day at the capitol, hailey's day, & religious hair??

Today Karrie & I spent the day at the Capitol building. We went to the state legislative PTA conference. It was really great. We went to some fabulous classes on:Community councils, class size reduction, the state school plan- why we should have one- we don't, and gold medal schools. I really learned a lot & love being with such involved & educated women. We had lunch & witnessed some state awards given to two different people who happen to live in our school district- pretty cool.I love the capitol building. It is fantastic. I really need to go on a tour. I really want to go on a tour. I will definitely keep- going on a tour of the capitol- off my new years list for 2009- since I haven't done one single thing on my 2008 list....... (heavy sigh & rolling my eyes.) While walking to a class we spied this amazing room with the door open. We wanted so badly to go in. We discussed sneaking in & getting pictures of us sitting in the hot seat- hee hee hee. Then, noticed there were two people in there- dang. Surely we would've gotten in big trouble then kicked out of the building & kicked out of the PTA.

Cowards...

On the way there we drove by this bumper sticker...?

What in the world?

I didn't know the campaign was religious?

I won't say which is my candidate of choice,

(I think there are enough political blogs out there)

but I will say I think this is a very strange bumper sticker. Now I will also mention that the political sign in my front yard was stolen while we were in Wyoming... brett was totally ticked off. A neighbor brought it by tonight. He found it in his bushes.

Just to be fair- here's another bumper sticker we saw.

Strictly political, no religion attached.

I spent the whole first class listening intently & trying to get a good photo of the cutest haircut ever. This girl was so cute! I think I'm in love with her hair. Actually I'm pretty sure I am. I won't put her irritated, front face photo up. I think she may have guessed I was stalking her. I tried to find the right moment to tell her she had the best hair ever but didn't get the chance.

**

I got home before school got out- I ran a couple of errands- then took Hailey to a group piano lesson. While she was gone her friends came by to secretly decorate her room for her birthday. How fun!
When we got back from the lesson- I told her Chloe had put a birthday present on her bed. She opened her bedroom door & SurpRIse!! How exciting :)
What thoughtful girls! Good friends are such a blessing at every age.

We had our first of two birthday dinners.

The second one is Sunday when Megan & Tony can come down.

Jack had a rugby meeting- he is the captain this year-

so he had to skip out after the present opening.

She opened her presents- spoiled ;) -then- I told her about the girl with the great hair. She said- oh ya that's called the Mormon A line cut. What the world, again? Hairstyles religious too?

what's this world coming to?

Do YOU think this bumper sticker is weird, or am I just off?

Should I get my haircut like this... I really want to- but- Mormon A line? Have you heard of this?

Am I going mad? I think I need get some sleep for once!

31 For March

1. I love everything blueberry. Growing up in the Northwest we picked blueberries every summer & froze them. I now buy them & freeze them- there are no blueberries to pick in UT. I make blueberry pancakes & muffins, plus blueberry pie several times throughout the year.
2. I can't remember ever being as cold as this winter. It's almost over- bring on the allergies.
3. My favorite food- pizza- I love it.
4. I don't know how to swim. I've never learned.
5. I am terrified of water, unless I have a life jacket on.
6. I used to water ski as a teen- with a life jacket on.
7. Sitting in the shallow end of the pool & watching the other kids swim at swimming parties was not cool or fun.
8. I can't ice skate or roller skate either.
9. I am obviously very uncoordinated.
10. I would rather be cold than hot.
11. Sometimes at night I sneak into Trent's room & put lotion on his drying hands. He hates lotion.
12. I wonder if I am listing any of the same things month after month?
13. The only thing I would change about my 20's- shoot - I would wear a swim suit every single chance I had. Even just around the house. I was so young & stupid!
14. For my 40th birthday I gave myself a present... I am not taking my kids to the pool or water park in the summer anymore. Before you judge me- & I know you are... remember I have been dragging kids, coolers, beach towels & my fat self to the pool/water park for YEARS. I hate it- I HATE IT. I can't swim- I am miserable- I have sensitive skin & the sun does me in- I'm 40 now, I'm done with it! Sorry Trent & Chloe- I may go once in a while but that's it- I really haven't been going for a couple of years now anyway, so really I am giving up the guilt of it -happy birthday to me.
15. I am not a morning person.
16. I read the comics everyday in the paper.
17. Putting gas in my car is one of the sweet things I want my husband to do for me. I really go overboard thanking him when he does it, hoping he will keep doing it.
18. I think every woman (married or not) should read The Proper Care & Feeding of Husbands by Dr. Laura. REally it's a thought provoking read.
19. I have made a lot of friends because of blogging. I really am happy about this.
20. I love to go out to breakfast because of my friend Lori. Brett's favorite meal is breakfast, but I never really understood it until I started going out to breakfast with sky & Lori now & then.
21. Jack is a March baby.
22. Snow in March is very depressing. Spring is so close yet so far.
23. I have a collection of sand from different beaches. It is in little bottles on my bathroom window sill. Just about a 1/2 cup of sand labeled in cute little bottles- I love it. My friends sometimes bring me sand back from vacations- so nice.
24. Jane is my middle name. I was named after my mother.
25. I hate dust- doesn't everyone. There is NO WAY there can be dust in heaven!
26. I love musicals. My favorite right now is... Hairspray. No Wicked. No wait a minute I love forever & ever Les Miserabe. Seeing it last spring on Broadway was an amazing dream come true. I won't mention that I got my picture taken after the show with Jon Val Jon after waiting forever- then Trent erased it off my camera... No I won't bring that up again.
27. I am so excited for the writer's strike to be over- BRing on The Office!
28. I don't want Jack to play rugby... but I am just praying it's all okay.
29. I almost never watch movies.
30. I never want to move again.
31. I am really excited to be a mother-in-law, is that weird? I'm not sure Tony is excited to have me for a mother-in-law... but I think it'll be fun.

Today

Trent & Mom taken by Trent

Today I needed to drive ballet & after the last week's happenings I decided I would take Trent with me. It is a big undertaking since it is a ways away & I wait the hour & 1/2 for the class to get over instead of driving home & back. Having Trent in the car for that long in 95 degree heat-yes it's hot again- is not an option so we had some mom & trent time at the Mcdonald's play land.

He talked to chloe & the ballet girls the whole way about how brave he was & how he was going to go on the new ride at Lagoon called Wicked. Then he mentioned how he was once in a building that blew up- but don't worry he "survived it."

When we got to the play land he asked me which way he should go first to play. I immediately said to the top! Trent- I'm not going up there it's too scary. So much for bravery.

When we got there we were alone. He was thrilled when three brothers showed up. He introduced himself & asked if they wanted to be his friends. It was really cute & they played just fine- then Trent tried to get their addresses & invited them for a sleep over. (we don't even allow sleep overs) the kids were just a little bewildered. I love how kids are so friendly & uninhibited. He really wanted them at least to come over & play I tried to explain social rules & how we don't really know them etc. He just cracks me up.

Crabby

I am so crabby I don't really have anything to post about. It is so hot here I am miserable. I don't have any idea how people live in even hotter climates than this. It is a record 102 today & I feel like my head will explode. There is so much to do... kids bored, can't go outside,...sigh. Actually they are not bored~ I'm the one that's bored of picking up after the fun they are having. You know that saying about trying to do housework with kids is like shoveling snow in a snow storm ( snow storm how nice) right now trying to get anything done is just tough. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.

A Great Day

Let me just say this has been a very busy weekend. Starting with one of my greatest experiences ever. Brett & I taking our son to the temple! At first I wasn't going to post about this experience~ it's too personal, but then I thought it's too great to leave out. We opted to go alone, just the three of us. We just wanted Brian to focus on what he was learning & decided to go with family another time. I hope no one feels left out, we will plan a time to go together before he leaves for the missionary training center. Also, family... save the date if you can, he speaks in church on November 11th ~ but we are having an early Thanksgiving (his request) on the 10th & would love to have everyone come to both. Anyway, it was a mother's dream. One of the sister's in the waiting room said to me~ "today's payday." Even now tears come to my eyes (I almost never cry-really), because that is how I felt.

Brian & Mom August 11, 2007
Bountiful Temple~ Bountiful, Utah

Seattle Weekend Trip

What a great trip!My friend Stephanie that I grew up with turned 40 on Sunday.Her husband planned a big surprise for her by inviting her close friends & family up to their lake house in the Seattle area on Saturday.Brett & I were so honored & thrilled to be invited.We flew up early in the afternoon and got there just in time to make it to the restaurant where the party was.It turned out perfect.John did such a great job keeping everything under wraps and she was so surprised.After lunch we went to their home & visited.It was so fun to see her parents, sister & brother and meet some of her close friends from CA, who were all wonderful. Later that night we took a drive and saw some beautiful views of the city. Steph & I stayed up late catching up- she has the most darling seven kids, all blonde & beautiful, it was fun to spend some time with them. Sunday morning we went to the Kent 1st ward-where I grew up-it was really great to be there.After our goodbyes Brett surprised me & had changed our tickets to a later flight so that we could go see all my favorite places!We had a BLAST.We went to my familie's favorite Mexico Lindo for lunch & I can confirm that I have real issues because I was so happy to be eating there that I literally almost cried. I was wishing ruthie, my mom, & jim were there because they are just as crazy about the place as I am & I knew they would feel the same way. At one point Brett said-are you going to start crying?Like he knew he had married a mad woman. I just told him I was supremely happy to be there. I even asked the owners if they sold any of their sauces which they do but they are in plastic containers so I new they would never make it on the plane.

For the rest of the day we went shopping at The Land of Nod-(I get their catalog & have always wanted to go to one of their stores- only 4),Pike Place Market, & dinner at Ivars on the warf so much fun. We got to the airport- which was also great for me because I finished my book club book-(great book watch for later post)which I loved then back home.We finally laid our heads on our pillows around 1:00 AM. All the work & grogginess today is worth it. Click on the bottom right corner of the slide show, click on stephanie, then click on slide show again & you can see the same show just larger pictures if you want.
Thanks John for such a great trip~ Stephanie, hope your birthday was fabulous!So glad we could join in celebrating.

I'm 40 Tomorrow!

I'm forty tomorrow-but don't you worry.If you can't tell I've got "age defying lift" & "Pro-Age deoderant."With products like these I'm not letting my new age get me down in fact I'm really excited to be forty. I have no idea why-I'm 30lbs. heavier than I was when I turned 30 (at least) & I have no more really to show for myself-except that I accept who I am & I like myself most of the time. I guess that's the difference in 30 & 40 self confidence. At my book group one of the girls was telling me that her sister told her that at 20 she would walk in a room and think everyone was looking at her, at 30 she would walk into a room & wonder if anyone liked her & at 40 she walked into a room & wondered if she liked any of the people.I understand that feeling.On the lighter side I did find these new products to keep me young.Do you think this might be a marketing ploy? I think they are so funny-anti aging deoderant-I'm running out to get some right now!
Dove® | pro·age™ samples registration

Girl's Night with Shannon Hale

Last night was so much fun. Megan, Hailey, Chloe & I went to Barnes & Noble and met Shannon Hale. One of our favorite authors. She has written the Goose Girl series and the Newberry winner Princess Academy. They are fabulous! It has been a real great connection for us to read all the books. She has a new book out titled Austenland. We waited in line quite a while but it was so worth it. She was really sarcastic and funny, very personable. The girl's had some questions for her, she was great to answer them and let us take a picture with her. Afterwards we went to dinner at MiMi's Cafe and on the way home Hailey said- thanks for taking us mom, I'm never going to forget this. Hailey wants to be a writer someday.