The Birthday Bash!

What a fun weekend we had! We left Friday morning so we could make it to the Kenny Loggins concert on time. We dropped the kids off at my moms and then headed onto the concert. Sandy Ampitheater is so COOL. What a great concert. Kenny sounds just like he did when he was 18. His stage presence is awesome, and he knows how to work up the crowd. He did quite a few slow songs, which for me was okay because I could hold John's hand or sit between his legs while he gave me hugs!! My awesome sis and bro in law came with us. They bought us Cafe Rio for dinner, which is always good. We were able to sleep in on saturday, putter around, and get ready for the birthday party. We got the cake, black and gold balloons, black and gold placesettings, salads made, lunch at Training Table, and spot picked out at the park. Not as many people came as told me would, but that was okay because I under planned the meat! You know, you never know how much to have if people don't RSVP. Tom and John had fun with the friends that showed up. It was even nice for their kids to show up! These kids are in their 20's but they took the time to come to some friend of their parents. We have good friends. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOM AND JOHN

Bodies

We went to see the bodies exhibit with all the kids on Labor Day. I was a little hesitant to take the 8 and 6 year old. It ends up they weren't creaped out by it, but they weren't interested in seeing things from their eye level....can you blame them. The rest of us liked it a lot. Thomas was a little embarassed by the naked bodies, Madison thought it was very educational. John loved seeing all the tendons and how we are all put together. I just loved seeing all the people, the bodies, and the beauty that our Heavenly Father has put together. It took us awhile to get through the exhibit because of all the people. I guess that is what happens when you go on the last night! We had some great discussions about our bodies with the older kids. By the end of the night, Cali and Bryan wanted to go home, Madison and Thomas we done seeing things, John and I wanted to be alone to go through again. Some tidbits that we learned: The uterus can expand to 20 times it's original size with the ability to still contract to deliver a baby!! The brain isn't as big as you think it is. A man's testicles are about the size of a golf ball (thanks Thomas for this tidbit). Madison pointed out all the changes that take place each month on the fetus exhibit. John kept pointing out the amount of tendons that hold us all together, and all the fat that the breasts have. It was a neat family home evening.

Birthday prep

It's that time of year again....wait....It's John's birthday!! YEAH!! After my huge FUBAR 4 years ago, I will not forget. Let's visit that day oh so long ago. I remember telling John how excited I was for his birthday cake the next day, this was on Saturday. It was Sunday, he was busy with meetings and such, I was busy with kids and such.....so we decide to take a "sunday drive". Along our drive the phone kept ringing. I was getting irritated because our family time was getting cut into by someone on the line. After about the 4th phone call, I asked John who it was that kept calling. He told me it was his family, just calling to talk. They were having a family party and passed the phone around. I started to giggle because it wasn't like his family to just call out of the blue to talk. So I let it slide as we continued on our adventure. I remember now thinking how weird for his family to have a party and just call out of the blue and talk for like ever. LA, LA, LA on our way we go. We get home, get the kids in bed, I get ready and go to tell John to come up, because he had been on the phone AGAIN! It's about 10:30 and the phone rings. If you don't know me, I loath the phone ringing after 9:45. It better be dang good to call past 9:30 pm. I answer the phone all rudely and it's his sister Chris. I ask her whats wrong, and why is she calling so late. She sheepishly said "I'm calling because I didn't talk to John, it's his birthday!" I proceeded to go crawling on my knees into the office cement floor begging for forgiveness. This is why his family was calling and he was on the phone all day. They kept calling to see if I had remembered!! Not once did they call or text to give me the heads up. I was so ashamed. SOOOOO, because of this blessed event, we never forget Johns birthday. This birthday we are going to the Kenny Loggins concert at the Sandy Amphitheater. I am so excited to go. Then on Saturday we are having a birthday party for him and Tom. Brothers with the same birthday, same hour, a year apart! It wasn't even planned that way. Here I am now planning a kinda surprise birthday party on a budget. It's potluck, because I don't know how many people are coming. It's at a park, because I don't know how many are coming. I have sent out an event through facebook, but no one has RSVP yet, so I'm not sure if it's worked. Anyway, here we go birthday #49!

Working Weekend

It is a working weekend, which means I don't get a lot done around the house. I know that I have to pickle some cucumbers when I get home, and some laundry. I went to the movies with my daughter last night, we saw The Help. What a great movie. I did infact read the book before the movie came out, so it was fun to see the directors interpretation of the characters. SPOT ON!!

School Days

I'm very excited for school to start! BTW the bedroom furniture is still in the garage with the stain but no polyuritane. I'm excited for the kids to wake up early, go to bed early, homework and peace will abound in our home. I have many random thoughts today.
* Lagoon - John and I went to Lagoon for our anniversary! We love to ride rollercoasters. We went on Wicked twice.

We had so much fun. Just waiting in line, talking, eating a snow cone without any kids wanting to share! I love tiger blood snow cones.

We drove down and back the same day. What a fun date for our anniversary of 16 years.

* Canning/Gardening book - I have been asked to teach canning the the sisters in our ward for a mini class. Now, if you have done any canning, you know that this cannot be taught in a 15 min lesson.

I had this bright idea to organize myself and make a canning/gardening binder. I spent last night scrapbooking a binder to put all my random handouts I have gotten over the years, recipes, and gardening planner all in one place. I have to admit it is super cute and I can't wait for that area of my life to be organized. I usually turn to my recipe box, scramble for my canning recipes and then just do it. I haven't been keeping track of my garden plans for the last few years, but this is the year to compile all the random stuff I have written down. I know that we need to expand next year, so I need to keep track of what we have done and the yeilds so we can plan better next year. A great example of this is John planted two zucchini plants. Our yield has been great on those!!

* Diet - I need to get my weight down. That's all I'm going to say about that. I don't feel so fat and ugly, but then I see a picture of myself and go "What the crap kinda whale jumped into my picture?" Well duh, it's me and it has to change!!

* Scouting - Our bishop of the ward wants to have a ward scout camp next year. You know men.....wait till the last minute. I told him that if I had anything to do with it I wanted to start planning now. I want all the ducks in a row so I can order class B uniform, get the merit badge counselors ready, find a spot, and make it the best camp ever!!

Yesterday I thought to myself "If Sister So and So can refinish furniture 8 months pregnant than you can do it too" Sometimes I just shouldnt listen to myself. I got one night stand top sanded and stained. The second was a no go. I had somekind of varnish meltdown on the belt sander. Now I have stuff from two nigh stands all over the floor! No place for my lamp, it's fallen over on the floor. The alarm clock is out of reach, now I have to move to turn it off, and there is no place to find my glasses because I cant see what is on the floor! Today is a new day though. I'm taking John to work by 6, Bryan to therapy at 9, summer kid movie at 12, bake a cake at 3, go to the hardware store to buy a new belt for the sander and polyurithane, then on my way! Oh wait, it's Bryans birthday.......I need to fit in a celebration in somewhere. Life of a working mom who tries to fit it all in on her days off.

Wrong shoes

I feel that there comes a time in everyones life where they eat crow and just have to apologize for their behavior. Yesterday....I actually did apologize to my family. This is how it all started (duh, dunt, duh)....I was at work, called home and specifically asked John to make sure this kids were dressed, hair combed, correct shoes (this was meant for Bryan), teeth brushed so we didn't look like neglectful parents on our family outing. Our intention was to go SCHOOL SHOPPING!! I know I made a point of the shoes because usually we have Bryan showing up with cowboy boots and shorts, or pink dora crocks and his sunday best. One time he was dressed up and had on spiderman slippers!! I don't know why Bryan just seems to be forgotten in the shoe arena. Anyhow, John picked me up, he forgot the gift card to Walmart, so we went to Sams for dog food. No school shopping, but we did need to stock up on stuff from Sam's. We get out of the car, walking in the parking lot and I notice that Bryan has on 2 totally different sizes and colors of flip flops. One was brown, was too small and the other was too big and camo! I made a big deal reminding John and everyone else that we need to pay more attention to Bryans shoe problem. This little guy just wears whatever is available. I had to throw the too small snow boots out because he would wear them down to the ditch to swim. Anyway, we all laughed, I was a little embarassed, but John reminded me that Bryan was happy and everyone was getting along. Now lets flash forward oh...about 4 hours. John wanted to go to the grocery store for milk and other stuff, I was tired, and so I slipped on my cute sage green mules, and headed out the door. We pulled up to the store, got out and stood in line for about 20 min trying to return the redbox, did that, now onto the store. I was walking and then had to wait for John to catch up when my foot itched. I noticed my sage green mule felt a little different, when I looked down and saw my dark brown penny loafer!! I could have sworn I put on my green shoes!! I then looked at my other shoe and would you believe it....my sage green mule!! I had two totally different shoes on!! I started to laugh, John caught up and asked what was so funny. I told him that I needed to apologize for Bryans shoes earlier because (here is where I point down to my shoes) I too am wearing the wrong shoes. He laughed and said that he now knows where Bryan gets his shoe problem. If you know me at all I do have a shoe fettish. I can no longer fit shoes in my closet. I do have room under my bed though. I will reinact the shoe problem and post a picture so you can get the full effect. I do want to make clear that today I am wearing the same shoes :)