Awesome Lunch Date

My friend, Kim, is leaving the department that I work for, so a group of us went to lunch today. We did a lot of laughing; I enjoyed myself thoroughly!

The best part of all is when all the bosses in a department just wave goodbye to all of us as we leave, knowing it will be a while before we return.

Also, times like these are learning experiences. Here is what I learned:

1. Some people have to go through in vitro--TWICE--before they finally get to have a baby (coming in March!).

2. Some people love babies and motherhood just enough to have tears spring to their eyes just hearing that. (OK, so that was me.)

3. Some people love their dogs a lot.

4. People who love dogs have a LOT in common.

5. Massage is wonderful. Laughing at other people's massage stories is even better.

6. I don't like the chips at the Garden Restaurant.

7. Secretaries get really attached to the people they help.

8. Church is the best place to learn and do good stuff.

9. Church is the best place to laugh. A lot. (Usually after the fact.)

Imagining

What if I were a writer?

What if I were a zookeeper?

What if I were at home being "just" a wife and mother?

These are things I've been thinking about this week.

I'm Cool

I went to bed early last night. Marvelous! Therefore, when the alarm went off, I was actually awake! (What a concept.)

I arrived at work by 7:30 a.m. Before that:

1. I ran 3+ miles ("running" being very subjective. Still.).
2. I took the dog running with me.
3. I fixed myself a lunch to bring to work.
4. I got Landon to Brother B's for this summer's adventure to Scout Camp.
5. I had prayer with the kids.
6. I made it to the bus on time!

Tommy Munching!

Enough said! (Except for "Thanks so, so, so much, Amy and Josh!")

P.S. He LOVED it! :)

P.P.S. Focus on the adorable boy. That's right I'm talkin' to you: Stop looking at all those chins! Stop it!

You'll Laugh. You'll Cry.

Since my dad uses my stuff on his e-column, I thought I would steal this sweet little tidbit to share on my blog. This is about my sister's children, whose parents recently separated. I'm sorry Beatty doesn't wanna grow up to be his daddy. But being like my daddy is aiming high, and he's right on the money!

I’ve had the kids running in the sprinklers, riding their bikes and scooters (we raised seats and pumped up tires) and the ice cream man came by. But he was gone down one side before we could flag him to stop. So I said to them, “Let’s sit here and be patient. He’ll come back. But sometimes you have to wait for good things.” In about ten minutes here he came and they ran to the curb flagging down the ice cream man who turned out to be very clean cut and handsome, but about four bricks shy of a load. He gave us back more change that we deserved and had a hard time counting -- and when we returned some of the change he said, “Sometimes my math isn’t so good.” He waved at the kids as he drove off. We’ll watch for him again.

Bitsy Boulder Boy scarfed his Spider Man down and then wanted to eat everyone else’s. When I wouldn’t let him he sprinted for his fuv-o and kafu screaming obscenities in tongues -- and he’s now sound asleep.

As I sat with the three older ones Beatty leaned back on my chest and said, “Grandpa, I love you.”

“I love you, too, Beatty Boy,” I replied.

“When I get big, Grandpa, I want to be just like you,” he continued.

And my chin quivered and my eyes watered and I just held him a little tighter.

Dear Aunt Glenna,

Thank you so much for your phone call on my birthday. You hold a very dear place in my heart.

We listened to your message on speaker phone. Taylor said, "She said this to me." Ashtyn said, "She gave that to me." Briana said, "She made me these things."

Ashtyn just texted me and said that you had commented on her cake (on Facebook). She said, "I really love her."

It's unanimous. We love you! Have a happy day!

Dear Cheryl,

When I was 12, we moved to a small, mountain town. In our town there were several girls my age: Lisia, Deann, Lisa, Cheryl, Jamie, and me. Except for Jamie--who is my cousin--I've only seen these girls a small handful of times over the years. But I never forget that November 6th is Liz's birthday; I think Lisa's is November 3rd. And your birthday is January 20th.

I know this, because your birthday is on my half-birthday. We always had interviews with the bishop at the same time because he tried to visit with us every 6 months.

And today on Facebook I had a birthday wish from a friend from my youth--you!

Happy half-birthday, my friend. I have never forgotten you. (But I'm not cool on Facebook like you are!)

Life Is Funny (inspired by Noelle)

I have a brother with whom I was great friends when we were little.

And then we became teenagers. He liked the country; I liked the city. He liked the shock factor; I liked to be obedient. He was opinionated; I was opinionated. He was dumb; I was smart (heeheehee).

I stayed with my parents and family for about 2 weeks before we moved to Utah. Brant had been home from his mission for a month or two, which explains a lot. I was married and had a nearly-one-year-old baby, and my husband was 600 miles away, which explains a lot. Anyway, one day we started shouting at one another. It escalated till we were toe-to-to (he's 6 inches taller than I am), screaming. It seems awfully ridiculous now, but it was simply indicative of how we were then.

And then a few years ago he and his family moved to our neighborhood. I loved his wife, and it was great to get to know her (as an adult) better. I adored his daughter, who thinks she rules the roost AND her Aunt Auneea. I adored his 4-year-old son, who was also one of my preschoolers. I adored his middle son, who was so BUSY when he was tiny, and has become a sweet, loving young man. I adored his oldest son, who also became our son's closest friend.

And guess what? I also adored my brother--a good, loving husband; a fabulous father; a hard worker. He still likes the country; I still like the city. He still likes the shock factor; I still like to smooth the waters. He's still opinionated; so am I.

But it turns out he's pretty smart. And when he told me they were going to move back to California, I instantly cried.

But they are moving back to Utah! And we must be OK, because they are going to live with us until they can get fully on their feet.

I'm super excited!

Have Your Cake and Eat It, Too!

Sassy made and decorated a cake on Monday night. It is for me! Isn't it cute?

Also, Ashie is so great, she found a scratch cake recipe that did not have milk in it, so she could eat the cake, too!

She's a Good Driver

Yesterday it was hot.

Ashtyn and I walked into the Driver License Department.

It was cold.

Two hours later we walked out.

It was hot.

My cells did a little dance.

Ashtyn did a little dance.