Aloha!

To get into the spirit of Summer we decided to throw a little Hawaiian Luau Dinner Party for a few friends. We had so much fun! I love planning parties, making the invites, deciding on the food and having people over! I can't ever tell if everyone is having as much fun as I am ... but I sure hope so!

We ate Hawaiian Haystacks and grilled pineapple for dessert ... and then played a game that revealed a lot about each couple :)

It looks like dinner turned out good ...

Here are a few of our favorite people enjoying that grilled pineapple:
Thank you for coming ... and getting into the spirit of things and dressing up! Aloha everyone!!

Handiwork...

Each year Jeff and I try desperately to figure out what to do with our back "yard" - which consists of a cement slab and a dirt border.

And each year we end up with something different ... because whatever we did before didn't work out or last.

This year we decided we wanted planting boxes ... and we decided to MAKE our own. Anyone who knows either of us knows that we aren't exactly handy. So it was bound to be an adventure. We are very excited about how it turned out ... we think they look pretty good! Definitely the best thing we have come up with ... what do you think?


Honey ... I think we make a good team!

Is it Summer yet?

We have had a LOT of rain this spring. A lot! At first it was really cool ... and I love that everything is really green. However, it has gotten to the point where enough is enough!! Yesterday it was finally beautiful and sunny ... and warm! And today is the same ... yay! Keep your fingers crossed that it stays this way.

On another note, this weekend we re-did our backyard (I know, again!). This time it is really, really cool! We just have to plant a few more things, then I'll post pictures ...

I know with that little tidbit I will leave you hanging ... I'm sure you're just dying to see it :)

Patriotism

I must have a lot to say to the blogging world today ...

Driving home from the gym this morning I was behind our YM president. In the back of his truck were a big group of flags. Then I remembered ... in honor of Flag Day (yesterday) the Scouts were putting flags in our yards. When I pulled in there were a lot of them running around taking care of the flag-business. Please keep in mind ... it was barely after 6 ... on summer vacation ... and it was chilly!

They do this for several holidays throughout the year ... and certainly not all of them in the summer. Sometimes they are pounding those stakes in through snow and ice.

And how grateful I am! Every time I drive up and see the whole street lined with flags it warms my heart and makes me puff up a little in pride for our country.

And every time I see those Scouts (and their leaders!) out there, sacrificing time and sleep it makes me so proud to be an American. And so proud of them for learning to work hard and sacrifice for something greater than themselves.

I know none of them will see this ... but next time you see one of them doing their part to remind us how lucky we are please tell them thanks!

On another note, the YW & YM sang Battle Hymn of the Republic (also in honor of Flag Day). I'm sure I'm prejudice, but they sounded so wonderful. To hear the sweet voices of our girls ... and the robust boys sing so resolutely made me incredibly proud of them. They worked so hard! And sounded so convincingly like the future of our nation. They are great kids ... I'm lucky to work with them!

Spinning...

This morning I tried a spinning class. If you haven't tried it, don't.

Who ever thought: Let's put a lot of bikes into a dark room and pedal furiously ... and go NOWHERE!

Seriously. Not really my thing.

Running through the Rain

I'm not sure what happened to April showers bringing May flowers ... Mother nature seems to be running late this year since we are having June showers ... which I still have my fingers crossed that my flowers will survive and will still be alive for July sunshine :)!

On Friday night Jeff took me to Beauty and the Beast at the outdoor Scera theater. They did such a good job! They are a local group that puts on shows in the park ... it's such a fun summer-night time activity. Before we left I suggested that we grab the umbrella that is normally in the car, but had made its way into the kitchen (because it has rained all week!). Jeff said he was sure it wouldn't rain. Then when we got out of the car I suggested we grab a third blanket (the one that has one side that is waterproof). Jeff again said, no ... it won't rain...

During act one they had to stop the play for about 10 min. to let the RAIN pass :). It wasn't too bad and we were laughing through the whole thing.

Then in the last 5 minutes of the show the downpour started. Talk about a mass-exodus!! We were gathering up all of our stuff and running as hard as we could! It was so funny ... and downright fun! When was the last time you ran through a summer rainstorm?

In the end I am so glad we didn't have the umbrella or that extra blanket (even though it has been fun to tease Jeff about!) because then we would have been too prepared and might have missed the fun memory of running through the rain :)!

Pointless Work

I have a big window right in front of my desk. Occasionally I find myself looking out it - a great office view is hard to find. And this one is of Mt. Timpanogos. However, today I wasn't admiring the stunning peak ... instead I was watching the crew who is working on putting in new water pipes around New Haven.

They are rather ineffective at times. Case in point: I watched a man on a large, tractor/Caterpillar-like machine moving little pieces of sod. I didn't know a machine such as that could grab onto little pieces of sod and move them three feet. I'm no expert, but the last time I checked moving sod was easier if you just got off the machine and picked them up and tossed them. This process went on and on ... and I probably could have walked out and done it in a third of the time. But then I couldn't have watched :)!