I Hate Good-Byes

This time of year is very bittersweet around here, as many of our friends finish their schooling, training, etc. and move on to bigger and better things. I think we usually loose 15-20% of our ward every spring. Luckily, we gain most of that back when the new students and residents move in for the fall.

This year is the the hardest, saying good-bye to friends we've bonded with for three years. It may not seem like long, but out here, where most of us don't have any family close by, our friends and ward members have become a lot like family.

Among some of the casualties of graduation are the Poyfairs, who are heading home to Tacoma, Washington. Where to start? I have so many fun memories with Carissa: her delicious lemon blossoms...keeping me company at the pool all summer long...shakin' our booties at "dance club"...ward campouts...and of course, the Kirtland musical! You get pretty close when you're car-pooling an hour a day for rehearsals and spending almost that long in the bathroom together creating this fabulous look:Yeah, we're pretty hot.

Last week we had a farewell BBQ in honor of the Lanes who are moving to Texas.

All the kiddos...most of them anyway. They lined themselves up for a good game of "What time is it, Dracula?" (In case you were wondering, Logan dressed himself. Don't you just love the backwards tie-dye shirt, camo pants, black StarWars socks, and orange Crocs? Nice.)

Here they come!!! Shortly after this picture, the kids ran to the garage and Andrew put his arm through the glass window to stop himself. OUCH! The look on his face said he was way more concerned about getting in trouble for the broken glass than about being hurt. I though for sure we'd be heading to the ER for stitches, but it turned out to be just a couple of scratches. Not too bad.

(Notice the missing pane of glass in the background.)

Here are the Lanes, minus their cute little Tyke. I have to admit I feel a little jipped about my short friendship with Meghan. I knew who she was for years, but always thought she was just too cool to want to be my friend (I know, am I back in high school or something?) The first time I hung out with her socially was when Kimberly invited us both to a DDR Girls' Night a year or so ago. After that, our kids were in the same Kindergarten class and we slowly became friends at the school playground, through blogging, and "dance club" nights at the stake center. I love her honesty and humorous outlook on life and motherhood. She cracks me up! It feels like we've just started to become good friends, and now she has to leave (or gets to leave, depending on who you ask. ha ha ha!)

Good Luck, Lanes and Poyfairs! We will miss you!

Don't Laugh...

I'm 29 years old, and I mowed a lawn today...for the first time! I know, pathetic! I decided it was time I take this step in my life. It was really fun too! I think I'll do it again.

Logan's Birthday Party

Whoa, I'm WAY behind on my blogging! Don't worry, we DID have a birthday party for Logan on May 2nd. (I know, you were all SO worried!)

I made Logan's R2-D2 cake the night before, so it was a surprise for him when he woke up. First thing in the morning, Bryan had taken the kids downstairs to make them breakfast, and I was about to get in the shower, when Logan came running up the stairs shouting,

"MOM, MOM! THERE'S AN R2-D2 CAKE IN THE KITCHEN!!! COME SEE, COME SEE!"

He grabbed my hand and dragged me down the stairs and into the kitchen.

"SEE? SEE? AN R2-D2 CAKE!!!"

I've never seen anyone so excited for a cake! Seeing him like that made me forget all the stress and hair-pulling aggravation of the long night before. Then he sat down at the table and said, "I'm going to sit here so I can look at it." And then he just sat there and looked at his cake. Sweetest. Kid. Ever. I'll make a cake for you anyday, Buddy!

Since Logan turned four, he was allowed to invite four friends. Andrew is a brother, so he's a freebie. Here are the party animals eating "Pizza the Hutt" and "Yoda Soda": Andrew, Wesley, Brigham, Gavin, Emma, and Logan.Bryan provided all the entertainment for the party by making balloon lightsabres for the kids... ...and then conducting "lightsabre training" for the younglings. Impressive, huh?

This was pretty much what the rest of the party looked like. We had planned to do other games (the same ones we did for Andrew's Star Wars party), but they were having so much fun with the balloons, that we just them them play.When the parents arrived, it was time for cake. I tried to get an action shot of Logan blowing out the candles on R2-D2, but of course, it turned out mega-blurry, so this is the best we have.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LOGAN!!!

As I'm finishing this post, Logan is sitting on my lap saying, "We should do my party again, Mom!"

Logan: "Does Heavenly Father have hair?"

Me: "Yes, He does have hair."

Logan: "Is He a bishop?

Me: "Nope, He's not a bishop."

Logan: "'Cause bishops don't have hair. I saw a bishop once, and he had no hair!"

Springifying

...That's a word, right? My mantel arrangement of bare tree branches and candles was looking too winter-y, so I've been trying to think of (cheap/free) ways to wake it up a bit for Spring. It took me a few weeks, but I think I've finally got it how I like it.

Ever since our fantastic Relief Society birthday dinner a couple months ago, I've been dying to grow me some grass in the house. This white planter from my favorite thrift store ($1.00) was just what I was waiting for! I found the round white platter at the same thrift store weeks later. I wasn't sure what I was going to do with it, but it was only 50 cents and I loved it, so I bought it. (I love white dishes!) I think it looks really nice as a backdrop for the grass, and the scallops on the platter and planter look like they kinda go together. A month or so ago, I made these moss balls by hot-gluing moss on Styrofoam balls (you should have seen the mess I made in my kitchen!). I originally had them piled in my coffee table bowl, but thought they would look more spring-y than my red candles up on the candle holders.

This was a semi-cheesy glass bird from the dollar store that I coated in white spray paint and perched on a moss ball. That was fun! I think I need to use spray paint more often! I saved the very best for last:
I have a lilac bush (tree?) in my backyard that blooms beautifully this time of year. The only bummer is that it is so overgrown and leggy that all the flowers are about six feet above your head, so you don't really even notice them. It just occurred to me that I could bring them inside and enjoy them! (Why didn't I think of that two years ago?!) So I went out on the balcony, leaned way out over the old shaky railing (we really need to replace that), and clipped a couple branches. They worked perfectly in the tall glass vase where my tree branches used to live. They are so pretty and smell DIVINE! I wish they could last forever!
The best part is that they are directly above my favorite reading chair, so I get to soak in their yummy fragrance as I read.
So that's it. My spring mantel makeover! It's about two months late, but that's okay, right?

Welcome Baby Eli!

Welcome my new little nephew,

Eli Ren Swenson

Born: 05/07/09
9 lbs 0 oz
21 inches long

Yep, a nine pounder! You go, Sis!

He looks just like his Daddy!

Playground and Pigtails!

Another big milestone for Hannah today - REAL pigtails! As in, ALL her hair in pigtails! My baby is growing up! She looked so stinkin' cute this morning that I just followed her around the playground , taking pictures.
Someone needs to tell this girl that she is only 15 months old, cause she thinks she OWNS the playground. She tries to climb everything (especially the slides) and runs around with all the "big kids" fearlessly. I even caught her pushing Logan out of the way when he tried to take the tic-tac-toe spot away from her yesterday. Oh boy!

Untitled from Summer Anderson on Vimeo.

Star Wars: The Fondant Strikes Back

As a preface, I just have to say that my wife rocks! She puts a LOT of time and effort into birthday cakes for our children, and I'm continually amazed at how well they turn out. On this one, I had my doubts, but she brought her A-game once again. You're awesome, babe! Here's her sneak peek from a few days ago.

And here's the final product:

Pretty amazing, huh?

You can check out pics for the whole project at Summer's baking blog, including all the details about this cake.