UNICORN

Tomorrow March 11th is Unicorn's birthday and to be honest I have no idea how old he is. He's been telling me he's 87 since I was 8 years old. Many of you are thinking "Who is Unicorn?" Unicorn aka Richard Leafty is another brother from another mother. When I was 8 years old on Mother's Day, we were talking to Stephen while he was in Chile on his mission and there was a strange man at the door. When my Mom came to the door she was so excited to see a long lost friend of whom I've never met. That's the day Unicorn came to live with us and has been there sense, minus a few times he ran away when we got in our arguments.

From this day on Unicorn was one of my best friends. He would let us drive his little red metro, took us camping, flip us over his back and throw us way up high. Took us on trips to San Diego, even if it took 2 days to get to St.George taking the frontage roads the whole way. He knows every word to the Green Beret and is a member of the Melita, don't really know much about that? I remember going out late at night to toilet paper his brother's house with all the bath tubs in the back yard and one time Mildrid came after us with a gun, or at least she said she had one (memory of a 10 year old). Although Unicorn would "Ho ho ho" all year long when he laughed, he used to play Santa Clause for Christmas parties and I was his lucky elf. I had myself a little green costume and red tights. If I were at my parent's home I would post a pic. I will never forget holding people's vases while he sang Jingle Bells. He was the best hire you could find. And the one day he lost his bells (marbles). He LOVED these bells and once they were gone, ba humbug for Santa.

Unicorn would take me to swim practice every morning at 5AM We would pick up Li on our way, and he would call her "Jap". I was sooo embarrassed but I don't think he understood that's not a good thing to say. In high school we would fight. In fact I had more drama with Unicorn growing up than any of my siblings. If he know I was late to school he would drive EXTRA slow and every time my parents went out of town he would make up stories about parties with alcohol and boys just to get me in trouble.

He eats concoctions of food that nobody can think of, like diet coke and ramen or milk, bologna and re fried beans soup. Unicorn does NOT like to share. And the way he pronounces Umbrella or envelope is almost as funny as listening to him tell the jello story. Around 6:00PM the words "B-E-D" are pronounced and he says he goes to bed, it think he just watches TV. That's another thing, Unicorn you lie sometimes- a lot. Remember when I made that big Chicken Pot Pie and you ate in all and left the empty dish with a fork in it in the refrigerator? Yeah, that wasn't Dan.



It took Corn a while to get used to Dan. He could see I was was falling pretty fast. He really wanted me to go on a mission and so did I but Dan got in the way of that, and that bothered Unicorn. But now they're good buds. I remember Dan writing me an email when were were dating and I was away. He told me that he took Unicorn out for his birthday and I totally fell in love with Dan. A Something About Mary moment.

Unicorn has always loved and taken well care of our family's dogs. Sydney and Roscoe (Rebble known to Corn) undoubtedly ate more Big Macs than I've ever had and Lady is a "Sacred" dog as Unicorn says after visiting the Sacred Grove. Corn and I would always see who the dogs loved most by calling their name and they would always go to him and I would always be so sad. He would feel so bad and tell them to come to me. Ok enough about the dog stories, I know hearing about other people's dogs can be just as much fun as hearing about other people's dreams.



Unicorn has ALWAYS been there for me. Although I was soooo sad when I looked around the room when we were getting married (crying just thinking about it, it still makes me sad) and he wasn't there. But he didn't make it, because he was helping set everything up. He was so worried about me when I was in the hospital for my appendectomy and gave me a blessing.

He loves children and was honored the Volunteer of the Year award for the state of Utah for devoting his time to so many schools and children. At one point we all thought he was a lost Nephite, but I've seen a not so perfect side to maybe just think he's one of Heavenly Father's closest friends.




Unicorn you are so much more than a ride to or from the airport or a cheap date to the dollar movies. You are my big brother and life would be so much less exciting and real with out you. Thank you for always being you. I love you. Mia

I'll be home for Christmas

It can go without saying we LOVE living in California. But listening to the Christmas station on the radio is not the same when the forecast reads 70 and sunny. "Utah here we come!" This week went by sooo fast, to be honest I hardly had any time to enjoyed it. But spending time with close friends and family is always the best part of any trip to Utah, so that's what we did!

Dan skiing Alta



Dan gave me a skate skiing lesson and I now have a MAJOR respect for cross country skiers. This is harder than any workout I've ever done! It's by far the most difficult event of the Winter Olympics!





Brett takes the guys shooting. Nothing makes men feel more like boys than guns!




Happy Birthday Dad! You're THE best!



Kiss the cake!






Doesn't Christmas Day always feel like a Sunday? I think it's all the laziness and family. I love it. I love how Dan's gift was basically a few items in an Anthropology bag, "This way it's easier for you to return" a one stop shop makes for easy Christmas shopping and yes it was all returned. I love watching everyone open his/her gifts, and either being way jealous or feeling sorry for the person coming up with an awkward thank you. I love hanging out, the eating, cousins and grandma. I love how Dan takes a million pictures, hence the longest blog post ever.

When I shut my eyes and imagine Christmas, this is where I'm taken: Grandmas House.



These pictures I LOVE! It takes me back 20 years! Wow I'm getting really old to say that. Help.




A Chudleigh Christmas



Christmas time is always so festive at the Chudleigh's home. We actually scored with two Chudleigh dinners because not everyone was in town Christmas Eve.



Singing Christmas Songs is the best way to feel Christmas!




The Girls Christmas Party, love you girls!




We give each girl one of our favorite things and this year was great on the receiving side! These are the coolest serving plates Tay gave us with the yummys on top!



And the best part

St. George

My family LOVES Thanksgiving. We all look forward to this holiday and special time of the year. I look forward to it even more living in Southern California. We don't get a lot of change in weather, so it's nice to actually breath in the crisp air of fall. Every year since 1984 (my first Thanksgiving) my family has been traveling to St. George, Utah for Thanksgiving. That year my Grandmother bought and restored an original adobe house that was built in 1865. The William F. Butler House was one of the only remaining original adobe homes from the Mormon settlement in St. George, Utah. I have so many fond memories with my family in this home, especially with my Grandmother. I'm thankful to her for the hard work she puts into this home and our family's traditions.

1984

1992


Thanksgiving 2009

My Grandmother is the best Great Grandmother and LOVES to play games with her grandchildren. Playing "Higher Higher" a family favorite!




So I guess if you searched back to last Thanksgiving you would find pretty much the same run down on Thanksgiving. But that's what makes it so special, we've been doing the same thing for 25 years.

Dan and I always start out the morning with our own turkey trot, it helps with the guilt after dinner. Around eleven my Grandma (92 years old) takes all the boys golfing, she likes being the only girl. Everyone helps put on dinner and when the turkey is done we eat. Following dinner is a football game on the front lawn and then dessert. Grandma then will have us come into the living room and we'll all play some games. And that's usually how it goes.




Everyone!




As fun as this day is, it's the rest of the weekend I look forward to most: Staying in the hot tub talking with siblings till early hours in the morning, Poker (yes even when I loose $$$), going out for cokes (lets face it there's not much to do in this town), going to the temple and sitting next to my sisters, mother and grandmother. I love getting to see all my nieces and nephews play as cousins like we did when we were all growing up. I love how we can fit multiple adults on Grandma's bed for a foot ball game or afternoon nap. I love so much about this weekend, but what it really boils down to I LOVE my family. They're all what make this weekend what it is. It's not the house, the turkey or grandma. It's the love that everyone gives and for this I am thankful.




I walked in on Hannah conducting Uncle Mark to Primary songs



This year we did do something out of the norm. We drove up to Zion's National Park for a day hike and lunch. The weather was a little cooler than we had hoped, but the back drop is never dissapointing!

At $25.00 a viehcle, we all piled into two cars. I think we got our money's worth!




Two Lovers





The last couple years living in California, it's not only nice to be with Family over the holiday but the quality time with Dan is what I look forward to most. He gets so busy with school this time of year, I soak in the whole weekend and say goodbye for another 2 weeks when we get back. Good luck with finals babe, I love and miss you!

Giving Thanks

I'm thankful for so many things, my whole life is a on going blessing. I'm so grateful that I have a warm home and comfortable bed (oh I so love my bed), I'm thankful for my large family and the relationship I share with my parents. I'm so thankful that I wake up to sunny weather and have the health and physical strength to run miles everyday. I have the most wonderful friends. I want to thank the person who invented Tivo, you've added hours to my day. Food, I don't know where to start with food but Costco pizza, diet coke, grapefruit, slurpees and Hagen Daz Five and Taco Bell, you make me smile everyday.

Airplanes. I hate to fly it's exhausting, but the beautiful places we discover and people we meet is truly amazing. Cell phones. We're probably the last generation that remembers asking the stores to use their phones and searching for quarters in pay phones as a kid. But this mini computer/phone I carry in my purse gives me freedom so I don't have to stay in one place from 9-5. I'm thankful for nature. There is nothing like the sand between my toes, the first wave over your head, the smell of fresh cold air and running through fall leaves, skiing in the rocky mountains and looking up into the sky when it snows.

The list could go on and on, but these few things are on my mind and in my heart everyday:

Jesus Christ



I hear the name, read his name or even write it and my eyes fill up with tears of gratitude. My knowledge and belief in our Savior is such a comfort to my soul.

U.S Soldiers and their families



These men and women have given their lives, their children's lives, seen others loose their lives so we can live in this wonderful country. Never do I leave America and am not honored to be an American. I'm thankful to those who show this gratitude in their service.

Dan Chudleigh



I have come to realize that women need a man in their life, because we're so wired to take care of everyone else but ourselves. Dan you are my everything. You show me love and happiness everyday. You understand me and love me. I never thought I could find someone to keep up with me and now I'm feeling out of breath keeping up with you. We're a good team! You always work me through my frustrations and adore me more than I knew was possible. So Corny I know, see Dan I can laugh at my own cheese, but it's true.

I'm so thankful for all the gifts in my life and thankful for this holiday to reflect on these blessings.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thailand

I have a real love hate relationship with Thailand. I love how cheep EVERYTHING is and how good the food tastes. I love the shopping, beaches and crystal clear water. I love getting a massage or two everyday. I can not live with out fruit, it's my favorite food in the whole world. The fruit in Thailand is so abundant. We would drink 3-4 fruit smoothies a day, what I would give for a papaya guava smoothie right now. Oh and the orange juice, if I were Oprah I would have this delivered to my set every morning. 

But there are a few things that keep this far from my favorite country. Because EVERYTHING in the county is catered to tourist the people seem so unhappy and jaded to it all. They're all missing something. Nobody was particularly kind, helpful or just generally happy. I know this sounds so below shallow, but the people are not attractive at all and the language is the harmful to the ears. The average tourists traveling to Thailand is about 17-24 and their objective is 2 things: alcohol and women. I had tears in my eyes for all the mother of these lost children. They would be on the street at 7 am in the middle of the road with their face in their own sickness and clothes half way on, just heartbreaking. I will leave the not so good things for a while, on with the good. 

Banana Pancake, now this is goodness!

Ko San Road, translates to hell on earth. There was just enough good (food, shopping, cheep lodging) to make you stay and all the bad would slowly effect you. At first it was heaven on earth and by the end I was ready to pay anything to leave. 

The Thia have some AWESOME temples. We got this tut tut driver to take us around at night and we were the only ones walking around these massive lit up temples. No heat and no tourists, I highly recommend it!

Budget Guest House. I love this place. One night when we returned from Nepal we realized our credit cards have been counter fitted at the ATM. No not stolen, we had them in our hands. But someone did some magic trick and made new cards after we had withdrawn money. Anyway, we had NOTHING! Well a I guess 2 baht, but that's less than 5 cents. We have not anything to eat since breakfast and it's not 1 am and we're walking the streets of Ko Sun Rd. If you ever have seen The Beach with the most talented Leo (and I'm sure most of you have not unless you've been to Thailand) that's what it was like only with out drugs. The lady at this place let us stay here and loaned us money to get some food, this is unheard of here. So yes there are a few nice Thai. 
So so many knock offs. I'm now instantly happy. We found a mall with like 8 levels. It was cut short when you realized everything was the same. But still a few good finds for sure!

We left the madness of Bangkok to go and find some beauty in the island of Ko Tao. The main reason we choose to go here is because it's the cheapest place in the world to get scuba certified. For less than $300 we got PADI certified, 3 nights hotel and 4 dives! Yes these are the reasons everyone loves this country!

We're such scroungers, we don't even have a beach towel. How can a 1 hour massage cost $6 and a hotel cost $8 but a beach towel is $20? 

Walking on these beaches at night is so beautiful. The sky gets so blue and all the restaurants light candles and torches, so romantic. 

Ko Tao has a few hidden gems for beaches that are less crowded. 

Taking advantage of our underwater camera. We find each other more interesting than the fish. 

The view from our bungalow. The beauty of these beaches is the solidarity. But for 2 days solidarity can turn into boredom. 

On the beaches they have these fish bbqs. You go pick out your fish and they cook it and bring it to you, so good! 
A little bored.

So yeah, Thailand is bittersweet. But go go go!!! In other words, we had a great time and loved it.