*Monday Memos* (Junior Prom Edition)

*Monday Memos*

 

dear st. patrick's day, you kind of snuck up on me this year!  Luckily the Leprechaun's mind hasn't completely left and it remembered to color the milk green.  I pretty much threw together our traditional GREEN dinner in a quick rush of little preparation and quick thinking this year.  Thankfully Dave was around so I could send him to the store - let's see... two times...or three!  He's a good sport.  This year I made it easy and fast and made a Shepherd's Pie with green mashed potatoes on top and then lots of green veggies and of course our favorite Key Lime Yogurt pie.  We invited Dave's parents over at the last minute and it was fun.  I figure you have to cook dinner anyway, why not make it have some pizazz with a little green food coloring!

dear mr. cat, how I wish I could relax like you do.  And, anywhere you happen to be for that matter.  Oh, the life of a cat.

dear talk, I am happy to report I survived you!  You can read more about that here.  It really was a great experience to go back to my old ward and reunite with sisters I haven't seen for 20 years!  I so admired and looked up to these women and still do!  It was fun catching up a bit.  My awesome friend Dawn went with me and I really appreciated the support.  My friend Colleen that just moved from our town, also came and brought her two daughters.  It was so fun to see them!  The talk went well. I hope, anyway.   You just never really know as a speaker because people would tell you that you did a great job even if you didn't right?  But I felt good about it and I guess that's all I can go on. And I got a really nice PURPLE wreath out of the deal, so that made it worth it! Thanks Janice!

dear tyson, thank you for being such an amazing example to me and to everyone.  You always found something to be grateful about no matter what your circumstances were.  You were my inspiration for this talk and I hope you know how much of an impact your short life had and will continue to have on others because of your strength and example.  You were the epitome of choosing to be happy no matter what life throws at you.  I sure do love and miss you!  Thanks for 17 years worth of incredible memories.

dear dick's bakery, oh my how I've missed you!  I do frequent you whenever I am in town, but it's not often enough.  Your chocolate fudge donuts and mini eclairs speak to me.  They say, "Eat me and indulge yourself because your taste buds will never experience anything better on the planet!" And I speak back to them saying, "I will, I will, I will.  I will until I can no longer see straight or move because I can't stop indulging in your delish-ishness!".  I had to take Dawn there on our way home so she could experience the best treats ever to grace the earth as well. 

dear duplex we used to live in, wow how things have changed in 20 years.  There is now a road and houses where we used to plant our garden right east of you.  You gave us some really good memories.  Two of my babies were born while we lived there.  We only lived in you for a few years, but we made some great friends and great memories that will last a lifetime.  I will never forget one day when I was gathering the laundry out of the laundry hamper, as I was bringing it up towards me, I saw a snake laying right in the bottom of it.  I screamed so loud, I'm sure I could be heard in Idaho!  Probably not my best memory of you. 

dear taking dinner to a friend in need, why is it whenever I make a really nice dinner to take into someone who is sick or needs some help, that it never seems to turn out quite like it would if I was just making it for my family?  There must be a lesson in there somewhere, unless it's just Murphy's law.  But whatever it is, I just do. not. get. it.
 
dear mandarin, I can't believe we had to cancel again!  This time it was because of us.  Dave was asked by the Stake Pres. to attend the caucus meetings and so we had to bail.  I'm glad our friends decided to wait until we could all go and reschedule it again.  We ARE eventually going to get there.  And I can't wait!  I love you!
 
dear longhorn steak house, we decided to try you out and we were not disappointed!  The bread was very good and the steak was one of the best I've had.  Maybe not the best meal for me to carb load on, but it was worth it!

dear long run, you challenged me today.  You ALWAYS challenge me, but today I'm not sure I met the challenge like I usually do.  Jen couldn't go with me today and so I was out on my own, left to my own head and thoughts for 18.5 long miles.  It was not pretty.  I did great until about mile 10 and then I just wanted to walk.  I don't usually allow myself to walk much when I'm running, but today I did.  Out of the 18.5, I bet I walked at least one of those miles if added up.  I'm not sure why I felt so dead and tired (and so slow), but I did.  I think I'm still recovering from last week's long run!  That was a killer.  Or maybe it's because I didn't listen to my music, but instead chose to listen to the Mormon Channel.  I listened to the section on adversity and heard all kinds of life stories of how people dealt with their trials.  I really thought that would help get my mind off of the distance, but it didn't really give me the motivating boost I need on that far of a run.  Next time, I will listen to music and save the talks for shorter runs.  I ran out in the boonies and so I called Dave and asked him if he got a break at work if he could bring me some water.  I really don't like carrying water if I don't have to and I usually remember to hide some before my run, but forgot.  He was able to bring me some about mile 11 and I was so grateful.  When I got home, there was no time to rest, but just get myself in gear and get going for the busy night ahead...including McKay's prom and birthday.  I told Dave to never let me sign up for another marathon again.  They are just too time consuming and take over four months of your life! He just said, "Yeah, I've heard that before.".  But I'm serious this time.  The intense training kind of takes the joy out of running and makes it more of a "have to" kind of thing instead of a "want to".  I basically have to plan my life around my training schedule right now.  I prefer to have it the other way around. Two more months!  

Sights along the path.  The goats were in the forbidden field again.  haha  As far as the sign, at that point I'd be lucky if I could do it in 5!

Dave bringing me some much needed water!

dear deer, oh dear, you deer are dear.  I love having you right in my back yard.  So does Mr. Cat. He likes to have some pals to hang out with.

dear mckay, happy 17th birthday!  WHERE has the time gone?  My BABY is 17!  It's just unreal how fast that has gone.  You are such an amazing son.  I am so blessed to be your Mama.  You have such an amazing confidence that you have always had.  Even with four older brothers to pick on you, you never would have known you were the baby.  You are one tough and confident kid.  I'm so proud of how you read your scriptures on your own each day for an hour!  That is just amazing to me.  You are a very determined person and once you set your mind to something it happens.  You do well in school and study hard.  You are so fun to be around and know how to have fun too.  I love teaching you in Sunday School.  You and your pals keep me laughing.  You have so many friends and you are a leader among your peers.  I am still not ready for all the girls that like you either!  But I guess I should be happy about that right?  As long as you don't like them back...haha.  JK.  You are just an all around great kid in every way and  I love being your Mom!  Crazy to think in just a little over a year, you will be on a mission! 

dear mckay and prom night, wow!  You look great!  I didn't even have any say in what you picked out to wear like I did with your bros.  You just went and did it on our own.  You have good taste I must say.  I hope you don't mind sharing your junior prom with your birthday.  Considering your date won Junior Prom Queen, I guess that was a good birthday present for you and will help compensate some. haha  You obviously have good taste in girls too.  I am still a little miffed though that you didn't even tell me she was up for Prom Queen.  One of your friend's moms told me at the Promenade.  I'm actually surprised you even told me she won.  I doubt you would have if I hadn't text you (after your friend's mom told me) to take some photos of her if she wins.  But you forgot.  Oh well, maybe one will show up in the yearbook or somewhere.  I'm sure there was just too much excitement at the time to remember.  And after all of the photos I took at Promenade, I think you were tired of pictures.  But, I hope it was still a good way to spend your birthday.  "Spend" is the key word here.  Most birthdays are where you get money, not spend it.  But after the tux rental, corsage, dance tickets (luckily those were free since your date is a class officer), Limo rental, dinner at the Timbermine, tip, dance pictures, the day date (movie tickets- bonfire), Crystal Hot Springs and all the other little expenses, I'm glad you had so much fun and I'm glad you are such a handsome and outstanding young man.  I wish I could have been a fly on the wall the whole night!  Oh, to be young again!

(click photos to enlarge) 

McKay with his beautiful date Natasha, Junior Prom Queen!

Promenade at the high school.

Cute couple!

McKay and Olivia.  She is Allie's sister and so I had to take this for Taylor.  Isn't she gorgeous?  They have good genes in that family for sure!

McKay with his parentals

With his grandparentals

With his best pal Cooper

 (click to enlarge)

Limo group

Inside the Limo!

Bye bye! That's Tasha waving!  Off to the Timbermine in Ogden for dinner and then to Hyde Park for the dance.

One of their official photos.  Isn't she gorgeous?!  She definitely deserved the honor of PROM QUEEN.  She is beautiful inside and out!  Congrats Tasha!

dear sunday, you are NOT a day of rest.

dear self, get your biscuits to bed before midnight for crying out loud!  I know you have a hard time settling down, but you pay too high a price for being a night owl come 5:00 a.m. each day when your body wakes you up and doesn't want to let you go back to sleep.  Listen to me and get to bed by at least 11:00.  You will thank me later.

dear high school, it never ceases to amaze me when I am there (selling prom tickets this time for the PTA) the diverse group of kids that attend you.  Just watching so many different types of kids go past and seeing the segregation of groups for all those types, made me think how unique every soul is that has ever lived on this planet or ever will.  It is mind boggling to me to even imagine that Heavenly Father created so many different individuals - no two the same - and that he actually created us to be who we are no matter how diverse we are from someone else and the fact that we didn't really have a whole lot of choice in the matter as far as which "group" we fit in.  When I watched the kids that were walking alone in your halls with their heads down and no confidence and without any friends, it nearly broke my heart.  I wonder how those souls can actually survive living a life so alone.  But, I also know that there is a reason that each person was created as they were.  Everyone has something to teach us and everyone has just as much worth as everyone else.  Even though segregation happens, it doesn't change the true value of anyone's worth. I just hope those lonely ones understand that.  Sigh...

dear monday memos, I am really trying to get you done on Monday, but it's already Wednesday and I'm just finishing.  I will use the schedule app to have you posted as if on Monday since Monday IS in the title, but it really should say Monday Memo's published on Wednesday LATE again!  haha  Oh well, at least I DO get you posted!  I'm going to be proud of THAT instead of beating myself up that you're late.