Grandma Barnes is 75!

We had Grandma Barnes here all last week for her birthday. She had mentioned to John last year that she wanted all of her 6 kids together for her 75th birthday and she wanted to see The Phantom of the Opera. We were able to get her part of her wish. Two of her daughters surprised her on Friday night, Cathi came from Mesa and Edie came from Wyoming. We were SO HAPPY that they made the effort to come. It meant SO much to Grandma. I wish the others would have tried harder to be here.

We played games Friday night... Saturday we picked up Edie's best friend who was visiting her mom across town. Then we went shopping and had lunch at Cafe Rio.

Saturday night we went to see The Phantom tickets and got a backstage tour after the show!! It was AMAZING! If you haven't seen Phantom in Vegas, you need to. The theater is beautiful and it was built just for this show.

The big surprise!

Cathi and Edie

Cafe Rio...

Edie was craving Cafe Rio... they don't have those in Wyoming!
Cathi, Mandy and Edie

Edie and Tanner...
(don't ask why Tanner wasn't at a scout merit badge clinic...)

Dessert at the Grand Luxe before the show! Me and my honey!

Happy Birthday Grandma!

The show!

On Stage!

It was a birthday that she will never forget! Happy Birthday Gram B!

CHA

I went down to Anaheim 2 weekends ago for the Craft and Hobby Association trade show. It's where all the craft manufactures show all their new product to store vendors. Think of everything you would find at Michaels... it was there. Pretty fun. They have a huge section for scrapbooking products. So, I stayed with my friend Stacy and got to walk the show with her and her co-workers at Big Picture Scrapbooking. I loved seeing all the cute new products and dream about being able to buy it all! It was a treat to see some old friends from my days working at the Simple Scrapbooks magazine. Great ladies!!

It was strange to see Disneyland, hear people screaming, see the fireworks and not go into the park... next time for sure!

we took a break and had lunch at Downtown Disney..

Stacy taught a class and Wendy was there! I loved working with her at Simple! It was so fun to catch-up with her. Wendy is one of those people I just love to talk to.

Wendy and I at lunch..

Some of the booths had the cutest displays!! All made with scrapbooking paper!

Sadie Hawkins...

Mitchell got asked to the Sadie Hawkins dance last night by Megan Wattles. Her mom warned me that the invitation would be gross, her brother in law was having fun helping her plan it... so if you have a weak stomach, stop reading now...


The first clue was hidden in his car...

There was a jar with this note on it...
"A special de"liver"y for Mitchell is waiting behind the MC chapel dumpster and it will be stating where you should go for your next clue, with all the instructions for what you should do."


yes this is a "liver".


The next clue said "use your head and don't be a fool, return to the place where you went to grade school. Climb to the top of the slippery slide, this is where your next clue I'll hide."

and yes, this is a fish head...


The next clue said "Don't get crabby, the time is at hand, go get your treat in the sweet creamy "land", where kids of all ages go to be seen, don't get confused it's not Dairy Queen. go to the place where you give them your money, but you better hurry fast or your treat will get runny." (the place was "yogurtland")

yes, this is a crab.

Next clue, " I hope that these clues aren't frying your brain, but if they are, then go stand in the rain. Go to the home where their name rhymes with onion, this last clue is gonna be a fun one."


you guessed it, a brain...

He went to the Runyon's and out in the pool he found this:

Yes that is a cows heart!

As you can imagine, he is thinking hard how he can answer her. He is excited to go!
I have a hard time believing that he is 16 and old enough to go!

digital scrapbooking...

I'm having fun with my scrapbooking class! Here are 2 more pages that i have done. I'm learning a lot about digital scrapbooking!

Fun times...

click on them to see them bigger...


I am off to Anaheim in the morning to go to CHA. It's the biggest craft/hobby show in the country. I am meeting Stacy there and I am so excited to see all the newest scrapbooking products! I will take lots of pictures!

Did you see this??

Tanner came running in the other evening and said "Mom, get your camera the sky is so pretty!"

I am glad he took the time to look up and notice something amazing!

I am still alive...

after eating only this for the last 10 days!


after eating only this for the last 10 days!

A week ago Tuesday I saw my neighbor out front and she had just started The Master Cleanse Diet and I told her that I was pondering what diet I was going to start and she told me I should give this a try... so without any mental preparation, I borrowed her book and started reading and drinking away. It is a cleansing diet that you do for 10 or more days... It is suppose to clean out your colon and rid your body of toxins.

All you drink is 8 oz water, 2 tbs pure maple syrup, 2 tbs fresh squeezed lemon juice and 1/10 tsp of cayenne pepper. You can have as many of those a day as you need, at least 8. And you take a laxative or drink a salt water mixture to make you go to the bathroom... It was probably one of the hardest things I have ever done! It was very hard mentally! I learned a lot about myself through the process... I learned that I eat mostly because i am bored or need something to do with my hands, I can live on a lot less than I normally eat, I have more will power than I thought, I craved oatmeal of all things and I can do hard things!

So, was it worth it?? yes. Was I hungry?? Only when my family was cooking meals. They had the nerve to make bacon like 4 times! that was hard! I miss food and I am excited to start eating again. I have to ease into it with juice and soups...

Now I just have to keep it off and get 40 more pounds off!! It should be a fun year! haha...

Happy Birthday Tanner!

My baby is 12 today!!! How could that be??? He will be getting the Priesthood this week! He is very excited about that. He has been working really hard the last few months to get his Faith in God done.

Tanner is the funny boy in our house! He keeps us laughing all the time. Yet, he is very sensitive. We love our Tanner!! A few of his favorite things at the age of 12:
Taco Bell
pizza
his new itouch
the wii
any show on nickelodeon
facebook
holding babies
hanging out with mom and dad. We are especially happy about this one, glad we are still ok in his eyes.

Tanner growing up....










Happy Birthday Tanner!!! We love you!!!