Happy 42nd Claudia!!!

I posted this for Missy Claudia's birthday last year, but added another feature to it for this year.


She has beautiful, expressive eyes.
She loves traveling, especially to Europe.
She loves white linen clothes.


Her cute boys are always dressed alike.
She loves to hang out and chat for hours.
She LOVES to shop and can always find many bargains.
She is super generous with her time, talents and money.


She and Alfredo are a great couple, even during rough patches.
She keeps in touch with people all over the world.
She LOVES her family and serves them well.
She is a dutiful daughter.


She loves the beach.
She speaks 4 languages!
She has no inhibitions at all.
She tries to haggle over prices at Nordstroms! (I almost died the first time I saw her do this over a pair of huge earrings.)


She loves paper and stationery as much (or more) than even I do! (This is a very endearing quality.)
She loves to go to the movies and talks a lot during them.


She loves beautiful magazines.
She has a gorgeous home, but would rather be out and about. (I don't understand this at all.)


She's an excellent hostess and has cozy bedding and luxurious towels.
She considered naming her first son D'Artagnan.
She wants to have a room full of pillows in her future mansion.



She loves wearing navy blue and white. (Whenever I see clothes with these colors together I ALWAYS think of her.)


She looks like an heiress when she's all made up and ready to go out.
She goes to Disneyland once a week just to walk around.
She is incredibly easygoing.


She's a great cook.
She has a natural talent for making her home beautiful, yet comfortable.
She knows how to clean exceptionally well.


She loves to drive, and drives fast and crazy (she's often on the phone, eating and doing her nails at the same time.)
She loves living in California.
We call each other Missy (as in Missy Jill, Missy Claudia, the reason why is too long to tell).


She's a patient and loving mother.
She loves to wander Barnes & Noble, especially the magazine section.
She loves high fashion and anything expensive (how are we friends again?)
She often uses the word "tasty".


She loves Paper Source as much as I do.
She is a great friend!
When she wrote her list of 100 things about herself she ended up with 190 things!
She had a really rough 40th year but will have a great 41st!


She had an even rougher 41st, but hopefully will have a better 42nd year!


She loves sending and receiving cards and letters and considers them a gift. (She has sent me cards with hardly any writing in them just because she thought the card was so pretty.)

Happy Birthday Missy,
I hope you have a wonderful day!

Post by Kristi

My new Women's Conference tradition is to hijack Jill's computer on the first morning and post about her wonderful bed and breakfast.
The only reason that I am up before her is because my clock is 2 hours ahead. Which is great because I feel like I got to sleep in but still have extra quiet time in the morning. (not one person hit me on the head today saying "I want chocolate milk and a show!")
Last night she gave me such a wonderful gift - she came inside the airport to pick me up. No curbside pick up. I think coming into the airport is a lost art because airports are really only made now for those coming on going not those with signs and balloons like they used to be. So I was so thrilled when she popped out of no where with her camera and greeted me off the escalator. (photo taken with my camera, which is why it is so blurry!)coming into her home is a gift beyond no other. It smells so wonderful and everything has a place. When I laid down on her wonderful comfy couches two seconds later she was covering me with wonderful quilt (that Michelle made for her). She knows how to take care of her friends.

one of the other darling gifts she gave me was putting up photos in her house of our last years trip together. This was sitting in the room I am sleeping in.

and this one on the fridge. It just brought back all the memories of last year and gets me, as Jill would say, Giddy just thinking about how great this weekend will be.

So, I will give Jill her blog back (I think I hear her stirring) and just say, there is no one in the world like her, no one! I sit in her wonderful creative space and the air is thick and full of love. Surrounding the computer are all the gifts that her readers have sent her, notes, mini mailboxes, frames, cards, ribbons, stamps, photos - she cherishes them all and all of her readers.

oops here she comes........
Kristi

Insane or Awesome?

{Click to enlarge at your own risk.}

I must say I am out of control with my guest-prep cleaning, but am enjoying the motivation because I am tackling things that usually never get checked off my to-do list. I started working on things on Monday so I wouldn't be crazy today (Kristi flies in tonight), but my house is currently a wreck (a clean wreck, but still).


I borrowed my mom's carpet cleaning machine and did the family room, dining room and office yesterday. After cleaning everything in the kids' room, I was able to clean their carpet as well. This will be Kristi's guest suite (it has a bathroom) so I really want it to be good. She has to sleep on squeaky bunk beds, so at least everything could be clean so she isn't fearing residual kid-drool, candy-covered floors or worse.


I finally cleaned off the desk in the kitchen. No matter how much I try it still gets piled with papers from school and church, mail, coupon books and Whitney's art. I sorted through everything yesterday and was embarrassed by how much went into the recycling bin. (If we didn't need it, why was it sitting there for so long?)


While doing some serious dusting (as in walls, with the vacuum attachment and so on) I took down my ribbon board and reloaded it with more recent good mail. I always enjoy a change of scenery and a less-cluttered look. Do you see anything from you on there?


The weather is cooperating beautifully this week so I've been able to have all the windows open. I love the fresh air and the breeze because it makes everything nice inside and keeps me from overheating. I'm also loving this view from my kitchen window (not the car so much). All the flowers blooming in our flower bed are courtesy of Michelle's fall planting, so it is all a fun surprise to me. What a great gift!


I think I look like a Muppet when I make this face, but didn't notice that until I loaded it onto the computer so I'm not taking another one.

I have no business sitting down to blog right now (except that I was eating a bowl of cereal for lunch), because I fear I'll lose my momentum. Wish me luck!

**Have you done any major spring cleaning yet?
Do you love it when you finally get
motivated to tackle your to-do list?
Are you ever sore after cleaning?**

State of Affairs

I am in a whirlwind of activity here as I prepare for Michelle and Kristi to come stay with me for Women's Conference later this week. There's nothing quite like prepping your house for guests to bring every intended project, dust ball, wall scuff and ratty wash cloth to your attention is there? It doesn't matter that they don't care about those things, the problem is that I DO! I like to plan, clean and organize so it's not torture for me. The thing I hate is not having endless funding (or even adequate funding) to do the things I want to do. I decided my gift to them will be a really clean house, food to eat, and my undivided attention, because I can't do the great welcome gifts and favorite things I want to do.

**Do you get crazy before company comes?
Do money issues complicate your life too?
What job would you do first to prep for company?**

Miscellaneous Monday--Rainy Weekend Edition

Friday evening the family gathered together to celebrate Robyn's 34th birthday and Olivia's 6th birthday (their birthdays are a day apart). We fought Friday evening rush hour traffic (serenity now!) and got to the park late only to find that the rest of the family (who had been there for awhile) decided it was too cold to stay.


We ended up going to the shelter of Adam and Amy's house. We were warm, dry, comfortable and had access to indoor plumbing. We also didn't have to worry about child abductors or extreme injuries, good times.


Adam and Amy provided a super tasty bundt cake from Nothing Bundt Cakes. Have you had one of these? It's sooo good. I believe it has something to do with the cream cheese filled frosting, but I could be wrong because the cake is good too.


Whitney had a soccer game at 9:30 Saturday morning, and it was cold again! Our team lost 3-4 but it was a great game. It triggered a conversation with Whitney about how even when we don't win, the challenge pushes us to be better. She did her best goalie work ever during this game, and also scored a goal while playing Forward.


Landon's team has had a much harder time this season, but has still been playing great. He took a turn playing goalie for the first time and found out how hard it is, especially at the 5th-6th grade level.

Landon's soccer skills have improved substantially over the past year (he plays at recess a lot) and he is a great Forward these days.


It was so cold and windy while watching Landon's game that I swallowed my pride and wore the hood of my orange jacket. What can I say, it helped.


Whitney spent her time lying in the grass (under a blanket) playing with the grass and whatever wonderland of creativity she came up with that day.

She was delighted to find a 4 leaf clover.

The rest of Saturday was a rainy delight.

Gorgeous no?

I got a good mail package from Denise with her favorite writing utensils and a notepad. I'm anxious to try her favorites, especially since I haven't used a mechanical pencil since high school.

The winners from this week's Good Mail Post are (courtesy of random.org).
1--Betsy
33--Denise B. (I need you to email me your address)
7--Kate (I need you to email me your address)
27--Jen M.
30--Amy S.

**Have you ever had one of those bundt cakes?
Have you ever played goalie?
Have you been pushed to be better even though you lost?
Would you have worn the orange hood?
When was the last time you used a mechanical pencil?**

Sunday Thoughts

Earlier this month when I went to the General Primary Training meeting in Salt Lake they recommended we all read "Teaching True Doctrine" by Henry B. Eyring from the April 2009 Ensign Magazine. It is wonderful, and was really helpful for me as I prepared for today's Teacher Development Meeting. (I was in charge of teaching the 8 teachers who teach the 3, 4 and 5 year olds.)


Here are my favorite quotes from the article...

"We have the greatest opportunity with the young. The best time to teach is early, while children are still immune to the temptations of their mortal enemy and long before the words of truth may be harder for them to hear in the noise of their personal struggles."

"The word of God is the doctrine taught by Jesus Christ and by His prophets. Alma knew that words of doctrine have great power. They can open the minds of people to see spiritual things not visible to the natural eye. And they can open hearts to feelings of the love of God and a love for truth."

"Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God." (D&C 18:9-10)

"The need to open eyes and hearts tells us how we must teach doctrine. Doctrine gains its power as the Holy Ghost confirms that it is true. We prepare those we teach, as best we can, to receive the quiet promptings of the still, small voice. That takes at least some faith in Jesus Christ. It takes at least some humility, some willingness to surrender to the Savior's will for us. The person you would help may have little of either, but you can urge that he or she desire to believe. More than that, you can take confidence from another of the powers of doctrine. Truth can prepare its own way. Simply hearing the words of doctrine can plant the seed of faith in the heart. And even a tiny see of faith in Jesus Christ invites the Spirit."

**Thoughts??**

Creative Friday--Back to Normal Edition

Yesterday's edition of Creative Friday was great because Michelle and I were both healthy again (though I've still got some coughing going on) and because the weather was cool and breezy...we both love that.


Her pretty pink tree (that's my name for it) has lost most of its blossoms and was in a beautiful in-between state of being. Apparently puberty for trees is much more attractive than in people.


Michelle had a super-deluxe Cafe Rio style lunch for us. She always makes good dinners throughout the week (unlike me) and is really good about making something great and plentiful on Thursday nights so we can have the leftovers for lunch on Friday...good plan! It was a treat to have an abundant supply of the creamy tomatillo dressing so we didn't have to ration it the way we do when we get the little container from Cafe Rio.


Michelle spent her creative time (as opposed to interrupted smotherhood time) making invitations for Eva's upcoming birthday party. Eva was very excited about this and wanted to help, but eventually contented herself with drawing Land Before Time masterpieces.

Here are the darling results of Michelle's efforts!

I made a stack of photo cards and ended up writing 10 cards! This kind of productivity was a surprise to me because I had gotten to Michelle's house an hour later than usual due to some morning lolly-gagging (ahem, blogging) and the need to run a couple errands. It felt great to write all of these notes, because I'm fulfilling my good intentions (how often does that happen?).


This is our self-portrait from the day. Our chin-reducing cropping has gotten out of hand so our one-eyed ways are happening too often.

The winners from this week's Good Mail Post are (courtesy of random.org).
1--Betsy
33--Denise B. (I need you to email me your address)
7--Kate (I need you to email me your address)
27--Jen M.
30--Amy S.

**Have you ever noticed that about tree puberty?
Do you make your own invitations?
Do you strategically plan your dinners for leftovers?
Did you send any cards this week?**

Five for Friday--Glorious Week Edition

1. We have had the most glorious week of weather. It has been sunny and in the 70s, with everything in bloom. I'm not an allergy sufferer (thank heaven) so the only issue I have with the season is that it goes too fast for me.


2. I got a much needed pedicure this week and have been loving the results. My flip-flop wearing ways lead to extremely rough feet, so now that I've been reacquainted with the beauty of the pedicure (as of last July) I want one at least once a month. I realized this week that I'm willing to give up other things in order to get it. I find that it helps with my peace of mind and sense of well being, plus it keeps me from rubbing a whole through my sheets or snagging the couch!


3. Our soccer team is still undefeated and having such a good time. We had our 3rd game this week but it was our first one with nice weather; the previous two had been freezing cold and
windy. Whitney's time spent as goalie was pretty dull since our team dominated and had the ball at the other end of the field most of the time, she got some quality nail-biting time in though.


4. Yesterday was the PTA sponsored Walk-A-Thon for the school, so I spent 3 hours passing out water bottles and taking pictures. Landon would give me a nod each time he walked past me, but Whitney and I walked several laps together while holding hands (she initiated this).


I always enjoy helping with school things, though I dread obligations. What's wrong with me? (My first attempt at taking a picture of our hands resulted in a strange picture of my right boob. I found this hilarious and embarrassing, it has since been deleted.)


5. I have been on a spring cleaning kick this week, thanks to the nice weather, and ended up filling up our recycling bin with Monday's garage clean out and the entire back of my car with yesterday's other garage clean out. We don't really use the other side of the garage except to store our old Honda (hello white trash feature) and many, many cardboard boxes waiting to be recycled.


The kids use the boxes for their summer box forts, but it really makes it impossible not to hate that garage. I finally decided enough is enough and took 95% of the cardboard to the recycling center. It felt like losing weight because it took such a load off of me. I also took 16 pounds of soda cans in and got $4 for my trouble. The combination of this big clean out and bi-monthly recycling bin emptying we should be able to keep it clean.

Happy Birthday Robyn!!!

**Are you having spring weather?
When was your last pedicure?
Are you in the PTA?
Do you have any white trash ways?
Does spring cleaning make you happy?**