Tom's Birthday

Tom turned......

I wish I could say I baked this myself.

and another cake 

 (my Mother in law always makes him a German chocolate

and offers to have him come over and have her rock and sing him to sleep)

I got a case of the giggles just thinking about him curled up on her lap.

and his favorite pie from my sis

The birthday signs made it out and 

I texted him 41 things I love about him.

He liked that. 

I liked doing it.

One of the things that the girls gave him was this--

  it makes for a zippy fresh shower....it'll wake you up.

We picked it up at Bath and Body.

Tom's sister Ruth (sister #5) suggested that we

surprise him with a birthday cake during his golf game.

About right now I am 

wishing I had something more to surprise him with than

a store bought cake.

I am not sure why I am hiding

Ruth is probably wondering the same thing  ??

Oh, surprise it is my 

wife 

with her camera........   

.....and another cake       yay!

I still don't know why I am taking pictures
.....it is a store bought cake surprise.
Oh well, I like that Brian is giving me a smile.
It validates the camera I have in hand.

My Brother-in-laws were nice and obediently ate cake

 Mark Shill, T, Brian Ricks, Dave Collins, and Fred Ashby


Since I had the camera out--

I love this guy.   

I hope he felt how much we all love and appreciate him.

"Mama's Manners"

Every couple of years, my mother-in-law holds a special "Manners Evening"

for the current batch of teenagers 12 and older.

In this family kids come in batches

They receive an invitation by mail 

asking them to please come dressed in Sunday best. 

She puts a lot of effort into preparing a nice dinner and evening for them.

It is served on her china.

The Hosts

These servers will one day be invited to attend their own dinner,

 but first-- they must pay their dues.

Can I say, I love the bow ties...poor Meg doesn't quite look the part

After dessert 

Mama and Papa teach them some of their favorite old songs

"Down by the Old Mill Stream"

"Jello" 

"You are My Sunshine"

&

then they played the

candy bar game 

and 

"Matthew, Mark, Luke..."

Thank you to Ross and Anita for having such great traditions...they make a difference in the lives of your grandchildren and create lasting memories.

Ike is not so classy anymore

While running errands today,

Ike informed me that he is entering the "not so classy stage----

ya know when I am more interested in nerf wars, late-nights, and loud music."

So there.

Conference Weekend

I love love conference weekends.

As Ike put it, "We get to have church on the couch and eat."

Exactly

We missed the first session because of Meg's volleyball game, 

but were able to sit around as a family and watch the rest.  

My kids are finally at great ages to be able to do this....hang in there young moms.

Your day will come.

Cole told me that he could lay down--- like this --- and not fall asleep....uh huh.

So,  I broke out the candy Bingo board and that kept everyone awake.

Thanks for emailing this, Brooke

Ike apparently needed a boot cast on to watch conference. 

This contraption has a hold on both Meg and Ike.  

 I think next Christmas, they may both get a fake arm 

cast because it would get put to good use...all year long.

I guess when I was that age, I made fake braces out of paper clips.

In between sessions, we watched this.

After seeing the 25th anniversary performance, 

I had to read the book again.

I just have about 1,100 pages to go, not a quick read...but a worthwhile one.

When Cole and Summer were young,

Tom and I used to tell them the story of Jean Valjean for their tuck-ins.

 Now Meg and Ike are soaking up the story.  

I am so glad that the musical does it justice.

[Later in the evening]

We put a family volleyball game together

We can't get enough of volleyball around here.

I feel like I am a really good player, just because I watch them play so much.

 Meg coming between the engaged couple.

Tom taking a break after riding his dirt bike...

guess what he may be getting for his upcoming bday.

That's right

This relationship works because one of them is a good listener

My nephew Parker and his son Tillman.

I guess that makes me a great aunt.

Oh, I miss having a little guy this age

....not that this one isn't fun

Game and Lunch

First Volleyball game of the season.

Victoria and Meg..."best brace-faced friends."

Meg just got these beauties on last week.

Meg never missed a serve

She even did all of them over-hand

She is on a pretty good little team that won all 3 games today.

At Meg's level of volleyball, 

you must sit back & relax---there isn't a lot of action.

This would be the look Isaac was sporting today.

(This is what happens with your youngest)

After the game, we hit Moreno's

(NW corner of Broadway and Horne)

Yummy street tacos and vampiros (mini-tostadas)

 Bottomless pit 

 Ike is smiling because he was big 

and ate something with onions on it.

Big...I mean HUGE deal for him...earned him a high 5 from Dad.