mother's day

Can you believe it?

A week ago today I got to talk to missionary JACK! Oh Happy DaY!

This year for mother's day- most missionaries out of the country got to SKYPE HOME! Talk about excited! It was fantastic to actually SEE missionary Jack.

He looked so good & so happy. He absolutely radiated. He's tan- he's skinny- he has a bit of an accent- it was wonderful to talk to him & see him. He was smiling more than I have ever seen him. Megan said it perfectly - he looked different because "he was looking up, and smiling & had confidence." If you follow this blog- you would know he used to avoid- or look down for pictures- he has gained so much confidence. He knows he is a servant of the Lord & what is better than that?!

Besides the wonderful phone call-

it wasn't my best mother's day... just keeping it real. I had to work, then came home to none of the chores I asked to be done- done... and a house full of company. I was ticked off. I am still bitter... so in other words I am a small person. Again, just keeping it real.

Monday afternoon it got better~ I took the girls & my sister in laws to get pedicures!

It was POURING DOWN RAIN & we nearly killed ourselves getting back to the car in disposable flip flops. But it was so fun.

Can you believe- none of these guys had ever had one before?

It was a perfect way to start off the wedding week.

wedding dinner

It's my first time as

"Mother of the Groom"

and I like it! It was so fun & much less stress than you'd think! Still the whole experience has been surreal for me- it doesn't seem possible- yet it does- that Brian could be... married?

Brian's close buddies.

There is almost nothing more important for your kids than good friends. These guys have been incredible for Brian all growing up. He has been friends with them since 7-8th grade & they have had a huge influence on him. Funny- of all these boys- he was the last one to kiss a girl & the first one to marry. I absolutely love these boys. Two of them are engaged & planning summer weddings.We only have a few snapshots from the dinner- so if you are reading this & have some pictures- please email them to me. Of course, we have thousands (I'm not joking) from the wedding day so that's really what matters.

On the menu- Brian & Laura's favorites:

gourmet cheeseburgers, fries, pasta salads, strawberry shortcake!

There was a little program- very little per Brian's request- the siblings gave the bride & groom presents to help them cope. Brian received lots of food- an inside joke about how much Laura eats..
Laura received baby food- an inside joke about how Brian doesn't like to lose at games & acts like a baby. It was cute & a lot of fun.

We had loads of company but hardly took any photos...

okay, okay- mother of the groom was pretty busy- but still fun.

wedding day

{double click to get a close up view of B & L coming out of the Salt Lake Temple}

It's been a really good week here at out house~

I am back to blogging & boy do I have a lot to catch up on!!
stay tuned

I don't know what my problem is???

but I just can't seem to blog these days...
I'm super busy between working & getting ready for the wedding & company & wedding showers & Easter holidays & teaching Relief Society,. finding a dress for the wedding & the wedding dinner (pray for me!) & yada yada yada...

PlUS-
tomorrow morning bright & early I am leaving for Women's Conference!!!
I am so excited to go!!!

what have you been up to?

5 for friday

1. Last week I taught a technique class at work. It was one of the most intimidating things I have ever done & nearly put me into a full blown panic. I taught a class on eggs & cooked poached eggs with tomato ragout- deviled eggs with lemon zest & capers- Hon Kong egg waffles & omelets. There were 12+ people there. I was scared but -I did it. I feel great about it. It was a huge deal for me & I am really looking forward to teaching again. Hopefully next time I will be less nervous & it will be even better!

2. Last Friday in preparation for the class- Chloe had several (5-6?) friends over & I practiced eggs on them. They ate 2 1/2 dozen eggs! It was great practice & they were such a positive eating audience.

3. Saturday was my niece Brittany's baby shower. It was so fun to be there with my sister Johnna & our girls. She is in town because Brittany & Marcus are graduating from BYU today!!!!! WOW- congratulations to my favorite BYU students. They are off to Law school (for marcus) soon & their first baby is due anytime. Gosh- we are going to miss them so bad. I have LOVED having them here so close. LOVED it! I can't stand these kids growing up & moving away. maybe I need to get a job with an airline?

4. I have only put up one- ONE- Easter decoration. Easter is one of my favorite holidays. WHat is going on...? I'll tell you what is going on- IT'S FREEZING HERE & IT WON'T STOP RAINING MIXED WITH SNOW & HAIL. I'm so sick of it. For heaven's sake- it's a late Easter & I'm ready to pull my hair out with this weather. It truly feels like winter in Seattle. Not that there is anything wrong with winter in Seattle-- It's just I live in a desert people-- we are not equipped for that much rain here & flooding is everywhere- yada, yada, yada. Thank you for letting me rant on. Blogging = free therapy.

5. Yes- My bloggy friends & I still meet for creative Thursdays! It's glorious. Sometimes we have nothing creative to do- but we get lunch & it's therapeutic for me. I need their friendship & support & I love them for that. This week I took along my fabulous (man I love it!) sewing machine that my mom & dad so generously gave me for Christmas!!- best gift ever. I mended 5 different clothing items for the family & sewed a quick project for Janae. I'm working on several quilts for gifts & I can't wait to finish them. More on that later!

tuesday ramblings...

Last week I attended the first of a sweet line of bridal showers for Laura.Check out the food! Her neighborhood & church congregation put on this shower & it was delightful.
Brian was pretty thrilled about the griddle. But seriously, isn't she the cutest thing ever?!

Last week this picture was in my inbox along with the heel clicking photo. I love it. Missionary Jack eating a fresh mango. He says the fruit is amazing & he is loving it. It's still super hot there (nearly 100 degrees with nearly 100% humidity- aaargh!) so he was over the top excited to see temple square covered in snow during General Conference. When he tells people there how cold it is in Utah they are stunned. They always ask him- "How do you survive it?" Hey- I'm wondering the same thing.

On my way to the U of U last week for Hailey's doctor's appointment (she hasn't had a seizure in nearly 3 months!!!) we saw all of these daffodils by the Salt Lake library. She kindly got this picture for me- I always want to take pictures of things while I'm driving- but ya- I don't want to die. There are several places in the city with hundreds of daffodils. It does my heart good. I love daffodils- LOVE them. They are for sure my favorite flowers. They are strong- they can stand up through rough, changing weather. They are bright & cheery & bring hope.

Hope that spring is coming. Hope that life goes on after a hard winter.

Yes- I love daffodils.

he saw mary poppins on Broadway two years ago- I guess it made an impression?

This was in my inbox this week! Missionary jack at the beach... with an umbrella. It seems he was on a P-day (prep day), walking past the beach and one of the other missionaries had an umbrella (for shade)- which started some heel clicking competitions.

Pretty Sweet huh!?

the grass is always greener on the other side?

Do you ever have one of those days/weeks where you've bit off more than you can chew? When your plate is too full? When the flood gates open & you can't stop the wave?

There is so much going on at our house & in my head... my mind can hardly take it all in.

A wedding (this is the easiest thing... ya that's how great Laura is!)

MOther of the groom dress-- ah, hell.

Meeting with the wedding dinner planner lady.

A baby shower.

I'm teaching a class.

I'm teaching another class.

Trent has a birthday part to go to & no ride home because-

I forgot to pick up something I can only get downtown so I have to go down again.

Urgent RX to drop off & pick up.

a quilt to make~ maybe next week?

Husband is always working late.

Spring is here (I think/hope) and the yard is a mess.

WEll~

I did get fertilizer down...

so our grass should be green.

cooking girls

There is a lot of cooking/baking that goes on in this house.

the increasing size of my rear end & these pictures...

are proof!

Last Saturday Chloe made bread all by herself!

I wasn't even home- isn't this beautiful!!

My new favorite coconut cake.

French Bread

key lime cupcakes

and from a while back...

onion rings.

the girls were experimenting with making onion rings at home.

What's cooking at your house?

spring break...?

Even though we stayed home

we had a great spring break!

We spent a lot of time at home, sleeping in, watching movies, playing with friends... it was glorious. I sewed a lot & loved having my girls & trent home.

We went to see

this movie

with friends

Which I LOVED!

I laughed & laughed & lucky for me wende came too-- we both laughed together & managed to embarrass our kids- just a little.

It rained & rained & rained some more~

until it started snowing...

It snowed for three days straight.

It didn't really add up or stick to the roads, but it was enough to make me think that maybe Utah is not the state for me?

I'm needing some sun.

Of course in no time it will be extremely HOT... so I'm not complaining, no not at all.

while charlie was here

while charlie was here... we went to the children's museum

and made music

and played

and made more music

and made tunnels

some to crawl threw!

We wrote with chalk

and uncle trent was there-

aunt hailey too.

Uncle Brian & I had a serious chat in the news room.

Then we went outside & Charlie ran to the helicopter.

we pretended to fly

and wave goodbye to mom & dad with aunt chloe.

Charlie wanted to be the pilot

and push the buttons!

It was super fun!!

Later we ate mini cupcakes from

So Cupcake in Sugar House!

they were

SO GOOd