Thanksgiving eve...

I had a very fun Thanksgiving eve...I wanted to see the newest Twilight movie, "Breaking Dawn" and knew that I would never get Dave to go to that one with me.  So I asked on facebook who would want to go, and my bosom friend Donna said she would!  And our other friend Joan wanted to come and bring her daughters.  So it was set!  We would meet in front of the theater at 5 p.m.  Donna said she would come pick me up and I was ready!  Well, she brought with her this lovely birthday surprise!!  She felt bad for being late, but I was so happy and it was worth the wait!  And besides, who doesn't want to just keep celebrating and getting fun things!?  She MADE these yummy chocolate (with filling!) cupcakes and decorated them as hydrangeas!  She also made the pot, the wire cupcake holders and assembled the cute little plant and cupcake picks all for ME! 

 Did I say she was a bosom friend!?  I can only begin to appreciate all the time and effort she spent making this gorgeous and delicious surprise for little ol' me! 

And then...while we were waiting outside the theater for Joan and her daughters, it wasn't busy at all so we hadn't been up to the ticket window yet...a lady came up and asked us if we were seeing Breaking Dawn.  When we told her we were, she gave us a FREE ticket!  Somehow she had an extra one and was willing to give it away without taking money for it!  She just said, "Happy Thanksgiving!"  I guess I was in "birthday mode" and accepted it, told Donna that was a tithing blessing, and didn't think until later to SPLIT it with Donna.  I wasn't very thoughtful and I feel bad.  I did offer later, but of course she wouldn't accept.  I would be perfectly happy to see the movie for half price!  Donna, you are a kindred spirit and bosom friend to be sure!  Thank you for your generosity and your loving friendship!  We had a great time at the movies...Joan and her daughters were a lot of fun too...and the movie was really good too!  It was all a wonderful pre-cursor to our Thanksgiving day which was also wonderful!  I had ALL my kids here, when we did the web cam with the Georgia kids.  It was fun all being together even if it was for a short time.  The meal was wonderful and we just enjoyed our day so much!  I have SO MUCH to be thankful for!!   

Another birthday already?

Another year has gone by so quickly!  Can't believe I had another birthday!  It was on 11-11-11.  Pretty fun!  Dave and I both took the day off work.  It was a gift just to get to sleep in!  We did some shopping and I got to see the movie "Sarah's Key" based on one of my favorite books.  We had lunch at Red Robin with Clif and Joel, and then in the evening Ashley and Mario came over for a lasagne dinner (which Dave made with help from Costco!).  It was a lovely day!  Because I took Friday off for my birthday, Thursday at work everyone brought food in so we could "party."  My friend Ruth brought a scrumptious chocolate cake and a beautiful fall colored mini mum plant for me.  There were other fun and snacky foods too.  About 9:15 I looked up from my desk and walking into the file room were Clark and Ashley!  They surprised me!  It was so fun...I have never been surprised at work!  They brought this beautiful hydrangea cake that Cupcake Stef had made.  I was thrilled!

 They both didn't have to be to work until 10, so they had time to come by and wish me a happy birthday.  Ashley was going to order some kind of cookie boquet for me and one of her friends at work said she knew someone who made beautiful cakes...funny that it turned out to be my friend Cupcake Stef!  She did a beautiful job and it was a very yummy cake!  My boss had the day off for a wedding, but he stopped by also with these scrumptious cupcakes from Frosted Cakery.  One was double chocolate and the other one was caramel.  Oh they were delish!  People sure know me well!  I thought it was clever how the cupcakes were in an upside down plastic cup.  What a great idea!

Anyway, I received fun gifts from friends and family, tons of birthday wishes on Facebook (over 60!) and several phone calls and cards in the mail too (on Saturday, because Friday the 11th was also Veteran's day and there is no mail).  It was a wonderful few days and I feel very spoiled!  I am happy to be done with celebrating birthdays now and will be glad to be 29 and holding from now on!  Thank you to everyone who helped make me feel so special all week long! 

I am also very grateful to be an Army Brat, and am always proud to fly the flag on Veteran's day and remember my dad as well as all of those who have served our country.  It is truly a special day in more ways than one!

DI, Halloween and Hobby Lobby...

The morning after Barbara's birthday party, we headed to Deseret Industries.  My favorite thrift store ever!  We of course HAD to go so I could drop of these "Burrito Babies" that our Relief Society had put together.  They are for the humanitarian center which is inside DI.  I had picked up the kits the last time we were there.  

 Our ward Relief Society got together one evening and we sewed, stitched, painted, and made hair to do these cute little dolls.  We made 33 of them in just under 2 hours!  It was a very fun evening!  So off we went to deliver them to DI.  I mean, the humanitarian center!



 Then of course, I shopped the book section.  My friend Ann needed a Harry Potter book and a Prelude to Glory book that she was missing from her set...they had them both!  And Amanda needs some more of the Work and the Glory volumes so I was able to find some of those too.  It was a productive book day! Here's what all I got for about $30 bucks...

 Some books for the grandkids, and for me, and for Dave (he puts as many in the cart as I do and he hardly ever reads!)

 I think Amanda needs one or two more of the Work and the Glory, but thanks to DI she has almost all of them.  Big hardbound books for $2 each!  Can't beat it!

 I bought what they had for Prelude to Glory and Faith of our Fathers series...when I get them all, I will start reading the series.

 Dave threw in this computer book...it was all of 50 cents...and I have read the Sisterhood book and liked it, so added it to my collection.

 Dave put in the Paul's life and letters book...we already have a copy, so if someone needs a copy, I have an extra one.  It was a very fun shopping morning...didn't find any dresses this time, but it's always fun to look!

 I only got one picture of halloween!  I was in the ktichen for our trunk-or-treat party at the church, which was a big success...and then on Halloween night Joel had some friends over to watch movies.  They took a break in between the two movies and went trick-or-treating for a few minutes.  We didn't have very many trick-or-treaters so it was fun to just watch Joel and his friends having a fun evening.  Some of them hadn't seen the movies before.  They watched The fantastic Mr. Fox and The Sixth Sense.  We had lots of candy...

Here's our Georgia kiddos...ready for Oz!  Jacob wouldn't keep his lion head on...but aren't they all so cute!
 

Last but not least, I needed to go to Hobby Lobby in Visalia again for craft supplies.  I was asked to help the other ward make the charger plates and the glass etched ornaments like we made for our super Saturday.  So Teri S, Linda R, and Teri's fun neighbor Joanne, all went together for a shopping day.  We had a great time!  ALL the Christmas items were 50% off that day.  And I was able to get ALL the things I needed for the craft night.  The only thing I bought for myself (since it was 50% off) was this cute Snowman plate.  I just loved the whimsical look of it!  We stopped at Fosters and had a yummy lunch before our 45 minute drive home.  A perfect way to spend a Saturday morning.  Thank you my fun friends for  spending it with me at Hobby Lobby!!