My Birthday

Happy Birthday to me. I've been out of town so it is time to play catch up. My birthday was a couple weeks ago and it was a great 32nd. birthday. We had Jerry's family over on the Sunday before for cake and ice cream. Jerry made me this DELICIOUS cake. It was his own creation. With crushed up Butterfinger and Recees Pieces on top it was definitely a winner. We're going to have to start making two cakes when family comes over, especially when Jerry makes such good cakes. His family was so sweet. They spoiled me with gifts, and it was great having them over. I really appreciated them driving across town just to come celebrate... me. Thanks everyone.
On my actual birthday (Tues. the 14th) I took the kids to their sports classes at the rec. center, which is always fun anyway, but especially fun knowing it was my birthday.
Then I took the van in to get the check engine light off/ fixed before our trip, and Jerry met us and drove us home. My friend, Maria took me to lunch that day for my B-day. Delicious! I love the Olive Garden. And the kids were wonderful there. (Added Birthday gift.) When I got home I called the repair shop and found out our van would cost around $750 to fix - with a warranty. NOT the best present. But oh, well, what do you do? That day I got several calls from family and friends. It meant a lot to me. And when Jerry got home he took me out to dinner. I ate WAY too much on my birthday. My girlfriends, Pam, Rochelle, and Heidi took me to dinner on Wed. night too. It was fun. Then we headed up to Utah Thurs. morning. Now it is time to detox my system after all that eating out, plus a trip to Utah. My birthday week was great, full of food, thoughful friends, and fun. Thanks everyone. Even with a pricey car repair it was wonderful.

Fun Memories Game! (Humor me)

So I saw this game on several people's posts and I thought it looked like fun. So here are the rules. You leave a comment on my blog of a memory/memories you have of something we did together. It doesn't matter if we've been friends for a short time, or a long time, just some memory you have. (Preferably a good memory :) Then you repost these directions on your blog and I'll leave a memory on your blog. Basically it's my birthday tomorrow and you have to do anything I want, and I want to take a fun stroll down memory lane. So there. (By the way, did you like how I slipped it in that it was my birthday? I'm tricky that way.) Have fun remembering all the wonderful times we've shared together, and what a great, wonderful, beautiful, smart, loving .... person I am. Remember you have to do whatever I want.

Harvest Day

Happy Harvest Day everyone!! Last night we celebrated the second annual Harvest Day. It is a tradition and holiday that we started last year. At the beginning of October we like to welcome in the Holiday season and celebrate with a night to get excited about the upcoming holidays. We ate a turkey, stuffing, mashed potato dinner with a bowl of candy on the side, and pumpkin pie for dessert. (Thanksgiving and Halloween.) We listen to Christmas music while we eat and we each get a cheap little present to represent Christmas, then we drink Martinelli's sparkling cider to represent New Years. After dinner we watched a Halloween movie. It was great. I can't remember which exact date we did it last year, but I know it was the beginning of October. We chose to do it on Conference Sunday this year, and I think we'll keep it that way. It was so fun. It is great making up your own family traditions.

Not the best family picture, but with a timer we'll have to settle for Hayden's drink covering his face, and Rebecca's spoon in her mouth.
Harvest Day Christmas Gifts!
Harvest Day Halloween Candy!

So Precious!

Remember how Rebecca never stays in her own bed to go to sleep. Since she's been sharing a room with Hayden she's actually done pretty good at sleeping in her bed. But this night I went in to check on the kids before I headed off to bed and found her sleeping in his bed. It was too adorable to pass up getting a picture. My favorite part is that they are holding hands. What a sweet brother and sister. Hayden is such a patient big brother. And Rebecca loves him so much. I love being a mom. I love them so much.

P.S. Notice Rebecca's "natural" make up look. She got that beautiful bruise by diving head first down to a shelf in our computer armoire. Just one of many bruises she's got this week.

Thinking inside the box

Why do we spend so much money on toys for the kids, when they have much more fun just playing with a box? Please notice Rebecca's cute outfit she put together, she decided to put her pajama shirt over her other shirt, but put one arm through the head hole. I think she put some shorts of Hayden's on later that night.

Chuck E. Cheese

Ooo.. look at that scary spider!

Hayden and his bud, Kyan

Rebecca getting her heart - it was the fastest thing she could paint

One of Hayden's favorite places to go is Chuck E. Cheese. Every time he sees a commerical he starts begging to go. Luckilly we were invited to a birthday party of a little girl he knows from his class at the rec. center. His good friend, Kyan Sandoval was there too. They had such a blast. There was an artist there that was painting things on the kids' hands, so Rebecca got a heart and Hayden got a spider on each hand. Hayden was so excited when Chuck E. Cheese came out, he followed him everywhere. After the party I asked Hayden if he was excited to see Chuck E. Cheese, and he said, "Yeah, I tickled his toes and gave him binks" (That's when you squeeze a person's nose - we call it binks for some reason.) I had to laugh. That poor person in the costume probably wondered what on earth this kid was doing, tickling his toes and squeezing his nose.

It's finally here!

I have been waiting for this day for too long! It's October 1st!! I don't know why that excites me so much. Maybe it's because it's a sign that it won't be so hot anymore. Maybe it's because October starts the whole holiday season. Maybe it's because I love pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. Maybe it's because I LOVE the fall. Maybe it's because I LOVE Halloween. Dressing up is so much fun. Maybe, and most likely it's because it is officially my birthday month. Anyone that knows me, knows I love my birthday. You have it easy... I used to do a 3 month + countdown. I've narrowed it to just the two weeks before. (Actually, just so I don't sound so vain - my birthday isn't the only reason I love October, it really is all those reasons.) I measure a good calendar by what the October picture is. If it is just a hay stack sitting in the middle of the field, it doesn't cut it. October is the most beautiful month of the year, so my calendars have to reflect that. Wow, I miss Logan Canyon. Happy October everyone!