Thursday, September 24, 2015

weekend wonderful

This past weekend came and went so fast. We both agree it seemed longer than the typical weekend, but no where near long enough...

We flew from Hawaii to the lovely Draper, Utah to celebrate Natalie and Teej getting hitched! We also made it a trip to visit my Grandma Chadderdon before she leaves on her mission to the Philippines in a couple weeks. My family drove from Idaho and we all had a good weekend seeing the people we love so much.

Lots of highlights this weekend, we starting making a top-ten list on the plane but it turned into a top 18 list and isn't really an any particular order or ranked...Just a list of great moments and highlights of our short Utah getaway.

#1 Natalie & Teej got sealed in the Draper Temple!
#2 Got to see my Grandma before she leaves and my family coming from Idaho too!
#3 Ping pong tournaments for the boys at Van Slootens
#4 Breakfast at Peggy Anne's with Chadderdons
#5 Kneaders lunch with Garners
#6 Family lunches Sunday and visiting with family and cute kids
#7 Hooked up with Costco goods!!
#8 Golfing and Riley almost getting killed on golf carts....
#9 Chats at Aunt Marys ❤️
#10 Plane rides with fam!
#11 Denny's GRaND SLAMS with Stevensons
#12 Seeing Natalie's new apartment and football in the street
#13 visiting grandmas home and jumping on indoor tramp and seeing the views from mtn top
#14 Football Party in theater room
#15 "Presidential car openings" game with the Twins
#16 Quin slaloming with the cars
#17 Golf tournaments on airplane
#18 Riley's night terror....









I love my mom so much!! SO good to see them for the weekend.

I love grandmas house! 


Riley & His Trainer on Mission: Jace Peterson

Bahahahah the twins in the back.

Sisters :) 

Cute Couple Awards right here... 




Red Eye Flight






Friday, September 11, 2015

Nueva YorK!

 New York has a special place in my heart forever.
I got called on an LDS mission to the city!
I would of never considered myself a city girl, but this place has a way to steal your heart and soul.
Also, my hubby Riley was born in New York!


Interesting fact about us:
He wanted to marry an Idaho girl and told his family this detail after his mission. . . 
soon after on his first day back to Hawaii for school, we met and he found out I was from Idaho and took interest and wanted to know which part. We talked, I dont remember anything significant (or the conversation for that matter) but he does: I was from Idaho. A few weeks later, we met again on a hike to Chinamas Hat... he mentioned he was born in New York. After this comment, I took interest and turned my head back and wanted to know everything about him. We feel in love. New York was the first detail that grabbed my attention and glad we both have this beloved city in our hearts.


Today is September 11th
To remember the past events, we started watching United 93
 together yesterday and will finish it tonight.
Riley mentioned today though, he wasn't sure he wanted to finish because he read a story online about United 93 that was pretty heavy. He shared it with me, its a tear jerker.
The terrorist events are dark and devastating, the lives and legacy of many Americans gone are significant and worth remembering and paying tribute too.

Story of Jack & Lauren
Written By Frank Somerville KTVU:



The man on the left is Jack Grandcolas.
Next to him is his wife Lauren.
14 years ago she was on Flight 93.
She was pregnant at the time.
It would have been their first child.
She was not supposed to be on the flight.
But there were seats available and it meant that she would get home earlier to the Bay Area.
So she switched her ticket to Flight 93.
I interviewed Jack about a year after his wife died.
And that interview affected me more than any other story I’ve ever covered.
Especially because of what he let me listen to right as I was leaving. 
I’ve watched two executions at San Quentin.
They really didn’t faze me.
But talking to Jack.
That got to me.
His wife Lauren called him after the plane had been hijacked.
He was asleep upstairs and didn’t hear the phone call.
During the interview I asked him what she said.
But I didn’t ask him if I could hear it.
That just seemed too personal to me.
But as I was leaving, he stopped me and said:
“Frank would you like to hear her message?”
I was so incredibly touched.
We went into his kitchen and he turned on the answering machine and played it. 
I found it remarkable how calm she was.
Honestly it sounded like she could have been calling from the grocery store.
There was no panic in her voice at all. 
Here’s what she said:
“Honey, are you there?
Jack, pick up sweetie.
Okay, well I just wanted to tell you I love you.
We’re having a little problem on the plane.”
“I’m totally fine, I just love you more than anything, just know that.
And you know, I’m, you know, I’m comfortable and I’m okay... for now.
Just a little problem.
So I just love you, please tell my family I love them too.
Bye, honey.”
Jack says that he could tell that she wanted to say:
“I’ll call you back later.”
But she couldn’t.
Because she knew she wasn't going to see him again. 
After hearing her message I just completely broke down.
I was literally sobbing in my car all the way home.
Then after I got home and started to tell my wife about the interview, I broke down again.
I even broke down when I was logging the interview.
It’s the one and only time in my 35 years as a reporter and anchor where I literally couldn’t control my emotions.
I just felt so bad for Jack. 
That's my September 11th story.
I can remember it like it was yesterday.
It's a day I will never forget. 
Pictures Taken By: E + E Photography
They did my wedding pics and we love them && they sure captured New York beautifully! 

Saturday, September 5, 2015

Helloooo College Football!!!!

Football has official started... 
Goodbye husband!!!!
See you post season...
Just Kidding, But sports really is a huge part of his life.
&& he is a huge part of my life. 


Riley loves his sports and teams. Its a big part of who he is and something he loves and a passion of life.
When he was in 2nd grade he discovered the daily newspaper sports section.
Every morning, he would run out in his whitey tighties to get the paper and lay in the middle of the floor and read the stats before school started over a bowl of cereal. 
Not much has changed, except the newspaper has converted into a laptop. 

We have been talking for some time about the season starting and his anticipation and longing for it to begin.
To fill the void he has gotten really into baseball though and we got MLB TV!
But college football has officially started this week.

To celebrate we decided to go to Buffalo Wild Wings and get us some hot wings and go to a game.
After work/classes, we all piled in the car (with the siblings)  and hit the road for some wings.
After the hour ride, we pulled out and found out that BDUBS was closed and to make matters worst there was lots of rain and a tsunami alarm that went off. 

BUT we settled for subway and decided to take the risk and crossed our fingers that it didn't rain out.
We pulled up to Aloha Stadium in good time and broke up to scout out and get our tickets.
I learned a new word "scalping"...
It was a new concept for me....
The goal was to get the cheapest ticket. 
We all broke off and went off to get them by people selling outside the gates.
Ethan won, getting his for free.. by flashing his smile and using his charm.
We all did really good and got them for less than ticket value 
&& then entered the stadium and sat together in the forth row!

I'm pretty sure its a Stevenson thing! 
They are such pros and getting the cheapest tickets and best seats in the house.
They said they learned it from their dad,
it was so fun.

The game was great too!
It was Hawaii vs. Colorado.
It was cool seeing them do the Haka and watching the game all together as a family.
I never really grew up watching sports so everything is really new to me honestly.
Riley was sure in his element though. 
We worked out a great system during the four hour game:
The play would happen... people would react (clap/boo/etc)...
I would watch the instant replay and try to figure out what exactly happened (if it wasn't the obvious touchdown, of course)... and then i would turn to Riley and he would recap the play.
It was a good system. I learned lots of football.
Hawaii won but we left right before ending and missed the traffic and made it home in record timing.... and it didn't rain.

It was a great start to the season.