It seemed dirty and wrong, but it was just what I needed.

Well, it did.
Once the boys started back to school I had these free days (I guess I still do...) and the weather was just delightful. Every time I thought we were on the river for the last time, we managed to squeeze yet another tubing trip in. And to clarify, not "we" as in the fam, but "we" as in the ladies! It was like Team Scooby-doo All Stars (which will make Jack sad to think an all-star team was formed while he was sitting in an office, chastizing a student no doubt).

On one of the trips we floated alongside the ducks that were out in droves and the herons that were too quick for my camera. No zoom on this one. We should have brought bread.

It seemed so wrong to be out in the middle of the WEEKDAY doing something so gluttonous as spending time for myself. It was divine and I am pretty sure I love my children more for it!

My own little Garden of Eatin'

One day as I was getting the mail I noticed a little plant growing in the front yard near the water meter. It was odd, but I ignored. Since our lawn mower has been broken all summer, we have pretty much declared, "Whatever (grows) goes!" I figured it was some random weed that had been waiting to spring forth from our blatant neglect of the yard.

A couple days later it was bigger and I wondered if we had a pumpkin seed that had sprouted from where we had tossed our jack-o-lanterns off the front deck one year (don't ask). Now, a couple weeks later, we have learned that a stray yellow squash plant has sprouted in the middle of the front yard and is now even bearing two fruit, with more blossoms. Well looky here! My own little Garden.

"11 And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.
12 And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good."
Gen. 1: 11-12

Happy Birthday to Me is RIGHT!

So not only did I get some of my favorite yummy TJ's snacks, I got this killer pair of boots. You will remember, knee length boots don't work for me. But again, for the second time in my life, we found a pair that works. And they are flat (and grayish/taupe), so they are different than the Eddie Bauer ones I got. It has been a productive boot acquiring year.

So the boots were a great gift, and I thought they were a bit extravagant for a regular birthday, but I loved them and it would be rude to turn down a gift.

My last present was wrapped in a Harry and David box that appears at almost every family occasion where gifts are involved. It had a sticky note attached to the inside of the box that read, "This gift is non-refundable or exchangeable." (which is another post about the gift returning policy in my family) It was an airline ticket to SLC in 10 (now 9) days!!!

F and Jack have been planning this trip for years. Jack was going to take F and meet up with all the McKinley boy relatives and they were going to General Conference together. And now I get to go!! It had always been a boys trip, which I was totally down with, so I was beyond SHOCKED when I opened the ticket.

Now if we can find babysitting for the week and a way to pay for everything, I will be even more ecstatic!!

Happy Birthday Jaime!

This is a shout out to Jaime on her birthday. Happy 29th !Here are my top ten reasons why I love her (not in any particular order):10. She is my best friend.9. She is beautiful on the inside and out. Please keep growing your hair out. I love it.8. She is one of the wisest people I know.7. She puts up with my wild and crazy ideas. Most of the time.6. She is the best mom ever. I couldn't be a happier dad of such great kids.5. She can put me in my place when I need it.4. She puts others before herself.3. She is extremely creative.2. She can multi-task like no one else.1. She loves me with all my imperfections and hang-ups.Have a great day! Monday birthdays kind of suck and all but we will see you soon!

3 degrees of crazy

Grant me a moment, would ya?

You know how there are those people who are endearingly crazy. Like the old widower lady that hugs Jack just a little too long and who Jack won't go do visits alone to her house anymore? Like, "Oh, isn't she crazy and oh how we lover her for it!"

Then there are the ones that make you pause. Like, is she fun crazy or crazy crazy? Like when they do something you laugh at in the moment and then a couple hours later you realize they were being totally serious? But depending on the day and time, they are a little borderline.

But to round things out, there are the full on "She's so crazy! I think I'm gonna have her baby!!" (not really but I had to say the line as it popped into my head) crazies. You know, the ones where after you finish your interaction with them, you're like, "Crap, did that girl get my last name?"

Yep, add another one to the tally.

thank you etsy for inspiring my new kitchen

I have been wanting to redecorate my kitchen for awhile now. I am so over the italian cafe flair I was going for with all my bottles. Ordered this print and centering my new kitchen decor around it. She has three more I want to get only smaller to hang with this one. Now I just need it to arrive!! Her stuff is great-check out her etsy @Lucky Bluebird Art.

It's been awhile since this one--

and even longer since this one.

You may not be 18 anymore,

or are you?

The hair may have changed (several times along the way, actually), and the neck muscles might be a little less flexible, but you've still got some rock and roll left in you! Happy Birthday Jackie!! We love you. Come home so we can celebrate already!

Closer to 40 than 30. Yikes!!

Wlecome Home Bob and Joan!

So, it has been two years since my parents left to serve as missionaries in India. They are en route back to the US as I type this. They will be returning to a big family welcome in California on September 11. But sadly, I will not be able to travel out there. Finn and I will be going out to General Conference and we will get to reunite with them there. They are coming back to VA after that for around 6 weeks! Can't wait!

Who did I think I was?

I am clearing out old boxes. Any important papers are getting kept in sheet protectors and all photos are going into an album or they too are getting trashed. Came across 2 college year photos from The BYU and all I can focus on is how SHORT my skirt and shorts were. Now clearly, this picture was 80's night at Classic Skate (thereby short shorts defendable--somewhat--ok, not really), but...this picture was one morning on our way to CHURCH. Church I say!! That is not church length appropriate. Who did I think I was? (oh yeah, and remember when I was skinny?)
(PS- Can you tell the boys are all in school 5 days a week now and I am working on projects. This week: clearing up/tossing out/photoshopping old-jaime-body-into-current-jaime pictures photo project)