a birthday post-

Last week was my 47th birthday!

I hate to be all downer about it....

but I am kind of a big fat baby when it comes to my birthday.

I anticipate it for at least a week, usually longer.

 I get all weepy & start feeling sorry for myself. 

Next- I wonder why I am alive in the first place & if anyone loves me or ever has?

I imagine the worst possible thing happening... nobody remembering me.

 I contemplate it for days & wonder if I should go away on a trip so I won't be so disappointed and

 regret all of my life choices thus far.... 

I really do all of this.

every. year.

I feel so bad for my sweet husband.

 He has to live through this year- after year- after year.

It's ridiculous- I'm not proud- It's ugly- I'm starting therapy next month

(just keepin' it real.)

Maybe by now you have guessed that I have had a few rough birthdays?

WELL NOt This YEAR BabY!

Balloons on my mailbox- who did that?

 I want to kiss your face.

 I cried.

My mom called me first thing in the morning & let me pick out two books on Amazon that she sent out that day. I love them- they are here. Thanks mom. I love that you did that.

Karen & I went to lunch- I picked this place & it was wonderful & I love Karen.

 Thank you so much!

I came home to a present in the mail!

 Jill- you amaze me with your thoughtfulness & creativity!

Thank you!

Lisa left this on my doorstep & she didn't even have to do that?!

The "blogger moms" are having a real birthday party for me this week-

 lots of them were out of town last week.

Then- I was so lucky to get to meet up with ALL OF THESE CUTIES for a dinner I didn't even make!

I LOVED MY BIRTHDAY THIS YEAR

Pre-dinner show of cuteness brought to you by:

Joey & Finn above- Charlie & Crew below

Peter was just plain cute. period.

We ate at probably my favorite place to eat downtown.

Did I mention it was such a great day?

 I even had help blowing out the candle on my dessert!

After dinner the kids & Brett were so great to give me all of these thoughtful gifts.

Tears, more tears-- such very thoughtful gifts- really.

The kids made a list of 47 things they love about mom...

 I read it out loud. 

Brett made me a list of the: Top Ten Reasons He is Glad He Married me

The kids read them out loud.

And I needed it.

I really did.

It's been a hard year of doubt, worry, weight gain, wondering if it is all my fault, asking myself over & over & over if I was good enough? If any of my life was good enough? 

I don't write this for you to feel sad for me or even to prove that I'm a brat

 - because really my life is awesome-

 or for people to leave comments.

I just want anyone out there who is reading (especially my future self & children) that

 sometimes life is just hard like that.

 And- sometimes it stays hard for a good long while,

 so you press on, and on, then wonder if it's worth it? 

And the answer is:

YES

It is worth it

I am worth it and so are YOU.

yesterday & today

Yesterday

it was my darling friend Karen's birthday.

Thank you, Karen for having a birthday during the summer so I could have an excuse to take you out to lunch & get out of the house & talk my full blown head off like an idiot & not let you have a word in edge wise.

I guess I needed a little time out.

Today

my house is a mess thanks to the two teenagers who left on a mock Pioneer Trek for 3 1/2 days. Their left over stuff is all over. I hope they have fun.

I'm so glad I am not going. It's good to be young, which I am not.
Jack, Megan, Brian & even Brett went four years ago- Brett was in charge. (what a big job) They had such a fantastic time that Jack really wanted to go again- and Hailey has been excited for months. (can you tell?) Silly kids didn't want their picture taken.
I am so glad these two are going- they are going to have a GREAT time!

gettin' it done

Well, I finally did it-

took a break from blogging to get some work done around here!

I'm not going to mention all the things I've been doing,

but I am going to list a couple.

I made this flag in a window frame. I had an old flag & bought this window frame about a month ago hoping I could put them together. It's going to hang on my front porch. I saw exactly how to do it on Joys Of Home! I love this blog... it's fantastic. Check it out if you haven't!!

I totally cleaned the bathrooms & re caulked the downstairs bathroom sink & cabinet.

We invited company over for dinner...

(we had more than this, but I won't go into it)

Jack came back-

he went overnight to Helaman camp- an over night camp about going on a mission.

Before he left he & hailey had a melt down over who got the "new" free phone available on our cell phone plan. Jack won, being the oldest & serenaded hailey on his guitar with a new song he wrote- I get the new cell phone... hailey doesn't... to the tune of Adam sandler's Hanukkah song.
I tried to get a video but hailey was ticked & jack wouldn't have it-
I of course couldn't help but giggle- sorry hailey. Today sky & I took these four goof balls to EFY & dropped them off. Because of a mix up in room assignments it took forever- we got home 6 hours later. It was a little (a lot stressful) but it all worked out- fewww. Hailey about had a nervous breakdown.... it's all good- I hope they have fun.

I dropped off a dozen cupcakes at Karen's house & a dozen to Jill at seven peaks. Jill has never had a "good" cupcake so I am hoping she loves them. Chocolate fudge cake with chocolate mousse filling, vanilla butter cream frosting with sprinkles- Chloe kept making sure I didn't leave out an ingredient & ruin them- she was worried. I know Jill will love them no matter what- she's just that kind of gal.

So I'm home- with one less teenager in the house.

Wow- I think I'm missing her already...

*what have you been doing?

laughing loud- it's good for the soul

Today I went shopping then to lunch with karen. It was so much fun. After lunch at our favorite place in town -we went to this little shop full of knick knacks & gifts. There was so many funny things. Some not so appropriate, most just so so funny. Like these cocktail napkins. I wanted to buy them & others... they just cracked me up!

I of course was laughing so hard I nearly had an accident.

BAcon Bandaids... disturbing, I know.

Or how about this toast or bacon wallet- just plain weird.
I don't know why I didn't take pictures of the really funny stuff?? Like this birthday card-
The greeting cards here were so funny I was really laughing my head off. As we went to pay for our items the owner of the store said he was watching us & because we were laughing so hard other customers were coming in & looking around. He gave us a box of candy.
I haven't laughed that hard in a long time.... oh boy.
Laughter it's good for the soul.
and apparently it's good for business too.

surprise fun

Today I had a long list of chores. Ironing, emails about the benefit concert & luncheon, cleaning the painted floor, kitchen, etc. etc. Anyhow... surprise- my dear friend Karen called & asked if I could spare an hour to go get a pedicure with her-

Uh~ YA!

She had a gift certificate & a babysitter- and I have deep love for pedicures & haven't had one for a year. Not to mention I have been so busy these days it feels like I haven't seen Karen for a year.We chose matching polish, not cause we're weirdos who think they're in 8th grade... we just liked the same polish.

Today I ran to the Jr. high to pick up Hailey then 1/2 hour later ran to the H.S. to pick up Jack- he had a test. Max came with me & refused to get out of the car. He loves the car. I finally left the side door open & came inside. About another 1/2 hour later I remembered he was still in the car. I ran to the garage, opened the door & there he was sitting in the driver's seat. Just lookin' around. I wonder if he pretends he's driving? It took another 1/2 hour before he would come in. He is so funny.
*do you have a dog?
*do you think people who wear matching clothes are weird?

*man I love a pedicure- do you?

Sickos Need Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup!

It seems like just about everyone is sick these days. Winter just does that to us I guess. Megan & Chloe have been sick. Brett & I drove down to Provo, picked up Megan & brought her home Friday night. She was really sick with a fever.... etc. Right before we left Chloe said she wasn't feeling well & sure enough she had a fever too. My dear friend Karen makes the best chicken noodle soup in the world & swore to me it was EASY then gave me the recipe. I made a huge pot of it Saturday & woo hoo she was right! It is so good & so simple to make that I just had to share the recipe in case any of you have sickos at your house too. Or if you are like me & homemade chicken noodle soup makes you tired just thinking about it.

These are the noodles I used -from Costco. Any egg noodle will do but these taste homemade so that makes it extra good.

Karen's EASY But So Good -I'm talking the best- Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup Ever!!

(this recipe is doubled- it makes about 5-6 qts of soup)

6 Tblsp. Butter

2 Cups chopped onion

2 Cups chopped celery

2 Cups sliced mushrooms

Saute until everything is tender in a soup pot.

(I added 1 cup carrots diced also just because it seemed like the right thing to do & I didn't have that much celery )

Now add:

2 Cups cooked chicken -(I added 3 boiled chicken breast diced)

4 Cups of Noodles

Cover everything with water- just barely. I used the water from boiling the chicken & a little more.

Now add:

4 chicken bouillon cubes

2 cans of cream of chicken soup

Bring to a boil & simmer until the noodles are tender! Salt & pepper to taste.

ENJOY!

Seriously great cooking starts with a great recipe. Thanks for sharing Karen!

*is anyone sick at your house?

*are you going to make this soup? You won't be disappointed!

P.S. To my sister Johnna - have fun picking up your missionary (my nephew) in Brazil! Good luck on your trip tomorrow & give him a hug for us! I will be thinking about you :)

Many Gifts

This morning my dear friend Karen (who never leaves comments on my blog ;) ) stopped by with some Christmas goodies! What a joy!! She even brought my mail in which was so nice since I am still in my pajamas wrapping gifts in a huge pile of paper, ribbons & packages.

I love Karen. She is such a dear friend. She understands me or at least pretends to. She introduced me to blogging even though she doesn't really keep up on her private blog. She has the most darling family & extended family in the world- she's so lucky- and her husband is so great that he has left TWO COMMENTS on my blog this week!! My own husband- whom I love, yes I do- never reads my blog. I guess he's livin' it so, whatever.

In the mail that Karen so graciously brought up to keep me from neighborhood shame were many Christmas cards & a package from my sister in law with some of these!

I didn't even know Ghirardelli made these in small squares. I love the big ones and sent one to her for her November birthday. She loves peppermint for some odd reason I always remember that &... so do I all of the sudden. I took a picture of them but it won't down load....?
Ghirardelli Square in San Francisco is one of my favorite places in the world to visit I love San Francisco.

Last week Linda brought me this delightful package...

We are true Grobanites. We have seen him in concert together twice. I was thrilled to get this CD since I refuse to buy anymore CD's since a little red head I know KEEPS BREAKING THEM!!! Is this the greatest way to wrap a CD or what? It's a little pocket of paper decorated. I am going to store it in this pocket always, it will remind me every time I listen to it that she gave it to me. It's a fabulous CD by the way.

Also- last week this met me at a Community Council meeting. I had mentioned to Wende how much I loved her pen and look what she sent to me! So thoughtful.

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!

MY LOCOMOTEM IS BACK!

As you can see my modem is back! Hurray Brett for setting it up for me. He bought me a new one & I am so happy to be getting back to my blogging friends & email! Well I haven't checked my email. So many folks with A/C are emailing me. Some are very sympathetic & willing to think outside the box about this issue. Others like to remind me that the district doesn't have 60 million dollars lying around to put in full air conditioning systems in every school. WOW~I am so glad they told me, I didn't know that!?

(that was sarcasm)

The last few days have been good, here are a few of the reasons why.

Good Mail Wednesday three items!

Brittany & mom plus...

I sent Chloe's hair away & had to take a picture of it!

She is so thrilled at the idea of someone getting a wig made out of her hair.

There is a great web site about locks of love here.

This is the WONDERFULl birthday present Karen gave me yesterday. Thank you Karen, you're the bestest. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!

Today the most wonderful thing happened...
I got good mail from Jill!
I love Jill~ her blog is linked on my side bar. I have been coveting these good mail labels all summer & she sent me some today! I just want you to know that getting good mail from Jill is such a thrill. I feel so blessed.
I can't wait to send some of these babies out on good mail! They are so, so, cute~
THANKS JILL!

This morning was late start for the H.S.
First an hour lunch, now starting at 9:30 every other Friday? What the heck is going on? Who's running the place...
Just kidding- I love late start because I think teenagers truly need the extra sleep. Brian thinks the whole thing stinks. It's a conspiracy against his class of 07' for sure.
Plus, an extra 15 minutes for lunch as a reward for good grades~ genius. It's like in kindergarten when the teacher gives the kids one m&m for turning in an important paper. They go all out for it!
(If I tried to bribe my kids with one m&m they would fall down laughing in total hysterics)

So...back to why I brought this up at all. I was taking Jack & Seth to school & saw Sky driving by & called her to ask her where she was going? She was getting a coke, then going to a boutique in Fruit Heights. She invited me along & this is what I bought there.
This cute little flying black cat on a broom for my Halloween door.
Brett says Sky has to go back to work right away... we went to breakfast wed., lunch Thursday & now this. What a week! Hey, I got the whole house cleaned remember? (that didn't last) I truly cannot remember the last time I had time with a friend - three days in a row. AMAZING


Well I'm happy to be back!



* What did you do this week?