Birthday Party

I have the cutest Niece and Nephew ever. I know everyone thinks theirs are the cutest, but I have to disagree. I really hope that Josh and Varinia have 10 more, because they are pro at making perfect children.

This year Varinia and her friend Jenny planned the perfect party. Jaden got a Batman themed party, which included home made capes and masks to take home. The kids were so excited! There were about 8 little boys running around with their capes blowing in the wind. It was the cutest darn thing I have ever seen! One boy proclaimed, while eating a cupcake that, "This is the best party I have ever been to!" It was a hit! I know that Varinia went to a lot of work and it really turned out so cute! They had a blow up jumper, a balloon dart game, and an obstacle course to drain some energy. I can't believe he is 6!!!

Alexa turned 2. She is such a funny little thing. We celebrated her big day after all the parents picked up the little boys. She had peeked at a couple of her present and had 3 different wardrobe changes before the end of the night. The girl likes her clothes. She is quiet and doesn't talk a whole lot, but when she wants something, she will certainly let you know. We also have discovered that she is head over heels for Anthony. She loves giving him hugs and gets so excited to see him. It is the cutest thing in the world.

I wish I would have taken a picture of the dress and swim suit I got her. The dress was the cutest thing ever! I seriously wish they had it in my size. And any little peanuts in swim suits are adorable! Especially if they have chunky legs and pot bellies....I wish that cutestness lasted forever. My belly and thighs don't get me any applaud. Shame.

Aren't little boys the best? They were so funny to watch! I wish the middle picture would have worked out a little better. He went zoominig by and I was lucky enough to get it, too bad his face is covered...dang it!

All in all it was a super fun party. The kids were happy, they both got completely spoiled with tons of gifts, the food was delightful, the company was great, and the weather was perfect.

Nothing to blog about....or do I?

It has been over a month since I have done a post. Would you like some excuses?

#1 This laptop is freaking ancient! If  the battery cord comes undone for any reason, it's dead....like you don't even have 10 seconds to scramble and try to get it back in. All hope is lost.
#1a The laptop is so ancient it heats my thighs. Meaning, it is super hot and I nearly sweat to death.
#1b the laptop is so ancient I can't listen to music and edit pictures at the same time without it taking 10 years.
{I would like to report that Anthony is finally sick of hearing about it. We get to make a purchase on Black Friday. Cross your fingers that I don't throw it out the window before that point.}

#2 I feel like I am always busy! I work til 6 and I become a wife for the rest of the night. After dinner, I think about working out other things seem to be a priority. Such as, reading, showering so I don't have to wake up in the morning, reading, dishes, laundry, reading, eating some more, nagging, church responsibilities, family events, and reading. Life is too busy to sit down to a computer that would rather live in 1995.....Bad joke....It is just SOOO slow! Refer to #1-#1b

#3 I'm lazy.

#4 I somehow think that I have nothing to blog about....not true. Hence the reason I am doing this post.

RANDOM PHOTO POST!

I was going through my camera and phone and found a plethora of good and awful photos. Sit back, grab a costco size treat and journey with me through the past couple of weeks of posting absence.

 Um HeLLo! Jolene Graduated! Jolene is Anthony's Mom. She worked many many many hard tiresome years to get to this point and we are so proud of her! I unfortunately wasn't able to attend the graduation.......wait stop.......hold that thought.....do you see the top right photo......ANTHONY LOOKS FREAKING AMAZING! You look good man, real good. In fact, everyone looks really fantastic in that photo! Marilyn Manson once sang a song......"The beautiful people, the beautiful people...." Sing it with me.

Bottom picture is a doozey. After graduation there was a celebration. Not only did Jolene graduate, but her adorable sister graduated as well. How awesome is that? They even got to walk together. Us kids got together and prepared a song/dance. We looked ridiculous I am sure, but we rocked it. We changed the lyrics to, "summer lovin" and I am still having a hard time getting that blasted song out of my head.

Mother's Day and Kristi's birthday happened! Everyone came out yonder to my hood and we celebrated with good food. Take a look at baby girl Alexa?! Cutest peanut ever! Jaden has been so hard to take pictures of! That kid never stops! I love them both to pieces. And how adorable is the pic of Mom and Dad? They look so young and happy! I'm so lucky. I wish the chain didn't cover his face though....Can anyone say Amateur photo taker?

Pictures 1-9 have a story behind them....ready? Is your treat still adequate? My thighs are getting hot and bothered....better make this quick.

#1 I have an infatuation with German Pancakes (aka puff pancakes). Shanna made me some a couple months back and I can't get them out of my system. After several failed attempts, I finally got them perfect.

#2 On Memorial Day, Jaden decided he wanted to have a lemonade stand. With.....the only juice we had...apple juice. It was not cheap, and luckily he is cute. And my Mom could scrounge up some cash lol. Refer to #5

#3 We bought a lawn mower. We were feeling nostalgic and wanted a push mower. Like in the Truman Show (minus the short shorts) We don't have a large yard so why get a loud mower? Refer to #4

#4 It kind of sucks. After the 3rd mow sess, I heard him declare, "Next year we are buying a real mower." Lesson learned.

#5 Apple Juice Stand. "5 bucks or 1 dollar" Hmm....guess which price we chose. So cute!

#6 Last weekend was Jaden and Alexa's birthday party (blog soon to come). Afterwards I was seriously craving Maddox. I sat in the car for over an hour with the smells wafting in my nose, taunting me. We finally got home at 10pm....LOL....so late...no shame here. I gobbled up my entire meal and slept like a baby....fat and happy.

#7 I potted these beauties. Okay so I supervised one and did the other. Anth is quite the green thumb. He might have been rude and said, "Give the one you did to whoever you like less..." Rude. I did give these away. I met up with two long lost friends from high school. It was a wonderful experience. We are all so different. I live in the suburbs, one is married to a farmer and lives on a farm (duh) with cattle, one is a military wife and has moved several times since graduation. We all are happy and I was so pleased to be able to catch up with such beautiful woman! P.s I let them choose which plant they wanted, I have no doubt both are still living....gosh I hope so. I hope we can soon get together again.

#8 Lots of reading lately. I finished this. It sucked. But her other books are better. I also finished this. It totally changed my life. I am current reading this and loving it. How have I not read it before?

#9 What a gem. If I don't survive this night, it is because he killed me after finding out that I posted this....
about 2 weeks ago we had a laundry debacle on our hands. Meaning, we got lazy and our laundry baskets had spawned babies and socks, undies and the like were running a muck. We (meaning me) got caught up and decided we would have a date.....a folding laundry date. He would have nothing of it. I tried to stay positive. I put some headphones in and rocked out to some jams while he whined and complained. I left to put some clothes away and turned around and found him....sprawled on the floor almost asleep. I don't have any regrets in posting this...maybe it will be a reminder next time we have a folding laundry date.
{Please note, our room is never hardly ever dirty....nor do we allow clothes all over the floor. It only looks disgusting because of this momentous folding event. Thanks...}

 Well there you have it....we are all caught up.

My legs are sweaty. Picture a hot school bus. You are on the side with the sun beaming down on you and you're wearing your short shorts. Now picture sitting there for an hour and then standing when you approach your stop.....feel the wet sweat on your thighs? Do you feel it trickle down the back of your legs? Yeah.....that is what this laptop did to me.

Memorial Day

Memorial Day. I don't know why but this year a light bulb switched. In the past, Memorial Day was just another day. A day where I was lucky to get a day off. It was different this year. My parents, Anthony, big brother Nephew and I took some time at the cemetery. I reflected on my blessings.

There are a lot of people that have helped to mold me into the person I am. My Grandpa Ray and Grandma Ether (Blondie) will forever be the most instrumental people in my life. I was so blessed to have my Grandma around for 20 years and my Grandpa for 24. As I looked at their grave site I felt such a sense of happiness that I got to be their grand daughter. They were the most selfless people I have ever met. Their faces and silly memories pop into my mind almost daily and I'm grateful for that. I miss them and would do anything to sit down at their kitchen table and have a conversation with them again. We would talk about my future, about current events, items going on sale at the local grocery store, the animals on the farm, the garden, why I would choose to straighten my hair instead of embrace my curls. I can't wait to hug them, and be in their presence again.

Christopher Ray Hill is my older brother. He would be 31 this year. 4 years older than I. I often reflect on how my life would be altered with him around. Would we have a strong relationship? Or would he be closer to Josh or Kristi? Would he be a husband and father? College graduate? Would he have gone on a mission? I don't remember ever being little and having my parents sit me down and tell me about him, I just always knew I had an older brother that died at birth. As I have gotten older I have felt more and more pain for my parents. I can't imagine carrying a child for 9 months, with no knowledge that anything was wrong, planning to take your new baby boy home, and then having to plan a funeral instead. It breaks my heart. I picture my life after I have passed. I picture us catching up and what a moment that will be. What an incredible gift to know that I will get that chance some day. I am so blessed.

After the cemetery my Mom drove home and the 4 of us went on a hike. Dad had promised Jaden. Nothing was going to get in the way. I remember taking this same hike with my Dad a couple of times back when we were in middle school. We had to do the dreaded bug collection for our science class. All 3 of us kids did. When I came of age my Dad knew all the best spots. Scorpions, bumble bees, beetles, butterflies, fire ants, nothing was off limits to my Dad. It was fun to walk behind and listen to Jaden being taught about the rocks and history of our surroundings and of course about birds, snakes, mountain lions and the many lizards and bunnies we saw. It was a wonderful time. I of course wore hiking shoes in preparation.....sandals. Dur!

After our hike we went home and prepared dutch oven dinner and spent the remaining time with the entire family, we even got lucky and had our cousin and her boyfriend attend.

I am grateful for this holiday to take the time to appreciate those not only passed, that have done so much for us, but for those still here. I still have much to learn.

"Make Shift Vacation"

At the first of April I realized {to my surprise} that I had a total of 49 vacation hours that I needed to use before April 23, unless I wanted to wave goodbye to them. I scrambled to get some shifts covered so I could "live it up". I drove home and practically skipped into the house as I proceeded to tell Anthony that I had 6 days in a row...OFF!

"What should we do? Where should we go?"
"Well actually Linds, I have mandatory overtime this entire month. So you really aren't going to be seeing me a whole lot.
"Seriously? What am I going to do for 6 days then?"
"Well, I don't know. Come up with some new hobby. Why don't you learn how to weld?"
"..........WHAT?.....Weld? Really? That's your answer?"

What proceeds is what I found to be a better solution than welding.  Because honestly, who learns to weld on their vacation?

{Please note. All of these photos were taken from my phone. Some aren't that bad, others look like they were taken from a first generation camera cellular brick. I apologize and realize that they look like crap.}

I took a stroll with Shanna. The flowers were beautiful. The kidlets (although it looks like a barren street) were out in full force and the world was happy.

Watering Day happened at the Lyman household. Normally I leave that mega task to the man of the house, but I was feeling overly bored out of my mind wifey. This happens twice a month for the succulents, so what a huge privilege.

I attempted to eat healthy. Simple Med Salad (copy cat from Noodles and Co.) Lettuce, red onion, Greek olives, tomatoes, noodles, feta cheese, cucumbers and Greek vinaigrette dressing. (It's also delicious with grilled chicken in it!)

Anth and I played Uno late one night. I talked smack the entire time. And then I lost....First one to 5 wins. He got super obnoxious and we ended the night with me sulking. I am a sore loser. {I admit that Uno is not my game...however I kill it every time at Phase 10. I'll catch him next time.}

I made Salsa. It was good and spicy. Notice the t.v in the background? This was Friday. I spent all day from 8am-7pm (beside a 2 hour insanity break) watching the news coverage of the bomber search. I was obsessed. {I wish I could take that day back.}

Saturday was spent at my friends house. We went to Zupas. We packed up all her things. We got dusty. We got exhausted. We took her little nugget nephew to the park and for a walk for a break. We went to Wendys. It was the most beautiful(est) day ever! The sun was delicious! {It was so nice to get out of my house for the day. Cabin Fever was sinking in}

I made chicken, spinach stromboli. It was easy and delicious! Even Anth was all over it. It is just pizza dough, italian seasoning, mozzerella cheese, parmesan cheese, spinach, tomatoes and chicken. Easy!   

Sunday we took a perfect stroll around the lake. It was gloriously hot. It was nice to see the husband. We discussed our hopes and dreams. I have a sweet farmers tan on my neck...because everyone loves a nice circular line on their neck...regardless I loved every minute of it.  {Is this not the worst photo of us? Lol...truly}

I also made this. It was cold one day. And it was the perfect solution. The bread was chunky. The soup was a spicy yummy concoction and I highly recommend it.

I went to Cactus & Tropicals. Have you been there before? It is soooo much fun! They have so many fun plants and pots and the people are always so helpful. I came home with a topiary for the front porch. {I named her Sheela}

I got my porch looking semi-decent. I have been patiently waiting for the weather to be warm enough so the painters could finish the door. As soon as it was painted I stuck my little "hello." sign on it. I love it! It makes me happy. Sheela is happy next to her little door mat as well. Hooray for warm weather!

GRASS CAME! I also have been highly anticipating this day! They threw it on within 5 minutes and away they went. {When the sun goes down you can find me rolling around in it.}










Tomorrow is our Anniversary and my last day of "vacation". I have done a lot of eating. A lot of vegging on the couch. A lot of walking around with no bra on while the landscapers walk by the front door. I have done a lot of grocery shopping. And....a lot of complaining that I am bored. I can honestly say I am ready to go back to work.

Easter in "Treetown"

Saturday before Easter, Anth and I took a journey down to Tremonton. It is always a delight to be with family. The day included yummy food (of course). It also included an awesome egg hunt with fun clues hidden in some eggs (which led to some pretty awesome Book of Mormon figurines). It might have included me giving Alexa her first temporary tattoo which she was completely okay with (check out the photo with me and her doing a thumbs up after her completed tattoo is placed on her leg).

Coloring happened, playing in the grass happened, bubble time happened and lots of feelings of gratitude happened as we remembered the reason behind this wonderful holiday. Also, I have to mention, Varinia made two amazing tarts for dessert. Like....it looked like the woman walked into a Kneaders Bakery. They were delicious!

Enjoy all the fun photos. Please note: Josh, Kristi and I.....yeah, no pictures. Kristi has some stellar ones of her blowing some bubbles, Josh has a wicked awesome one with Alexa's sunglasses on, and I have a ridiculous one of me modeling with Anth. None of them made the cut. For that, you are welcome bro and sis.

I love my family.....

And I shall call you lumpy...

I have a story...

Last week I went to Subway to get a delicious sandwich. I love Subway. I like that they load up your sandwich and I feel you get what you pay for. I will pick up a sandwich for work every couple of weeks. Because you can only eat so many lean cuisine before you need a reprieve.

6" Turkey on Wheat (or if i am feeling fancy, Italian Herb and Cheese)
-Provolone cheese
-Spinach
-Cucumbers
-Olives
-Pickles
-Lots of Yellow Peppers
-Small amount of light Mayo
-Salt & Pepper

It is delightful.  I never ever waiver from my sandwich. It has been perfected over the years and is tried and true. So why mess with perfect? Also, now that you have my detailed sandwich, you can drop me off a sandwich anytime you want :)

As I stood in line I waited for the young and in love couple ahead of me. First came the girl. She also was getting a turkey sandwich. Smart girl....

"Turkey, lettuce, olives and lots of mayo."

The sub maker did as she was told and did two parallel lines of mayo over her foot long sub. It was a substantial amount of mayo and the maker began to fold the sandwich up.

"No I meant lots of mayo! I will tell you when to stop."

1st long squirt trail of mayo....
2nd long squirt trail of mayo.....
3rd long squirt trail of mayo......

The sub maker hesistates. "Nope, keep going."

4th long squirt trail of mayo....
5th long squirt trail of mayo....

My throat starts to close up and I start to sweat.

6th long squirt trail of mayo....
7th long squirt trail of mayo......

The sub maker says, "Is this enough?"
 The girl stares at her sub and smiles, "Yeah, I guess that is okay."

As the sandwich was closed I saw the mayo ooze out of the bread. The submaker looked ill, I felt like I could heave.. Did you keep track? That was 9 long parallel squirts of mayo!!!!!!!! Am I one to judge? HECK NO! You should have seen my Hawaiian Haystack (more like mountain) I ate last night. But this was a little excessive, right?

Next up, the young fellow. Looking a little shell shocked....
"Foot Long Club On White, No Cheese. Lettuce, pickles, olives, onions. And.....mayo." He looked around and say his woman getting a drink and whispered, "Just a tiny bit please."

I could have hugged him. I envisioned a flash mob dancing through the door, applauding him for not using enough mayo to make enough fry sauce for the entire state of Utah. Blah!

"What would you like young lady?"

My mind was clearly elsewhere when I was startled to see the sub maker was patiently waiting for me.

"Six inch Turkey on Wheat with provolone cheese please. Spinach, cucumbers, olives, pickes, lots of yellow peppers. I stuttered....ummm....well.....and....RANCH!" I watched as she gladly grabbed the ranch and destroyed my legacy. My lunch. My perfect sandwich. "Salt and pepper as well please."

I just couldn't. The sight of that lumpy mayo all over my turkey was just too much. As I sat in the break room hours later with my lunch (basically a salad at this point....ranch? Really?)  I thought about the young girl and the effect she had on me. And the effect that much mayo will take on your body when you get in your olden years....the last 20's. 

Live it up lumpy mayo chick...live it up.

Vacation

How beautiful does this look? Shanna and I have booked our yearly road trip and I cannot be more excited. Palms Springs, here we come!...
193 days to go....oh dear. We are not patience people. Like at all. But the wait will be worth it. 7 glorious days without work, to soak up some vitamin c, and to relax. Please come quickly!

Thank you Anthony. Thank you for letting me go every year. We take a road trip every year and he doesn't hesistate (if the price is right). He knows how much these yearly trips mean to me and I never take advantage of his kindness.

Thank you Dad. Thank you for letting us use your time share. Without it we would be paying for another urine smelling room. You are muchly appreciated.

Seattle*L.A*Lake Havasu*Orifino*

Thanks Shanna for being the best road trip buddy ever! 

The count down begins.....