31 is totally the new 23

So, I'm 31 today and this picture depicts how it could feel--over the hill and heading down.
However, this is how I still feel about my birthdays:

Really happy--and wishing I had a tiara to wear all day. I really like my birthday and still think I'm a kid when it comes to this day. Also, this year is kinda special because it's my Golden Birthday (31 on the 31st). So, seriously, can someone please hand me my golden tiara?? This is me and my little bro, Jared, on our birthday many moons ago. (We share the same day--exactly one year apart! Happy 30th brother!).

Um, so as I was typing this post, my cute Paige went and made me a tiara to wear!! I love that girl. (She also took this photo.)

Thirty-one years, and here are my favorite accomplishments!

Steve came home from work early today with a baby-sitter in tow and said, "Alright, let's go!" I didn't know where we were going until we drove up to a spa, and he let me know I had an appointment for a massage! Then, a divine dinner at my fave, Cheesecake Factory. Then back home for cake and gifties! I love birthdays!!!!

Congrats Ashley & Tua!

We had a whirlwind trip to Provo this weekend for my neice, Ashley's wedding! Just Paige, Gavin and I went. Paige got to be an honorary flower girl and I was on decorating help and hair duty! She married a sweet guy named Tua, who is part Tongan, so it was a big Tongan feast and party!!

Those are Ashley's six sisters on her right (well, little Lindsay is there in the corner)

Her hair turned out quite beautiful, I thought. (Krista, hair guru, what do you think?)

The gorgeous couple who belong on some island somewhere.

I just snapped away while the real photographer was doing her thing.

Paige and her cousin, Shelby. (Love those curls!!) I love you Ash!The Owens representation at the wedding.A little post-wedding free time! (Paige with twin cousins, Derek and Devin)This is the traditional wedding attire in the Tongan culture. They changed into this for the reception.
Boogying down to the Polynesian music.

Flyin' home with my homies. Paige LOVED being in an airplane and Gavin was the perfect baby passenger (NO crying--can you believe it?)

Kitchen Crew

My kids love, love to help me in the kitchen. Usually when I start preparing dinner or they see me getting out the baking ingredients, I hear chimes of "I wanna help!" followed by the screeching sound of them scooting chairs to the counter.Paige and I making Peanut Butter Frosting--our fave! Paige's new thing is whippin' up fruit smoothies with whatever she can find. 3 little aprons in a row.
Sometimes I just give Preston a bowl of flour and a spoon and off he goes for lots of messy fun.
We made sugar cookies for Family Home Evening a few weeks ago, and here they are in all their glory. ( Wondering about the blue hats?? They are actually booties that the carpet cleaner gave us to use after he shampooed our carpets--now they are multi-purpose.)

Precious

I want me some of these little treasures--one for each kiddo. Too bad I'm too cheap. But aren't these darling? Check out Lisa Leonard's website here. {I know, my maiden name--but not me.}

Story Lady

Lisa --

[noun]: A master of storytelling

'How" will you be defined in the dictionary?' at QuizGalaxy.com

Atleast my children agree!! Check it out--see how your name is defined!

**ADDENDUM***: Okay, this site is not what I thought it was. I just realized that it gives a different random "definition" each time you type in your name. The second time I typed my name, it said, "Smelling of turnips at all times." and the next was "A person who falls into an outhouse and dies." ....see what I mean? I thought for some reason, it was a bonafide "name meaning" thing. Oh well. I guess I'll have to go through my old "baby name"books and find out my destiny.....tee-hee.

Biggest Waste of Time Ever

Having a productive day? Heaven forbid! This site should stop you in your tracks.

1983

Farrah Fawcett meets Pioneer Child meets Bob Ross who painted the background.

Rewind--Gavin's Blessing Weekend

Sorry for the constant rewinding, but I have to catch up on events for my posterity :) Gavin's blessing weekend (in April) was a whirlwind of activities. They are as follows:

My parents and sister and brother-in-law came in for the weekend. We went to a session at the Mesa Temple.

Steve and I posed for the paparazzi--we can rarely escape them.
Paige had a volleyball game--she got it over the net and returned a serve! YAY!
Steve subbed as coach for this game.

Our resident "yell-leaders" for the Wildcats.

A very fun ride home jamming to Gwen Stefani's "Sweet Escape". Our Stake production of "Joseph and the Amazing...." (More pics are in an earlier post somewhere)
Many delicious items were prepared for the after-blessing gathering---this was not one of them. And, despite her presence in the photo, I must clear my dear sister of any participation in this horiffic creation. (I will give special recognition to anyone who can guess what this was intended to be.)Now, this is how you make a dessert!

And now for the star of the show--Gavin Benjamin!

So, far, Steve is the only "ham" as far as the male gender goes in our family. The other XY's are not as enthusiastic about pictures.

Vegas, Baby!

A few weeks ago, the kids and I tagged along on Steve's business trip to Las Vegas. We went out to lunch and played at parks while he was in meetings. The rest of it was good ol' fashioned family time. This is the hotel where we stayed. It had a Kids Suite which was fantastic with the jungle theme and kids beds, and their own TV, etc. We went to the dolphin and tiger exhibit at the Mirage which was very cool. ( Too bad we had to walk through the entire casino to get there--like everything else in Vegas)


These are the baby tigers in their "play room" which the kids were happy to observe from the outside.

Before & After

So, Gavin's room is the first one I've completely finished since we moved into this house. It's such a happy, baby boy room. He and I spend lots of time in the chair in the corner and we love it!

Before

After

He likes it too! (Thank you Terri for this darling towel you made!)