Taken care of ...

Yesterday while I was at work I came down with a stomach bug (not suprising considering EVERY girl in the house connected to my office had it within the last week). If you know me, you know there is nothing worse to me in this world than that! So I decided to cut my losses on my work day and head home.

My dad has been working from home this week ... which translates to our house since it is much, much quieter during the day. He was shocked at how I looked when I got home. But in true Daddy-style he promptly called my hubby and mom to report to both of them and then trotted off to the store to pick up saltines and Ginger Ale. My mom insisted that when he came home he bring Ellie so I could sleep in today.

Gratefully I slept most of the afternoon. As soon as he left, Jeff arrived to take care of me for the rest of the night. He also ran to the store to get Jell-o and Corn Chex (a must if you need to eat plain, dry cereal).

Kristie called Jeff and provided dinner for him so there weren't any food smells in our house either, which was so nice!

After lots and lots of sleep I am feeling much, much better ... and well cared for. Thank you everyone!

Camping

On my top list of things I don't really like to do ... camping! However, this last weekend we went with a big group of friends and it was really fun! We started the evening off with Navajo tacos - delicious - and finished it chatting around the campfire eating all kinds of goodies.

The next morning we ate a huge breakfast ... and I mean huge (we were definitely not going to go hungry that is for SURE), then we cleaned up and went home.

Minus the fact that I didn't sleep a wink all night (which Jeff can attest to ... when I can't sleep he somehow doesn't end up sleeping either ... weird!) we had a lot of fun. Ellie loved it ... she is quite the little camper ... she happily walked to the lake with us, entertained the kids, ate the leftovers and got exceptionally dirty!

I was going to post a picture ... but I keep forgetting ... so I'll just post this instead :)

Of Toes and Sweet Husbands

I have these cute toes ....
Because of my cute husband. Last Friday he and Kolby surprised Kristie and I with pedicures at our favorite spa. We had so much fun chatting, catching up and relaxing! Then we came home to dinner on the table.

How sweet are they?

Thanks babe ...

Camp

It's that time of year again ... Girls Camp!! This year I wasn't the assistant camp director (whew!) but I can't resist going up for the last day. No matter how much I don't like camping, there is something about girls camp that is refreshing, spiritual and a bonding experience that can't be missed.

We got up there in time for the "Faith Hike." The girls were doing rotations, and we waited for them in the "Celestial Room" aka the camp lodge. Welcoming them and being there to hug them was such a great experience. The were obviously very touched. If you have never heard a group of young girls sing "As Sisters in Zion" you just haven't really heard it.

Then came dinner ... courtesy of the bishopric ... and some silly games.

Then came testimony meeting. The biggest memory I have of girls camp is testimony meeting ... and it has always been a defining moment for me. I only hope the things the girls hear and feel stick with them. And I hope they hear not only our testimonies of the gospel, but how much we love them and that we know how wonderful they are.

They are great girls. I even got hugged good-bye from a girl who is NOT a hugger to say the least. I love every single one of them!!

Domesticated

Sometimes our husbands like to get together and chat ... they talk about all sorts of things ... one being a big joke ... how to "domesticate" their workaholic, career-driven wives. As the wives we think it is pretty amusing for a couple of reasons: How are they going to domesticate us? ... And who has time to be domestic?

Well today folks, I was DOMESTIC.

A couple of things helped. 1. I had the day off ... which means I have 3 days instead of 2 to get everything done that I can't ever do mid-week and 2. Jeff had a golf "play-date" scheduled so I had a morning to myself

Before noon I (drumroll please) ... went to the gym, did the laundry (there were a few loads!), vacuumed, dusted, cleaned the bathrooms and the kitchen ... and still called a friend who just had a baby and chatted with a neighbor!

Amazing ... I know :)

I still like the team-work approach we generally take better (probably because I hate doing laundry and dishes) but I'm feeling mighty proud of myself.

Domestic Diva status here I come :)

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!