Firsts

On Sunday after church, Mom called to see if we wanted to come over and have Sunday dinner w/ them.  She had made a roast, carrots, potatoes, and gravy.  It was HEAVENLY!  While we were sitting and eating, I could tell Autumn had just peed in her diaper b/c my lap got warm.  It wasn’t until a few seconds after that, that I realized the diaper didn’t hold all of it and I got a nice little surprise on my leg…EWW!  That’s the first time she’s peed on me since she was a little baby.

We had so much food that Nate called Curt & told him to come over and eat some.  He brought Jessie and had “his girls” come sit w/ him on the couch.  It was a fun Sunday evening that ended in the usual way for me…watching Army Wives at 9:00.  LOVE that show, although I have to say I’m a little annoyed that Claudia Joy won’t tell her friends about having diabetes.  Is anyone else annoyed by that?

Today at work Nicole finally beat the Impossible Quiz!  We all cheered and jumped up and down and had to run over to take a picture.  Now she can start on the Impossible Quiz 2!!!

YEAH, NICOLE!!!

Cousins, Corn & Baseball

This morning we went over to Mom & Dad’s so Autumn & Andrew could play together. I chased them around the island in the kitchen and they were screaming and having a BLAST! Then they would run over to the couch and “hide” until I came over to tickle them. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this picture of them!

Autumn kept laying on Andrew to “protect” him from me. It was so cute to see them interact together. Most of the time they get a long great, which is nice for them to have each other.

Autumn must be taking after me more than I thought. She took these sunglasses and wore them on her head like a headband…just like I do. She did it a few times throughout the day, which I thought was funny.

Nate found this big huge zipper spider when he was out treating someone’s home. It was dead, but he brought it home for us to see. We had a cicada shell on table so Liberty made it look like the spider was attacking the cicada. Kinda gross, but also fascinating at the same time. I think zipper spider webs are cool. Nature is so intriguing.

This red daisy was in the flowerbeds all by itself, and I thought it was so pretty. Daisies are such happy flowers.

Liz & Liberty came over to swim and we were saying how this might be one of the last weekends of the summer that we get to swim and work on our tans. The high for today was 85, so the weather is definitely starting to change…I can feel fall starting in the air. This is the way that Liz & Liberty usually spend their time in the pool…in the hot tub on floaties.

Autumn has become quite the daredevil in the water. She stands on the Shamu shelf and throws her Ariel doll into the pool and then jumps in after it. Look at her…she just takes a flying jump towards it. Hopefully she never tries that w/out he floaties on or without me sitting watching her.

When Dad got home from work, we grilled some hamburgers and corn on the cob. It was so scrumptious.

Autumn is OBSESSED with corn. This girl could eat corn all day. She ate 3 full ears of corn and then half of this one! I wonder where she gets her love of corn from…

Andrew wanted some more corn, but the ear of corn he had was HUGE, so Dad tried to break it in half. Instead, it broke off in 1/4 and 3/4. Dad gave Andrew the 1/4 piece and his face is PRICELESS! Even going back and looking at this now, I am laughing so hard b/c of his expression. LOL!

These two kids must be some of the most hugged, kissed, spoiled, loved kids ever! Dad is such a good grandpa to them. He adores them and they adore him. He was giving them “tight squeeze” hugs.

After we went swimming, Mom and Dad and Nick and I headed over to the Dr. Pepper Ballpark to watch a Frisco Rough Riders baseball game. We go to sit in a suite, and look at this awesome sign by the jumbotron!

The suite was SOOOO nice and had catered food. Look at this cookie and vegetable tray. We also had nachos, hot dogs, chicken tenders, drinks, popcorn, etc.

Our seats were right above the bull pen, so we got to see some of the pitchers warming up.

These were the HIDEOUS mascots. It’s Daisy & Deuce the Bears. The mascots themselves did a great job and were entertaining, but the costumes looked like they were rented from a cheap costume store and what do two bears have to do with Rough Riders? Or maybe it’s just my phobia of mascots that made me dislike them so much…nope, they just were hideous looking.

Here we are all decked out in our red Rough Riders colors. It was a fun game and it was fun to be there w/ Mom & Dad & Nick. The weather could not have been better…it was in the low 80’s w/ a slight breeze. PERFECT night to be outside enjoying a good baseball game.

As the sun was setting, the sky was the most gorgeous color of blue. And the moon was out, too. We won the game…4 to 2.

Here’s the whole crew that was there. It was such a fun night and thanks to Lexie and Jon for watching Autumn for me so that I could go.

Say WHAT?

Yesterday when I got home from the temple, Mom said that Dad had gone crazy and when they were at Costco, he bought something for Autumn, but I would NEVER in a million years guess what it was.  She was right…Dad had bought this huge ugly scary bat for Autumn!  I guess while they were at Costco waiting for Mom to get some groceries, they walked over to the Halloween section.  They saw this bat and would cover up their mouths and say, “ooohhh…scary bat,” and then laugh.  She kept wanting to go back to it, so the 3rd time they went back, Dad broke down and bought it!!!  Say WHAT?  Autumn soooo has Dad wrapped around her little finger.
(She looks scared in this picture, but she’s not, she was just screaming b/c she wanted me to hold her).

Tonight we went over to Mom & Dad’s b/c Lexie & Jon & Andrew  were coming up to visit.  While we waited for them to get here, Dad went and put these nasty fake teeth in.  Autumn did NOT like them AT ALL!  They freaked her out and she disliked them so much that she chose to go to Nathan over Dad.  Say WHAT?

Nathan came out of his room wearing this pink shirt and then these quilt looking pants.  They are girl pajama pants and have a gray satin bow on them.  Say WHAT?  Only someone like Nate could pull off this look.

Lexie & Jon & Andrew finally got to the house around 9:30.  I talked to Lexie for a while and then Autumn wanted to go show Andrew the “scary bat.”  Dad turned off the light and turned on the red eyes on the bat and Andrew FREAKED OUT!  He did not like the scary bat like Autumn did.  Poor guy!

My New Favorite Scripture

Hebrews 11:40

"God having provided some better things for them through their sufferings for without sufferings they could not be made perfect."

Today after work, Mom picked up Autumn for me so I could go to the temple. I got there 30 minutes early and was able to just sit in the chapel and read some scriptures. One that stuck out the most to me was D&C 6:14

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, blessed art thou for what thou hast done; for thou hast inquired of me, and behold, as often as thou hast inquired thou hast received instruction of my Spirit. If it had not been so, thou wouldst not have come to the place where thou art at this time.
(sitting in the temple reading this scripture...POWERFUL!)

Anyways, I did a session and while sitting and praying in the celestial room, I received my answer. It wasn’t the answer I was hoping for, but I know that I have to put my faith and trust in Heavenly Father and know that He can see the bigger picture and that He knows what is best for me.

I am so thankful to have a temple so close, and I definitely need to make it a goal to go there more often. As soon as I walk into the doors, I feel the weight of the world just stay outside and I feel complete peace and calmness.

NOOOOOO...

So, to take a little break from all the stress I've been dealing with lately, a friend told me to play this game to get my mind off of everything.

WARNING, IT IS OUT OF CONTROL ADDICTING!!!

Here is the link if you dare to try it, but I am warning you that it will make you CRAZY!!!! I have not yelled or been so wound up about a game ever before. If you need a list of "helps", I'll email them to you if you want. I have played it so much that I don't even have to think about the answers anymore, I just know what they are from memory. If you try it, GOOD LUCK!!!

CLICK HERE, but don't say I didn't warn you!!!

So Many Voices

Lately I have had a lot on my mind regarding a huge decision I need to make. I have been praying to receive an answer, but have not received anything yet. I have had people around me who love me and care for me telling me impressions and feelings that they have had. Sometimes those impressions and feelings that others have had about me are conflicting, and it has been confusing to me. I have always known that everyone is entitled to their own personal revelation and I have never been one to discount what someone says they feel. So why are the people around me getting mixed signals about my situation?

I was feeling discouraged and wondering what to think about the whole situation and why Heavenly Father would tell one person one thing, but then tell another person another thing? I decided to go to lds.org and clicked on this talk. UM, talk about an IMMEDIATE answer to prayers!!! Here are some things it said:

• I should enter that [place] with my mind entirely free from all influence that would prevent the operation of the Spirit of God upon me. I should go in a prayerful spirit, asking God to write upon my heart His will; not with my own will already prepared, and determined to carry out my will … , regardless of everyone else’s views. If I were to go, ...with this spirit, then the Spirit of God would be felt in our midst, and that which we would decide upon would be the mind and will of God, because God would reveal it to us. We would see light in the direction where we should go, and we would behold darkness in the direction we should not go.
• I have had prayers answered. Those answers were most clear when what I wanted was silenced by an overpowering need to know what God wanted. It is then that the answer from a loving Heavenly Father can be spoken to the mind by the still, small voice and can be written on the heart.

I had planned on going to the temple today, but won't be able to go until tomorrow. But I am going to spend the rest of today and tomorrow w/ a prayer in my heart that I can be in tune to what Heavenly Father wants for me and that I can then have the faith to follow whatever my answer from Him will be.

Unexpected Things

This was the view I had on my way to work today.  It looks like the one from yesterday.  What a great and wonderful way to start the day.  On Tuesday Autumn moved up to the next room at daycare.  I hope she will adjust well and enjoy being in that room as much as she has enjoyed the other teachers and rooms she’s been in.

Mom called after work and said to come over b/c she had a surprise for Autumn.  She had these adorable pink footed pajamas for her.  Autumn loved wearing them.

But, as usual, if things don’t go her way, she gets upset and started throwing a fit b/c the jammies are a little too big and the footed part slipped off her foot.  I hope that she’ll start talking more soon so she can tell me what is wrong instead of just screaming.

We had steak and twice baked potatoes for dinner, b/c a friend of Dad’s that he knew since he was a kid was in town on business.  It was fun to see Bro. Melville again.  He got tickets for Tara & I go see a University of Hawaii football game when Tara & I went to Hawaii back in 2004.

I had planned on going to the temple today after work, but didn’t know Bro. Melville was coming and so Mom couldn’t watch Autumn for me.  So, I was dressed up for nothing, but I like it.  I need to dress up more often.  I have had this skirt for the longest time, but had forgot about it.   It’s an awesome skirt b/c I can just throw it on and go and it’s dressy but comfortable.  I LOVE clothes like that!

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these shoes.  They were only $10 at WalMart and I have gotten so many compliments when I wear them.  They kind of look like “Dorothy shoes” from the Wizard of Oz.  Not only are they cute and cheap, they are comfortable.  It was a good day full of unexpected (but good) things.

New Things

This morning on the way to drop Autumn off at daycare this was the view. Isn’t it GORGEOUS??? I love it when the sun shines through the clouds like that. It made me SO HAPPY and makes me think that beauty in nature like this is a small present from God reminding me He loves me. I know that sounds cheesy and cliché, but it’s true…I find so much joy and happiness and peace in the beauty of nature.

I was talking to Liz about something, I can’t remember what and somehow the subject came up of the Salted Caramel Signature Hot Chocolate at Starbucks. She said it was amazing and out of this world. I felt like I needed something comforting, and a warm cup of hot chocolate sounded comforting to me, so I went and got one on my lunch break. Starbucks doesn’t do the SALTED hot chocolate anymore, it’s just a regular caramel hot chocolate. And I have to say, I did NOT like it very much at all. I only drank 1/2 of it and gave the other 1/2 to Liz so she could enjoy it, b/c I didn’t. It has a gross after taste. Not to mention the fact that it was $3.15 and it has 460 calories and a sickening 22 grams of fat! NEVER AGAIN! I think I’ll stick w/ making my own hot chocolate w/ the Stephen’s mix.

But in defense of Starbucks, I do have to say that their Caramel Apple Spice drink is AHHH-MAZING!

After work/school Autumn & I went over to Mom & Dad’s. Autumn went swimming w/ Dad and had a blast throwing her Ariel doll and then jumping in and getting it. She is awfully brave when she has her arm floaties on. Mom had made a dinner of veggies, and it was SOOO GOOD! I LOVE veggies. We had asparagus, cabbage, and broccoli. YUMMMM.

Today at WalMart I got Autumn some “big girl panties” so I can try and start getting her potty trained. She moved up to the 3 year old class room yesterday (even though she’s only 2 1/2) and I figured I need to start getting the idea in her head. She LOVED the panties so much that she insisted on wearing 2 pairs at the same time! LOL!

She was jumping around the room and dancing w/ them. You would have thought it was Christmas. I had her go sit on the toilet before she put them on, and then set the timer for 30 min. I’ve heard that’s the best way to potty train a child…have them go sit on the toilet every 30 min even if they don’t need to go, they at least need to sit on there. I told her at least 8 times that if she needs to go potty she needs to come and tell me and have her repeat it back to me. Not 10 minutes into her wearing her big girl panties, she peed right on the carpet! Oh, well. I’ll have to try and potty train her when I’m at our house b/c it’s tile everywhere instead of carpet.

Any suggestions on what works for potty training?

Words Of Wisdom

A wonderful friend (thanks, Brenner) told me to read an article in the Sept 2009 Ensign. I tried finding it online so I could put a link to it, but I don't think it's online yet. It's called, "The Influence of Righteous Women" by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf. It was so inspirational and I just wanted to share a few of the things that stood out to me:

• May I invite you to rise to the great potential within you. But don't reach beyond your capacity. Don't set goals beyond your capacity to achieve. Don't feel guilty or dwell on thoughts of failure. Don't compare yourself with others. Do the best you can, and the Lord will provide the rest. Have faith and confidence in Him, and you will see miracles happen in your life and the lives of your loved ones.
• The virtue of your own life will be a light to those who sit in darkness, because you are a living witness of the fullness of the gospel.
• My dear sisters, as you live your daily life with all its blessings and challenges, let me assure you that the Lord loves you. He knows you. He listens to your prayers, and He answers those prayers, where on this world you may be. He wants you to succeed in this life and in eternity.
• "Some of us look forward to a time in the future ~ salvation and exaltation in the world to come ~ but today is part of eternity." (David O. McKay)
• There is a saying that big gates move on small hinges. Sisters, your example in seemingly small things will make a big difference in the lives of our young people.

After reading that, I continued onto the next article which was entitled, "Fidelity In Marriage: It's More Than You Think." It was also an EXCELLENT article. I highly recommend that when you get your September Ensign that you read that article.

I couldn't help myself and read the next article, too. It was a Q & A type thing and the question was, "What was the best marriage advice you ever received?" Here are a few things that stood out to me:

• An accomplishment for one person in a marriage is a victory for both.
• Put the other person first.
• When you can either be right or have peace, choose peace.
• Marriage is like rowing a boat. If both of you pull the same way, you will go somewhere.
• Keep your marriage within your marriage.
• Be the kind of person your spouse and children think that you are.

I figured I had better stop reading there, b/c I need to get Autumn home and put her to bed. But I just figured that those words were helpful to me and wanted to share them with others in hopes that it might make your day better, b/c I know it made my day better. I am SO THANKFUL for the blessings of the Gospel and the knowledge and peace and perspective it brings. I am so thankful to be a woman and to have the ability to impact the lives of others around me. And in turn, I know that I have definitely been influenced by amazing women in my life. From my mother, to my grandmothers, to Young Women leaders, to friends, etc.

THANK YOU TO ALL THE AMAZING WOMEN IN MY LIFE!!!

Meltdown At The Duck Pond

It wasn’t too hot this afternoon and I needed to get out of the house to divert my mind off some things.  So, I took Autumn on a walk around the duck pond.  She loved to do that, and we just haven’t done it in a while.  She had fun running far ahead of me and chasing after the ducks.  She’s a fast little runner.

After about 10 minutes out there, she decided she wanted to have a little meltdown.  She thought an ant was in her shoe and insisted on taking it off.   I looked and there were no ants in her shoes, but she REFUSED to put her shoe back on (hence the reason she only has one shoe on in this picture).  She didn’t want to walk around the pond anymore, so I started walking back towards home and as you can tell from this picture, she didn’t want that either.  She sat down in the middle of the sidewalk and refused to move.  She finally came running when I started acting like I was going to walk across the street.  I finally got her home (still w/ one shoe off) and tried giving her a bath…OH.MY.GOODNESS!  She threw the biggest fit I’ve ever witnessed from her.  I tried being nice and getting down on her level and talking to her.  I tried threatening her w/ not getting to play w/ her toy in the tub.  I tried giving her a little swat on the butt.  NOTHING WORKED!  It was awful!

After I gave her the fastest bath ever, I finally got her calmed down and Nick came home from work, so I decided we would try and have a small family home evening (FHE).  We sang a song, said a prayer, and then I gave a small lesson on not picking our noses.  LOL!  I used her baby doll to act it out and at one point told the baby in a stern tone, “No, no, no.  We don’t pick our noses.”  Autumn thought I was talking to her and started crying!  So, that didn’t go over very well.  But after our 3 minute lesson on not picking noses went south, we ended FHE and had our treat…MOO COW (that’s what she calls ice cream).  Then we watched 20 minutes of Pocahontas and called it a night.

I really need to be better about having FHE w/ her since she’s getting to the age she can understand.  I am going to subscribe to get the Ensign and New Era and Friend.  That way I can use the Friend for our FHE lessons.  And to get all of those magazines for a year it was only $26!!!  Gotta love that!

Unexpected Change

Autumn was cute this morning and had fun spinning around w/ Nick in her “new” dress from Aunt Mary. She’s such a little princess and insists on having a bow in her hair and wearing her pretty socks w/ the ruffle on them for church along w/ her church shoes.

I tried taking a picture of her, but she was NOT in the mood. This is kind of how I’ve felt all day today…not myself and not sure of what to think. I did a post not too long about my Go Girl calendar page for the month of August. I went back and looked at what all of the Go Girl calendar posts for this year have been. And in doing that I remembered that my word for the year 2009 is:

CHANGE

I have had a lot of changes happen in my life this year. And most of them have been very welcomed. However, last night and today I had some unexpected changes happen that I wasn’t prepared for. I am exercising lots of faith and saying lots of prayers that Heavenly Father knows what He’s doing and that everything will work out for mine & Autumn’s good.

I had a lot of little blessings happen at church today. When Autumn & I walked into sacrament meeting, the pianist was playing some prelude music and the song was “Where Can I Turn For Peace.” I had been saying a silent prayer in my heart on the way to church that I would hear that song today, and it was the first thing I heard when I walked in.

Then one of the songs we sang was Hymn # 277, As I Search The Holy Scriptures. A line in there just hit me and made me start crying. It’s the line that says,

Soothe my troubled heart and spirit;
May my unseen wounds be healed.

The lesson today in Relief Society was the talk by Elder Christofferson about the Power of Covenants. It was EXCELLENT and just what I needed to hear today. Below are some of my favorite quotes:

• In times of distress, let your covenants be paramount and let your obedience be exact. Then you can ask in faith, nothing wavering, according to your need, and God will answer. He will sustain you as you work and watch. In His own time and way He will stretch forth his hand to you, saying, “Here am I.”
• It is the Holy Ghost that reveals how you may clear the next seemingly insurmountable hurdle. It is by the Holy Ghost in you that others may feel the pure love of Christ and receive strength to press forward.
• [Covenants] further point out that in offering whatever sacrifice God may require of us, we obtain the witness of the Spirit that our course is right and pleasing to God (see Lectures on Faith, 69–71). With that knowledge, our faith becomes unbounded, having the assurance that God will in due time turn every affliction to our gain.

Busy Saturday

This morning was a usual Saturday morning complete w/ Autumn “sleeping in” until 7:30. Then we watched the Disney Channel and she spent the morning covering up her babies w/ blankets or dish towels or scarves or pillow covers or whatever she could find. The living room looks like this most of the time.

We headed over to Mom & Dad’s to swim and enjoy the pool. It was 78 degrees, which is PERFECT b/c it’s not too cool but not too warm. After a few hours we had enough and came in to watch Ratatouille. I had both Autumn & Michael using me as a pillow.

At 1:00 Monzingos came over to swim and party b/c it’s Robert’s 5oth birthday. Look at this HUGE cake they got for him. It was super tasty, especially the butter cream frosting…YUM!

We watched Babes In Toyland (the one w/ Annette Funicello). I LOVE that movie b/c of the costumes and the dancing and the singing and it’s just really well done. It brings back memories from my childhood and is definitely a movie that I try to watch every year around Christmas time.

Here’s the whole Monzingo clan. Bobby even flew in from DC for just one day to be there to celebrate. They’re such a fun family and I’m so glad we know them and that they came over to swim and celebrate his 50th.

Around 3:30 we headed home to get showered and cleaned up. I was driving and heard Autumn start to fuss and get upset. I glanced back at her to see red all over her fingers and freaked out thinking she had somehow cut herself. I was about to pull over and see what was going on when she held up a red crayon in the other hand. Note to self…don’t leave crayons in the car in the middle of a hot Texas summer or you might have a major mess on your hands. At least it was just wax instead of blood!

We got cleaned up and then headed over to El Fenix to have dinner w/ Michael’s grandma and aunt. Autumn was super hyper b/c she had just gotten up from a nap. She refused to sit in her own chair, so she sat on my lap the whole time. She kept trying to wipe her nose on me and thought it was the funniest thing in the world. She’s such a little monkey. But, I would much rather have her be happy and silly self than be her mean and grouchy self.

We got the ticket and had to laugh b/c of our server’s name:

Pablo #7

Um, how many guys named Pablo do they have working there? Most of the time if there is more than one person w/ the same first name you would just call then Pablo G. and Pablo S. But, I guess there are so many that they have to use a # instead? LOL!

After we ate, we headed over to Michael’s “Mee Maw’s” house to sit and visit. Autumn’s diaper leaked and got all over my leg and on his Mee Maw’s couch! I was so embarrassed and felt so bad! That’s why she’s only wearing a diaper in this picture. But she LOVED being around the 2 dogs and had a great time. She warmed right up to Michael’s Mee Maw and even went over and sat on her lap.

Here’s Michael w/ his Aunt Shannon & Mee Maw. I love all of Michael’s family and extended family that I have met. They have been so good to Autumn & I. It just reminds me of how important good family relationships are. I have been truly blessed to have such great relationships w/ my family and extended family as well.

After a while, we headed home b/c Autumn needed to get to bed. We put her to bed and watched Hitch. That is a good movie, and it was especially fun watching it w/ Michael b/c he reminds me so much of Kevin James. I kept looking at him when something would happen that reminded me of him and he’d just roll his eyes.

Lucky Ladies

Today has been a day full of tasty treats, sweet surprises, and I am a LUCKY LADY!  First of all, Nicole brought in the chocolate chip cookies on the right hand side.  They were super good.  Then, Steve came in and brought his OUT OF THIS WORLD cookies.  I had about 8 of them, b/c they are that good.  I told him he should sell them, b/c they are so incredible that people would pay money for them.

Michael came up to visit this weekend and got here around 2:30, so we went to lunch at Aboca’s.  He was only able to eat 1/2 of his sandwich b/c the portions are so huge.  He loved it and we enjoyed just sitting and talking and having time alone together.
(Don’t mind his hair…he had been wearing a hat all day).

He dropped me back off at work after lunch and went to the house to sleep until Autumn & I got home.  He surprised both of us w/ a present!  He got Autumn an Ariel doll that can go in the water.  That way she can play w/ it in the pool.  He also got her a cute little princess night light, and she LOVED both gifts.  She refused to let go of the Ariel doll all night.

He brought me this new perfume.  It’s Vera Wang Princess.  I love the bottle b/c it’s a heart not to mention the top is a crown!  It smells phenomenal and is for sure going to be my new signature scent.  I love that Michael understands how much I love “smellies” and he always is wearing cologne that smells so fantastic.

Jason & Heather wanted to do something together tonight, so we drove over and met them at the mall.  We put our name on the list for Cheesecake Factory and there was a 45 min wait, so we went and walked around the mall.  They are having a sale at Bath & Body Works…7 antibacterial soaps for $20!  AND…they had the big refills on sale for 50% off so I got the 2 big refill soaps on the left hand side for $3.50 each!  You can’t beat that!  I’m so excited about my new “smellies”.

It was finally our turn to be seated, so we headed back to the Cheesecake Factory.  Michael & I were STILL full from the huge lunch we had, so we just shared a plate.  The chicken and mashed potatoes were super scrumptious.  Autumn ate some of the chicken and potatoes, but she wanted to eat all of the asparagus spears that came w/ the meal, too!  We tried to get a picture of the 3 of us, but this is what we got…I’m the only normal one!  Autumn was really well behaved and I was very proud of her.

Heather & Jason are such a cute couple and are so much fun to be with.  Jason brings out a fun and crazy and wild side of Michael that I don’t usually get to see.  When Jason & Michael are around each other, it’s guaranteed that we will all be laughing.  Heather & Jason just found out they are having twin boys and I am so excited for them!

It was Jason’s birthday this week, so they brought him out this special plate w/ “Happy Birthday to you” written out on it in chocolate.  They even had a candle on it for him to blow out.   Michael & I got the lemon raspberry cream cheesecake and it was so fabulous.

Autumn wanted a turn at blowing out the candle and spent the rest of the night holding the candle and “blowing it out”.  When we were getting ready to leave the house, she brought out this pink camouflage rain coat and insisted on wearing it, and she wore it the whole night!  What a kid.  She finds such joy in the littlest of things like wearing a rain coat, blowing out an unlit candle, and carrying around her Ariel doll.

It was a LOVELY evening and I am a LUCKY LADY to have had all of these fun things happen today.  From the killer cookies to lunch w/ Michael to new perfume and soaps, and spending time w/ people I love.  I am incredibly blessed.