FIRE HAZARD

Dang! 32 candles is a lot to fit on one cake. It's also a lot to blow out in one breath! I had a great weekend. My birthday was on Sunday and we basically celebrated all weekend. The kids each got me thoughtful presents, Kate even thought to get me a dozen roses! We ate at Olive Garden and enjoyed the movie, "Eagle Eye." Well, Mark did. I was in the hall most of the time resolving a fight between Ryan and Kate via cell phone. Yeah, Mark wasn't real happy when he got home. All in all, it was a fantastic weekend even if I have to be a year older!

Mark and me

I love this man dearly. He won't ever pose for a picture( and didn't take it seriously here) but I caught him when he was lighting all 32 candles on my cake so he couldn't escape. I think my kids should see a few pictures with their mom and dad both in them.

KateLyn's party

Poor KateLyn had to wait about 3 weeks after her birthday to have her party because of my dumb bike stunt. She was so excited for her party she could hardly stand it. This girl plans her birthdays for the coming year the day after she has a birthday! We took she and her giggly friends to the local Chucky Cheese knockoff. They had a lot of fun rock climbing, playing laser tag and chasing each other through the big play land.

The room we reserved for her was the Black Light room and so everything glowed in that room. Fun, but bad for pics.

She got some very fun presents including Polly Pockets and miniature horses. How come toys for girls that age are all about the size of a penny and have about 100 pieces? Mark just loves to step on those toys. Polly Pockets feel about as good as Legos when you step on them. We love you Kate and hope you had a fun time!

Here kitty, kitty!

Poor Kitty. Jeremiah just wanted to give him a kiss. :)Sorry Bes, I had to steal this from your blog. I love this picture!

Sorry

I should really apologize for being a lame blogger but I would have to do that about everyday.

Some things going on with us:
1. I went to the chiropractor today and it really seemed to help my battered body. Labor Day weekend I got the bright idea to ride a bike off a bike ramp into a lake at our family reunion. Needless to say, I forgot I wasn't 20 and in great shape and I had a spectacular crash in which I broke 2.5 inches off my tailbone and bruised a good portion of my legs. Yes, I am awesome.

2. Soccer season is upon us again and Ryan is really getting into it this year. I still watch most of the games from the playground where Zachy resides during the game.

3.The new season of Biggest Loser started last night. I LOVE that show!

4. KateLyn is finally going to have her birthday party this weekend. It had to be put off for weeks because of my brilliant stunt.

5. Brynn gets to have a sleepover at the school this week and she is way excited. She also banned my friend Amy and I from chaperoning. We would have fun.

6. Zachy and I are really having fun with the kids at school. He is getting a little more self sufficient all the time and he cracks me up.

7. My sisters are coming down on Friday and I can't wait!

8. Mark is a sweetie that has been taking care of me while working long hours.

Cool Article

I really liked this article today. (warning, political)

I have been tagged!

I have been tagged by my talented friend from the UK, Rachel. I love saying that I have a friend from the UK. Doesn't it sound so sophisticated? ;) As a side note, Rachel regularly sends me my favorite FOOD (yes chocolate is food to me) in the world, different versions of the Terry's chocolate orange. Ever since we were kids and you could only get the delicious orange shaped/flavored chocolate segments from England they have been my favorite. She just sent me a box with the most delightful flavors, mint and toffee! Yum! Thanks Rachel!

Back to the tag!

My 5 Most Influential Authors/ Reads....
I have a very eclectic and sometimes shallow subjects and authors I like to read. I often wonder when I read my Oprah magazine and she asks them to name their favorite reads why no one ever mentions say, Danielle Steel. :) I will try to be honest when I write my list.

1. As a child my most favorite author was Laura Ingalls Wilder. I adored and still adore her books. They set me up for a lifelong love of historical fiction, esp. 19th century novels and biographies. Along that same line, I loved John D. Fitzgerald's Great Brain books.

2. I like to read for escape and Lucy Maud Montgomery is tops for that. I love her victorian stories of Eastern Canada and Prince Edward Island. I like happy endings too and hers are usually good for that.

3. America's Women: Four Hundred Years of Dolls, Drudges, Helpmates, and Heroines by Gail Collins was a recent interesting read. I have a feminist streak in me and this book was fascinating to see how far we have come as women. I love to read biographies of woman as pioneers, whatever they may be pioneering.

4. I have read three recent books that have blown my mind. They are Escape by Carolyn Jessop, Shattered Dreams by Irene Spencer, and His favorite wife by Susan Ray Schmidt. They are modern, true stories of polygamy and they are horrifying. What these women lived through makes me grateful for my blessings every single day.

5. I like a lot of self help books, 7 habits of highly effective people being one as well as some by Dr. Phil and do I dare say Dr. Laura. I also like a lot of fluff and I used to love to read Lavyrle Spencer. I cried in more of her books. I have really enjoyed the Twilight series and resolve to get reading more!
Sorry if my books haven't been deep and profound but usually I like books that are escapes with nice, tidy, happy endings. :)

Where to start?

I have so much to say. I have stories to tell about our family reunion. (one of which involves me breaking my tailbone in spectacular fashion) I have so much to say about the Republican National Convention and Gov. Palin's rising star and rousing speech. Unfortunately, (or fortunately) I am tired and my butt hurts so I will post a picture instead. It's of my 74 year old Grandma that ripped off her oxygen and jumped on the zip slide. Go Grams! I want to be like you when I grow up!

Or THIS

If you read one political article today-

let THIS be it.

Little camping buddies