Callie's Shower

It's going to be a two post day...first I'll blog about Callie's shower, then about my birthday.

Saturday was a beautiful day for Callie's bridal shower -- sunny and perfect.

We hosted a brunch and served egg casseroles, fruit and monkey bread (which was so good and SO easy -- my tip is to cut the biscuits with kitchen shears and it will literally take you ten minutes to throw this together.)

There were about 25 people there and it was basically one of the best showers ever.

We ate first and while everyone was eating, I had a list of questions that the mother of the bride (aka Kim) had gotten the groom to be (aka Andrew) to answer.

They were just silly questions like how does he like his eggs prepared (scrambled) and who's his favorite super hero (Batman.) It was fun to watch Callie's face light up as she talked about Andrew. Ah, love. ;) After we ate, Callie opened gifts. Check out the way cute, blinged-out "domestic diva" apron below...I need one!

The hit gift was probably the ice cream maker but there were other standouts like a rolling cooler, a Kool Aid pitcher & cup set and lots of other wonderful things.

I gave Callie some thank you cards I'd made plus one of those Baker's Edge brownie pans where every brownie you cut has an edge (which is Callie's favorite part of the brownie.)

While she was opening gifts, we passed around a sheet of paper and had each person write the next line to a story about Callie & Andrew. We also had everyone fill out an envelope for their thank you card and then drew one for a door prize. That was it for "games." Nothing dorky or stressful or competitive.

For party favors, I made frosted sugar cookies with my alphabet cookie cutters (C + A.) I felt compelled to do something dessert-y since we didn't serve a cake or anything. (And they were SO good, if I do say so myself.)

I think it was such a great shower because everyone just enjoyed each other's company and Callie & Andrew are obviously MFEO (think Sleepless in Seattle.) We missed Callie's sisters, Kara and Jamie but otherwise, it was a perfect day.

What I'm doing right now

I'm at home, watching this:

Having a slumber party with this sweet sister (no, it's not snowing tonight - I just liked the picture):

Hoping I have everything done for the bridal shower I'm giving in the morning for the lovely girl seated next to me in the (also old) picture below:

Oh and thinking about turning this in less than an hour,

Phew!

I'm halfway through a crazy busy week. Work is seriously nuts plus I had Camp Kickoff tonight. I'm going to see High School Musical at a local high school tomorrow night. Friday I'm taking the day off and then my sister is coming to spend the night with me on Friday night. THEN Saturday is Callie's bridal shower so in between now and then, I'm prepping stuff for that. BUSY! I need a nap.

So after much fear and trepidation, Camp Kickoff turned out great. As I've mentioned before, the girls I'm over are not like any I've had in previous years. They are stepping up though and doing well. We had more of them there tonight than we've had at our previous meetings so that was wonderful. Our camp song (to the tune of Eye of the Tiger) turned out really fun and everyone seemed to like it. I already had one mom beg me to stick around one more year (to work with her daughter next year.) I will not succumb to peer pressure! Mark my words!!

Here's a picture of Tammy, my assistant and I tonight after kickoff. Someone made this lite brite YW torch several years ago and it works well now with our Olympics theme. Hilarious, no??

Thankful, emotional and everything in between.

Mother's Day is always just weird for me. I decided today that I never really got emotional about it until I worked in the Young Women organization and got a little taste of what it means to be a mother (it was much easier being oblivious, let me tell you.) I had to fight tears a lot today and I know it's selfish, self-absorbed and stupid. I know it - you don't have to tell me it's not all about me because I know it isn't. But I hate that I feel sad on a day like today -- a day that celebrates women.

I disliked feeling like there was a spotlight shining brightly on me each time anyone mentioned women without children of their own but who are still mothers to many (aka, me.) It's a really sweet sentiment and it's comforting but it's also a bit of a heartbreaker too. To keep from crying, I got out my notebook and just took notes all through a truly marvelous Sacrament meeting. One thing I was reminded of today: Eve was called the mother of all living before she even had children. I loved hearing that.

Besides feeling emotional today, I feel thankful knowing that my parents decided to adopt me nearly 42 years ago. I feel thankful that two teenagers knew enough to give me up for adoption so that I could be raised in a family who wanted me and could give me brothers and sisters and a really great life. I feel thankful that the family who chose me was an LDS family...I can't even imagine my life any other way. I have no interest or desire to learn more about them but I hope at least on Mother's Day, the woman who gave me away feels peace in her decision because she made the right one.

I was blessed with a wonderful mother who is fun, kind and giving. My flower pots are filled because she knows it makes me happy to have flowers by my door when I come home from work and she knows I really don't like getting my hands dirty. She is really smart and knows so much about the scriptures. She'll print a verse out on a 3x5 card and bring it with her on her walk (she's walked 2-3 miles a day for the last 30 years) and she'll memorize it. She's the hardest worker I know too. She is always doing something. She lives on 2/3 of an acre and she mows her lawn herself (none of that ride on lawn mower stuff for her either.) Oh and did I mention she's 70? I love my mom -- she is truly a gift.

Pics

I'm getting ready to go to my 4th wedding reception in 2 weeks. Yes, you read that correctly. Craziness! Before I leave, I thought I'd share some pictures since I am bad about putting photos up here. Just random photos...that shouldn't surprise anyone.

Here's my dear friend Patty -- she's the one I visited over conference weekend.

Here's Boni, Jeni and I at the SU regionals a couple of weeks ago. So fun to have Jeni back! She won a door prize too - lucky girl. Today is Boni's birthday -- happy birthday!!

Here's Mom and Jenilee after Mom opened her little lobster thing Jen gave her for Mother's Day today -- it's a little plastic lobster that moves in a fish tank. Don't know how to explain it. Mom was thrilled to get it. Our real gift to her was a digital photo frame. Hope she liked it - I thought it was really cool.

Here's Natalie today with Mom's dog Sophie in the background. Love Natalie!! She's so fun. And look at the beautiful day we had today - my mom's backyard is like a park.

And now my trampoline series. I love my camera and that I was able to get some fun action shots of Makenna and McKenzie on the trampoline today!

Serious air!

And finally - Sophie. She's about 3 months old and just over 4 lbs. She still doesn't bark. She is a sweet dog and makes my mom very happy which is the best.

A quickie before bed

Okay, about the flushing. I feel like I need to explain a bit more. In a public restroom, as soon as "something" hits the water, flush. If "something else" hits the water, flush again. Keep the bowl clean and the air around you stays a bit more pleasant. Get it??? And seriously. Leave an empty stall between you and whomever was there first. It's just good manners.

My camp meeting tonight was good again! Two in a row - I'm so happy. We got our camp song written (thanks anyway, ghost writer!) Our backdrop got painted and a major piece of scenery for our skit is done. We did all of this with only seven girls and in 90 minutes. It drives me crazy that we don't have the same people there each meeting. The girls who are in plays or whatever - I get that. But come on...would it kill you to follow through and come to your dang meetings??? Sheesh.

Biggest Loser - I cannot believe they did a marathon! Tara seriously, seriously rocks and I hope she wins. I can't believe I'm saying that but it's true. And Helen? She's weird but she is amazing too. She actually inspires me most of all just because she's sort of in my age bracket (but SOOOOOOOOO much older...lol.) The devious/competitive me wants Ron to be in the final three but I'm guessing everyone will vote in Mike. Finale party next week - can't wait!

And finally, there's a woman at work who infuriates me. I so wish I could go into detail but alas, I cannot. I will tell you she's rude and mean and condescending but she thinks she's super cool and smart.

But guess what -- she's in her mid 30s with hair almost down to her waist and she wears it pulled back with a scrunchie.

I KNOW!!!!! A SCRUNCHIE!!!

Now I have to shut up about it but I feel better getting that off my chest. Just know you would dislike her if you ever met her and you'd probably want to tell her off for being so rude and mean and condescending. Then, because you've totally got my back, you'd rip the scrunchie out of her stupid, too long for her age, hair.**

**I do try hard to be kind and good...sometimes I fail. I'll repent later.

Oprah, work, public bathrooms and more

Strangely enough, I've just not had anything to say lately. But today? I've got stuff to say.

• Today's Oprah just made me cry. I love it when people have their dreams come true.
• Work has been nuts for the last week and a half. My workload has almost doubled and it will likely stay that way until the end of June. I've been going in early and staying late. I'm tired.
• My camp meeting this past weekend was so much better. We had three first-timers there and just a much better energy. Camp kick-off is a week from tomorrow...ugh.
• I went to two wedding receptions this past weekend and there are so many more this summer. So thankful for my friends who are willing to do group gifts with me because this would be one expensive summer.
• Speaking of weddings, this past weekend I made really cute (in my humble opinion) invitations for Callie's bridal shower coming up in a couple of weeks. Can't wait to see her! The other shower I was hosting never happened. Thankfully, I only bought those invitations...if I'd made them and we'd had to cancel, I would have been a lot more bothered than I was. One more shower to plan after Callie's...no date yet though.
• And the topic you've all been waiting for: public restrooms. Gross, I know, but a necessary evil. However, I have two issues: one, why is it that when there are four empty stalls in your work restroom, someone comes in after you and has to go into the stall immediately next to yours? It's just weird to me - I don't like to be so close to people unless absolutely necessary. My other issue? People need to learn to courtesy flush! If you have to do something that um, smells, please flush often! Seriously. FLUSH LOTS OF TIMES! Who cares if you are wasting a little water?? The air pollution is a much bigger issue than a little water wasting, trust me! Master the courtesy flush -- your coworkers will thank you for it.