Since it's 12:30 am and I'm rockin' it.....

I thought I should do a post since I've only done one since the conception of our blog happened over a few months ago. I've been hanging out on iTunes the past few days looking to buy a few songs. I told Nici I was just going to get to 4-5 songs, but tonight I ended up with about 10. Ooops. I don't feel bad though, since she has bought 2 or 3 entire ablums in one sitting.

Here is what I got:
"To Be With You" Mr. Big
"Stone Cold Crazy" Metallica
"Icky Thump" White Stripes
"Seven Nation Army" (Live) White Stripes
"The Hardest Button to Buttion" White Stripes
"Blue Orchid" White Stripes
"We're Going to Be Friends" White Stripes
"Feel in Love with a Girl" White Stripes
"Thnks Fr Th Mmrs" Fall Out Boy

Why Mr. Big? I was just browsing through all the Hair Bands music and saw that and they are pretty sweet. First trip for them to my iPod.

Why Metallica? They are the greatest band ever. And this song comes from the only CD of theirs I don't have: Garage, Inc. Disc 2

The White Stripes might just be my new favorite band. Icky Thump has been killed on the radio already here in Phoenix, but I liked it so much I got on and previewed all their songs on iTunes. I only bought the more famous songs, but I will be buying more in the future. Their old stuff is awesome. The live version I got of "Seven Nation Army" is awesome, very cool if you're into stuff live. They are just so cool.

Fall Out Boy you may say? I know, I know Ryan you're a dork. But I like them even if there is no substance to their music and blah blah blah like everyone else says. They are coming in November, I kind of want to go.

I'm always looking for some sweet new music so anyone reading this comment on some of your fav. bands and I'll check them out. I searched a few hours to find something I never heard before and didn't come up with much so please share. No Kelly Clarkson please.

And if anyone is looking for some new good music here are some bands I listen to alot lately:
AFI (fav of all time right there)
Muse (very very cool)
Red Jump Suit Apparatus
The Foo Fighters (these guys always put out good stuff, even if it does get played alot on the radio it is great)
Rise Against
The Who (classic but great)

I could go on for awhile about sweet bands, why I think they rock, and why you should listen to them, but now it's 12:47 and I have to go to work tomorrow.

MY Premiere Week Review

One word...TIVO! With tivo we are able to tape all our favorite shows. This week all of our shows started back up and also a few new ones. This is my full review of all the TV shows this fall. There is a lot to go over so we better get started!

First of all I love PB & J! Pam & Jim come out of the closet...check out the video:

http://www.nbc.com/The_Office/video/#mea=161141

I don't know about you but I loved the premiere of The Office. I still think Michael is completely politically incorrect but hilarious. I just think that the acting is great and everyone does a great job. I am excited to see where this season will go...I was just so happy when we found out that Pam and Jim are dating. I am a super big fan of the two of them. And I loved that they couldn't stop smiling..maybe we will be seeing a wedding. :) I can't wait till next Thursday! What I don't like is that is it only 30 minutes a week.
Another reason I can't wait till next Thursday is Grey's Anatomy.

I think I might be obsessed with Grey's. It was weird to see all the old inters now as residents, I hope that it will still be easy to see the chemistry that the cast has. I love that McDreamy is so in love with Meredith. I liked when he defended her to McSteamy. I also liked when George told Izzy that he loved her even though it means that his marriage is messed up. Things that I am already over,,,One, Pitty-party George. I liked George the best when he liked Meredith and he was happy and funny. Lately he has just been mean and sad. I don't like sad George. Also, I do not think that I am a fan of Lexi Grey. She seems too happy and perky for this show. I just didn't think that she meshed very well. Lastly, I am over all the women at Seattle Grace being so hard. It is like they don't have any feelings. Christina was left on her wedding day and then found out that Burk is gone forever and didn't seem to really care and Meredith has so much going on and doesn't seem to be affected...They are all just FINE! But it is still my favorite show!

Monday night is a great TV night too. Starting with Prison Break. The good thing is that Michael and Lincoln are still hot! This show is just so intense I swear it is already giving me an ulcer:) The prison that Michael is in right now is so intense it makes me nervous for him. I think the new guy that Michael saved is going to end up being a cool addition to the show. I do think that this season is a bit darker this season than last season. The people in the prison are really creapy and super scary. Although, I do worry about how many prisons Michael will have to break out of before the show is taken off the air. But don't get me wrong I love this show. If you don't watch this show I suggest you watch last season and get into it. It really is a good show.

Also, helping Monday nights in giving me an ulcer is another intense and suspenseful show... HEROS. There are a bunch of new twists and stories this season. I wasn't too sure about the whole show but I tell you what the last ten minutes were really good and now I can't wait till Monday. I know it will probably take the whole season to tell the story but I want to know... What happened to Peter Petrelli? His story alone got me hooked. And what what is up with the girl from Mexico? The first episode opened so many new stories and I can tell this season will be just as intense as last season if not more. Check it out if you haven't already.

And on to two new shows that we checked out...one flop and one that could possibly be awesome! CHUCK. The commercials left you hanging because you really didn't know what to
expect so we watched it and almost turned it off. I few thing about it... Chuck could have played Jim on The Office, they kind of look the same. It was kind of like two story lines... Scrubs meets Alias. Chucks life was supposed to be funny and the agents life is supposed to be serious. It is kind of different. I am not a critic but I don't know if it will make it for too long. It is kind of weird. Chuck calls his sisters girlfriend "Captain Awesome" because he says awesome a lot...it was kind of funny. We might watch one more week to give it a fair chance. The other show that Ryan was excited about so we tuned in was Bionic Woman. It was a little bloody in the beginning but when all was said and done...we really liked it. We really like Alias when it was on ans before they cut the show pretty much mid season and this show seems like it is going to be another Alias. I loved Jennifer Gardner...I think she did a great job so I kept comparing this girl to her. I had mixed feelings. Sometimes I thought she was really tough but other times she just seems a little weird. I think she will grow on me. Oh and Burk (from Grey's) is going to be on this show. It will be interesting to see him as a different character other than Burk...but I will miss him on Grey's.

So, this is my review. There were a lot more shows but, you can probably agree with me when I say we have a full week of tv watching and can't get anymore in. Like I said thank heaven for TIVO! :) Well, tell me what you thought about premiere week...maybe you can tell me about a good show you liked that we could add to the list:) We wish you happy tv watching this tv season.

Cricket Killer

So, we have a killer dog!! He stocks things like flies and crickets. Living in AZ we have crickets in our house all the time...it drives me crazy! But, Chase has found a new hobby. When he sees a cricket he watches it very carefully and then when the time is right he pounces! He likes to play with the live cricket by tossing it up in the air repeatedly and then when the time is right...and the cricket is on his last leg Chase does what we like to call 'The Finisher!'. This is when a 60 lb dog rolls all over a poor helpless cricket until it is no longer moving. When this happens he chooses to just walk away and no longer finds it fun to play with the dead cricket.

Oh little cricket you entered the wrong house! :)

This little cricket never had a chance!

100 Things About Me, NICI!

Our friends told us about doing this...it is just a list of 100 things about yourself. Let's see if I can do this, bare with me...
1. My real name is Nicholene Back Jones. 2. My favorite color is purple. 3. My birthday is October 9th. 4. My favorite food is pizza...any kind. 5. I served a mission in Brazil, Santa Maria. 6. Ryan and I served in the same mission. 7. I love The Office (I am a huge Jim and Pam fan). 8. I love to cook--one day I will take cooking classes. 9. I kept a journal just about everyday from 7th grade until I graduated High School. 10. In jr. high my room was decorated from floor to ceiling in the The Lion King. 11. When I was young I got my tongue stuck on a railing while caroling with my family and they didn't notice until they got all the way across the street to another house. 12. I have four sisters. 13. I am deaf in my left ear. 14. I love lightening storms. 15. I wish I could sing. 16. I played softball for 14 years. 17. I love FRIENDS. 18. I LOVE DISNEYLAND!! everything about it. 19. My favorite movie is Return to Me. 20. I make a great Chicken Pot Pie. 21. I am super in love with Ryan...He is my favorite! 22. I love Fall. 23. I kissed more boys in High School than I can count on both hands... 24. I hadn't kissed a boy in over 31/2 years when I kissed Ryan for the first time. 25. I used to sleep with my softball bat when we moved into our new house when I was 14 because I was scared. 26. I never read one book in high school...my mom read them to me. 27. I was a starter and a captain on my High School softball team as a sophomore. 28. I get cranky and sometimes cry when I get tired or hungry...and especially both. 29. I love reality TV. 30. I wish I could dance. 31. The CD that is in my car right now is HairSpray. 32. The CD that is in the player at home is Enrique Inglasies. 33. My favorite Christmas album is by Alabama. Halloween is my favorite holiday. 34. I experienced that hottest day of my life this summer in AZ. 35. In High School I worked at Foot Locker. 36. In College I worked at a truck stop as a waitress. 37. In college my best friends name was Nicole and we hung out with a boy named Nick...Nick, Nici, and Nicole. 38. I got a 4.0 my last semester of college. 40. I think Jennifer Anisten is beautiful. 41. I think Matt Damion is HOT! 42. I just finished sewing an apron. 43. I love the "spirit" of Christmas. 43. My favorite thing to wear is a sweatshirt. 44. My first dog name is Chase. 45. I am a grandma...our clown fish had babies and we watched. 46. I took tennis lessons when I was in elementary. 47. The last book I read was Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close...I recommend it. 48. I was in Brazil on 9/11. 49. I love a new pair of shoes...I just don't get them very much anymore since I have been married. 50. I love to get pedicures. 51. I am not proud of it but I am grateful for it...I use medication for acne. 52. I pay the bills in out family. 53. I have not used hairspray for the past two months because I ran out and can't bring myself to buy more because it costs $15.00 and I can think of better things to buy for $15.00. 54. The last concert I went to was Pete Yorn (before I was married). 55. I love all of the X Men movies. 56. I love the Disney movie Cars...I think it is super creative. 57. The first car I drove was a Celebrity. 58. I think my husband is super funny, even when he says things that are inappropriate and I shouldn't laugh. 59. I will be happy to look like my mom one day. 60. The only movie I have ever seen by myself is HairSpray. 61. I received the All Around Athlete Award when I was in jr. high...my older sister just happen to get the same award when she was in jr. high. 62. I cry every time I watch Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. 63. I cried over an AT&T commercial during Christmas. 64. I love to travel...anywhere. 65. I like to scrapbook, I just wish it wasn't so time consuming. 66. I love pumpkins and Jack-O-Lanterns. I love to go camping!! 67. I love a clean house! It gives me more energy and makes me happy. 68. 9 is my favorite number. 69. I love Bed, Bath, & Body. 70. I love ice cream cake. 71. I have almost died 3 times. 72. I like to play board games and we play them all the time...just the two of us. 73. I love all the restaurants that AZ has to offer. 74. I love to eat out! 75. I love to sleep to a rain storm. 76. I think 5:00am is too early. 77. I miss my family. 78. I used to bleach my teeth but now I can't take the pain anymore. 79. I love the snow. 80. I am usually asleep by 10:30pm. 81. I wish my dog played fetch! 82. I lost 4.8lbs on my first week of weight watchers :). 83. I saved every noted I ever received since I was in the 7th grade and I didn't through them away until I was married...the sad thing was that they were organized by "boyfriends" and alphabetical order...I am Awesome! 84. I wish that I was already a mom. 85. I was to be a elementary teacher. 86. I am deathly scared of spiders. 87. I hate folding clothes and Ryan does most of the laundry in our family. 88. I like to clean to relieve stress, I have gotten up in the middle of the night to clean before. 89. I love to take photos and I wish that I had an awesome camera to take amazing pictures. 90. I love to smile and laugh! 91. I loved my wedding day and would do it 100 times over again. 91. I eat vegetables because I have to. 92. I love to read gossip magazines. 93. I am glad I am almost done doing this. 94. I would love to go on another cruise...it was the coolest thing ever. 95. I believe families are forever! 96. I love being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. 97. I am a person pleaser, I like to make others happy. 98. I think my mom is an extremely strong woman! 99. I loved being a child and I love to think back to old memories. 100. I think life is amazing and I believe it is all about choices and everyone has them. You can make it what you want it!

Fallin' in love with FALL!

One thing you should know about me as my friends is that I Love the Fall!!! I love everything about it. I love the colors, I love the decorations, I love Halloween, I love the weather, and I especially love the spirit of fall.

I love all the memories this time of the year bring back like the beginning of the school year, Halloween candy and costumes, and just the change in weather! I love it all. I know this is crazy but I am actually in love with this season...so in love that i get butterflies in my stomach when I think about it or see fall decorations or just anything that has to do with this time of year.

And this is not all about the fact that I have a birthday in the fall I just love the way it makes me feel. And since I am not in Utah and my current color scheme it gray, tan, and more gray and tan I just can't think about being here and I have to appreciate the little bits off fall that I can enjoy here in the hot AZ.

This is my newest Halloween decoration to add to the collection...Ryan loves me and let me already decorate this year. Usually I have to beg and plead to decorate a day before October. :)

"Wii are a family...I've got all my sisters with me"

It is true...we are obsessed! It only took us less than a month to get our own after playing with friends. We thought it would be a good family activity...and it was a huge hit! It only took going to and calling about 15 different stores. It was crazy to find but worth the search. We had a tennis tournament complete with brackets and all. We had a great time and it was full of surprises like... Ryan being beat out in the first round by Shad who is 7 years old...

and Dan (brother-in-law) was beat out by Jaidan who is his 13 year old son...

Or Dani (right)and Britt (left) (my sisters) and the funny faces they made...After not even wanting to play in the first place Dani, went all the way to the finals, having a bye in the first round may have helped! :)









DANI vs. MACK

But when all was said and done... After winning 5 games, one of which being Shad (his son) Mack (brother-in-law) came out on top! He holds the title of the Wii tennis champion September 2007. :) But beware...when we come back we will have a lot of practice under our belts and the pressure is on! :) GOOD JOB MACK!


Oh, and this is my cutest niece...she is so cute. I am sure she will have amazing ab muscles because she tries to sit up all the time, she will not lay down. She just likes to see what is going on.
Little Kennlei...she is a little cutie!

SURPRISE! It's your birthday...

We drove up to Utah this past weekend for a surprise birthday for my dad! The party was on the 31st of August to celebrate his birthday which was on August 22nd. He turned 59! He was totally surprised. My mom took him out to dinner and then blind folded him and brought him to the church where a bunch of his family and friends were there to celebrate and remember the past 59 years and also to talk about the next 59! :) It was a great night and I think he really enjoyed having a night that was all about him...because we all know he deserves it! Well, dad one more thing to say...We love you and thanks for letting us be a part of so many great years and great memories.

The best part was being in weather that didn't make you sweat just by walking out side. I miss not sweating 24/7.

Oh No, No Tracy...Baltimore and ME!

Ok, so I join the I heart Hairspray club!!! Sign me up! Today I had a day off and decided to do something I have never done before...go to the movies by myself! I saw Hairspray since Ryan did not want to see it (but i will make him now). Over all the experience was ok...except for the part about having a funny old lady in the theatre who laughed super loud and repeated all the funny lines and not having any one to laugh at her with. Don't worry though, I laughed at her all on my own anyway. :) But, I loved the movie. I too am now Link's biggest fan and Tracy has to be the cutest thing in America! I had a smile on my face throughout the entire movie! So, it has been determined...Hairspray is #1 in my book!

Feliz Anniversario!

My cute husband had a birthday this month! He turned 26 and will be only one year younger than me, by number, for two months. :) He had a good birthday...so he says. We went to Texas Road House to celebrate and then opened presents. He got a rack for the back of the car to carry his bike, a track for his bike and a bag to to with it (which didn't fit and went back), a head light for his bike, extra biking clothes...over all he had a bike birthday! And because of that it made it a good birthday!

I like birthdays...it is always fun to have a reason to celebrate each other! And sometimes just no reason at all!

Happy Birthday Honey! I love you!

The Great Outdoors!

We went camping at Pangwitch Lake this past week with my parents. We had a blast!!! One day we just relaxed and drove around to see the sights, the next day we drove ATV's all day, and the last day we spent at Bryce Canyon. We had a beautiful camp site with lots of trees and room for the dogs to run around. I had never driven ATV's before so that was super fun for all of us. When we were done our faces were so dirty we had to go in the rental place and wash them off. Also, I have not been to Bryce since I was a little kid and Ryan had never been so it was a really neat experience. There was a ton of people who did not speak English who were very rude. We kept a tally of how many people cut us off... it ended at 7! We were very surprised. It was very beautiful there. Ryan's new thing is that he wants to go back and do the 23 mile hike through the canyon...sounds like fun. It was fun to be with my parents and do the camping thing. We cooked and ate outside, stayed up late playing games, and had lots of time to read books. And the best part was that we were out of cell phone range and we got to turn our work phones off! :)

Chase came with us. He loved the outdoors. My parents brought and Gizmo, they were instant best friends. They were together all the time. We brought a big natural bone and Gizmo loved that thing, it was about the same size he was. Chase was depressed for the two days after we left, he just slept all the time and didn't want to play with us... which is crazy! He misses his friend and the wide open spaces.

We love the great outdoors!