Becky's 4/20 Birthday Bash!!!

A few things first....
Earlier that day, I had taken Kathryn to go get some things for her apartment and groceries.  While with her, she said some thing to the affect of...'OH, it's 4/20...National Weed Day'
What???  What in the heck is National Weed Day?  So she explained.  No way...there was just no way that there was an actual 'official' day to smoke pot - weed - do drugs.  Am I really THAT naive???
Apparently so...
We go home to meet up with Kylie and our afternoon girls to go to lunch.  Kathryn says to Kylie...'Ky, tell mom what today, 4/20 is.'  Kylie looks over and without blinking an eye says, 'Really mom...National Weed Day...EVERYONE knows that'.
These are my Mormon daughters...how do THEY know that???
I puff my chest up and say.. 'there's no way Jordan knows!!'..The girls laugh and call Jordan out from back in his room to come out.  He enters the kitchen where Kathryn says..'Jordan, what's 4/20?'  With a smirk on his face, he says..'Who wants to know?'
REALLY????  They all knew....
Becky tells us at lunch that she never got to hang with any of her friends growing up on her birthday because they would all 'be busy doing other things.'  I felt bad for her.
A National Weed Day???
It crossed my mind of a few of my past friends that probably knew that...
I'm sooo naive - un informed - un cool, if that's what's considered cool.
But Sean had made plans for a party that night for Becky...supposed to be a surprise, but his Packard big mouth got the best of him and he ended up telling her.  She was nervous that nothing had planned or thought out because Sean had done it.  See...Becky is a huge planner - organized down to the last detail.  Sean isn't...at all. 
But it was one of the funnest parties I had been to.  Of course, Del and i were the 'oldies' of the group, but we felt really included in the fun..although we made our boundaries of stupidity and warned them that if they ever wanted us to come again, they would not make us dance....a little compassion was extended our way.  Thank heavens.
Ice cream, cake, cookies, presents and then the fun began.  The pictures can't even tell it all, but it was funny.  To see a bunch of 22-32 year olds dancing to music was just too priceless.
I was telling Del when we left (early to get to bed) that it was so refreshing that we just left a 4/20 party knowing how the evening would end when there are millions out there who are choosing to spend 4/20 in a completely different way, was both comforting and rewarding, considering several in attendance were my own!!!.  And they had fun!!!  Go figure!!!
So, I'm thrilled to know, that every year, on 4/20, there will be a party out there, somewhere in the world, where not a speck of weed, pot, drugs or alcohol will be available, and the party will be a success...
RIGHT SEAN????
Right Aunt Marlys!!!

Becky's Birthday Lunch

 

Becky's 26th birthday was an afternoon and evening event.
The afternoon was a girls lunch to 'Chuy's, a Mexican restaurant, where we enjoyed some great food, drinks and conversation.  These are my girls...my daughters...literally and figuratively.  I love Becky like she's my own...or at least I want her to feel that way.
Of course, Preston was a blast to have with us too...
Fun fun lunch..

Sprinkler Fun

Could he look any happier???
Kylie sent this to my phone today while I was at work. It made me smile knowing how much Preston loves to be outside and then on top of that, being able to run through water for the first time.
Can you imagine how fun that was for him???
I hope she continues to allow him to enjoy such fun moments like this...let him enjoy being a little boy and doing new things.
He is going to have such a sweet life with fun memories.
This being one of the first!!!

With Energy to Spare

After working an almost 10 hour day, I came home from work tonight, ate a quick piece of pizza, checked my emails and then went out to mow the yard, prune the backyard rose bushes, shrubs and trees and then finished my day by walking 2.5 miles for exercise.
As I type this post, my hands are shaking.
I must need....chocolate.
I must.

'If You're Happy and You Know It....'

I love....everything.
Absolutely everything right now.
My hubs....my kids....my job....my friends....my life.
I'm just plain happy.
And it's about time I feel that way about my life.
And you know what???
I plan on keeping it that way for a very long time.
So don't ANYONE make me change my mind!!!

Scarred, But No Longer Broken

It's been a year today.
There was a time I didn't think I would live through this past year.
But not only have I lived through it, but I am stronger.
Scarred??? Of course.
But no longer broken. I'm whole.
I'm laughing again....smiling...not crying anymore...enjoying being alive and strong; not hurting anymore.
A little pensive at times and a little tender from the healing scars; an occasional song stops me in my tracks, or stills my heart for a slight moment.
But I don't cry anymore. At peace.
I take a deep breath, clear my mind and heart, refocus and move forward.
I have made it through probably one of the hardest phases of my life.
Not unscathed...and the scars will be permanent....but a reminder of a past that should have stayed in the past...and a future that has unfolded full of joy and hope.
I made it through; helped by those who REALLY love me...sustained by a loving and forgiving husband, and a God who loves me unconditionally.
Scarred, but no longer broken.
I am whole....and happy.

It Started a LONG Time Ago

It's a lot funnier if you know the history behind these 'putting things together' projects for these two.
There is no one on this planet more impatient than Del....except for Jordan.
And they're equal in being stubborn.
The combination generally makes for non compatible working conditions, which has been the case since Jordan was little.
Butt heads???
I think Jordan was around age 2...maybe three the first time I saw them go at it.
Jordan was born a cowboy...right from the start...his first word horsey...had a hat, a gun, the boots and the rope. Del is an Idaho farm/cowboy...the horse, the hat, the gun, the boots and the rope. Del liked to wear his hat a certain way, so when he put a cowboy hat on Jordan for the first time, Jordan put it on different. Del changed it. Jordan changed it back..back and forth and then Jordan threw a fit. He won.
Happened a few more times growing up...but then when Jordan was...hm, probably 8, Kylie 7 and Kathryn 3, our family went camping at Scout Mountain. It was a favorite activity for our family...or I should say...the REST of the family. I've never been a real camper.
Anyways....we video taped that whole overnight trip; from arrival to leaving...and we've laughed for years and years as we watch it now to see the personalities and attitudes of our children back then.
Kathryn...was a 3yr old in la la land...she was adorable. Loved to follow and copy cat everything Kylie did and said. She was clumsy too...fell down or tripped every other step. Oblivious to most things around her but very pleasant and happy. Her talking was soooo cute. Sweet little voice etc.
Kylie...was a stinker, especially to Kathryn. She mothered her in everything - was a little boss -a -bit and snippy snap. And she had a real mean streak to her. She watches the video now and is so embarrassed and what a little sneak she was. (know it all).
Jordan...explorer...wanted to try everything...learn everything...help...just along for the ride and fun. But he liked doing or showing what he knew how to do. Not a lot of common sense involved in anything but he wanted to please his dad. It was during this age that i started to see a LOT of Jordan's personality...a wry wit like mine...funny kid.
So...my favorite part of the video is Jordan and Del putting up the tent together. Just the dialogue between the two keeps me in stitches. Arguing which way to face the tent opening...arguing which side goes up first....how to put the stakes in the ground, with the end result being a beautifully and perfectly built tent. Of course, Jordan walks over to me, who is still filming the whole episode and begins to mutter the following under his breath....'yeah, he just stands around looking busy while I do everything' and 'if he would just listen to me we could have been done HOURS ago'...(it took them 10 minutes).
The video continues like this the whole time...the two of them while building a fire, making sticks for samores...etcetc...

Now...years later...they have had a few more opportunities where 'Mr. Know it All who NEVER passes up a teaching moment' Del and 'I'm tired of you always trying to make me look like I don't know anything but I do know everything' Jordan, have had to work together on something that requires actually getting along. About 9 years ago, they took on the project of making me a set of bookshelves for my home. They are beautiful and even more appreciated by me because I know and realize that one, or even both of them, came near death at more than one time during that process. They built me a puzzle/game table....and it's gorgeous. Even though it was done secretly, I found out later that there were some pretty heated moments...
And we have little moments like last week, the putting together of the lawn mower...and today, the using of Kylie's new Kirby vacuum/rug cleaner to do our carpets. The dialogue during these moments is hilarious to me...to listen to these two grown men who don't have an ounce of patience between them...
I just stepped aside...and laughed as Lacey watched them while sprawled out on the carpet they would soon be cleaning. I just have to let them work it out...
The last thing they need at that moment is a third person who actually DOES know most everything, to butt in and make them look bad.
So I just stay quiet.