Hometown Buffet

Last week, Callie, Camille, Catie, Nigel, Johnny Quattro and I went back to our hometown - Merced, California. It was so great to relax together, enjoy all the aspects of California that we miss so much and remind ourselves of our roots.

Here's some basic information about Merced.

Population: 79,715 (Make that 79,721 for the week we were there. Don't worry, I was keeping my eyes on the road the whole time.)

Merced is the Gateway to Yosemite - 2 hours away from Yosemite National Park.

We all wanted to move back to Merced but after a thorough tutoring session from our friend Dave, a public defender attorney of Merced, gangs are definitely thriving in my hometown. He had some crazy stories and background information about what is what in the gang scene in Merced. Not to mention the bullet hole in the flower shop window on Main Street.

Merced even has their own website

All in all, Merced rocks. My old home sweet home - 2461 White Fir Court is a testament to the crazy housing market. We went back and someone bought the house for 58% of what my mom sold it for 3 years ago. That is practically buy one, get one free, people. CRAZY.

The trip was fun - lots of eating and reading and traveling. A fun way to spend our mother's day. Mother (with taco) really is another word for LOVE.

We got to see Grandpa Dee - my dad's dad. Dee Pontius Davis is father to Dee Frederick Davis, who is father to Dee Scott Davis - my dad. Dad decided to stop the mania by naming his son Collin Scott Davis. I hope to have a little boy and name him Scott, after my dad.

Shout out to Merced and sisters' trips and mothers!

Cinco de Mayo Party

It's party-hardy time here with the Covey clan. We went to a Cinco de Mayo celebration hosted by Catie and Carlie. I think we decided that Cinco de Mayo is recognized because the Mexican army defeated the French army while the United States was tied up in its own civil war, keeping France from eventually moving north. Thanks to Mexico, we are not speaking French today. (Mais, j'aime le langue de francais parce qu'il y a beacoup de mots que j'adore en francais - par example - pomme de terre - c'est un mot fantastique, n'est-ce pas?).

It was fantastico and delicioso with fajitas, burritos, quesadillas, chips and salsa, spicy Mexican candy, pinatas, Rueda de la Fortuna (thanks, Callie) and of course - Selena, The Movie. I only watched a part of it, but can quickly see why Selena is an icon. Thanks for the party, Cate and Sue!

BYU party

We went to Abraham Ford's graduation party last week. He graduated in Finance from Brigham Young University. He shares our special affinity for that awesome place. When he made his speech at dinner, his feelings expressed about BYU were touching. I'm sure everyone feels the same way about their alma mater, but for me, it's a singular feeling for BYU (having attended 2 other schools). BYU gave me so much - front row seats for watching a National Championship Men's Volleyball team, multiple intramural championship t-shirts, recent confidence from passing my Stats 511 class (to make up for the past when the testing center used to print your score on a half sheet of paper and they might as well have added YOU ARE A BIG LOSER next to my score), and last but certainly not least - a husband. BYU rocks. Shout out to Abe for graduating. We brought some special T-shirts to celebrate.

Party of 5?

We went to our parent's house for Sunday dinner and there were only 5 places set at the table. Weird! Katie, Michael, Camille, Lance and Collette were missing.

These pictures are specifically posted to keep our dear sister, Collette, in the loop so she can see her cute nephews. Collette is gone for the summer doing sales in southern California. Collette is such a hard worker and so good at talking to people that we are sure she's going to have a great experience. This is for you, Collettie!

Here is Lance after Nana introduced him to whipped cream.


Here is Christine modeling the necklaces that Mom Covey picked out the coral and strung herself to give all of the sisters while she was in Israel. I'm not really a necklace kind of girl, but this coral came from the Red Sea, so it is one of two necklaces that I own and have actually worn.


Here are Mom and Dad Covey in Israel.


And we will finish this montage with pictures from Laurel and Maisy Stevenson's baby blessing last week.

Rise and Shout!

When BYU beat Utah at the Rice-Eccles stadium 33-31 in 2006 with that final Beck-Harline connect in the end zone, our entire family marched out to the front porch and sang the Cougar fight song. Our neighbors were coming out onto their porches because they could hear us. It was such an exciting time.

I would like to parallel that to the feeling I had this morning. I felt like I deserved the fight song because I completed my first 5K in a very long time. Not the first 5K of my life, I've run plenty of them. I used to run a 5K 6 mornings a week as a missionary. It's the first post-partum 5K, so that's why it's such a big deal. Having a baby CHANGES your body, people. So, it's nice to know I can still do it (with no training, mind you - I decided to participate yesterday). And it inspires me to do it again.


Dana Allison - second year med student at UofU and former running buddy when we were missionaries FIVE years ago. Thanks for pushing the baby stroller and for tolerating our 13 minute mile pace!

Johnny Quattro and Nigel's very first 5K. They did so well.

Victory at the finish line with my sisters, Carlie, Camille and Dana.

And now, in honor of my accomplishment I would like to share my version of the Cougar Fight song.


RISE AND SHOUT
Christine has come out
And off the couch onto the pavement
RISE AND SHOUT
Your tears will ring out
Departed ways deserve bereavement
ON WE GO TO VANQUISH THE FOE
Of double dessert and laziness
I know I can go on
Start with 5K
Do not delay
Keep running, it'll get better for me
My baby fat will be history!

CHECK IT OUT!!! I'm # 1715

Just admit it

Isaac is in the back seat, picking his nose with great intensity. His nose actually starts to bleed.

Christine: I pick my nose too, Isaac. We just don't pick our noses in front of people.

Isaac: Yeah, you pick your nose in the back of people.

Congratulations, Jacob!

Jake ran for sophomore class council and he won! He will serve the Timpanogos Timberwolves 2008-2009 and they are lucky to have him. Here are some celebration pictures.

True Confessions of General Conference...

I'm sure we only missed the closing song, but I woke up from my own nap to snap this picture...

Happy Birthday Jesus!

To celebrate, Johnny boy rolled over for the first time on his own and without his mom pulling his blanket to make him do it and being completely on flat ground. Way to go, dude. That would be a pretty cool present to me. And it is also Grandpa Rey's birthday and Jon Canlas's half birthday.

Oh, what a celebration we had today. Thank goodness!





Post Script - We also celebrated by doing Johnny Quattro's hair in a fashionable mohawk (sans mullet) and taking our first bites of rice cereal!

High Ya!

Johnny boy and I went with our neighbor, Gavin, to his karate class. I must admit that I used to be anti-karate but after watching this group of 5 year olds, I changed my opinion completely. The pictures are only the most action packed ones, but don't accurately represent the entire lesson. Most of the time, the kids had to be standing at attention and their instructor was teaching about self-discipline and focus and the need to be under control. I can't think of anything better to teach my 5 year old. Plus, they role-played instances of "stranger danger" where you had to run away shouting "You're not my daddy!" if anyone approached them offering candy or a ride home. Did anyone else listen to the Safety Kids? I have got to get that for my children. It's smart to be safe and it's smart to be careful. It's smart to be a safety kid.