Today I was born

if I rewind thirty-three.
This is a day I love most
since I feel kinda fancy.

I've always loved my birthday--
sorta feel like a queen.
'Cause it's mine and I relish
not having to clean (much).

My good husband spoils me
with love poems he writes.
And my children smother me
with homemade art and hug-tights.

There's always good food
and guaranteed sugar,
So life as a queen
just keeps getting better.

Phonecalls from my family
simply make my day.
It's just altogether good,
I'd have to say.

So I don't mind the aging,
Like cheese and fine wine--
It's the fermentation
that really makes us shine...

I'm obviously indulgent
Since this poem is all me.
But, I'm aging, so be gentle
on this old, decrepit queen.

{P.S. I've been known to rhyme other things as well: Here, here, here and here.}

Birthday Dinner at BJ's

Gavin was in fine form this evening.

Happy Birthday, to me.

Behold...

...our Arizona monsoon summer nights.

Our first break

Another one of the exciting things that happened while we were in Utah was when Mr. T fractured his arm...Frankly, I'm surprised it hadn't happened sooner to one of our three, rambunctious boys! He was super-brave and thinks his cast is pretty neat.

Cache Valley Dairy - Utah

In a little town called Beaver, UT, can be found a hidden treasure called the Cache Valley Dairy. We like to stop their on our route, to pick up some "squeaky cheese" and stare at the cows while we eat ice cream.

Oh, and just a nice little peacock couple on a date.

I love the country.

Family Photo Shoot - Utah

This is us out to lunch with my big brother, Jason. While we were in Utah, he did a photo shoot for our family and we love the outcome. Thank you Jason!!

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Nova Scotia, Canada

While we were in Utah, Steve stayed and played with our kids and extended family, and my sister and I were off for 5 days to visit our parents on their mission in Nova Scotia!

The following are Inside Jokes recorded for our benefit, because no one else would get it:

* The revelation about the Xray vision @ security
* People movers & almost missing our gate
* The Pecan Bear Caramel Apple catastrophe
* The Pecan Bear Caramel Apple version 2.0
* The Mega Plane and all its amenities
* The "nasty" incident which brought us to weeping with our laughter

After 11 hours of travel, we finally made it!

Day One--Mission Office, Canadian Dollar Store (!), Halifax, and Peggy's Cove

In their apartment, enjoying one of Michael's superfood, healthy breakfasts.


Mama at her post as Very Important Person in the Mission Office (in her P-day clothes)


We forgot to take a picture, so....
INSERT MEMORY OF SUPER DOLLAR STORE {here}
It was saweet...even though they don't take anything but Loonies and Toonies and other Canadian currency....{Inside joke}

Halifax



This is a real figurehead. You know, they put these on the front of ships. Just the beginning of Nautical sightings on this trip.

Peggy's Cove--gorgeous, rocky, WINDY, breathtaking

Across the street from Paul and (Paul's wife)'s house. {Don't you love inside jokes?}

INSERT MEMORY OF BEST ICE CREAM EVER {here}

OH, ALSO INSERT MEMORY OF THE QUAINT DRIVE HOME FROM THE COVE {here}

Day Two--Prince Edward Island and the long journey to get there

A ferry that one might ride if they wanted to leave for the island at 9:30am....that wasn't us--so close! We waited here for the next one @ 11:15...

Then, some of us were already tuckered. We just got started folks!

Mom and I held down the fort, er, ferry.

I love you, Mom.

My poor hair. You know, the island wind.

Our first sight of PEI.

A certain someone {aka me} screamed for the Michael to stop the car so we could get a photo-op at this obliging mustard field. What?! A mustard field! This place is the capitol of Quaint. Then entire drive was a combination of rolling green (and yellow!) hills, farmhouses with clotheslines, Bed & Breakfasts, and trees for miles. I don't know if my mom, sis and I are old souls or what, but we loved all of it.

Hello, Anne with an "e".

In front of Lucy Maud Montgomery's cousins house. The inspiration behind her famous Green Gables location for the Anne books. Oh, hello Wind.

Modern women & vintage home.

I wanted to bring these fantastic doors home with me.

Gift shop fun. You, too, can become Anne for a nominal price.

Please tell me that someone remembers the part in the book (movie)
where Anne accidentally gets her kindred spirit, Diana, drunk.

We got to try some of the intended drink, Raspberry Cordial, and, yum!

Avonlea Village

I really like these light fixtures in this schoolhouse. I think I saw those in Pottery Barn...

This is the Confederation Bridge, the longest bridge in the world. We crossed it coming back from the island.

Day Three--Fisherman's Wharf in Eastern Passage.

Really scrumptious lunch at Wharp Wraps.

Did I mention the wind?

I just kind of adored all these colorful little shops.

This is the part where we went to a really rocky beach.

And found really neat rocks.

I didn't really know I was into rocks until now.

Papa Seagull.

The missionaries.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sidenote:

I haven't mentioned my sister's allergic reaction on this trip. It started the night of PEI and just got worse...She was a trooper, though.

"Uh, Christi, don't you want to go home? You just took that Benedryl and you're getting puffier..."

"No, no. Let's just go see one more..."

Owie. By the time we got home on Sunday, after our 11 hour journey back to Salt Lake, her entire face was swollen. Poor sister. We took her straight from the airport to the ER and found out she is allergic to raw pecans!! The (funny) thing is that we were eating raw pecans like they were going out of style while we were with our parents. Oopsie.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Overall, the trip was so beautiful, gorgeous, cool, windy, GREEN, and quaint. It was so good to see our parents and see where they live and serve-- and we made good memories.

At one point, my sister and I were standing on the rocks at Peggy's Cove, overlooking the Atlantic and said to each other, "When would we have ever come here? Nova Scotia. Who knew?"