a shower for 2

Two weeks ago

Laura had a baby shower-- well a babies shower.

(DOES SHE LOOK AMAZING OR WHAT?! I can't believe there are two?!)

That's right!

TWO BABY BOYS

are 

ALMOST HERE!

 the Lovely Johnson ladies were there

-Ella, Caroline, Lily, Karen, Larkin-

Wende, Lisa, Lauri, & Kristy

The shower was at Laura's parents house

and her sweet mom made the most delicious rolls!

All of my sweet friends made salads & they were fantastic.

I can't believe I didn't take a picture of the food?

probably because my mind was on these

the dessert-

Cupcakes!!

Have I told you how excited I am that these babies are coming?

Probably not, because I have been in denial- trying not to think too much about it. 

I hate waiting... BUT NOW I CAN BE EXCITED BECAUSE

LAURA IS SCHEDULED FOR A C-SECTION ON FEBRUARY 12!!!

THIS COMING TUESDAY!

(c- section because they are breach)

She is 37 weeks along & 38 weeks is full term for twins.

The last time they were measured (over 2 weeks ago) they were each over 5 lb.

We are talking- she is going to have these babies full term & she is going to be able to bring them home.

 Oh Heavenly Day In the Universe

Good news in an otherwise cold & dreary winter.

My boy- and his sweet wife-

are having babies. What could be better than that?

I just have to tell you- Laura has been absolutely amazing through this. She is so miserable & never complains. She is one tough cookie & she is going to be the best mom to these little boys. They are so lucky- we are so lucky.

thanksgiving in pictures 2012

I woke up on Thanksgiving day a little early to get the turkey going and--

asleep on the couch was my son Jack.

A flood of emotions came over me.

It was less than a year ago - when he came home from Brasil.

He has been so sick & slowly getting better.

Blessed- I felt & I FEEL blessed.

Blessed that he felt it was important enough to keep working while he was so very sick- he did keep working (I would have quit)- blessed that he is getting better. Happy- happy he is home. Well, in the same state anyway. He is rarely here but he is happy & doing well in school & working & having the time of his life at BYU- frankly I wouldn't have it any other way.

To be honest - I haven't always felt this way.

 (yes I was a little angry that he got sick, like that did any good?)

It's good to be on this side of this whole situation.

anyhow

THANKSGIVING WAS WONDERFUL

 (Johnny aka: world's best kiss thrower)

Probably my favorite part of Thanksgiving this year -- well one of many-- was this mural Ethan drew for me.  How fun & wonderful is this!?

Thanksgiving is becoming one of my favorite days of the whole year!

I hope yours was good too.

today

These ladies came up to the back door window to say hello.

Megan sent me this darling picture...

last Sunday.

and this one Monday-

his first day of Joy School.

So SWEET

Brittany's house is coming along nicely!

The inside is even nearly dry walled!

My creative friends & I have started meeting again - officially last week!

This week was Wende's birthday!

We had a little birthday luncheon & it was so.much. fun!!!!

The birthday girl herself!

I am so blessed to have these amazing ladies in my life every week~

Grateful.

I've known Wende now for about 15 years!

wow

Time flies when you're having fun.

Happy Birthday Wende-

You are the BEST

so lucky

This summer--- every week--- once a week- Wende takes Trent swimming with her family. Every WEEK! Trent is so lucky, that I am so lucky, to have such a good friend!

{she even ordered pizza for dinner- wowza}

Last week Chloe went too & guess what? Trent's summer dream came true- they stayed until the pool closed. He was so excited to see what happened when the pool closed. Everything shut down, the lazy river stopped running, and the life guards started stacking the chairs & cleaning up. riveting.
Allie & Ethan were there too. Ethan is Trent's summer BFF. They have had the best time swimming & playing with Lightening McQueen and his cars 2 friends. I've gotta say-- school is coming much too fast.

It looks cloudy from this picture, but it's not. Just dusk.

It's been a great summer.

Especially since he hasn't had to have "summer school" for most of the month of July- he decided he didn't want to do it anymore. Rude awakenings are coming as we get back in the groove later this week.

We are also - so lucky - because we got to see these 2 this week!

He is getting so big- love the baby yawn.

on this day

This was my view out the front door.

9 new inches of snow

Hooray- Brian was home this morning to shovel.

{7:00 AM March 7, 2011}

I made my new favorite Breakfast Recipe -

so he came in to hot muffins & fresh orange juice.

***

Wende stopped over this morning & after some other plans fell through,

we made an impromptu, long trip down to IKEA.

Lucky for us we got to drive Brett's new company car & listen to Sirius radio- the clean comedy channel- & laughed our heads off the whole way there & back. Gosh, I love that Sirius radio. After the free six month trial... life won't be the same ... because I just can't stand the thought of paying for radio?

Lunch at IKEa- mmm good

The meatballs are FanTastiC

the

Mac & Cheese

just as good!
It's been a busy, but Great day.

In case you are wondering- the sun came out & the roads were absolutely clear driving. It's very rare that the roads are bad after the snow. Here in Utah we are totally equipped for snow. It's during the snow that you don't want to be out!

I won't go into all the other stuff that I did today- I just want to say- it was a good day.

* do you have Sirius radio?

*how do you feel about paying for radio?

bear lake

We went to Bear Lake yesterday with wende & her two sister's and all our kiddos.
I had never been to BEar Lake before.

It was pretty & very VERy VERY windy.

Lakes in Utah & lakes in WAshington are totally different.

Why am I always surprised by this?

We had a GREat time.

Hailey & Trent were in Heaven.

Trent floated around, played in the sand... he loved it.

I didn't get pictures of them having fun, because I forgot to put my camera in a ziploc bag. (wende told me.. but ya I forgot)

I didn't want sand to get into it.

She made that mistake once. Not cool, not cool at all.

On the way home we stopped for dinner & got this gINormous pizza!

Even with 14 or 15 - I can't remember?- people

we didn't finish it all.

Although- we tried.

{pretty green valley}

On the way back I let the teenagers

hailey, allie & taylor

take the camera & get some shots.

{creepy picture of a man crawling into an ear canal- ewe gross!}

{taylor sticking his head out the window}

I think the trip home may have been my favorite part of the trip.

These teens are just plain fun to be around.

We were singing then laughing til' we nearly cried.... oh, good times.

Hailey says we need to take a road trip

- I say-

Nah

this was good enough

pioneer woman

Today has been a crazy day full of so much excitement!

For weeks now we have been planning on going to the book signing at the King's English of

the one & only

Ree Drummond

aka: Pioneer Woman!!!!

Wende, Kristy, Hailey & I left early from our town to wait in line.

Wende had preordered her book, but it wasn't in yet. I had read on a different blog that The Woman's book signing in Denver had been a crazy mad house... so this morning I got up & started scanning the web for copies just to make sure we would all have one for tonight. I drove all over the valley & got six books---- feewww!

Soon after the signing had started even The King's English had sold out! I swear people were coming in in hoards to buy the book.

Hailey is a huge fan & never misses a day of Pioneer life on the Pioneer Woman.

She even wants to marry a cowboy!

Wooo hOOO I hope she does too.

We left our town for downtown by 4:15 & got in line by 5:15. We were so lucky to get a great spot being there a couple hours early... the book store started handing out tickets & we were in the group of the second signing. 20 tickets for each letter of the alphabet, just to handle the crowd and to make sure those waiting the longest got to get into signing first- we got B tickets- not too shabby! We immediately started making friends with people around us & had a great time visiting. We talked for hours to a darling mother with two darling daughters behind us & the two ladies in front of us who had driven up from Vegas - the group in front of them had flown in from Oregon- wow.

Before the book signing she was going to speak to the packed audience.
We were so lucky to have seats in the fourth row.

Book sellers have been so surprised at the popularity of bloggers. Everywhere I have been today sellers have mentioned how surprisingly popular her book is. they have no idea how loyal bloggers are to their daily reads. Nor how amazing Ree Drummand's cooking is! I saw on a local TV show she was on today that the book has only been out a week & it is already in it's 5th printing!


Finally she came in - we had been there a good couple of hours by now... and she did NOT dissapoint. She was absolutely delightful & modest & beautiful & she brought her sister in law Missy with her & I loved it. She took questions & guess what- I got in the first one! I asked her what's the name of your beautiful children?- it was pretty great- heck, it was a thrill!

After the Q & A we waited again, this time the crowd was getting a little CRAzY ... hello- excuse me... what's your letter- you know... to get into the signing...? P's & Q's were standing at the front of the line- ummm No.

Don't worry
The King's English was great- even though they are a small store-- absolutely darling by the way-- they did a great job handling the crowd considering how small of an area we were in-and- finally

WE MaDE it!!!

I don't have photos of her with wende & kristy... I'm sure they will post them soon. There seriously wasn't enough room to get up there & get a shot. But here she is with Hailey- who was so excited & so nervous she was worried she would either puke or pee.

Luckily neither happened.

Next she signed a book for megan- I wish she could've been with us- but hey Ree, can I call you Ree? Megan is busy down in your neck of the woods with a new baby.

She signed a book to her & I showed her photos of Charlie, because hey- I'm a grandma now & I waited all night to have you sign my book & I am going to show you pictures of my grand baby- don't make me go postal. She, of course, thought he was cute & said that Charlie is her very favorite boy's name.

Next it was my turn.
Now Hailey & I are thinking we are gonna get all Julie & Julia & make every recipe in the book. I'll have to post about that if we do...

Let me tell you- this is one wonderful cookbook. It's done in true Pioneer Woman style- loads of pictures - step by step instructions- stories & photos mixed in. She's great her book is fabulous.

If you have not gotten your copy yet-

put it on your Christmas list!

You will be glad you did.

What a great night

thanks for going with me gals & making it so much fun, especially you hay! and thanks sweetie for coming home early from work, driving ballet, doing homework, making your own dinner...

I love you.