Happy Birthday to Me!

My girls are soooooooo cute. They made me breakfast on my birthday. They got up early and got dressed and then got back in bed under their covers. So when I came in to wake them up, they jumped up - Surprise! Happy Birthday!

My cute friend Heather came over and gave me a cute new apron. She and I shared recipes and menus for awhile. I spent the day canning peaches - can you see them?

For FHE we went to Manito Park, Duncan Gardens for cupcakes. Carol and Chelsea and Julie and Ryan met us there. We were losing light fast and by the time we ended, we were having a picnic in the dark. But th0se gardens are one of my favorite places in Spokane so I wanted to share it with my kids.

They ran around like crazy kids. Chasing each other through the flowers and gazebos.

Picnic in the dark - purple cupcakes - thanks Megan!

Mike and I are the same age again. I like to tease him about being older than me for the 3 months that he is! We went over to Julie and Ryans afterwards. They live so close. It was fun to see them.

Bonus that Mom and Dad were here to celebrate with me. Happy Birthday to me.

St. Luke's Women's Fitness Celebration

My Happy Birthday weekend with Tammy!

Sadly, we were both so busy we took no pictures. How not like us!

Tammy asked me awhile ago to join her on the St. Luke's Women's Celebration Walk/Run 5 K. She has done it like 3 or 4 years now and this year I flew down for the weekend and joined her. It was an amazing experience to walk with 15 thousand women of all ages and types.

This is what it looks like, they close some downtown streets and it is a sea of people - all women wearing the same T-shirt - and walking (or running) 3 miles together. I loved it. Thank you so much Tammy for a wonderful weekend.

We went out to dinner twice! and went shopping. We went to the Relief Society broadcast together and to church. (Tammy was excited for me to see her ward - she has some pretty interesting characters there.) I loved playing with Dallas. He is my lego buddy. I am so glad that he knows me. It was so nice to leave my responsibilities at home for awhile and get away.

Katie - Playing CVHS Soccer

Katie is playing on the CVHS freshman team. It has been hard. This is the first year she has played with girls for a long time. She loved the boys team - boys are so much easier to work with. No mental or emotional games, just plain physical competition.


So far she has scored 2 goals for her team. Love fall soccer season. Some games are hot - like this one was. The girls were doing homework and enjoying the warm sun. Other games we are freezing!

Senior Photos

So glad Tammy was home for awhile to take these with Andrew.
She always does a great job with her pictures and Andrew had a fun time with her. But we learned that when a pregnant woman is out of breath - her photos are out of focus!

This is the one he picked for the yearbook.

So one day after school this week Andrew says to me - Mom, do have any idea what senior pictures cost? Like that thing Tammy did with me, people pay like big bucks for. No foolin' Andrew. It helps to be related to a photographer!

Megan - It is soccer time again

Megan is playing soccer on a coed team. Really, she and Jenny are the only girls so it is basically a boy's team. She has done so well and the boys are so accepting of her talent. It is a great experience for her! And they are winning!

She always surprises the opponents when she kicks with her left foot. She has an advantage being a lefty! And she is fast! Her old coach nick named her "Rocket Shoes."

Book Club

I hosted book club this month with a totally fun book, Church of the Dog. I read it on the way home from Hawaii, found it in the Seattle airport. Anyway, I made this awesomely beautiful dessert combining elements inspired by the book. The main character is totally artistic and organic. So voila...beautiful and organic fruit pizza.

The other day I asked Melissa what she wanted for breakfast and she said - oh, that fruit pizza you made for book club. Yeah, uh Melissa, that is dessert, not breakfast!

I need to put this one on the cooking blog.

FIrst Day of School

This is a bitter sweet day. I hate to see another year start because it will end and then my kids will be one year older....

Andrew - senior year. Wasn't it yesterday that Katie and I walked you down the street and put you on the bus for kindergarten? Yes, I'm sure it was. You never even looked back - Katie and I were crying and you were ready for the adventure!
Katie - Freshman year - I guess that countdown chain you made two years ago ( and kept under your bed) is down to nothing now huh? You have been waiting for high school forever. Now it is here and you are soooooo excited. AP classes, Soccer team, French and Drama electives and all. Ready for everything - here you come!

Megan - seventh grade!Melissa - sixth grade I have no more kids in elementary school. Because the girls' school is a K thru 8 it still seems like we have a connection to the elementary level but I am really surrounded by high schoolers and middle schoolers. (No wonder I am crazy!)

I really love driving my girls to and from school. I love the conversation and silliness of the carpool and the immediate information about their day at school. The more teenager-ish Katie and Andrew are, the more I am enjoying Megan and Melissa!