Anna's 45th Birthday

Friday, July 17, 2009

It's my 45th Birthday and so I wanted to do something memorable: so I hiked Squaw Peak starting just a little after 3:00AM then made it over to Camelback by 4:30AM and hiked that one too. It was exhausting but well worth it once I was done. I figure that although I can not do anything about the numbers in my age going up, I can certainly try hard not to look the part. LOL! Spent the rest of the day working and packing for our trip to Louisiana tomorrow. Then the evening was for family and close friends, we had dinner and birthday cake (Mark's famous Lemon Pound Cake). The entire day was truly a BLESSING.

Hiking Squaw Peak w/Kids

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Due to an very early morning catering yesterday we didn't climb Squaw Peak at 4:30AM so we decided to do it at 6:30PM. I think this is way more insane than 4:30AM because it is WAY TO HOT! We invited the kids along, Shanel, Sabriya & Marcus was all for it. Shamesha said she was ok, meaning NO and Santana just thinks we are crazy and said she was going home to turn on the news to see when the emergency helicopter would come to rescue us (funny). Well, we made it and so did the kids, can't wait until they wake up to see how their muscles will be feeling. Take a look at our photos. FYI: We are doing Squaw Peak & Camelback in the morning, Join Us if you like...

Camelback Mountain

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

This picture is showing how dark it was out at 4:30AM when Mark & Anna started their hike up Camelback Mountain this morning, check out our page for more pictures.

4:30AM Hiking Squaw Peak

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Mark & I decided to hike Squaw Peak this morning...please visit our page to see more pictures...



Santana's Post about Vitiligo

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

You have to take a moment to visit Santana's personal blog and read her post about Michael Jackson, it is simply astonishing...

http://santanasmith.blogspot.com/

A Heartfelt Belly Laugh

Montana - Family Holiday

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

JULY 1ST - TRAVEL DAY & 1ST NITE @ CABIN


JULY 2ND - HANGING OUT @ CABIN, FISHING, RIDING ATV




JULY 2ND - LIVINGSTON ROUNDUP PARADE


JULY 2ND - BACK @ CABIN


JULY 3RD - PICNIC IN PARK & LIVINGSTON RODEO


JULY 3RD - WATCH "VIDEOS" FROM THE RODEO


JULY 4TH - HORSEBACK RIDING




JULY 4TH - HIKING PINE CREEK TRAIL




JULY 4TH - BBQ ON YELLOWSTONE RIVER


HAPPY 4TH OF JULY

Jackson's public memorial strikes a spiritual note


By JESSE WASHINGTON, AP National Writer Jesse Washington, Ap National Writer

LOS ANGELES – Michael Jackson was eulogized in words and song Tuesday by an all-star list of musicians, athletes and other celebrities during a mournful ceremony in downtown Los Angeles, with the most poignant moment delivered by his sobbing 11-year-old daughter.

"I just want to say ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father you can ever imagine. And I just wanted to say I love him so much," Paris-Michael Jackson said before almost collapsing in the arms of her aunt Janet Jackson.
Watched by millions around the world, the memorial struck a tone more spiritual than spectacular Tuesday, opening with a church choir serenading his golden casket and continuing with somber speeches and gospel-infused musical performances.

The Rev. Lucious W. Smith of the Friendship Baptist Church in Pasadena gave the greeting on the same stage where Jackson had been rehearsing for a concert series in the days before his June 25 death at age 50. Then Mariah Carey sang the opening performance with a sweet rendition of the Jackson 5 ballad "I'll Be There," a duet with Trey Lorenz.

"We come together and we remember the time," said Smith, riffing on one of Jackson's lyrics. "As long as we remember him, he will always be there to comfort us."

Millions of fans around the world gathered at odd hours to watch the ceremony, which was broadcast by the major TV networks and cable channels from Tokyo to Paris to New York and streamed everywhere online in one of the biggest celebrity send-offs ever seen.

Among those who saluted Jackson were Motown music mogul Berry Gordy Jr., Brooke Shields, the Rev. Al Sharpton and basketball greats Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant. Jennifer Hudson sang Jackson's hit "Will You Be There" and John Mayer played guitar on a whisper-light rendition of "Human Nature."

"This is a moment that I wished I didn't live to see," Stevie Wonder said before his performance. Usher broke down in tears after singing "Gone Too Soon."

Although the event was billed as a celebration, some speakers took the occasion to come to the defense of Jackson, whose life was marked as much by criticism and scorn as scintillating talent.

Gordy said that despite what he called "some sad times and maybe some questionable decisions on his part," the title King of Pop wasn't good enough for Jackson. "I think he is simply the greatest entertainer that ever lived," Gordy said.

Emotions rose when Sharpton delivered a fiery eulogy highlighting all the barriers Jackson broke and the troubles he faced. "Every time he got knocked down, he got back up," Sharpton said, and the applauding crowd jumped to its feet.

Sharpton rode the moment, building to a crescendo. "There wasn't nothing strange about your daddy," he said later, addressing Jackson's three children in the front row. "It was strange what your daddy had to deal with!" After he left the stage, chants of "Mi-chael! Mi-chael!" filled the arena.

The ceremony wrapped up with group performances of "We Are the World" and "Heal the World" sung by Lionel Richie, Hudson and Jackson family members — including his children — before a backdrop of symbols of religions from around the world. They were joined onstage by children in white and several other people who had participated in the ceremony. Then members of Jackson's family took the stage to thank the crowd and share their own thoughts, barely able to hide their emotion as they hugged in the ceremony's final moments.

An estimated 20,000 people were in the Staples Center as Jackson's flower-draped casket was brought to the venue in a motorcade under law enforcement escort. Those who gathered constituted a visual representation of Jackson's life: black, white and everything in between, wearing fedoras and African headdresses, sequins and surgical masks.

Fans with a ticket wore gold wristbands and picked up a metallic gold program guide on their way in. Acting as pallbearers, Jackson's brothers each wore a gold necktie and, in a touch borrowed from their brother, a single spangly white glove and sunglasses.

Brother Jermaine Jackson took the stage and sang the standard "Smile" as he fought back tears.

Jackson's hearse had been part of a motorcade that smoothly whisked his body 10 miles across closed freeways from a private service at a Hollywood Hills cemetery to his public memorial and awaiting fans.

The traffic snarls and logistical nightmares that had been feared by police and city officials did not materialize. Traffic was actually considered by police to be lighter than normal.

"I think people got the message to stay home," said California Highway Patrol Officer Miguel Luevano.

Deputy Police Chief Sergio Diaz, operations chief for the event, said authorities had expected a crowd of 250,000. Besides reporters and those with tickets to the memorial service, the crowd around the Staples Center perimeter numbered only about 1,000, he said.

Outside the Staples Center, Claudia Hernandez, 29, said she loved Jackson's music as a girl growing up in Mexico. Now a day-care teaching assistant in Los Angeles, Hernandez said she cried watching TV coverage of his death.

"I'm trying to hold in my emotions," said Hernandez, wearing a wristband to allow her admittance to the service and holding a framed photograph of Jackson. "I know right now he's teaching the angels to dance."

More than 1.6 million people registered for the lottery for free tickets to Jackson's memorial. A total of 8,750 were chosen to receive two tickets each.

"There are certain people in our popular culture that just capture people's imaginations. And in death, they become even larger," President Barack Obama told CBS while in Moscow. "Now, I have to admit that it's also fed by a 24/7 media that is insatiable."

The city of Los Angeles set up a Web site Tuesday to allow fans to contribute money to help the city pay for his Staples Center memorial service. Mayoral spokesman Matt Szabo estimated the service will cost $1.5 million to $4 million.

It was not clear what will happen to Jackson's body. The Forest Lawn Memorial Park Hollywood Hills cemetery is the final resting place for such stars as Bette Davis, Andy Gibb, Freddie Prinze, Liberace and recently deceased David Carradine and Ed McMahon.

Jermaine Jackson has expressed a desire to have him buried someday at Neverland, his estate in Southern California.

Midway during the memorial service, police Officer April Harding told the media gathered at the gates of Forest Lawn to disperse. Asked if Jackson's body was going to be returned to the cemetery after the memorial, she replied: "His body is not going to be returned here." She did not say where it would be taken.

Hurry - VOTE for Honey Bear's!

Friday, July 3, 2009

Honey Bear's made it to the final round for the Live with Regis and Kelly show and now it is time for all of our family, friends, fans and followers to help us win this round by voting. Go to the following link and look for the Ultimate Hometown Grill Off, from there you should see the 5 final contestants. Look for Mark's picture and Honey Bear's BBQ and VOTE! Then tell every person you can think of, copy this link and post it to your blogs, send emails and text messages to everyone. We can do it but only with all of you... http://regisandkelly.go.com/recipes.html
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