It Was The Best

My slumber party was a glorious trip down memory lane. Amy and I started with a shopping trip. OK, not something we used to do as kids, but it was a necessity. (Amy's story, not mine.) Jenny met us at the store and we all looked around. Wait, that not right. Amy and I started in mom and dad's bathroom doing our hair and laughing that we should leave the flat iron plugged in so dad would yell at us. Then we went and meet Jenn. After that we walked to BK and got some dinner. That's more of a teenage thing from when Aunt Gwen was living in the duplex. So of course we had to walk over to the duplex and back home past her first apartment in Hillsboro. We reminisced about the Rivera boys and sang "Oh Heather" out by the parking lot.
After we got home we chatted on the couch for a little before our next outing. While we were setting there dad came out off the bath room holding out flat irons and my hair brush. I'm sure that Richard could hear the hen cackling all the way in Maupin. It was awesome.
Then we were off to 7 11. We went through Hare Field and down the path by the Scarborough's house. I'm not at liberty to disclose the conversations that were had but that was just more of the fun.
I didn't think that the field was anymore scary than it ever was but that path still scares the crap out of me. After we got to 7 11 we looked for candy that we hadn't had in a long time or at least things we used to get. While we were there a man drove up in a BIG truck (so Hillsboro) and was blaring AC/DC. This rocked for two reasons. AC/DC is so my childhood and my sisters were head banging in the driveway when I got out of the store. The walk back home was more laughing and talking about who lived were, what houses had changed and which ones were the same. We did discuss whether or not to TP someone's house, but we don't know anyone in Hillsboro any more and having the night end in a misdemeanor wasn't what we were going for.
We got home and talked some more and got mom to try some really sour candy. That was so funny. I wish the video had turned out. Then we went to bed. All in all, just what I was wanting for my birthday.

THANK YOU GIRLS

I get to go to Vegas!!!! I get to go to Vegas!!!! My husband is the best! Not only is he going to watch the big kids this Friday night so I can have a slumber party with my sisters. He is also sending me to the Time Out in Las Vegas.
I don't know which one of my birthday events I'm more excited about.
The celebration of youth I have planned with my wonderful sisters is more than just a sleep over.
We are going home to our mom's house and will be having english muffin pizzas for dinner, then maybe smores for dessert. After which we will pitch the tent in the backyard and play truth or dare. Next we will sneak out and walk to 7-11 (that's going to be so much fun) and get junk food and slurpees.

OR

Time out For Women with Amy and Becky.
This was so much fun last time and I didn't know that I was going to get to go until this morning.
So as you can see Jeff is the best for watching the kids and sending me away not one weekend but two. Jenny and Amy are the best for agreeing to act like kids again and sleep on the ground for me. And Becky is the best for putting Amy and I up so we can go to Time Out and have a blast again.

Jackson's First Day

Look at my little man ready to take on the world.

Yes that is a Star Wars backpack. Did you expect anything but.

You would think he was going to war with all the fuss we made.

This is Jackson's friend, Ashlee. She is in the other kindergarten class. I have been informed "if its not OK to marry someone that is in you family I'm going to marry Ashlee." That's nice Jackson. Have fun trying to get out of the friend corner.

This is Jackson's cubby where he will be putting his snacks, drink and other miscellaneous things.

There were no tears from my little man. He said good bye and got right to work and then he needed to say good bye again. It was just a little longer of a hug this time and a sadder sounding good bye just like a scene from a movie.
I need to get that kid in some after school acting group or some thing he is for to dramatic for it to be wasted on just us

The last day of my summer

We started our day with a visit to the Portland Temple. One of the things I miss the most about living in Portland is not being able to see the Temple. I lived right down the street from it and if I was ever in a bad mood I would just go and walk around the grounds.

Then we headed over to the children's museum, but I was not aware that it is closed on Mondays. Luckily, it is right next to the Zoo, so we got to see the new baby elephant.

The new baby

And last, but not least, we went back to the old neighborhood and had some fun with Debra. I have missed her and Jane more than words can say. You know when you find someone and they just feel like home. That would be Deb and Jane.


We didn't want Jane to be sad that she missed us, so we traced the kids so she could see how big they are getting. Jackson and Ainsley drew hearts and balloons all over the road for Jane as well. And Tomorrow is the end of my care free life of no kids in school and no schedules.
Well it was a fun five years. Now on to the next step.

Emery's Big Day

So Emery got her blessing and doesn't she look adorable.
It was at my ward this time and Chris Berg even got to participate. It was a small role but just having him be able to be a part of it meant so much to both Jeff and I.
It was also wonderful to have almost the whole family in attendance, as well as Jeff's Mom and Dad.
We had Bishop Gates bless her and he did it beautifully and now I have one more reason to think the world of him. He has such a tender soul and he is just so in tune to the spirit. I really can't thank him enough.

It's Not Just Me

One of the many crazy thing that I do to myself is that, shortly after having a baby, I am compelled to try on my wedding dress. I have no delusions this time and have not done it yet. I am also not saying that I won't ever fit in to it again, but it just takes about a year. I'm crazy for ever trying it on before a year has passed.
Today I went to Toys R Us to get a backpack for Jackson (that was the 4th store we looked at)
and a blessing dress for Emery. Yeah, I know a blessing dress at Toys R Us! But they have them and they are beautiful. After we got Emery's dress, Ainsley kept asking me:

Ains: Why don't I get a new dress mommy?
Me: Well, Ainsley, you already have a blessing dress.
Ains: I do? Where is it?
Me: It's put away in a special box.
Ains: I want it.
Me: OK. You can see it, but it's too small for you now so you can't wear it.
Ains: OK.

She was so happy that she had a special dress like Emery's and wanted to try it on so bad that I helped here get it over her chubby little arms and it still fit. Kind Of.
That's right. She's just like her mommy with the sick facination of "Am I still that cute and little?" No matter how big she gets she will alway be that cute.

Thats New

As you can see my baby has found her thumb. She had been looking for it for some time now and I think that this is adorable especially since neither Jackson or Ainsley sucked their thumb.
I am a little nervous about all the things I have heard my whole life happen to kids that suck there thumb like needing braces and how hard this habit is to break.
But for now its just one more thing that she does that is so cute and all her.