Holy Colee!

Here are the directions
1. Leave a comment on my blog. In that comment, recall one memory that you and I had together. (Hopefully nothing too embarrasing. This could be interesting!)

2. Next, repost these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you.

Thanks Tyra ;)

Tonight I ate the first vegetable from my very own garden. Could it be the ONLY vegetable from my very own garden? Yes(stupid snails), but it doesn't matter. I grew and ate my very own tomato :D and it was good.

Cross your fingers. Both plants are smothered in blossoms. Maybe some of them will actually turn into tasty beautiful tomatoes.

I have just had the best weekend I've had in a very long time. Not only did I get to spend it at home - but I really didn't have to work :) I got home Wednesday afternoon. I had an appointment set up to be zoned. It was interesting. Everyone was asking me if I felt better after she was done. To be honest, I wasn't feeling bad when I went in, so I can't really say. She did tell me some things I already knew, but she probably shouldn't have. And she adjusted my back.... with my feet.... which is much less poppy than the chiropractor.
Wednesday night we had to take the pigs in for their ultra sound and prefair weigh-in. What we found out is that the pigs have been eating well. For the next 2 weeks - they have to EXERCISE :)

Thursday morning we packed and got ready for our camping trip. I tried really hard to be useful. Mom and I are kind of tag-alongs. We don't have our own camper, so we live off the goodwill of others. I figure if I help out as much as possible, they won't get toooooo tired of us ;)

We got out to the campground Thursday afternoon and helped set up and get the kids tents up. I love camping with my family. I must admit we cheat a little. We don't camp so far away from home that we can't run home and take a shower if needed. Most don't, but I am a creature of comfort. BUT - that's not why I love camping with my family. I love it because we just kick back, chat, play cards, take naps, watch the kids play in the water... And this round of camping ended in our family reunion!

Friday night we ended up having a bit of an unplanned potluck party. We had previously decided to have an early birthday cake for my mom, but it snowballed a bit. It was fun. Folks just brought whatever they had planned for dinner over to our camp area and we got to enjoy a bit of everything.

Saturday was the reunion. I didn't count this year, nor did I hear someone else's total, but it felt about the same as it has for a while - different people, but about the same amount. If I had to guess I'd say we had around 100. If everyone would actually come, we could easily double that number. Someday, maybe...but in general there is enough rotation in the crowd that you can keep up with most everyone :)

Saturday evening after we got unpacked we went back in to town. It was Butch Cassidy Days and they were having a fireworks show in honor of it... Or so they say - I vote they were having them for my mom's birthday. Well, maybe they WERE for Butch Cassidy, because if they were for my mom, they would have been MUCH bigger :) If you know my mom, you know I am serious :)

Happy Birthday, Mom! I love you!

Yesterday I was wandering around Wal-Mart and found something that instantly transported me back 25 years... Jell-o pudding pops... oh yes, really. They aren't the same as they used to be. They've made them smaller, but they are every bit as tasty. I think I have rediscovered why I fell in love with vanilla flavor :D

I am not going to lie. The first half of yesterday was not getting off to a great start. Everything was just a little more frustrating than normal and I was just having a hard time getting into the day.
The second half of the day took a sharp turn for the better. First - I ordered my cake topper. It's out of stock EVERYWHERE on line, but it will be available the first part of August, and I don't need it before then, so it's ok. And because it was on at least 20 different sites, I was able to shop around for the best price and shipping :) After work I decided I either had to use the eliptical or follow mom's advice and just sell the dumb thing... so, I used it. I still hate it, but it does allow me to watch my shows and exercise at the same time, so I guess it has SOME value. After that I had dinner with some friends I haven't seen for a couple of months. They have so many changes coming up- it's exciting and happy to visit with them. AND after dinner I met some other friends for bowling - which we haven't done since before I went to the Phillipines. It was a small crowd - but it was fun :) Our scores reflected the 3 month hiatus, but it was still just fun to get out and do something. I have become somewhat of a hermit lately, with all the traveling back and forth and just spending time on other things... Anyway... It was a good day.
When I got home - I got the best news of all... an email that said our petition had been approved!!!!!! and that I will be getting a letter in the mail with further instructions. YAY!!!!! I am giddy like a school girl :) What is the next step you ask? I am not 100% sure. I don't know if it is now going to the London embassy or if there is one more approval needed here in the US. But it doesn't matter - step 1 is done AND it means I didn't screw something up in the application... I've heard too many horror stories.
Happy Day :D

I HATE this show, but I can't seem to shut it off and I actually miss watching it when I am out of town. I have GOT to find a new Wednesday night activity... Either that or just admit I watch America's Next Top Model :S

So, Sunday was kind of interesting. To be more specific, Relief Society was kind of interesting. First of all, when they were asking if there were any visitors, the girl conducting the meeting singled me out and asked if I was new... Um, I've been in the ward for about 2 years... How do you say that politely? I'm sure it doesn't help that I go home or out of town about half of the time... but still. Anyway, after that they moved on and apparently they had leftovers from the previous days' swimming excursion. Yeah, they totally passed out soda pop in Relief Society... If you ask me... it's a nice add :D

So, I realized this morning it’s probably too late to be effective, but I missed my 4th of July schpeel, so I am going to do it anyway.

I love the 4th of July. Partially it is because of the traditions involved. We do the same thing every year, we sit in the same place, by the same people, see the same things and for me, there is comfort in things that stay the same. But more importantly, it’s a day where every year, I am humbled. My very favorite part of the 4th of July is when the armed service medley is played and the veterans stand to be honored. These are the brave men and women who have paid a price for me to have what I have. To be able to sleep in my bed every night with out the worry that someone will come in and take me away from my home and family. To be able to go to church every Sunday. To be able to write whatever I want here and not be afraid of repercussion. To be able to choose my job, and my religion, and my home, and my school, and…. The list is endless. I have what I have because of others being willing to stand up for what they think is right. For that, I am eternally grateful.


As for the rest of my life – because I know you are all dying to know – I have spent the week trying to get arrangements made for a wedding with out a date. I have chosen flowers, a tux, table decorations, and gotten the stuff to make the guest book. I have a list of who is doing what, arranged my photographer, the family luncheon, and tonight I am meeting the cake lady and the printer… now if we can just figure out when the groom can be here, we'll be set ;)