A Very Belated Birthday

Since we were in the middle of our move around the time of your birthday I was too preoccupied and actually forgot all about it. I am so sorry! Now that it's been over a month since the big day I am finally getting around to posting this. I do hope that you had a good day and if you have pictures please post them on your blog soon (computer issues permitting of course).

You are the...well I'm not quite sure how to phrase it...oldest, longest lasting friend I have. We have known each other since the 8th grade. That would mean that we met each other in 1987. Twenty one years ago. GASP! I can not believe it has been that long. But here is photographic evidence that it's true...

I don't think I have any from the 8th grade, but here is a selection from our 9th grade year.

Signing yearbooks on our last day of 9th grade

Tina

Debbie

Jennifer

Debbie, Tina, Jennifer, Bret, Joanna, Sam, Necia

Necia, Debbie, Dara, Bret, Sam

You must really want to be a princess. Two Halloweens and you were a princess both times.

Here are a few random shots of you...

Just a few choice selections from your visit to Utah

It's been a great 21 years. I hope we get at least 21 more!

Totally Gross

I know this is not the kind of thing people like reading about, BUT I can't not write about it.

We got home yesterday afternoon from our fun weekend in Provo (pictures to come later) and after we got everything unpacked and put away we were a little bored and needed something to do. Usually we would just turn on the TV and that would be our evening, however, we still have not gotten cable set up so we are without regular TV and we have pretty much watched every DVD we have at least 10 times since being here. So I suggested that we go for a little drive. During the last couple of weeks after dropping Maggie off at school, Zoe and I have driven around town to see if we could find anything interesting or new. One day last week, while Glenn was out of town, we found a park where they have a herd of Bison and in the next field there is an Elk. There are walking/biking trails along the Bear River and a playground also. So we drove to the park and Glenn and the girls got out of the car to see the Bison and the Elk and we drove around the park for a few minutes. When we were getting ready to leave, Zoe started making an odd noise. We turned around and she was covered in vomit. Lovely! It kept coming for a few minutes and of course it was all over her, her car seat and clothes. It was freezing outside so we took off her coat, cleaned her up the best we could and put Glenn's sweater on her for the ride home. Maggie was totally disgusted and did not want her sitting next to her or to use her blanket. What a nice big sister!

When we got home she seemed fine. We got her bathed and jammied, she ate pizza and went to bed. No more issues...until this morning. I was in the kitchen loading the dishwasher and getting breakfast put away and she came in gagging and threw up again. YUCK! At least it was on the kitchen floor and not on the carpet. Now the reason I had to write this is because it's the first time that Zoe has really been sick. She's almost two and this is her first vomit session. I thought that was pretty good. We had lots of yucky messes with Maggie in her first two years. Maybe Zoe is taking after Glenn who very rarely gets sick. That would be fantastic!

I really don't like having sick kids, but at the same time I really do like how they are all cuddly and calm. I love to hold and rock my kids. Especially when they are sick and need the extra attention.

I hope that no one else gets sick. I sincerely apologize to everyone we were around on Saturday. We had no idea what was coming!

A Birthday Shoutout

Grandpa Blackburn in charge of entertaining the salt and pepper twins.

"Stop horsing around!"
Playing with some of the many stray cats we've had
You've always been such a helper

Meeting Tanya for the first time

I didn't remember that the angel attacked baby Jesus

Cute!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MANDI! (It's been a fun 30 years)

Snow

Our first snow has arrived. Well, the first snow that stuck anyway. When I opened the blinds in our living room yesterday morning to show Maggie she was so excited. I walked back into the kitchen to work on her breakfast and could hear her whispering. I peeked my head around the corner to find her looking out the sliding glass doors at the snow. She was also talking to her reflection on the window. She was saying "yes! now I can build a snowman. Yeah!", and other things that I can't remember at the moment. It was too cute and I hope that she really does get to make her first snowman soon. She has been very patiently waiting for this dang snow. Just get here already!!

Little Issues

I am just wondering what I should do with this? How do you decorate or even tolerate these wallpapers? I would like to at least put a valance in our kitchen, but what would go with this?

I don't really care that much about the bathroom, because we don't spend much time in there, but still...it's pretty bad.

I can't find anything in Wal-Mart (our only store) that even kind of goes with these ugly excuses for walcoverings.

ANY ADVICE?

Even Lower

Before we left for our Thanksgiving break our gas prices were at $1.43.
Very exciting!

When we returned we found it had dropped again. Yeehaw!!(Zoe uses this expression often)

It's funny how a little thing like falling gas prices can make me so happy.

Even lower after lunch :)

Back Track

I keep forgetting to do this update. Glenn found out that the Black Cat fireworks plant really did explode. It had help from vandals that got inside, but it did blow up. I was actually right!

OuR flOcK Of tURkEyS

Mom turned on the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade and Maggie was thrilled to see Hannah Montana. Zoe was shaking her booty and loving it too.

Maggie & Zoe were our pre-dinner entertainment. They were playing a lovely duet.

Camille's pre-dinner assignment was to help set the tables.

You did and awesome job Camille!

While we were getting Maggie's patch on Camille thought she might like to try on too. They had fun playing pirates. Arrgh!

Zoe's pants kept falling down and Camille was having fun "helping" her pull them up.

Neither caffeine withdrawals or kidney stones will keep me from my Dr. Pepper!

Starr was part of the keep-things-cleaned-up crew.

Dad making the yummy mashed potatoes.

Mom and Zoe checking out Dad's job.

Mom doing one of the many things she does best.

Glenn having fun peeling potatoes. What a man!

Shelly helped out too.

Lauren, Trent and Landon relaxing and listening to some music before dinner.

Kinley was the main attraction for us!

Dad was in charge of rounding up the troops to get ready to eat.

The Justin's and Sadie

Lindy, you're a superstar! (in your own mind)

Justin snuggling with Kinley.

We celebrated Kayle's birthday a day early. Happy forty something!

The smiliest baby ever! Hayden and Linda.

Mandi and I left for a few minutes and took Zoe with us. She fell asleep before we got home. I laid her on the couch and Sadie crawled up next to her and snuggled in under her blanket and fell asleep.

Later in the evening a game of scrabble broke out.

Shelly, Lauren, Mom and her helpers, Sadie and Zoe.

Doubles hula hooping. The next Olympic sport?

Sadie is a most helpful little mommy!

Proof that I was there too. Cute hair Mandi!