Challenge #3--Always Something There to Remind Me...

Challenge #3--Always Something There to Remind Me...

A fill in the blank challenge this week: Whenever I ________, I ________.

Whenever I walk through the front entrance of Disneyland and make my way onto Main Street, I get teary eyed.  Okay, maybe I actually cry.  I just love Disneyland so much and get so excited.  It is a completely different place.  I mean, where else can grown ups wear cartooned-out shirts and a big Goofy hat without ridicule?


Since I'm a creature of habit, whenever I go to Baskin Robbins, I ALWAYS order a single scoop of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream.  Also, whenever I go to the Training Table, I ALWAYS order the #24 turkey sandwich.  I'm afraid that if I deviate from what I know I like, I might get something I hate and then I would just be wishing I ordered the usual.  


Whenever I hear a fire engine drive by our house, I remember when Abbi was little and she would freak out when she heard the sirens.  She could be completely asleep for her nap and as soon as the sirens came around the corner, it would wake her up and she would come running to find me.


Whenever "You've Got Mail" or "Sweet Home Alabama" is on tv, I always have to watch it; even if I have seen it a hundred times.


Whenever I sit in the chapel of the Oquirhh Mountain Temple, I remember the time I was there for the dedication with Adam and we met Pres. Monson.  He shook Adam's hand, talked with him and gave him a hug.  It was an experience I will never forget!


Whenever I see someone fall, I laugh.  I can't help it... it is an automatic instinct.  It's not that I think it is funny, It is automatic.  I can't help it!


Whenever my kids are happily playing with each other, I smile.  It makes me happy to know they are getting along; even if the moments are brief.


Whenever there is laundry to be done, I make piles in the bedrooms and then bring up each load one at a time.  Aaron on the other hand, likes to pile all the laundry at once in the laundry room.  Drives me crazy!


Whenever I see the trees blossoming in the springtime, I always sing "Popcorn Popping" in my head.


Whenever I drive by Salt Lake Community College's campus on 3900 S., I remember the feelings of morning sickness I had with Adam.  Aaron and I were taking a Business communications class together when I was first pregnant and I remember being so sick while sitting in class.  Sometimes I would leave and go sit in the car with the windows down.


Whenever Aaron is out of town, I have a hard time sleeping in our bed alone.  So, I stay up way too late watching late night television and infomercials.  The ShamWow! is pretty amazing!

Happy Birthday to me!

I remember my Grandma Burch talking to me about age and birthdays and telling me that once you hit a certain age such as 83 you turn the numbers around and they become 38.  She thought she was pretty clever and at the time I gave her the ha ha laugh and thought "crazy Grandma."  Now that I am getting older, that conversation keeps coming to my mind and I realize she wasn't completely crazy.  Not that I can turn my age around because then it would be 43 which I am so not ready for, but I've come to realize that I will be forever 25 in my mind.  It's funny; my kids get older and every year I think, "How am I old enough to have a ____ year old?"  It feels to me like I just graduated high school.  I guess you are only as old as you feel, which is what I think my grandma was trying to tell me in her own little quirky way.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think 34 is old at least until Aaron told me that next year I would be 35.  35?  I'll be halfway through my 30's already.... augh!  Oh well, that is an entire year away.  In the meantime, I have been thoroughly enjoying my day about me!  I woke up and spent an incredibly lazy day hanging out in bed watching a movie on the TV.  When I finally decided to get up out of bed and move to the computer, Abbi and Alex surprised me "breakfast" of Apple Jacks cereal and a homemade cupcake decorated in purple frosting.  It was delicious!  Especially since I didn't have to get it myself.  

After breakfast, Aaron took the kids and told me to go get a pedicure.  It was so relaxing to sit and be pampered.  Mid-way through my pedicure, Aaron called and told me to not come home until 4:00.  To which I quickly said "OK" and went off to shop all by myself.  I browsed through the racks of Ross and TJ Maxx and slowly made my way through both stores and I didn't have to stop once to take someone to the bathroom or to tell them, "No, we can't go look at the toys."

When I got home, I was surprised with this lovely sight:  Flowers, a birthday cake and an Ipad 3.

I was so surprised!  Mostly about the cake.  Aaron is not a cake-lover and in 15 years of knowing each other, this was the first cake he had ever bought me on my birthday!  I loved every last bite of it!

The kids quickly lit the candles, sang Happy Birthday and told me to make a wish.  They were so excited for me.  They were so cute!

After blowing out the candles, Aaron and I went downtown to dinner at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse.  We had a yummy steak dinner and I even got a yummy apple pie a la mode for dessert.  It was delicious!

We ended the night by catching a movie at the theater.  I had a great birthday and felt loved by all my family and friends.  

Conversation with Alex:


Me: "Do you want spaghetti or tacos for dinner?"
Alex: "Neither"
Me: "What do you want then?"
Alex: "It's your birthday."
Me: "So what does that mean?" By the way, my b-day isn't until Saturday
Alex: "You shouldn't have to cook on your birthday. Don't worry mom, we'll go somewhere and you don't even have to drive - Dad will pay."


His wife is going to love him.  I'm teaching him right!