Happy Birthday Aunt Mindy Marie!

I NEED A SCANNER BAD...now that that is out of the way

HaPPy Birthday to my Sis Mindy!

~Mindy Marie Hutchings (now Farley) Senior picture~

I had to pull this one out of the archives because I DID HER HAIR and was so proud of myself! wahoo! I know she is ecstatic now that I did it as well.

Mindy was born a short 17 months behind me, and because of that we literally Grew Up Together!

Here we are w/ bad perms and BANGS flying kites w/ our youngest bro!

With such a LARGE family (9 kids) we were kinda like the mafia-thick as blood!

When it really came down to it, we stuck together and always had each others back!Here is an infamous Friday night pizza night at our home growing up-Mindy and I are bottom center and right!

Mindy is one of the sisters I shared a room with the most growing up, AND got in my only fist fight with!

We were two years behind each other in high school BUT really began to share friends and interest when we went to BYU at the same time.

(here we are riding on Grandpa' snowmobile at BYU-her and I are sitting on it together)

Mindy is passionate. She LOVES fiercely and is devoted!

You always know where you stand and what she is thinking-there is nothing fake about her!

Her and I enjoyed many adventures and trips at BYU and at home!

Here we are (above) enjoying a summer lifeguard formal w/ our other sister and bro!
(Alicia left-Mindy Right)

We would skip classes one day a year and go skiing up at Sundance-this is where we taught ourselves to ski- ha ha ha On this particular ski trip with my bro IT was quite the experience. Since there are NO BUNNY HILLS like the back east mountains--stepping up a level can be a little scary when you try.

My brother convinced Mindy and I to try next to the highest level of ski run. BAD IDEA! On the way up there he was dangling his pole and it hit the ground and snapped in two...all the while Mindy and I are panicking at how high we were heading up the hill. My bro Chad tried to convince us to give one of our poles to him-yeah right!

It began to snow pretty good and the exit off the lift was icy. My brother and sister fell as they were getting off the lift and I was so interested in watching I forgot to get off, and as I went back up in the air and realized I was going to head back down I jumped in panic. The ski lift operator fell on the ice as he was running to see if I was OK-we were all laying there in a blizzard quite sore, NOT a good way to start a high mountain run. We were a sight for sore eyes.

Mindy began to cry and my brother took the one pole he had and started whacking her with it to get her to get up and go, since she was refusing too. I finally talked her into it, being petrified w/ a few tears myself as we began to walk down the hill. We finally got down it and skied a bit of it-- AFTER a good hour! I do not think we ever went skiing together again!

We have so many FUNny Memories like this together! I am glad she was not afraid to hang out with me and try new things!

Since BYU had no spring break we took one ourselves for a cousins wedding in LA and stopped by Disneyland!

(Mindy and I are on the right)

Mindy and I were able to serve missions together for 6 months. I went out on my mission while my older sister served, and then served WITH my younger brother (we left a week apart from each other), AND then served while Mindy served the last 6 months of my mission. It was an amazing experience to share a common bond on a spiritual level with my siblings. Mindy and I had NEVER really planned to serve missions, and how neat it was to see our 'stories' unfold as we realized that is where we needed to be. We were able to talk about things so freely that we normally did not!

New Years Eve Times Square~ NYC! 1997

Mindy left, Alicia right in above

Alicia left, and Mindy right below

Seeing these pictures brings back so many memories. It helped me realize how much we experienced and how we did allot together, in the short years we were together before growing our own little families. Treasured time! We learned and grew so much about ourselves and each other.

(Mindy posing at our motel room during the getaway weekend)

Mindy and I both were in very serious relationships at the same time at BYU. I was REALLY confused during my courtship to this person, and she so lovingly decided to 'get away' one weekend with me while it was all taking place, to Salt lake City--so we could shop, watch a movie, and NOT think about things for a bit.

Incidentally her love relationship ended... and mine went on hold? when I served a mission. I ended up getting 'dear janed' while serving my mission and was quite hurt. Like I said earlier-Mindy is passionate and loves dearly, so upon getting the news of this "break up" she wrote a 'not nice' letter to the guy, while serving her mission. I am not saying that is OK to write mean letters, but it did touch me that she was so protective of my feelings and was sorry at how it ended.

Both our hearts are very happy and content now....AND

We DO still enjoy getting out for girls weekends and shopping-it is still good therapy for us!

She is a good sister, and STILL to this day, would DROP EVERYTHING if there was an emergency and you really needed her. Expense, time, and money would not be an issue.

(cheering on the cougs at a good ol' BYU game~ alicia bottom left, mindy bottom right)

Mindy arrived at BYU at an awkward time for me. ALL the guys my age had left on missions and my close girlfriends were a good year older than me ( I started kindergarten young)- so they began to leave on missions as well. I found myself hanging at her apartments w/ our cousin and her roommates quite often!

(L to R: Mindy, Alicia, Cousins Christine and Tim @ a folkdance showcase)

Mindy is always a good supporter! She voluntarily attends functions that you perform, or play in! She attended quite a few of my intramural games and folkdance performances! I know she attends my younger brother and sisters concerts, games and performances as she lives close to my family at home!

(Mindy is the 3rd from the left in our wedding line)

IF you want to get something DONE than Mindy is your gal! She is unstoppable when she decides on something. She is a planner and a doer-her job as a recreation manager suits that fast paced lifestyle woman well. She is always on-the-go and always has something going on!

For my wedding she pretty much came and helped me RUN the BIG reception in Utah (as my mom lived out-of-state). She arranged all the food and help, and made the throwing bouquets...and I am sure ALLOT more-it was all such a blur at the time!

(My whole crazy family-Mindy is far right/leg up...good luck finding prego me!)

She does a little bit of everything. She is a jack of all trades! For my brothers wedding reception in California-to make it more affordable, she made ALL of our matching skirts, made the cake, took the pictures, housed out-of-town company, helped w/ the brides hair, did the bouquets? and decorated. Sometimes she seems so flustered, but it is because she IS doing it ALL, by her own choice!

(baby Ryland)

Mindy also came out when I was due with Ryland to help me with two other kids that were close together in age. She took two weeks off of work, and we were ready! We waited, and waited, and waited....AND HE DID NOT COME while she was here. I wanted her to be here so badly for his birth. I had felt like she needed to be at the birth, as she struggles with severe infertility issues. She bravely took it and enjoyed the time with my other boys. After Ryland arrived she has always 'taken him under her wing' and has always felt and treated him special. We are so spoiled by her, especially since she has no children of her own. I treasure this time because WHEN she becomes a mother she will throw as much passion, love, and her time towards that child ...and we will not have as much of her as we are used too!(I am front row 2nd in on right-Mindy is right above me ~Rockin' R Ranch Reunion)

I am grateful she came to our family when she did.

Happy Birthday to my dear sister, my friend!

HaPpY EaSter!!!!

Easter Sunday March 23, 2008We LOVE this time of the year where life begins to peek out once again, and we remember that all will live again!

(our backyard nectarine tree always adds some color to our day)

The Easter Morn Sorensen Kids-

(L to R) Colton Ray (6), Ryland Kent (3), Dacie Ann (1), Sterling Daniel (5)

The Whole "blue" FAM!

I'm Blue da de de da de da

Can't get enough pictures...just to be sure!

This picture is a 'feat' in itself considering it was taken BEFORE church (which starts at 9am) and we were on time! (thanks to the egg hunt note left by the Easter bunny)

AND because we had such a busy day-the day before, on Saturday: We cleaned the whole house from recent company leaving, watched three other kids for a few hours, and went on a date out to eat and play games w/ three other couples (Trezises, Rabans, and Bargars) to celebrate some of their birthdays. It was a LATE night for the Easter Bunny!

The Easter Bunny MADE IT...barely!

Because it was such a late night for the bunny's "helpers", there was NO candy left in the store. BUT his helper did have some serious detective skills and she was able to find some stashed packages hidden in the store shelves, AS WELL AS get creative with pink juice and pastel 'regular' candies...at least the umbrella's had already been bought!
The 'helpers' were not neglected either!

The kids keeping asking when it is going to rain....NOT VERY often we keep telling them. It looks like we may have to wait until monsoon season to get good use out of their umbrellas! We rarely need them, so we don;t have them...but when you do need them it is inconvenient to not have em' . THANKS BUNNY!
A little candy to get us through church!

Allot of Dan's family had unexpectedly gathered down in Phoenix together. We did not want to be the lone man out AND we did not want Easter to be the only day we did not attend church (as a friend of mine put it). So after sacrament, and after I had turned over all the games for singing time, we snuck out of church and headed down to the valley.

Dacie got in a little cat nap and beauty rest on the way!

So IMMEDIATELY upon arrival the patient boys followed the Easter Bunny's note and...
FOUND the eggs!






While Dacie got in some quality cousin time (the ONLY cousin on Dan's side!)
I am surprised that they are not in matching outfits, as we seem to always get them together to take pictures whenever we connect across states.
I hope they are always close little girly cousins

Lola sharing her Easter basket w/ Dacie
We also enjoyed a yummy dinner,
and Colton cheating in a game of battleship with Grandpa (who said you cannot move the ships half way through the game?)
Uncle Russ (the only Sorensen sibling not home, out of the 6) called to tell us that he got ENGAGED- he got Colton on the phone and told Colton to tell everyone who had gathered in the room. This is Grandpa talking to him on the phone about his future June wedding!

One last fling with the basket ended our day as we drove back home to Cottonwood to begin a NORMAL week-bummer!

Oh yeah- and some of the Aunts BLiNG completed Dacie's celebrations! What a GIRL!!!
We hope your Easter was full of loved ones, spring color, blue clothes (ha ha), food, safe travels, eggs, church, and remembrance of our Savior.

THE Renaissance Festival!

So Saturday March 8th, 2008 was a journal noteworthy day. It was my first time going to a renaissance festival...or ren festival, is what the regulars call it! My friend Desiree (in the middle) really gets into this stuff, and yet, she is mild for the 'die-hards'. It is a complete other world!!! Here we are 'decked' up in the commoner costumes (I (left) was affectionately referred to as the cooking wench-the term wench is used freely and not rudely at these ren days). My friend collects costumes and dresses us all up. After going however, I decided that I want to go as royalty next time with the cool corsets that make you skinny! (and pass out by the end of the day)
Here is the king, queen and their court welcoming us into the park (since we made it in time for the gates to open!) IF you wanted too, you could follow the royalty around all day and follow a story line with them. People do this as a living and travel from place to place, with alternative identities they come up with, etc. They also go camping on weekends etc.

This is the court jesters, and I felt most 'at home' by them! ha ha ha
The fair is outside of Mesa in Apache Junction (3 hours from home)and is located on 30 acres and has a sister festival in England. This one is a pretty big one, with thousands of people!
I was like a little kid with my eyes wide-open in awe all day. Taking it all in. NOT only are there amazing costuming ,but there are vendors, and entertainment ALL day long all over the place!

This guy was offering childcare-ha ha ha ha

We did go kid-less as our awesome hubbies had the kids for the day!

You can't go to one of these without some of the 'eccentric' taking the advantage to be weird and get noticed. Here is a Full blown cross-dresser! I did not want to get too close, so that he would not notice and get the attention or shock factor I am assuming he wanted.

Check out her shoes-they are the kind of shoes (stilts) they would wear so that their shoes would not get dirty and their clothes in the mud. It had rained that evening and was cloudy for a good portion of the morning. Then the sun reappeared in the afternoon and we got burned, and tired more quickly...you WALK all day LONG!

the KnIgHt STUD!

My kids got a kick out of this picture of the guy riding a dragon with a bird on his shoulder!

Here is some more royal courters....I'm not gonna lie there is ALOT of cleavage in excess at festivals!

Turkey legs were the food of choice as you walked around, BUT again, I am not gonna lie...I was not FOND of mine. Peeling skin, tendons, and bones make me not so hungry anymore! My friend tells me I had a bad piece, and that it really is good. I think I had my turkey leg experience for a lifetime!

With no kids or hubby's around henna/temporary (sp) tattoos were part of the day! (not for me)

My friend Julie Hoggard and I decided to pillow fight on the log so we could entertain the masses!

Guess who won?!!!

Entertainment was ABSOLUTE enjoyment for the day. We got in one of the jousting tournaments, with real knights, horses, sword fights, etc. They divided the crowds up and we each had a 'knight' to cheer on. Ours heard voices and was CraZY in the head! BUT he was probably the best rider out there. The 'Bar Wench' over our cheering section taught us some crude gestures to taunt the other sides (I just watched, promise)

Let see there were bagpipe boy bands, sword eaters, pirate bands, flame whippers, birds of prey show, musical instruments I have never seen played, belly dancers, mimes, statue standers, arrow shooters, orators, joke tellers, horn blowers, live instrumental bands...I think you get my drift. Not a DULL moment.

and by the end of the day I was ready to go. It was like being Disneyland day tired!

Here is a picture of the crazy knight and bar wench!

Of course, I brought home prizes for the fam! Here is a pair of butterfly/ fairy wings Dacie got. She kept bringing them to me this a.m (3/10) to put on her. How funny is she?!!

I came home to clean kids-all in bed, a happy husband, and not too messy of a house! They enjoyed a day of no nagging, visiting grandparents (Dan's parents have not seen the kids for awhile and came up late afternoon because they missed them) park play, and McDonalds...with presents the next day! We all were very satisfied.

Dan got a black leather spike bracelet (watch out burglars)! The boys got swords and hilts, which I had NO DOUBT they would thoroughly enjoy!

Swords hit swords is our new family rule-after Dacie got knocked and is now scared of them!

After waking at 6:30am and getting home at 9:30pm....my pillow was a very welcome sight!

Hip hip harrah for Ren Days...until next year!