sunday farewell

Yesterday we went to Sacrament meeting at one of Jack's best friend's services.

It was amazing.

Second from the left in the dark suit is

Zach

Zach is going to leave on Wednesday for the

Indianapolis, Indiana mission.

Listening to Zach talk was so emotional for me. He is such a great kid. I've seen him grow from a little 9th grader, to a H.S. student, then a college student, & now a confident man.

A mom can't ask for more than GREAT friends for her kids...

and Zach is one of the great ones for sure.

Good luck Zach - dunk some peeps!

I was so sad I didn't take notes & vowed to myself...

that's it!

I'm bring a notebook to church & taking notes from now on.

I have read about Michelle & Jill doing it for forever now, and I know it will make a huge difference in how I come away from my Sunday meetings.

those guys are so inspiring...

when was the last time you played monopoly?

So- again- Trent & I missed church yesterday...

I don't think I have ever missed more church in my life than this past few months!? Trent came down with a low grade fever & sore throat Saturday night. I ran him into instacare right away (wondering if last month's strep was still hanging around?) No strep, but ya- everything is "going around." Including this latest virus. Have you ever seen a summer with so many illnesses going around, or is it just my town?

So T- bored out of his mind- decided to give his stuffed Zore a bath & wanted me to take a picture. All animals stuffed etc.. are or should be name Zore in Trent's mind. We have had a couple of "Zore" goldfish & stuffed animals now.

We played Sequence- he beat me.

Then, this version of MOnopoly- he beat me again.

This morning- bright & early- with a fever of 99.1- he has successfully beat me at monopoly again. He can't go to tennis & I am in for a long day....

Even with the fever- last night was a special night!

Jack's buddies came for dinner then our Bishop & High Council man- because Jack was ordained an Elder in our church. Marcus & Brittany (the newlyweds) were here too. Where is their picture... ? All the monopoly has taken it's toll.

Have I told you lately how much I adore this guy?

I think it's the hair..... ??

I Love this guy's hair. I love how it is all messy all the time- & red & fiery.
It has been great to have him around this summer & I dread him leaving- although-- ya, again I will say it again- I am THRILLED he is going to the "Y" -that is the only reason I will not be crying on moving day. I am planning on doing a post all about his bedroom before he moves- I could be arrested for poor parenting & he would be mortified, but I think for posterity's sake-

it has to be done.

That is, if I can shove the door open & don't catch some sort of disease before I can post the photos... it's scary place! He says, "why clean it now? I have to clean it when I move out in a month anyway." Such reasoning... it's easy to imagine how he got into such a prestigious college isn't it?

After all the excitement these guys had a rousing game of "executive monopoly" that's what they called it since they were all in white shirts & ties. Zach pretty much wiped everyone up with the board! Way to go Zach!
It's impossible for a mom not to love these boys!

So- really, when was the last time YOU played Monopoly?

seniors

{mike, jack, zack, cory}

Saturday night was the senior banquet.

Best Dress

I can't believe the lunch bunch- my knick name for them- is graduating. I just can't believe it. I will miss them coming here for lunch- something they don't do as often as they used to...

Jack decided to get jiggy & wear this old white (cream) suit from Brian's senior days to the banquet. Hey- you only live once, I told him to go for it! In fact if he wore it without a shirt I told him he could get a summer job as a chip & dales dancer! I bet they make good money?

hahahahhhaaaaa. Oh I got a good laugh out of that one. He didn't think it was funny.
cracks me up
Only eight more days until graduation!

a whole lot of birthday goin' on

Tonight was Jack's birthday dinner.

We invited three friends & his cousins Marcus & Britt over for dinner, pie & ice cream.Jack's choice-

Grilled steak, garlic & parmesan mashed potatoes, roasted asparagus

Plus-apple & blueberry pie with vanilla bean ice cream! One thing about your kids getting older

their birthday menus get better!

We waited for Jack & Seth to get home from rugby practice as long as we could

then started with out them... they got here 1/2 hour late- but soon caught up with us.

Here's Jack & his good buddies

Seth, Zach & Cory

I really like these boys!

I forgot to take pictures of the rest of us- aargh!

(I'm rolling my eyes)

So today after a council meeting I was in charge of-

I ran around town buying presents & dinner ingredients

then came home, made pies, wrapped them, hung up the birthday banner, cooked dinner-

The selfish me was thinking--

***

wasn't it me who was working 18 years ago?

wasn't it me pregnant 9 months then in labor?

***

I guess I am kind of wiped out.

I feel like this is a special day in the history of my life.

18 years ago I gave birth to this boy, this young man.

It's reverent & sacred- bringing life into this world.

I want to celebrate my child.

It is his day.

But in my heart I know it's my day too.

One of my best days in my whole life.

ThIs LIFe

what a privilege

I'm so happy to be living it!

School?

I was sitting here reading blogs while Brett's car windshield is being replaced in the garage when the lunch crowd showed up out of no where. What the heck? There is an assembly at school & they are skipping it. (Are my parenting skills worrying you at this point?) I personally took two of them - jack included to take a math test this morning & it's the end of term so they are okay- I know Jack's grades & I am not worried. Shoot- they are only missing an assembly. Enough of the excuses - I'm glad they're here if they are going to go somewhere & hoping none of their parents sue me. Of course if some cool band showed up for the assembly they are going to be so sad- when I told them that they didn't seem too worried.

A few minutes of Guitar Hell- oops I mean Guitar hero. I can't even tell you how much I hate this game- yes, the one I searched for, stood in line for day after day for three weeks. I officially hate rock music. Trent woke up at 6:10 the other day & wanted to play it. I told him rock stars sleep in so you can't play guitar hero until at least 1:00. Brett told him we would have to change the words to one of his now favorite songs. Instead of

"I want to rock & roll all night- it would be- I want to rock & roll til' ten and get up by six AM"

Does this make you feel any better- this guy's studying.

I made them a "mountain man breakfast" that's what they call it at scout camp. Sausage, hash browns & scrambled eggs all together.

Maybe it's the food that keeps them coming? They were only here for about 40 minutes but-man I love these boys. They are great kids! Especially this guy Jack. He has been a huge help around the house & I love our time together at night when everyone else is in bed & he & I get to talk or watch Seinfeld reruns together.

*do you have teenagers?

It surprises me that I love them.

Snowy Morning

This morning we woke up & the lunch crowd were asleep in the family room, so Brett & I decided to take Trent & Chloe out for breakfast.

Oops Trent hates the flash!

Wow the lunch crowd each have their own BIG cars.

It snowed last night. I was working- served dinner for 90 - on the way home I was white knuckles & a nervous wreck- BAD snow on the bench. Boy was I glad when I was finally down the hill- and so thankful Brett put new tires on my car the day after Thanksgiving- feeewwwww!

We left & half way to the restaurant we were going to, we remembered it's our Church's Christmas breakfast! What in the World? How do you forget something like that? It's a good thing Brett has a brain... & uses it... now & then... just kidding.
So we came home & got the list we needed to make a stocking for the homeless shelter & ran to Target to pick everything out! What a fun thing to do in the morning. Because of all the snow there were hardly any shoppers out. Next we stopped quickly at Wendy's for a quick snack of a breakfast because we're starving by now & the church breakfast didn't start until 9:30. I guess some people don't have kids who wake up at the crack of dawn- lucky.

Brett took a minute to show the kids the picture of Dave Thomas- the founder of Wendy's. He was such a good guy.

Here is the stocking- more on the Christmas breakfast/party later!

*Have you ever forgotten a big event, then remember just in time?
I wish I would've remembered Hailey's preschool graduation- that was a terrible forgetful moment that I really don't want to go into & I'm still knocking myself over.

The Lunch Crowd (jacks friends) Sleep Over

Every Friday-I'm not kidding- the lunch crowd sleeps over.

Pretty much all summer & so far every Friday since school started but one.

The above picture is Chloe's attempt to get them all in a picture sleeping in Jack's room. She said it was too hard to get them all because they were everywhere.

I love the lunch crowd. I foundly named them that since they come home during H.S. lunch with their fast food & frozen pizzas to eat & watch Senfield reruns. They are great boys! I always thought I would be scared to have teenage boys- but they are so much fun. They are funny, honest, don't hold grudges, never gossip.

I love that they come to our home~ especially since most of them have nicer homes & several have big screen TV's.

(when you watch tv at our house every ten minutes or so it blacks out & you have to hit it really hard to make the picture come back.)

I keep thinking I am going to make them a big breakfast one of these mornings & today was it.

Several of them already went home but here are the rest eating eggs, sausage & hash browns. Don't you just love how 16 year olds are willing to pose for the camera?!

Chloe saw this picture & exclaimed, "I'm the only one who looked up!?"

Sweet Girl

Brett told them -hey we don't feel sorry for you we live with this everyday.

He's Busted

But then how could I get mad at a face like this?

I'm talking about Brett!

Lunch At Jack's House

(Notice how none of them are smiling & the groceries on the counter. Do you think they are tired of my blog pictures?) Silly boys.

This morning at 7:05 Brett rolled over & said - what day is it? I replied, it must be Saturday. He said No it's Friday & where are all the kids? Well, it's only the third day of school & we all slept in! Brett & Jack forgot to set their alarms, Hailey slept through hers & chloe's doesn't go off until 7:30, so there you have it.

Jack was late- school starts at 7:20, Hailey made it, & Brian the missionary in waiting slept through it all- he's lovin' it- he might as well it won't last. (he didn't have to be to work until 10:00)

Anyhow, I volunteered at the jr high from 8:30-10:30. Came home, let the dog out, ran to Albertson's (they are having a big sale) , came back & started blogging when...

suddenly I heard a key in the front door. It opened & there was Jack with six friends home for lunch. There's a new lunch policy at the H.S. If you have good enough grades you get an hour lunch. So here they are with all their fast food, etc. Some brought frozen pizza to make here. They are such a great group of boys. I am glad they came & I let them know they can come anytime. Good thing I bought extra .25 candy bars at Albertsons!