Mother's Day

I always loved the quote "God couldn't be everywhere, that's why he created mothers'."

Ok, may sound strange, but I just wanted to dedicate this post a wonderful, amazing, unselfish woman I have had the pleasure to call MOM..(my mom!)

I always try to go out of my way to make it a special day for her, especially for all that she does for me and my other brothers and sister. We shouldn't need a holiday to recognize all the sacrifice, hard work and love that mother's do, it should be recognized each and everyday! But I know that for myself, I sometimes get wrapped up in my daily life that I forget to show how much I love and appreciate her!

Yesterday we had the LUDWIG family first annual BRUNCH-OFF! Consider it the Top Chef of BRAVO, or CHOPPED on Food Network (except without the elimination.) It was my mom's decision to have the guys team up in 2 teams and cook for her, my sister, and my sister-in-law and Kadence and Lily. What a great idea to do something special for 5 beautiful ladies in our lives, right? I thought so too! So I of course, was determined to blow the competition out of the water!

My dish was angel food french toast, complete with streusal topped blueberry muffins and an orange, strawberry, banana smoothie. Thats FINE dining right there!

Unfortunately due to the intense heat and competition in the kitchen, I didnt get a chance to take a picture of the awesome spread that was put out by myself and the other cooks. Lets just sum it up by saying, it was devoured by the mother's and some even craving seconds!

Next came the unveiling of the gift we had all planned out for my mom. We were able to get a wonderful photographer to take pictures of my beautiful neices at Gardner Village. It was so much fun! My mom started crying immediately when presented with the end results, framed and ready to display. I took the emotion as a job well done! What can I say? I have a knack for these things! Below are the pictures that are my absolute favorite in the bunch! It was difficult to only pic a few to frame, but I think we did it justice! Thanks Amy Nichole photography for taking such amazing photos, (not to mention, chasing Kadence and capturing shots while in motion.)

Now that I've outdone myself this year, I best start thinking about what to do for next year...

Dollars for Ducks!

Quack, Quack ladies and gents!

Just wanted to let you all know that I recently became a volunteer at the Make-A-Wish foundation of Utah! In case you don't know, they are a wonderful charity organization, dedicated to granting wishes for children with life threatening illnesses. One of their fundraising events, the Ducky Derby, will be held in August!

This is a SHOUT OUT to everyone reading this, I would love it if you could purchase a $5 rubber ducky through me, or buy 6 ducks for $25, and you can enter it for a chance to win a car!! Not a toy car, a REAL car from Mark Miller Toyota!

The event will be held at the Lindon Aquatic Center, and we will race the ducks down their lazy river, and it will be tons of fun! I will post more information as it becomes available, as well as a link to a website where you can purchase your rubber ducks, through me! For every 25 ducks sold, I get one donated in my name, to enter the race! That is a STEAL OF A DEAL!

I would love to have everyone take the opportunity to donate to this wonderful cause, and granting a child's dream to come true!

(Mine too, if my duck wins the car! LOL)

My Magic 8

I recently came upon a great post, (Thanks Jess!) which re-invigorated my blogging flame and to finally 'attempt' to kick my recent BLOGGER absence. Mine most likely will not be as gr-8 as her's, but a guy can try, right?

The post is dedicated to the 8 things that I am LOVING right now! Hence, what I call, MY MAGIC 8!

My Neices!!

Since I left my recent job at the Post Office last October, I have had a LOT of free time on my hands, and it has given me the opportunity to spend more time with my neice, Kadence. Every minute of the day I spend with her, she never ceases to amaze me! I love watching her discover new things and most recently, started to say my dog's names. She always brightens my day and I look forward to hanging out with her every week that I can!!

My other neice, Lily, I don't get to spend as much time with, just because Aaron and Mary live in Happy Valley, and Aaron is always working hard in school, as an animation major at BYU-and working. Mary is such a great mom, and I love catching up on the latest about Lily. Lily has the most infectious smile, and I love opening my mouth real wide and smiling at her, and she never fails to smile back. I wish I could spend as much time with her, as I do with Kadence, but those short minutes I get with her, I truly cherish!! I cannot wait to see her grow older and discover BLUES CLUES!!

I always get upset when its 'that time of year' when the Olympics are on NBC, just because I have to wait a whole 3 weeks for my favorite TV shows to come back on air, but this year I found myself completely obsessed with this year's Olympics! My most favorite athlete have to be Apolo Anton Ohno, and Shani Davis. Both speedskaters, came away with medals in this years Olympics. I have a reputation of hating winter in general, but I seriously think Short Track Speedskating is my favorite winter sport!! If I could skate at all, let alone on ice, I probably would-but since God has other plans for me, I enjoy watching both of these athletes conquer the ice!! Shani is new to me this year, but I am a HUGE fan of Apolo's! I loved watching him on Dancing with the Star's, and ended up on the same flight home, as him from Colorado..(but I didn't want to be one of "those fans" that makes the 2 hour flight unbearable, so I never spoke to him.)

Shani Davis is the the first African American to qualify for the US Olympic Short Track Speedskating Team. This year is the first year I have watched him compete, and let me tell you that he is an amazing athlete!! I have grown to admire both these great athletes, and find myself hoping to be able to meet them one day (they both live together just down the street from my house! Can you say...LUCKY?) Just watching this year's Olympics, I have grown to appreciate having a dream and knowing that, with determination, anyone CAN achieve the impossible!

My new CAR!!

Ok, so its not NEW...but still this is the first time in my entire life that I have FINALLY gotten the chance to own and drive a GT convertible! I have always wanted a convertible ever since I can remember, and cannot wait til it warms up so I can officially drop the top!

If you haven't yet seen James Cameron's, AVATAR, you are definitely missing out!! I have seen it twice now, in 3-D on the IMAX, and can't get over how visually stunning the movie is! The movie is able to transport you to a place where the surrounding beauty alone is awe inspiring! Not to mention the entire story is unbelievably gut wrenching! I admit, I did cry while watching it, but that was a GOOD thing!! If you haven't seen it yet, I suggest you go right now!! You won't regret it!

I don't even have the words to describe it being 'THE' Final Season, just because I have looked forward to every new year, just because of each NEW season of LOST starting, but now they're in their 6th and FINAL season and questions are beginning to be answered!! I have waited 5 years for these answers, and now for the moment of truth to come-it will ALL BE OVER!! I have grown to love the island and found myself wishing to be apart of its mysteries! I even still find myself missing Charlie and Juliette...so hopefully my dedication will be well worth it!

This passed Christmas present to me...from me...was a bran new NIKON D3000. I am still learning how to use it, but I am looking forward to this spring when I will be able to get out and start taking pictures, especially of my beautiful neices, and of course..myself, (you think I'm kidding, but sadly I'm not.)

How FINE was '09?

So below I posted a remix of the memorable moments of 2009, REMIX style...hope you enjoy!!

2009: The Song by DJ Steve Porter: