SURPRISE

So we shipped her off to school...got her settled...talked to her daily of the phone, and still, your minding your own business and out of now where...she shows up.

Summer hitched a ride to Arizona, (not a short trip) just to spend the weekend.

She and Jessica took the opportunity to do what they do best...take pictures of themselves...

Play with their horses...

try to look seductive (came out a little pathetic)...
Jump for joy that they have the best Mom...

and morn the loss of having to split up their clothes, leaving them with "NOTHING" to wear!

As my family shrinks, and comes and goes, its moments like this that make me smile.

Homecoming

<
So my last daughter has joined the ranks of school dance history. Jessica as you know from a previous post was asked to homecoming. The theme... "A Night Under The Big Top", whatever happened to "Magic under the Sea", "Time in a Bottle", a circus, seriously...whatever, she went and had a great time.


After the afternoon conference session, he came picked her up and they went and got pedicures...I know, sounds kinda weird...but secretly how many of us girls wish our man would whisk us off to have our toes pampered and painted...and join in the fun! I won't tell you who's toes were blue and who's were pink...Its a secret!
I think this young man is already learning the way to a girls heart! Then he, knowing the way to the parents hearts (or just a good kid) went to Priesthood session, giving Jessica time to primp and curl (or mom to curl).

then picked her up for dinner, the dance and then pie. Jessica only pretended to pin on the boutonniere...all my daughters are wimps and mom ends up doing it.

His mom made her corsage and it was beautiful

Aren't they cute!

Curses defined

So Arlon got the chance to buy 5 sets of tickets at the beginning of the baseball season. Now I am not a die hard fan... but I love that we can go to the game and everything you could possibly imagine to eat, is housed in this stadium. So we went, we lost, the next night they win, we go, THEY lost, the next night they win. This became the pattern. We were at Lake Powell for one set of the tickets, but just owning them, caused the D-backs to lose. We were given a set by a niece, we lost, the next night they won. Pretty soon all I was going for was the food, and believe me there is not to many low cal foods there, at least not that calls to you when your losing the game. But finally... we took our friends the Rays with us. Now I don't know if the curse was lifted or the Rays are just good luck charms, but we finally won a game we attended. And we even won by enough to rate TACOS! Unfortunately, it was a Saturday game so no tacos for us, but Yeah, the tide has turned. Too bad they only had one more home game. Better luck next year!

Joy defined

There are some things about motherhood that I won't miss as I finish the "raising" part of mothering. Whether or not the other kids will play with mine, whether or not to take them to the doctor when they run a fever, will they make the team, but mostly, will they get asked to the dance. I know its a dumb thing, but to girls it is so much more important than it is to boys. I know my daughter is beautiful, I know she is funny, so why do boys make you sweat it out. So another year another Homecoming dance...the room stays cleaner (in hopes it gets decorated) the door is answered much more quickly (in case its a drop off), and the mood swings are coming faster and faster....AND THEN...the doorbell rings.





at the front door a carton of "loaded" mint chocolate chip ice cream, with scoop attached and a note saying "Homecoming would be "loaded" with fun if you would go with me...so eat up.

The scoop is detached...

the ice cream is dumped into a bowl...

The note wrapped in plastic wrap is found

Surprise...(not, girlfriends talk) the smile finally comes and all is right with the world again.