Oh February, How I've Loved You....

...but our streak of "spring" days 

is about to come to an end.

Dang.

About A Dog.

Buddha.
The sad truth is, I love this dog but he doesn't love me. 
Well, he loves me but he doesn't love me.
I walk him, I feed him, and I adore him. 
He adores Michael.
The man who didn't want another dog.
From the time he gets home from work, 
Buddha is on him like glue.
He follows him from room to room.
He lays outside the bathroom door.
When Michael sits down, Buddha sits 
as close to him as possible and lays his head in his lap.
When Michael is nearby and you want to pet Buddha, he will let you,
but his eyes are intently focused on Michael.
Buddha even sleeps on the floor by his side of the bed.
I don't know what Michael ever did to deserve this kind of loyalty.
Old Buddha loved me the most. Really he did. 
Not this guy- 
I have come to terms with it--
and I will take what I can get.
And though I wouldn't trade him for the world,
I would just like to understand:
"Why not me?"

A Photo Shoot By Hannah.

Sunday dinner was spent with the Cooks. 
We were excited to have the "little" Cook family with us again. 
It's been a looooong time. 
Hannah took it upon herself to snap some pictures in the back yard: 

  Mikki looking especially adorable...

Malia too.

More Mikki...

and sweet little Zoe.

And then there's this hot mess.

Oh Elijah, you're 16 now. Try a little harder :)

It feels like spring around here. 

If it weren't February still, I would get my hopes up.

However, I shall not be fooled.

Happy Sunday.

Shabbat Shalom.

Okay, Just a Few More....

These pictures of my parents in their prime (?) give me hope that one day my kids will look back at me and think that I was cool once too.

Highly doubtful.

But seriously, my parents were.

Through the modern miracle of colorization, we had a ginger in the family briefly...

Who knew my mother had some serious moves in her day ?   :)

My mom, the only one in a modest dress :) and my dad was her homecoming escort. The rest is history.

See what I mean? Serious moves.

Elvis Presley, eat your heart out.

And there you have it. 

Proof positive that parents weren't always boring.

Here's to getting older...

Slacker.

On Valentine's morning, this sweet little love note

 was left anonymously for my nephew...

He's in fifth grade!

Apparently a fifth grade girl is "driven wild" 

by the thought of him...

Yowza!

I feel like a super under achiever on Valentine's Day.

Second Place...

 ...go figure.

Today's The Day.

 Science Fair projects are being judged 

even as we speak.

This picture is kind of indicative of what trying to get this project done was like....

So in my year of "lasts" for elementary school, 

the Science Fair is one thing I won't miss :)

Sweet Sixteen.

I have pondered all kinds of mushy things I could say about this sweet little boy that was sent to us sixteen years ago. 
All of which I have rejected knowing he would haaaate it.
And so I will just say that I love this kid. 
Especially when he talks in his Scottish accent.

We couldn't be more proud of who he is and who he is becoming. (Except that I am pretty sure I will be a little more proud when he finally gets his Eagle Project done...)

 So to our last baby born on the beautiful island  of Hawaii:

 `Hau'oli La Hanau` 

(Happy Birthday) !!!!!

Bethany, Elijah and Michaela

 ( you can see by the look in Bethany's eyes that she is 

moments away from practicing some "tough love" on her little brother).

This was a momentous occasion for the kid who rarely napped.

(Awwww Jordan.....)

The first of two hospital visits in his young life...

this was post-surgery for separating his two webbed fingers. 

He still wishes we had left them Spidermanesque.

A few months later, he developed cellulitis around one of his eyes 

and spent four days hooked up to an IV. 

He made quite an impression on the hospital staff if you know what I mean :)

And here's a nod to the current Elder Backus :)

Wonder if he still has that necklace????

Hmmm...cavities much?

And now he's gone from the kid who would actually pose sweetly for a picture, 

to this.

We will take what we can get.

 Love you Elijah :)

Celebrating Awesomeness.

For Elijah's birthday dinner, he opted for a cereal bar. The reaction to that menu was lukewarm to say the least, but nonetheless, that is what we ate.

 

I felt a little better when Julie reminded me that Lindsey requested a cereal bar at her farewell party.

To make this day truly special,  Elijah decided to look as awesome as possible in every picture.

  Awesome...

 more awesome,

and awesome again. 

See what I mean?

Not even Bethany could whip him into shape.

(super hard to believe he is turning 16, right?)

 

 His enthusiasm for picture taking spread like wildfire.

 Yup,

and yup.

Goodness gracious!

But despite the lack of photogenicness (my word totally)...it's always a great thing to be together and celebrate each other.

Happy almost Birthday Elijah.
Love ya tons.

A Little Too Not Over You.

Once upon a time we were OBSESSED with David Archuleta.
OB.SESSED.
(Some of us are not necessarily over it, but have put it on hold while he serves his mission...)
And really, we have stalked that boy more times than I should mention publicly.
I could do a week's worth of posts and pics on that but I will refrain for now.


However, we have been legitimate fans too, and have attended several of his concerts including this one back in the day...2009 I think?
And lest you think the middle-aged moms were the only crazy ones (wink, wink) take a look at these Archies complete with halos:

97.1 held a "biggest fan" or something contest. These girls had it nailed down.

Front row seats were on the line.

And yet they lost. 

 To some silly girls with a poster.  A poster!

But, we took it in stride and settled for our mediocre seats.

And though our seats were mediocre,  David was not!

Exceptional as usual.

And there you have it.

Throw back Thursday, Archuleta style.

 A Little Too Not Over You

When Science and Miracles Collide.

Last year, when the Science Fair was over, Grandma sent us this magazine clipping with ideas to consider for the next year.
Miraculously, it was tucked away and found just in time for the up and coming event. (Doesn't that boy in the picture have an uncanny resemblance to Jacob?)

Will made a list of supplies, which I then needed him to translate into a language I could understand...


And so we are off and running.
Thanks to Grandma, the hardest part is over!

It's All About Cameron.

Today we celebrated Cameron's 26th birthday. 

It doesn't seem possible that he is 26, and yet he is.

He wanted Huli-Huli chicken for dinner,

and left the cake up to me. 

Last year I went overboard with that  

Chocolate Wasted creation...

...this year it was just cupcakes. 

Which worked out nicely because we had just received Randy's 

"cupcake of the month"

collection in the mail (his Christmas gift this year).

To which I added a dozen of my own.

Said cupcakes were devoured by everyone. 

I am always baffled by icing scraper off-ers...

who chooses cake over frosting?????

When you are a 26 year-old body builder, 

you want stuff like "Whey" for your birthday :)

What we should have got him was a Buddha :)

Twenty years ago at the very first

 Cameron birthday party that I attended, 

we got him clothes.

To which he promptly stated: 

"this my worst present ever!"

 I never made that mistake again :)

Happy Birthday Cameron Labit.

We Love You.