How to eat a Brick Oven Chocolate Chip Cookie and Not Gain weight!

First of all..had a reunion lunch with my two college room-mates (Linde and Lisa) and one of our college guy friends (Steve) yesterday at Brick Oven Pizza, in Provo. We had not seen Steve since 1985. It was a great reunion and lots of fun. I didn't take my camera, but Linde did and she posted a picture or two on her blog, so I'll let you check that out there. It's great to have LONG-TIME friends and to be able to have reunions with our old college chums from time to time.

A day or two before the lunch, I emailed my old college chum, Scott, and told him about the upcoming event. He reminisced about the chocolate chip cookies at Brick Oven Pizza. He even mentioned that he had bought me one or two on occasion. I could not remember them and so made a point of ordering four, for my children of course.

"What???" You're thinking to yourself, "Why four when you have only three children?" Well...one for Scott of course. I mean he does deserve a cookie after putting up with me for 20....blah, blah, blah years... So here is Scott's cookie.
Here is Neal enjoying a portion of his cookie...

Here I am with Scott's cookie....We are so close that I know he won't mind me taking a sniff and just a tiny lick.

We have been so close for so long I know he will not mind at all if I just take one little bite...because he knows I did not buy one for myself and therefore he would want to share just a bite with me.

I wrestled and wrestled with myself after that first bite, but once you take the first bite, it's just impossible to stop!

I pulled myself half way back in to consciousness and knew I could just wrap half of the cookie up and send it on to my very generous friend, Scott, and he wouldn't mind at all that I had eaten half.

But then before I knew it the rest of the cookie jumped in to my mouth and there was not a darn thing I could do about it!!!

AWWWWW, there is nothing like a Brick Oven Chocolate Chip Cookie Hang-Over..............NOTHING!!!

Scott, old buddy, old pal...I promise that when you come to Utah next time I will buy you a dozen Brick Oven Chocolate Chip Cookies, but I know that we are such amazingly good friends that you are saying to yourself, "Thank you so much Nez, for eating my cookie for me so I won't gain even one ounce"

(PS....Lisa, it was all staged, I DID NOT EAT THAT WHOLE COOKIE........but, I did sneak a bite. Then the rest of the household helped me finish it! wink, wink)

15 Years!!!

August 27, 1994 was one of the HAPPIEST days of my life. It's the day I became Mrs. Eric Kern. We have a video of that day and each time I watch it it takes me back to that very moment in time. I remember being so excited to get ready and driving from Mt. Charleston to Las Vegas and on to the Temple, seemed like the longest ride ever, but a very nice ride with my parents. It would be the last time I drove down that two lane mountain road as Inez Sanders. I would no longer be a single person, I would be joining my life with Eric's. We came from two very different worlds, but some how we managed to have very similar ideals, views, goals, interests and well, we were in LOVE.

We met at the recommend desk and we were both giddy and very happy that the other one showed up. I then was led in to the bride's room; and was helped to get ready by my mother. My grandmother was there as well. There were a few tense moments when the Matriach of the temple cautioned me on wearing the dress that my mother made for me; it was more of an antique white than pure white. I made the choice to wear my dress because I had taken material in a few months prior to get it okayed, and it had been given the okay. I'm glad I made that choice. I will NEVER forget the HOURS my mom spent sewing that dress and how SPECIAL I felt wearing it. It still hangs in my closet and I tried it on Camilla this past year, just for the fun of it, and it WAS FUN...maybe some day I'll be able to put it back on again. (Miracles do happen)

I can remember being escorted in to a room in which our Sealer, Patriach Kollicker, spent a bit of time explaining what would take place. We knew him because we had done lots of proxy sealings there during our single days and dating time, so it was very fun for all three of us to know that this one was going to be for Eric and I. As we walked in to the sealing room it was packed, friends were standing and I can remember being overwhelmed by the amount of people that had come to support us. I then focused on what was being said, and on Eric. He was the MOST HANDSOME man I had ever known and still is. He is the kindest, funnest, most hardworking, generous man to this day and he just keeps getting better. The sealing was very special to us and how thankful I am that we were able to be married in the Las Vegas Temple.

The luncheon at Eric's parents home was fun and we enjoyed being with friends and family there. We also had the FUNNEST time at our reception. With a BBQ, dancing and visiting with friends and family. To this day I still think it is the funnest reception I have ever attended. Of course it could be because I was the BRIDE FINALLY...ha, ha.

I won't go in to what took place after the reception, except to say we spent our first night together as husband and wife at the Mt. Charleston Inn. So, I was able to be married in Las Vegas, which I never really thought would happen, mostly because I had no idea we'd ever really get a temple there as I was growing up and I was able to spend my first evening and night married on the mountain I called home.

We've lived in three homes, have three children and have had many, many blessings along with our trials and through it all I LOVE ERIC MORE than I ever thought possible.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!!

Mission Accomplished..First day of school.

School officially started yesterday...

Spencer reported to 8th grade promptly at 7:55 am...backpack consisted of the required geer for an 8th grader... brown bag lunch, pencils sharpened and notebook for notes. He also was seen carrying a black saxophone case with saxophone and new music book inside. He looked sharp in his new jeans, t-shirt and shoes, sporting a smile and new hair cut! He's READY...

Neal...fastened in stroller for AM walk to Spring Lake elementary school. He's holding his sunglasses and has learned to say hi and bye, bye...He's READY!!!

Camilla reported to 2nd grade which began at 9am sharp. She arrived a bit early to familiarize herself with coat room where she hung her backpack which had her Barbie lunch pale inside. She emerged safely from coat room, looked a bit perplexed as she ran her hand through her newly styled hair, then her eyes spotted her desk. She sat down and proceeded to take out her pencil box and pulled a newly sharpened #2 pencil from the box to begin her first day of 2nd grade's morning work. She glanced across her desk to see an old friend, Dallin from Kindergarten, sitting quietly doing his morning work and she did the same. She's READY!

May each day be as adventurous as the FIRST and may this be a GREAT school year for everyone!

Happy Birthday Butch!

Happy BIRTHDAY Butch!!!!!

At a Rick Springfield concert in Orem 2004, Butch, me, Lisa and Linde (TRUE FRIENDSHIP!)

August 18th always stands out to me because it's my friend Butch's birthday. I met Butch in the Fall of 1984 (almost 25 years ago!). He was one of my family home evening brothers; at BYU you are divided in to family home evening groups and you meet together on Monday evenings for lesson and activities. My first recollection of Butch was that he threw a water balloon at me and I wasn't too sure if I was going to like him...ha, ha. Well, I quickly learned that I would come to not only like him and my other "homely brothers" as we affectionately knew them, but also depend on them and love them just like my own family. Butch saved me many times that school year of 1984/85 perhaps now those things might seem silly, but at the age I was and what was important back then, Butch really was "there" for me many times. When I left Provo in 1985 I really didn't think we'd keep in contact, I figured he'd get married soon etc. and the friendship would fade away.

When I came back to Provo in 1986, Butch was still there and not married. He still came through for me when I so needed a good friend and this is a picture of us at a dinner in which the girls invited guys they were interested in and for whatever reason ,that escapes me now, the particular guy I was interested in was not interested in coming to dinner and so I called my brother, Butch, and he came. I don't really remember the dinner, but this is one of my favorite pictures of us together; I've kept it all these years and love glancing at it from time to time.

Butch and I would get together from time to time until he left to join the Army Special Forces, in 1988, I believe. Also during that summer something happened and I was thinking...hmmm I think I might feel something more than that brotherly sisterly kind of love...hee, hee. I talked to him for the last time in November of that year and said goodbye. I did write for at least a year or so, but never got a letter in return...not blaiming Butch, but we did lose contact. I did talk with his dad a few times and he assured me that Butch was doing okay.

Life went on and I often wondered what had become of my dear friend. In 2000 when we purchased our first computer and I found out about the internet and email etc., etc. Eric was looking up old companions on his Mission site. He showed me how to use it and what he had found. Well, me being me, tried to remember where my friends had gone on missions and tried to contact some that I had found and guess what??!!! I found Butch..he was the only one who replied from trying to find people in that way. So after 11 or 12 years of disconnection we became connected again. It was fun to get emails, see pictures of his family and get caught up once again. We eventually met up again and have remained connected and close friends to this day.

Butch is one of my favorite people, he's funny, kind, a good listener, cares about others, a great dad, loves his KIDS and his MOTORCYCLE, a hard worker, still saves my life from time to time in the ways that are important to me today, and he has become stronger through trials. It always makes me happy when we get to have time together. (Which is never enough for my liking!) I still get that same excitement I always got when I was in my early 20's. I've been very blessed to have a few enduring friendships in my life and Butch is definitely a blessing to me and my family. He's been supportive of me and encouraged me and been a confidant at times I really needed one, he is a true friend.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO AN AMAZING FRIEND and INCREDIBLE MAN!!!!! I LOVE YOU!

My little helper...

This afternoon I was loading the dishwasher and almost as soon as I opened the door to the dishwasher, Neal came crawling in to the kitchen and promptly began taking things out quicker than I could load them in..one dish in, four forks out, one glass in, 2 bowls out...something like that. At first I felt a bit frustrated, but then as I watched him I marveled at how much he wanted to participate in this chore that I just automatically do, or I have Spencer and Camilla help with. So I handed him a yellow plastic plate and he put it in the dishwasher. I began to reminisce about when Spencer and Camilla were at this stage and how they were always with me and so eager to join in on whatever I was doing. So I grabbed the camera and decided to fully enjoy the moment. Here he is, my 18 month old helper.

He put plates in and took bowls out, he took silverware out and had a good time banging spoons against the inside of the dishwasher door. All was well and keeping him busy until Spencer came and opened the backdoor, which is in our kitchen, and Neal made a b-line for the door because Coal our "doggie" is out that door. So I had Spencer get me one of our gates and we put it up at the door and Coal became the center of Neal's attention so I hurried back to the dishwasher and finished it up quickly so I could move on to the next task. I enjoyed my helper, but I also appreciated my new babysitter..COAL!

Things I want to share today...

Camilla has become obsessed with Raggedy Ann and Andy, infact on Friday she wanted to be Raggedy Ann and so our resident makeup and costume man fixed her up and here she is as Raggedy Ann!

Neal turned 18 months on the 5th of August. At church that means he is officially old enough to attend nursery. Yesterday Eric took him to nursery and when I stopped in to check on him he was sitting at the little table having a treat and loving every minute of it! The sweetheart ladies who spend their time in the nursery assured me that he was doing well and they'd come find me if I was needed. They never came to get me and so I guess that means that Neal is in nursery! I find it so hard to believe that 18 months has gone by so quickly and with the scary beginning of Neal's life, it sure is a happy, joyful, constantly on the move time now! As you can see from the above picture, Neal is overjoyed after two hours in the nursery!!!!

My friend Greg Farrer called me last week and told me that he was coming to Utah for a visit and wanted to see us. I have known Greg since I was 13 years old and he is like a part of our family. Greg would stop in at our house at Mt. Charleston often and we'd spend time visiting and laughing. Greg has always been good for a BIG BEAR hug and lots of love. I'd not seen Greg since 2005 when we moved away from Las Vegas and so I did really want to see him. He called me on Saturday morning to let me know he was in Utah, but wasn't too sure about where he was. His sweet wife, Gerrie, was visiting her sister and he had stayed at the hotel room to get some sleep since he didn't sleep very well the night before, he informed me that the beds were REALLY HARD. So we began the process of trying to figure out where Greg was. I really did want to see him. I couldn't figure it out and so I encouraged him to call his brother, Doug, who lives in the Salt Lake area to see if he might have a better idea of where Greg was staying. After a few hours of trying to decide whether to set out in search of where I thought he was, Eric said he thought it would be better to try for Sunday since we had a reception to attend and Greg & Gerrie also had a reception to attend. I agreed.

Talking to Greg brought back so many memories in bits and pieces. When the Farrer's moved to Mt. Charleston it really opened up some fun times for me and my family. Ray Farrer soon became our branch president and Mary Farrer our Young Women's president, so in those two church callings they influenced my youth tremendously. They also brought with them their great family, Greg, Clarke, Liz and Doug (Becky was married and didn't live at home any longer). Sometimes when our parents would go on their date night or to the temple, Clarke and Liz and sometimes Doug would come to our house and be with us so that mom and dad would feel better about leaving us alone. I'm not saying babysat us because I was 13, but living so far away from other people and since I didn't drive they felt more comfortable having older teens stay with us. Liz and Clarke always provided lots of fun for us. We spent many hours at the Farrer's home on Mt. Charleston as well as had fun youth trips with them to California and Utah. I could go on and on..but I won't.

I called Greg and suggested that we get in contact after church on Sunday. So that's what we did. Greg informed me that he was going to Doug and Stacey's home later that evening and so I immediately thought.."Great, we can call them and see if they wouldn't mind us coming to visit as well, then we'd see all of them together." Stacey was gracious enough to let us come at the last minute and she gave me directions. Eric again suggested that now I just go with my sister, Bev, so we would have a chance to visit without our little ones climbing all over us or having to keep them entertained. At first I wasn't sure I liked that idea because I knew Greg wanted to see the kids and I wanted Eric to have the chance to get to know Doug and Stacey whom he hasn't been around much and see Greg and Gerrie again, but then I saw the time and again realized he was right. It was getting later for our little guy especially and the trip alone would be a few hours. So I called Bev and she agreed and we set out to find Doug and Stacey's home. Bev and I had a fun visit and we found their home without any problems. As we drove up Mill Creek Canyon Rd., we began to make comments like..."wow, they live so close to the mountain" and "This reminds me so much of Mt. Charleston"..ha, ha.

We found the home and knocked on the door and were quickly greeted by Doug. We hugged everyone and began visiting, we were also able to see Doug and Stacey's children who are all grown up. Madison is married and beautiful and Boman has his mission call to North Carolina and is going to the MTC in October! Again memories flashed before my eyes of seeing them as little ones the size of my own children now. Time flies. We caught up as much as we could and talked of friends we knew and some of our experiences together. We shared about our parents and found out about their parents. Enjoyed a delicious peach dessert that Stacey made. The time went by so quickly, but I was noticing that we were all yawning and eyes were drooping and it was very dark outside. So finally Bev and I said our goodbyes and felt happy that we had that time to get reacquainted with two brothers that we love so much and their wonderful wives.

As Bev and I drove away and were making comments I said, "Isn't it amazing that we have known each other for over 20 years?" and then as we were counting it up we realized it has actually been 32 years since we first met the Farrer's. It made me think of a comment that Doug made when we were talking of a friend who was killed in a car accident, he said "you just never know how much time you have to be with a friend". It made me thankful that Greg contacted me and that Eric was so agreeable and suggested that we make the trip to see them and that Stacey and Doug opened up their home. It also made me thankful for friends who have been such a positive influence in my life. Perhaps we have not always stayed close, but through our parents and their parents we have always had some contact. I am so thankful The Farrer's moved to Mt. Charleston all those years ago. I'm thankful that Liz was like an older sister to me. I'm thankful for the crushes I had on Clarke and Doug and for the all the things that Greg has taught me over the years. I admire Greg's ability to love and never be afraid to say it or show it, I'd like to be more like Greg. I do love those Farrers, all of them! So as I sleeply walked in to my own home to find everyone asleep, except Eric who was waiting up for me, I told him I was very thankful for that time he gave me to spend with my sister and my friends. He said he was just glad I made it home without getting in an accident, I thought again...I had a lot of practice driving long distances from the time I was 16 and sometimes really late at night! Then I crawled in my bed..so thankful to be going to SLEEP!

From left to right...Greg, Gerrie, me, Bev, Stacey and Doug.

Friday Spotlight..the twins

Just wanted to share a few pictures of Bev and Chad's twins...they are almost 8 months old and today I went through the 12 month clothes, packed them in to containers and put the 18 month clothes out for Neal. Their mommy informed me that they are okay in the 9 month clothing, but probably won't be for too much longer. They are growing, growing, growing!!! So here they are on the day of Camilla's baptism:

Clark, fell asleep in the activity seat. His daddy was asleep on the couch and his uncle Danny was asleep on the floor, so he decided to join in the slumber party.

This is Nathan, while everyone slumbers around him, he was trying to back himself up to wake up his Uncle Danny. He wanted to play!

I just love these boys and I love to kiss their chubby cheeks; they are full of smiles and soon they will be chasing all of us. Clark gets up on his knees and lunges forward and I'm sure Nathan will want to follow him as soon as he figures it all out.

Camilla's baptism day

Camilla was baptized on Saturday, August 1st. It was a great day and she really enjoyed being with her cousins. She was nervous about going in to the baptismal font, but she did it. It took two tries because her foot came up out of the water the first time. After the baptism she told the water was cold, and asked me if it was cold because the River Jordan was cold where Jesus was baptized? She also told me her neck was sore from daddy holding on so tight making sure she got all the way under the water. Hee, hee. She did say she felt good and we are so happy she wanted to get baptized. Here are a few pictures from the day.

Grandpa and Grandma Sanders with Camilla

Camilla at the door

Our family

Camilla all dressed and ready to go, she picked out this beautiful dress all on her own.

Camilla and Rachel. Rachel gave the closing prayer.

The family that was able to attend the baptism

Lisa, Camilla and I outside the church after the baptism
The day ended with swimming and watching movies with Grandma and Grandpa Kern

Camilla's 8th birthday

I downloaded the pictures a bit out of order..but Camilla sure did have a fun Raggedy Ann and Andy birthday party. This is a picture of the girls playing musical chairs. Here is some of the food they ate, pigs in a blanket, chips, peanut butter and jelly, and cake!

Here's a nice picture of all the girls before the party started...from left to right...Rylee, Rachel, Ashlyn, Camilla, Emiley, Alexa, Jocelyn, Katelyn, not pictured is Camilla Adams..she came a bit later.

Camilla enjoying some of her cupcake birthday cake! (See in the background Neal is enjoying it as well)

Camilla blowing out her candles

The girls enjoying the food and talking, laughing...just being girls!

Camilla's fun cupcake-birthday cake. SO RED!

We do love Camilla so much and she is the funnest girl ever! We made Raggedy Ann faces, had a balloon relay race and musical chairs. ATE, opened presents and just had a great time. Friends and cousins stayed and played for hours after. Then they had a cousin sleep over. I didn't take as many pictures as I should have, but I was having too much fun just hanging out and being with my girl and her sweetheart friends.

HAPPY 8th BIRTHDAY Camilla!