October birthdays!!!

This month is a crazy month for birthdays....... As I have gotten older it becomes harder and harder to keep up with all of them! Seems I am always a day or two late and a dollar or two short!! So many birthdays this month- I wish I had the time to be with each of the birthday people and to do something special with each one.

The month started off with Kathy's birthday on the 6th. Kathy and I have been friends for 24 years..... She has been with me through thick and thin! It has been an amazing experience to watch our kids grow up and become grandmothers together. She has a lot more grandkids than I do..... (15 to my 4!!) I appreciate all she has done for me over the years- more than I could ever say.

Kathy and Dan came all the way to Sweden for Cami's wedding. This was taken in Sandviken, Sweden.

On October 12th my beautiful granddaughter, Jenna, turned 4!!!!!!!!! She is such a special sweet spirit. She idolizes her big sister, Reagan. She is so loving and fun. Whenever I talk with her on the phone she makes me laugh so much. She is very animated and gets excited about everything, I can't wait to see her when I go to Dallas for Christmas!

Here is Jenna enjoying a hot dog with her Aunt Heidi!

Nine days after Jenna turned 4, my beautiful daughter-in-law, Anayansi, will have her birthday! Anayansi is such an important part of my family. I am so grateful for our relationship. She is a great friend to me, a wonderful wife to my son and an amazing mother to my precious granddaughters! It was so fun to have her with us in Sweden for Cami's wedding. I love her and can't wait to see her at Christmas too!!

This is Anayansi in Sweden on the dinner boat we went on one night!

Also on the 21st is my friend, Lynn's, birthday. Lynn sits across from me in the office. We are definitely co-horts in crime together!! We whine, scream, and laugh together. Our job can be extremely frustrating. Many times we feel as though we are on an obstacle course. Without Lynn I wouldn't be able to navigate the course!!! She is a cat lover like I am, and she loves to travel like I do. She is French Canadian and speaks French and has a crazy sense of humor. I am so fortunate to have her to work with and to have her as a friend.

Here is Lynn in Prague last month!

Next weekend on the 25th is my son-in-law, Evan's birthday. Evan is such a special guy. He is pretty soft spoken and very patient! He is the only male in the house! He is the perfect person for Brooke, and I love watching him with McKenzie and Brynn- he is a great dad to them. I am over there quite a bit and he is patient with me being there and maybe being too involved at times!!

This is one of my favorite pictures- Evan and Brynn

Then the 26th is my sister, Patti's, birthday. She lives in Leavenworth, Kansas, so I don't see her much. When our kids were little we lived close to each other and I treasure those days so much! Patti has such a great outlook on life. She has a hilarious sense of humor- has raised 4 wonderful daughters... or should I say 3 and is still raising one!! She is like most other moms that totally puts everyone else's needs ahead of her own. She is so generous and loving. I wish so much I could spend more time with her but she and her husband are busy, busy, busy with children and grandchildren.

Patti and her husband, Larry, during my visit to Kansas last March.

On Halloween my friend, Tracy, has her birthday too!!! I have known Tracy since we were kids. She graduated from high school with my sister, Susie's, class. Her older brother was my first boyfriend (When we were in 7th grade!!). I am so fortunate to have Tracy and Rick (who I graduated with!) here in Sacramento. I don't see them very often. Tracy is busy being a school teacher while Rick is busy being retired!! But if I ever need anything I know I can call Tracy and Rick. Tracy is a great mom to two beautiful grown daughters. She knows my history and is still my friend!!!!! This year she will be on the road for her birthday driving up to the Northwest... hope she has a wonderful day!

This is Tracy at her daughter, Jamie's, wedding last year!

To my family and my friends that have October birthdays- Happy Birthday! I am so blessed to have each of you in my life!

Cultured

I am soooo cultured!!!! I went to 2 plays this week!!! I love live theater. I don't really go all that often but I had 2 different opportunities and I didn't want to miss out on either.

Last Wed. I went with Rick and Tracy to the B Street Theater to see The Maintenance Man. This theater does plays that are not as well known. This was a British comedy about a Divorcee and his relationship with his ex-wife and his new, younger, skinnier, prettier girlfriend... (Sound familiar?) It hit pretty close to home but I still liked it. It's always good to see Rick and Tracy too. We had dinner first at Hot Italian in mid-town. Good thin crust pizza!


Friday night Lynn and I went to Roseville to see Big River. A friend of ours from work was in the play so we wanted to go and be supportive. For community theater it was actually good! I didn't know the music from this play even though it has played on Broadway. I will be singing "Muddy Water" though for awhile now! Before the play we went to Claim Jumpers for dinner.... if you have ever eaten there then you know the portions are ridiculous. We shared an appetizer and a dinner- and it was still too much food!


Other than that my weekend was really quiet. I spent time shopping and reading. Mostly shopping!! Love weekends.

Brooke's Marathon Weekend

While Brooke and Evan were in Utah I stayed with McKenzie and Brynn. After such a crazy weekend I am reminded that I am not a young mom anymore! I did manage to play doctor, store, school, family, went for walks, went to the park, went shopping, sang songs, did dances, built train tracks, colored pictures, made meals and snacks, gave baths, painted banners, and laughed and laughed. How I raised three children on my own I have no idea! The only thing I can think of is I was 30 years younger!! I am not complaining- just making an observation. I love any opportunity I get to be with my granddaughters. I wish so much I was closer to Ian's family so that I could spend more time with Reagan and Jenna too. Being with the little ones gives me purpose. There is such an unconditional love that a grandparent has. Just like being a parent but also different.

Brooke has so much to be proud of -- she not only completed the St. George Marathon, she did it in 3 hrs and 45 minutes! Unbelievable. She has such determination! She set a goal 4 months ago to complete this race. Truthfully- I don't think our bodies are meant to run 26.2 miles. But what do I know? I wish I could have been at the finish line to cheer her on but I was happy to be home with the kids.

I always like to have something to look forward to. Now that Cami's wedding is over, and Brooke has run her marathon--- I will look to the holidays. In the meantime -- Life will settle down some. Work..... Autumn...... The cycle of life continues.


McKenzie playing with Play Dough


Brynn at the McDonald's playground


McKenzie doing her workbook pages for "school"


Where's Brynn????????




These are the banners McKenzie painted for her mom. (I wrote the words on the paper and she painted them!)


Brooke crossing the finish line!!!