Janelle's Birthday Weekend

My husband always make sure to spoil me to death on my birthday and he outdid himself once again this year. He took me out on Friday night (after a HUGE misunderstanding that led to me finding out what my big birthday surprise was...glad we recovered from that one) and again on Saturday night...

Here are the girlies with their Tom's from my mom. Aren't they adorable?

So I honestly don't remember the details, but apparently we'd had a rough week together preceding my birthday weekend and I'd left this sassy note on our bathroom mirror where we usually leave love notes to one another. 

I think it's really funny now. It's hard to read, but it says,
"No need for a partnership in this marriage. We're so amazing we can work out our own salvation!"

Good thing we recover pretty quickly these days.

The only pic I have of dinner on Saturday night at our favorite restaurant, Jasoh's. Afterward we went to a comedy club in Ogden that had a hypnotist show. We ended up leaving early because it was a little ridiculous, but fun to try something new.

And then there was Sunday! The hardest day of the week! But do you see my clean house? That was my birthday gift to myself. And yet I remember that I struggled getting everyone ready that morning and felt overwhelmed as I usually do. In fact, I left our first meeting early just to come home with Eloise, who needed a nap anyway, and have a quiet moment to myself in prayer. David returned during the second hour (girls were still in nursery and primary) and convinced me that we ought to hurry back and make it in time for Sacrament meeting, even though Eloise hadn't slept yet. We made it back and were in our seats when someone came and sat beside me--MY MOM! That was a great surprise and a much needed visit. I burst into tears and enjoyed a lovely sacrament meeting.

Here we are getting ready to head up to Kevin and Vicki's for dinner with my mom. 

Isn't Charlotte a cutie?

Remember that surprise that I had found out about on Friday, causing a slight "tiff" between David (who so desperately wanted to surprise me) and I? Well, it was an iphone. Unbelievable. Still a great surprise. He had actually told me it was a 3G without the internet when I found out I was getting a smart phone and I tried my best to be really excited, but was wondering what on earth I'd do without the internet? Then I opened the box and saw the brand new iphone 4S. Wow. Hello, Siri.

Have I mentioned that Eloise is in love with Grover lately? Every time she comes to Gram and Papa Kevin's she cuddles with this Grover and giggles. Then she makes her way onto Papa Kevin's lap and stays there the rest of the evening. My mom made chicken parmesan that night and David brought out the most incredible chocolatey ice cream cake from Cold Stone that I'd ever seen.

On Monday morning, my mom put together these pumpkins with the girls and then she and I headed out to SHOP at Gateway! So fun.

That night I was taken on another amazing date with my husband, my mom, and our good friends, the Garrisons at Tucano's. The best food ever.

Have I mentioned that I LOVE this man?

 

I got a complimentary dessert that I had to dance for of course...

 This is right before I "popped" but you can still see a little baby poking out in this pic. 
I love that my mom is looking at my face and David is starting at my belly!








Thank you for an amazing, wonderful birthday.

I'm 29!

David is 28!

On the Monday I returned from my college reunion, we celebrated David's 28th birthday with the girls. I made his favorite kind of cake in the shape of a "D," which fell apart as soon as I tried to remove it from the pan. David helped me arrange the cupcakes I made to accompany the cake in the shape of a "D" and all was well, although I was still a bit on edge about the cake, I remember.
  

Hazel wrapped some of her favorite toys from the toy box for her Dad. And her Halloween costume arrived in the mail that day, so she's fashioning leopard attire!

 I love this picture! David is making his wish...

The girls are always more than willing to help blow out those candles.


The Bourne Trilogy--awesome gift from the wifey.

He also got his first pair of TOM'S shoes from my mom. She bought a pair for each of the girls as well--we're so spoiled!And we won't mention the gift that our good friend Ben Garrison brought over...
Happy 28th Birthday my handsome hunk of a husband!

BYU Girls' Reunion

I just spent four days with ten of my best friends from BYU as we celebrated our TEN YEAR ANNIVERSARY of our freshman year together. It was amazing to get together and still have so much in common and SO MUCH to talk about (ahem, staying up til 4am the first night...what were we thinking? Oh yeah, we didn't have to wake up with kids the next morning!). It was so nice to have a little vacation from motherhood and revisit the good ole days with these amazing women.

On the first full day together we went to the Salt Lake Temple and attended a session. What a joy to be in the temple with my best friends.

Pizza Factory after the temple.

Four of us are pregnant (and due about a month apart from one another in succession!) right now so Jenae and Alissa prepared a LOVELY baby shower for us with a "Wild Things" theme.

They had all of us preggos' favorite treats and wild thing cupcakes and a cake. Amazing.

Can you tell I like to take pictures of Liz?

As if there weren't enough treats for us sitting around, we also had a pinata full of more candy for us to engorge ourselves with...

The Christensen's were kind enough to offer their lovely home that comfortably accommodated all ten of us. I even got to share a bed with Janelle (Kisby) Willis, my old bed buddy from freshman year who I used to have sleepovers with in the dorms!

Alissa taught a workout class for us in the morning to work off those peanut butter cups and taught us a fun dance to do together, for good times sake (we've still got moves).

On Saturday we visited campus and our old dorms...

This was the pole where Janelle was tied up and held hostage during an intense prank war with the floor above us...don't worry, we got her back safely but not without a fight.

Home sweet home.

We were able to meet up with a few of our freshman year boys! It's amazing how they still seem the exact same...maybe a little bit more like their dads now that they've gained ten years. Love them.

And what would a freshman year reunion be without Kent Nixon's VELOCIRAPTOR impression?

My sweet husband was allowing me to go away on this girls' retreat on his birthday weekend! His parents babysat on Saturday night so that he could meet up with me and my friends for a BYU game on the evening of his 28th birthday. Not the best seats, but REALLY great company.

All in all, it was a weekend that I'll remember for a long time.

I'm so grateful to have such amazing friends in my life, even if we do live far away from one another.