11/11...

Well another birthday has come and gone. For so many reasons this was such a wonderful birthday. Getting older has it's ups and downs, but when family and friends make the effort to make the day special, growing older doesn't seem so bad! 

I was happy I could have lunch with Chris before he left for Thailand. Thursday my friend Lorie took me to lunch. I haven't seen her for months. 

I wasn't sure what to expect at work, but it was overwhelming. My teacher Mrs. Ungerman had a beautiful gift basket sitting on my desk. I couldn't hold back the tears as I read the card she gave me. All the classes sang happy birthday to me. 

Holley usually decorates around my desk, but there wasn't anything there when I walked in. A few minutes later I got a call that the assistant principle wanted to talk me. She asked me a lot of questions about how things were going with my TA's... all the while Holley was up in my room decorating with balloons, a banner, and confetti everywhere.

I asked a student to take a picture of me, and he took a quick selfie first. I love Gideon!

I was busy grading papers when I got another call to come to the office. Tim had sent a beautiful bouquet of Fall flowers. I cried again.

Then one of my TA's said she needed to talk to me, and I walked in the room to find all my TA's there. They sang to me and gave me a box of chocolates. 

The principle also gave me a card and some Lincoln Loot.

I came home from school to find the house all decorated compliments of Tiff, Cash, Colby, and Grey. I stood there for moment taking it all in. It was one of the nicest things anyone has ever done for me. And yes I cried again. 

Someone had a few pretzels while they were decorating!

There were sticky notes with clues that Cash and Colby had thought of for a treasure hunt. I found some of my favorite things all over the house! There was also a gift bag with other wonderful gifts.

This was one of my favorite things. Tiff asked Cash and Colby some questions, and on the back of the poster she had written there answers. I have read them several times, it makes me smile and laugh every time!

How old is Grandma? 
Colby-17    Cash-85
What is her favorite color? 
Colby-yellow    Cash-pink
What is her job? 
Colby-To work   Cash-A teacher
What is something Grandma says?
Colby-We can have treats    Cash-Be careful
What makes Grandma happy?
Colby-When we say silly things    Cash-When I give her a hug
What is she good at?
Colby-Being a good teacher    Cash-Hanging pictures
What do you do together?
Colby-Me and her play    Cash-Science experiments
What makes Grandma sad?
Colby-When I punch her    Cash-When we're not there
What is Grandma not very good at?
Colby-Painting    Cash-Drawing bears
What is something you always say to her?
Colby-Diarrhea    Cash-Will you play something with me?

This is all pretty accurate except Colby has never punched me!

 Feeling the love!

I had so many nice texts, phone calls, birthday wishes on Facebook, and many lovely gifts. Billie stopped by, and it was so good to see her. 

The best gift is always being with my family. Thanks to Tim, Chris, Mark, Tiffani, Cash, Colby, and Grey for one of the best birthdays I have ever had! I love you so much.

 So blessed and so thankful!

This is the last year I will be fifty something, oh well!

ThrowBack Thursday ~ Snow Angel Cashee Boy!

Wordless Wednesday ~ President Elect Donald J.Trump and Vice President Elect Mike Pence...

Election Day and Crazy Eights...

Tim and I voted early last week, and I'm so glad we did, because I got to play games with Colby and Grey while Tiff went to vote.

Colby told me, "You don't want to vote for Donald Trump." Too late!

We will have a new president soon, and to be honest selecting the candidate that I thought would do the best job was very frustrating. But I still considered it an honor to vote and live in America. 

No matter who wins Trump or Hillary, I will pray for them, and hope that they will lead with integrity and wisdom.

 Yikes!

Because of Him...

"How can we ever repay the debt we owe the Savior? He paid a debt He did not owe to free us from a debt we can never pay. Because of Him, we will live forever. Because of His infinite Atonement, our sins can be swept away, allowing us to experience the greatest of all the gifts of God: eternal life."

—Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, "Earthy Debts, Heavenly Debts", Ensign, May, 2004

Top Banana and our Three Favorite Monkeys...

Cash won the "Top Banana" trophy at school last week. He has passed off all the concept he has been learning. He can sound out words and will be reading before we know it! We are so proud of you Cash!

Cash also got a cool t-shirt for passing off all the sight words. 

High five Cashee!

I stayed with our three favorite monkeys while Mark and Tiff went to Stake Conference. Elder Nelson was speaking, and that's a long time for little ones to sit still. It was another unusually beautiful November day, so we played outside most of the time. 

I asked Colby to find his shoes and I turned around to see this!

Colby put his pants on inside out, but he got dressed by himself so that's good enough!

We love Cash, Colby, and Grey so much.  

ThrowBack Thursday ~ Colby!

Wordless Wednesday ~ Love my morning walks...

Boo Bash, Costume Parade, Cheesecake, and Trick or Treat 2016...

 I love having parties for the Grands. 

Spider Web Trifle!

 Prizes!

Cash made a fun game. 

He cut out pumpkins and wrote our names on them. 

We all took turns trying to stick them on the X. 

Helping little brother!

Mark hid the pumpkins for Grey, and he got so excited when he found them.

Cash and Colby like scavenger hunts. I put the answers with the clues. I forget that Cash knows how to sound out words and read. I think he still had fun.

Glow stick ring toss, artwork compliments of Grandpa!

The Spider Web Crawl was a hit. Cash added a few more webs to make it more challenging!

 Cash had his very first Halloween costume parade at school! 

He is just so handsome!

(Photo credits to Tiff)

 Red and Flo

I really don't like to wear a costume but I don't want to be a party pooper. Holley thinks about her costume for months and this year she was Florence the Flamingo!  

 Jennie, Tori, Jeanette, Me, Brittany, Teresa, Sam and Emily

I am the supervisor for a great group of teacher assistants! 

Mr. Corless dressed up as Mr. Bingham this year. 
It was hilarious!

 Mr. Arteta always wins for the best costume. Creepy!

Christopher will be having an adventure in Thailand on my birthday so we celebrated early. He took me shopping at City Creek and then to the Cheesecake Factory for lunch.

 Gorgeous Fall day

Pumpkin cheesecake perfection, thanks for a lovely early birthday outing Chris!

I stopped at Smith's on the way home. I saw lights flashing on the other side of the store, and I knew it had to be Lee. What a costume!

Tiff looks gorgeous and Grey is ready for Trick or Treating!

Grey face! Looks like Cash, Colby and Grey had a fun night.

(Photo credits to Tiffani and Mark)

Happy Halloween!