Another Year Older

I think every girl should sit down in front of a birthday cake and eat like there's no tomorrow. Unfortunately, I'm getting too old to do that so Faith took care of that for me.

I chose the Cheesecake Factory for my birthday dinner. It's always interesting going out to dinner with these three.

Faith used the butter packages on the table to give herself a facial, then became addicted to Sprite.

I love the Cheesecake Factory because you get to enjoy your dinner for lunch the next day since the portions are huge. It's obvious I love their cheesecake too. I ordered the Godiva Chocolate Cheesecake for my treat. I think I gained five pounds just looking at it.

Welcome, 35! I hope you are good to me.

Pre-Birthday Celebrating

I had some early birthday presents Saturday with this huge cake from my dad...

and a package from Teresa in my ward in Long Beach. What is better for your birthday than a pirated copy of Michael Jackson's This is It?

Teresa also sent me this Inflatabuffet. In case you aren't part of the Inflatabuffet fever that is sweeping the nation, you can go here to order one. What a great idea--I plan to use this every day in the summer. Teresa is really so sweet.

Cinderella

Saturday afternoon we went to see the matinee performance of Cinderella at a local high school. These girls are in our ward, and they did such a great job. After the performance, the cast signed autographs and took pictures with all the cute little girls in their princess dresses. I guess Faith isn't quite there yet. She had marker all over her and was really sticky from the ring pop we used to get her to sit through the performance. She is definitely not a princess in training---yet.

Field Tripping with Spencer

Yesterday I met up with Spencer's class at the Natural History Museum in DC for his field trip.

I had just landed a couple hours before after the red-eye flight from Long Beach. I was so tired, but couldn't miss the chance to go on a field trip. Good thing I wasn't an official chaperone and didn't have to ride the bus with the kids since I fell asleep on the subway ride home.

Going Home

Faith and I hopped on a plane to spend last weekend in...

I've been gone six months from Long Beach, but as soon as I stepped off the plane, I knew I was home. Doug took the boys for the weekend, and I got to go as my birthday present--one of the best presents I've ever had.

I got to hang out with fun gals all weekend, eating more food than I have in a long time (I felt like I was on a cruise), laughing harder than I have in a long time, staying up later than I have in a long time, and loving every second while I was there.

Kendall, Melissa, Tina, Tiffany and Anne.

Cindi, Lori and me.

Me and Melissa.

Faith renewed old friendships with Jane as well.

Me, Faith, Melissa, Cindi, Anne, Tina and Amy.

It was a wet weekend! Long Beach had major rain two of the days I was there, turning parking lots into swimming pools. I'll never forget us rolling up our pants to get into our cars after a pedicure. The good news is our feet still look great. This picture is of Cindi trying to find her shoe that washed away.

Thanks so much to Doug who took the boys, and the fun girls of Long Beach who made my birthday. Let's do it again.

The End of my Favorite Pass Time

For six years I have been an annual pass holder at Disneyland, but last Sunday my pass expired. I couldn't just let it expire without one more visit, so Faith and I went Saturday. It was a perfect day.

Faith's first time on Buzz Lightyear.

Tarzan's Treehouse.

The Jungle Cruise.

Faith quickly learned how to sword fight with Desiree's kids in the gift shop.

I got to meet up with Desiree and Nate. I lived with Desiree for a year in college, and I'm so thrilled I still keep in touch with her.

Even more thrilled that she'll go on Tower of Terror with me.

Monsters, Inc.

Faith wears the boys' mickey ears around the house, so I had to get her a pair.

Peter Pan.

Pirate Andy had his arm around Faith the entire ride.

Desiree, Maya, Erica and me.

Not only did I get to hang out with Nate and Desiree, but Melissa came with us and Cindi and her girls. Here we are on Pirates of the Caribbean.

Pigging out at the Golden Horseshoe. Why does Disneyland make me hungry all the time?

Desiree, Maya, Melissa, Cindi, me, Erica and Ella.

So I guess this is it. I no longer have a pass to Disneyland.

What a wonderful day to come and spend my last day with my pass with great friends. I'm gonna miss this, but you already knew that.

Down and Derby

The boys went to their first Pinewood Derby Friday tonight. James got the award for the most aerodynamic car and Spencer's car was the scariest. I guess the cobra stickers were considered scary. Of course the boys had a blast and can't wait for the next one.

What we did today...

I tried harder to perfect the art of cake making with fondant. I made this cake for a friend's baby shower. It's not perfect, but I'm getting better every time. Look out Ace of Cakes.

Faith was left to amuse herself all day making hats out of garbage from the garbage can. At least there wasn't dried food stuck to it.

I've Hit a Wall

No, literally, I hit a wall.
We left to go to the Salt Lake Airport at 5:30 am to catch our flight that left at 7:45 am last Saturday. Snow was in the forecast, but as we were leaving for the airport, no snow. I just drove like business as usual until we got to an over pass to get on I15.
My mom, "You're sliding!"
Spencer, "Maaaaaaaammmmmaaaaaa!!"
And I'm thinking, "What the heck do you do when you're sliding down a freeway ramp with no control?" (Driver's Ed was not my strongest subject).
We ended up spinning and turned around, hit the wall next to the freeway going backwards and scraping the driver's side of Doug's parent's car. Sorry. When the car came to stop I just started it back up again and we plugged along to the airport.
So that's the bad news. The good news is we made it on time for our flight, AAA came to get the car, and my mom didn't have to drive back home in the treacherous conditions of I15 because the tow truck driver gave her a lift. No one was hurt, and I guess if you have to wreck a car, we did it in the best way possible since Doug's parents just got a new car. I realize I'm blessed.

Welcome to the 21st Century--finally

Anyone who has tried to use our computer lately knows what a tremendously slow and painful process it was. Not anymore! Thanks to our brother-in-law's work discount, we are the proud owners of an iMac. This could be dangerous.

All Wired Up

Spencer is sporting his newest electronic devise that must stick to him for 24 hours. He looks pretty excited in these pictures, but boy did he complain! I don't blame him.

We went to the cardiologist yesterday and she wants Spencer to wear this halter monitor just to get a base line since we're kind of new to her office. Faith is into biting lately and Spencer told her, "Don't bite me, Faith. You'll get electrocuted."