Holy Colee!

I hate having downstairs neighbors. You might think we could avoid all contact, but we share a laundry room and a parking lot, and apparently both are sources of contention.

Anyway, this weekend was pretty uneventful, in a good way. Saturday I did laundry - woohoo- Bethany had to work, and VeAnn is spending time with her mom who is in town for a few days. Saturday night Barry came over. We watched a movie and had a little chinese. At 2:00 when he tried to leave, his car wouldn't start. We spent about a half hour trying to get his key out of the ignition. We never did win. This morning he changed the battery and we'll cross our fingers that it was the only issue.


Also - apparently I reached a milestone in life this weekend. I finally saw "The Three Amigos." My life is defintely more complete.

So the conference was awesome. Not only was it a good time, but now when I talk to people on calls I will actually have a face to put with the voice. After 8 years, it was definitely time. We spent the days developing new ideas for the business and the evenings "developing relationships." Mostly, it was the best week I've had for a long time. Perhaps tonight I can get some sleep ;) ;)

Well, technically I think I am in Olathe, but who knows where Olathe is? (Besides you, Rod :) I am here this week on a trip for work. There is a conference that I am pretty excited about. It should be a fantastic opportunity to learn new things about the way other people are doing my job. Besides, I get to actually spend some time with the people I work with everyday.

Today was a good day. I spent the morning traveling and then we had some meetings with the client on the side of the program I don't know very much about yet, yet being the key part of that phrase. Apparently though, Curtis and I are old fuddy duddies because instead of going to get BBQ with some of the other teams, we came back to the hotel to check email and catch up on work stuff... Hopefully there won't be too much of that this week :) Hey, can't blame a girl for trying.

So the lack of entries this week are because I have been spending time in the land that highspeed internet forgot. And, well, I've been busy. We had our family reunion this weekend. Friday I spent the morning getting ready, the afternoon preparing dinner, and the evening enjoying my family. The only disappointing part was the few number of people who showed up. We usually get about 120-150 people and this year we were only at 90. What it meant is that we had LOTS of everything leftover. But it also meant you pretty much got to chat with everyone there. The kids spent the day on the slip and slide, dunking each other in the dunk tank, or just swimming in the dunk tank pool. It was a pretty good way to spend a Friday if you ask me. Saturday morning we went to the Cub Scouts breakfast. Which, by the way, is the easiest breakfast I have ever "made."

Last night I went to see my friend Clark play Nathan Detroit in "Guys and Dolls" at the Old Barn Theatre. It was FANTASTIC. The play was entertaining and the accents were completely amusing. But, it's Clark - let's face it. Fantastic is the only thing it could be.

So, it's Tuesday. Normally a pretty uninteresting day shoved in between Monday and Wednesday, but today is fantastic. I got to work and shortly heard one of my favorite voices. My friend Michael is in town for a couple of days and working out of his old office - which happens to be across the hall from mine. Michael is one of the best listeners in the world. It's a gift. And I love to talk, so, it is a gift I appreciate, a lot. It was good to sit with him for a while and chat - work or non work, just talk. Then I was chatting with another friend who was telling me about the most amusing story I have ever heard, now, it was just a dream, but it was still completely entertaining. After that I was on a call which wasn't really fun, but it was productive and that is always a good thing. Then when lunch time came, I actually had a lunch friend. Tonight I am going to dinner with my friends and thier nephews- so that should be fun and then, who knows... today just keeps getting better! :)

I have come to the conclusion that there is something seriously wrong with me. Many of you are thinking, "It's taken her this long to figure this out?" Anyway... here's what is wrong with me today. I have been craving oatmeal for like 2 weeks now. The reason this is strange, is because I have never been able to gag it down before. I have a serious issue with food texture. I can't do tapioca, frog eye salad, applesauce, mashed potatoes, warm fruit... you get the picture. I simply can not swallow mushiness. Any of you nutition experts out there? What is my body lacking that I can now eat cinnamon oatmeal 3 times a day and be perfectly content with it? I figure there has got to be a better way......

I have had a most wonderful weekend. Friday night VeAnn, Barry and I drove up to our ward campout. We went to Lava Hot Springs. Friday night was fun, we had dinner, played games and did a little unfortunate karaoke. While we went to bed earlier than I like to admit, I did not fall asleep until about 5:30 in the morning. I forgot to take socks so my wet toes were never warm enough to actually fall asleep. We got up around 7 when the cows starting being obnoxious.

Saturday we dorked around the camp ground for a while, then VeAnn and I went to the pool while most of the other kids floated the river. Next time I will remember other shoes. (Overall, not my most successful packing job). Barry and VeAnn humored me on the way home. They let us go the long way home, via Dingle. VeAnn got to meet the sheep, pigs, chickens, and horses. :) It was fun for me.

The other part of the weekend that makes me happy is that it was a road trip. I haven't had a road trip that involved other people for a long time. My friends are awesome. I had 1 1/2 hours of sleep the night before and they still made it fun to be awake and part of a conversation. Now THAT is an art.

I love tator tots.
They are about the only thing you can buy in the cafeteria that isn't fried or soaked in grease, so I have been eating them more frequently than I should probably admit. But I couldn't live with the secret any longer :)

Today is Free Slurpee Day! Go to any 7-11 and they have 7.11 oz glasses for whatever slurpee flavor you care to try. Bethany and I couldn't decide which was better between the purple s'cream or the raspberry lemonade. MMMMMMMM

It was just enough sugar to get my second wind to finish my homework. It's been a long day. Matt and I went to breakfast at midnight to celebrate his birthday. How cool is having your birthday on Free Slurpee Day?!

Other than that, it's been a pretty quiet day. Jimmmy and Heather came over for dinner and I crashed on the couch with my roommates to watch Gilmore Girls.

Just to clear things up, Saturday's marble cheesecake turned out WAY better. Apparently I should stick to the things I know.

So we went to see Pirates II this weekend - It was ok. Maybe I was in a funk, and don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it, but it wasn't everything I was hoping for. Johnny Depp was fabulous as always, but I ended up a little irriated with the girl, and Orlando Bloom's character is a wuss. That's pretty much my take on it.

Sunday we got to meet Bethany's new friend, David. The boys were on their best behavior - so good it was almost weird ;) I like them better on their less than best behavior :D The girls did a lovely job with dinner. And my cake turned out like every box cake should - tasty and covered with frosting. Yes, I am on cake kick. Don't ask. I don't have an answer.

Last night I made a cake. I was super excited about the cake - which should have been my first sign. Don't get me wrong, the cake turned out very pretty. It was a chocolate and white cake that looked like a checkerboard when you cut into it. My frosting went a little funky, but all in all, it looked lovely. Looks can be deceiving. I made the cake in pans that were just a little too big and rings that were just a little too small. AND my oven bites. Needless to say, it was dry as dirt. Now, don't get me wrong, the boys humored me and ate it, but I am hopeful they will give me a chance to redeem myself. I can do better than that.

I think the 4th of July might be my favorite holiday. Here's how it goes down. Mom and I wake up early to go to the Ranger's Chuck Wagon Breakfast. You have to go by 8 to avoid waiting in line for an hour. Then we walk down the road to the Paris Tabernacle where we watch the community commemorative program. My favorite part of the program is the end. They end with a salute to those men and women who have served or are serving in our armed forces. Then there is a set up with three trumpets placed in different locations inside and out of the tabernacle and they play Taps. It's goosepimpling every time. After the program we go out to our spot to watch the parade. We sit next to the post office - incase you want to find us. After the parade everyone goes to the rodeo. Everyone but me and mom, that is. We go home and take a nap. Remember, we got up early for breakfast :) Besides, who wants to sit thru a kids rodeo in the middle of the day? At night there is normally a BBQ. This year it was at Kelly's. After dinner we head into town to watch the fireworks at the park.

Now you know.

Yesterday I was reminded of one of the eternal truths of this world.
It was a hot sunny summer day. My truck is smattered with bugs. We decided to get out the hoses and buckets and have a carwash party. Baylene was all purtied up and as shiny as she’s ever been. Not 4 hours later, as sure as daytime follows the night, it rained. I suppose it should make me feel less bad about the bird that had found her between the wash and the rain… Either way, at least the way too caked on bugs are gone. She should be good to go to the normal carwash when we get back to Salt Lake.
To finish up the night we went to Border to buy fireworks. We should have ourselves a pretty little show for the 4th of July

Today was a good Sunday. When we woke Cannon up for breakfast, he announced that he was fasting. Not only had he decided to do this, he had even decided what he would fast for. He wants his dad to want to come to church with him. I have never been so humbled so fast.
Church was good. We had a fantastic lesson in Relief Society on testimonies, and in Sunday School we studied the Book of Psalms. Plus, it’s the 4th of July weekend so we got to sing the patriotic hymns. I love July.
After dinner Kelly and Justin and their kids came up to visit. Michaela prepared a Family Home Evening lesson on keeping the Sabbath day holy. Then we just sat and talked for a while. It was pleasant. They then decided to include us in their family scripture study. We read about faith, and talked about the mother’s role in teaching gospel principles to her children. After that the boys cleaned out the leftovers in the fridge. Some things hold constant no matter where you are :)

I like Sundays at home.