A Birthday to Remember

 WOW!  It was QUITE an EVENT.

It started the day before - April 7 - with a call from Ulla, who forgot it wasn't my birthday until the next day.  So, that was a great start.

Then THE day arrived!  And, what a day it was:

Calls, texts, mail, visits, gifts, bowling and spending the day with my favorite daughters and favorite husband!

Here's a smattering of pictures from that great day!

Cards from: Avery Stout, Ulla, Kristi, the Jenkins family, Allison Christensen and Emily Blount, Preston, Sara Johnson, and Justin, Amy and the boys.

Presents from Allen - See's chocolates; Kristi - Plum vinegar to make a great drink with soda water; lotion from Sea Johnson; gift card to See's from Allison and Emily; gift card from Preston to Outback Steak house; pearl bracelet from Morgan and Bri Fisher; Santa Claus book (which she made from my poem and Ruth Saunders picture from so many years ago - this was so thoughtful!) from Jessica Stout; NOT PICTURED - Brownies and Snickers bar from Brooklyn and Kenzie Comstock; Swedish dish cloths from Emily Pederson; Swedish candle from Ulla Gardner; tube of pink lipstick from Jenni and Kristi; Trader Joes Almonds, lotion and little prayer box from Justin and Amy and family.

So much KINDNESS from so many people.  I didn't deserve it all.

A list from Emily Blount and Allison Christensen was a FUN SURPRISE;

When KRO arrived, we went to Taco Time - where else?

We did coloring and drank herbal tea:

One day Jenni and Kristi cleaned all three of out bathrooms:  They've never been so clean!

ALlen, Jenni, Kristi and I went bowling: ALL FOUR of us got a STRIKE...it was so fun!

Allen and the girls had a little time to sing:

We went shopping for some new lipstick for me...do you like the color we didn't choose?

Driving out to enjoy the spectacular Kayenta, we saw  little taffy store, which we didn't even know it existed and we spent a fun time trying out and looking over their 76 varieties of TAFFY!

We enjoyed fried brussels

 sprouts at Xetava and walked around looking in shops and at the sidewalk art which was just amazing!

THEN: it was off to LAS VEGAS!

Let's go to the Bellagio to see the newest display; spring in all its glory:

We went to an ultra sound for Janessa and Daniel's baby:  That was AMAZING and so incredible...

Look at that gorgeous mom-to-be and the handsome father-to-be.  Baby boy is sure to be a handsome young man!

Second-hand store shopping and dinner at Esther's capped off a great day of fun and food!

I don't have pictures, but we squeezed in a comedy/magic show before we headed to the airport to take Kristi .....it was a laugh a minute...so so fun.  

It was a marvelous few days and puff!  It was over way too soon?!?!?!  I have the best two daughters in the world and I am so grateful.

Here are a couple of tributes I received over the last couple of days.  I don't deserve them, but it was so thoughtful of the people who wrote them:

Kim Stocking - my first Relief Society president and visiting teacher when we arrived in St George; she is so inspiring and amazing.  She's one of the best speakers in the ward!  Thanks, Kim, this totally surprised and amazed me what you said.  

This from a former student of mine:  Natalie Lilljenquist Clark; I have recently started following her on Instagram.  She is just AMAZING!  I love that she is so classy and fun and stylish, but she is not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ and regularly posts about her love for the Saviour.  Thank you, Natalie for the very kind words!