Personal Shopper

The youngest son decided that he wanted clothes from us for his birthday this year. Since he has gotten taller and also thinned out I wasn't too sure what size clothes he really wears anymore so I determined that he needed to be included in the shopping experience. However, this son and I don't necessarily see eye to eye on what looks nice and I wasn't looking forward to this event. I was very happy to give his sister some cash and let her take him to the stores. They did a good job purchasing items that met my criteria and came home with quite a few bags of clothes for him.


He was so excited to model for those of us that didn't get to go on the shopping excursion, that he dropped his pants right away when he got home(or so it appears in this picture).
They discovered today that the son is apparently a "pants square". He wears size 34X34 jeans. The most exciting purchase of the day, in the son's opinion at least, were a pair of LeBron James shoes. He bought those with his own birthday money.

Today I am grateful for

a daughter that is willing to take my son shopping and has good taste as well.
Ross - where you can dress for less.
peach shakes from Chik-fil-a.

One year ago today - Boogie Boarding at the Beach

Good Night

We have Sunday Dinner with the in-laws quite a few Sundays during the month. Sometimes I am content to sit there for hours and visit and some weeks I am ready to eat and go home. Tonight was one of those very pleasant evenings where I was happy to sit and relax and just enjoy my family. All of our kids came and it seemed like they were each in a sociable mood and quite good company.


The youngest son entertained the littlest cousins (and next generation cousins) with horsey rides.


We all enjoyed watching him try to run and keep his pants up at the same time. I also think the flower behind his ear is a nice touch.

We had birthday cake for the youngest son and the roommate.


I think I should have paid better attention during our cake decorating classes. My cakes leave a little bit to be desired and yes, this son also chose cherry chip cake with cherry frosting. Not too masculine, but a delicious choice.


The son has done a good job of stretching out his birthday celebration this year. He gets to open a present a day. You know what they say about kids - they usually enjoy the wrapping as much as the gift.
Today I am thankful for

cooler weather.
sons who harmonize in the van.
watermelon.
the fact that the 2 inches on water on the bathroom floor came from the toilet tank and not the toilet bowl.

One year ago today - Died and gone to Heaven, Baby Blankie has seen better days

Seventeen

Why does 17 sound so much older to me than 16?

Tonight we went out to eat to celebrate the youngest son's birthday. We went to Cafe Laguna for Indian Tacos and they were good. They had a soccer match showing on the TV so we hung around for a while watching it.

I think the restaurant workers were happy to see us go.
This picture reminds me of the cell phone commercial where the people represent the bars - shortest to tallest, almost.

And yup, I was there too!

Today I am thankful for

excuses to eat out with my family.
the safe arrival home of my son. He was in one piece and his scout pants were too.
any day in June that is cooler than 100.

One year ago today - Toe Surgery, National Doughnut Day!

Twins

I've heard that in interracial families when fraternal twins are born one can resemble one race and the other one can resemble the other. I guess this is what happened in this case. The youngest daughter has the light toned phone and the youngest son has the darker one.

I guess it's nice that this son has an older brother who believes him when he says he needs a new phone. I personally think his old phone was just fine. Ditto on the daughter's new phone.

Here the two of them are texting each other with the other one's phone. I think they could have just talked since they are sitting across the table from each other, but once again, I'm just the mom and what do I know?

Tongue Rolling

My kids like to make fun of me because I can't roll my tongue (bring the sides up toward the middle - see the son's example below).

They like to have me try to do it and then all laugh because I can't. I think it was in a biology class in college where I first learned that this is a hereditary trait. (There is some question as to whether or not this is true, but true or not it's fun to see who can and can't do it.) We traced my inability to perform this supposedly simple trick to my Grandma Christiansen on my mom's side. She couldn't do it either. We would both try and try. It just doesn't happen. Since this is a recessive trait, there has to be someone on my dad's side who couldn't do it as well. We never discovered who that was.

My kids like to show off their tongue rolling ability. Even the son-in-law was trying to get into the act.

So, can you roll your tongue?

Bishop's Night Skit

The other day I got a phone call from the bishop. He was working on the bishopric skit for bishop's night at girl's camp and wasn't having too much success. I guess he asked his wife for help and she suggested that he call me to see if I could be of assistance. Well, he called me and asked me to write a skit for them (his wife insists this isn't what she meant). Since I have always been told to say yes to the bishop, I said, "of course I would do that for you". The idea they had was the bishopric get together in 25 years and talk about what happened to members of the ward, specifically this group of young women. Along with the idea, they gave me a list of 5 things about each girl. The list was brief and pretty general ie. her favorite color is blue and she likes Rocky Road ice cream or extremely vague ie. she owns a peg-o-corn trophy. I think the least they could have done was ask what each girl wanted to be when she grew up to give me an idea of a direction to go. I ended up having one counselor be deaf and hear everything wrong and respond to what he thought he heard, the other counselor was blind but had a great memory and the bishop was senile and thought it was still 2009 instead of 25 years later. I am glad that this was a relatively small group of girls because it took me quite a while to come up with a future for each of them. It ended up being a lot of fun to put together though. One of the counselors called me after he had read through the completed project and told me that he felt I had missed my calling in life. I should have been a writer. I wanted to tell him that if I didn't have so many church callings (that he had personally called me to) I would have the time and energy to pursue my true life's calling, but I didn't. Actually, I am a writer. I write on my blog. I got a box of chocolate covered macadamia nuts for my efforts. That might entice me to keep writing.

Four Birthdays at Geronimo

Today my youngest son turns 17 and he is not even here to celebrate with. He is spending his 4th birthday in the last 6 years at Scout Camp.

He was at Camp Geronimo when he turned 12, 13 and 14 as well. Although he has sometimes complained ahead of time that he is going to miss his birthday, usually he comes home feeling like it was OK. The cooks always bake him a cake to make his day special. This is this year's cake.

Happy Birthday Dear Son. I hope you're having a wonderful day!

Today I am grateful for

kids to go to the temple with me.

my youngest son. He makes my life more exciting.

word processing programs, much easier than using a typewriter or writing things out by hand.

One year ago today - My baby is 16, A Cell Phone - Finally!

Temple Miracle Grow

Back in the middle of April I went and helped plant flowers at the Mesa Temple as a stake service project. I took a picture of the flowers a week after they were planted.

They weren't looking quite like temple flowers. They were kind of tiny.

Today the oldest son, oldest daughter, son-in-law and I went to the temple and this is what the flowers are looking like just less than 2 months later.

(I think this is kind of a funny picture. The siblings look like they are trying to hold hands and the son-in-law is alone in front.)

Here's another shot of the flowers.
Before

and now.

and one more, before

and today. Where did the little purple and white flowers go?

The temple must use some great Miracle Grow, or perhaps it's their temple-made mulch. I'm wondering if my spiritual growth is that impressive when I hang out at the temple? Imagine how spiritual I could be if I lived there 24/7.

Blue Hair - Take 2

I guess there is just something about summer that entices my sons to dye their hair blue.

I don't mind the blue hair, but I can definitely live without the make up.

Today I am grateful

that my son doesn't usually wear make up.
for a daughter that bought me lunch.
for Pork Barbacoa salad from Cafe Rio.

One year ago today - Blue hair, 40th birthday, The Errand of Angels

One Down!

If you are a reader of my blog, by now you probably know that I have been reading the Old Testament for awhile. One of my goals this year, before I turn 50, is to read all of the standard works. Well, I am happy to announce that I have finished - the Old Testament that is. All 1184 pages. Done!
Hooray for me!
Now if I could just remember and apply all the important things I read. Oh well, that's for my next visit with the Old Testament.
I asked my oldest son what he thought would be a good celebration for completing the entire Old Testament. He told me I should participate in some begatting - lots and lots of begatting. I was shocked. Hopefully my begatting years are behind me. Now, I know that Sarah was blessed to be able to conceive Isaac at a ripe, old age, but I don't need a baby in my old age. I need grown up children to take care of me and be a comfort to me. At least that's my plan.
Maybe to celebrate my accomplishment I will partake of some of those Bible wonder foods. Now if I could just remember what they are. I think maybe honey is one of them.
I now have just under 3 months to complete the rest of the standard works. The hubby and I are reading the Book of Mormon together every night, so I think that one is covered. I'm starting on the New Testament tomorrow so that sounds doable also. The trouble is with the Doctrine and Covenants. We are suppose to be reading it as a family, but we are not making too much progress. We decided to read it at dinner every night, but for some reason we don't seem to eat dinner together that often and when we do we usually have company or don't remember we are suppose to read. I may be in for an all night reading of the D&C on my birthday eve. Oh, and lest you be concerned about the Pearl of Great Price, I read it when I was reading Genesis because that is where it seems to fit in to me.

Today I am grateful for

a fun lunch outing with my friends.
libraries.
ancient prophets who wrote in their journals.

One year ago today - Glasses, Happy Hour(s)