Sisters and Mom

 Aack, phone picture, not that great.  We had our annual girl's weekend with my Mom and sisters last weekend.  It was fabulous and relaxing.  We did some thrift store shopping.

 Amy and Mom got matching sweaters, and wore them with their matching earrings from Jessie:)

 I found a cute shirt/dress, which I'm sure everyone will see multiple times since I am already ginormous and it actually fits me.

 Jessie on the way to see Monte Carlo - yes we all still like the Disney movies.

 Eating breakfast for dinner...

 My - Yay I had time to get ready today face.

 My sisters, yay I didn't have to get ready today faces:)

 
We spent one night at this beautiful cabin in pine valley.  It was soo nice to get out of the heat.

 And played lots of games.  I just want it to go down in history for those of you who know how to play 500 that I nelloed for the first time in my life:)

The last night my dad and brother joined up with us and my parents treated us to dinner.  Then took us back and surprised us each with an orginal Leconte Stewart painting from my grandparents' estates.

Here's the story.  My grandpa grew up pretty poor.  When he was a teenager he parked cars for the Hotel Utah to earn extra money so he could play sports.  Listening to the rich people talk about art, music and literature made him want to be like that someday.  So one of the first things him and my grandma began purchasing after they were married were these paintings.  They are beautiful and I remember seeing them in both of my grandparents houses.  I am so excited and honored to have a piece of them.  I actually hung mine above my kitchen light switch so I get to see it a million times a day.  We all thought it was amusing to give my sister that lives in Wisconsin the one with a house covered in snow.  The rest of us were opposed to hanging pictures of snow in our houses:)

We also shared some of our favorite things with each other, including favorite recipes, did manis- and pedis and watched a ton of chick flicks - what could be better.  I love being with people who know me so well and love me anyway - even if I only like to play 20 games in a row instead of 50:)

Netflix

I have found it slightly amusing that so many people are so angry about netflix's price raise.  I honestly think I'm getting a great deal no matter what.  But, I am married to an entrepreneur so in general he gives me a slightly different view on price changes.  I found this blog post in a round about way concerning the the netflix thing and other "first world " problems, and it made me giggle:)  I have to admit that I also read the entire front page article in the wall street journal about netflix and skimmed the article about the bombing in India and the famine in Africa, I am slightly ashamed.

A Little Delayed - Preschool Graduation

 I LOVED LOVED LOVED Josh's preschool this year.  It was a true blessing that we found her and that she randomly had an opening that opened up the day that I called - considering our abrupt move.  He learned so much.   He became more confident in every aspect, he talks more clearly, can sound out words,pump on the swings (YES!- I was more excited than he was about that one), and do addition and subtraction, and best of all truly loves school.  It was really the best thing that could have happened to him.  And I didn't even cry because..... he'll be going back to her kindergarten prep class next year:)  And the boy sitting next to him, Ezekial, whom I and Josh also love, will be attending with him...

 Singing his heart out.

 With Ms. Jani.  She did cry, even if I didn't, giving her little speech, which made me love her even more.

 Anna was not pleased when we wouldn't let her sit up front, but we consoled her with cookies.  Poor girl wants to be big so bad, but she's got another year before she can start preschool...

 Hopefully she'll be content hanging out with her mom and playing babies.

Love that he turned around and waved for me as he was walking up to the front:)