the birthday girls

Today is actually my birthday.  It comes at the most awesome time of the year . . . right in the dead center of fall and days away from Halloween, but it also seems to come right in the dead center of a billion other activities, so it usually gets lost in the shuffle.  Tyler was asking me a couple of weeks ago what I wanted for my birthday, and I said I really don't need any "stuff", but I just wanted to be remembered.  Isn't that what really matters?  To be remembered by those who mean the most to you.  Thank you so much Calley and family for coming over today.  Thank you Tyler and Kelsey for our long call this morning.  Thank you Toby for our glorious conversation.  Thank you Stefanie for being the first to wish me happy birthday!



I know its sooo lame, but I made my own dinner.  I knew exactly what I was in the mood for, and I wanted to come home from church and smell the aroma of something wonderful cooking.  And I think Calley was horrified that I wanted to make my own cake, but I've been craving caramel apple cake and I only make it about once a year, so why not?





And just because its my birthday, I'll post a whole bunch of pictures of my favorite subjects, my little granddaughters and my family.



(summer still had traces of eye makeup on from trunk or treat last night.)















It was just Summer's birthday on Tuesday, so she had a pile of presents over here to open.















I glanced over and saw Luke trying on this top hat that was in the dress-up basket.  It is simply priceless to catch him in these little moments.  He can hardly wait till his birthday happens, on Saturday.  Watch out!

waterfront park in the fall

I don't know what possesses me to go out and brave the rainy weather with camera in hand, but sometimes I just need to do it.  As you can see, the rain had stopped while I took a few minutes to soak in fall at Waterfront Park.  I love the drama of the dark clouds with a little light peeking through.





















And then, just like that, the sun shone and changed the look of everything.



I like it here in the spring, too.

summer turns seven today

Oh Summer, how did you grow up so fast?  Just yesterday I flew down to Provo and held you for the first time when you were two days old.  And now you're all grown up and such a smart and talented young lady.  You make our life wonderful!

Happy 7th Birthday!



We love you soooo much!

primary program

This morning Luke and I were able to go over to see Summer and Abby in their Primary program.  We missed Keith.  It was high council Sunday and he had a speaking assignment (in our ward no less!)  Ironically, we missed Summer's program last year because it was the same day as our Young Womens program and I had to speak.  No excuses for next year, we'll all be there!

I wish I was the kind of person who could sit there and watch and listen to all these children and still have a dry eye, but noooo, not me.  I just felt so blessed to be there and to let my little granddaughters know how proud of them I am.

Summer completely cracked me up with her line (that she wrote herself) on how she used agency:  "When I was on the airplane, Dad said "choose an option, open or closed", so I chose to keep the window shade open." (kinda love that she worked our maui trip in there)

Abby confidently stepped up to the podium, quickly surveyed the congregation, waved, and then said her line.  I wish I had a video.  Priceless.

No pictures at church, but I snagged these two as soon as they got home for some photos in their Sunday best.







Gotta get out of those church clothes!



Awwww, baby Claire Bear at two months and one week (that's nine weeks to the lay person).  Look how big she's getting!











Summer wanted to be sure Grandpa Mustache saw her new snaggletooth.  The tooth fairy's been busy!



I can't help but look at these Claire pictures and think that she reminds me of Snow White with her red bow and her blue and red dress.  Am I right?



The highlight of Luke's day (the low point of mine) was when Mr. Washington State Trooper awarded him a Junior Trooper badge alongside I-5 in Fife.  (my stellar record, gone, all gone, I was totally unaware I was going 5 miles over the limit . . . I think it was when I was changing lanes right as I passed him in his hideaway.  Argh . . . )  Anyway, back to Luke.  You would have thought it was Christmas morning, or he had just been presented an Oscar, or a gold medal at the Olympics!  He is over the moon with pride and honor!  "I can't believe I'm really a Junior Trooper!!!!"  He asked if he could wear the sticker.  Ummm . . . . NO!!!!  All day long, he has begged me to wear it.  No.  I said he could put it in his shirt pocket.  He wants the world to know of this new position of prestige.  He will not stop talking about it.  Happiness and utter joy.  I admit, I really do have to laugh every time I think about it, it takes the sting out of my traffic infraction.  Ugh.



Happy Sunday, and drive slow.

what i was doing one year ago today

I can't believe its been one whole year since Toby came home from his mission.  What was I doing one year ago today?  Oh, I don't know, just getting the first hug after he got off the plane, that's all.  Kind of a big deal, you know.



The welcoming committee.



Haha, seeing this picture again, I see why it didn't make the original blog post.  But embarrassing pictures aside, I had to include this just to have you take a good look at Luke there in the background.



His face is soooooo happy, he literally cannot contain the joy!  And mid-swinging hands too!  Toby is wearing the striped tie, look back here to see the meaning of it. (he also wore that same tie on the day he left.  don't know if he planned that, but i think its cool).



Blue painters tape and everything, so proud he returned with honor.



So proud of you Toby, every single day.  Love you.

They really are the best two years.

silverdale does fall right

Hats off to the city planners of Silverdale, or the city landscapers if there is such a position.  Oh my goodness!  I will never get over the beauty of the trees lining the streets here.  Yesterday, Luke and I were running around like crazy people with appointments and later going to see Frankenweenie, and I literally gasped as we turned the corner and it was a sea of gold, orange and red.  How do you even write gasp?  I know its not like New England here, but boy, am I loving it.   After Luke left for work on his bus today, I thought I'd take a few pictures of all this beauty.  But I felt really self conscious.  These pictures were literally taken like a chinese fire drill, I'd pull in a parking space and jump out quickly, snap my pic and jump back in the car.  Silly, I know.  Not my best work, but you can see the beauty here.

This is the view from Macy's furniture store looking up towards Party City.



Target parking lot.





Behind Red Lobster and Olive Garden.





At the post office, next to the fire station.  And these are just a small portion, you know.





These are the last flowers from our garden, from about two weeks ago.  Some black-eyed susans.



Coneflowers.



And a mini coneflower called raspberry tart, we'll see if it survives the winter.



Sedum autumn joy.  Its even more of a rose color now.



Ahh, my hollyhocks.  My plan is to have a big patch of them in all colors, both double blooms like these, and singles.  These doubles are the last to bloom, and are still blooming.





I am sooooo happy fall has arrived!  Don't curse me, but I was loving the rain and wind yesterday.  Finally!  I love being warm and cozy in the house while the weather does its thing outside.  All that's missing is something delicious baking or cooking to make the house smell oh so wonderful.  Don't you agree?