Birthday

I've been kind of dreading the 37th birthday
(it sounds so much older than 36), 

but I managed to have

a really wonderful day with the love
from family and friends.

We started our morning at the

Original Pancake House
for the birthday breakfast,

and I was able to tolerate the slight barf smell

which seems to permeate the restaurant.  

When I was pregnant with Isabelle I had to walk out

the first time I visited this popular place.  

We joke about it now.

(the smell comes from either one of the cheeses in their recipes, 

or the signature pancake batter)

The food however, is awesome!   

I could go there just for the fresh squeezed orange juice.  Best ever!

My adorable niece Vivien.  (sister Lindsey's baby)

my Dad took us all out for breakfast.  :)
I hope I inherited my Dad's hair gene.

He still has only sprinkles of grey.


*with my nephew Ashton

Viv

Luke took all these cute pictures of Vivien from breakfast.

 with my sisters Tamara and Lindsey.
Tawna was there in spirit! 

Right after breakfast we headed over to Lainey's ballet studio
to watch her last dance intensive class.

I was so proud of my little girl.

 Travis and I went right from the studio to the 

babysitter so I could see

the matinee show of
"Inception."
Popcorn and cherry coke for lunch!

Thank you Tami for taking the kids. :)

  It was a good movie but could 

have been better if they had used more 

imagination with some of the projections.  

The battle scenes became tiresome.

I remember most of my dreams each night
and sometimes try to control them,  

so the subject matter of the movie 

was very intriguing for me.
I've had moments in dreams where
I solve complicated problems I could
never figure out while awake.  Upon awakening
I try and write out my break through
but am usually too tired.
I've also experienced those
multi level dreams within a dream
which are very
creepy.

This film was very fast paced, thrilling, and creative. 

I kept waiting for some kind of cliche twist or betrayal by one of 

the characters but refreshingly it was pretty
straight forward. 

I really liked this film, but it won't go on my all time favorite movie list.  

It wasn't as "mind blowing" as I had expected
but fun to see the dream levels played out. 

Worth your money at the box office though.

When I hopped in the car after Lainey's ballet class, this was how Isabelle was dressed

for the babysitter.

so serious!  haha

For dinner Travis made my favorite-

Alaskan King Crab Legs with sour dough bread, 

Swiss chard, and his amazing fresh squeezed strawberry lemonade. 

For dessert he made creme brulee.   mmmmmmmmm

It was divine.

My honey knows how to cook!

The dreaded 37th turned out to be a nice day after all.  

No grey hair.  Yet.

Friends

"Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive."  ~Anäis Nin

*flowers from Nana's yard

Friends are relatives you make for yourself.  ~Eustache Deschamps

*taken at Payson Lakes at our family reunion

"Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: "What! You too? I thought I was the only one."
-C.S. Lewis

Anthea, Lori, Travis, and Rob  1998

"The Friendship is not a reward for our discrimination and good taste in finding one another out. It is the instrument by which God reveals to each the beauties of all the others."  -CS Lewis

*Lori, Anthea, Scott, and his brother 1994?

My best friend from High School ("Ant") was visiting from Hawaii this week, and we were able to meet up for dinner with her family.

*July 2010 Lori and Ant age 36

Lainey said to me on the way home "Mom, which girl at the table was your best friend again?" 

me: "The beautiful blond girl."

her: "Which one though...They were all pretty Mom."   (her Mom will love to hear this!)

After giving more descriptions Lainey said "No way!  I thought that girl was 18 years old."

I have to agree.  She hasn't aged a bit since High School.....
but it makes me feel very old to see her babies have grown into teenagers.

 Ashleigh age 14  (her oldest of 3)

Then the kids talked about Ant's resemblance to Carrie Underwood.  :) 

  I hadn't noticed that before, but they are right!  

(we saw Carrie in concert last month and she was amazing)  

*Ant and Lori at her bridal shower 

  I miss all of my old friends and wish we lived closer.   

We hope to plan a visit to Hawaii in 2011.  

Lainey is holding us to it for her birthday next year.

She turns 11 years old on 11-11-11. 

  That deserves a big celebration!

As an aside, I had an embarrassing Mom moment at the restaurant.   

I had taken my girls to the potty, 

and as usual Isabelle had to take her shorts and shoes completely off before going.  

At some point I had asked Baila to hold Izzy's clothes for me so I could help to wash her hands.  

  Baila leaves the bathroom without me (thinking I was behind her) and walks back to the table, 

while I help Isabelle finish drying her hands.  

We head out the bathroom door and started to walk back to our table when Isabelle yells out

"Mommy, my pants, my pants!"   

I half listened and said in a Mom daze "yes honey, your pants" without even looking down.   

Then I notice the table in front of us laughing and staring at my child. 

Isabelle was standing there in nothing but a tank top- no underwear or pants.   :O   

Thankfully a nice lady walked to the other side of the restaurant

to let Baila know she had Izzy's clothes.  :D 

 

*Lainey and Izzy at the restaurant (after the incident)

*Baila with Ant's hubbie Scott