Dear Brian Regan,

Dear Brian (Brivl7Q)-

We were fortunate enough to see you perform this week at the Mountain Winery in Saratoga, CA. This is the 3rd time. We got to sit in one of the suites which was totally fun. Awesome seats, good food and sure-fire talent. I just wanted to thank you for being you, and commend you on developing and sharing your talents. I believe you are doing what you were meant to be doing. I was discussing with my husband on the way home and I feel the need to thank you for being one of the unifying forces in our family. We have 3 teenagers. And while I know I’m stating the obvious, we don’t see eye to eye on much. They don’t even really see eye to eye with each other very often. But when it comes to Brian Regan. We all agree, we love you and your style and pretty much quote your material, dare I say, an amazing amount per week (probably an average of once per day, often more.) We start in on it and then there is no stopping us. It makes us all laugh, no matter how often we hear it or say it. It makes us happy too that we don't have to censor it. We believe in clean living in our house. Thanks for holding true to your clean comedy and giving us something to laugh at that is truly funny.

All our friends and family are converted too. We have taken to showing large handwritten signs in our van windows to our friends in other cars when we travel. One of our favorite signs is, “Just dumb ol’ donkeys.” It makes long car trips a little more bearable. Thanks for that.

Please come to our next campout. We love telling and retelling funny anecdotes, and laughing and laughing. When someone has a new story they say, “It’ll be a good one for the campfire.” We could all be the opening act and then you could start in and we could laugh all night.

I just want you to know you’re appreciated, loved and quoted often.

Take Luck,

Stefani Meyer

Just so you know, I really sent this to him.

Have You Seen This?

or this??
or this?
Yes that's right Kelsi officially graduated! She did it she actually did it! We couldn't be happier and more proud of her fighting the fight and doing hard things.

Awesomely enough out of the 300 kids that graduated Kelsi and her friend Angela Merrell got so sit next to each other during the ceremonies. Thank goodness for alphabetical seating. That made it all the more sweet.

Here she is getting her diploma.

These girls have made the High School experience bearable. They are so beautiful inside and out, and so talented and so fun and so good. Kelsi has been blessed to associate with them. Two of them will be going to BYU-I in the fall with Kelsi. This is of great comfort to me and I'm sure to Kelsi.

And...

Have you seen these cuties?

Nigh unto a Half Century -- or Who's the Better Parent?

Guess who had a birthday? Weird! It seems to me, he had one last year around this time. He's getting older but I love him more than ever. He compliments me to a tee. What would I do without him? He's better than me, stronger than me, and his arms are a little bit longer than me (sorry I had to throw that in for all you Justin Beiber fans).

Don't feel bad for him getting so old and everything. I guess the older you get the more you get spoiled for your birthday. He got one of these. His old VitaMix was 18 years old... and well used. Time for some awesome drinks!

He went here! 3 days of golfing in Tahoe! Beautiful!

Annnd, he went here! I know, be jealous (It's what every 49 year old man wants to do for his birthday. Go see Justin Bieber! Laugh, but if it makes your daughter happy then it's totally worth it)

(awww, see what I mean - happy, happy girl)

And Brady and Kelsi made him one of these (I served it)

And he blew all his candles out so his wishes will come true.

AND as it turns out, one of our family's ongoing questions has been answered. It looks like Brad IS the better parent after all.

Last week we went all "unplugged" (you know, turned off the internet, cell phones, video games, movies etc.) and it was HIS idea! I was leary about this idea, well ok, downright dread had set into my brain. But I shouldn't have been worried his idea of no electronics became a joy to me. I missed checking my email and I missed updating my blog, but I think I could almost go without it forever if my kids would continue without all their extra electronic attachments. I’m not saying they were excited to do jobs or are all involved in all these extra enriching activities after only one day and I had interacted with them individually and as a group more than in all the previous week, plus they were been pretty pleasant for the most part... Oh, and I can't forget, LOUD. Wow! They like to talk very loudly in my face. It’s not a mean yelling, they are just loud. They think it’s funny. I still tell them to tone it down, but I’m willing to put up with the extra noise in exchange for the unity I felt. I’m sure they would deny to the end that it had anything to do with their lack of technology, but I know in my heart that they would not be exactly right.

Another one of Brad’s ideas that has been going relatively well is the idea of taking one room or area in the house per day and do a deep cleaning of it. Ok, so granted we’ve done only 3 relatively easy areas so far (pantry, living room and stairs/hallway). They complain and complain and I could have cleaned the area 3 times over, in the length of time it takes them to get their rears in gear. But what I think (hope) they are realizing is that there is more to cleaning an area well than running a vacuum between the clutter on the floor. I’ve been making a list of EVERYTHING that needs to be done in that area and then everyone gets to choose assigned something off the list to do, until it’s all done. Again, it takes WAY longer to motivate them than to actually clean the area, but I just keep picturing Kelsi at college at “Dorm Check” time, knowing what it takes to have their dorm pass and what will keep her apartment disease free up to snuff. And because of my new outlook on life, (I've been trying to me more proactive than reactive) I’ve been able to keep a cool head and know that I am getting an area of my house clean that might not otherwise get done, AND I’m hopefully teaching some useful life skills to my kids in the mean time. What’s not to be calm and cool about (even it takes all day)?

So I guess it goes to show, Brad IS the better parent. But see, I may be too wimpy nice to come up with such stringent rules and regulations but check this... who is the one that is carrying out these stringent rules and regulations? Ya, that would be ME. Let me tell you that takes some pretty good parenting skills in and of itself, don’t you think? I guess this is what I'm talking about with Brad and I complimenting each other. I hope we are both around for another 1/2 a century to have many more awesome experiences.

I LOVE YOU BRAD!!! THANKS FOR BEING YOU!