I know, I know...it's been almost a week since I last wrote. Sorry. My computer was crazy this week and kept locking up on me. There was very little I could do, and my "tech support" was in Utah until Friday evening. Thankfully, Laura & Ian came home and spent many, many hours getting my laptop up and working again. It was a painful process...there was SO much to do! But now I'm back, and I'm a happy girl! I've become a geek just like the rest of my family, I'll admit it. I was rather lost until they got me up and running again.
It was wonderful to see Laura & Ian. They hadn't been home since school began in early August, so it was wonderful to wrap my arms around them. They worked really hard on homework so they could just relax when they got here. Yeah, I know...they worked on my computer. But to a Mines student, that IS relaxing! At one point we had 5 laptops open and it really was a geekfest! Ian did manage to play paintball for part of the weekend, so it wasn't all work. And Laura was able to try on her wedding dress; it was quite stunning on her. We never really did get to talk about wedding plans, but that's ok. There's still time.
Brian is enjoying being home again after being away all but 18 hours in the past 3 weeks. He'll be teaching online from home this week. Since he'll be here to keep an eye on Annie and to get Bethany to/from school, I'm going to head to Denver on Wednesday with my parents to take our chef to lunch and to the grocery. She really wants me to meet a couple of people on campus, so this will be a good chance to do so. She's holding up ok despite the insane amount of homework she's trying to keep up with. Did I mention she's taking 22.5 academic hours this trimester? So far, so good, but it wears me out to think about it! Ah, to be young again!
Bethany has been counting down the hours until her boyfriend gets home from visiting his mom in Alabama. He's been gone almost a month and will roll in tomorrow evening just in time to celebrate her 17th birthday on Tuesday. How did our youngest get this age when she was just a baby the other day?!!
I'm doing well...Annie's doing well, too. It's been a sweet few days.

Girly girl time...

I'm kind of overwhelmed! It's been a glorious few days despite Brian's absence as he's in Utah. I really miss him a LOT. But my dear friend since age 11, Amy, is out here and we've had such an incredible time of reconnecting and just enjoying each other's company. No one in the world knows me the way she does. I mean, we've been friends since FIFTH grade...forty years! I always tell people they're blessed if they have one true heart friend, and between Amy and Susan, I have two. My life is so much richer for knowing these incredible women.
My friend, Amy, has 3 sons whom she affectionately calls "the manhood." They're all grown up now...amazing guys. But she's never had a lot of girl time like we have in our home. So this week we've been staying up late to chat and laugh, watch "chick flicks," and just enjoy being together. Over the weekend we headed to Denver to see the girls and Ian. Amy (Robinson, not Anderson!) got to see both of the girls campuses, eat in the dining hall, make a Target run, push the wheelchair for our girl (her namesake), and laugh a lot. On Saturday we met Laura & Ian at a really cool little pizza place for an early birthday celebration (mine), and then we headed back to Ian's house for coconut cake (my favorite.) Yesterday morning we all met at City Park in Denver to walk in an event for Down's Syndrome in honor of a special little guy named Myles. The day was gorgeous and the company was perfect. What a beautiful, wonderful day!

sparkly clean...

I have a confession to make. While I always manage to get surface cleaning done around the house, I struggle to find time to get down to the nitty gritty. Life is so chaotic and when I finally have a chance to catch my breath, I tend to pick up a good book or work on our family scrapbooks. Yes, I feel guilty, but it's how I "recharge my batteries" sometimes. Lately we've had a lot going on around here and while I was working hard to get ahead, somehow the to-do list just kept getting longer. Enter my parents, whom we affectionately call "the seniors." Yesterday they paid someone to come in and clean my house...for 5 hours! It was an early birthday present, and what a present it was! Tonight my friend from childhood (whom my Amy is named after) is coming to spend almost a week with us while Brian is away, and it's so strange to not have to run around and clean like crazy today. Instead I walked for over an hour, got errands run, gave Annie a bath, chatted with my Amy online, did the ironing & laundry, and made fruit/oatmeal bars. It's only 3:17 and I still have time to relax before she gets in at 7pm. Wow. Thanks, seniors, for this most awesome and appreciated gift! You have no idea how much I loved it!!!

The JWU 5!

It's been a crazy weekend with Amy and four of her JWU chef friends in the house. Yesterday the guys fixed Mexican food for us. I wish you could have smelled my house as it was cooking! It was poetry in motion to watch the action and I had a ring-side seat to it all. I have to say that at times it was a bit crazy and loud, but it was so much fun! Mom & Dad came over to watch the fun and enjoy the food, too. My favorite part of the meal was the jalapeno poppers. I know they're not really good for me, but it was a treat to have homemade ones and I loved them! Unfortunately, so did Annie, the wonder beagle (who I suspect is part Mexican.) Before anyone could stop her, she'd snatched one from the plate on the coffee table. If you'll recall, this is a dog who has random digestive issues. So far, so good, but I'm on alert for the next couple of days.

I just dropped Brian off at the airport for his 2 week trip to Salt Lake City. He wasn't even home for 24 hours this time. It's hard to believe he's gone again so soon. Just a couple more trips between now and 1 November, though, and then he gets to stay home for a little while. One of my dearest friends in the world is coming out this week for about 6 days. That'll make time pass more quickly for Bethany and me. And next weekend we're all headed up to Denver to see Laura & Ian and then walk in an event to raise money for Down's Syndrome. I think time will pass much slower for Brian. But I hear it's quite gorgeous in Utah, so he'll have lots to see/do.