happy day!!!

This is the day we've been waiting to arrive! The first day back to school! I know I am extremely happy! Yes, I do LOVE my kids but there is something to be said about spending 3 entire months with them-day in , day out...we needed a break from each other and here we are at last with that break! The kids were all VERY excited to get to school this morning. They all lucked out and got great teachers and classes with their friends. I am now sitting in a quiet house (Jenna is off playing quietly with herself...I think?) And I am going to clean and work out! Before I sign out, I must say that Noah and Bailey were both embarrassed by my presence in their classroom and shooed me out quickly! SAD! BTW-Bailey is in 5th, yes 5th grade!!!!! Noah is in 3rd and Sam is in 1st grade. Jenna will start preschool after Labor Day! Hope all of you have a WONDERFULLY HAPPY DAY!!!!!

Where are the Farmers now?

Party at Shellie's house the night before the reunion with our families. BBQ, pool party, water slide!

Kelly and I (Met in CT in 1992 when we were nannies. Her husband, Darrion grew up with my Kelly!)

After 20 years, where has life led the graduates of Granite High, class of 89? (The Farmers) Kelly just had his 20 year reunion! Last night I got to see first hand what everyone looked like not because I knew them then but because they each had a name tag with their senior picture on it! It was hilarious to see all the mullets and perms with high bangs!!! I know, I'm next and yes there were plenty of perms in my day but it was still fun to laugh at the 80's. They held the reunion at Market Street Grill in Sandy. They had a live band playing 80's music and a big screen playing Ferris Bueller's Day Off!!! Kelly really only keeps in contact with a few close friends so I don't think he knew or recognized many people last night but there were a few that he was especially happy to see. My favorite part was seeing my good friend Kelly Bowers. She is married to Kelly's best buddy Darrion (see triathlon picture). It was great to see their kids, to chat and catch up and have someone to stand with at the reunion! We laughed as we watched one of the girls from Kelly's class flirting her best with him, not once but at least 3 times!!! She kept going up to him and getting in his "personal space". Can you believe the NERVE!!!! I was a little bugged! There was also some pretty interesting dancing going on. Now that was fun to watch! I think there were a few a little "toasted". Anyway, it was a well organized, fun evening and Kelly is very lucky to have such wonderful friends! I love to see him with them after all these years! It was a great weekend!

Jenna was watching me cut up sweet potatoes for dinner. As I placed the slices on the pan she said, "Mom, you're a hero!"

Kelly asked me who Sam got as a teacher for 1st grade and Jenna cut in saying, "I know who Sam has, he has the wolf!" (Mrs. FOX)

a perfect ending...goodbye summer!

Bailey's favorite things to do is beach comb. This was a good find! She was so happy!

The Spackmans

On board a real submarine!

Petting the Bat Rays!

WWII Monument. This is a gigantic statue!

La Jolla

Coronado Beach

My midlife crisis car-Porsche Speedster!

Parting is such sweet sorrow! Yesterday we had to tear ourselves away from the beach in La Jolla and say goodbye to our wonderful friends at the same time! The Spackman's are moving to Aix, France and we won't see them until our visit in April. We had such a great family vacation with them in San Diego!!! It was our "grand finale" to summer and it was bliss! The kids soaked up plenty of sun while enjoying some of their favorite friends! I loved watching their sweet expressions, the way they were fully entranced by the sand and sun and all the attractions. Now we have to prepare ourselves for school. Fun.

There is too much to cram into this post so I will highlight as usual. Here goes...

Walking, rollerblading, and riding scooters down boardwalk on Pacific beach-lots of crashes but no one was suriously injured!

Breakfast at Kono's. The best french toast EVER! Cheap, tasty eats!!!!

Boogie boarding. Kelly was a natural and couldn't get enough! Brandon and Kelly were out in the water more than our kids! Noah and Bailey gave it a shot and really enjoyed catching the waves!

Amazing sea weed/kelp art jewelry made by two clever girls named Bailey and Sophie!

Sand so soft it was like walking in flour!

PERFECT moderate weather-made lines at Sea World pleasant and our beach stay longer.

Meeting in the lobby of hotel at 10:30 P.M. with Brandon and Jill. Ate Cheesecake Factory Mud Pie and laughed our guts out. Yes, I was crying! We stayed till 1:00 A.M.

Planning our futures on the beach...trips are in the works, as usual!

Gelato-need I say more?

Anthony's Sea Food Grotto!!!! Fresh fish, calamari, clam chowder oh my!

Shamu, Sea Lion show, Cirque de la Mer show, Bat Rays, Atlantis ride, winning lots of stuffed walruses.

Trader Joe's run. I bought 25 packs of their "Just Bananas" dried bananas that Kelly LOVES and 10 boxes of their frozen chocolate croissants plus a lot of other great things. The guy checking me out was looking at me funny and asked if I was shipping this to someone. hahahah! I love that store!

Tour of three old ships in harbor-submarine, ship used in movie Master and Commander, and the Star of India. Kids LOVED it!

Get away with the girls

A couple of cast members afer the play!

Wendy, Pam, Lisa

Dinner at Pickleville Playhouse

A hop, skip and a jump from the house.

Myrna getting lost in her book or sleeping?

Since summer has begun I have had little if any time to myself..all alone, just me. I didn't know how wonderful it could be to hang out by myself for a whole day before meeting the girls up at Bear Lake! I shopped the sales for school clothes for my four and found a few little things for ME! It was really peaceful, relaxing, and just plain WONDERFUL! No one was hurrying me or talking to me while I was trying to find just the right stuff. I loved it! I started in SLC and worked my way to Park City then I drove from there to the lake. I turned up my music really loud and snacked on a sticky bun from whole foods (my favorite), called people, then just got lost in my thoughts. I got to Bear Lake in time to go to the hot pots with Kelly's mom, sisters, and nieces.

predicures

shakes

run

craft fair

movies

Annie Get Your Gun

sand

books

raspberries

pictures

Thanks ladies for another great girl's weekend!