The count down begins...

Well, what a busy week of nothing.

Do you ever have a week (or any amount of time) that seems to be taking forever to get through, but when you think back it seems like the time just flew? Well, that describes this last week. I don't want it back, but seriously, where did it go?

Porter has started counting down the days. Actually it's a little more obsessive than that because last night in his prayers he said, "...thanks for school starting not this Wednesday, but next Wednesday..."

School starting is sad for me because I give up my little man for six hours a day and happy because I know how much he loves going.

On Saturday I went to a fabulous class with my fabulous sister-in-law, Katie, and made button bracelets at Blissful Living Studios (betcha' thought I was going to say fabulous!). What a blast! This is a place so enchanting and wonderful it's worth paying money to just hang out at. The class was taught by my super-crafty aunt Whitney and the button bracelets are her adopted brain-child. Come see all the fun on her blog or the Blissful Living Studios blog. Blissful Living has classes all the time, just take a look at their calendar. If anyone ever wants to go - call me! (Plus Pete's is just around the corner for lunch...)

Diamond Backs and Dark Knights

We went to the Diamond Back's game on Friday night. They played the LA Dodgers. We had great seats courtesy of our good buddy, James. (Thanks again!)

I really love baseball. It's my favorite sport to watch. If I at all understood football I think that might be my favorite sport because jumping up and screaming at the TV just looks so darn fun.

Anyways the fans were super intense. This guy on the left was holding up a "Beat L.A." sign and the guy on the right was holding up a Dodgers banner. I guess the beer was really kicking in by the seventh inning because the fans were getting wild. We left when the game was tied 7 to 7. On the way home we heard the Dodgers won 8 to 7. So glad we didn't stay. L.A. fans are serious about their baseball.

The kid behind me was really cute. He would yell to the D-Backs in English and then in Spanish tell his dad what to say too. But all his dad would yell was "Atta Boy!". It was sweet and made me want to pick up Spanish again.

On the way back to our car we ran into these guys in front of the Hard Rock Cafe. I was majorly creeped out but Olen thought it was the coolest thing and wanted a picture. Ick.

And the answer is YES! go see The Dark Knight. Whoa. That was one good flick. If you saw it, tell me your favorite part. Mine was when the car turns into a motorcylce! Oh man, Christian Bale is one hottie...

So tomorrow is another week of Summer School (it's just two hours a day). Porter officially hates it now and wants his "normal summer days" back. I do math flash cards with him every day and I think he's near officially hating me, too.

Two more weeks till school starts....

DeAnne, I'm taking your challenge.

Get cozy and let's reminisce about the good, the bad and the ugly.
Here's how it works.

1. Leave me a comment about a memory you have with me or Olen or the kids or all of us together. Break out the Ginkgo Biloba and start remembering the good times.

2. Then carry on the challenge and make this same post in your blog.

(If you feel like leaving a comment, but don't feel like having a Blogger account; just write the comment as "Anonymous" and add your name at the end. Everyone join in!)

I took out my camera and then noticed I was the only mom taking pictures (eek!) so I settled for just one shot and quickly tucked my camera back into my purse...

School doesn't officially start till August 6th, but summer classes for first graders at Porter's school started today. Porter was pretty excited to start school today and was telling London not to worry because he would still be her friend even though he's a "First Grader" now.

In other news...
We had a busy-busy weekend. Friday was Billy Ray's (Olen's Daddy) 70th Birthday Party. Such fun.

Then Saturday Porter lost another tooth. Tell me, please, is it normal for kids to loose a tooth once a week during this age? I can't tell for sure if it is, or if Porter has discovered that loosing teeth can be a lucrative business for a six year old. Oh, here's a funny. Well, you know how Porter is totally allergic to cats? Well, Porter woke up the morning after the Tooth Fairy visited him and was sneezing and having such an allergy fit. I said, "Oh, sounds like your allergies are high today." And he said, "Yeah, I guess the Tooth Fairy must be a cat" and went to put his money away. I just had to smile. It must be a cat.

So, back to the weekend. Saturday afternoon was Cara's (sister-in-law) baby shower and that was great. I found out I like quiche. Who knew?! Great job Arlissa et al.

Later that night we went to Christopher's and Katie's Miller St. Cottage for some delish dinner and games. Stayed too late because it was too fun to leave.

Sunday was Justin's (cousin) homecoming and since his family is in the same ward as my in-law's we did some more hanging out.

Sunday was also Aubrey's (my baby sister and Porter's best friend) birthday. She's nine. So we went over to the folks for more food and cake. Good end to a good weekend.

It's gone! Sweet joy! It's gone!

Craigslist, I love you.

Half-Birthdays For Everyone!

So on Monday Olen brought home a t-ball bat, a glove and some balls out of a model home in his community (because the kids touring the house kept playing ball in the model) and gave them to Porter.

Port goes,"Hey, dad, you must have brought me these for my six-and-a-half birthday, huh?!" Olen goes, "Yup. Yup. That's what they're for, Best Buddy."

Meanwhile I'm in the kitchen making a pineapple upside down cake thinking "Huh...?" (cuz Porter's "half-birthday" would have been last month).

Then Porter says, "And mom that's what the cake is for, too, huh?!"

Then I go, "Um..yes? Yes. It is."

Well then we all were too deep into the whole half-bithday thing, so we got out the candles and made it official. And really, shouldn't we all have half-birthdays? It just feels so right.

Honestly, I wasn't planning on taking pictures, then Olen says "Love, get your camera! This would make a good blog, right?" I don't know if he was teasing me (most likely) or being serious. Either way he was right. So I got my camera...

My humble first attempt at pineapple upside down cake isn't too fabulous; but it's all whole-wheat and fresh pineapple if that counts for anything. And check out Porter's face; he's in pure half-birthday heaven. I think London is just hoping we make this a family tradition because she's due for a half-birthday in December.

We used seven candles, because using six whole ones and cutting one in half is just ridiculous. Please people.

The results. Is that one wicked kool-aid smile, or what?

4th of July American Pie

And we're back from another fun-filled 4th of July weekend in Heber, AZ. We ate and played and ate and watched the awesomest fireworks ever and ate some more. It was a grand ol' time. Just scroll on down and let the pictures do the talking.

It is the tradition of the parade to squirt and be squirted. "Grandma" Wendy provided the guns and ammo and the kids provided the squirting. Porter kept his gun loaded and pumped so if you dare shed a drop of water on him you better expect a blast of water back. He was lethal. (Don't you love how he's posing like there is actually a scope on his water gun?! Oh, and check out his TWO missing top teeth. So cute.)

Our 'Little L' and her amazing smile. Can't you just hear her saying "CHEEEEESEEE" straight through your computer screen?

And here's me and Olen. I can't think of anything to say about this picture except check out all the sexy silver hair Olen is getting. I love it. (And I'm told I'm fully responsible for it. So, yay me!)

Porter with our cousins Holly and Clancy are aimed and ready to shoot anything that moves down the parade line; except the fancy cars and horses we were told. Party poopers.

Then the fire trucks come and show everyone their water guns. Luckily we remembered our umbrella. We sat by some first-timers that asked us why we brought our umbrellas (before they saw the fire trucks), next year they'll know better.

Porter got a dose of his own medicine.

Dripping full of fun!

So here we are in our patriotic duds waiting for the fireworks show Saturday night. Can you believe I made my mother-in-law take our family picture five times and this is the best we could give?! Thanks anyways Arlyce!

Porter doesn't realize yet how totally lucky he is to have boy cousins his same age on every side of his family. Here's Port with our cousin Dawson; quite a pair! London wanted to be with Porter to watch the fireworks...

...but they were so bright and loud she kept covering her eyes. Port is so sweet with his Buttercup.

We hope your Independence Day weekend was full of fun and family and friends, too. Tell us all about it!

Thanks to Whitney and DeVal for sharing their cabin and thanks to Valerie and Haskel for sharing their food!

Can't wait till next year!

Independence Day is one of my most favorite holidays, for many reasons. One is the love I have for my country. This respect didn't fully develop until I was in high school (Go Heroes!) and was taught to value my freedoms and love my liberty. I am proud to be an American; and I am grateful to those that have fought and continue fighting for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Another reason I love July 4th is because we visit Heber, AZ for the weekend. This is our fifth year to visit the small town's big celebration and we look forward to it all year. Olen's brother, Haskel, and his wife, Valerie, have always graciously hosted us on our visits. This year we'll be staying with my aunt in their family cabin and we are really looking forward to it. The weather is perfect, the small-town welcome just can't be beat and the fireworks are amazing. One of these times I'll succeed in convincing my family that this is the place to be for the 4th of July.

We leave tomorrow morning for the weekend, so check back next week for the whole low-down and a few pictures, I'm sure.

Have a wonderful and safe Independence Day!

Final Curtain Call...

I just wanted to say a few thank-yous (but you won't hurt my feelings if you skip right to the slide show).

THANK-YOU! To Olen for being so AMAZING these past months while I had rehearsals and stress and drama. He's like my favorite bra. He's always supportive and makes me look better than I really am. Well that's the truth and I don't mind sayn' so.

THANK-YOU! To my most wonderful Momasita Bonita for talking me out of quitting. You knew I would have a blast. So once again - you were right.

THANK-YOU! To my Aunt Camille for making my gorgeous costume dress. Did you see it?! 'Nuff said.

THANK-YOU! To my Aunt Colleen for letting me raid her costume supply and for keeping my roots tamed and my locks beautiful.

THANK-YOU! To Chris and Katie for documenting the experience.

THANK-YOU! To Spencer, Olivia and Beth for babysitting for me when Olen had to work and I had to rehearse. My kids wished that happened more often.

THANK-YOU! To everyone who drove from anywhere to come see the show even though I was on stage a total of six times. Thanks for making me feel like it was worth it; I hope it was for you.

Here’s a little slide show of cast members and the public that I adore.

(Mom and Dad and Chelsea – I’m sorry I forgot my camera the night you came! I’m going to show up at your house in costume and take a picture with you. I must have it.)

THEY SAY IT'S MY BIRTHDAY! (duh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh)

Thank-you! For the texts, phone calls, cards, blog post (Katie) and gifts yesterday. I have the best family and friends in the whole world.

Yeah so, yesterday was my big B-Day. It was a fabulous day. Since I had a dress rehearsal in the evening Olen took me out for lunch and then shopping! Two of my favorite things - eating and buying new stuff for me! We went to the Cheesecake Factory (yumm-o!) for lunch. We should have looked at the picture the waitress took of us before leaving such a big grateful tip. Oh well. You get the idea.

Porter wrote me little notes to copy the love notes Olen left around the house for me to read through out the day. And at rehearsal Olen texted our good buddy, Brent, and asked him to have the cast sing to me. I was lifted up on their shoulders and sang to by like a hundred people. I know, right? Awesome. Yeah, you never get too old to love that.

So thanks again, for making me feel so special on my humble day of birth.

P.S. It's Opening Night!!!