Ode To Snow
Birthday Bash Weekend
We had a fun week/end celebrating both Reilly and Kameron's birthdays. Because their birthdays fell during the week we did most of our celebrating on the weekend...but not all.
Reilly on her actual birthday...those Oreo Cakesters come in handy!!
I got to attend Reilly's Middle School for their Veteran's Day Assembly. Reilly's Honor Choir was performing. They did a great job. Reilly was a soloist on the song "American Tears" and did a beautiful job. I don't know how she does it. She also sang with the Young Women in Sacrament Meeting on Sunday and her voice was just gorgeous. I can't believe she is a Mia Maid now. Stake Dances here she comes!!
Kameron's birthday also fell on "flu shot day" but things worked out ok because the big kids were able to get the nasal spray...and only Elle, Tyler and Bryn got the shots. Then it was off for ice cream at Baskin-Robbins.
Check out these two attempting to break into the ice cream freezer.
TEAMWORK!!
We had a family birthday dinner yesterday to celebrate Reilly and Kameron. Their dinner requests were:
And...just in case you thought all the birthday fun was over...WRONG!! We still have our big Harry Potter Extravaganza next weekend. Can't wait!!
Happy 10th Birthday To the COOLEST Kid I Know!!
Today is Kameron's 10th birthday...double digits. How much do I love this kid? More than he will ever know. I am so thankful for this boy. He is such a calm in the middle of the whirlwind. He is always easy-going and laid back...as the drama swirls around him...he just kicks back and grins. I love this quality about Kameron. I love how thoughtful and kind he is...he is such a great brother and friend. His sisters adore him. He and Reilly have a fun time hanging out together; Ailey thinks he hung the moon (she has stopped calling him "her prince" at Kameron's request but is still trying to figure out why she can't marry him--HA!!); and Bryn is absolutely smitten. There are many times when he is the only one she wants. He is Tyler's buddy and right-hand man and my precious son. This is one boy who is truly sweet to his momma...EXCEPT when you wake him up in the morning...then not so much!! He is NOT a morning person.
Kameron also earned his Bear in Cubscouts and is now a Webelo. So exciting!!Happy 14th Birthday Reilly
Your 13th year nearly killed Dad and I but we SURVIVED and so did you!! Miracle. So now you are a year older and Dad and I are more senile and haggard but you have broken us in for your brother and sisters. We are happy to say that so far things are looking good for #14. You have matured a lot in the past few month and we are so proud of the delightful young woman you are becoming. We are proud of all that you have accomplished and are continuing to accomplish.
If there is anything that is your special gift in life it is bringing laughter and humor into our lives. So while there may never be a dull moment with you...usually you have us laughing. As I looked at your beautiful face this morning and thought about how fast 14 years has gone it caused me to have a slight panic attack...just thinking that next year you will be in high school. Wow. You are a gift in our lives and we love you VERY MUCH!!
FYI--even though Dad put the gag order on me when I began regaling you about how much I enjoyed being fourteen and why...just know...Fourteen was fun!! ;)
Trip Down Memory Lane:
I dedicate this song to you...sung in falsetto...as I know you enjoy.
Pigs Are Flying
Okay...so I just had the most bizarre experience occur...one I thought would NEVER happen. I called the temple today to have a name added to the prayer roll and the lady I was talking to was rude. Is that even possible? If there is one thing that can always be counted on...like the sun coming up in the morning...it is that temple workers are nice and friendly. Apparently not always.
I called the temple this afternoon to add the name of someone who could use a few extra prayers right now. I called while driving but was using my hands-free device...no laws were broken here. Now when the lady answered I could barely hear her and assumed we had a bad connection. Don't ever assume...as the old adage goes. I attempted to speak clearly so as to convey my information despite our connection issues.
Here is our conversation:
Temple Worker Lady: Thank you for calling the ________ Temple. How may I help you?
Me: I would like to have a name added to the prayer roll please.
Her: Silence.
Me: The name is _________.
Her: Silence
I then began spelling the first name.
I was half way through spelling this person's name when Temple Worker Lady interrupted me and said:
"Ma'am!! COULD YOU SPEAK MORE QUIETLY!!" (The capital letters indicate her extreme annoyance with me.)
I was shocked into silence. I wasn't speaking loudly...but I was attempting to aim my voice up at the viser where the hands-free device is located and to speak clearly. Apparently a big mistake!! Huge.
Me (in an embarrassed hushed voice): I am SO SORRY!! I am talking on my cell-phone and had no idea. I apologize.
Her: Silence.
Me: Thank you.
Her: Good-Bye.
Egads!! I think I have done the impossible...provoked a temple worker to rage. I have never ever seen one show one iota of irritation EVER. And believe me I can be trying...I am continually turned around, confused and going in the wrong direction...and they are always so sweet.
Who knew that someone calling the temple...on the other end of the line...could be so loud as to disturb the reverence of the temple?
So now you know...when you call the temple WHISPER!!
Halloween 2010
It's the Halloween Hangover at our house this morning. Exhausted parents, cranky kids, candy wrappers everywhere and I'm covered in hives. PAR-TAY. Halloween has been a three day event this year.
This year we had:
A Twilight Volturi Vampiress
Darth Maul
A cheerleader
A ballerina...having a meltdown. Bryn wasn't loving our little photo shoot.
Crystal...room mother extraordinaire
Kameron's class
Kam and two of his buddies
Ailey and her buddy Max
Then Friday night was the Halloween Carnival at the Church
There was a cake walk, fish pond, face-painting, games, crafts and trick-or-treating inside. The kids had a great time!!
Reilly and the Young Women were in charge of face painting...Doesn't she look thrilled? Is she strangling Ailey or painting her face?
Ailey and her friend Taryn
Once Bryn got into the festivities there was no stopping her
Once she figured out that people were giving her CANDY she was a madwoman!!
My friend Janyse in her costume. Her husband is a P.A. and she WILLINGLY put that cast on. Just looking at it made me hyperventilate.
This was probably the best Trunk-or-Treat of all time. We crashed the trunk-or-treat of another ward in our stake...as did quite A LOT of other people. There were probably about 4 different wards represented...with Halloween on a Sunday we had to squeeze in all the trick-or-treating we could get!! The kids scored big in the candy department.
Tyler
Hands down the best costumes of the night!! Our friends Chris and Valynn.
