what's up?

This week:

Brett texted me this picture from Caroline's surprise party in July- so cute!

Charlie got his Halloween costume!

Ruthie, the peanut & I went to Gardner Village.

We shopped & had lunch & the weather was perfect.

Plus it's all decorated up for Halloween!

I found this sign & I LOVE IT- so so funny!

But- really- could you put this in our house, or place of business?

Can you imagine this in at your Vet's office- hilarious!

The Peanut sat by a witch!

He was very brave- 

Brett & I visited on the porch- 

have I told you the weather is perfect right now?

BEcAUse it is!

Chloe was very brave & kind of crazy....

in her asking a date to the girl's choice 

~ Harvest Dance ~

coming the end of the month.

The guy--

he said YES!

So then, who really is the brave one?

Chloe- she is so funny!

catching up

This past weekend Brett & I went to a movie. did you read that? A MOVIE people! We never go to movies... so this was a big deal. Trent was at an over night scout camp & the girls had plans- so what's up? A movie -- that's what!

We saw The Big Year & I loved it! Of course we don't go to a lot of movies so maybe we are not the best judges. Still- I really loved it.

On the way in we saw this ultra cool car. I had to get a photo! It's in perfect condition & look at those sweet tires- wow. On our way home we had to run over to the camp sight (good thing it was only a couple of minutes away!) to take Trent a new pair of pants, socks, shoes .... ya- he had gotten wet- then gotten wet again. His pants, his extra pants & his pajama pants were all wet. They were camping near a pond & there was a marshy area- I guess we are lucky he wasn't soaked- or drowned? What in the world? We picked up the girls & headed off to get late night Chinese food! Ya- we're pretty hip~ going to movies~ getting Chinese food. We got into our favorite local place just 1/2 hour before it closed & chowed down on the best ever egg rolls & sesame chicken- yum. I can't remember the last time we did something like that- really fun. The girls & we visited & laughed & laughed. Good times- I wish I would have had my camera. (The view of our mountain on my way home from work Saturday afternoon.)
I got home from work the next afternoon right after Brett & Trent finished riding a 15 mile bike ride. Brett had met up with the scouts in the morning. Trent's hair was singed & he was missing a bit of eyebrow & eye lash hair... he had tried to help a leader light the propane stove----- poof. Oh my- I'm thinking maybe Brett should start going along on these camp outs?? Sunday we had a house full of company!Johnna & Clyde were in town so Ruthie & kids came down too. I'm starting to feel like our house is too small. The kitchen & eating space is always so crowded! I'm thinking we need to start eating out more, move, or remodel?
It would probably just be easier to eat out? So much for my healthy, home cooking ways-- I need a better/bigger kitchen. See what all this cooking has done for me? I'm certainly not getting any thinner & I'm seriously thinking I need a new kitchen. Golly if it's not one thing- it's another. At least I have all my eyelashes!?

closing night & a little too much information?

I really can't believe how quickly the Nutcracker came & went this year...

Is it possible that time has sped up?

I'm serious...

is it possible?

Somebody leave me a comment-- I know it goes against all reason-- but I think it may be happening?

It felt like I took a million photos.

dang- I have hardly any & NOT EVEN ONE of her in her costume alone?

What on earth? I can only blame my new job, a house full of company & a lot on my mind.

Still... I'm so disappointed I didn't do a better job.

Three of her good friends from school came closing night.

So nice- such good girls.

They came to support Blair (left of Chloe) & Chloe.

I love that!

Aunt Ruthie, cousin Sarah & Sarah's best friend came too!

(Sarah is on the left.)

They are both ballerinas too & their nutcracker is in Logan this weekend!!!

At $17 a ticket... and me working Black Friday... we won't be attending- I'm so sorry Sarah! Break a leg- We love you!

Now that I'm private I can use Ruthie's kid's names--

and- by the way- Ruthie lives in Logan.

(Logan is 1 1/2 hour drive away.)

I'm not sure Sarah is speaking to me any longer...

She ordered this mint Oreo shake at Jake's Over the Top after the performance.

I of course, didn't want to eat too much dairy

(I'm lactose intolerant.. T.M.I??)

Then, proceeded to eat a hefty portion of hers.

It was so, so, so good - that I risked spending the rest of the night in the bathroom.

Lucky - the risk was worth it & I didn't get sick since Chloe & I waited for Brett to help unload the set into trucks until 12:30 AM. He didn't want us to drive home without him (winter storm coming).. so we didn't bring two cars & opted to go out for shakes instead.

Tomorrow's Topic

My New Job

It should be riveting- I work until 2:00PM so I won't write until later.

Don't miss it!

(that was sarcasm)

a monday trip up to ruthie's house

Monday morning after Trent's swim lesson-

Chloe, Trent & I drove up to my sister's town

to meet up & visit with her family & my parents,

who were staying at her house for a bit.

All photos from this post (but one)

were taken by chloe.

SEe if you can guess which one?

Trent was very content in the back seat by himself

and several books.

Although- I don't think he cracked them open once on the trip up!

The scenery was overwhelmingly

beautiful

We met at McDonald's-

one of my dad's favorite places.

As far as I'm concerned-

McDonald's gets a bad wrap.

Ya- I don't want to eat there every day,

but it's a great place for the kids to play & who doesn't love a

McDonald's fry?!

As you can tell- I have no germ issues.

{ruthie & dad}

We talked & talked & ate lunch & while the little kids played.

{cousin sarah & chloe}

It was fun.

{my mom- with braden in the background}

The peanut was in his element.

He's nearly three, talks like crazy & loves buzz & woody.

oh how time flies.

delightful

After a couple of hours-

really like 2 hours....

We headed to a park next to Sarah's dance studio.

Chloe was delighted to check it out & found this old piano to admire.

The boys played - we found some shade.

The peanut- he's kind of a surly fella.

On the way home I called Ruthie to set up a day when Chloe could come up to visit Sarah's ballet class, just for fun. Chloe has the next 6 weeks off of ballet class.

We were talking & I heard a crash- then my mom & dad talking frantically & the peanut crying. Ruthie said she would call me back.

SCArY.

I pulled the car around & headed back the way we came to find them. She quickly called back to say a gentleman was using a weed eater in his front yard- they drove by just as a rock flew up from the eater & hit the peanut's window. It shattered.

No one was hurt

just shakin' up a bit.

We drove & drove & couldn't find them.

Ruthie assured me all was well & to head on home. We turned around & headed back through a neighborhood to avoid main street traffic- stopped at a stopped sign- looked right, then left-- then noticed two morticians taking a dead body (an obvious body on a gurney covered with a black sheet, being wheeled out to a van by two men in suits) and put it in the back of a car. We turned the corner to get a closer look...

(okay, I'm obviously morbid)

low & behold in front of the mortician's car was ruthie's.

Hey- I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried!

So- we stopped & told them they were doing much better than the guy getting in that car!

they hadn't noticed...

Soon we headed on our way.

We couldn't resist stopping at Call's Family Drive In

in Perry, Utah on the way home.

for onion rings & shakes of course.

All in all-

it was a good day.

For us anyway....

someones poor family was mourning.

I hope he lived a good life.

I don't know why- but I think it was a "he."

it was a tall body.

We got home - didn't eat dinner- and had family night!

Did you guess which picture chloe didn't take?

the first person to correctly guess & leave a comment-

will get a $10 McDonald's gift card

just to

you know---

celebrate life!

leave a comment

quick!

jack's day

Yesterday was Jack's big day.

The day he spoke to our congregation & guests (loads of friends there) before he leaves for his mission to Brazil on April 6th.

His topic:

the Worth of Souls

I am his mother... but I think he hit it out of the ballpark.

It was beautiful to hear him speak of Christ, the potential in all of us, the gift of this life, and how we should be more like Him by loving one another.

a mother pay day- for sure.

Man I love this kid.

AFter ward, we had a load of teens, family & friend over to eat.

Many had come from college etc. with a drive back awaiting them.

It was great to have Ruthie & Greg here & their family.

You just can't believe h0w many sweet friends brought food & well wishes.

These two seriously saved my bacon.

Brittany has skills- catering skills, people skills, hard working dish washing skills & even mopping my floor skills. I couldn't have made it all happen without her- well, I could but it would have been so much harder! thanks brittany- I love you.

friends

cousins

brenna-

I love brenna
she's one of jack's oldest friends

The peanut & brian.

the peanut did not like brian even though brian tried really hard to get on his good side.

(the peanut loves me... I am so proud)

more friends

cousins

cousins

dudes

more dudes

lauren & adam

the peanut & his favorite guy...

his big brother.

It was a great day!

I wish you could have been here.