Mallerie's Surprise May 27, 2011

Mallerie’s friend Maddi cornered me after sacrament meeting and asked if she could throw a surprise party for Mallerie the following Friday at our house. I said, “Sure.” She said, “Great, I’ll call you and tell you what you need to buy.” Is this how this works? I don’t recall that a friend has ever thrown a surprise party for one of my kids before so I wasn’t sure on the protocol. However, I didn’t mind because this meant I wouldn’t be in charge of throwing a party. I don’t know what Maddi was thinking but she straight away went to Mallerie and said, “Too bad you’re mom said NO when I asked if I could throw you a surprise party this Friday.” Then every day at school Maddi would say, “I really wish we could have had a party on Friday…oh, and can I get a list of all your friends.” So surely Mallerie had to have been on to it in some way.

However, when Friday arrived I told her she needed to babysit till Katrina got home from her babysitting job because Matt and I were leaving to Lehi for the NKAAFN/Daddy’s birthday. She said she smelled cake, I told her it was for the NKAAFN and I didn’t want the kids getting into it (hehe it was really for her). We were looking through the Walgreen’s ad and I pointed out some colored socks on sale that she had been wanting. Since the ad was only good for one more day she asked if we could go get some. Perfect. Since we always get Papa Murphy’s on Friday I ordered it for us to pick up on our way back and was online getting coupon codes when Matt walked in panicked that I hadn’t left with her yet. “Come on Mallerie, let’s go get pizza!” Eeeeesy fella, it’s supposedly a surprise! Anyway we didn’t get the socks but we got pizza and a video and came home. I thought I’d hear, “Surprise!” as soon as Mallerie rounded the corner of the mud room but instead: dead pan silence. I found Katrina talking on the phone in my closet. I mouthed, “Where’s the party?” She answered the same way, “In her room.” I asked Mallerie, “See if you can find dad because we need to get going.” Downstairs she was calling for him. I finally just said, “Check in your room.” “SURPRISE!” I think by then she really was surprised because of some quick covering up and the empty house when we came home.

I couldn’t stay for her party because I had my own to get to. According to Katrina the girls were all really annoying and screaming and running around and going on scavenger hunts and dancing in the rain and playing Just Dance on the Wii really loud for 5 1/2 hours. So basically, it sounds like they had a great time and it’s probably best I wasn’t involved because after all, ignorance is bliss. It really is.

I was off at Thai House with my favorite people and then back to the Taylors for games, YouTube watching, and some chocolate cake to make ya bawl from Magleby’s Fresh. Skip the napkin go straight for the tissue.

You Too? May 24, 2011

A friend posted this to FB. We were down on the floor!

I would have been crazy to pass up the chance to see the U2 360 tour FOR FREE. The catch was that I would be a volunteer beforehand. My aunt Linda had connections with someone and hooked me Lindsey and Ashley up. I arrived about an hour and a half before them so I parked in the VIP parking (yeah ME!) and eventually found my check in station. I was given a fluorescent EVENT STAFF vest (more like a penny) and was herded into a group. After being ushered here and there we finally were directed to check point 2 to search bags as people entered Rice Eccles Stadium. Without an ounce of training someone plopped down the first bag. I didn’t even know what I was checking for! I rummaged around in the bag for a bit and then said, “Enjoy the show!” The girl next to me said, “You aren’t supposed to put your hands IN their bag.” Oh. I also learned they couldn’t have outside food or drink. Lemme just say, I was pretty lenient, I mean what is a bag of M&M’s gonna do to cause a problem?

Linda called my  cell and said the lady who was in charge was looking for me. So I called Debbi (her name) to tell her where I was. The supervisor by me said, “Off the phone, say good bye, hang up!” I realized I was tethered to this station and started worrying I’d never hook up with Ashley and Lindsey. I was told I could take a break later but that I needed, “To come right back!!!” I hurried back to the check-in station to plea my case that I think I’m in the wrong spot but some guy won’t let me go.” A supervisor there said he’d walk back with me to straighten things out. As soon as we got there he said,

‘’Yeah, you need to stay here.” Wussup???  Ashley and I couldn’t seem to get in touch with each other and I realized that as the concert got closer to starting I needed to be INSIDED the stadium or I may miss my chance to even see the show. I slipped away discreetly from the check-in station and soon realized I could go ANYWHERE in that vest! I walked down on the field close to the stage and was exiting the other side when HALLELUJAH I ran into Lindsey and Ashley. We decided to stay on the field cause the concert was nearly beginning but we didn’t know if we could. Another supervisor walked by and said, “Five feet apart ladies.” We did as we were told and couldn’t believe that THAT was where we would be watching Bono and the band! Seriously, stone throwing distance. I looked down at Ashley and she mouthed, “I can’t stop laughing.” As the show wore on we inched closer together. We couldn’t talk because of the noise. Ashley was screaming something in my ear and still I had no idea what she was saying. It was LOUD. I called Matt so he could hear it live. It was a great concert! During With or Without You another supervisor came and told us to follow him, “Uh-oh.” He placed Lindsey and Ashley in a walk way outside the stadium to stop people from running on the bark and bushes. He took me further down and told me to keep people from coming over the metal barriers. In front of me were rows of cars already running. As the show ended we realized these were the cars for the band! And who do you know got in the car right in front of me, “Bono!!!! Over here Bono!!!” I was waving hysterically. He was RIGHT there! So cool. Linda met us at Village Inn afterwards while we came down off our high and I slumbered into bed close to 3 am. What a night!!!

Matt’s Day May 20, 2011

1971 gave us such stars as Ricki Martin, Wynona Ryder, Christina Applegate, and Lance Armstrong, it also gave us Matt Bocanegra!

Who am I to complain about turning 35 when Matt was turning the big 4-0? I had waaaaay to much fun teasing him about this. Matt’s mom had forwarded a joke to me. I changed the age to 40 when I told the joke to Matt. I should say when I TRIED to tell the joke to Matt. I got laughing so hard he couldn’t even tell what I was saying and finally I just collapsed on the bed and barely squeaked out the punch line. He said, “This is why you can’t tell jokes.” He’s right you know. I’m jokey, but I CAN’T tell jokes.

Here is it is if you are interested:

Subject: FW: EXERCISE FOR PEOPLE OVER 50

Begin by standing on a comfortable surface, where you have plenty of room at each side.

With a 5-lb potato bag in each hand, extend your arms straight out from your sides and hold them there as long as you can. Try to reach a full minute, and then relax.

Each day you'll find that you can hold this position for just a bit longer. After a couple of weeks, move up to 10-lb potato bags.

Then try 50-lb potato bags and then eventually try to get to where you can lift a 100-lb potato bag in each hand and hold your arms straight for more than a full minute. (I'm at this level.)

After you feel confident at that level, put a potato in each bag.

So I’ve had ideas on how to celebrate this move into the next decade for him but I didn’t want it to be what I wanted because it’s HIS day. I let him decide. He was certain he wanted to see Pirates of the Caribbean on the day it came out, his birthday. Sure I thought this to be a bit of a downer but if it’s what he wanted then we’d do it. Thankfully he changed his mind and decided he wouldn’t mind staying home and having a few people over. Problem was that he decided this days before his birthday. “Ahhhhh!” But I pulled it together by sending out E-vites and just calling people even the day of. I fiddled with the back patio longer than I should of the day of by turning it into a lounge and only had a cake when Matt arrived home from Idaho. Day’s Market to the rescue! I took Ava with me and we were back with Party food as the first guests arrived. The evening was open house style with no beginning or end time. About 25 people stopped by to wish him well. This left Matt with quite the stash of Reece’s Peanut Butter Cups. I told people they didn’t need to bring gifts but then they inevitability asked what his favorite candy was. It was a mish mash of people from different walks of life. I had a good time and know he did too. The only game I had was a questionnaire of 1971. For example, did you know that was the year the first pocket calculator came out? I told you he was old! ;)

Sign in and say something nice.

After hours lounge

The kids had the camera and were taking random shots. I just want to wipe Callie's hands and face when I look at her on my white bed.

By the time the 40th candle was lit the first one was a puddle of wax. Hurry Matt before it's too late!

Too late.

And no worries, we saw Pirates the next night. Popcorn and all. It was a fun weekend (I had a hard time convincing my body though that it wasn’t time to melt down, “We’re not stressed, we’re happy…)

My Day May 18, 2011

Mother’s Day sets off a string of events and celebrations in May with Grayson’s birthday sometimes the same day. Mine follows nine days later on the 18^th. I’ll sound funny complaining about being 35 but this is the first birthday where I feel sort of…old. To pour lemon juice on a wound, the radio was on in the car and the DJ was publicizing a “hot momma” contest in honors of Mother’s Day. He said the two categories for entries were ages 18-34, and 35 and over. I would be in the same category as my granny. Then again, she is one hot momma!

To commemorate this jump into the next category we went as a Family to the Garden Restaurant in SL. Katrina had stayed home from school sick that day so she unfortunately stayed behind. We parked underground and then rode the elevator up to the 10^th floor of the Joseph Smith Building. As we were looking out at the temple I noticed Graham’s pants looked wet. I felt them and they were SOPPING wet. He must have wet them when he was asleep in the car. When it was time to be seated I noticed the chairs were fabric. I asked for a booster so he at least could sit on that. The car seemed too far away to get the diaper bag. Then during dinner when Callie came to talk with me I noticed that she had also soaked her pants! Such is an outing with kids. Still, I wanted them there for the birthday dinner. I was glad they were there to watch me set a red balloon through the roof that they opened just for me with my wish attached. The hostess reassured me the balloon was biodegradable; “We are obligated to tell you so.” I had all sorts of wishes written on the card: health, happiness, peace… Matt gave me a lovely fresh water pearl necklace/earring set at dinner. What was sweet was that he had seen it in the Fred Meyer Jewelry ad on Sunday and knew right away that was what he wanted to get me. I have it on as I type.

This delectible dish if you are wondering is pecan crusted halibut with coconut shrimp on a bed of spagetti squash with strawberry salsa. It was followed by caramel creme brule and berries. NO complaints here.

 The grounds were every bit as soggy as the kid’s pants or we would have walked around a bit. We snapped a few photos of the MAGNIFICENT grounds before heading home. When I was crawling into bed that night I saw a note on my pillow from Katrina: Mom, I’m sorry I couldn’t come tonight LI hope you had a good day. Happy Birthday! I love you. Love, Katrina.

Made my day.