Is That What You Do in the Summertime? (Slave Labor)

The children decided to wash the car mats outside today to "help out." Two jumbo bottles of detergent, six dish clothes, and many gallons of water (and fun) later...here's how it looked.

We Went to the Zoo Today

Our Fun Day at Hogle Zoo

We all made penny wishes in the fountain before going in--will we make it all the way through the zoo without loosing anyone? We enjoyed the Discovery Park at the zoo where the children fed the eager birds and we saw ducks and ducklings, swans, and geese, etc. We enjoyed the Bird Show at 11:00 a.m. Hannah was very excited to film most of it and unfortunately, our camera battery was done before the bird show ended and at the beginning of our zoo experience. Whew! Saved you from looking at all those Campbell children and the animals, or are they the real animals! Susie out of the serpent's mouth. Hey, Look! There's a turtle who likes Lay's BBQ chips! Too bad about cousin Jackson but at least Aragog's little nephew didn't have to go hungry! 10 minutes sure seems like a long time to wait to see the Bird Show.

JoeTurns 37!

Joe took work of to have a "relaxing birthday" today. In the morning, Rebekah and Jonathan were excited to practice their new chess skills. Joe unwrapped some pathetic presents and we had his favorite Captain Chrunch Peanut Butter cereal for breakfast. We put together this animal 500 pc. puzzle after breakfast (thanks Eggertsen's). We had a late lunch at Bamboo Hut getting Joe's favorites: noodles and Rib sauce, Seafood and Beef Wontons to share. After a quick walk, Mom and Dad Clayton, Mike, Beth and children came for Family Night, Dinner, and card games.

Birthday Sunday

Clayton Family Sunday Dinner was hosted by Matt and Melissa. We ate Hawaiian Haystacks and (Joe's favorite) raspberry Cheesecake Cake. Afterwards, we were invited up to Mike and Beth's house for cake with the Campbell Clan. We were spoiled by family who honored us today. Joe taught the children to play chess, Susie sits with Arwen (Beth's Great Dane), Syd's cute twins are growing up!

Girl's Lunch Out

Saturday, Joe graciously watched the silly billies while Mom Clayton and I went to lunch at Applebees. Dad Clayton drove us in "Tinkerbell" but declined to join us for "girl time." We had some delicious food (Mango lemonade, Strawberry Coco smoothies, Artichoke dip, Chinese salad, shrimp, and a sundae) and a fun time talking and catching up on one another's lives. Thanks for the birthday outting, Mom! Mom Clayton bought so much food that our charming waitor "Clayton" bought us several boxes. The party moved home where Hannah had lit clusters of candles and we sat in the twilight of a summer rain and ate together.

Sillies

Guess I did survive! Being silly while Hannah is at Fifth Grade Camp. Jonathan walked into Bekah's room shooting a video. We took some silly pictures at his request.

Happy "Un" Birthday

Wow...age creeps up and time rolls on whether one wants it to or not. The night before my thirty-sixth birthday (gulp, did I just type that?) I started to panic. 36. The big three six. That sounds so old! I don't feel old. I remember as a kid thinking 23 sounded old. Hmm. Joe thought this new found fear of birthdays hilarious. He took half a day off work to "celebrate" with me and came home to a rather desperate, hungry, somewhat irritated birthday girl housecleaning. (I houseclean when I am agitated--it's soothing...vacuuming, sweeping, repetitive motion...) He gave me a big hug and then slyly suggested that we go to Cafe Rio for lunch (what, save money? That was soo yesterday apparently). "But before we go, let me go put 36 things in the washer!" "After that we can hit 36 tennis balls or shoot 36 hoops! Then we can go on a walk for 36 minutes!" "Huh!?" Sometimes I am so slow! "Hah, Hah, Hah--you are hilarious dear!" We had a nice lunch and did feel better. Also, Susie popped a cinnamon mint into her mouth when we were ordering. I thought nothing of it until Joe bought us all waters and Susie knocked hers on the table and onto the floor. As I was cleaning it up, she had a funny look on her face and then began to cough*hard*. Up came an entire mint. I was so grateful! Thank you, angels. Rebekah and Susie found this rose for me. It looked almost as large as her head. We ate a dinner of shrimp cocktails (from the freezer, Rice-A-Roni, and put candle into a Skinny Cow for the cake Joe forgot, opps! I still got to make a wish (the second time actually. Susie blew out the first candles too fast--oh well!). The sweetest things were the homemade cards and presents from my little ones. The are good to put up with little Old me! (Alas, with no makeup on because it would show my sunburned nose...from my sister's yard sale last week). Joe wants me to clarify that he didn't get me cake because I thought it would be fun to get cupcakes from The Sweet Tooth Fairy Bakery in Provo. I went today. We got 4 and a Cream cheese Brownie. It was a splurge at $2.25 PER cupcake. (Is each a mini work of creation or what?). We bought the Double Chocolate, Peanut Butter Cup, VaNIElla, and the Dulche de Leche. The last three were scrumdilliousious (and we didn't share any with the children...they didn't even know about them). It was Joe's idea. He turns thirty-seven on Monday and this does not even faze him!