Oh so much to report!

Let's see . . . had lots of friend dates last week, threw a mini baby shower, attended another shower, had a great birthday/anniversary weekend, Jeff has a new job, and am getting ready for

STOP. "What?!!" "What's that?" you say? Yes, Jeff does indeed have a new job! We are excited. We've known for about a week now I think. It has been a long process as he has searched for a new job - a roller coaster. Post resume. Get bites. Interview. Get verbal offer. Don't hear anything. Don't get job after all. Interview and calls for second job. Say they want to bring him in. Don't hear back. No interview after all. Interview for third place (one of the original bites and three recruiters for same job later). 2nd interview. 3rd interview. Verbal offer. Don't hear anything again. Hear they have to interview some other person. Finally hear a firm verbal offer. And papers are sent and signed and two weeks notice put in at other job.

We feel very grateful that we have this new job. It will be a better situation and better money. And who can argue with that?

Jeff's new job will be downtown. It is with a company called PING IDENTITY. They will be paying for him to ride the light rail and I am excited Jeff will get some extra time to read or do computer work every day. We aren't moving at this point - though a move is very possible for the future. We'll see. I don't really want to move. Love Highlands Ranch. Love my ward. Kind of need a different space though for raising kids. We'll see.

So Saturday morning, a package is dropped off. I wonder if it is for my birthday - but it is addressed to Jeff so I don't think so.

It is . . . .



A WELCOME basket from the new company!!! How nice! This is a first for us! And I have to say . . . I have always dreamed of someone sending me a basket like this. Is that pathetic??? It's true though!!!! I've always wanted one. Dreams really do come true y'all!

I had a really great birthday/anniversary. Jeff and I had a really nice date (and Mary did beautifully with Grandpa Charles and GrammE), I got to spend some time with good friends and I got some great gifts! I'd share all my gifts with you, but then I'd just feel spoiled and undeserving (both of which I am). But I will say that I got to wear one of them to church yesterday . . .

SQUEAL SQUEAL!!! (It's the necklace from "My latest obsession" post.)

and I even got some chocolate cake (well actually twice. well actually . . . nevermind) courtesy of the best visiting teachers on the planet (Cathryn Grover and Lisa Crellin). They got it from NOTHING BUNDT CAKES. Yea, it was freakin' delish!

Here are some more pics from the past week.
Love,
A


Met one of my bestest friends Heather and her kids at the Botanic Gardens at Chatfield.





Katie's Shower
Met J and kids for a picnic in the park! Here is my nephew whose birthday is just two days after mine.


And I got to spend one last day with Beckie and her chilluns before they headed back home. Sure love them so much and how they dote on Mary.




And my Jeffie . . . a familiar scene - playing with Mary.
She's been doing this squinting thing a lot lately. I have no idea what she is trying to tell me. But I sure think it's cute.

Beckie's Surprise

So Beckie and her family got into town late last Friday night for a 2 1/2 week visit! Our entire family is thrilled. We have had so much fun already and have lots of plans while she is here . . . a family photo, get-togethers, etc. But I was most excited about one event in particular.

Beckie's best friend, Christina, told me this Spring that she was pregnant again and that she wanted to keep it a secret from Beckie until she came to visit. So this whole time I've kept it from everyone in my family (except Jeff and - only recently - Jennifer - with Christina's permission. Also, on accident I had labeled some photos that I gave to my Mom "4th of July and Christina's shower" so I had to tell her so she would keep it secret too).

Well, Christina had her baby on Saturday and we decided to reveal the secret on Sunday afternoon after church.

I had coordinated with Jennifer to keep Beckie at her place after church (Beckie went to her ward). I left Mary with Jeff, drove to Jen's, we blind-folded her, and hopped into the car and drove to Skyridge Medical Center.

Beckie had guessed that Christina had something to do with this surprise, but she thought it might have to do with her birthday on Monday. Still blind-folded, we took her up the elevator to the second floor. She remembered the smell since she delivered two babies there and said "Are we in a hospital?". Then right as we came up to Christina's room she asked, "Did Christina have a baby??!". Then we stepped into the room and lifted the blindfold. And there to Beckie's surprise was Christina in a hospital bed and her husband to her left holding their newest little baby, Charlotte.

Beckie was definately surprised! I think she almost cried. It was a pretty neat moment. I was glad I got to be a part of it.

It was so much fun orchestrating a surprise! They don't happen very often and I just was so excited planning it! It was fun to tease Beckie too.

Anyway, I didn't get to share any of the details of the shower I threw for Christina because we were keeping it a secret from my family, so I thought I'd share some now.

We decided the theme would be ABC because Christina's girls are Avery, Brielle, and the third was/is Charlotte. I had made ABC blocks (which is an entire post by itself) and lettered sugar cookies for the guests to take home that started with their first initial. I made a cool veggie pizza (this was the biggest hit), a fruit salad, some artichoke dip, and brought some boursin with crackers and also a cake. I ran out of time to make the bruschetta, but I think we had enough food. Christina also made some mini pigs in the blanket. The cake was made by Child's Bakery. Isn't it amazing???

We did a few shower games. The first was baby pictionary. It was probably the best shower game I've ever witnessed. I think everyone had fun. And we also did a game asking questions about Christina.


I really like throwing showers. I've thrown several in my life . . . one for Tara Smith, Heather Lacy, Julie Gedge, Beckie, and now Christina. Many of those years I didn't have any kids yet, but I'd like to think I was being motherly in my own way ; )

Yay for showers, friends, babies, sisters, surprises, and all the good things of life! Le Chaim!!!

Father's Day Weekend

We had a nice weekend. On Friday, I posted this on facebook . . .
"Yay for upstanding, hardworking, and honorable men! This Father's Day, I'm so grateful - not only for my own father and father-in-law - but for a good husband who is fiercely loyal to his wife and baby."
I truly am very blessed to have these men in my life.
My husband Jeff with baby Mary


My Dad and me


Charles (my FIL)and Jeff


Anyway, so we had a full weekend. Saturday morning I went to Colorado Star Ball (a ballroom dance competition) to see my friend Annabel compete. She took first in all the dances in her division - PreBronze Newcomer! Doesn't she look stunning?


Then Jeff and Mary and Me drove up to Estes for a visit to Jeff's parents. We had a nice time. Here are some pics!

Mary snugglin' with GrammE





The "Old Folks At Home" (I can say this because as we were leaving, they called themselves "Old Folks" : )

And then we had church on Sunday and then a family get together at my folks' house.
Fun times!
Sassy Hannah (neice)


Emma (neice) lookin' so different since they discovered her thyroid issues.