Redemption

So, I signed up for the "Main Treat" for Grace's class for the Halloween party. I made some cupcakes.
They were... (wince) cute. They had orange frosting and a sucker poking out of the top. I took them into the class and what was already there but the cutest spider cupcakes with licorice legs, red eyes, and chocolate sprinkles so they looked hairy.

Argh.

My friend Mindy pointed out that I should have signed up for paper products.

Good Point.

WELL, my friends, today is Grace's ninth birthday (It's true, We have reached the half way point of the time we'll have her full time. Sniffle.) She asked me to bring in cinnamon rolls for her birthday treat. And I did.

Take that all you cute cupcake bringing moms.

They look good, no?

P.S. This post reminded me of the part at the end of Dumb and Dumber when the one says to the other, " Just when I think you can't possibly be any dumber you do something like this..... and totally REDEEM yourself." Funny.

Totally

shout out to my BFC

You know Best Friend Cousin... like a BFF, only blood relation.

She texted me last night to "update your blog already." So here it is.

This is Lyndi. She is my BFC. We've been friends forever. When we were little we were pen pals and I would eagerly await her letters. When we were in high school I lived with her family for a semester. We could carry on entire conversations without words. We had sleepovers Friday and Saturday nights in her room and we had hundreds of inside jokes, that only we found funny. There's nothing quite like a BFC. If you have one, you know.

The problem now is that the only time we see each other is if someone dies or gets married. Sad. Well, not this summer. The kids and I took a little road trip to see her family. So fun. We stayed up way too late talking and it's like the time has never passed.

My sister, Wynn; me; my cousin, Lyndi; and my other BFC, Cassie. It really doesn't do any of my gorgeous girls' justice...but after a long day of shopping and so many shots...we took what we could get.

So...Lyndi Lou... I love you! (Sorry it's taken me so long to update the ole' blog.)

Later... Deep thoughts

When Val showed the video of their family pics at the reunion I had some thoughts:

I miss Matt's parents. I cried when I saw the pictures of them set to the song, "I believe." I always do. I miss Val Sr. I miss Matt's mom (who I never even got to meet.) I think if I could know Matt's mom, I would have the missing piece of the puzzle that is my husband. I thought about posterity and the importance of family. The rich legacy of faith that can be left behind. The legacy of faith I want to be part of and my children and time.

How quickly it passes.

Family Reunion Season

Ah... Family Reunion Time. We never have McKittrick reunions unless someone dies. (No offense guys, but it's true.) But the Parke family... they know how to reunite. This year all of Matt's side (Uncles, aunts, cousins, etc.) got together in Carey. The highlight was Val's slideshow. He really has that down to an art. I love watching all the pictures and getting a sense of people when they were young. (I have deep thoughts about this but this doesn't seem like the time to share them.) (Maybe later.)

After the big shindig some of Matt's family came back to our house. We went to the ice show. We stayed up too late watching funny you tube videos and laughing. "Twilight, what have you done with my wife?" It was great fun.

This is my niece Ashley. I {heart} her a lot. We used to cheat at Masterpiece.

OK. We still cheat at Masterpiece.

I {heart} this picture of my cute nieces and my favorite brother-in-law Val in the background.

At the water park

(To the tune of 'At the carwash" )

B. O. A. T.

April 2007- Yes, that is snow...and our new boat. Happy Day. . .

Bail Out Another Thousand- Did you know that's what it stood for?

Or how 'bout this one,"The two happiest days in a man's life-

The day he buys his boat... and the day he sells it."

For my birthday (July 5th) we decided to take the boat out. We thought it would be perfect since my mom was here and could help wrestle kids etc. (Also she's never been out on our boat since there is a small window of time here in our neck of the woods to actually use the boat.) (A pitifully small window.) (Have I mentioned how small the window is...)

So...We spend hours loading up with towels, snacks, etc. (I don't know why it always takes us so long, but it does.) We finally pull away from the busy gas station. The whole drive to Magic Resevoir it is Windy. Capital W. And I've lived in Rexburg... so I know wind.

We get there. Matt backs down. I park the truck and boat (straight shot, just like I like it.) (I get super antsy if I have to do any boat/trailer backing.)

I get Riggins out of his seat and walk to the dock where Mom is on the dock and Matt in the boat holding it steady. I jump in the boat. Matt "yells" at me because he wasn't ready for me to jump in the boat. I "yell" that I didn't know. (It's good to get the yelling out of the way straight off.) When we're all in the boat Matt sits in his his captain chair and turns that baby....over. But not on. The boat won't start. Awesome. We try a few things. They don't work.

Matt backs down the ramp. I strip off my warm cozy sweatshirt down to my swimsuit and get in the water. So. Cold. Matt and I guide the boat onto the trailer while my mom drives up while we yell at the kids to stay to the side while I shiver and try to be helpful. After mom parked it we all got back into the boat and hung out for awhile. Seriously. The seven of us just chillin' in the boat, eating snacks, getting windblown, watching 7 other boats pull out. Then we went home.

Good times.