Celebrating with Mallory and Kathy

Kathy and Mallory took me to lunch today.  We went to Zuppa's at 3:00 and that is a good time to go.  I was starving and a salad/sandwich hit the spot.  I think anything would have really.  Kathy's cute grand came right up to me and handed me his lego guys.  I guess he remembered me...he's a cutie!  It's fun watching Kathy be a grandma. ☺  We talk a lot about our cute kids and grands.  We like being at this place in our lives.  It's fun, exhausting and absolutely perfect.  I adore these two and will probably say that forever!  Mallory told me not to get too excited about her gift since it was something practical and not really fun.  It was a cute box full of greeting cards.  I really tried not to get too excited but I love that idea since we always need cards.☺  I thought that was a very clever and wonderful gift.  Kathy gave me a cute sign about being Happy!   They both said that is so you!  Cool....I believe in being Happy Today!  We get to go to lunch again in a next week! Woot Woot! Then we will get to meet again to celebrate Mallory...she's the baby!  Life is so much better with wonderful, life long friends.  I'm so glad I met these two in Junior High and that we have kept in touch and stayed close.  They are such a blessing to me!  I love them!

Purple Party

Today we celebrated Jodi since her birthday is tomorrow.  We decided to all wear purple since I'm not sure Jodi even notices any other color.  Purple has always been her favorite!  I felt kind of bad that the other sista's didn't make it....they missed out and we missed them.  We met at Marie Calendars and had a good time.  We always have a good time when we are together.  Our waiter was the nicest kid and even gave Jodi another piece of pie when she dumped hers on her lap. ☺  I'm so thankful for birthdays and being able to celebrate the lives of the ones we love.

Kathy cracks me up.  She couldn't find her ribbon that she brought for my celebration and so she brought crepe paper to decorate the table and Jodi. ☺  She's a hoot!  We had a good time making this day memorable by taking some pictures.  A nice gal just followed us around and took our pictures while we posed, or just laughed.  I should have given her the extra chocolate bar that I had in my purse.  I seriously would have if I would have thought of it before right now.  That's the thing with having more birthdays....the thought process slows down.  Fun Day!  Fun Friends!

Happy 90th Ruth

I love this young, enthusiastic, charming, funny, witty, smart, spiritual, loving friend of mine!  The list of adjectives could go on and on...Ruth is simply amazing.  I want to be like Ruth when I grow up which means I'd better start walking.  Ruth walks three miles every day and I've heard if she doesn't have anything to say then she sings.  Ruth is a good person.  Today in Sunday School the teacher made the comment that we all sin throughout the day and need to continually pray for forgiveness.  That bothered Ruth because she doesn't sin.  I am working on being like that.  I don't sin big but I do find myself asking forgiveness every now and then.  My constant prayers are more about "thanking" Heavenly Father for tender mercies.  Things that I notice and realize His hand was a part of it.  So instead praying constantly for forgiveness I pray constantly to thank my Heavenly Father. Hmmm....sounds a lot like Ruth!

Ruth had a big celebration at her house tonight!  There were lots of people coming and going and I know Ruth must feel the Love everyone has for her.  She is such a great example to everyone and we are blessed to know this wonderful lady.  Ruth is a Favorite of Mine!

Blessed Sunday

I love Sundays!  I love going to Church and feeling the Spirit.  I love partaking the sacrament and renewing my covenants with my Heavenly Father and starting fresh.  I love learning more about the scriptures.  I especially love that my kids come home on Sunday for dinner.  I love having my little grands run in to give me a hug.  I love that a few of the little ones love me to pick them up and hold them.  I love seeing my kids interact with each other and their cute families.  Tonight Natalie brought a plate of cookies with a cute note on it.  "If I'm going to get Fat, so are You!"  I thought it was cute and in my head I was thinking..."wow, she must of had a lot of left over cookies from the Bridal Shower she threw for her niece."  Justin had to help me out and say that Natalie's fat would be different from ours.  Immediately tears came to my eyes.  We have all been praying for another little one for their family.  Natalie changed doctors and had found out why she was miscarrying and having a hard time getting pregnant.  Those issues have been taken care of and now another miracle is happening.  I'm so excited and our next few grands will be a few weeks apart from each other.  Nat is due a few weeks after Kelsi!  Oh Happy Happy Day!  (March)  I made sure to hold the twins today since I didn't on my birthday.  I love how sweet and pure babies are.  I really love that our family keeps being blessed with littles.  I like what Larry and I started!

The Winters

We have been trying to get together with the Winters for a few months now.  Our schedules just haven't worked out until tonight.  A while back Sue text me and said that they felt like going to dinner with us at the Blue Dolphin in Kauai.  We decided that we would love to go and the timing worked out for us.  I was kind of shocked but so excited because we love vacationing with Alan and Sue.  Alan and Sue picked us up at our house even though they are now living in Centerville.  They thought driving down memory lane would be kind of fun.  We enjoyed a nice dinner at LaFerrovia and then they took us to their new house to show us where they were now living.  It's a very cute house...I love it!  Who'd of thought that our dear friends would leave Hooper?  Not I but they are happy and doing great.  I even think I could once we decide to downsize.

I can't remember talking much about Hawaii or coordinating anything.  I know we did decide to just roll with the flow and not really plan anything until we got there.  Oh, and I remember hearing that the condo we got has the worst view...no biggie...I think we had that room once before and it really doesn't matter.  Like Alan or Sue said..."the worst view in Hawaii beats the best view in Utah."  I'm excited!

Boating with the Sells

We took Shari's family out boating today.  Shari's funny and instead of asking Larry right off if we had time to take them boating she asked if they could rent our boat and have dad take them.  We laughed at that.  Dad had never been in our boat until today...not that we hadn't tried to get him out, he just would never go.  I guess having his cute daughter and her family pressure him was what he needed.  We had a really good time.

The weather has been hot and so the water is nice and you don't get cold after being in the water.  I didn't get in today since Larry and I were going out with friends later and Larry only plans on the time he needs to get ready.  I made him aware of that fact today but I still didn't get in.  I wanted everyone to have as much time as possible.  I don't mind though, I enjoy taking pictures and watching everyone else enjoy themselves.  My days of skiing have passed, my back can't take it.

The cousins had some good bonding time today.  They really did have a great time jumping off the tower, riding on the water weenie, wake boarding and knee boarding.  I think Jared might have got jipped today but he seemed okay with it.  Larry kept telling our kids that we should let their cousins have the time and we would take them out again later.  I told Larry that maybe it's fun showing off for cousins more than for parents.  I know for sure that Jared didn't get to wake board.  We had him jump in and pulled him up a few times to show Cameron how but as far as getting a ride...that didn't happen.  It all worked out though and I know that The Sell's had a good time.  Cameron likes trying everything.  Heck, Shari even got out there and rode the weenie and the whole family tried the knee board.

I watched dad and could tell that he was enjoying himself.  He laughed and smiled a lot...seriously we all did. I really enjoy boating with our family and including others when we can.

If we wouldn't have had more plans for tonight we would have stayed out longer.  I'm glad Shari wanted to take her family boating and that we were able to take them.  Good Time..Happy Memories!

Lunch With Teresa

I couldn't help but share all the selfies we took of us today.  Teresa was not happy with them and as I looked over them I laughed because we had such a hard time trying to get a good picture of us.  Why are we so critical of ourselves?  I think we listen to the whisperings of Satan too much.  I think Teresa is so beautiful!  We went to Even Steven's again because we kind of really like it. It was so yummy.

Teresa is such a caring person and would give her last dollar to a stranger if she felt like they needed it.  As we talked today I made a promise to Teresa that I hope was inspired. I promised her that she would always have enough since she always was giving and taking care of others.  Right now she is helping her grandson who tried taking his life last weekend.  The only way he survived was because of divine intervention...I am pretty sure he realizes it.  Teresa talked to him very openly and was gracious enough to give him a fresh start.  She took care of his debt that was stressing him out.  It wasn't huge but for a 20 year old it was overwhelming.

I love this friend of mine that I met only four years ago through face book.  She is such a blessing and a wonderful example to me.  I believe our friendship happened with the help of "angels".  We were meant to be friends.  Teresa noticed through face book memories that we also went to lunch last year on this same day.  I guess this day belongs to Teresa.  Oh how I love and adore her!

***Teresa gave me a bag of delicious chocolates!  She had quite a variety and when I stopped by Larry's shop on my way home I shared with everyone including some customers.  I like sharing...it makes me happy!  (I need to keep sharing since my chocolate stash in over flowing)

***I went with Larry tonight to return a tractor to Kevin's house and take back a trailer to the shop.  While we were talking Larry told me that he had mentioned to one of his employees that I was the happiest person he knew.  Having him say that made me extremely happy and it pushes me to keep it up.  I would love being remembered for being a happy person.  ☺