Issue 130

Tonight, Blogger seems to hate me. I have been trying for an hour to load pictures and write posts on the kid's fishing trip with their dad last week, Janey's liberty girls variety show where she acting the part of the famous WWII pilot Jackie Cochran, and the 14 inches of snow we woke up to this morning. Maybe blogger will like me better in the morning. Maybe I'll like it better in the morning! We are usually good friends, but tonight I surrender and I'm going to bed!

Issue 129

Happy Birthday to Me!

Who knew turning 38 could be so great! I was truly spoiled this weekend by my family and friends. Friday kicked off with an awesome breakfast at Kneaders with my mom and sister. Then is was off to the Day Spa for a full day of pampering and much needed relaxing while Steve took the kids fishing. He had won an award at work and let me cash it in for spa certificates. After having my hair done, a facial, massage and pedicure, Steve picked me up for a wonderful dinner downtown at PF Chang's.

The next morning we attended the World Wide Training together, which may not sound like so much birthday fun, but the training was amazing and sitting next to my hubby on the church bench without a child squeezing between us or climbing over us is so rare that it was a treat.

Then it was time to celebrate with the kids, who all had thoughtful cards or handmade gifts. Steve had hoarded bits of cash from work lunches and gas for who knows how long to buy me an Ikea bookshelf for a night stand and some great running gear. He hates to keep secrets, so it was especially hard for him to wait for my official birthday to give me the surprise. I was truly blown away by his thoughtfulness AND his ability to keep it to himself.

We took the kids that afternoon to the matinee showing of Mega-Mind to celebrate some more (I told you I was spoiled.) It was so truly funny, and we had a great time gorging ourselves on popcorn.

Then Steve and I headed out for birthday date number two! We got to eat out with 3 of my dearest friends from high school (and all the years since.) Visiting with Denise, Alesha and Tricia and their awesome hubbies and cute babies was the best birthday treat. I don't think I've had so much fun since they all came to my surprise 17th birthday party 21 years (21 YEARS!?!?) ago. (I just wish our out of state friends could have joined us too!)

You'd think that would be enough celebrating for a decade, but it wasn't over yet! My mom through a gourmet birthday bash for Sunday dinner tonight, and my parents gave me a gift card for the bookshelves I want for the family room. My siblings all came and gave me thoughtful and beautiful gifts. With such an awesome inauguration, I know this is going to be a stellar year. Thanks everyone! I love you!

128

Purple Belt

Daniel recently passed the test to receive his purple belt in karate. The test is quite rigorous, which is why he looks beat. He has since been invited to join the teen/adult classes instead of the children's classes and he loving the greater challenge.

Issue 127

Halloween Fun

The kids all came up with their own costumes this year. Whitney was a witch, Steve L. a ceiling "fan" (his shirt reads Ceilings are #1 and Go Ceilings!), a Karate Master, a hula dancer (you can't see much of Janey's adorable handmade costume, that she spent a month on, in this picture. She couldn't wear most of it in the rain.) Ellie had her heart set on being a ghost with a sheet over her head. I couldn't talk her out of it, so I sacrificed a bed sheet and she was pleased as punch!

I unexpectedly accompanied Steve to Atlanta this week to get some much needed research time on a pressing issue. I don't have any pictures, as I stayed in the hotel and ordered room service while buried in my books the whole time. It was a timely and much needed break from the norm and although I came away with more questions and "to-do's", I also came away with the hope, peace and confidence I was seeking. My amazingly awesome and generous mother stayed with the kids on short notice and even heroically took the kids to the Ward Halloween party (where people thought she was my sister, I might add!) They also spent a day with Aunt Becca, who threw a Halloween Party of her own. Thanks mom and Bec!

Unlike my famous sister and her family who go all out for Halloween (if you know her, you know what I mean!) Halloween is a minor holiday around here. It may have something to do with the fact that I don't sew, can't stand the cheep discount store costumes and I'm too cheep to buy the cool looking ones. More likely it's the fact that I regret every piece of candy that enters one of my children's mouths, or maybe it's the regret that I'm allergic to candy and can't take "taxes" from my children's bags anymore. Regardless, we managed to have some "day of" fun.

We got all our Saturday chores done and tramped off to Wal-Mart for Pumpkins. Only they were out of Pumpkins. How can Wal-Mart run out of Pumpkins?! We finished our shopping and errands and finally tracked down some pumpkins at the local corn maze. By now it was 4:30 on the big day. In record time we carved them up, ate our traditional Halloween spaghetti dinner (traditional because it's quick and easy I think) and made our costumes. By 6:00 the younger kids were trapping in the rain in search of treats, and the older kids were off to a Halloween Party by 7:00. We finished the night watching the classic old movie "The Day the Earth Stood Still."

Issue 126

My Baby is 6?!?

Ellie wanted to ice skate for her birthday, so we took off for the rink after dinner. We took turns escorting her around the ice and towards the end she could manage all by herself. Grandma came to watch, which made Ellie so excited to wave and pose for pictures. Happy Birthday Ellie!

Tibble Fork and BYU

Daniel, Dad and Grandpa headed up to Tibble Fork for an overnight fishing trip. Not being hunters, they didn't realize that Saturday was the first day of the hunt. They woke to gun shots instead of bird calls. The fish weren't biting, but Grandma sent donuts as big as Daniel, so nobody cared.

Steve had tickets to the BYU game, so he and Daniel went straight from camping to the stadium. It was a great game to be at, since BYU actually won!

Issue 125

Cookies and Doughnut Falls

Blogger is refusing to load the rest of our photos of our hike this weekend to doughnut falls. I'm going to cry "uncle" and post them next week.

Lake Blanch by Steve L.

Blanch. The kind of hike scouts have nightmares about. 7 miles one-way. 2700 foot elivation in 7 miles. 89 degree angle all the way. Rocks all over the place. And absolutly no exaguration on my part. Ask anyone who has hiked it!
Well, thank goodness it was only a day hike and not an overnighter. That means only a day pack and not a 40 pound hike pack.
The scenary and weather were nice though, and I escaped with only a bruise a blister and a slamming headache, so overall it went well.

Issue 124

One Amazing Lady

Grandma B's health has taken a worse. She recently had surgery for a broken back, but other health concerns are taking their toll. We were able to visit her today as a family, and she is mentally sharp as ever. She says that when she can't sleep, she doesn't count sheep - she counts great grandchildren! She lays in bed and names them all (almost 90 and counting!) She was so interested in everything the kids are doing. She wanted to know about Steve's Eagle Project, Whitney's social dance class, Daniel's Karate and Janey showed her some clogging moves. We found out that Grandma used to take tap dancing lessons.

The day Steve and I met for the first time in his singles' ward, we ended up sitting next to each other at a fireside that night. Then went over to Grandma B's with a group of ward members with my cousin who was living with Grandma at the time. Grandma loves to tell us how we only had eyes for each other, and that she wasn't a bit surprised when we came by 6 weeks later to tell her she was engaged.

We also had the great privilege to tour around New Zealand with her when we went on vacation in 2004. She told us tonight that we had great courage to take our family to live there for a year and she was so proud of us. We told her that she was the one who had great courage first and we were only following in her footsteps.

We love you Grandma!