Happy 36.6!

After 36 years of playing second fiddle to Christmas, Sam decided to officially change his birthday. He selected August 20th, because he has always wanted a summer birthday.  I did warn him that I am only celebrating once a year and there will be no mention of his birthday come December.  We started early with presents. 

Carter gave Sam blow darts.

Renée chose green glass rocks.

Gavin selected a torch.

I picked out this guitar.  He has been mentioning that he has always wanted one.

That evening we celebrated at Blue Mesa with some of our friends.  The adult session of stake conference was that night, so we ate dinner, went to conference, and then came back to our house for strawberry rhubarb pie.  (It was my first time making it, but it was okay.)

Marci and Jeremiah

Mark was out of town so Lindsey joined the Sparks.

Michalann and Jerry

Jeremiah took this lovely photo of Sam and I.

Ben and Sue

Kris and Peter

Spencer and Susan did tag team with the kids, so Susan joined us for pie.

Time for pie.

The kids wanted to sing and watch Sam blow out candles, so we did a retake the next day.

Welcome Back Teacher Luncheon

I am serving on the PTA board this year as a VP in charge of hospitality.  I am not exactly sure how this happened but that is the story of my life with these volunteer positions.  My first big event was the Welcome Back Luncheon.  The student appreciation lead and I worked together.  I made the cupcakes, Molly made all the meat, and everything else was done by parent donation. 

I made white almond wedding cake, black bottom with chocolate frosting, and carrot cake.

Happy teachers enjoying their lunch.

Meet the Teacher

Renée is in Mrs. Timmon's class.

Gavin is in Mrs. Cooley's class.

(He had her sister-in-law, Mrs. Cooley, last year. He doesn't even have to learn a new name.)

During meet the teacher night I got to sell t-shirts and membership for the PTA.

Sand

NRH2o has a big sand area that the kids love to play in. We went with the Angerbauers one day and had a lot of fun.

Carter making sure Renée is completely covered.

Yuck!

Building with Mason and Tyler.

I love the little things Renée does that makes her so different from the boys.

Fireworks at NRH2oI love

We spent Saturday evening at the water park.  They had a fireworks show that is fun to watch.  Carter was really into it.

I love what Sam has done to Carter's hair.

Carter enjoying the fireworks.

I just had my Cannon point and shoot, but isn't this a fun shot.

Renée taking my photo.

Thumbs up for an excellent night.

TV update

Sam (and sometimes Gavin) have been working hard and got the TV hung and all the wires installed for surround sound. There are now several holes in my ceiling in a big one in my bedroom that is directly behind the TV.

The Help

I read this book over a year ago and LOVED it.  I couldn't put it down and stayed up all night reading it.  I went to see the movie on opening night with some of my girlfriends and it was FANTASTIC.

Emily, Jayne, and Michalann

Mckayla, me, Jen, and Sue.

Swimming

We spent four hours at the pool with friends. We are enjoying our last two weeks of summer.

Renée om goggles.

Gavin making up his own jumps.

Carter taking my picture with an imaginary camera.

New TV

This 55" TV was Sam's graduation gift.  He used painters tape to mark where he want the TV and where all the beams are so he can run speaker wires.  Any bets on how long my living room will look like this?

The Big Move

On Friday I drove the kids down to Austin (6 hours round trip). The kids were spending the weekend with Sam's brother and sister-in-law.  When I got back in town, I helped Alycia finish cleaning her house while Sam and Nick finished packing up the moving trucks.  We didn't get to bed until after 1am. 
We were out the door at 7am to drive to Stillwater.  Nick drove a moving truck, Sam drove a moving truck, Danny (a friend) drove Nick's car, Alycia drove their van, and I drove our car so Danny, Sam and I could get back home.  (3.5 hours there).  Alycia and I arrived first because the moving trucks aren't as fast.  Several people from their new ward met us there and got their trucks unloaded in no time at all.  Alycia and I worked on the kitchen.   We ate and early dinner at Eskimo Joe's.  Michelle told me that it is famous, so I figured that we had to try it out.  We left around 5pm expecting to be home a little before 9pm.  I did really good at not crying in front of Alycia.  It is still hard to believe that she isn't a mile away anymore. 
Sam realized he had the moving truck keys in his pocket about 15 minutes into the trip, so we had to turn around.  Then we made it to Edmond, OK which was about 30 minutes away before being stuck in the worst traffic jam I have ever been in.  There was a grass fire that was crossed over I-35.  They had to close down a mile of the highway.  We spent three hours on about 1 mile of road.  We made in home at midnight.  (7 hours to get home).
I didn't wake up until 10am this morning.  Sam and I finished emptying out the Nelson's garage and then headed to Austin to pick up the kids.  We spend a few hours visiting before heading home.  A big thank you to Christian and Tera for watching our kids all weekend.  It made us helping Alycia and Nick a lot easier.  A big thank you to our nephew, Bennett, for helping with cousins who adore him to the point of being annoying.  (6 hours round trip).
Total time in the car this weekend = 22.5 hours

I have held in my tears all weekend but now they are running freely.  I feel so blessed to have had Alycia so close for the five years we have lived here.  I am sure the Nelsons are the reason why we love it here so much.  (Why else would we put up with this heat.)  Texas will not be same without them.  Alycia has been my best friend for as long as I can remember.  We slept in the same bed for 16 years and she has been there through every one of my joys and trials.  When I left for college she cried hysterically, now I am doing the same.  I keep telling myself that 3.5 hours isn't that far but I already miss her so much.   

Alycia when we first arrived at her new house.

All sweaty after unloading two moving trucks.

Eskimo Joe's

Sitting at the bar because we didn't want to weight an hour to be seated.

Smoke from the grass fire.

Gavin and Renée with their cousin Bennett, who they idolize. 

Since Sam is finished with work so early, we have been meeting at the water park weekly after he is done with work. We have been having a blast together.