Cassell Clan

Ole ole ole ole REAL SALT LAKE...

2011-06-24T22:17:00.005-06:00

There are two types of people in this world. Those who like soccer and those who absolutely detest it. Well, luckily we have a great team 10 mins from my house. For the CONCACAF championship this year we went to watch RSL. It was the first time an American club was in that game. Sad to say...no goals for REAL. The energy was unreal at the stadium...but the Mexican team played cheap soccer...oh well.
Mike and I had pretty killer seats! We were around a bunch of rowdy hispanics...yep and I got beer down my back...awesome! It was cold too!

Disney World...

2011-06-24T21:56:00.002-06:00

We were able to spend a week in Orlando this last January with the Cassell family. It was REAL rough. We had to go to all of the Disney parks, stay at a Disney Resort hotel and take a 2 yr old who LOVES mickey. Here are just a few quick pics. It was a great trip. We ate well, played a lot and even got out for 18 holes at Magnolia!

Time for an Update...

2011-06-24T18:29:00.031-06:00

Well we figure it may be a good time to update the family blog. I mean come on it has only been a few months. We have been keeping busy and the last few months have been fun. Especially with Mason keeping us on our toes. He is now two and his personality is reminding us everyday of that fact. So here are a few pics from last year...Mason's first meet and greet with SantaA visit from Uncle Jerm. In town to help the Rents move. He said his name constantly for 2 weeks after he left. Jerm left quite an impression. Our little family Christmas 2011

Taking advantage of one of the MANY snow storms this year. Once you got Mase in the snow...it was tough to get him out. Next year, skiing!

Mason turned two on March 8th. I cannot believe it has gone by so fast. The party was Cars themed of course. He has made both of us so happy. He is perfect, because he is ours.

Easter this year was a blast! Mason really got "Easter Egg" hunts. He just runs all over. These holidays just get more enjoyable when your kids can enjoy them too.

Mase loves the Zoo. This year he got Mom a seasons pass so she can take him all summer long!

This Memorial day weekend we drove up to Heber to enjoy a day out with Thomas the Train. Mase was a little "on one" that day. But he LOVED the train ride. He had his head out the window the whole time yelling CHOO CHOO to all of the homes and people we passed. Then of course he had to sing "All aboard the Choo Choo train" to everyone else in the train.

Mason can spend all day in the backyard. He won't let his Dad mow the lawn without sitting on his shoulders. (Which is adorable but makes mowing the lawn in straight lines very tough! He spends his day, hiding behind walls of pillows, playing in his Sandbox and playing with his cousins. It is only June but this summer should be fun now that Mase can do so much more!

A day at the Zoo...

2010-09-12T11:24:00.013-06:00

So we have been trying to go to the zoo for most of the summer. But for one reason or another we always found other plans interrupting our trip up to Hoggle. So earlier this week I let Robyn know that no matter what, we were going to take Mason up there. He loved it. He'd sit at the Monkey cage and yell his Monkey noise at the little monkeys. He hated the stroller and just wanted to run free so he could see everything close up. We all got a close up view of some pretty cool hawks at their open air bird show. Even got some video as one came so close that I had to duck down as the leather straps that the trainers had on the birds talons grazed my head. Pretty cool stuff. All in all it was a great afternoon and we are sure Mason will back soon enough.

Mason was growling at the tiger on the other side of the fence. Needless to say, the tiger didn't really care enough to growl back.

Mason's first ride on the "Choo-Choo". We even got to ride with Jesse James right behind us.

I think he was more excited that we got him out of his stroller for this picture.

Not a huge fan of the giraffes. This was his only real breakdown the whole afternoon. Pretty good I think.

He was so loud that even the giraffes were moving away.

Just two dudes watching the elephants.

This is the boys attempt to reach out and grab Suri the new baby elephant. She was pretty darn cute.

Mason's first look at the animals...a peacock. I couldn't get him to look away long enough. He was fixated on the birds saying 'Tweet Tweet"

Within a mile of the zoo gate this kid crashed hard. He played so hard and loved his first trip to the zoo with his mom and dad

Oh how quickly Summer passes...

2010-09-12T09:45:00.016-06:00

This has been a fun little summer for our little family. Here are a few pictures, in no particular order:

We had a little party for Robyn on her 30th birthday. We were surrounded by some of our closest friends. It was a lot of fun and we had some good food. Thanks for all those who came and helped out.

This is a candid shot of Mason. We went to get some pictures taken at Wheeler Farm with some of Masons cousins.

Robyn and Mason feeding the ducks and Geese at the farm. Mason was throwing food at the water fowl. Not sure they were too stoked with that. But hey, they were getting some great food for their suffering.

We went camping with some friends. Camping with a 17mth old child is always an interesting moment. It was quite the adventure getting him to sleep. My son has turned out to be the ultimate mooch! Apologies for all those that he begged for food from. I promise we feed him at home!

Mason decided he would start drinking at an early age. We are not too supportive of this new habit. But sometimes it is just what the doctor ordered. Totally kidding, empty bottle and the cap is still securely on.

The fam standing in front of our new home. We decided to downsize and move to a more simpler time. Come by and visit anytime!

Mason is our new little DIVA. That will only be permitted for another little while. We spent the day at Cherry Hill with some friends. He had a blast playing in the lazy river and even went down his first water slide, with his daddy of course.

Normally when the lawn gets mowed, Cassie runs along side me. Now I can't get the lawn mower out without Mason begging me to pick him up. It is a little tougher to mow in straight lines, but both of my kids love it.

There is a great pool in Lindon that Robyn has taken Mase out to a few times. They have a lazy river and flow rider. Here Mason is chowing down between dips with two of his cousins!

Mason has spent a lot of hours out back playing in this sand box. He saw Cassie drinking out of the water side once, now we find him face first whenever we put fresh water in it.

Robyn and I needed a much needed 'night off'. So we decided a night in Park City was the answer. We left after work and went to one of our fave places, Loco Lizard to eat. Then to finish it off we spent the evening in Deer Valley watching the Utah Symphony. Much needed night alone.

Robyn talked me into letting her cut Masons hair. It was an interesting experience to say the least. But Robyn is a fabulous stylist and it worked out just fine in the end.

Family pictures...

2010-07-10T11:02:00.004-06:00

So, against all of my wishes, Robyn convinced me that we needed to take some family pictures. It is tough to look good when you are flanked by a beautiful wife and an adorable baby boy (who is less and less of a baby every day). Mason was the star and Robyn and I were just along for the ride. Here are a couple shots.

Mason...year one in review.

2010-04-10T18:06:00.002-06:00

Happy First Year Mase!....a month later...

2010-04-10T17:10:00.013-06:00

Not so little Mason turned one. It has been a wonderful and magical year. I know I am biased...but he really has been the greatest baby ever. I never really understood when people would say how much a child would change my life. Now I know and understand. He has brought tears to our eyes and laughter to our hearts. Everyday is a great day with Mason in it. He has great Grandparents who have helped us so much and great Aunts, Uncles and cousins who have shown him so much love. And of course a wonderful, loving mother. Thanks to all of those who have already had an impact in his first year. He has made Robyn and I so happy...we hope we can make him feel just as special as he has been to us.
Here are a few pics. The cake was the hightlight of the night! Love ya Stud Man!

Robyn and Mase pre-party

Proud Mommy and Daddy

Mason recieved some great gifts. Thanks to all of you who were so generous.

Mommy and Mase before the cake!

Cake...just testing it out.

Mason dove into this cake...

This is how Mommy looks with her cake too.

End of the night....tuckered out!

So, been a couple months...

2010-01-30T14:31:00.003-07:00

So people keep telling me that we need to update the blog. I guess after a two month layoff we might as well. The last two months were very busy months. With Thanksgiving and Christmas coming and going we had the chance to see a lot of family. The Mckinleys came in from far off Fresno and my brother Jerm came in from D.C.
The last few months have seen myself and Robyn getting new jobs. After 5 great years with Merrill Lynch, Robyns tenure has finally come to an end. Due to the economic issues with the banking industry, Merrill Lynch was forced to sell to Bank of America. During this transition BofA decided to close out many of their departments here in Utah. Robyn had always done such a great job at Merrill and was repeatedly recognized for her hard work. She found something quickly and is enjoying her new job. I am sure we will succeed there also.
We are doing well and Mason continues to grow. I will be posting pics shortly so stay tuned!

Sleepy face

2009-11-07T11:04:00.004-07:00

This is the look of someone who just woke up from a great nap!

Yes...that is his hand print across his face and the binky you can see outlined around his mouth.

Halloween 2009

2009-11-07T10:29:00.010-07:00

So this was little Masons first halloween. After 3 outfit choices/purchases we (Robyn) decided on making Mase a monkey. Not the most original choice...but he was darn cute. The day was full, we stopped by grandma Sheri's house briefly to take some pics of everyone in their costumes. After that we went to Grandma Bev's house for pizza and to celebrate Allison's bday. (Happy BDay sis.) Mason went Trick-or-Treating with Audrey and Sophie. They had a good idea of what was going on, Mason was just happy to be out and about for the night. He was a trooper and kept his outfit on the entire night. Except for when one of his shoes fell off and dad had to run back to the other side of the neighborhood in the dark to look for a darn brown shoe...All in all it was a fun night.

Our Little Monkey Man

From the top: The washed up church-ball player, the explorer, the monkey, the pumpkin, a couple lady bugs, a witch and a radianting bee-keep and his bee.

The explorer and her catch.

Mason with Aurdrey the Witch Sophie the lady bug and Calvin the tired.

My wife the nurse

2009-10-28T19:54:00.003-06:00

So I get a call from Robyn yesterday mentioning that there was something wrong with Cassie. She spoke how there was all sorts of blood everywhere. Every step she took, more blood. She put her in the garage, I came home there were bloody paw prints everywhere. Well when I came home, this is what I found. Robyn wrapped her foot and placed it in a sock. Upon further review, our poor little dog had played so hard she somehow ripped off one of her nails...ouch. She is still limping around. But I must say I am impressed with Robyn and her amazing first aid skills...however she did use one of my socks...not cool.

Mase growing up

2009-10-28T19:44:00.002-06:00

yep...it is food

2009-08-05T18:43:00.005-06:00

Here, for our Fresno folk

2009-08-05T17:45:00.005-06:00

Daddys sick...it's ok, I'll just lay here with you for a while

what?...no diaper, no problem.

Cousin Katie and Mase.

Happy with Mom.

Just Mase

Lovely Mike...Lovely.

Mase's first 4th and baseball game

2009-07-06T19:00:00.001-06:00

2009-07-06T18:58:00.001-06:00

Little Mikey and his wedding...

2009-07-06T18:33:00.004-06:00

Well, little Mikey is all grown up. A couple weeks ago he married his long time girlfriend of 8 mths Sarah. It was a beautiful day and there were hundreds of people there to celebrate thier union. Mikey and Sarah are a cute young couple. But they are so much in love and I know that they will do very well together. Welcome to the fam Sarah! Here are a couple pics...

Blessing Day

2009-06-09T19:18:00.006-06:00

Sunday we blessed not so little Mason. It was a great day. Mason has brought such a new light into our lives. We have been blessed with a beautiful and well behaved (as much as a 3mth old can be behaved) little baby boy. He is starting to laugh now and is becoming more and more fun everyday.

Mason Room

2009-06-09T19:10:00.004-06:00

We have never posted pics of Mase's room...so here is a video.

A Day at the Races

2009-06-09T18:12:00.009-06:00

A couple weeks ago we went out to the Larry H Miller Raceways to watch the AMA Superbike. It was a great afternoon. Here are a couple pics and a video or two. Oh by the way....Mike Jordan was there with us...well, walked past us, shook my hand. That is just as cool....right?

Just a couple Candid Mason Pics

2009-05-22T17:36:00.006-06:00

I'm just a momma's boy......for now.

Wakin up happy from his nap.

You know...just chillin

I love my carseat.

Happy 5 year Hun.

2009-05-20T13:38:00.006-06:00

Well, it has been 5 yrs. 5 yrs like a roller coaster. It has been full of it's up's and down's. Full of twists and turns, has moved fast and slow and I have thrown her through a loop or two. There have been times where I have thrown a wrench on the track but we have never been derailed. Robyn has been such a great wife and there are many many reasons I still love her.

Mothers Day

2009-05-11T13:09:00.007-06:00

I would like to take a quick moment and express to those in our blogosphere how lucky I am to have the women I have in my life.

My Sister and Sisters in Law. Allison is the mother to two beautiful little girls. Keri, mother to a cute inquisitive little girl. Lisa, mother to a bright beautiful girl and a fun eager handsome son. (And cute little lizzy) And Monica, mother to funny Samantha and lovable Ian. All are great Moms. We are lucky enough to garner advice from them and learn tricks to being good parents.

My Mother. I am blessed with a wonderful mother. She is always there for me when I need to vent or seek advice. One thing that I never doubted from her has been her love for me. Thank you Mom. I know I have not been the easiest of children but you have been the best of Mom's thank you, from the bottom of my heart. I am in debt to you for all that you have given me.

My Mother-in-Law. I am lucky to have a great one. She brought me into her family like one of her own. I love her very much and feel privileged to have her as a part of my family. I

My Wife. This is my wife's first mothers day. I do not know of anyone more deserving than Robyn was to become a mother. She has always been so wonderful with children and she is amazing with our own. Little Mason may never know how lucky he was to be born into this family and be blessed to have a mother like Robyn. . Going through what Robyn had to go through takes a lot of love and hope. There were many times our hearts weer broken, yet Robyn continued. When we had the chance, it was a one-in-a-million shot, it worked and we were blessed with a beautiful baby boy. I am so lucky. Robyn is a one-in-a-million mother and I am lucky to be with her. I am eager to see how many ways she will touch my life by becoming the mother she is capable of being. Thank you Robyn for being a great mother to Mason and Myself, thanks for making me smile and being my wife.
Thanks Robyn, I love you!

Look who has a smile...

2009-05-09T12:16:00.006-06:00

The process of a happy baby...been napping with dad...starting his stretching...

...a little giggle... and a smirk,

...and here is my smile folks!

Just Chillin!

2009-05-08T19:38:00.002-06:00

Life is soo hard....

Our lovely dog Cassie decided to sneak up on her favorite couch when no one was watching...but hey, looking comfy.

How has it been.

2009-04-16T20:46:00.003-06:00

So the time has been cruising along. It seems like we have had him in our lives forever. Yet it is hard to believe it has been almost 6 weeks. Robyn has been great and I am pretty sure she is in absolute love with this little guy. I have learned a lot of new things lately. The one thing that has been in the front of my mind lately however is how much having something so small can take up such a large space in our lives. He has been gaining weight, starting to smile and is eating more and more everyday. He is very much loved. And of course thank all those who have helped.

Mason's first easter. He was swimming in his outfit.

Updated Mason

2009-04-16T20:45:00.002-06:00

Baby Mason....1 month old

2009-04-16T19:48:00.002-06:00

Project x/y in living color

2009-03-18T20:07:00.001-06:00

Hi guys!

2009-03-09T11:51:00.008-06:00

Hi. My name is Mason Tee Cassell. Well, I came out weighing a smooth 8.8lbs and 21 inches long. My official bday is March 8th 2009. I am pretty darn healthy, and damn cute. This "Mom" person is a trooper. She is one strong woman. Now that I am in this world, I have been surrounded by the "Daddy" fellow and "Mommy" quite a bit. I am starting to love them very much. They keep telling me that too, and kissing me and holding me...It's ok, I am secure enough to admit it...I enjoy the attention. I am just trying to figure out what to do next!!

-----Robyn is doing well and is in recovery. Robyn did a great job. She had quite the marathon labor. After almost 30 hours Robyn finally had to have a C-Section. This kid is so beautiful and we are soo in love with him. He took our hearts from the start. Robyn did such a wonderful job and I love her sooo much for what she had to go through. She is strong willed and has so much love for this baby. She will be an awesome mom. Also...Thanks sooooooo much for everyones help, support, calls, texts and gifts. We are truly blessed to have such a great network of friends and family. (More pics coming soon.)

Tick Tock

2009-03-04T13:09:00.002-07:00

Time is ticking. Robyn is getting closer and closer to giving birth to number 1 of our little clan. Robyn has been doing great. She has been a serious trooper and will be an amazing mother. For all you in laws, siblings and friends, you have seen how much she cares and loves for your children, I cannot fathom how much she will love our own.
I have learned so much during this pregnancy, and I have not been with child. This really has become a tribute to the kind of woman Robyn is. It was not super easy for us to get where we are. We had our hurdles and this baby was no accident. Robyn had to endure so much to get pregnant. I also have fallen in love with her more and more and really have realized the last few months of how lucky I am and how lucky this little guy is going to become. Robyn has been working hard and has remained positive the entire time. I thank her for everything.
"He' (the nameless baby) should be here shortly. Keep in touch for the new arrival.

TREKKIN

2009-02-11T21:23:00.005-07:00

Recently Robyn and I went out to Fresno to visit the new addition to our extended family. (For pictures of the cute little bug visit Lisa and Karters blog)While out on the visit, Karter and I decided to do a quick backpack trip. The weather forecast projected rain and clouds. I had a couple tops that I thought were sufficient to do the job of keeping me dry, well, I was mistaken. About 2-3 hours into our trip, I could feel my body start to get a little wet, then a lot wet. It rained for the next 24 hours.
We hiked to a camp ground that is pretty secluded when the lake it resides along loses depth. We decided to cross a river and cut out a couple miles worth of hiking. After an hour or so of hiking along a river bed we found a spot narrow, slow and shallow enough for us to cross. After getting to camp, we started the fire making process. Due to the immense amounts of rain fall, it proved a little tough. We ran all over the place trying to find anything dry that we could, lifting up logs tearing off bark. After much effort and a few matches and a garbage can that we found along the shore, we had fire. I think 75% of our time at camp was spent starting the fire and keeping it going.
The next morning as we hiked out we opted to take the long way to the car and find a bridge to cross. (The river was higher and faster due to all of the rain.) Karter thought it was just a couple miles up river...hmm nope. That was not the case. After a few extra miles and a little more rain, we did it. It was a lesson in preparation and determination. We could have given up on the fire, we could have just left because of the rain. But we persevered. Thanks Kart!

Holidays 2009

2009-01-08T20:02:00.003-07:00

Another Christmas has come and now gone. 2008 Christmas was fantastic. The right amount of family food and friends. The weeks leading up to Christmas are always a little tough trying to figure out where and when to be and for how long. BUT in the spirit of the holidays, it always works out. This year was special cause the entire Cassell clan was in town. Jeremy tried to play coy and play off the fact he was going to show up on Christmas morning...but umm we all knew.
It was not a quiet morning either. There were 4 little kids and Jeremy. I guess the days of nice quiet Christmas mornings are no more...especially with our soon to be added piece to the family, I am sure though he will be as quiet and mellow as his parents!
After the Cassell Christmas, we headed to Sheri's for a bit and had a nice Christmas interlude. Following that we went down to Papa Rons. My oh my...rock band has taken over in the Branca household. I am not gonna lie...Ron has the chops to make it as a Guitar Hero World Tour Rocker. I got to sing a bit, I am still apologizing to those within ear shot. We headed back up to the Kettles home to taper off our evening. We would like to say thank you to all of our loved ones who were so generous in both gift and gesture. We feel truly blessed to be part of such great families. We did miss our Mkinley arm of the family. We cannot wait for your new addition next week. I would also like to personally thank my wife for such a great holiday...I love her with all of my heart. Good luck in 2009!!!!

Ode to a dog

2009-01-08T19:36:00.009-07:00

So...It has been a little while since I have been on here to 'blog'. So for our first blog of the new year...it will be dedicated to our beautiful little girl. She has been with us for over 4 1/2 years. She scratches our doors, stains our bedroom carpet, has a supercharged heart, diva attitude and sometimes does things that makes us want to pull our hair out. But for every one of those moments there are many more that make her a part of our little family. We love her like a child. When our little one comes along, in less than 8 weeks, Cassie will not be replaced, she will not be put aside, she will welcome our baby boy as we will.

Cassie and I enjoy one of the snowfalls last month.

Christmas morning. Cassie attempting to open her gift from Santa. Needless to say, the bag is no longer a bag.

TSO

2008-11-15T12:52:00.003-07:00

What a kick off to the holiday season. Normally I am so anti early holiday celebration. (I feel Thanksgiving is still too important to skip.) Anyways...Rob and I got tickets to the Trans-Siberian-Orchestra. Let me tell you...it is a must go for anyone. There was great Christmas message. Awesome guitar work. It was quite the spectacle. Lasers, lights, fireworks and flames. There was even a levitating possessed violinists rising above the audience. On a scale of 1-10 this performance would have to be and 8. The only reason there wasn't a higher rating is due to our seats not giving us a clear view the entire time, and the funky smell that was emanating from the gentleman in front of us. Here is a clip of what type of perfomance they produce.

Happy Halloween

2008-11-01T23:55:00.006-06:00

Halloween was actually enjoyable this year. We hit a few parties and were able to see some family. Robyn went as far as to dress up as a pregnant kitty kat. I was some sort of white trash rocker. Here are a few pics from the night. One thing to note...this is our last Halloween without getting to dress up our own kid...oh, I just had an awwww moment.
However when we went around my parents neighborhood, people kept calling me Jeremy. So, looks like I wasn't a white trash rocker for Halloween...I was Jerm.

Audrey the witch and Sophie...the little girlie monkey

Here Rob and I are partying with McCain and Palin...nah that is really Robby and Tenley.

It's a day at Disney

2008-11-01T23:20:00.004-06:00

Robyn and I had an opportunity to head into California for a couple days with papa Ron, Jen and the kids. We flew out early Saturday morning and flew home Monday afternoon. It was a whirlwind two days of cheer, parades, rides and tasty treats. We played around California adventure and Disneyland. We were able to get a great deal on some rooms at the California Grand Hotel. It really made the trip to be able to stay right on park property. Robyn was not able to ride the good rides due to our little bundle of joy in her belly. We did go on a few light weights for Robyn. She was even able to join me for tea on the tea cups. Luckily Loren was able to step it up and go on the bigger rides with me while Robyn waited behind so graciously. By the way I creamed everyone on the Toy Story ride. (I had to toot my own horn on that one!)

Hey, It's Kurt

2008-10-15T23:12:00.001-06:00

There was suspense, there was questioning...the answer, Kurt Bestor. Dave and Lindsey surprised us all by winning an auction for a private concert. So it was us and Kurt for a couple hours of wonderful piano music. Sheri was on cloud nine! We were lucky enough to take a picture with our new buddy. Thanks Dave and Linds!

Moab day trip

2008-09-28T11:11:00.007-06:00

Well, there are two things I realized I am not anymore, in shape and fearless. I went down to Moab for a quick trip on Saturday for a little Mtn Biking. I haven't been biking for a few years and it was evident pretty quick. After a couple quicks burns, I felt a little better about things. Once I was finally able to trust my bike, my chain broke. After we (Brian) got the bike repaired. We continued our ride. It was hot, tough and a total blast. Thanks Brian for getting my out!

Baby Boy Pics

2008-09-27T11:35:00.000-06:00

Here are the latest Cassell baby boy pics:

Cute Profile pic

This picture is taken from the bottom up...as you can see...It is a boy!

Just waving and saying hello to the camera!

Decision night....Boy? or Girl?

2008-09-20T11:55:00.001-06:00

Here are some pics from Decision Night 2008

This is before we opened the cake up...

Sheri and ourselves just saw it was a boy... You can see I am happy, Robyn is shocked and Sheri is floored.

Self-explanatory

Yep...those are transformers napkins...
It's a boy.

And the result is...

2008-09-20T11:37:00.002-06:00

Well it's official...It's a boy!! Robyn and I could not wait, so we went to Fetal Photos and got some pretty distinct pics of our little project X. Well, we were able to determine that Project X is now our little Project XY. We are both very exited. We met up at Robyn's parents for the great unveiling! For those of you who are not familiar with Robyn's family traditions, there is a cake involved. We had the people at Fetal Photos call ahead to a bakery to tell them the gender. They sealed the cake and we all found out together. Sheri so cleverly supplied princess napkins and transformers napkins. Each person there was to choose a napkin depending on what they thought it would be. Well, Robyn choose princess and I chose transformers. We were both a little shocked to be honest. But we are very very happy. Thanks for all those who joined us to celebrate. Pictures will come very soon.

Our Canyon

2008-09-15T16:59:00.012-06:00

How lucky are we? I have been spending a lot more time up Little Cottonwood the last couple weeks. I forget how lucky we are to live so close to such beautiful landscape. A couple weeks ago we were able spend some time up at Snowbird. It was beautiful. It was extremely difficult to leave each morning...driving down the canyon with the sun rising behind me as I drive to work...yep torture. The sunsets were great because of the Corner Canyon fires. Here are a couple pics from my hikes:

We spent a little time at Oktoberfest. Due to our lack of alcoholic consumption it was not as great as it might have been. But I was able to get Rob and Keri in front of some random ginger bread men.

My Nieces and Nephews

2008-09-02T17:30:00.000-06:00

I am behind. But until I get told otherwise, I wanted to post some pics from a BBQ we had recently. Justin and the kids are only in town once or twice a year...but it is always fun to get together with everyone. I love these little kids so much and am sad I do not get to see them often. Luckily I get to see Sophie and Audrey every once in a while. When these kids get together they tend to get a little active, and picture taking is a riot.

Sophie looks thrilled to be there.

Well, this was the best pic of the three I could get.

Just a couple of little posers...

FINALLY

2008-08-31T20:57:00.009-06:00

We would like to welcome Project X into our family. Yep that is correct, Robyn and I are now officially expecting the first addition to our little family. After much time, stress, prayers, money, sacrifice and a lot of needles...poor wife, we are proud to announce that Robyn is pregnant. I would like to express my love and appreciation for my cute wife. She went through soo much, I admire her for the way she handled the physical, psychological and emotional pains. Thank you honey. You are going to be a wonderful mommy.She is about 13 weeks along and loving every minute of it. She is looking great and so far is beautiful prego. For those who are unaware, this news was a long time in wait. We would like to thank all those who have fasted, prayed and put up with all of the detailed tales of the process. We would also like to thank you for all of your support and love. We really could not have been able to cope without the help and advice of our loved ones. This baby better be cute!

This is Project X, day 2 of it's life. If you look really close you can see the insertion of a small laser to penetrate the thick candy shell. Pretty crazy stuff.

Here are photos from Robyn's last ultra sound----from what she said the little guy (or girl) was moving all over the place. The pic on the bottom left...ya she is waving at ya.

In Memory of...

2008-08-28T08:04:00.002-06:00

In every ones life, a little rain must fall. For all of us who have been devoted members of the D.M.B. nation, a storm ravaged our favorite band. Leroi Moore passed away in the late afternoon of August 18th. As many of us know Leroi provided this unique bands unique sound with his own unique soul. Few could provide tunes and melodies that backed such great songs as #41 and Seek Up. A great DMB lyrics states 'don't burn the day away". Let us all live for the day and cherish each day and not to waste our days away. Leroi, you will be missed.

Guess who had a birthday...

2008-08-05T17:59:00.013-06:00

So July 31st came and went. With it went a another birthday for my lovely wife. I will not mention how old she is. But she is as beautiful as the day we met. Anyways...we had some extra family in town so we all met for some pizza and bowling. There was cake and ballons too. It felt like I was at a 12 yr olds bday. But it was a blast. The women killed the men in bowling scores. But ... even a blind squirrel will find a nut eventually. Enjoy the pics.

This cake is totally awsome 80's sytle. Nice dig mike.

Just a couple cute gifts...thanks mom!!

So here is Addison bowling....with just a little help from her dad. Dad did not do a great job helping en route to his 86.

OHHH....what a mighty fine couple.

So....he's back.

2008-07-21T16:41:00.003-06:00

Well last Wednesday was a fabulous day for the Branca/Kettle family. Elder Mikey Branca made his sweet return to the Land of Salty Lakes. He served a successful and faithful mission in Mexico City. Welcome back Mickey!

Two's a Crowd

2008-06-10T22:07:00.007-06:00

So this weekend we had the privilege of watching Sammy. Robyn's parents were out of town for Katie's baptism (congrats Katie!) so we thought we'd help out and bring Sammy over for Cassie to bother. Cassie was soo excited to have a playmate. For those of you who do not know...Cassie moves a little faster than most dogs, Sammy was NOT used to this. It took her a little while to get comfortable, but she eventually let up and they had a blast! They would each bring me separate toys to toss to them. Cassie would run into Sammy on a regular basis so she wouldn't last as long. Outside of the excessive fur all over the place and Robyn's allergy outbreak, it was fun to fill the house.

Just a QUICK break after a little Frisbee action!

TSA Rocks!

2008-06-08T11:14:00.001-06:00

So Robyn went to the airport to catch a flight to Fresno the other night. Well, being on standby for a Friday night Fresno flight meant me waiting in the parking lot for an hour only to have Robyn call me back and tell her to come pick her up. Well, Robyn had to fly with some meds on the plane. Included in these meds are powders, liquds and needles. Sounds like a terrorist cocktail of some sort. When transporting these products, one must have a signed document giving you clearance. Well we both thought that she would run into a couple issues. We were wrong. Appears that the geniuses that work for TSA (airport security) are more concerned with a small tube of facial lotion she had in her purse. Yes that is correct. They basically waved off the meds like they were reading material. Yet the lotion...well she must explain that. They question her about it, made her pull it out and place it in a separate baggie...you know, for safety reasons of course. This is reminiscent of when returning from a trip to Brazil I was escorted by armed guards in Atlanta's airport to be searched, all because I was speaking Portuguese while passing a security officer.
So once again, to all those who fly, be sure to thank your lovely TSA security agents. Because of them we fly the skies ever so safely.

4 Down, an Eternity to Go

2008-05-25T14:02:00.003-06:00

Well, Robyn and I were able to celebrate our four year anniversary last Tuesday. Robyn and I were married for time and all eternity on May 20th 2004. It was a wonderful day. However it was one of the roughest 48hrs of recent memory. For those of you not involved I had become pretty darn sick and was on the verge of passing out the entire time. However, it was all worth it! We have experienced quite a bit since becoming one. We bought our home almost a couple years ago now. We have completed degrees and we have changed professions, been on some cruises, sporting events, trips and just have generally enjoyed life.
Our schedules are finally getting on the same track now. For the first time in my life I have a normal schedule. No more weekends, no working 6 days a week and no coming home after 1 in the morning. Granted I still have to wake up way too early, Robyn and I are able to eat dinner together on a more regular basis. Robyn is still working super hard and is doing hair at night. She is such a wonderful woman. I admire the ethic she has...and the love she displays.
To celebrate this momentous occasion, I sent some flowers to Robyn's work and she got me an edible arrangement. Which was pretty cool and tasty! We went to Tuscany for dinner and had a fabulous meal. Our waiter was pretty femme, and kept conversation interesting. If you go there, try the Pulled pork meat loaf. Hmmm mouth watering!
Robyn got me a pretty tight watch and I got her some couples dance lessons. Hm let's see how that turns out.
All in all, I love her! I think she loves me too. Our next step...time to start our family. Robyn is going to be a fantastic mother. She really is the only person who can keep me centered! Let's see how the next year will go!

Birthday Girl

2008-04-20T12:41:00.006-06:00

Well today is my birthday. It was truly an exciting day. I was sure to wake mom and dad up nice and early (5:00) for a big birthday breakfast. Dad feeds me at about 5 for work during the week...so of course that is what I expect for the weekends too. I mean come on, they don't need to sleep in. It has been four years since me and my siblings were born. At two months Daddy came to get me. He laid all of my sisters out and called to us. Since I was the first one to get there, he chose me. Over the last 4 years I have made sure that he thinks about the day he picked me everyday. I still like to run. I like to catch the frisbee or anything that get's thrown to me. I like to run in the house. Mom hates it but I just pin my ears back tuck my bum and cruise. I can go REAL fast. I also like to run straight out the front door. Mom calls and calls my name, but I just like to watch her get frustrated. ha ha...I do really love her.

Things I like the most...people coming over to play. I know you all love me kissing you and jumping on you. That is why I do it. I love to sit with dad on the luv sac when he plays that stupid Halo game. Come on dad, your 28, time to get a life.

For my birthday treat I got a burger. Mom and dad are lame. They made me wear a stupid bow and made me blow out the candles...come on mom and dad, I mean I am like 4 years old...that is like as old as you are in dog years. They love me despite my Diva attitude...and I love them too. I truly am a lucky dog...they are lucky too.Ok Ok, so this is what happens when you don't have kids birthdays to celebrate. She has truly been a nut...but she is our nut and she is a member of our family. Happy Birthday Cassie.

movin along

2008-04-05T11:51:00.002-06:00

As I sit here listening to conference and watching Robyn sketch (which is great cause she is really talented and has not done so for a while)....I thought I would stick in a quick update. This week has been a good week for Robyn and I. Well, Robyn had a long week at work. BUT, coming home to a husband who had just returned home from work I'm sure helps. I started my new job on the brokerage floor. It is a whole new world for me. This first week was a blitzed training program. Because we (two other new employees and myself) have moved so quickly we are already on the floor brokering frieght. I have learned more in regards to the trucking in the last week than my entire life. Words like lanes, runs, reefers, factoring, OmniTRAC and why you never talk to a trucker about gas...it's fuel folks!! I have also felt first hand the pressures of the recent fuel increases. $4 a gallon for diesel. When you are getting less than 10 miles/gallon it really get tight for these ma and pa truck companies; Which in turn makes my ability to negotiate that much more important. The next week will be that much tougher I beleive, when I am left to my own devices and am responsible for more carriers. Keep your fingers crossed that I learn quick and can make more $$$$$$$$. I get to work at 7 and am home after 4. Sucks to get up early but is great to beat traffic. I think I'll end up getting to work at 6 to start my career. We will see how that goes. I am NOT a morning person!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Robyn has been in her salon for a couple weeks now and is loving the ability to be home at nights. I commend her for working so hard. She is a real example to me of what work ethic means. Ya...she rocks! I just need to step it up and cook dinner more often.

Taking Salon Names Now!

2008-03-25T16:25:00.005-06:00

Here it is. There will be a a few accessory changes. But this is it! Salon Robyn! Pictures will be updated as they come available!

Phase 1 Complete!

2008-03-24T16:37:00.000-06:00

Phase 1 of our Basement project has been completed. Here are some before, after and during pics. Just to give you an idea, the old basement entrances were 26 and 29 inches. Now...hello world!! The openings are over 36 inches each.

Happy Easter!

2008-03-24T16:00:00.002-06:00

So I have seen all of these cute pictures of everyone and their kids. Decorating eggs, wearing there new dresses and suits and even dressed up like the easter bunny. Awww cute I know. So I thought I would tell you what two grown ups sans kids sound like easter morning...

Robyn-"Peter!! wake up. Time for church."
Peter- "Ugh. MMmmph" What time is it?"
Robyn- "Almost 9!!!"
Peter- "Ok...Happy Easter Hun"
Robyn-"Huh? Oh ya, Ummm Happy Easter to you too"

Sounds festive huh. Maybe we should have put little pieces of meat in plastic eggs and had Cassie do an easter egg hunt. Oh well. We hope all of you had a great Easter and did not forget what Easter really is about.

FINALLY!

2008-03-17T11:35:00.004-06:00

Well, we had some good news this week. Our prayers were answered and I received a job offer. I accepted. It has been an interesting few months. Waking up late and not being subjected to any type of routine. I was offered a job with England Logistics. A third party logistics brokerage firm. I'll be acting as a Capacity Manager.
In retrospect, it was a time of development and training. Reflecting on times past and mistakes made. Reflections, like the image of a expanding natural range that mirrors her creation in parallel images upon the wet surfaces before my feet. I see the duality of my life with those I mourn and pity. One side clear and precise the other blurred, murky and false; temporary. The image is tarnished by the slightest breath, rain drop or pebble skipping across it's surface. In the same breath, that same image offers conjuncture to the mind. Likened to the life which is once known. For life matches again once the water softens and the winds subside. once again returning to the normalcy that is only desired once events cease to be normal. HA HA HA.
I'm playing, anyways. It's good to again know that stability will make it's out of retirement. Well...that is the update. Hugz and Kisses peeps!

Changes...

2008-02-24T01:35:00.005-07:00

It has been a couple weeks. Updates...Made it to a Jazz game. Started 12 rows from the top of the upper bowl and ended up 15 rows up from the court. Fun game...however they were playing the Hawks. So a victory should be expected.
Well to throw out a quick update...Our basement project 'phase one' is about over. We have taken out the wall and have repaired the damage. The cover up has begun. Robyn has spent many a minutes staring at the wall in attempts to decide on new paint colors. She finally decided on one. I am sure we will be changing it again. 'Phase one' has made quite the difference, however, painting has gone from our main room to the landing to the bathroom.
This project is coinciding with Studio Robyn. The salon is near it's completion. It will be great to get my lovely wife Robyn back home on regular bases. We are a couple counters and a sink away! We'll post pics soon!
Valentines Day was nice. We were able to go out and have a nice pleasant dinner without any distractions. I love my wife and I love every chance I can get to demonstrate that love to her.

To our great Prophet

2008-02-03T13:32:00.000-07:00

President Gordan B. Hinckley June 23rd 1910 - January 27th 2008

Our beloved Prophet Grodon B. Hinckley has passed on. He was a great man, both in word and deed. There is no way that any bit of writing I do could measure up to the legacy which he leaves behind. The great growth of church membership and the brick and mortar development that occured under his direction, Temples, Missionary Training Centers, The Conference Center and many others developments. He was a great leader, a powerful prophet and a humble man. As much as this day was expected it is still difficult for many to cope. He left behind a church and a following that is strong and willed. He saw a missionary body that has grown greater and stronger. He would tell the missionaries and members the same advice his father gave him while Gordon was contemplating his role in his own calling as a missionary, "Forget yourself and do the work!" I have a deep admiration for his faith, work and optimism. He gave his best every day of his long and complete life. He was a loving father, a faithful leader and a devoted husband. The Lord calls those who can do his work...Let us all remember the humor and faith he led his life. He was a proud husband and he is now in the loving arms of his wife Marjorie whom he was married for greater than 66 years. One could only imagine their reunion in heaven.

Some years ago President Hinckley began using a cane to walk. However, one is well aware that it became a fixture in his waving hands. While reading the talks from his funeral services I found these two tesimonies particulaly telling of his humor and manner. When Elder Earl C.Tingey spoke he recalled a time that he entered the elevator early in the morning at a time when President Hinckley first started using his cane at the Church Administration Building and realized that Hinckley was approaching behind him. Tingey held the door and waited.
"As he came to the door," Tingey said, "President Hinckley looked at me, kept walking, and said, 'Earl, go ahead and ride the elevator. I'm taking the stairs.' The elevator door closed. I felt about this (making a small increment with his finger tips) high. I comfortably rode up to my floor while the prophet of the Lord climbed the stairs to his office."
President Thomas S. Monson recalled being cornered by Hinckley's physician and begged to instruct his superior to be more diligent in the proper use of his cane.
"The doctor said to me, 'Could you please do me a favor? President Hinckley should use his cane for walking because it steadies him. The last thing we want is for him to fall and break a hip, or worse. Instead he waves it around and doesn't use it when he walks. Tell him the cane has been prescribed by his doctor, and he needs to use it as it was meant to be used.'
"I listened to the physician's request," Monson said, "and then replied, 'Doctor, I am President Hinckley's counselor. You are his doctor. You tell him.' "

I know President Gordon B. Hinckley was a great Prophet and a Great man. He truely was one of the greatest men of the dispensation.

2008-01-16T09:43:00.000-07:00

This was written by a former judge who was sued by the ACLU for not taking down the ten commandments from his courtroom. The ACLU is now trying to have him disbarred:

America the beautiful,or so you used to be. Land of the Pilgrims' pride;I'm glad they'll never see.Babies piled in dumpsters,Abortion on demand,Oh, sweet land of liberty;your house is on the sand. Our children wander aimlesslypoisoned by cocainechoosing to indulge their lusts,when God has said abstainFrom sea to shining sea,our Nation turns awayFrom the teaching of God's loveand a need to always pray.We've kept God in our temples,how callous we have grown. When earth is but His footstool,and Heaven is His throne. We've voted in a governmentthat's rotting at the core,Appointing Godless Judges;who throw reason out the door, Too soft to place a killerin a well deserved tomb,But brave enough to kill a baby before he leaves the womb.You think that God's not angry, that our land's a moral slum?How much longer will He waitbefore His judgment comes?How are we to face our God,from Whom we cannot hide?What then is left for us to do, but stem this evil tide?If we who are His children,will humbly turn and pray;Seek His holy faceand mend our evil way:Then God will hear from Heaven;and forgive us of our sins,He'll heal our sickly landand those who live within.But, America the Beautiful, If you don't - then you will see, A sad but Holy Godwithdraw His hand from Thee.

Mexican Riveira

2008-01-12T10:54:00.000-07:00

It seems as if I am able to enjoy myself while broke and unemployed more than ever before. After a great trip to Washington D.C. and a happy holiday we were forced into going on a cruise for 8 days along the Mexican Riviera. On January 3rd through the 11th Robyn and I embarked on a ship that would take us through Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta, Zihuatanejo and Cabo San Lucas. This trip was much needed for all of those involved. We went with Karter, Lisa, Ron, Jeniel and the kids. We all got a little sun and we all put on a couple lbs too. Robyn loves to over eat, ha ha, oh wait, that is me.

Our first stop was in sunny Acapulco. Ron, Karter and I left the kids and girls at the beach so we could swing the sticks. We took a long cab ride and our driver gave us a brief tour of the town. We played the Princess course at the Fairmont Acapulco Princess resort. The palm trees and wildlife (egrets, other birds and giant iguanas.) were plentiful, so were the bogeys and doubles for me...it was one of those forgetable rounds score wise but the course and company were just peachy. Maybe next time I will bring my own clubs instead of mooching off my playing partners. The city was breathtaking and it was a great first stop.

Next on the port stops was the quaint little fishing town of Zihuatanejo (of Shawshank Redemption fame). We pulled in to the bay and left the dock for some 'high quality' shopping. This turned out to be a great stop. Karter spent some time there about a decade ago and he took us the long way (took him some time to find his way there) to visit a special family there. We were the only white people for miles. We definitely were not in Kansas any more. It was a beautiful place and it was neat to be a part of their short reunion.

Rob and Lisa looked nothing like tourists either!

Up next Puerto Vallarta! We did not have any real plans at this stop. When we got off the boat we made a couple quick stops at some foreign exotic, extremely rare stores...Sam's Club and Wal Mart. At that point I was wondering if it was going to be a busted stop. The kids wanted to hit the pool at the boat, so Lisa, Karter, Robyn and I decided to hop on a bus and head into town. We walked the beach and I drove Robyn into insanity with my incessant picture taking of all of the statues and sand creations. The girls wanted to go to Senor Frogs for lunch, so Kart and I ageed to go and we shared a couple rather large sampler platters. After that we walked the streets, worked the merchants and enjoyed our day.

We awoke in our last stop and I was itching to do something besides wave watching and shopping. After hitting port I came across some locals who would give us a deal on running some ATV's. We got a great deal per person and waited to see if we were gonna get ripped off or not. We waited for a transport shuttle, and waited and waited. It seemed as if the longer we waited the more guys would disappear leaving us to think we might have been ripped off. We finally got on the transport and our 15 minute drive turned out to be a 30 minute tour of Cabo San Lucas desert! Well, when we finally hit our destination, we had a blast. We went down a trail to a beautiful private beach. They let us run free for a while and everyone was nice and safe.

All in all it was a successful journey along the Coast. The weather was great and we had a lot of fun on the ship. The theme was eat, rest, relax, eat, forget about home and eat. The days were full of sun and an endless supply of ice cream by the kiddie pools...I was able to get in a couple scoops.

Our nights were spent in the dinning rooms and in the game room. The guys ruled at Guestures. Oh and the vanilla ice cream with raspberry sauce....awesome!!

Thank you to our little travel agent Lisa McKinlay and a special thank you to Ron.

Christmas 2007

2007-12-28T13:15:00.000-07:00

Christmas this year was a little different for us. There was one word we have not used too much of in the past that Robyn and I found dancing in our heads in lieu of those damn sugar plum fairies. BUDGET. Due to the unfortunate occurrences of the past few weeks we found ourselves having to hold back a little more. However, that in mind, it turned out to be a nice holiday. We spent some intense game playing hours at Allison's on Christmas eve. OK well the game blew! Trivial Pursuit Pop Culture edition...not to gamey! Audrey helped a ton with the board play! Jerm and Chad had a great time together. Me, Jeremy, Mom and Robyn won of course. Afterwards we (Rob and I) went to dinner with Papa Ron at Flemmings Steak House! The night was quiet and snowy and the steaks were red and tasty. Robyn's brother Dave knew the Sous chef and he hooked us up with fabulous desserts. We then sloshed through the nasty winter weather to play games at the Kettle home. Robyn, Keri, Chris and myself ruled at DVD Scene it baby!

Having multiple families to juggle it is always a little hectic on Christmas. However this year seemed to work out great. Christmas morning was spent at the Cassell household. Warm cinnamon rolls and santa gifts are always a great welcome to a great day. After that it was up to the Kettles. (robyn's family) We spoke with little immigrant Mike on his mission. Then hung out until we crashed watching Pirates of the Carribean III.

The holidays will continue with Addison's (Niece) birthday and another year for Steve-O. So much family...We love the holidays. Let's hope next year will be just as great but that we have a little one to spoil!

Back east

2007-12-20T14:00:00.000-07:00

With my new found time off I have spent it wisely! I went to D.C. (thank you Justin) and will be going on a cruise the first week of January. D.C. was great. The crisp cool winter air, the quiet peacefulness of Samantha and Ian (niece and nephew) and a couple days of polarizing golf. Played a course called East Potomac. The course is ghetto fabulous! It borders the potomac river in D.C. The course is a good 4 million dollar face lift to being a great course. It must have been under 30 degrees once that windchill was added. BUT, it gave me and Jerm some time to hang out. The views from the course were neat with a shot of the Washington monument and Marine 1 (president Bush's chopper) flying low over head.

Justin and I played Laurel Hill on the Monday and were extremely impressed with the course. Nothing like it here in Utah. Did not play all that great going 78 and 79, but getting out in the

middle of December made it all worth it.

Ian and Samantha were a riot. They definatly made the trip out east worth it. Thank you Monica and Justin for having me!

Newcomer

2007-12-19T12:54:00.000-07:00

Well here I am, (isn't that how all new bloggers begin?) finally setting up a blog. Most bloggers utilize these pages for their own demonstration of photo and praise for their super children. We are all able to watch them blossom into children and if we are patient and the parents are diligent enough to keep the blog up, teenagers. We are going to get started before we start our own family. We get about a new niece or nephew every 6 months and we also have Cassie, that seems to satisfy the hunger pretty quickly!
Robyn and I are at a crossroads in our lives. I always thought by now I would have been a few years into a career and Robyn would be barefoot and pregnant taking care of house and home. (kidding!). Instead I sit around at home searching for new direction after taking a job risk that turned into more risk than reward. Robyn is the breadwinner and I am the homemaker, so gay I know! (Oh and there will be no political correctness here.)
Robyn is such a hard worker. She is working for Merrill Lynch bank and has become a prized asset among her department and group. Who would have thought Robyn would have become the working girl she is today. She still does hair part time and I am beginning work on putting a one station salon in her scrap booking room. Well the room that has her scrapbook stuff in it. No worries, we will be posting pics of the progress. I guess we will all find out how savvy I am with hammer and nail.
Enjoy the blog. I hope there are thing to enjoy. We will be posting pics, progression, and hopefully pregnation.

Check out my Slide Show!

2007-05-16T21:48:00.000-06:00