2008 Blessings

It is difficult to think that 2008 is coming to an end. This year, like many has gone by too fast. As this year comes to a close I would like to reflect on some of the many things I am grateful for.
Wes* Family* friends* holidays* our house* neighbors* warmth* employment* education* opportunities* health* prayer* traveling* transportation* memories* fun times* trials* music* laughter* tears* the gospel*

UTAH-BYU games pics

Good times had by all (well Utah fans, I guess) at the Utah-BYU game. What a game!!!
Wes & I started the game off with some delicious food on the 4th floor (thanks Ryan), then Wes headed down to the field for his duties on the sideline, and I met Tami at our seats to watch the exciting game. After we of course headed on the field to celebrate. What a fun year to be a Utah fan. We sure are hoping they go to the Fiesta Bowl, so we can go. We are unsure about how we would afford tickets to New Orleans or Florida. Go Utes! We love our school.

UTAH 48 BYU 24

Sorry Twilight fans...(and I am one)

Okay, 'Twilight' fans, please don't hate me.
Last night/this morning some gals in my neighborhood ventured to the 12:20am showing of 'Twilight.' It was a fun night. We started off with some delicious Toll House Pie at the Dodo, then headed to the Century Theatre. We were surrounded by die heard 'Tweens', it was prime people watching & a fun atmosphere. I must admit, weeks ago when I saw the previews for Twilight, I was extremely disappointed with the casting of Edward. But I optimistically tried to have an open mind about it, but he is nothing I pictured him as. Edward is suppose to be 'the vampire with godlike good looks.' He is suppose to be smooth, dreamy (as dreamy as a vampire can be) suave, strong, and have the skin of sparkling marble, right? Wrongo. He is unblinking, googlied eyed, too pale, bordering on anemic, awkward, and down right creepy. And how about his chest hair? ugh. Don't you at least think they could have waxed it for the movie? The character development was non-existent. And I have to think if you haven't read the book, the movie would be confusing and diffcult to follow. At least from reading the book you knew what kinds of feelings were "supposed" to be portrayed when they weren't. I understand the difficult to take a 500+ page novel, & to turn it into a 2 hour movie. Maybe it is because I am not 16, so it was just a little too cheesy. But typically I truly enjoy cheesy love stories.
On a positive, it it fun to see so many people excited about a movie based on a book that so many people have read and are passionate about.
Overall a fun night had by all. But my review of the movie: Be prepared for painfully awkward moments, and lots of giggles (I literally giggled out loud often in parts I don't think were intended to be funny:)

Utah 13 TCU 10

THE UTAH BLACKOUT GAME

*Wes is loving the Utes. He can hardly wait for the BYU/Utah game in 2 weeks. He is like a kid waiting for Christmas. It's adorable!

Amy with the Murray Mayor

Amy twists the arm, er 'mustache' of Murray Mayor Dan Snarr, in an effort to get more donations for the Giving Tree. Amy works with Murray City promoting Foster Care/Adoption. She has the opportunity to work with the famous Murray Mayor. Mayor Snarr is not famous for being Mayor but rather his infamous mustache (that was seen on national television while David Archuleta was on American Idol). Just one more strange person to represent Utah, and make everyone think us 'Utahns' are completely bizarre.

blah, blah, blah

This is how I feel about my 'Blah'gging World as of late. My apologies...

Did my Father-in-Law miss the Touchdown?

I'm trying to figure out if my father-in-law (Bill Earl) is looking for the touchdown or checking out the cheerleaders.

Wes at Work

This is considered "work" for the guys working the "Chain Gang" What a tough job!
Check out Wes in those Nice Pants!
Too bad it didn't make the Newspaper this time. Go Utes!

Share a Smile Triathlon

I have finally put our pics from the triathlon on our computer. Wes & I had a great time training and completing the 'Share a Smile Triathlon' in August. The event was very relaxed, and the money went to a great cause. The only downfall was heading to Utah County at 5:45 AM.

Our bikes are ready to go-look how dark it is
Wes & Ryan with their #'s, ready to race
Amy & Wes after the race
Wes & Josh
Amy & Melissa crossing the finish line

Go Utes!

This post is for my sweet hubby...
Wes started another semester of school this week. It sure was nice spending so much time with him this past month. But on to another semester...
When making his school schedule this semester, cute Wes made sure to not have any Thursday night classes-heaven forbid miss a Utah football game. It is a big deal around here.
Wes is excited for Utah football to begin (me too, actually-it is my Alma mater, and I grew up in a household that most definitely bleeds red).
Well, the wait is almost over. Tomorrow is the kickoff to their season.
I hope it goes well.
Wes & I are headed to Jackson (wish us luck as a cold front is on its way). Cute Wes called up to the Jackson Lake Lodge to verify that there would be a place to watch the Utah/Michigan game. So no need to fear Utes, we will be cheering them on, lounging in the Jackson Lake Lodge bar..sipping on a brewsky (non-alcoholic, of course, j/k).

How annoying

Yes, I am annoyed...I just received a ticket for "Rolling" through a stop sign. And to make it worse, I had the brand-new intern from my work with me. How embarrassing. I was just driving along, chit-chatting with the intern, and the next thing I know, there are flashing lights behind me. I was shocked-I thought to myself, "Is my registration expired?"-No, but it does at the end of this month, thank goodness. "Was I speeding?"-I sure don't think so. "Did I run that stop-sign?" I certainly remember seeing the stop-sign, so I know I didn't run it. When the officer came to my window, she tells me I "rolled" through the stop-sign. And $60 later...here I am to vent about it. Before I even pulled away, the officer was back in her hiding place ready to pull over another person for "rolling" through the stop sign, I am sure. You're welcome Taylorsville City-make sure my $60 goes somewhere important-not to pay for some police officer to hide behind a tree and pull people over for rolling through a stop sign. How about to fight crime, or pull over those idiots on the freeway going 90mph. ugh.

Did not disappoint

I love love love 'So You Think You Can Dance!' And the finale' did not disappoint. What a wonderful show. I loved how they danced the best dances over again last night. It was fantastic. I loved the recap of the entire season, as well as the portion where they talked with past contestants.
My only question is, "Was I suppose to smoke something before watching the 'Cirque de Soleil' piece by Wade Robson?" I truly think Wade Robson is an amazing choreographer, and I have missed his choreography a lot this season, but seriously, the rabbits dancing creeped me out a little.
Also, I had been saying this since the beginning, but Will is by far the best dancer on the show-I was so disappointed when he was voted off the show a few weeks ago. And seeing him dance again last night, just confirmed that he definitely should have made top 4-and won! I loved his James Brown solo he did. I do like Joshua, but really, Will is just amazing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjpD2llhdHo&eurl=http://bigsole.blogspot.com/2008/07/will-wingfields-james-brown-solo.html

I have always loved to dance, and I just love this show!

2008 Boyack Family Reunion

The 2008 Boyack reunion was held this weekend in Park City, Utah.
We had a fun time with the 'Boyack Clan'-and look forward to the reunion in 2010 in Nauvoo-as one of Wes' relatives said: "Just save $10/month for the next two years." We laughed about this for days-Yep, I am sure $240 will cover the cost to Nauvoo:)
I have enjoyed attending the Boyack reunions and getting acquainted with the many Boyack's because as most married women will understand, when you get married and take your husband's last name-people ask you all the time if you are related to "so & so Boyack?" Hmm, good question??? I want to respond with-"This is my married name, and I have no idea, however I could tell you about my maiden name relatives, because I have been an "Earl" for my entire life, but a "Boyack" for only 4 years."
*Highlights of the reunion: The mass responses to the "Dozens of Cousins" 1980 Boyack reunion shirt, Bowen taking our Jamocha shake cup, and asking the man at Arby's for a "Shake refill," and actually getting one, almost beating Morgan at "Acquire"-my first time playing it (I have been hearing about Acquire since Wes & I were dating, but had yet to play it), learning more about the Boyack heritage and it's Scottish roots, wearing bright yellow matching shirts all around Park City, and getting strange looks and questions about the reunion, and of course getting to spend time with family who live out of state.

Grandpa Ray M. Boyack (1905-1989)

Basement Tearout

Here are some pics and video from our basement destruction.
Nothing fancy, just some photos for us to show where we started, the HUGE mess, the clean-up-and hopefully one day...the new re-model.
Also, FYI about the videos: Wes saw this idea on-line, and he videoed himself doing this while I was gone-what a cute, funny nerd I am married to.


Fireplace Tear out Part 1


Fireplace Tear out Part 2

Boating

Good times had by all at Utah Lake (minus the pesky bugs, and being in Utah County, of course:) Anyway, thanks to Josh & Melissa for taking us boating, and teaching us to Wake Surf (attempting to teach me is a better way to put it, because I was not quite grasping it...) Wes on the other hand did quite well.
*Lack of blogging confession: Hmm, just haven't quite been feeling up to updating the blog. Wes & I have been busy tearing down our basement. We rented a gigantic dumpster, and filled it to the brim (hopefully I will download the pics). What are we doing with the basement, you ask? Nothing for now, until we win the lottery. We are just happy to have an empty basement (thanks to our family members for picking up your "stuff"). We hired a few high school boys in the neighborhood to help us tear down and load the dumpster. They were awesome, and were excited to tear down anything and everything. Wes & I quickly realized that spending a few days with high school kids sure makes you feel old-I swear I was just in High School, right?

Love these Girls!

A couple weeks ago a bunch of us girls got together for dinner while Lizzie was in town. What a fun night filled with catching up, looking at pictures, reminiscing, laughing, laughing, & more laughing. I love all you girls, and can't wait to see you again, soon!

Lizzie, Tricia, Amy, Katie, Lindsay, Aydre, Bethany

This weekend @ the Gateway

On June 13 & 14, the Utah Foster Care Foundation (my work) will be putting on their 6th annual Chalk Art Festival at the Gateway Mall. The Gateway streets will be transformed into a gallery of temporary art-Raising awareness of the need for foster/adoptive families.
Here are some pics from last years Festival-they are even more amazing in person.

Williamsburg Family Vacation

The Boyack fam. had a wonderful time in Williamsburg, VA a few weeks ago.
Thanks to Wally & Gaylynne for a fun time. It was great to have everyone there (although we missed Dave).

Wes & Amy in front of the Capitol
Inside the Governor's Palace with Caroline
Anna, Caroline, and Nate
All the boy cousins...plenty of boys in the Boyack fam.
Relaxing on the Basset Hall lawn

Enjoying Baskin Robbins $0.31 ice cream cones. We also went to Ben & Jerry's the day before for free ice cream cones for customer appreciation day!
The Boyack cousins
Jamestown settlement

Pictures at the Capitol
Wally & Gaylynne with all the grandkids

Wes is suited up, and ready to go
Wes with a tri-corner hat (and the much coveted Williamsburg mug with unlimited refills...)
Wes & the boys getting ready for the Fife & Drum march
The Fife and Drum parade...Wes & the nephews participated

Our picture in front of the lovely plantation we stayed at in Willimsburg...thanks Brigham for taking this pic for us-our legs have never looked better!
We were also able to spend some time in DC-which is always fun, since we met there


Wes is giving the thumbs up to the Utahn who invented the TV-Philo Farnsworth.