Birthday Brooklyn

Since absence makes the heart grow fonder and all that

I took a hiatus from blogging for the end of summer.

In this absence a lot has happened.

So I will play catch up tomorrow.

Today it's all about Brooklyn

She celebrated her 10th birthday

July 29.

Chocolate cake with chocolate frosting

and chocolate ice cream was the order.

Ten flaming candles.

Blow! Blow! Blow!
For her birthday we offered up all kinds of suggestions.
None were taken.
The only thing she wanted was a.....
Bedroom Makeover!!
Big Time!

(her room had been pink, pink and more pink since birth)
She informed us...
Pink is not her color of choice anymore.

So off to the store to pick some bedding.
Then she wanted to paint 3 walls, each a different color.
I came up with something less invasive
but colorful none the less.

And she loves it.
See for yourself.

View 2

The only thing left to do...

Sew the cushion for the window seat.

It is polka dotted and matches the sheets.

Actually the cover will be made from a spare set of sheets.

The wall not shown has her white dresser and a green mirror.

It turned out darling.

Here she is below giving us a smile of gratitude

to finally be done with the baby pink. ;)

Kenny Concert

Today Lincoln called me and informed me that Sandy City was giving away 2 tickets to each employee for the Kenney Chesney Concert at Rio Tinto.

Because he was working and the two guys working with him didn't want their tickets....
I wound up with 6 coveted tickets.
Me, Bailee, Brooklyn, Ben and two of Bailee's friends ventured out.

It started at 5:30 p.m. Today was a scorching 100 something degrees.
Not a good beginning. Ben couldn't hack it after about 2 hours...My sister Darla to the rescue.
She retrieved him and took him home. Thank goodness Rio Tinto Stadium is so close.

Then when "The Sun Went Down", literally. The main event took the stage.
It was awesome!! Brooklyn and Bailee danced and screamed until they couldn't scream no more. :)
I gave it a little wiggle myself.

Two suggestions for Rio Tinto...
1) When you have a huge concert planned in the middle of the summer....
Plan on a very thirsty crowd.
Do NOT run out of COLD Water.
Not Good at all.

2) The water running through the pipes in the bathroom should not be HOT. Even the toilets flushed hot. You could see the condensation on the pipes. This makes for a sauna. I swear the bathrooms in this place were so HOT. When you stepped outside into the 100 degree weather you felt relief.

I haven't been to a concert in quite a while. Made me feel kinda young again.
Wish Ben could have endured till the Sun Went Down. He would have loved it too.

Tribes of Truth

This past week I was lucky enough to go to girls camp.

I really felt privileged since I do not serve in the Young Women's.

I teach them all in Sunday School.

But, the camp director and I are friends so I got to go as a helper.

It was a blast.

I haven't been to girls camp since I was laurel

and Paula Noorda was my leader.

That was forever ago.

It was Survivor themed.

We were all called the Tribes of Truth...

Then we reached into a bag and pulled out a scrunchy..

This was our version of a buff.

It divided us into 3 tribes.

I was in the Yellow/Lion Tribe.

We then each had to make a flag with our

Tribe Name.

The girls chose Kilioki.

It wouldn't be Survivor without Torches for flame.

After all Flame is life.

So we were all given a staff with a candle on top to decorate.

IN the first fireside devotional that night

we all received flame.

It wouldn't be camp with out a craft.

Survivor has to have challenges.
Ours were a blast.
Here you had to hit the Human Target for points.
Then when you received enough points you got a puzzle piece.
Which you then solved when you had all the pieces.
Our tribe won of course. :)
The puzzle solved
The girls in our tribe.
Don't forget s'mores.

and the beloved camp songs.

C-that's the way it begins...

Foil Dinners. Mmm Mmm.

The whole group.

We have a small ward,

but a lot of fun and love.

I had such a great time.

It was fun to share this with Bailee

Since it is one of her last times at camp.

It brought back many happy memories

of my youth.

Singing Walk Tall Your a Daughter

by the camp fire is still a powerful thing.

Because when all is said and done

no matter my age or station

I am a daughter of God. :)

I have Issues!!

This is what I tell myself.

Really what I have or am having is....
A BREAKDOWN!!

Total and Complete Emotional Breakdown.

Seriously.

If you happened to see me Sunday
3rd or 4th bench back from the front
-So really how could you miss me-
You probably noticed me sobbing my eyes out.
I know this isn't completely irregular
Since I have been known to shed a tear or two
especially on fast Sunday.

But then as I exit the building
mid testimony meeting
with a son who is obviously grimacing in pain....
Well I guess that tells the whole story.

I think the stress of having my wonderful loving son
feel sick, look too skinny and pale all the time
is taking it's toll.

I'm waiting for those blessings I have total faith in..
to come.
Really, I am waiting patiently.

But in the meantime....
I'll get it together, it was just a bad few days.
So if you were one of those who witnessed this breakdown
I am okay.
Just don't offer sympathy, hugs, or compassion...
Or I just might break down right in front of you. :)

Thankfully my wonderful husband took me on a much needed
date today.
A wonderful walking tour of the Thanksgiving Points garden.
A quiet sit in the secret garden.
And lunch at Chili's.
I feel better already.

Add in 3 days at girls camp later this week and
I should be good to go for a little longer....
While I continue to wait...patiently.

So when the children ask..Mom you okay?
I till tell them,
Yes, I just have Issues. :)