4 years ago...

Four years ago last week this darling blonde boy with the luscious lips slipped into the world after 14 or so hours of labor. Don't worry, I won't hold it over his head. The epidural was wonderful.

Max wanted a chocolate cake with blue frosting so I obliged, and I surprised him with 4 new "Cars" figures on the top. He would watch that movie every day if I let him.

He was surprised though by the end of the day that he wasn't grown up yet. He asked why he wasn't big like momma and daddy. With a start I remembered one of my earliest memories, asking my mom a similar question on my 5th birthday.

JB took the boys to Shivers for a birthday treat. They loved the ice cream almost as much as the toy train in the middle of the restaurant that kids can climb on and eat in.

At one point he wanted a trumpet or guitar or recorder for his birthday but I think that may be a little too loud. For the neighbors of course.

The big 3-0

I've been 30 for more than a week now, and, thanks to some practice before the big day, I don't squirm too much when thinking about my new decade.

I tried out the feel of saying "I'm 30" for a few weeks before my birthday. I said it to my family, the teens at church, people at work, people on the phone, grocery clerks. This may ahave made the age feel less weird to me but probably made me look a little weird.

Here I am showing off my cake with my crown left on my decorated porch by a good friend.

Max snuck into the picture in the corner. You guess what he's doing.

Bella Borsa

I'm told bella borsa means beautiful purse in Italian. Behold my birthday present from Italia:

My in-laws just got back from their adopted mother land. This is the one they brought back from their first trip, about three years ago. It's the one I mentioned that matched my red shoes

For pictures of their trip, go to JB's sister Suzanne's blog. Next time I am definitley finding a way to go!

Speaking of pictures, Max played with the camera while I did some work. He took a picture of me, his leg, and his face, plus all his toys but you don't need to see those blurry shots.

He saw the picture of his face, looked closely and said, "I'm wearing Nona's lipstick." Yes, poor child, you were born with lucious lips any girl would die for (when he was a baby someone asked us if he had botox). They are quite red in this picture though.

How to get an almost-4-yr-old to nap

#1 Let him play outside a lot. Maybe in his swimming pool/storage bin.

(that's Benny pre-haircut)

#2 Give him a new beanbag doggie (a present from the neighbors) to cuddle.

Success!

Binks broke

Binks (Benny's nickname for his pacifier or binkie) broke tonight. He chewed right through the tip. He's been trying to suck on what's left but he is quite frustrated and sad. Since he's almost 20 months old, this is a perfect way to say good-bye to it. But it's bittersweet to hear him saying in his crib, "Binks broke. Binks broke!"

We tried to reassure him that he would be fine with his blanket, "night-night." We were shaking our heads from side to side, "mommy doesn't have a binkie, daddy doesn't have a binkie..." So he keeps mournfully shaking his head side to side while saying "Benny."

By the way I had a really bad Monday that is actually quite fun to write about now that it's over.

I changed purses (pictures to come of my bella borsa from Italia) but forgot to include my cell phone car charger. My cell phone was dying as I popped into an interview for a story at the U of U. I parked where I thought they told me to park. I came out and found a boot on the marked news car. My phone died, the boot was there, the car was almost out of gas so no AC in the heat as I tried to figure out what to do. Thankfully I was able to email from my laptop and my boss fixed it all up. She sent another reporter out to help me while she arranged things with the U to smooth things over with the frat boys who put the boot on my car. (They had a hand-written note on my windshield asking for 50 bucks by the way. Very professional.) Oh, and I had on red peep toe heels that, though cute, were hard to walk around in. My second story assignment was to check out graffiti at Ensign Peak. The monument at the top. Hiking was a problem. But at least my shoes matched my purse.

My shorn sheep

Benny's hair was getting long around his ears. He's only had a little trim once or twice in his life, but this time, we buzzed it all off.

I held him down and gave him chocolate while JB did the clipping.

His hair underneath is so blonde he looks bald from a distance. I think he doesn't look quite the same but so cute still. Max keeps telling us "Benny looks different!" Sometimes he rubs his head with his hand. He matches JB, look:

After all miss, this is France

My sister emailed me this. I love it!