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!

back to the blog

After a month of blogging everyday- then a week off- now I am back.

Last week was not the best week to stop blogging... but I did it anyway... now I am going to try to recap some of the highlights of life.

The house was a mess... (not a highlight)

Brian finished painting the main floor (most of it) without me. That meant everything has been in upheaval. I was too sick to do much about it- and even when I was getting better- I had no energy. So the table looked like this. Covered in homework & junk. But it's all better now- that's all that matters. I am so happy to have a freshly painted family room. Thanks brian!

Wednesday morning Trent & I left bright & early to see Hailey sing the National Anthem at the H.S. end of year assembly.

(notice the sunburn? I was in the shade for two hours at field day, but still got sunburned)

It started later than we thought which was a little distressing to trent, but when it started- SHE DID SO GOOD! she really knocked it out of the park. wow- i was beaming with pride & so thrilled for her.

Trent & I went out to the car & in my rush to be on time, I learned that I had lost my car keys...

Good thing brian hadn't left for work yet!

Brett was out of town most of the week on business....

Speaking of work...

last week Brian was offered a great, well paying job at a well know warehouse national chain- then three afters after he accepted- the MTC called. They offered him his "dream job" teaching districts of Spanish speaking elders how to teach missionary discussions. After much prayer- He took it. He is loving life, looking & feeling like he is a missionary again. It's a once in a life time chance - teaching new elders how to teach & he couldn't be happier. He comes home everyday saying- I LOVE MY JOB! He has truly been blessed- now if we could just get the poison ivy to clear up? he has another doctors appointment today. itchy itchy

Wednesday was field day- and I forgot my camera....

But Thursday Kristy & I made this for Trent & Jake's fourth grade teacher.

It's a bouquet of hand prints intermingled with $150 worth of gift cards.

We had each of the kids draw their hand print & write inside it what the loved about their teacher & took donations for the gift cards. It turned out FANTastIC!!

School was officially out for Hailey Thursday after the assembly. For Chloe Friday morning after getting her year book. Trent didn't get out until 1:30 Friday afternoon & it proved to be a very difficult day for him - lots of goodbye tears.

He had one of the best teachers any of my children have had the privilege to have!

She is an amazing lady who gave up a career in Food Science to teach kids, emphasizing science. We couldn't ask for a better year for trent!

Trent & his bff at school - Eric.

Eric will be going to a different school next year. Extra tears.

the end of the year ceremonies

The Pledge of Allegiance, National Anthem & Lowering of the flag.

Friday night Hooray- brett was home & you won't believe what I netflixed

TRANSFORMERS II

We put it on the Clear Play and Trent was in seventh heaven. He finally got to watch the movie of his dreams without the cussing & sexual innuendo. Now maybe we can stop talking about it? Oh no-- he has watched it multiple times & still wants to watch it again.

Saturday night we had a birthday BBQ for Brett & I only took one picture- this one of the peanut in a Spider man mask & Batman gloves-

Sunday-

Hailey bore her testimony in sacrament meeting

brett left for another convention

and

brian & I spent the evening eating popcorn, visiting & watching a lightening storm on the front porch.

It seems like it took forever-

but summer is finally

here

creative thursday- peanut edition

This week my sister had to be somewhere & asked me if I could keep the peanut for the day. I knew it was my creative day & that he would have friends... so hey why not?

After the initial drop off crying

He Did GREat!

Can't you tell by this enthusiastic face,

that he is having the time of his life!!?

He tried so hard all day not to smile it was almost comical.

We headed over to Janae's lusciously cleaned carpet with beautiful vacuumed lines & messed it up right away.

{a little peek at the project we worked on}

When I got home- I realized -

I didn't take any pictures- AGAIN!!!

Is it possible I was dropped at birth?

-what is wrong with me-

???

the humanity

{chloe got out our bucket of old baby toys-sweet memories}

The peanut is fussy- But NOt Today!

He played & played- took an hour & 1/2 nap-

played some more- then followed the dogs around saying

"no, no, no BWonto"

so cute
I love how little kids boss the dogs around.

Finally someone they can boss & get away with it.

***

so again

no pictures from creative thursday

it was great to get away for the day

anyhow

*do you do something creative everyday?

*do you have a group that you meet with regularly?

*I don't think I needed it in my life as much as I do now?

random monday

I love this picture of jack not wanting to get his picture taken waiting to leave for the dance. Why- because on Friday the senior class went up on the mountain to paint "their letter" white. You can see the white paint still stuck on his scalp. He was covered in white paint... I wasn't home & didn't get a photo!!! dang- I have pictures of megan & brian covered in white paint from their senior years- maybe someone has a picture out there?Sunday we drove down to the newlywed's apartment & had lunch with them. They are so cute- they have a darling apartment- I love them. Trent wanted to see everything- oh thanks for being patient guys.

Today I went shopping with the peanut & my sister.

Look who's walking- the peanut! gosh I just can't believe how cute this guy is & already walking? amazing- i guess he is a whloe year old now. It always takes him a while to warm up to me. He refused to smile. I think he was just so serious about buying this chair.