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.

Oh WAIT, he's already EIGHT?

May 9, 2011

This birthday really did creep up on me. Thankfully Matt had been on the ball in purchasing the gifts. The night before we still needed wrapping paper though. I said, "We don't have time to go down the canyon for BYU wrapping so we'll just have to see what's at Day's." I couldn't believe my stars when they had BYU wrapping paper. Grayson had requested a chocolate cake. Check. But he wanted a Jimmer Fredette chocolate cake. Hmmm. When I saw Jimmer on the cover of Sport's Illustrated on Matt's night stand an idea sprung into my head. Now, don't start forming opinions. Matt bought that issue because Jimmer and Magnusson were on the cover. The swimsuit issue won't be arriving EVER. I was downright tickled with the cake! I'll teach YOU how to Jimmer.

For weeks GRAHAM had been putting in orders for Grayson's birthday as to what "Grayson" wanted. The most frequent request was "TWO Light Sabers." Matt got the next best thing. Check. Graham woke Grayson up at 6:30 the morning of, "Grayson, it's your birthday!" Graham had reason to be so excited. He was with Matt when Matt picked up the new bike at King's. I was suprised he was able to keep the surprise pretty well. He did say, "Grayson, you have a BIG surprise...with wheels."

 The swords were played with immmediatly.

Not soon after Grayson got home from school we heard bag pipes coming up the front walk. Bro. Acklin, his primary teacher, was playing Happy Birthday. It sounded so Cool but was so loud that he stayed outside. He didn't have a kilt on but still, that was going above and beyond!

Mallerie brought the kids she was babysitting over to check. it. out.

We've started a tradition on birthdays where we eat the cake BEFORE dinner. It seems that otherwise we run out of time. Matt was worried Jimmer would start on fire. But he IS on fire. He opened gifts through out the afternoon: a new baseball glove, a wii game, scriptures. I loved him reading Grandma Donna's card out loud. Then he picked up the money and kept reading, "In God we trust..."

Another reason for the cake before dinner was that Grayson had requested an evening at Nickle City in Orem. Katrina stayed behind to study for her AP Geography test, but the rest of us were game and went along. I handed over cash when we got there. Matt said, "Thanks!" But the truth is, I've gotten out of throwing a friend party now for eight years in a row so having it be my treat at Nickel City was the least I could do. When I had asked Grayson if he wanted a friend party he said, "No. I don't like parties. When my friends at school ask if I'm going to have a birthday party I tell them 'NOPE'." This is a kid that knows what he likes and does not like. Instead the class had to settle for some chocolate chip cookies I brought from home.

The prize he chose with his tickets: two fake POINTER fingers. I repeat, these are his POINTER fingers. (We're holding out till closer to his baptism for a haircut. )

I don't have pictures to prove it but Lindsey brought the kids to join us. This was beyond Gray's wildest dreams that Adren come to Nickel City. Check. Check. Check!

After Nickel City we were hungry. The Geert's had eaten so we parted ways and headed to Doc's pizza. They were closed due to a refridgeration malfunction. Luckily, I had just spoken to Lindsey and knew where another Pizza Buffet was. We headed across the street to Pizza Pie Cafe. While Matt was ordering I saw a lady from our Orem ward leaving. She didn't seem like she remembered me but I ran up, "Karen Deam!" She has remarried and she introduced me to her husband. I was glad she did so because I would have asked, "Is this your father?" She said, "The pizza here is terrible. There is hardly any cheese. The pasta sauce is too spicy. The salad bar is bland. Over all I'd rate it a D. But the dessert pizza isn't too bad. You should leave and go to Cafe Rio." Matt walked up right then, he had just paid. I summerized, "The birthday boy wants pizza."

Well, running into Karen will forever be a standing joke in our family because the pizza was great. It was plenty cheesy and the pasta had at least 6 different choices for sauce. I would recommend the place to friend or foe. Yeah, we enjoyed the place, "Check!" please.

Mothers Day May 8, 2011

Feeling the love on Mother's Day. After Katrina took this picture and Graham was looking at it he said, "There I am. " I said, "Where?" Sure enough he pointed out his peering eyes. I didn't even know he was there. Isn't that just like motherhood, someone always nearby.
The day before, some DELISH chocolate covered strawberries were delivered to the door. The instructions on the box made me smile.

The weekend was lovely. We spent the afternoon at our favorite park with some chips and salsa. A wind sprung up so we flew kites. The kids fed the ducks. That evening Ava and I went to an Activity Days dinner. Each girl had painted a block with a word describing their mother. Ava chose CHEERFUL. "You got that right!"

Easter through pictures April 24, 2011

I took Ava and Mallerie with me to find some new duds for easter. We had to guess what Katrina would like. Would she quit growing already?

Gray was willing to pull out the tie for the special day. This was a big deal.

I loved seeing Graham front and center as the Primary children sang in Sacrament, "Did Jesus Really Live Again?" He stood there and grinned till the part, "He called Mary's name," where he pronounced every word. That was the only part he knew but I thought it poignant.

After this picture I said, "Wait I think I was closing my eyes." I was assured I wasn't.  What is Matt's excuse?

I never buy those egg dyeing kits, but I did this year so we could dye eggs while on spring break. However, we never had enough down time so I pulled the kits out at home. Though it was interesting to try something different, I think the kids missed the dunking. 

So much for trying to keep the focus off the Easter Bunny. Ava full on told Graham that she was on the phone with the Easter bunny and that he said he hid the eggs in the backyard! Gray and A hid the eggs over and over again for Growlie. It did prove to be a time consuming activity.

Callie is telling Ava all about it.