Happy Birthday ...to Everyone! (Part Two)

Well, I was supposed to get this posted right after I got home the night I posted the other.  But life doesn't seem too conducive to that around here.   Brent and I went to the Temple last Thursday night.  It was an incredible session.  Love the emotion in the new film and we were so grateful to have stolen an evening for that opportunity.   Then things kind of went crazy.  Of course.

The freezer door had not closed properly and was, in fact, hanging wide open in the basement while we went merrily on our way.  The hundreds of pounds of meat slowly thawed - or rapidly, it seems.  Frozen juices turned to liquid and then to warm liquid, and finding their way through whatever channel they could to escape the plastic wrapped confinements that were supposed to contain them, they dripped.

And the drips turned into little streams.

And the little streams turned into a running track across the concrete.  In a well built home, it would have gone harmlessly to the drain.  But ours has never been a well built home.  No.  It ran, instead, to the metal cabinet where I had been storing dry food stuff since we worked on the kitchen.  And it seeped under and kept right on running through the other side to the furnace, where I suspect it also seeped under, but I can't get at it.

And then it started to coagulate and set up and ...

Rot.

It was the smell that finally alerted me that we had a problem two days later.   That's not a pleasant odor, either. All the meat had thawed and was warm to the touch.  All of it.

So our weekend was spent cleaning out the freezer and the cabinet and cleaning beneath and taking a load to the dump and not getting salsa put up or blogs posted or ward newsletters done or any of the other trillion things that needed to be done.   We did end up getting the salsa done on Sunday, which normally we would never do but felt like this was one ox we honestly did not push into the mire but needed rescuing nonetheless.

Long explanation for something you probably didn't care to hear about.   Don't try to imagine the smell.

So I continue with the other birthdays, and while I'm at it, I'll throw in my own: 

SUNDAY,  SEPTEMBER 15, 2013 - Happy Birthday Faces:

We decided to have a celebration for all the birthdays together while Dan was there, since he wasn't in our area for his birthday.  We really wanted to celebrate our dear friend Leslie's birthday because the week before, on her birthday, she was supposed to come to our place but that was the week I got really sick with a horrible sore throat and had to cancel (like, who cancels a birthday party, right?).  I promise I didn't get near her, but she still ended up being sick on this celebration.  So we all ate the cake and sang happy birthday to all the birthday 'kids' and missed getting to sing to her, too.

Thanks Mike and Makinzee for hosting this fun gathering:

Three brothers (missing Sean) - Mike, Dan, and Bill

Plus one brother-in-law on the other side of the table.  And Luke.

Hurry and sing to the birthday kids before Mike has to leave for a Court of Honor.

That was one yummy cupcake...

Frosting's the very best part!

Love that grin!

Love that one, too!

And these silly rascals.  

Ummm, he didn't want to go to his Grandpa, I guess ... or maybe simply didn't want another photo taken!  See that darling friendship bracelet Brent's wearing?   Maddy made that just for him.

Tuesday, Sept. 17 - Happy Birthday, Mike!
Brent and I had Cub Scouts on Tuesday and missed the big dinner at the Pie, where everyone enjoyed pizza.  I drove up to join them at the end of it, mostly to give my his card which I had missed giving him earlier, and ended up going on up to his home for the gift opening and because Dan promised to play him a game on his "new" Atari.  Brent had some other obligations that night and was unable to join us:

Great Birthday smile, Mike!

Lexi came up with dice for her dad - something to do with that great card they gave Leo with the dice (6 and 3 = 9) and tee (9-tee).  I think.  She was so cute!  and so excited to help with all the gifts!

Game time!  Lilly wanted to help her Uncle Dan.

Bed time.

Good night hugs.  Compared to today's games, Atari is rather simple.  But Mike remembers the fun he had playing ours when he was younger and so he was quite excited to have one of his own.  So very retro.

Wednesday, Sept. 18 - Happy 4th Birthday, Karsyn!

Karsyn' birthday squeezes between Mike's and Leo's so September ends up being a pretty busy month for us.   If you haven't seen the first post on the birthdays, be sure to scroll down to it (if you ever make through this one).  I kind of overdid the photo taking at Karsyn's birthday.  It was just that everyone was being so dang cute and having so much fun I could not resist capturing it.  There are a lot of photos here, but I promise, I really did pare down the number I put on this blog:

Birthday Dinner included Corn on the Cob, Fried Chicken, and Fresh Rolls.  Yum.

Uncle Dan does get rather mauled when in town.

Leslie showed up, coming directly from the hairdresser sporting this darling new do!

She DID NOT WANT to wear her birthday hat.  Maybe if it had been a princess crown????

OK, for two seconds - just long enough for ONE photo, but only one!

Ashlyn was thrilled with all the new toys.  She's already discovered the great thing about being the third child - when one of the older girls gets a new toy, that really means she's got a new toy.  Hahaha.

A new movie!  Oh, Joy!

It's always so wonderful to have Leo and Edna join us for these family parties!

Of all the toys Karsyn got, however, this one was one Ashlyn totally believed was her own.  I wonder if she's allowed Karsyn to use it yet.

Lilly got in on the action, too.  Anytime there is a button to push ...

Karsyn's cute cake, decorated by her mom.

...and lit by her dad.

Purple frosting YUMMM!

Peanut gallery I

Peanut gallery II

 Oh, look who came!  Tavi from next door came bearing gifts with one more thing - a traditional birthday kiss.

A kiss????

No way!

Don't care how traditional, I'm NOT letting a boy kiss me!!!!!

But without question, she loved the gift he gave her.

One other bonus - Kamryn shows off her gap, as she has begun to lose her baby teeth.

Such a fun evening.  Happy Birthday to Karsyn.

Thursday, Sept. 19 - Leo is Officially a Nonagenarian
...which sounds like he's no longer a genarian, but it really means he is between 90 and 100.  Because of the family party the Saturday before, his actual birthday was a little quieter.  Mark and Kathy were out of town.  Ann was in Wyoming.  Dan and Brent did take Leo and Edna to Texas Roadhouse to celebrate his big day, but I was teaching Roundtable and unable to make this party, too.  That meant there were no pictures.  At all.   But Happy 90th Leo!  We love you so much!

Sunday, Sept. 22 - Dan's Last Sunday in Town = One More Time to Get Together:
Yes, we do believe in gatherings around here!

And this adorable imp believes in CORN on the COB!

Mike was pretty proud of the Utes beating the Y and kind of had to rub it in.  Our family is a divided family...

Heather and Dan

Saying goodbye at the door.

But she missed one!  Karsyn came running out for a big hug goodbye.

Book time with Grandpa is always wonderful time!

Tackling Uncle Dan and getting tackled back!

And getting tossed by Uncle Dan

 Dan flew home Tuesday morning.  We started missing him the minute he left.  If anyone hears of a great management opportunity a little closer to home, let us know.  We need this guy here!

Wednesday - Saturday, Sept. 25-28 - Mont Tremblant

Brent had a meeting in this beautiful setting in Canada.  I've posted about a zillion photos from it.  If you'd like to go with us on this trip just click here:  Facebook Album from Mont-Tremblant 
It was a really great time.  I have put commentary on the photos from Facebook, so I'm not going to add any here, just leave it up to you to read there if you're interested.
 
And on October 2, our grandson Nick turned 12.   This is a big red letter day for those boys who are LDS.  It means they are old enough to receive the first office of the Priesthood - he will be ordained a Deacon this Sunday and we are excited to get to be part of that!   He had a fun birthday, and a later birthday party on Friday full of lots of loud busy boys (I have been told), and it will kind of extend into this weekend's activities, so Nick's 12th Birthday has been a big one.  Still waiting to see photos ... (ahem, Sean????)

Ok, once again, I'm out of time.  But I'm going to post this book - without Corn Bellys and without my birthday.  But I don't think anyone will mind too much.  Will try to get to the rest before next year.

I do have to say this:  I love family.  I loved having all the wonderful family experiences we had over the last couple of months!  This is what life is really all about!


And yes, STILL, To Be Continued .....