Weird Moments at Wal-Mart on Wednesday

Today while shopping at Wal-Mart, I noticed a young man (I would say in his 20's) holding a pair of thong underwear and giving a thorough examination, tugging and stretching the waistband. I mean really like he was trying to figure out if these were the ones to buy. I didn't hang around because I feared that I couldn't help myself from laughing out loud, and what if he noticed me and asked for my advice. Oh dear!

April Fools Day Memories

Do you have any April Fools Day memories?
My memory was when I was growing up my Dad would come into our bedroom and announce that school was cancelled. We would ask why, and he would make different things up each year such as no power, water main broken (which we had a school in the country, so I don't think they even had a city water), or it was a nice sunny day. I fell for it every year.
Rayme on the other hand has a few successful pranks under his belt, but he usually wouldn't wait until April Fools Day.

A Month of Birthdays

I knew that March was a busy birthday month, but now with facebook I am reminded of all my high school friends' birthdays too.

Not only do I have many friends birthdays in March, but have many family members too.There is my Grandma's 91st birthday, an uncle, mother-in-law and my dear husband Rayme's 50th birthday, and those are the ones I remember.

Lesson learned - if you are not a good liar, you should not host a surprise party. Therefore, I will not attempt to throw a surprise party again. Oh, don't get me wrong - please invite me to be a guest (I can keep a secret if I don't see the guest of honor to close to the celebration).

As I mentioned it was Rayme's 50th birthday and it was on a weekday (not the best day to throw a party) and with his shift work it causes a some difficulty to try to schedule a party. A little celebration was in order since it was his 50th. Just invite a few close friends because of the tricky scheduling, and the more I invited the more chances he would not be surprised, and our house space is limited. The theme was picked out as a result of him planning my funeral (I was sick a few weeks ago - nothing serious) and he decided a "Cowboy" theme would be great fun at my funeral. Anyway, since I wanted to beat him at this own game. I decided that if he had a "Cowboy" theme, he couldn't use that theme for my funeral. Ok- this was a very in depth conversation about my funeral planning (maybe I should write it for another post). I had it planned cowboy pizza (his favorite), cowboy cookies, cowboy napkins, found some plastic barbed wire, and everyone donned cowboy hats and bandanna's. But, he knew all about his party because he quizzed me, integrated me and came right out and asked me if I had a surprise planned, and then was I surprised when he came out to greet me after I came home from town with all of his party goodies. Nicole warned me that I probably couldn't pull off a surprise party and she was right. I will not be planning any surprise parties anytime soon.

Happy Birthday to all of you that have a birthday this month.

Note to Mom

Mom-

This is me waiting. I know I am not alone in the waiting.

Love,

Nicole

Olympic Spirit

When the Olympics were held in Salt Lake I felt like I know this city since I visited it many times, and felt I was there in spirit. Not to mention that I knew friends that packed up the car and drove their families so they could enjoy the Olympic spirit in person. I loved to hear their account of their journey.

Now the 2010 Vancouver Olympics are here and literally in our backyard (if it's north would that be front or the backyard). You can tell by the signs welcoming Olympic visitors, border security updates, media coverage, Olympic trinkets at local stores, new road construction projects and even one of our local cities have posted 100 flags from many of the nations participating in the games near the main street into the city.

When I younger and my Mom explained the dedication, sacrifice and determination to master the necessary skill level to compete. And if they win they receive a medal and the gold medalist got their country national anthem played. Whenever an USA team member receives a gold metal and the recipient gets emotional I find that I get a little teary eye with them as I remember that they are representing our country and they have worked very hard for this honor.

I will be watching and cheering these talented athletes in the Olympic spirit.

Michelle - It's Her Day!

23 Years ago today we were in the hospital welcoming our newest addition to our family - Michelle.

I should have known then that she was going to be an independent thinker, when the doctor kept switching her due date (later), and she decided to extend even those dates. Apparently, from the beginning she wanted to express her opinion.

Michelle captured our hearts from the beginning and we are so blessed that she is part of our family.

PS - The tennis shoes aren't Michelle's they are a prop in front of Bubba Gump's Restaurant. Don't want you to think her feet are that huge.

Catch Up

I thought I should post on my blog and bring my few followers up to date. This might be a long blog, so consider yourself warned.

Can you believe that I haven't posted since Christmas? Since I brought up the subject of Christmas.
This was my very first year to be away from home for Christmas. Since most of our immediate family lives within our local area, there has been no need to be away from home at Christmas. This year was different and with Nicole living in Las Vegas and wasn't able to come for Christmas, we thought we would go to her.
I really didn't know how I would feel about being Las Vegas for Christmas with Palm Trees and sunny weather with hardly a chance of snow. The conclusion I came up with that it doesn't matter where you spend Christmas as long as you are with people you love.
Yes, it was a bit hectic getting ready for Christmas and selecting the perfect gift that could pass security and not put you over on the luggage limits at the airport. We did manage do last minute shopping on Christmas Eve that I always vowed never to do, but made an exception this year and it really wasn't that bad.
As a bonus Christmas present we got to enjoy our "other daughter - Chyla", she was able to come and meet us in Las Vegas.
Nicole was the most amazing hostess! First of all she gave her comfy bed to us, and we came to her home smelling of bake goodies. Her apartment was beautiful with Christmas decorations, and did I mention she had made a variety of goodies - mmmm. Thank you Nicole for your hospitality.
If you have to have good friends move away from you make sure they move somewhere that you will visit. Good thing they picked up Las Vegas were Nicole lives. Our good friends The Bowden's moved to Las Vegas last spring, and were able to spend time with them when we were there. You know that you have good friends when you just pick up where you left off. We love the Bowden's and thank you for including us in your Christmas celebrations. We are so grateful for our friendship with them. We miss and love them and can't wait until our next visit.
A Christmas tradition our home growing up we always opened our stockings first. One year I opened my stocking gifts I was very perplexed when I got flashbulbs, camera batteries and film. I didn't have a camera. When I exclaimed that these things were nice, but I didn't own a camera. Was I surprised when I opened my present and it was a camera. I am sure my parents were probably trying very hard not to laugh. I think I got my present first just so they wouldn't die laughing.
We have carried on that tradition in our family with opening the stockings first. But this year we needed to do it in reserve not to blow it. We got one of the girls an IPOD and in the stockings we gave itunes gift cards. Since I had experience on my side, I knew better.
We were home for New Years and we celebrated New Years Day by sending Michelle off to college in Rexburg, ID. Michelle and another girl from our Stake stuff all their earthly possessions in her car and traveled to BYU-I and I am happy to report that they made it safely without any incidents. Prayer works!

With Michelle leaving for college, Rayme and I officially empty nester's again.

That brings you pretty much up to date! Sorry it was so long.
Happy New Year! It's not to late to say that right?? It is still January.