Racing the Horses

Another great year at The Races!

Thanks to everyone who came over and made the night. It's been eight consecutive years of serious competition. This year Lancelot took the race and Lorum Ipsom bet his way to a prize. Ben and I are grateful for such great people in our lives. Even though I am among friends, I still get insanely nervous every time I am called up to race! I'll never get over it.

Beth (aka Lancelot), our Grand Prize winner.

I think it was around 10pm that the effects of drinking about 12 abandoned drinks and leftover cupcakes took-over little Eden's body as she suddenly started to scream uncontrollably; she stopped - as if I had pushed a mute button - the second her head touched her pillow. I think I was the same way about 4 hours later.

The girls were put to bed, lights out and way way too late, when they started to cry that they were "soooooo hungry". I insisted they were just tired. But their insisting won out my insisting and they came downstairs for a midnight dinner. They were so sweet - refusing anything with sugar, just had a little chili and stumbled their way to bed. I am in love with them.

Paddle Boarding

Last night, the girls from The Mandate and I went out to celebrate Jeannie's upcoming nuptials. Brooks took us all Paddle Boarding at a reservoir near Park City. It was absolutely beautiful; the water was glass and there were baby deer nearby. Yes, baby deer.

Brooks gave me a 1 minute tutorial in the icy water and sent me on my way. I loved it immediately.

It was a great time. Thanks to Brooks for putting it all together.

Jeannie, the bride-to-be.

State Fair

Again, no pictures really taken. We were busy high-tailing it from one ride to the next (we got there late) and Ben, as he worked his way through all of the fine fair fare, told us to just call him Templeton.

Dear Self-Proclaimed Blog Stalker,

Is the second letter of your first name A? Is the fourth letter of your last name M?

Then yes, I am talking to you.

Ben tells me communication has been a little one-sided as of late.

It's not fair.

So, consider this your personal invitation to come over one night (or two, or three) next week.

We'll all have dinner. And yes, if you insist, we can start another Connect Four Championship.

Ben and I love you and the girls don't even know you! And that makes me sad.

We need to change that.

Email me or Ben, pronto.

Ode to Jake

Happy Birthday to Jake!

We got to have a rushed - and I mean rushed - party for Jake on Sunday afternoon. He had a photo shoot in Albion that evening ("Albion? Where's Albion? Right by Declo, of course.").

My mom brought "the party" over to our house in her car. Bless her heart.

I honestly don't know what I would do without Jake. He is one of the best friends I have ever had. He works down here a lot and we get to have him stay with us - sometimes weekly. We even transform the Toy Room into what I like to call "The Chateau."

I am grateful for him and for always getting me to laugh harder than I had all week. It is so nice to have someone around who "gets you." Everyone needs someone like that and I am glad to have Jake.

Great to be Eight

This weekend has been all about Téa.

And with good reason. We had a birthday and a baptism all within one day of each other.

It all started with a big jump - very early - onto our bed, hoping to spot the African Dwarf Frogs she had so desperately hoped for. We made her sweat it out a bit, but eventually pulled the little guys out.

That was followed by being VIP in class (large poster needed) and cupcakes delivered.

Followed by her main birthday request - to be dropped off at her dad's shop to spend the day working for him. . . with a change of clothes ("Very important, Mom.").

Followed by a (very hyper) "Late Night" with 2 friends.

Followed by a baptism the next day.

I'm tired.

Commercial Break:

When the cat's away, the mice will play.

Eden finally got her chance near the frogs after Téa left for school.

And. . . back to Téa:

Sweet Téa

My baby turned 8. It is all going too fast.

It was just yesterday that I was walking into the water to be baptized, worrying that my dress would come up. And it was just yesterday that I met a cute boy in Idaho named Ben. It was just yesterday that we sat silently on our couch with bottles of root beer staring at our 2-day-old baby sleeping in her car seat on the coffee table - not quite sure what to do next. It was just yesterday that it was winter and the little 3-year-old ran around the house in her bathing suit just in case it warmed up. And now it was just yesterday that she was baptized.

I am so proud of her and love her even more than yesterday.