15 Years

It all started a little over 15 years ago when I decided to move to Salt Lake. I went to church with my grandma and aunt and in walked Danny. I happen to believe in love at first sight, at least in our case. I really do think I fell for him that very minute. After a few Sundays of flirting in Sunday school, we met at the drinking fountain and 5 weeks later we were engaged and 3 months after that on October 19, 1994 we were married. It sounds kinda cliche to say, but I love him more now then I did then. He is the first person I think of when I have to tell someone something. I get sad in the morning when he leaves for work and excited at 4:45 pm knowing he will walk in the door in 45 minutes. I love dating him and spending any moment I can with him. 15 years later I still get giddy and blush when he winks at me. I am so thankful for the life he has given me and for how me makes me feel. He loves me like they love in the movies. I am thankful for the last 15 years and am so excited about the next 15 and the 15 after that. Thanksgivings and backyard weddings, and at least 80, right D! I love you!

Does Hair Really Affect Behavior?

The other day I was walking down the hall at school and this "teacher" (for lack of a better word, she isn't a teacher. I'm sure she has an official title w/a degree) stops me in the hall and tells me she has to share something with me about Carter. I'm always a bit nervous at this point. I'm never quite sure what Carter has done or said that has caused someone to start a convo with "I want to share something with you about Carter". Anyway she proceeded to tell me that Carter came up to her in the hall, called her by name, stuck out his hand to shake hers and asked her how she was. I was so excited by this. I thought, "he really is a good boy". Then she says to me "He is like a new boy. He wasn't his normal loud self. He was very polite with good manners. It's like you cut off all his hair and he is a new person". I wanted to slap her! Really, did she just say those things to me? I was so floored I didn't know WTH to say to her. In fact I'm not sure what my response was. Let's hope it was up to her expectations. Anyway, I loved Carter's hair long, it fit him. I thought it looked really good on him. My mom always said that you behave according to how you are dressed. If you have on jeans then you wont be as reverent as you would be if you had on a dress. Does that apply to hair as well? It may very well. I did notice this last Saturday as I watched Carter play soccer that he doesn't seem to be as into the game as he was with his long hair. In fact he may have regressed to a toddler. He was playing goalie and since all the action was at the other end of the field he decided to play in the dirt. Maybe it's time to grow his hair out again. That way I can be the mom of the unmanageable son and just so I can irritate others who think boys should look like missionaries. FTR, I think missionary haircuts are totally appropriate for missionaries. Hair doesn't determine what kind of person you are!

Happy Birthday To Me!

I have NEVER been a fan of the idea of a surprise party being thrown in my honor. I don't like being the center of attention. The thought of a bunch of people staring and focusing on me makes me a bit uneasy...okay allot uneasy. I have this bff who is the most thoughtful, selfless person. For weeks she had been teasing me about throwing a party for my bday and I just didn't believe her because we had the whole surprise party convo and she knew I wouldn't LOVE it, but she did it anyway! The night before my bday we went to Texas Road House for dinner and when we walked in there were my closest friends and their hubby's. I think I handled it graciously and honestly I was really surprised. Danny had been in on it and so had Emma (Emma even managed to get her my camera without me knowing). They did a great job of not letting on that they knew. Rachel gave me the funniest gift of enemas, granny panties, denture cream, ya know old lady stuff. It was funny! But Rach, just wait, you will turn 35 someday too! We had allot of fun and laughed tons! It was a FAB evening!
Here's the thing, Heavenly Father has blessed me with the most amazing friends. I truly believe that He has given them to me for many reasons. I'm so thankful to have them in my life and don't know what I would do without them. There are so many other details about this party I could share with you, but they don't mean as much to everyone else as they do to me and I get pretty emotional when I think of them. It was definatly one of my fav bdays and one I wont forget. Thanks Jamie, I love you!

Is It Really Over?

This last week was a bit hard for me. It was our last week of summer. Usually the week before school starts we start "school hours". I have the kids start their nightly school routine. I had good intentions which lasted about two nights...who am I kidding it only lasted one night. I decided they were going to enjoy the "last week of freedom" (as my kids put it). So we spent more time at the pool, stayed up late playing night games, had movie night outside, played rock band w/friends till midnight and slept in til 10 most mornings which is ok, kids adjust quickly. I think I've put summer away although I'm pouting and can't accept the reality that it's over. We have had a pretty fab summer, uneventful and relaxing.

The pool towels are washed and put in the big ugly bag which is also put away, swimming suits are being soaked and washed and the sunscreen is all gone. So now it's time for homework, reading, schedules, soccer, dance and curfews (And that's not for the kids. It's actually for me! Who at 34ish has a curfew?). As much as I enjoy denial, I can't deny that summer is gone for another year. I'll try to keep my pouting short, but I'm not making ANY promises!

*I tried to post more pics, but the computer froze!

I Actually Kinda Love It

Tonight was one of those rare nights where we didn't have a thing to do or place to be. Kinda nice. I found myself wasting time on the computer "shopping", facebook . Then the funniest thing happened. Caitlin, Emma and a few of their friends came running down the stairs screaming "Hurry hurry he's going to be on next". The Teen Choice Awards were on and "Jacob" was next to present an award. OH MY HECK those girls went CRAZY when they saw him. There were squeals and screams and oohhhs and aaahhs. Danny just about had a come apart. I had to remind him they are teenage girls. While I was on the computer I happened to hear the name Hugh Jackman. That was all it took, I turned off the computer and ran into the family room and squeezed my way onto the couch. When he came on stage I was screaming and squealing like my 12 and 13 year old daughters. Just a note, I wasn't the only one screaming, Caitlin and Emma were too! The part I did insist on was that everyone remain quiet while he talked...oohh that accent! My point in sharing this embarrassing detail is that I actually kinda liked the whole thing. It was fun to watch my girls get so excited over teen things. I always thought I wouldn't "LOVE" the teenage things, but so far- and I know I'm not that far into it- it's kinda fun. I love to watch them get ready to "hang out" w/ their friends, to shop with them, to listen to them because they actually tell me details. I love that at almost 35, they think I'm cool. They always want to wear my jewelry and listen to my ipod. I love that we like the same books and movies, it's cool to share those things with them. I hope it stays like this and it may, right?

Do you share?

I'm not quite sure why it takes a major life crisis for me to get "Mental Ambition" (that's when I get lots of great ideas and the drive to do them and then think oh yeah right... and then all the ambition I have is to sit at the pool). Anyway, I've had this emense craving lately for really good salsa and chips, the store bought stuff just doesn't cut it. We planted tomatoes and green peppers in our garden this year so I was thinking I would make my own salsa. I know people can be funny when it comes to sharing SOME recipes. Like me for example, my grandma makes amazing (to me) chili sauce. I've given that recipe to 3 people. My sisters wont give it to anyone, it's kinda our little secret. I know allot of families who have recipes they wont share and I TOTALLY get it! So, I'm in search of a fabulous homemade salsa that I can bottle. If your willing to share I would love it and maybe by September when it's bottling/canning season I will have more then "Mental Ambition"!

Playdoh into Cookies!

Today Camie and I were sitting on the couch chatting and Ryleigh and Ella were in the kitchen playing playdoh. They had been making us all kinds of amazing, yummy treats. All of a sudden from the kitchen comes Ella's sweet giggle. Then those two sweet girls came in and handed each of us a stack of Grasshopper cookies and told us they were magic and turned their playdoh into cookies for us! They are SO in tune with what their mothers need and love! I love those two giggly girls and their imaginations!