Keith's Surprise Birthday Dinner

Last night Brett & I went to a surprise birthday dinner for our dear friend Keith.

Keith & Karen are more than friends to Brett & I - they're family.

It was a blast!

Keith was so surprised to see his friends all "drop in" to the same restaurant down town.

We went to this great new restaurant called Settebello.

It's Italian, they serve authentic Italian pizza. They have even brought a real fire oven over from Italy to cook the pizza in. All the ingredients come from the best places for them- all over the world. It's a great place to eat. Simple menu- authentic Italian food.

Thanks for a great time. We loved it!

Book Review September 07

Night by Elie Wiesel, was this month's book choice for my book club.

What can I say... the comment on the front cover is very appropriate.

"A slim volume of terrifying power." - the New York Times

Night is a true story about Elie, a boy who survived the holocaust.

I make it a habit of never watching or reading anything too serious.

(that's not true, I read the paper almost cover to cover everyday)

This was a huge step for me & I have truly been enlightened/frightened. Mr. Wiesel is an amazing man who has done the world a service by writing this book- which by-the-way won him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986.

I strongly believe the famous quote (which I hope not to ruin) that goes something like this-

Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it.

That is why I checked this book out of the library and did my best to read at least most of it.

In the world we live in today it is easy to fantasize or avoid difficult issues & believe that evil people don't exist- but they do. Most definitely do.

I read most of the book skipping the parts I just couldn't handle, read the end & the very moving Noble Peace speech at the end. I do highly recommend it because I feel that now & then we need to be reminded of our responsibility as members of the human race & occupants of this earth. We all know events like the ones in this book occur even today in this world. We cannot ever forget how blessed we are to have freedom & that yes, freedom is not free.

*Have you ever read this book, will you?

Brian's Birthday

Yesterday was a busy, crazy day, but a lot of fun- kind of. Wow what a sentence.

We were on day two of the carpet being installed - which met up with a few snags but all is well now. Don't get me wrong, I am thrilled to be getting new carpet, it is just a lot of work moving everything we own upstairs around etc. The good news is, hopefully we will be more organized & get rid of a lot of junk as well as have new carpet. It's a win- win situation for sure.

The bad news is our Dish box went out days ago & I have been made painfully aware of how addicted I am to T.V. The idiots sent us three new boxes (????) we set one up then spent the next hour+ on the phone because it wouldn't work either!!! I - WE are all ticked off because everyone knows TONIGHT IS THE PREMIERE OF THE OFFICE! We have only been waiting all summer for this. Not to mention our footage of us on the Letterman show & Regis & Kelly from our trip to New York are gone.

Okay I'm done venting...

Here is a picture of Brian not wanting to get his birthday picture taken.

We went to dinner at Firehouse Pizza to celebrate. Bonus- Megan & Tony came.

He got a jump rope from his dad so that on his mission he can stay active.

After dinner we got to see some real cool moves from everyone with it. Who knew a jump rope could be so much fun?

Best of all he opened a new set of Spider Man sheets to take with him when he leaves for Chile.

All the other missionaries are going to be so impressed- or worried.

The best part of my day- when he brought me a dozen roses home after work-

thanking me for his special day. He's a keeper for sure!
I love you Brian!

HAPPY 19TH BIRTHDAY BRIAN!

Nineteen is a big year for an LDS young man. This is a birthday he has been waiting for since he was a little boy. He is finally old enough to go on a mission. I have to admit it sounded a lot more appealing to me, his mother when he was five & six. Here are nineteen things I love about Brian.

1. He's so funny.

2. He is not afraid to laugh at himself- or anyone else for that matter?!

3. He is a great big brother even to Megan.

4. He is very responsible. One time when he was fourteen Brett & I both had the stomach flu at the same time for over 24 hours. He took care of the whole family.

5. He's so darn cute.

6. He has a gorgeous voice & is great on stage. He has been in lots of local theatre, through school & otherwise. He has been in The King & I- Pirates of Penzance - Beauty & the Beast - Phantom - Jane Eyre- & Guys And Dolls.

7. He can't sing a spiritual song without crying. He refuses to sing at our church but will sing at others for this reason.

8. He is smart.

9. He is good with people, especially kids.

10. He is a happy person.

11. He is a good friend & truly misses his friends who are off at college or already serving missions.

12. He is patient with Trent- that's not easy for a teenager.

13. He is a cowboy at heart.

14. He is a good writer. He writes to his missionary friends & cousin on a regular basis. I can't wait to get letters from him!

15. He is worthy to go on a mission & hold the priesthood. At least I think so-(got you Bri)

16. He is great at prank phone calls, just ask Johnna he got her yesterday.

17. He loves his family.

18. He knows how to work.

19. He is my sugar boy. I love you Brian!

Archivers With The Girls September 24, 2007

Yesterday I went to visit Archivers- an awesome scrapbooking store in Orem- with friends.

Wende & I have been trying to get this field trip together for weeks & we finally pulled it off.

It was a lot of fun, but I was plaqued by waking up with a headache that never left me.

Archivers is one of those stores that is so chalk ful of great things that I get completely overwhelmed. I just want to leave & come back later after I've thought about it.

I'm not the best shopper & usually come home with regret.

Here are some cute cards- they have examples of cute cards all over the store. I guess I took this picture sideways??? I can't get it to turn.

After we got there I looked around & realized that all of us are in my card club. I am having serious guilt that I didn't invite the rest of card club. What was I thinking?
After that we went to lunch at Brick Oven. Megan doesn't work there anymore after Friday. She got a new great job that starts today.

CONGRATULATIONS MEGAN -I am so proud of her!

She was busy doing homework & going to classes so she couldn't join us. I left her a package on her bed. Do you think she might find it?
Hey people she is a full time student, R.S. president, Tony's girlfriend, etc., etc. I'm sure this is not the usual room,(do you think she will speak to me after this?!)
Well, as my mother will probably comment- she comes by it naturally. I was such a sloppy kid. The only reason why my room didn't look like this in college was because all of my roommates were neat gals. I was on my best behavior hoping they wouldn't kick me out.
Good news- I grew out of it- there is hope for you mothers out there with the same issue.

Later that night for FHE we had pizza on Chloe's bedroom floor~
What? Yes folks- pizza on Chloe's bedroom floor because today...
THE CARPET COMES.
I am so excited!

And Baby Makes Seven!

This morning just before church I got a phone call from my brother-in-law Greg.

My little sister Ruthie was having the baby! WHAT? That little guy is not due for another four plus weeks!! I guess he decided he was ready & he was a comin'.

So I was a wreck- worried out of my mind all during the primary program which was great, then after our meetings & stuffing our faces & looking for my keys for 15 minutes after I just drove home with them-- @#*%!! We headed up to her house. As you can see it was a beautiful drive. I love fall. Perfect timing on this babie's part- the fall colors are in their prime.

I can't believe he didn't start to cry when he saw this crowd come in.

Here's the picture you really want to see.

Wow- aren't they both beautiful?! He was 6lbs. 3 oz. & healthy!
What a blessing~he is soo precious~ and he doesn't have a name yet.
(Come on he was 4 weeks early, Ruthie's babies are almost always late.)

What a handsome baby boy!

Proud cousin Jack.

Proud cousin Brian.

Proud Uncle Brett & even more proud Dad.

Do these two look alike or what? No wonder when we are out in public together people mistake them for brothers not realizing Ruthie & I are sisters.

Two big brothers & Trent.

Chloe, Hailey, Lauren, & Sarah.

Our drive home plus,

The picture you've been waiting for....

AND BABY MAKES SEVEN!

CONGRATULATIONS~ WE LOVE YOU GUYS!!

A Big Part of My Life~ Volunteer Work

I love my volunteer work. It truly is a big part of my life. I am very aware that what I do would not be possible without such a supportive husband & children~ thanks guys!

A couple of years ago when I was the PTA president at my children's elementary school- I decided our school needed some service opportunities. So, I delegated really well, & left a few jobs for myself- one being a series of service projects throughout the year. (I had a committee helping me too.) They turned out so well that I have continued them for the past few years.

Today was a little pay day for me as I learned a little bit more when I visited the Ronald McDonald House on the way to a doctor's appointment downtown. Our school started collecting pop tabs for them that year & another mom always dropped them off. Well, she moved & I have been meaning to drop off last year's collection all summer. I was excited today because I had a doctor's appointment just near there so hey I thought I would stop by there first. This is a great service project. It doesn't cost any money, raises awareness, kids get it, etc., etc., and there are Ronald McDonald houses all over the country that could use this and other kinds of help. (just a little plug) Learn about collecting pop tabs for them here!

I am so inspired by this great place.

The volunteers at the desk gave me some additional brochures & stickers for the collections jars that are in all the classrooms. They acted like I was the greatest thing ever dropping off the tabs- it's so not a big deal- they were great & didn't mind me taking a few pictures.

I am so thankful our family has never needed to stay here.

I am proud to say our little school has donated almost 100,000 pop tabs in the last three years!

This was my view on the drive back home. I love my city. I stopped the car while no other cars were around and took this picture. I thought I was alone sticking my head out the window with my camera when I heard a voice say "do you want to be in the picture?" I guy parked on the side of the road was watching me.

I went straight to work after that with Brian the missionary in waiting & thought I would grab a picture of the -not sick him- while I had a chance. I walked in- there he was- he saw my camera- ran.
COWARD!

Here is us eating lunch. Picture by Linda!
I have two more service projects this year. Collecting winter coats/clothes for kids in our school district who need them & a Holiday food drive for the same kids. Like I said I love volunteering. I will post on how the other two projects go when we do them.

All Better

Well, everyone is feeling all better-whew!
Just thought I would post & let you know in case you were worried.
Brian's fever- gone must have been strep not mono! Or some kind of fever virus. Just glad it's over, for now.

Sicko

Brian the missionary in waiting is sick.

Really sick.

He went into instacare last night with a 103.9 fever.

The doctor said it was either strep throat- the quick test was negative- or

MONO!

WHAT....?

That is not cool.

So here he is, still feverish, on meds, his lifeline (cell phone) clutched in his sweet little hand.

(Goodnews- Karen says her son has had a fever & they told her it was just a virus)

I am calling our doctor & ask what she thinks.

Today is a catch up day for me~ I have soo much housework to do.

*have your kids or you ever had mono?

*do you have a messy house from severe neglect?

Busy Days

I haven't posted in a while. I have had some busy days.

Monday was supposed to be catch up day. But, I didn't get much done.

Lately I am feeling stressed & overwhelmed.Why... well just the usual, son leaving on mission, daughter dating someone I hardly know- "seriously," I met with Trent's teacher- he's doing well, but she (just as his first grade teacher) thinks he needs to be tested for Asberger's Syndrome. I am setting that up.

Motherhood~ what can I say?

Brian the missionary in waiting has a fever.

This morning- just after everyone left for school- I heard the lock turn on the front door. Jack was back- naucious. Hailey walked in this afternoon "achy." Chloe has a headache.

Max did get a haircut though- itsn't he cute?

I went to work... here is me & my good friend Linda the AMAZING cook & caterer.

I recycled tons of paper & card board. Looks like I need to make a new sign.

This afternoon the girls have piano group classes.

(do you think I need a new windshield?)

Hailey will want to kill me when she sees I snuck in a picture of her.
I am trying to help chloe with her math homework before her class, but she is really crabby about it so I am not going to take a picture.

*do you get stressed even over good things with your kids?

*are you having busy days lately?

*do you have a child with difficulties?

Lagoon Day

Today was Brett's office's annual Lagoon Day.

Lagoon is an amusement park north of SLC.

Trent has been looking forward to this day all summer!

On Lagoon day we can go anytime & stay as long as we want. The company dinner is served at 5:00.

So, we got there around 2:30- which just about killed Trent- he got up at 5:30AM-just a little excited.

Hurray~ Megan came up from Provo.

This last month with all her R.S. meetings & boyfriend Tony- she has been too busy to come up. I am so glad she came, we've been missing her.

Dinner was fun. Hamburgers, hot dogs, ribs, chicken, etc.

Plus all the ice cream treats you want!

Here we are on the train.
One of Trent's personal favorites!

And here is Trent maneuvering a bumper car.

Trent has been bragging for the last week about how he was going to go on all the scary rides & even jump off them and climb down like spider man- especially the new ride "Wicked." (boys?)
As soon as he saw Wicked- while still in the parking lot- he started to get scared. He said it was "too wicked" and he was not going on that. But there were other scary rides. He went on & on bragging. Well, here we are on the paratrooper (not very scary-compared to what he had been talking about) & he was terrified.
I am such a jerk, I could not stop laughing. I kept giving Brett the thumbs up sign - asking how he was doing & Brett kept giving me back the thumbs middle to down sign back. Honestly it was so funny. He came off the ride, ran over to me, threw his arms around my neck and started to cry. Poor kid. He was trying to be so big.

(if you click on this picture it will enlarge & you can see his poor little face & white knuckles)

This Red Baron was more his speed.

Last year Brian & I waited in line with Trent & Chloe for the kiddy roller coaster Puff the Dragon. When it came time for our turn Chloe & Trent ran ahead & got in together. Brian & I got on like idiots & were so embarrassed when people from Brett's office waved at us. So we decided to make it a tradition to have the whole family go on it together from now on. You know the saying...The family who is embarrassed together stays together.

Jack was humiliated & refused. Brian dragged him up the ramp. Trent insisted that the ride was called "Puff OFF the magic dragon" which didn't help with all the rowdiness.

Now the boys were jokingly telling each other to Puff off- between nipple twisting and general rough housing the whole long wait. The people around us must have been mortified.

When we went to get on Brian, of course told the kid running the ride it was Jack's favorite ride. I have decided Jack will not miss Brian one bit when he leaves.

Here is my Self Portrait for the day.

We had so much fun!

*Have you ever been to Lagoon?

* Do you like scary rides?

*Do the boys/men in your life tease & rough house every second of the day?

* Do you uncontrollably laugh at things you shouldn't, like boys who are crazy fun?