Me: How much are these?

Him: They start around $13

Me: And what about these?

Him: I’m not sure. I think they’re two for something?

- I proceed to walk around the store for a minute and end up back at the counter –

Me: So, can you help me?

Him: Sure.

Me: You don’t know how much that is?

Him: No.

Me:  Do you work here?

Him: Yes.

Me:  Is anyone else here right now?

Him: No.

Me:  So how could you sell me something if you don’t know how much it costs?

Him: BLANK STARE

ME:  Okay, thank you very much.  

 - I leave the store.-

It wasn’t Thanksgiving day.  It was actually 2 days after Thanksgiving.

I was supposed to go help my husband at our new home.  We were moving in furniture.  He called to ask if I would pick up some felt pads from Home Depot on my way over.  I told him I wasn’t going anywhere, because I was having contractions.

A few short hours later, a 9 lb 6 1/2oz baby girl with dark hair and super bright blue eyes was placed in my arms.

Just before we went into the operating room, we asked big sister Abigail if it was going to be a boy or a girl.  Abigail was right.  And then after Abigail left the room, Brandon thought it’d be fun to maybe choose a different name for the baby.  I’m so glad we didn’t, because Esther is as unique as her name.  Could you imagine my sweet little Esther with the name Grace?

And so today, Esther turns “double digits”.  Ten years old.

I’m extra thankful today.  :-)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ESTHER!

The last in his 30s.

That means he’s 39 for those are aren’t quick with math.

I fattened him up today, for his birthday.

He knew that ahead of time, so on his very own birthday, unforced, he set his alarm and headed to the gym.

Early.

Eeew.

Let it be known that on my birthday, I would prefer to sleep in til noon if possible.

Oh wait, my birthday is on a Sunday this year.

That’s the Lord’s day.

Guess I won’t be sleeping in.

Anywho – breakfast consisted of something lovely by the Pioneer Woman.

Monkey Muffins, and they were delish!

Oh wait, that’s Rachael Ray.

Nevermind.

But they were.

He was on his own for lunch, but dinner was a yummy Jenny Markmiller recipe of marinated flank steak with some mashed potatoes (the box kind ), and asparagus.

But dessert…

might just put us over the edge.

As I’ve baked it throughout the day, the licks and tastes have been spectacular.  Can’t wait to taste it all together.

Snickerdoodle cake with brown sugar cinnamon buttercream frosting!

Yep.

I’ll be suffering from a sugar coma tomorrow.

I’ll get back to you…

12 years ago I had my first baby.

We were still in the 90s.

Sounds like a long time ago.

It kinda was.

We celebrated with a tea party.  It was the first year we didn’t have a swim party.  It was also the first year no cousins were in attendance.  Everyone has since moved away, and so we surrounded ourselves with grandparents and friends.

Abigail looked over at one of my favorite websites, tipjunkie.com and found the party she wanted to put on.  Her and I had an afternoon of rummaging through the local thrift stores for tea cups and saucers to give as party favors.  She set the whole table and made the flower arrangements.  Impressive if I do say so myself.   Everyone had a fun time.  Lots of laughing and giggles throughout the whole night.  They played dress-up and we took fun pictures.  After tea-time we played a “tween” game of MEMORY.  I hid pairs of candy under neath tea cups, and when they found a pair, they “won” the candy.

I made a realization as we were prepping… we swapped balloons for flowers.  It kind of made me sad, but I still have a 3 year old.  We’ll be doing balloons for some time.  :-)

Here are pictures from our tea party.

Abigail’s BD Party

Here are some pictures from our time at Lake Mohave.  Of course I “took it easy” this year and mostly stayed on land or raft.  Hey, I’m entitled to some R&R by my own definition.  Some jumped off cliffs (including my 3 daughters), some were pulled behind a boat on a multitude of different items.  I, myself, stuck to my chair, a raft, and the sea doos/wave runners.  It was a blast having my sisters all together and getting time with my niece, Mallory, who I don’t get many days in a row with ever.  All in all and great week, beautiful weather, lots of laughs, and good family/friend time.

Lake Mohave 2011

Spring break pictures from Palm Springs.  Spent lots of time swimming, and our afternoons on the course.  The weather was beautiful that week.  Not too hot.  Even got a rainy day, and it was very windy on our last day, when we went to the movies to go see HOP.  All in all, plenty of R&R for us.  Just what we needed.  Actually thinking of how nice that would be right now.  First official week of summer break.  At this point I feel like I’m still busy.  Guess I need to get into summer vacation mode.  Swimming today helped with that.  A road trip to Arizona this weekend will help as well.

So, back to those overdue pictures.  I’ll slowly be getting caught up.  Particularly for you, Miss Gail.  ;-)  Love you! xo

Spring Break 2011

I got emotional.

We’re not returning to our sweet little school next fall.  We’ll be trying our hand at an awesome opportunity that came our way recently.  All three girls will be going to a K-8 Charter school.  More on that another time.

So, I’m teary.  Trying to hold it together.  We all piled into the car, and as I wiped my tears and pulled out of the school parking lot looking ahead to the start of summer, my sweet Sarah says, “(sigh) I just can’t wait until Christmas.”

I laughed, shook my head, and said, “What?  We’re just getting ready to start summer.  Why?”

Her answer?  ”It’s close to my birthday.  And I just love the shows.  I could just watch them all day.  When they come on you better just record them all.  You  know, like Frosty, and the one with Heat-Miser and Cold-Miser.”

Simply trying to adapt to schedule additions, changes, and the busyness that comes with four busy kiddos.

School is almost out, and I’m working on pictures from Judah’s birthday weekend.

Be back shortly.

Promise.