Birthday

It was my birthday this last week. I had a great day. I was cleaning out closets. I know not your typical birthday activity, but it felt very good to finally have it off my to do list. Plus we are planning on having a garage sale next week.

Thanks everyone who called with birthday wishes and tokens. Everyone asked, "What are you doing for your birthday?" As a point of principle I don't plan my birthday celebrations. I don't bake my cake. I will however make dinner. So I didn't exactly know what we were doing that night. Plus we weren't sure when Jeff would get home. We were hoping for between 6 and 6:30. He made it at 8. To try and keep this short. Oliver and Bryant made my cake. Oliver, during the prayer that night, asked for a splendid day and blessed the cake that it would be good so he wouldn't be embarrassed. Oliver and Alex decorated the cake words and all. Seth had a present he got from our friends garage sale. Don't worry it wasn't bad. It is a cute little candle holder for when we have homemade pizza at the 'Nelson Pizzeria'. He was very excited. Alex told me I was princess. He was looking at my bridal shot. I was still in my sweaty running clothes when he said it. I didn't look like a princess, but my picture did. It was cute.

The most tender part of my birthday was my friend Cathy. She is trying to quit smoking. She saved her cigarette money for two weeks when she didn't smoke and bought me a very nice pair of pearl earrings-- my birth stone. Now I know that she didn't have to do this. But I also know what a sacrifice it was for her. Quitting smoking is a difficult thing to do and I am sure their are many other things she could do with the money saved. That is the part that made it so special to me.

I haven't uploaded my pictures to the computer, but I'll add some pictures when I do.

Busy Weekend

As you will see the weekend was just beginning on Friday. We had Flag Day, Seth's moving on, Chuck E. Cheese, then that night was the ENT Graduation. It is a very nice dinner-- very different from college or medical school graduations. It is much more intimate. Each resident is given his certificate and speaks. It is hard to believe that it will be our turn next year.

Saturday we had soccer games in the morning and a party in the afternoon. Oliver and Bryant had games at the same time so Jeff went to Bry's game and I went to Oliver's. We met up at Seth's game. Jeff got to play doctor. One of the boys on Bry's team dove to save a ball. The ball went wide, but the poor little guy got his head on the goal post. He got an immediate huge growing goose egg. Jeff was able to help save the day, by applying pressure and ice. I am going to toot Jeff's horn for him because he won't. Maggie, the mom, sent, a very nice letter. In the letter she said, "Bill told me you called that evening to check on Dan. WOW... that was so thoughtful. You really have what it takes to be a wonderful doctor. In fact, I see you more as a caregiver. You don't just share your medical knowledge to help people in need, you wrap it with personal care." Way to go Babe!!! That is just one of the reasons I love you.

After we all got home from the games we frantically cleaned the house for a party. A bunch of resident friends and families came over. Again a great time was had by all-- even with the rain outside.

Sunday was a beautiful day. Jeff spoke in Polaski for the high council. Once we all got home we took a lovely walk around our neighborhood with the boys in the afternoon and relaxed. It couldn't have been a better day.

Seth is moving on

Seth finished Pre-school. He loved this year at Bellevue Heights. I must admit that I did too. So much so that Alex is attending there for two days in the fall. I had planned on doing a coop, but plans changed. Anyway there was a very cute moving on ceremony. The kids sang and recited 3 songs. Then each child got their name called and they got to walk over the bridge. After there was lunch and pony rides. I don't have a ton of pictures because I had to run like crazy from the flag day parade to get there. Alex had seen the ponies outside and wasn't happy being inside. Dane wanted to 'help' with the camera. So I didn't get a picture of Seth on the bridge.

Once the program was over the teachers were so helpful. They helped me with the boys even cutting the watermelon for Dane so he could eat it. I didn't have the stroller with me so I was holding him and couldn't do it. Mom's only have so many hands. But his teachers were so thoughtful and accommodating. Outside Seth and Alex got to ride the pony named BOB. Dane sat on him, but didn't like it-- even with me holding onto him. Maybe next time.

We finished off the afternoon with Seth's friend Tommy at Chuck E. Cheese. It was very enjoyable.

Flag Day

The boys' schools do a Flag Day Parade each year. All the kids are in the parade and are followed by firetrucks. After the parade they meet in front of Cherry Road School for a sing along. It is very fun and patriotic to go to. The last song anyone can bring an instrument and play along as well. Bryant and Oliver thought I should bring my flute and join in. So I got to actively participate. It was a much better view of all the kids and I would do it again just for that. Anyway I wanted to give everyone a little taste with a few pictures and videos. Hope you all enjoy it.

Bryant and some of his classmates.

Oliver and Company

amazing morning

This morning I got up early to go biking. I have to be back before Jeff needed to leave at 6:30 or 6:45 and I try to bike for an hour. That gives you an idea of the time. I don't enjoy getting up that early in general. However today's ride was amazing. Firstly there are very few cars on the road. It was so quiet. Quiet enough that at one point a fawn and I startled each other. I didn't see the sun rise. The sun was already up. But the dew was still fresh on the grass. The trees now are full of green leaves. At 6:24 I realized I had to get home. My views were amazing and quiet. I wished it could go on a bit longer.

dane's first sentence

Dane said his first sentence. "Eh ee" over and over. For everyone who needs translation. "I eat". Then he brings me craisins from the pantry. I think it might be safe to say I have another independent child. It is a blessing and a curse. But at least I know my children will never starve.

Just for the record his first word was "woof". What does a dog say? "Woof woof" Very cute.

funny stories

Seth was saying the prayer for lunch the other day. I reminded him to say thank you. So during the prayer he said "... Thank you for Jesus and that he made it so we could come here. Please help us go back to you, if we are wicked good...." I did maintain during the prayer and not laugh. Seth didn't bat a eyelash about what he said. To him wick is the same as cool or awesome-- for today's up and coming generation-- sick, wicked, phat. So be wicked good.


We were sitting at dinner and a fly was between the window and blind. It was totally white. I don't know if it was a different kind of bug I'd never seen, but to me it looked like an albino fly. I said to everyone, "Look it is an albino fly" Everyone was mildly interested. Alex came over and said, "I killed it." Indeed he had-- gross. Now the funny part of the story is that Bryant said, "Now it is a dead Obama Fly." I guess albino and Obama sound the same.


Next we were eating hard boiled eggs for lunch and the boys started asking where the chicken was. I said that these eggs weren't fertilized. I got some funny looks. So I reminded the boys of the Bee movie. The flowers needed to have the pollen so they could bloom. Oliver then said, "So the chicken's eggs have to get crapped on?!?!" Nothing like the birds and bees to teach life's lessons.