Can it really be that long ago???

WOW...it has been months since I last posted anything about my happenings. I can't believe that!! So what has been happening in my life in these last couple of months?? Plenty! Jamie came home from her mission, we have had tons of fun with her, plenty of cabin trips as well as one very fun 46 hour trip to Disneyland and back! Work and life are pretty much the same, work and play! Something new in my life is I am going through orientation right now to be a volunteer at Primary Children's Medical Center! I am so excited to do that! And on an even more positive note, I have been able to get my Fridays off! I now join the rank of those who have government jobs of only working Monday to Thursday! Isn't that grand? I am loving it so far!

Some other little things, Madison turned 6 back in September. I remember the day she was born. It seems just like yesterday! Boy does time fly when you are having fun. Those girls make me smile and laugh all the time. Bryn has an attitude that is so very Diva-ish! The new baby boy (hooray for boys) will be born in December and I can't wait! Growing up without brothers and only having nieces have been fun, but I am looking forward to Little Baby Boy Leake to come into this world!

Here are some things that I did during the summer/beginning of fall!!

Back in July Citrine had their CD Release...at Sunnyside Ampitheatre. The place was pretty Ghetto, but with some elbow grease and lots of help we were able to get the place cleaned up and looking nice intime for our performance! Which was spectacular! If anyone wants to purchase a copy of their own CD Aglow featuring moi, let me know!













*Thanks to all my family and friends who came to support me with my music! Even though I am just one of the many in the group I had the biggest support/fan base there! I love you all!!

After the crazy and hectic time of trying to get the CD made and put on 'the show' Anne-Marie had time to get married to Jay (the group's guitarist). The wedding was so sweet and cute and the ceremony very nice! I do love these ladies! They are amazing!


*Funny how A-M isn't in the picture! I guess she was too busy being the bride!! ;o)

Other fun things that I did was go to rodeos! Yee-Haw and ride 'em cowboy! Oh how I 'heart' the cowboys! They are so dang cute! The rodeos this year were so much fun. I can't wait for Rodeo season next year. There was also hiking in the summer. I love to be in the mountains so much fun!













And finally the event everyone was looking forward to this Summer '09...SISTER JAMIE WILSON SERVED A VALIANT MISSION TO HALIFAX, CANADA! It was so nice to have Jamie home. Oh how I missed that girl. She has been so busy, but I am glad that she makes time for me and the family! Madi and Em were so excited to see her. As usual unless you are Papa Wilson, dad, mom or Gramma Wilson Bryn doesn't have eyes for you. Lets just say Jamie is still trying to worm her way into Bryn's heart and affections. It took me over a year, I think Jamie will have to do that too! It was even more special because Jamie didn't know that Chris was preggo, but when Madi told her that they were having a boy Jamie broke down. No tears getting off the plane, no tears going around hugging everyone, but finally tears when she found out she was going to be an aunt, and especially to a little boy! Oh the joys of family!



*Em was a little tired, Jamie didn't get in until about 9pm on a Friday night! Thankfully it was Friday! As for the sisters, one of those things is not like the other! Just call me the 'black sheep!'

The best part of the end of summer! My friend, Tina, told me that another one of our friends husband was planning a bus trip to Disneyland. I had Tina find out if there was still room, and thankfully there was! I asked around and found some friends who are just as crazy as me and we all went. We met at Southe Towne Center and boarded a Le Bus with many other crazy individuals who wanted to drive over night just to go and play in Disneyland for the day. The bus wasn't the most comfortable, but it was so much fun. We had a couple of stops along the way, and thanks to Louie and his manic driving he was able to get us to CA in about 9 - 10 hours!! We played hard all day from 8am - midnight and then got back on the bus and slept until we rolled back into the SL valley at 1pm. When I got off the bus I had the most ginormous cankles I have ever seen...and I have never had cankles! It made sitting through the Oquirrh Mountain Temple Dedication horrible, but very worth it! It took three days for the swelling to go down. So much fun...I would do it again tomorrow if I could!

*This is only 3 of the 7 people who went on the trip. During the day some wanted to rest and the others wanted to play. Thanks for the fun trip Lindsay, Michelle, Mecqae, Stacey, Jackie and Chad! Memories to last a lifetime!

And last but not least...who can forget about the state fair! It was great this year. I love the people watching that you get at the State Fair. Nothing beats deep fried food, white trash and funnel cakes!

*Don't I make a great Nanny Goat Gruff??















I have also taken quite a few trips up to the family cabin. I have learned that I am old enough and more importantly, brave enough to take care of the mouse traps in the garage. The first time was just taking the shovel and picking up the mouse and flinging the mouse and trap into the neighbors bushes. Let nature take care of it! The second time I was brave enough to put it in the garbage since I was going straight to the dump. Too bad they close at 6pm and I got there at 6:15pm. I drove home with a garbage sack in my back seat with three dead mice. It was freezing cold outside and I drove home with the windows open so I didn't have to have polluted mouse air! Oh the joys!

I hope that I can keep this up, but who knows! There are no guarantees. Maybe I should do something fun that will make me update this blog. Any fun suggestions???

"I prefer crushed ice..."

This is a long post...sorry! I had the funniest thing happen to me last Friday. I was driving home from the store and was winding my way down through the neighborhoods. As I was driving I saw a black lady who was going door to door with her binder of things to sell. (I never understood why the southerners send their people here to sell to us and our people go there to sell them stuff, wouldn't it be easier to just do it in your own area?). Anyways, she was still aways from my subdivision and I was hoping that she wouldn't make it either. I was home by myself and I don't like answer the door, unless I am expecting you. Sure enough an hour and a half later I am sitting in my house with my shorts and tank top on when the doorbell rang. It wasn't just your typical ring, it was the type of ringing a child would do, pushing the button over and over. I thought at first that it was my friends coming over earlier for my party that night. So I am racing through the house trying to put clothes on so I can answer the door, and stop the idiot who is ringing the doorbell (over and over and over). Our front door was open a bit and when I peered through it I could see this lady walking off our porch. She caught my shadow and turned around. This is how the thing went down.

"Hello, hello in there," yelled the southern lady.

I begrudgingly answered the door by sticking my head out the storm door just a fraction of the way. "Hello?"

"Yessum, are you the missus of the house?" She inquired.

"No, she actually just stepped out for a moment," came my reply. I was hoping she would take the hint and just move along.

As she started to say goodbye, she turned around and got out this pathetic little Styrofoam cup. She held it up to me and said, "you know it is kind of hot out here. Would you mind putting ice in my cup?"

I told her I could and stepped outside to get her cup. As I was going back in the house she called back after me, "I prefer crushed ice, and if you have a granola bar that would be great."

I was startled a little at how forward she was at asking for food. Since it was a hot day I decided to replace her pathetic cup with a larger plastic cup. I changed the ice setting on the refrigerator and started to get her crushed ice. Looking around I started to think what I could give her as I did not have a granola bar in the house. As my eyes wandered over the counter I caught site of the bananas I had just purchased. I tore a banana from the bunch and started to head back outside.

When I stepped outside she grabbed the cup from and then looked disgustingly at my banana. "I can't eat that banana, it will make me faint. Do you have any cookies or chips that I can have? Those would be better for me."

I looked at her in disbelief. First, she didn't even thank me for the bigger cup of ice and now she was asking for something else when I thought I was being pretty nice to give her something. I told her that we do not keep things like that in our house (which is pretty much true). She asked me to return back to the house and check yet again. I continued to tell her that we don't eat chips or cookies and the banana is all I had.

She looked disdainfully at the banana, snatched it out of my hand and said, "I guess this will have to do. Just pray for me that I won't pass out." With that she was gone with not even a thanks for anything that I had given her..

My mind was a whirl during this whole episode. I had wondered why in our schools they never taught us chips and cookies were better than potassium loaded bananas. Obviously they teach things differently down south. I also thought that they taught good manners down south. Every southerner I have met has been nothing but polite and had great manners. I guess not everyone comes from that kind of background. As she walked away I did pray that she wouldn't pass out, but that she wouldn't pass out on my lawn. It was blasted hot and I didn't want to do that much physical labor trying to move her body from my yard to the neighbors.

Lunch with Camie...

Back in May I had lunch with one of Jamie's best friends, Camie. I absolutely love Camie! I just remember all the fun times that Jamie, Camie and I had while we were either driving around and dancing to music, or just sitting at my house laughing about something. Camie and her husband, JD, and their new baby, Lachlyn, moved to PA for the summer while JD does an internship at a school out there. We have talked about getting together during all of Jamie's mission but never really got around to it. We made sure that we did make time this time. We had our lunch and sat around and chatted. It was a great time. I am glad that Camie will be back in time for Jamie to come home (which is 30 days).

Mom was able to join us towards the end of the lunch.

Me & Camie (you can tell by the color of our lips we were eating very bright, but delicious, fruit dip (made from Cool-Whip and Crystal Light)

The Scottish Festival & Sitting Lady Like

On June 13 Citrine (the Celtic women's group I sing with) performed at the Utah Scottish Festival at Thanksgiving Point. For those that have never been to a Scottish Festival it is great fun...there are men in kilts everywhere. Hahaha...not just kilts, but you have women dressed up as wenches, some people in armor (more like chainmail), etc. There are food booths, games (Scottish games), bagpipe competition and other performers. All around these performers are the different clans booth. If you find that you belong to one clan you can go to their booth and they will tell you about that clan and that lineage you belong to. It is quite facinating actually.

Well, next to our booth that we had, which was next to the stage, was Clan Grant. It was your typical clan booth, but there were somethings that I would like to have told the man running the tent. The first was, if you are going to be sitting in a skirt/kilt learn to put your legs together. Even though he had something on underneath I still saw a whole lot more than I ever wanted to! The worst part is that this view was right above the head of Anne-Marie. It was like a train wreck...I could not look away!

Again, it was a cold, wet day (like every day this June) and we got rained out of our last set (really poured out). It was pouring so hard that it was getting the equipment wet and was leaking through our tent. Such a fun day to spend with Citrine!

At least I think he is a religious man! :)

All We Need Is Love...

On Thursday, June 11 two of my greatest friends were married for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple. Even though it rained, actually poured, the whole time we were at the temple it was still a wonderful day. Congrats Spencer and Heather, I love you guys!!

Probably not the best shoes to wear to the temple. I also love that everyone has black umbrellas and mine is pink (what other color woudl it be?)

Jackie and Damien were in the corner huddled under the umbrella waiting for the bride and groom to come out and I thought this would be a great picture op! All Jackie needed to do was pop her foot and it would be your classic 'making-out-in-the-rain' picture!

The guys (Jeremy, Chris and Damien)! They are so much fun. Gotta love them. I especially love how Damien doesn't have an umbrella. Maybe next time, but then again I think that he likes to have a reason to snuggle up under there!

After the temple Jackie and I rode trax to The Gateway and ate lunch. While we were waiting for the trax I noticed this lovely cement thing across the street. I don't know what was more eye catching the bright flaming bright yellow hair on the girl or the stirrup pants on the guy. Either way Jackie and I had a good giggle over it!

At the wedding dinner that night the colors were orange (Spencer's favorite color) so each table had a centerpiece of goldfish. They were in actual fish bowls up to champagne flutes. Really beautiful.
The happy couple reading the card from Matthew, Jackie and myself. It was an Indian blessing and the cover looked like it would come off a Harlequin book. It was great!

Arizona or Bust!

Back in April I decided that I needed to get away from life (see Birthday posting about being depressed to turn 27). I found out that my gram was going to AZ to see my aunt, uncle and cousins, and to see Jessie graduate from ASU. After getting the ticket reservation for my gram from my aunt I made a call down south and asked if it would be too much to come down as well as the flight was pretty cheap. When I talked to Jess and told her I would come down you would have thought that was the best day ever for her. So after a month of waiting to go I finally flew down with gram.

Traveling with gram is an adventure. First, she has had knee replacements so when we go through the airport security screening she gets stopped due to the metal knees. They don't care that she carries around a card that says she has fake knees. They still have to bring in the burly women to do the pat down and the magical wand test. While waiting for our flight I saw a friend of mine who used to be in my ward who was flying to Phoenix to catch a flight to Chicago for school interviews. It was nice to talk to him (he is married now). The flight was horrible (especially the landing). When my aunt picked us up she drove us around the airport to show us the precautions the state was taking for President Obama to come into town and speak at the graduation. Buses were lined up all around the perimeter and you couldn't see any of the landing strips. We were going to go to the graduation speach with Obama, but ended up not as it was held in the stadium, in metal seats, in 100+ degree weather where you had to be there 2 hours early and no water bottles were allowed in (dang that Swine Flu). After hearing about that grand torture we ended up just going shopping and then to dinner (where I flirted it up with the hot waiter).

Gram and I ended up staying in a Best Western while we were there. I don't know if I can travel with people who wake up at 5:30am and turn on all the lights just to go and get in the shower. It is one thing to turn on a light to get your items and then turn it off when you get in the shower. I was a little grumpy that day.

Jessie and Jason took me to this really fun zoo and aquarium where they have animals that are not found in your typical zoo. It was really fun. We went early enough in the morning so we didn't have to worry about the heat. It was way fun. On Friday was Jess' graduation from her individual school (education). That was short and sweet. Loved it...I am sure everyone wishes they were all that short. Afterwards we tried to go to one of my favorite places down there (Better Than Sex Cafe), but it was closed for remodeling. Guess I will have to go back in Fall. That night there was a graduation party for Jess as well, so we spent the rest of the day getting things ready for that. Jason and I got to travel a lot that day running errands. On Saturday we went to breakfast and shopping before Gram and I had to catch our plane home. It was such a great trip. I had so much fun, and I love being able to see the Vunders! I love you guys!! (Jason, can't wait to see you in a week).

This monkey was so cute. He was just hanging out watching the patrons go by.

These are the same type of monkeys (from Congo). You know you have a true friend when they are willing to pick the lice and bugs off you!

At the petting zoo these animals were acting like they hadn't ever eaten. They even started nibbling on my shirt. Don't I look so Snow White or Sleeping Beautish. I wanted to start singing as I was surrounded by deer!

At the aquarium I got to feed the sting rays. This guy could smell the shrimp in my hand and keep jumping out of the water for it. Talk about an odd sensation. I would love to feed them again though.

Madi loves penguins so I had Jess and Jason pose with me so I could get those for Madi.

They had this really fun train ride where they actually stop the train in the middle of the ride for you to look around. Good thing there wasn't anything too dangerous, or maybe they were used to people taking the train into their territory.

Don't we all look so happy?

Jess and the women. It was a blas to hang out with them.

So modelesque...don't cha think? That is my new dress I bought down there. I love it!! So not like the majority of the clothes I own.

Even though I didn't get to eat there, I still at least got my picture with the sign!

My Birthday

So I know this post is late, but better late than never, right? On my birthday I went to the zoo with my beautiful nieces, my sister and grandmother. I don't think I could have spent a birthday in a better way. No work was the biggest bonus to me, but to spend the day with those that I love was even better. After walking around the zoo my parents, gram, Chris, the girls and Derick all went to dinner with me to Iggy's (one of my favorite places). It was such a great birthday.

I will admit that I had a hard time turning 27 this year. I think the older I get the more I focus on where my life is going and if I am happy. I am happy with my life, and I know things haven't turned out the way that I wanted, but I am not always in charge. I hope that this year will be just as spectacular as 26 was.

It wouldn't be the zoo if you didn't take your picture with the Lion drinking fountain (which wasn't working). I guess they keep it for picture ops.

Again, so many photo ops at the zoo!!

This picture doesn't show it, but Brynnie loved the carousel. At first she was a little hesitant, but once it got going she was grins the whole ride.
Again, what is the zoo without the "Do you measure up?" picture. Yes...I do measure up.
What a great day at the zoo. I love my family. We had such an amazing day. Madi and Em were more excited for my day and our trip to the zoo than anyone else. I couldn't have spent it any better.