautiful.

Kora Rae Reynolds

Born at 6:26 pm

March 3rd, 2008

7lbs 1 oz and 21 inches long

Woody's Roundup Magical Moment

Hey Howdy Hey Everyone!
Our Year of A Million Dreams came true when the cowboys from Woody's Roundup asked our Samantha (aka Jessie) if she would like to be apart of their parade and cowboy show with Woody, Jessie, and Bullseye. Cowboy Jimmy also asked if Sammy wanted to go behind the scenes and get a chance to meet Woody and Jessie for a private Photo shoot. What a perfect way to end the perfect vacation.

Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios

More fun slideshows from our trip to Disneyworld

Besides the Pirate and Princess Party, Sammy got to meet a few other characters at the Animal Kindom Park and Hollywood Studios Park. Here are a few of our favorites.