RANDOM PICTURES

I had some pictures on my camera that I never posted. Some are from a reunion and the others...well they are from other times.



With no further ado let the pictures roll

One thing we did at the reunion was build a homemade kite. Dad and Clayton brainstormed and built while Mom, Julia and I played foosball. Pretty sweet teamwork.

Run...up...up...nosedive. Run...up...up...uuuuppp...nosedive. awesome. Clayton was proud because he stuck that nose 8 feet into the ground. Could have possibly killed a small child. Next time let hope your building materials aren't 2X4's. Gold star for effort though.

How can you not love this cute face!?!

D.I. navy blue t-shirt (except Cort you loser) - $1

D.I. Levi shorts - $2


3 boys posing in their matchy-matchy outfits (except for the gay wad Cort who was too lazy to put his back on) - PRICELESS

The boys got this crazy idea to wear Levi shorts thinking it would be funny (don't worry their sense of humor confuses most people). Seeing how none of them own Levi shorts Clayton and I road tripped it to the D.I. and purchased the below lovely outfits for $3 a person. Pretty sure they will end up back at the D.I. in a week. Levi shorts are not a fashion "must" for these guys. It was a one time, 1 minute picture shot. That $3 could have gone to better use like...buying me a milkshake! I wish I would have gotten a better picture of Cort's DRAW STRING Levi shorts. They gave him a nice badonka-donk. Serious ghetto-booty. Clayton was even kind enough to write his name on the waistband. So for all you D.I. shoppers who find a size 34 pair of drawstring Levi shorts with a name in the waist band...you now know where they came from.

Not quite sure why Cort is pulling this very, VERY "attractive" face. He was probably mad at me for telling him to go put on his matching shirt.

Pop's throwing Ty in the air.

Last summer one of Clayton's favorite Sunday activities at my parents was killing flies with the electric fly swatter. Flies are everywhere and I mean EVERYWHERE at the 'rents. They got this electric fly swatter as a gift. Strange, but useful gift. Clayton liked watching the flies get zapped. He also enjoyed chasing Cortney and Brandon around the house zapping them.
Every once in a while Brandon comes to visit us. Those days are special days. By "special" I mean days when he wants to mooch food. Clayton and I usually go in phases on what we eat. This phase was a Mac 'n Cheese, hot dog and pea phase.

Once again I must brag. My husband is freaking awesome. Months ago he ran 30 miles on a treadmill. See why I have to brag!?!

The time on the console is deceiving. He did not run 30 miles in 40 minutes. Most consoles start the time over when they hit 100 minutes.

peace out.

DAD DAY 2009

Clayton and I have been blessed with the greatest dad's in the world. I guess the rest of the world got the shaft in the Dad department. Sorry, but you did. Just kidding...I'm sure all your dad's are just fine.



Here are our Dad's...

Call him "Pops". We do.

I love this picture. It was taken right after he got pummeled by a wave in Hawaii. Dad has a great sense of humor. Most of the pranks at girls camp and youth conference were planned by Pops. Once the Stake Leaders banned dad from girls camp because he caused too much "trouble." Another time (aka a couple of weeks ago) Pops got a speeding ticket. No surprise here. He thought it would be funny to pay his $75 ticket in PENNIES! I love watching Pop's with his grandkids. He can never EVER tell them "No." Sometimes I tell him he loves them more than he loved us when we were kids...although I know it isn't true, but don't tell him that. Strange, funny man and we love him.

This guy you can call "Poppy." We do.

Poppy is famous for his "Poppy walk." This is where he walks the grandbabbies around the house. They love it. Usually puts them to sleep. Poppy also is the one who uncovered my love for steaks. There is nothing better than a McMurdie steak. Nothing. And lets not forget he taught me how to shoot a gun. good times. Clayton often calls his Dad his hero. I credit Poppy for the wonderful man Clayton is today.

To both our Dad's. We love you.

Thank you for...

your love

your testimony

your humor

your hardwork (also the work ethic you taught us)

your support

your dedication to your family, to Christ and to your Priesthood.

WE LOVE YOU!!!

90'S

I think everyone looked hideous in the '90s. I blame it on MC Hammer.

-Clayton McMurdie, June 2009

Oh yes! Those are LA Gears with the double laces you are seeing.

WIPEOUT

This Guy

applied to be on this show

He wants to be known as the "Mormon Farm Boy."

awesome.

speaking of awesome this is my 3rd post today.

ATTEMPT TO HIKE MT. NAOMI

"Hey Clayton. Remember that time we drove all the way to the Grand Canyon and it was closed?"

Spring Break 2007 - I will spare you the picture of Clayton peeing on that sign.

"Hey Clayton. Remember that time we were going to hike Mt. Naomi and it was covered with snow, experiencing hurricane like winds (ok slight exaggeration) and 20 degrees!?!"

Looks cold doesn't it!?! In our defense we figured this might happen. After all it is only June.

I love how I look like I have to pee in this picture. nice.

Clayton doing the "Edward run" in the Tony Grove parking lot. hilarious. Guess you had to be there. Please excuse us we watched Twilight the night before.

Where did that "hump" on my back come from!?!

ROAD TRIP TO ... POCATELLO???

Oh yes we did! We took a road trip to the great (I use that word loosely) city of Pocatello, Idaho. Believe me we did have a reason to go. Pocatello wouldn't have been my city of choice if we didn't have to go (everything is southern Idaho is a little bit odd...no offense). The reason...work dinner. Clayton had to meet with someone who made us drive the red roads (the roads are red in Idaho people) of the great I-15 to attend the Sandpiper for dinner.

In case you have forgotten what we look like...

this is us on the drive into town. So exciting.

The Sandpiper. Good eats.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TRIP

1. because of the constant rain lately the normally dead drive was especially green.

2. seeing signs for the "4 mile road" or the "10 mile road" and asking Clayton how long he thought they were. never got old (to me anyway). the creativity of the Idahoan road namers kills me.

3. holding my over flowing bladder all the way there and finding the bathroom at the Chevron could rival the bathroom at the Hilton. nice surprise for a gas station bathroom.

4. getting into town 1/2 hour early and decided we were to hungry to wait to eat. Stopped at the local Wilco to buy beef jerky and pretzels. We. Are. Pigs. 'nuf said.

5. at the local Wilco we saw many white trash people. one of my favorites was the lady with big hair (insert your favorite "everything is bigger in (southern) Idaho" joke here) sporting a blue off-the shoulder blouse and a hotpink bra. awesomely classy.

6. actually seeing the famous Senor Iguana's home of the 2 foot burrito. We will be back to eat and conquer.
7. Having someone else pay for your meal which includes 3 appetizers, bread, salad, entree and dessert. score.

8. Arguing with Clayton on the way home about Kelly Clarkson's song "My Life Would Suck without You". He thinks it is a song about a desperate girl while I think it is a love song about a girl who loves a guy so much that her life would really, really, REALLY suck without him. I still think I am right. I don't care what you say.

9. Listening to the likes of Keith Urban, Pepper, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Obadiah Parker, and old school butt rock.

Clayton selecting the tunes 10. Having Clayton introduce me to the "softer" sides of Alice in Chains and Senses Fail.

11. Clayton dedicated a song to me and all my tribal friends (that's you Candy! p.s I would never put dog poop on your door!). You can call me "little running deer" or "one who pees a lot". Those are my indian names. Notice the placement of his hands on the iPod. He wanted me to point that out. 12. eating an Idaho Spud. Wilco said this is what makes Idaho famous. Honesty here...not that good. 13. Making it home in time for me to go to bed before 10pm. I was worried about that since my biological clock puts me to bed at 830pm.

14. I can't leave it at 13 highlights because that would be bad luck. so....this is a bonus highlight that I have nothing to say anything about.

That's all.

P.S. Jessie please do not be offended to all the lame southern Idaho jokes I made. I love you and do not consider Weston part of southern Idaho. I consider it a suburb of Logan.

DANCE

This post is so late. Coming from a person who makes it to Church on time 1 out of 4 times (that's 25% Math is F.U.N.) no one should be surprised. Since it is my nature to be late I'm not apologizing to anyone, but my adorable nieces whom this post is about.

WARNING THERE WILL BE LOTS OF PICTURES If you read on till the end there will be a sweet surprise. By sweet I mean hilarious surprise filled with blue eyeshadow and ruffled pants.

I have no nieces on the Andrew side of the family. Just nephews who think that tractors are a lot cooler than me. Which in all honesty probably are cooler than me. Marrying into the McMurdie family I got instant nieces. I thought it was awesome. Clayton didn't because the attention went from him to me. Which I don't feel too bad about since he pays more attention to the dog, Lilly anyway. Anyway I love these girls to death. They are so talented, beautiful and smart. I could go on days bragging about them like only a mom would do, but I will do it with pictures instead.

A few months ago (told you I was late) Clayton and I went to Aubri and Hadlee's dance competition.

Hadlee's individual. This girl is good!!!

Aubri. I may be biased, but this girl is good!!!
Aubri's hip-hop dance. This one was my favorite.

Aubri clogging. FYI I took clogging back in the day. I was horrible. Aubri is awesome!
Aubri ballet.
Hadlee cheer
Hadlee ballet
Clayton and Aubri

Aubri's group took judges choice.

Hadlee took Queen for her individual dance. Aubri and Hadlee are amazing dancers. I can only hope that our kids get some of the McMurdie dance genes (not just because of the girls, but Clayton kicks my butt in dance, dance revolution).

Oh wait who is this bang-a-licious girl??? I'm seriously thinking about cutting bangs like that again. What do you think? I also think that I forgot my training bra (aka sports bra) because my pants pulled up far enough to give me the support I need. Sadly, I'm pretty sure my chest size hasn't gotten any bigger since this picture was taken.

Take a look at my eyes. Oh yes that is blue eyeshadow you are seeing. Notice how it coordinates with my leotard and tutu. Matchy-matchy! Are you diggin' it as much as I am. Thanks mom for making me a little skank at the age of 9 (JK)! I think the feathered bangs makes me look a little less like I should be working the corner of 4th and Main. Who is THIS S-E-X-Y beast!?! I know, right. I wonder if I still have those oh so hot white ruffled pants. I could wear them on my "I can't fit into a single thing I own" bloated days (which is pretty much every day lately...no I'm not pregnant. Just feeling a little like Chris Farley). I think if you look at the leotard long enough you might see a hologram or something. Pretty sure that Clayton knew I was "the one" when he saw this picture. By "the one" I mean "the one who could fill his life with hilariously awkward photos".
Being more into sports I wasn't much of a dancer. I was the girl that they always stuck in the back row...and it wasn't because I was tall. Good times (and pictures) though.

GUN SHOW

A few weeks ago Clayton wanted to go to Tremonton and shoot guns. I was a little hesitant about this. First of all, I'm scared of guns. Second, I don't need to learn to shoot because Jack Bauer will come to my rescue if I am ever in trouble. Third, when I was about 12 (i think) my dad had me try to shoot a clay pigeon and the backfire (is that what it is called???) from the gun (shotgun?) hurt my armpit. real. bad.

It took some convincing to help ease my fear. By convincing I mean Clayton told me that it would be up to me to save him if he was ever held against his will. Pressure. With my mind weighted with that thought, we headed to Tremonton.

First up the 22

Is it weird to shot with one eye closed? Just wonderin'. Please also note that I realize that this is not an attractive picture of me.

Next up the 9 mm

That is a serious look of concentration (mixed with a bit of "I can't believe that I'm actually doing this and not peeing my pants")

Lastly the 45 Magnum (like Magnum P.I.)

I did shoot this gun and felt like Jack Bauer was on the sidelines cheering. Not sure why there aren't any pictures to prove that I did shoot it, but you will just have to take my word for it. Clayton and his dad kept telling me how impressed they were we my shooting, that I was doing really well. A little bit of me believes that they were be honest and not just nice. Harry even recorded our shooting with the magnum PI gun. In case you are wondering (from the pic above) it was me who missed 1. I'm still not super comfortable around guns, but this did help. I even enjoyed myself...a lot. Thanks for taking us Harry!

I have mentioned Jack Bauer a couple of times in this post. Hopefully you know Jack. He is the Chuck Norris of our day...without the awesome roundhouse kicks. 24 is (in my humble opinion) one of the two best shows on TV today (The Office being the other). Call during 24 (we don't have dvr) and we will no longer be friends. That includes you family!

A couple of weeks ago was the finale. In honor of the celebration Brandon wore his 24 shirt that some lovely chicas (or hoochies) made him. Pretty sure they put their bedazzler to good use. Nothing says "I'm a man" like hot pink.