Last week.  Serra’s birthday week.  It started on Monday with dinner at Grandfolk Andersons.  Grandma made dinner and had a cake all ready.  Grandpa cleaned out the spool so the kids could take a dip.  Yes I did say spool.  Not a pool not a spa, but a spool.  Then there were presents and even Rosie came away with a few.  Wednesday was the actual birthday and we spent the day making the cake.  I tried my hand at the art of fondant and must say it was a pain in the bootay.  But Serra got her princess doll cake which we cut into that night. 

The two nights before Rosie was awful, especially Tuesday night.  I was up most the night with her howling.  Wednesday we discovered 3 new teeth had cut through.  She still has one that is giving her fits.  Anyway, by the end of the day wednesday I was beat.  Serra had requested spaghetti with meatballs for dinner.  I had spent all the energy on the cake so we took her out to Olive garden so she could still have her meatballs.  Serra came away this year with a new Carolina Cruiser bike with all the accessories.  Training wheels, elbow and knee pads, no finger gloves, and a hot pink helmet to match the bike.  She is quite pleased with herself.  Brian has taken her around the block a few times.  She needs to master the pedaling and steering simultaneously before she can practice the balancing.  She fell over once and cried to be carried home.  Brian plunked her back on the bike and told her she had to keep going. (something about getting back on the horse)  She loves it though and begs to go out. 

Saturday was the friend party.  I thought long and hard about whether or not I wanted to tackle this one.  In the end Serra won out and we set to planning.  We sent out Thankyou notes inviting her friends to a backward birthday party.  They were instructed to dress backward.  Patrick, one of her favorite friends, came with his underwear on the outside and backward, and his socks over his shoes.  When the kids showed up we said goodbye.  We played pin the donkey on the tail and the person furthest away won.  That was a shocker to one kid that peeked to get his donkey right on the tail.  It’s funny that the kids didn’t catch on with all the games that the person that did the worst always won.  They still tried so hard to do the best.  I had them all make crazy balloon hats and they came up with some clever ideas.  We had a Charlottes Web (Serra’s choice) iceceam cake from Coldstone, which Brian thought was a real waste on kids because it was so good, and they devoured 6 large pizzas.  Serra also gave all the kids birthday presents.  When Serra opened the first present I asked her who it was from.  She opened up the card and looked at it and then hollered, “Does anybody here read?”  With Serra and Rosie there were 11 kids and with the parents that stayed and Aunts and Uncles there were 9 Adults.  It was fun.  I unfortunately have strep throat and by the time the kids left I was done.  I crashed on the couch and I think slept for 1 1/2 hours.  I woke up and Rosie was collapsed on the floor too.  It was a fun day though and Serra had a great time which is why we did it. 

On an exciting note.  Adriane and Vito announced their engagement yesterday.  They are planning a 07/07/07 wedding date which is perfect for a Vegas wedding.  We are all very excited for them.  Serra is beside herself.  She loves love and weddings and kissing and all that mushy stuff.  She announced as we were headed home last night that as soon as we got home we needed to start getting ready for the wedding. 

Our pretty 5 year old.

Anyone need a personal trainer.  I know of one. 

Conference weekend was great.  It’s hard to believe it was already nearly 2 weeks ago.  We went to Ceder City Friday evening and camped in the school room until Monday evening.  We really enjoyed the talks and company and our treat table. It was surprisingly nutritious this year.  The veggies and fruit were the first to disappear.  OK so we didn’t have trouble with the jelly bellies and m and m’s either.  I was much appreciative of Julies efforts on the cinnamon rolls.  120.  That is no small task.  It is a full day’s job and when you are trying to pack and prepare for a trip with two small children it is even a greater task.  Thanks Julie.  We only missed Doug and Darci who understandably needed to stay close to home as they await the arrival of a critter. 

Sophia gave me a bit of a run for my money in the evenings.  I realized how difficult she really was when we got home and back into our routine and she has been so good.  I think she was really over stimulated with all the activity.  On our future trips I will have to be more diligent at giving her some quiet time during the day to decompress.  I was also unable to deal with it due to the Clomid that was in my system.  It makes me unable to cope with daily stresses.  Again I was reminded of this when we got home and and it wasn’t in my system so heavily.   

It has been a bit crazy here since we got back.  Monday we were still in Ceder City and left in the evening.  Judy Moore and Maren rode with me.  Judy slept most the way I think she needed some catch up.  I had a great time chit chatting with Maren the whole way back.  We spent Wednesday afternoon shopping for shirts to go with the girls Easter dresses.  Maren came along.  The girls love every minute we spend with her.  She was on spring break last week so it was a treat to see her during the week.   Church seems to take up the magority of our evenings and weekends.  I have presidency meetings on Tuesdays along with visits both Tuesday morning and evening.  I also have a VT route that includes 3 sisters and a partner.  I feel like I visit a lot of people.  I enjoy it once I am there but trying to get the scheduling arranged around Brians meetings and the other sisters schedules, and making sure the kids are tended to gets to be difficult on occasion.  Thursday I hosted an enrichment activity because I was the only one with a table that could fit at least 14 people.  That was pretty cool to have my table extended to it’s full capacity.  It really is pretty big.  We made Easter bracelets.  Each bead represents something it Christs life.  We had a good turnout which is good for these enrichment activities that so often flop.  Friday I made the girls dresses.  They turned out really cute.  Rosie loved hers because it hugs her belly and has a bumpy texture.  She kept giggling and rubbing her tummy. 

These are the official Easter dresses

Saturday we had a ward Easter activity that took up the morning and then I took a much needed nap so I could stay out late that evening.  And what an evening it was.  Glorious is a good description.  We went out to dinner at our favorite Chinese haunt with the family and then dropped the girls at Brians folks.  Diane had all sorts of activities planned including coloring eggs.  Serra has never done it before and loved it.   We are planning on eating them tonight in goldenrod and she is protesting the destruction of her art.  Back to Saturday evening – Brian got me Josh Groban concert tickets for Christmas and Saturday was the night.  I have never heard of anyone that sounds better live than on a CD.  Mr. Groban is incredible.  I have never heard anything like that in my life.  What a talent! 

Here are some clips from the concert.

Sunday we had nice meetings.  Although I haven’t been to sunday school in months as I chase Rosie during that hour so we can get her to sleep during the 3rd hour.  We had dinner with Brians family and Jeff and Maren joined us as well. 

This week my list keeps growing.  Updating Xanga is on the top of the list.  We are planning a birthday party for Serra next weekend and it will have a backward theme.  We are having fun coming up with things to do like pin the donkey on the tail and the furthest  one wins. 

Serra has become quite the little creator.  She did this bunny and bird all by herself with plants from the yard.  I thought they were clever. 

Laundry awaits.