2 days 2 celebrate

Last week was my 46th birthday!

side note:

With all the hard things (is there ever easy things?) 

going on this past year I have completely failed my New Year's Resolution of sending out birthday cards to everyone I love.... excuses, excuses.

 But- let me just say Happy Birthday to my fellow July born friends.

Jane (we share the same birthday), My sister Johnna, Jake the missionary, Jill, Sky, Steph my oldest friend, Lynnie my SIL, Braden & Sarah- Ruthie's kids, and my dear Caroline-- Did I forget you? Leave me a message & I will repent immediately. Yes- next year I will try again.

I was very blessed by getting to celebrate on 2 separate days! But I am also very cursed with terrible pictures. I didn't document the time well.... to say the least. It's ridiculous the pictures I didn't take. 

So please forgive me (older self) as I share this special occasion with lousy photos. Hopefully the journaling itself- will make up for it?

Celebration #1- has nothing much to do with Twinkies- I was in the store & saw them on my birthday though- so thanks Hostess. I appreciate that.

What a HUGE treat- all of my kids- ALL OF THEM- were together with me to celebrate the day before my birthday! I can't even think of the last time that happened? It was a Sunday so it worked out that everyone could be there. We all met up at Megan's new home for lunch after (most of us) went to church with Chloe.

We had fun times playing with the twins.

Chloe hasn't seen the twins for almost 2 months and they have grown tremendously since then!

Brittany came down too- life just doesn't seem right now if Brittany's not around.

Charlie & Joey are so happy to have all their things unpacked-

Charlie especially loves the costumes. Oh it cracks me up!

He changes about every 15 minutes from tiger, to pirate, to monkey... so fun.

We had beef tacos for dinner with guacamole & watermelon. 

It was fabulous.

(sorry about the eating pictures guys)

Then we had chocolate fondue!

YUM

It is really fun and exciting to have all of my kids close enough to get together as a family!

We are starting to plan- once month Sunday dinners & I am thrilled about it. 

Surely we will get together more than that? But as schedules start to fill with Fall coming- I know we will at least have a once a month dinner at Nana's house- I could not ask for a better birthday present than that.

It is truly the greatest gift I have ever been given- to have six beautiful children and to have them close enough to get together as adults, with their amazing families. I try not to gush around here on this blog too much. I think I keep it real most of the time... But really even though we have our share of problems & issues that are difficult... and most of the time I feel like there is nothing to brag about...

 We are going to be getting together for dinner at least once a month and for me that = happiness.

***

Celebration #2

Everyone knows- I am lucky to have this group of friends that get together most Wednesdays. 

We also get together & celebrate each other's birthdays. On the actual day- That's a big thing for us. When possible we get together on the. actual. birth. day. It means something.

OH MY GOSH-

it was so great- 

just so fun.

Did I mention, it was great to get together with my sweet friends on my birthday?

 Cause it was.

We had salads & fresh corn (picked THAT morning) for lunch!

and dessert!

I have to say- I think this was the best dessert I've ever had on my birthday.

Actually it was the best meal overall I've ever had on my actual birthday.

 Thanks everyone for all the good food & presents!

They planned my lunch party around a red, white, and blue theme because of my love for the 4th of July & it's July... it was so fun! All of the many presents were coordinating- ladies you guys are amazing!

I am especially loving this gigantic chalk board I hung on the laundry room door.

Trent & I are having fun switching up decorating it with chalk.

That night-

Brett brought home balloons & pizza.

It's pretty quiet around here now.

Brett & Trent had other plans, mostly work 

so Brittany & I headed to a new store at Farmington Station that I am in LOVE with.

It's Sugar

What a fun place.

I was in heaven, yet overwhelmed at the same time-

Kind of like one of those candy stores in NYC.

Just fun to be in!

It was a GREAT couple of days.

I'm happy to have the privilege to be one year older.

And do have so many candy options so close.

(wink - wink)

this past week...

I work four morning shifts-

and

I went to TWO

birthday parties!

Lisa & Lauri's

They were both really fun & I adore both of these ladies!

Brittany's house is really coming along & I can't wait for her to move in at the end of the month.

It was conference weekend 

and

sadly... oh so sadly...

I slept through most of it.

Oh I am so mad at myself!

I must have been really tired? I didn't get a project together & I just fell.

Fell asleep.

Thank heavens for the DVR.

I will be watching it this week-- maybe I will hear more of it anyway?

 Jack was home for a night.

I tried to feed him as much food as possible.

He is gaining a little weight, after his specialist gave him a couple of new prescriptions.

It's getting cold outside- Trent has been begging me to turn the heat on- and this morning I finally succumbed. It had to be done.

REally-- is your October flying by too? 

the return of creative thursday

The greatest thing happened today...

it

was

thursday!

***

The very first Thursday since school has started.
You know what that means?
The return of creative Thursday!
lauri, kristy, wende, kristal & I all met at my house.
Janae is down with a cold & karrie is back to work full time.
(Don't worry karrie we made a monthly GNO schedule!)
Not much creativity was going on....
We've gotta get our groove back.
But- we had wonderful take out for lunch, laughed ourselves silly, I actually cleaned the painted floor (thank goodness for company or some jobs would never get done) and I made these for a bishopric dinner tonight.

Cupcakes!
I am really looking forward to the next 9 months of Thursdays!

just a little catch up

I haven't been a very good blogger this week...

maybe I got burned out?

Maybe it's the change in seasons?

I hate change.

Don't get me wrong- I love summer & all- it's just an adjustment having everyone home, etc. It is glorious absolutely glorious to have homework free nights & lazy mornings, but you know me... I love routine.

(trent at the top of the slide- ready to fly down!)

Wednesday night Brett & I took Mr. Trent & a friend to the rec. center. He was so thrilled to go. It's been a rainy, windy, cold June. So the indoor pool is a sweet option. While we were there the temperature was close to 50 degrees outside & it was pouring down rain.

(chocolate calzone at Arella Pizza in West Bountiful)

On Thursday I went to lunch with the blogger moms.
Some of them... we are all very busy this summer & come when we can. We have plans every Thursday with & without our kids. I love these guys. It's definitely a highlight in my week seeing everyone.


(Lola the front)

I finished a quilt for my niece & her new baby Lola.
I didn't like it at first... so it took me a while to finish it. I even considered making a different quilt. But I really like it now. It's amazing what binding & a trip through the washing machine can do.

(Lola the back- my favorite part)

I am a little concerned it may give a new baby a headache. It is pretty bright.

Today we went to a missionary homecoming Sacrament meeting.

Oh how I love those!

The missionary coming home went to South Africa- where Brett served his mission. It was so great to hear the message of a newly returned missionary- but I forgot me notepad...

It's going to be a busy week- my goal

at least one photo a day!!

I hope I can make it happen?

blogger's night out

For Christmas this past year

Kristy gave all of us blogger mom's gift certificates to a local theater.

We could pick any night- any show.

It was a BRillIant idea!

(sisters karrie & meridith "weezer")

It's hard to get all of us busy moms together on the same night- but we made it.

Last night we went to see

Steel Magnolias

I was super excited, not only because it's one of my all time favorite movies, but because Karrie's sister Meridith was playing Weezer, my favorite character.

double bonus

It was the perfect show for us- it was fantastic. A show about a group of women who get together once a week & help each other through life's ups & downs.

Before the show we went to dinner.

After to get frozen yogurt.

Not everyone got yogurt.
But I did.
Oh boy, I love frozen yogurt.

I love the blogger moms.
they are always there for me.
I couldn't ask for better friends
Summer is coming- we don't get together as much.
I don't know if I can stand it?

creative day

the blogger mom's creative days

are alive & strong.

Last week we even had a guest -

Wende's SIL April

We were meeting at my house, she came & made us these:

Glazed Cheese Croissants

Not a great picture... but they are so good!

I LOVed them... mmmm

So Good that they were published in Martha's Everyday Food!

where there is a professional picture & the recipe

There is also a surprise ingredient...

Check out the recipe here.

Our day consists of important discussion...

I don't know what we are talking about in this picture but it cracks me up.

Most of the time -we have projects we are working on. All of the time - we eat lunch.

It's therapeutic.

It's the funnest day of the week.

Not everyone can always come...

we are a busy bunch of moms you know!

Janae has been missing through the RSV season.

But look who showed up yesterday!

(sorry about the shadow of the light on your face kristy!?)

Somehow I didn't get a picture of janae-

she looks great

BUT--- look at this guy!!

Oh boy, he is an absolute doll.

Non of us are or have been sick for a while so we got a little peek at the guy.

I can't wait for the winter yuck to be over so we can have him around all the time!

creative thursday - surprise edition

For Kristy's 40th birthday, we planned an extra special creative Thursday this week.

Karrie booked us tickets on a local TV talk show called Good Things Utah.

We headed out of our town early & told Kristy where we were going on the way!

She loves this show & watches it while running on her treadmill. We were super excited to get tickets & surprise her!

We got there a little early & the receptionist asked us to step outside to wait...? we got back in the car - nothing like good ol' fashioned hospitality? It was only around 35 degrees outside- so we got back in the car for 10 minutes.

It was really fun to see around the studio.
I knew they had a small live audience, but today there were only 10-12 of us.


The set was beautiful & everyone was super friendly.

the set was beautiful - it was so fun to see all the behind the scenes stuff going on.

the ladies who host the show were darling and could not have been nicer.

I couldn't get over their shoes. Look at these heals!? All of them had at least 6 inch heals. Holy cow--- it was like walking on stilts & looked so painful to me. I guess I'm an official old lady- cause I don't care how skinny or gorgeous people think they look- they seriously look like torture to me.

There was a segment on choosing the right sized bra (interesting), Kneaders Bakery was there giving a sugar cookie demonstration & gave all the audience members $10 gift cards!

One of the stars of Dancing With The Stars & his mom were there & gave a little dancing lesson. (Boy those heals were working over time)

Then the Seargent Steam company did a demonstration. Let me tell you I
seriously covet those things.

They were gracious & spotlighted Kristy at the end of the show so we were all on TV!!! Plus they let us come up & take pictures with them.

These guys were absolutely darling to Kristy about it being her birthday.

After the show we went to Zinn Bistro for lunch.

This place is amazing. It's where we went for lunch on my birthday last year. The food is fabulous & the bread- I'm not even a super bread lover- but it's worth eating there just for the bread basket!

We had a great time watching Kristy open presents.

It's so fun to go in together & buy something extra special.

It was a great day.

But we missed you janae-

janae is home taking care of her new baby boy Owen .

I'm not sure why I was so tired but I came home & crashed.

Like a seriously dead to the world nap. I couldn't get off the couch- zzzzzzz

what a great day