Ashley's birthday!! 20!!

 Ashley turned 20 this weekend! She was welcomed home by a snack attach on her bed.

On Saturday we went to the Renaissance Fair. I was glad I dressed up - EVERYONE was dressed up. We enjoyed the jousting. She celebrated with Julia Child's chocolate cake x2. She said she did not need us to sing to her. Happy birthday! 

I made a rhubarb/strawberry pie for the party Fancie threw for me: "no chemo!" Also a double layer chocolate cake! Went to see Heather and Jason and mom. Ashley is making this fancy shirt for  Romeo and Juliet as part of her Costume Design class. She is also making a fancy belt/corset. She and I went to see "Frog and Toad" (she helped pull costumes for it) and ran into (actually seated RIGHT beside us), her friend (and Emma's friend)! Go theater!

It is fall!! And pumpkin time!

Ashley likes pictures of Pookie, so there are a lot. Check out how fall-y my front porch is! I LOVE pumpkins! (and ALL these were grown in my yard).

Ellie helped Ashley get ready for FanX. Ashley was the frog from Amazing Digital Circus.

We made Chinese fried rice cupcakes for the ward picnic. Another organist moved it!

Lots of dog pictures (Ashley likes to check on Pookie from her base at Snow College)

And a picture of Ellie! Waiting, waiting to hear from the oncologist test....chemo or not. I am thinking chemo. If so, I'm cutting my hair this week.

Puppy pictures

Lots of puppy pictures. Pookie got groomed (and has bald spots behind her ears from the mats). But she looks super cute and soft. 

Remember how I made fun of this little chicken pillow?? WELL, after surgery, it was AWESOME! The perfect size to fit right there next to your sore boob and hold it up. I have been using it all weekend.

There is me for my cancer-extraction surgery. Everything went well, now we wait for the pathology report and the oncologist visit to set up radiation treatment. 

Michael had his cavities filled, and joyously, felt no pain. Go laughing gas!

Ellie has been working at the Budweiser factory a few days. She gets offered beer quite regularly. She points out is too young, is working with heavy equipment, etc. They are quite persistent. So an office lady gave her a can of Liquid Death (water that looks like beer or something) and told her she would be safe with this. Go Ellie!

Pookie/ Muffin/ Minnie

The new puppy continues to do well. She is super sweet and loves belly rubs.

I had a huge reaction to my allergy shot  - this time I am suppose to take 4 allergy pills and 80 mg of Pepcid AC. 

Heather sent me this awesome card to celebrate my no-BRAKA breast cancer genes!

Summer stuff

It rains for about ten minutes sometimes. And sometimes a rainbow comes! Pookie/Minnie is getting use to us and us to her. She loves a belly rub and likes to curl up by you when you sit down. Josh and I met with the breast cancer surgeon and I got a breast/chicken pillow! Surgery Sept. 18. Ashley is looking cute!

Off to school!

 Ashley went off to Snow College for semester #3 on Saturday. She got all organized and packed up and we raced Dad down to Ephraim. He won! Anyway, we got unpacked, got the bed made, went to lunch and the classic Walmart run. She has a fun group of roommates. They went to the campus free dinner and are going out together as a group tonight! Go Ashley!

Getting stuff organized

We went to Cherry Hill (the greatest fun part you'll ever know......Cherry Hill Hill). 

Been on the bucket list for 19 years now..... so Michael, Ashley, Taylor and I went last week. The slides were fun. The mini golf course was fun. The lazy river was refreshing. Then we drove home. Not even an hour away!

Apparently, eggplants grow UNDER the leaves (first year growing eggplants). So I got tons! I have been moonlighting as the eggplant-fairy. Aunt Wanda and Uncle Daryl came for dinner (and took home an eggplant!) That was super fun. They are on their mission at church headquarters until October. 

We almost had a tornado! Then it just rained and there was a rainbow. All good. 

Welcome to..... Pookie / (Minnie)

We got a new dog! We have been looking at this one (in Idaho) for a while. And then I prayed about it and this is the dog for us! So Josh and I skipped stake conference and drove to Boise and got her! She is 8 years old and very snuggly. She was born "Snow White" but then became "Pookie" (Which is what I call my husband, not the dog), so we are in the process of changing it to Minnie. She likes to walk about the block. Loves cheese (reward for peeing outside), and liked to lay on the couch with you. 

On the way back we practically drove through Bugs' new hometown - so we stopped!!!! Loved catching up. Bugs is so awesome, I am SOSO glad I invited her over to puzzle that long long time ago.