The Deck...

The deck on has been needing to be stained for the past 5 years... Now that I'm the "boss"... it's finally getting done! Josh went and got the stain and the brushes... and along with help from Papa they had the deck looking 100% better in 2 hours!

While I was busy working in the kitchen...  pulling out and cleaning behind the stove (uuuuuggggghhhhhh)  and the all of the other appliances... Josh was busy outside taking down Christmas lights ~ cleaning up pea gravel in the front parking ~ raking the pea gravel around the house ~ and weeding! He didn't stop until it was all done! He's my hero!  He has stepped up to the plate and is taking care of the "man" things around the house! After we were all done working we went and sat on the deck in our rocking chairs... it was so relaxing! I'm looking forward to many more... now all we need is a grill!

Jazz Jello

When Josh was younger I used to make Jazz Jello  for the playoff games - I decided if I was going to make it this year... I better get busy! We were going for the "Blue and Purple" color scheme -  I would have gone old school - soon to be new school...  but I didn't have any green jello... go figure! This was our "Treat-Time" last night -  watching the Jazz get whooped! Hey Lakers... Next year you best watch out... the Jazz will rock!

Happy Birthday...to Me!

 

Birthday Roses ... they smell so good!

I've always wanted an apron...
just like my Grandma Johnson - maybe now I will cook!

A beautiful picture of the Logan Temple
Nice job Josh and Kendra - I love it!

The requested chocolate cake with chocolate frosting!

I have had the best birthday ever! It's been 3 days of celebration! Friday - co-workers all wishing Happy Birthday thoughts - balloons - butterflys and Eli Lucero even sang Happy Birthday to me! Saturday - My Aunt Peggy and I went to lunch at Chili's - Fajitas and chocolate molten cake - uummmm Then it was off to deliver Mother's Day gifts (see my craft blog) to family and friends. I was lucky to spend special time with Peggy and Bob, Aunt Char - Carol - Nicky - Lori - Terri and Vickie and my sweet little sister, Nancy, (okay those of you who don't know me very well probably don't know that I am an only child) - and (those of you who do know me... are wondering how I have a sister) Nancy and I grew up in Lamplighter together... and she has been the little sister I never had - for now over 30 years! It was so awesome to spend time "chatting" with you all! Sunday - Josh and I went to church with my mom. Then back to their house for dinner - cake and gifts! I have been so spoiled with all of the birthday wishes... I am truly blessed to have the best son - parents - family and friends a girl could ever ask for!

I love you!

Happy Birthday... to me!

 

My Birthday Balloon Bouquet

Fun surprises arrived at work for me today... My friend Char Izatt sent me a birthday balloon bouquet... I love the clear one I am holding in the this picture... I've never seen one like that before! We don't get to see each other often, dinner every few months... but she has been keeping tabs on me and making sure I am "doing okay".   Last week I was sitting at my desk doing some paperwork when Jay, one of the HJ reporters, came up behind me and gave me a great big hug. I looked at him in question wondering what was that all about... He replied... I have been up visiting with Char at Smithfield City this morning and she asked for me to come back to the office and give you a great big hug! He said with a slightly reddened face She thought you might need one... and was she ever correct! Thank you my friend... you always know how to "lift" my spirits!

 

The Blue Butterfly

This is my good friend Carol Petersen. We have been friends since I started working at The Herald Journal 9 years ago. Over the years we have shared our ups and downs... and we have developed a very special bond. She has a sweet grandson, Jeremy, who is extremely talented when it comes to drawing. He sends her drawings a few times a week and when he does, she will bring them to the office and shares them with me. Several months ago, Carol told me about the movie The Blue Butterfly. She let me borrow the DVD to watch it... after I did, Jeremy sent me a beautiful hand drawn blue butterfly. When Carol told him about my recent "life changes" he asked her to find a pin of a blue butterfly and to remind me

The Butterfly Is A Symbol Of Transformation.

Carol gave me my beautiful butterfly pin today...

I love it... what a special symbolic birthday gift!

This is the Blue Butterfly Jeremy drew for me!

A close up of my butterfly pin!

Kory and Jenna

Vicki - Jenna - Jana and Paige

Kory showing off his Zebra print on the back of his tie...

Pink and Silver were their colors... and yes... 

she REALLY wore those shoes around Temple Square

Cutting their cake with her Grandpa's hunting knife

Kory and Jenna were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on 3/18/10. They had an open house in Pocatello on Saturday. Jana, Paige and I drove up to finally meet this sweet man whole stole our Jenna's heart! Congratulations!

Smoke...

Josh's first day of Spring Break....

* New tint on the back window
* Cleaned the seats
* Vacuumed floor mats
* Spit shined the inside
* Quick run through the car wash
* Wilson Motors for safety inspection
* Courthouse to pay 2010 taxes
* Visit to Papa and Grandma's

Josh was heading home when....
SMACK... SMOOSH... OUCH!!!
A 72 year old woman ran into the side of Smoke!

This is the what happened to dad last summer... the day after he paid his taxes... he ran into the suicidal Bambi! Moral of the story... pay your taxes on-line on a Saturday and stay home from church on Sunday... you should be covered ;-)

Rainbow Cake

Here is a picture of the rainbow cake... it turned out cute too! Some Uno-Spin... Family... Fun - Happy Clover Day!

Rainbow Cupcakes

2 of the 6 colors we used...

Kendra drizzling a little of each color on top of the other...

Josh helped too... look he's even smiling...

The final product... not bad for our first try...
and they tasted pretty darn good too!

The wrapper even turned into a pretty rainbow!

Josh - Kendra and I decided to make rainbow cupcakes for Clover Day... It was definitely a group effort and I am excited for the way they turned out!