Birthday, Continued

The Three Musketeers went out to dinner at Johnny Carino's last night. Karen brought Phase 10- my favorite game. I kicked their butts! Good thing, since it was my birthday. I got the bread machine I asked for- right out of Andreena's kitchen. And some bread machine flour and yeast, and a bread mix. Karen also gave me a picture for my dining room and some smelly hand stuff.

Karen had to go after dinner so Andreena and I went to see Made of Honor. It was cute- and predictable. And cute- Patrick Dempsey cute.

I guess that brings an end to my reign as Birthday Queenie. Until next year.

The Birthday Haul

Yesterday was great.

I cleaned all day. That was the only downer. But mid morning my husband showed up with my birthday doughnuts. It's tradition. I get up at 6 am and run to Haggen and get the doughnuts before anyone wakes up. Then we have doughnuts for breakfast (only 7 times a year) and that is the kick off for your special day. I didn't even expect birthday doughnuts- since I didn't go get them myself.

When the kids got home from school they called their dad to see when he would be home... and then they all ran off together.

For dinner we met my parents at The Olive Garden. My. Very. Favorite. Where the waitresses kept sneaking my adorable offspring Andes Mints. I opened my presents and then asked the waitresses not to sing to me. We had yummy dinner (and lunch, too) and a great bottle of champagne.

But check out my birthday haul!

Clockwise from the top there is:

Movies from Caleb

Stuffed mama and baby elephants from Elizabeth

Coupons for: No dishes for a week, A day to go where ever I want, and Breakfast in bed From Jesse

Candy to go with my movies from Caleb

And from Abigail, Jesse, and Sebastian:

It is engraved with the first initials of each of my children's first names in birth order (JCEAJ).

Tonight I get to go out with Karen and Andreena as is our tradition as the Three Musketeers.

Happy Birthday To ME!

Uncanny

While we were at The Olive Garden last night, waiting to be seated, Caleb looked up at the picture on the wall and said, "Hey! That little boy looks like me!"

He was right. Check it out.

Anniversary Recap

We left our house at about 4:30 and finally had all of our kids dropped off where they were supposed to be. Then we stopped at Target to get Sebastian some much needed new clothes and an inverter to power his laptop so he could design a blueprint while I drove.

We hit traffic and had to sit for a long time. It took us an hour to drive 10 miles. Grrr. After that though it was smooth sailing the rest of the way. We finally made it to eastern Washington at about 8:45 pm. We checked into our B&B and then we went out to dinner at the only good restaurant that we know in Leavenworth, Visconti's. They have paper on the tables, even though the food is 4 star, and they supply crayons. We had a lot of fun with that. Unfortunately I can't show you any of those pictures... But I'm sure the rest of the patrons were wondering what could possibly be so funny in the corner.

On Saturday we got up late and had breakfast at 10:00 and then headed out for our rafting trip. Unfortunately for you I was too cheap to buy the pictures they took. You'll just have to go look at the website and pretend one of those people is me. How would you know anyway, right?

We pulled out of the river at dinner time at their private beach and the fixed us a BBQ dinner. It was very yummy. We caught the first busload to our car, and headed back to the B&B. We started to watch My Fair Lady, but I had to go to bed about 1/2 way through. I was already asleep when Sebastian came to bed- he wasn't able to finish it either.

Sunday we had breakfast at 10 again and then we packed up and checked out. We strolled around Leavenworth and then we headed home. By the time we made it back home from retrieving all of our children it was 8:45. Jonah had fallen asleep in the car, so I carried him inside and stayed with him while Sebastian took the other kids to see Indiana Jones.

All in all we had a fun time. It was very relaxing and fun to enjoy each other's company without the added stress of being Mom and Dad.

The Bed and Breakfast was very nice and I would recommend it. It is pricey, but well worth the money for a special occasion.

Pee Your Pants Funny

My sister Kris is a one of a kind. OK, a one of two if you count her husband. Go see her blog for her latest insanity! Swallow first, then click here.
By the way- she is SO not trailer trash. She lives in the coolest doublewide I've ever seen!
And no, she does not have boobs that hang to her knees.

Happy Birthday to Gina

Yes, it's her birthday today.

No, this is not her writing this, it's me, Trish. I hijacked her blog!
(remember i set it up in the first place, now go change your password Gina!)

Happy birthday to my formerly obnoxious and annoying little sister, who has grown up to be a not so annoying or obnoxious friend. You are a fabulous mom, a great sister and a wonderful friend! I love you.


This is where I wish I could insert some adorable picture of us together as children, but I can't seem to find one...........

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GINA!!

1-800-STREP-4-U

Why Does it take the doctor an hour in the office to come up with the same diagnosis as it took me to make in 5 minutes in the comfort of my home?
And why does the doctor look at me like I have just sprouted a 3rd arm from the top of my head when I tell him that my child has Strep. With a rash. Granted, all the kids are allergic to sunscreen and break out when it is applied the first few times each season, but it had been 2 days since she had had sunscreen on and there had been no rash the night before as I would expect.
I swear, I should have some hotline number to call:
"Thank you for calling 1-800-STREP-4-U. Can I have your 7 digit account number, please?"
"Thank you, and the account pin code?"
"Thank you, Mrs. Gae. And who in your house has strep this week?"
"Just the one? Nice. OK, Mrs. Gae, let me just verify your address..."
"And no change in primary care provider?"
"Thank you, Ma'am. And what is the child's weight?"
"Do you have a preference in antibiotics? I see we used Amoxicillan last time. Did that work OK?"
"Fine, Fine. What pharmacy would you like us to call that in to for you today?"
"Thank you, Mrs. Gae, you have a wonderful day, and call us if anyone else on your account needs our services."

OK, so here are the ground rules:
You can't belong to more than 3 hotlines at a time and you must be referred by your PCP. This service could cost anywhere from $60 to $120 per year.

By the way, she has strep. I knew it.