MLS Cup '09

Kelly here, just sharing a once in a lifetime experience I had this past weekend. I went to Seattle to watch our very own Real Salt Lake compete against LA Galaxy in the MLS Cup.

I went with Josh B, Nick M, and my brother Brady. We drove the 855 miles to Seattle on some what of a whim, because even we did not expect our Real to make it to the Championship. I have never been to Seattle, and I must say I think I would love to end up there one day. The city was clean (probably from all the rain), the architecture was cool, and the food was good. And I enjoy any city that is that close to the water on multiple sides.

The turnout for the game was amazing. As we walked around earlier that day, we noticed a lot more Real fans than we expected. Turns out Real fans outnumbered LA fans 10 to 1 according to some report. Naturally there were 10 times more Seattle Fans there than the two groups combined. The good news is that Seattle Sounders fans HATE the Galaxy. Even Drew Carey. So as you can imagine Real had the support of 95% of the crowd. Before the game Real fans gathered and marched the streets for a few blocks to the stadium. It was a river of red. The game was intense, I remember shivering uncontrollably before the game, but once that whistle blew, we started shedding clothes. You should know the end. Real wins in a shoot out and I lost my voice for the night.

I want to publicly thank my beautiful wife for understanding and letting me take this trip with the boys.

Tender Lumplings Everywhere, Life's No Fun Without A Good Scare!

Where to start? This Halloween weekend was the most fun we have had in a while. We Jaques' haven't really gotten out much the past couple of Halloweens. So with a party Friday and Saturday night?! Crazyness ensues.
First off decide what to be for the mandatory costume party in Willard. I knew I wanted to be a derby girl for Halloween ever since I saw "Whip It". And I was. I didn't have skates or pads, but I had a helmet and my very own Hurl Scouts outfit. I was pretty impressed by my skills. Kelly decided to be the coach which included short jean shorts and a sick wig. He pulled it off pretty well I think.
Friday nights party was awesome. Donut eating contest, charades and dirty pictionary. There was a costume contest for scariest, funniest and best overall. The Jaques' did not win any, but next year be sure we will dominate. Pretty fun night overall.

Saturday, All Hallows Eve. I decided I wasn't that comfortable in my getup to wear it a second night in a row. So I donned the silk chinese robe Cyndi brought me from China, put my hair up and wore socks with my flip flops. That's about all the effort I could muster. Kelly decided to be a guitar hero, so he braved the wig for a second night in a row and drew himself a soul patch. I know we are so creative. We headed over to Red Robins witht the SoJo group. (that's speak for south jordan). Pretty awesome dinner with tons of fries, don't you worry about that. It was fun to see we weren't the only big group who dressed up. Then we headed back over to the Sandersons for a night of games, rock band, a roucus game of dominoes and tons of yummy treats.

All in all, the best Halloween in a while. Although I paid for staying awake till at least 1 each night this week by struggling in church, but still it was just fast Sunday and therefore nappy time in sacrement. Don't judge, you do it to. There were so many wonderful pictures to put up that I had to do a slideshow. So if you want pictures just put your email down and I will make sure to get those to you post haste.
You stay classy.

I designed the invite for the party. Apparently no one got them. This isn't the one that went out, but still it's pretty funny.

The coach: Who Kelly is supposed to be

Actual Kelly

My inspiration

My starting pose

Fun Times

Kelly and I have been going out and practicing with my new camera. I had to share these gems cause why hide my talent under a bushel? Besides if you are bored at work this will entertain you. If you haven't been to Gardner Village this year, go! They have all these different witches up. It was so fun. I was on witch overload. Plus that place is just cool. I can't wait to see it in winter. We found this cool truck there as well. Loved it! I hope they keep it around so I don't have to drive to Morgan for a truck pose.

And included my freeway shots and temple shots.

A blue cat. Not a witch I know, but it's still cool

This one actually pedals           

Lovely Ladies  

A big witch bum

Why wouldn't you put a jack-o-lantern in a tree?

The cool truck

The sky last night

Me and my favorite pup

A cool night shot

What a great place

This blog schmog

Sometimes I really don't know what to post on this thing. Kelly got into the facebook scene, but I just can't bring myself to do it. I figure if we haven't talked in ten years, then why bother. There must be a reason for it.
Anywho, what have we been up to. Well there was the Cook Family pictures in Idaho. Which was a first for me doing a big group. I can't say I am 100% satisfied with the outcome, but I guess there is a first for everything. Not to mention I just got my new camera and didn't really know the ins and outs persay. I will post those on my photog blog. PS it snowed the morning we left. Lame
Then there was the ultimate girls night. So Amanda had this wonderful idea of going to a haunted house. Well we ended up going to two that night. I must say it was pretty fun. I often wonder what I would be like drunk, but I don't need to wonder now because I downed a Rockstar(which I hardly ever drink caffeine) and was on a sugar/caffeine buzz the rest of the night. We made some friends at the Haunted Mansion. One was a skeleton and another was a weird kid with chains thinking he was all scary. Well he wasn't until I told him Amanda and Lindy's name. The best was watching him chase those two around the care while I sat by and just laughed. The night was still young, so we partied on down to Nightmare on 13th. That haunted house was pretty good. Some points scared me pretty good, but the best part was making a clown scare Amanda and watching her fall on the floor. Yes!! All in all a good night, till I came home and couldn't fall asleep till 6 in the morning. No more rockstars for me.
In the meanwhile, Kelly and I went for a photography date. We did night shots of the Oquirr temple and I offended a couple who just came out. Then we went to an overpass and did night shots of the freeway. Pretty Freakin cool what my new toy can do!! So I am stoked now that I know how to work it. So let me know when I am doing pictures for you ;)

Lindy's New Boyfriend

Me talking to Skeletor  

                         

Taking the Plunge

Alright I did it. I created my photog blog. It is a work in progress and I did just create it Saturday while waiting for Kelly. I named it Blur Photography. The link is in my list of links.
I'm just going to put this out there so I can be done with it. Here goes. I know this sounds like Eyore but I feel like I am joining some kind of club. You know everyone is doing it, photography that is. I have never been one to follow the crowd if I could help it.
But I am tired of sitting around and waiting for things to happen in my life. So this is just another step toward doing what makes me happy. (not to mention all the cool swag that comes with this hobby *cough *canon 7D*) So what if everyone and their dog is doing the same thing. I am hoping that theirs won't last long and they will realize it's not what they really want to do. Endurance has always been my strong point. I lasted four years at Icon Customer Service. That's a long time.
So I have asked this of you before, but I need support. I'm not looking for compliments (although they are much appreciated) just encouragement and maybe mentioning my name if someone asks (no pressure. don't go campaigning for me on the corner or anything). Thanks as always for your friendship.
Anywho not much else going on in our life. I do get my new camera this week, which I am totally stoked for. Who else is excited for colder weather coming next week? I totally wore my cardigan already. But it turned out to be a warm day so it kinda put a damper on the whole experience. The primary program was last Sunday and I got stuck with the Spawn of Satan sitting by me. He was jumping on his chair and got his foot stuck in those fold up bottom choir seats you know. I half considered leaving his foot in there, but then he started whining loudly about it, I had to help. Finally his parents got full view of what we deal with every week. Needless to say they didn't bring him to class last week. It was a nice break. Well that's about it for now.
You stay classy

Laborious Labor Day

Labor is a day of rest. But not for me. I shopped and shot. There were some pretty great sales out there, so I got in on it. Too bad for all the sweaters on sale that I wanted but can't wear till it gets a little colder. I love summer, but am torn now because I want to start wearing my fall clothes. Anyone else feel that way?

Later on the day of Labor, I got to do a photoshoot for Lindy and Maddux. Dang that kid is cute. Amanda came with me as my designated "bag girl" (thank you for helping by the way). We went around Morgan and found some really great places. I will have to come back to these spots as they are in a word "ideal". So today I "worked" by editing pictures all day. I loved the colors we found on commercial street. It was hard to decide what should be black and white and what to keep color. Luckily you can have it both ways. Whatever.

Update on our primary class. They finally split us so now we have eight kids on the list and between four and six come everyweek. Much better. We still have the wild child who I had to chase all around the church building on Sunday. Truly he makes me hate children. Don't judge.

If I may send something out there. I love photography and pretty much everything about it. However living in Utah, the self-proclaimed photography studio-in-your-basement capital, I am hesitant to actually start doing this as a business. I feel I would be jumping on the bandwagon so to speak. Should I A) just keep doing it free for friends and family because I love it so much or B)start making money beccause I will never get a real job in this economy.

As always let me know what you think.

Oh the Joys of "Shooting" People

Last Saturday, Kelly and I ventured up to Wellsville/Mendon to do a shoot for our wonderful friends, the Andersons. I'm not gonna lie, it was challanging. Trying to get the kids to smile at the same time as Genna and Devron. Getting them all to look the same way. But it was good practice. I had fun, plus we got steak afterwards! Thanks Genna and Devron!!

I hope they turned ok. They knew of some really awesome places to go which I hope to make it back to some day. What better than some old shot-out car in the middle of a field?

Well tell me what you think.