17 Has Turned 35

I have been waiting to turn 35 for years just so I could use that song lyric as my post title!

 

And...If anyone comments on this blog post and knows what song it comes from I will send you a gift!

(Kellie & Rachael: Since you are my two regular commenters you have a really great chance of winning!!!)

 

But seriously 17
 

 

Has Turned 35.

Check out how I am wearing the same vest in both pictures! It wasn't even planned. Although as a 17 year old you may notice that it actually buttoned up.

Moving along.........

I started my birthday off by having breakfast with some of my friends:



 Amy, Cheryl, Me & Rachael

Sharing any meal with friends is kind of one of the best parts of life. Right?

I received lots of GREAT, heartfelt cards this year. EXCEPT this one from Cheryl:




Just you wait until your birthday in May Cheryl!

You may know that I am obsessed with Donut Gems? Along with a Diet Coke and peanuts I have them every morning for breakfast. Thanks to Rachael (and Eric) my stock has sufficiently replenished:



Rachael did you receive any flack from the clerk at the convenience store while purchasing these multiple packs?

After Eric arrived home from work I opened my presents:



I received lots of homemade gifts from the kids. Including tickets for free hugs, massages, and art work, along with a ticket (from Jackson) to take him back to the Adventuredome by November.

I also received lots of cool stuff, including, jewelry, a safe, candles, lotion, soap, and money!

After dinner we came home for cake. Eric stayed up late the night before my birthday making me a double decker German chocolate cake! My favorite:



Impressive!

Sade and Jackson finding room for all 35 candles:



I am happy to report I was able to blow the candles out all at once!!

Thank you to everyone that spent time with me, called me, texted me, or facebooked me on my birthday! It was so nice.

Four More Years

On Saturday afternoon Eric brought me home an early birthday present!

Tickets to see President Obama speak on Sunday evening!



He really loves me.

It was a grassroots rally, featuring the Mexican Superstar Band Mana! Which I have never heard of, but who are apparently incredibly famous.

I abhor crowds and was feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of finding parking and dealing with the hoards of people, but luckily I have Eric to handle those sorts of things and convince me it wouldn't be any big deal.

And of course, he was right. Although the walk to the high school did prove to be quite long.



During the election season there are not too many things to love about living in a swing state (I can't take any more political ads!), but one major benefit is we get lots of visits from the candidates.

We arrived at the high school about an hour after they had opened the gates. All of the bleachers were already filled so we joined the group on the grass.




The Secret Service on the roof:



Me and my people:

:)



There were over 11,000 of us supporters there.

It was so super hot! Luckily the sun went down soon after Mana, THE MEXICAN SUPERSTAR band performed.

Then the wait was on. At just a bit after 6:30 p.m. President Obama walked out.



I was glad they had this big screen, since I couldn't see a thing!

Sometimes it is not so great being short.

 Although I did have Eric lift me up a few times.




I'm so glad I went.

 I only wish the kids could have come too!

As a caveat: This post is not intended to spark any political discussions, arguments or bad feelings. Love and light.

Adventure Angels Activity #4

Well we had our most recent and MOST TERRIFYING Adventure Angels activity on Saturday night. Like so terrifying I am still not over it, and may not ever be. I think I would even consent to being shot with another paintball before I would ever do it again!

Anyway......For our 4th activity (I missed #3: A hike up Mt. Charleston due to being out of town) we rode the thrill rides on top of the Stratosphere!

I have driven under these rides many times and determined that I had absolutely no desire to ride them. However, put me in a group and apply a little peer pressure and I fold!

The before shot:



I am blissfully unaware how scary it will actually be.

The first ride was Insanity. A mechanical arm extends you 64 feet over the edge of the stratosphere and then spins you around. Did I mention you are 900 feet above the ground? I found it to be the most terrifying ride of the night!



Then we headed over to ride X-Scream. This is the one that sends you HEADFIRST 27 feet over the edge of the Stratosphere, 866 feet above the ground!

Me, Rachael, Michelle and Natalie getting ready to ride:



Here is the ride in mid-air over the edge of the Stratosphere before the drop:



It was nightmarishly scary. I am quite sure that the only reason I didn't find it scarier than the other ride is because I am on the shorter side and thereby my view of the drop was partially blocked.

Our final ride of the night was the Big Shot. You take off from a 921 foot platform, and then are propelled into the air another 160 feet at a speed of 45 m.p.h. It was a piece of cake compared to the other two:



 The view is incredible:



Me and Rachael:



Me and Natalie:



Finished:



Good job girls! Let's not ever do it again. Ok?

Boutique?

Ok. It's been months and I CANNOT let another minute pass by before I address an extremely important issue!

 

Have any of you traveled to Target the last few months?

 

And on your travels have you seen this?:

 

 

I just cannot get over it!

 

And although I try to keep my blog as neutral and non-confrontational as possible, I am taking a stand!

 

THIS IS A TERRIBLE NAME FOR A STORE!  I do not think Chic-Boutique when I see this. But rather Chic-Butt-Ick!

 

Anyone else?

 

(If you don't agree with me don't bother commenting.)

 

(Just kidding)

(Kind of)

Hot or Hot Mess?

 

Don't be jealous. I know I look totally HOT driving this thing around.

 

 

 

The pose was solely Sadie's idea. I couldn't be happier about it:



 

Tucky-Wucky Update

 Our little Tucky-Wucky Baby is growing up!

The first day we had him:




 Day 19:



I cognitively knew that having a puppy was like having a newborn, but just like when you bring a newborn home, your body rebels. I was exhausted the first week! I even had to nap during the day when he napped!

Anything in his field of vision he attempts to chew. Megan bent down to pet him and he immediately went for her necklace:



Pulling it away:



More chewing:



The sweet little baby:



He doesn't bark much. Except for at this soccer ball:




He also hates the vacuum, and barks like a complete nut at our next door neighbor Mr. Hawn. He can't stand him!

We are sadly still working on potty-training. It may send me into a severe depression! As evidenced by this picture, he is perfectly capable of going to the bathroom outside:



And does all the time! But randomly he still pees (and poops!) inside. Yes he is crate trained (and does not go in his crate). Yes he can hold it (he sleeps for 8 hours a night with no accidents or problems). Yes when he is in the house he is sitting right next to me, is being held, or is on a 4 foot leash, and still pees! And yes, he does get rewards (treats) when he goes outside. I'm out of ideas!

It is a good thing we already love him.

Guitar Box

Jacks and Sade found an inventive way to play with Megan's empty guitar box:
 

 

 Sade insisted that she was the "real dead person" and not Jackson since she didn't have to bend her legs.