Today was a beautiful day!!

As most of you know, I have been recovering from what I like to call a "maintenance procedure". I have been in bed or on the couch for the past two weeks. The last couple of days I have been feeling much better and started to yearn to be outside, have lunch out, and take a ride in David's truck. We grabbed lunch and then took a fifteen minute drive from our house to Big Cottonwood Canyon. I couldn't help but take a couple of photos and just take in the fresh air. I noticed so many small things today that I usually just skip right over on my way to complete my to do list. However, today I noticed it all in my 45 minute luxury. I loved seeing my hanging flower baskets; I loved hearing my wind chimes in the front tree branches; I loved seeing and waving to the neighborhood kids as they came home from school; I enjoyed putting on sunglasses, sipping on a fountain drink and smiling at my favorite care giver who has been so attentive to me. And to make the day even more perfect, I bought the new Barry Manilow CD. Just call me if you want to borrow it.

Best Birthday Ever

I loved my birthday this year. I have been celebrating for four days straight. It started Thursday with dinner with Joel, Julie, and Maddie at the Olive Garden. They presented me with a new camera from all of my children. It is so wonderful. Thank you, children, for your thoughtfulness and sacrifice. I love it so much. You will be seeing more pictures and pages done now. Will, Kelly and boys had us over for dinner on Friday. We barbecued chicken, corn and asparagus, then feasted on cupcakes from our favorite bakery in American Fork. It is the one that puts the frosting on as thick as the cake is tall. It is fabulous. Saturday was spent with friends. Larry, Lisa, Steven, and Lorri stopped by for a visit and we all decided to take the dirt road over Guardsman Pass into Midway to attend Swiss days. A road trip with these guys is always great. We hurried home to go out with our dear friends, Jim and Connie. We tried a new restaurant downtown and we even dressed up which made it seem like it was a real occasion. The celebrations ended with dinner at Paul and Bree’s house on Sunday evening. Rikki and Seth joined us there. We had stuffed manicotti with all of the trimmings, and a very beautiful birthday cake (Thanks Bree and Nicole, it was outstanding). Abby directed us in Birthday Bingo, which she won and so did Livvy. The celebrations and dinners were all so very fun and appreciated. I would like to say thank you to my children, family members, friends, and the love of my life, David, for making me feel so special this year. I loved the phone calls, sentiments, cards, gifts, and spending time with everyone. I am a very blessed woman to have heard from all my children on my birthday. Thank goodness for "IN" minutes on Verizon so Jessica and Audrey and I could talk so long. Families are what it is all about and I have a very very incredible one.