Birthday #59 and other stuff

This year my work buddies Pam and Becky took me out to lunch for my birthday. It was super fun because it was during our lunch break and we were gone for almost two hours. Great fun. I've never taken a lunch break that long on this job. Felt sinful. 

We went to a Casa Dona Maria Mexican Restaurant here in St George. It's good. We've been here together before. Our waiter was a really nice kid and took good care of us.

On Saturday, first Judy met me at Charming Charlies to buy me jewelry "for our cruise" and then took me to Benji's Thai Restaurant. I've never been there before. It was very good. 

Judy likes to order appetizers....wontons, tempura shrimp, veggies...good too!

I ordered orange chicken....very delicious!

Very impressed with their birthday dessert!

In the evening, Fred and I took Dad with us to Brigham's Playhouse to see 110 in the Shade. It was really a fun musical. We've been to quite a few productions there and only once have we not enjoyed the production. 

On Thursday night, we started an unofficial RS book club. It will be really good for me. It will help me find books to read and a monthly social outlet of women to hang out with. I miss that so much. This ward is SO HUGE and they only have RS activities every other month and no ward activities. 

This is the first summer that choir practice was canceled for the summer. It was a mistake, but the new director made the decision. So we just started back up last week and now we are going to limp along until we get the attendance back up. Also yesterday in Sacrament meeting, they annexed out a little section of our ward and added it into another ward. One sister who will be leaving is one of my most favorite person in the world and I will miss not seeing her. 

I think Fred and I are going to start going to the Empty Nest FHE when they start back up. We didn't want to go because neither of us want to ever give the lesson, but the group is so huge that you really can get away without ever having to give a lesson. I can see that the people who participate in FHE really do seem to have a social connection that we absolutely lack. Now that we've been here three years and still feel kind of out of the loop, it's time to try a little harder. We do have a ton of fun with the Hubsmiths and Bakers, but it's good to be social with a lot of people and mix it up. 

Fred's the best

Yesterday when I got home from work at about 4:45, my Dad had just left to get a pedicure. I immediately said "let's go get something to eat". Fred said OK. That is one thing that has changed with Dad living with us, I do feel obligated to cook when I get home from work except on Fridays. Dad knows it's our date night. Anyway it had to be quick because I had a 6:30 massage appointment. For some reason I was the one doing most of the talking so instead of it being a quick meal it went kind of long so I asked Fred to drop me off and to come back to pick me up. I told him to be at least 5 or 10 minutes early so he would be waiting for me so I said 6:50 or 6:55 PM. He dropped me off about 6:15ish.

Went in got my massage. As we were finishing up the massage, it hit me. Hour massage - 7:30 - oh oh. It's 7:30. Fred's been out there since 6:50.......... It's over 100 degrees out there. The lobby door is locked. I pay, dash out the door down the hall out the lobby door and see him in the car. I run to the car. He is sitting there a bit flushed. Yes he has been sitting there for 40 minutes. Oh - he did go out for a walk. He had sent me a text after waiting about 10 minutes. Then 15 minutes later he called me. Well you know, you turn your phone off when you get a massage.

He wasn't mad. He was just hot and had endured a great discomfort so his spoiled wife wouldn't have to wait for him to come pick her up. I still feel so rotten about it. I'm such a brat. Why was I thinking that I didn't want to have to wait for him to come pick me up? I've apologized like 27 times so far. He did say I owe him.

I complain way too much about Fred's piles and how long it is taking him to get the office and garage organized, but when I think about how he serves and sacrifices for me, his parents, my Dad and all he has done for our children I'm ashamed of myself. I can't think of anything that I do that begins to measure up to all that Fred does for others.

Fred is such a good man. He is so patient and kind with me even when I don't deserve it.

I'm so grateful he puts up with me. Especially days like yesterday.

4th of July & beyond

For the 4th of July we took a trip up to Corinne's. 

We started off with a trip to Toad's.

It's an arcade/amusement type place.

We started out in the indoor golf

Here is Spencer.

Garrett not golfing, but climbing. 

Grandpa Fred

Mommy Corinne

Grandpa Burke - Love the neon lights!

This is Corinne, my Dad and me.

This is Richard - just home from Scout Camp. He had a good time. 

Mr Henry

The boys were on this ride that gives you the motion of being in the race car.

Richard always has the best expressions. He is actually having a great time, but you wouldn't know that by his face. 

See......

Again........

Corinne's ward meets at 1:00. It was fast Sunday and these two boys fast. Richard is 12 and Garrett is 9. I am very impressed. I really did not hear either one complain at all. 

It is always fascinating for me to watch this family of boys. The way boys play and interact with each other. Once I grasped that boys are just boys and they are just the way they are. I get it.

Spencer spent the morning with this camera and my I pod. I suppose all children are adept at electronics, but since I'm not around them I have no sense of reference. BUT I was so impressed with how he maneuvered automatically without restraint. 

Grandpa Fred is always found in the midst of the boys. He is such a good grandpa.

I pretty much sat there and took pictures.

We took a walk down to their garden spot in their neighborhood.

Ben and Richard walked in their neighborhood to collect fast offereings.

After church, Fred wanted to take pictures of the family. We really need a good picture to hang on our wall at home. I have to post all of these pictures because it is just fun to watch the progression. 

Monday morning, Corinne made arrangements for my Dad to walk in their 4th of July parade. This is our hangout. It was hot. I live where it's hot, but I still can't stand to just be in it. I stay in the air conditioned places. So as soon as my Dad walked by Fred and I left. Thank goodness Dad was #10.

He passed by so quickly, that I barely got out of my chair and couldn't get my phone open to get a picture. These were taken by Fred.

I actually wore a hat.

We brought Richard and Garrett back to St. George with us for the rest of the week.

I went to work and Fred has grandson duty. I feed them dinner and Fred does everything else.

Grandpa Burke took Richard to the temple one evening to do Baptisms. I did comb Richard's hair. Richard likes to wear it messy. He is such a handsome boy. All of Corinne's boys are. 

I wouldn't say Richard was jumping for joy to go, but my Dad was really glad Richard was there to walk him through. The temple workers weren't helpful at all. Richard knew what was going on. 

This is a good age for the boys to be here with us. They are easy to feed and have liked what I have made. I'm really so thankful that Fred is so good to find things to do with the boys. 

I like to observe. I admit it. But maybe that's because they are boys. I don't do boy things.....

Movies and eating and a board game here and there are about all I'm good for. 

It's been a really good visit.