.jpg)
40 and Loving it!
I won't say it was just another day...but I don't feel any different now that I'm 40! Yesterday was the big day and a big day it was. To tell you the truth, it was a big weekend. Here's a recap.
On Friday, the company I work for (APQS) took all of their employees to do relief work in the Parkersburg area where a F5 tornado hit Memorial Day week and severe flooding a few weeks later. We were sent to nearby New Hartford, where more than a foot of water had stood in the elementary school just about a month ago. Every classroom had to be emptied and floors ripped out. There are trying to get it ready for kids to come back to school next month. They had several jobs for us, including raking the playground rock to turn it over, spraying it with bleach, then raking it back. This is Jim Kaldenberg getting instructions from our volunteer director. You can see that what lies under the surface of the rock is not pretty! The building behind the playground shows the water line about a foot off the ground. When our tasks were done, we headed to a local restaurant for a late afternoon supper. My co-workers kicked off my birthday with a lovely tune of Happy Birthday to You and a piece of coconut cream pie! When I got home Friday night some friends brought over a chocolate chip cookie cake for the celebration. That was yummy.
For three months, I've been trying to coordinate with our friend and neighbor Marie, who also happens to be a photographer, to take 1-year pictures of the girls and pictures of all three kids. Marie is the mother of two sets of twins that are 15 months apart (now sophomores in college and seniors in high school) so she understands the word busy! Well, we finally found an hour on Saturday morning to try and take pictures. And, try, would be the important word here. After it was all done, Marie sent this picture that she took of Jeff and I trying to get all of the kids in or near the wheelbarrow. It was overcast but it was so humid and hot and it was 8 a.m. in the morning. I was just sweating trying to corral the kids! I can't wait to see what photos she got.
My mother came for the day so she and I could work on stuff for next weekend's retreat. I can't tell you about all of that until after my guests see them next weekend! But, I can tell you my mom and dad treated me to a delicious birthday cake. I love frosting and I love cakes. I had to show you a detail of the flowers on this cake. They looked pretty and tasted just good after our supper at Zeno's (my favorite pizza).
But if that wasn't enough fun, today was just as busy. Our morning started out with a pancake breakfast before church. We filled our tummies mighty full. Luckily the minister made us stand up three times during his sermon so we wouldn't fall asleep. After we got home from church we had to start getting ready for this evening activities--the church golf outing and BBQ. Jeff smokes pork loins and ribs, so we had offered to bring that for supper. I took Henry up to golf (i.e., ride in the cart with Aunt Janet and cousin Ann) while I came home to finish helping Jeff get everything done. When the meat was ready we packed the girls and meat up and headed back to the golf course. We happened to arrive just about the time several of the groups were coming around the club house.
In past blogs I've mentioned our friends Doc Lloyd and Jo Bates. (The Rose in Virginia Rose comes from Jo's full name Rosa.) Well, Jo is a giving person and volunteers in our community in so many ways. One of those roles that Jo loves to do and does so well is to take pictures and post them on either the church website or the town website. Tonight I couldn't resist taking a picture of Jo taking a picture.
Now the day is coming to a close and I'm going to turn in. Turning 40 is quite tiring.
On Friday, the company I work for (APQS) took all of their employees to do relief work in the Parkersburg area where a F5 tornado hit Memorial Day week and severe flooding a few weeks later. We were sent to nearby New Hartford, where more than a foot of water had stood in the elementary school just about a month ago. Every classroom had to be emptied and floors ripped out. There are trying to get it ready for kids to come back to school next month. They had several jobs for us, including raking the playground rock to turn it over, spraying it with bleach, then raking it back. This is Jim Kaldenberg getting instructions from our volunteer director. You can see that what lies under the surface of the rock is not pretty! The building behind the playground shows the water line about a foot off the ground. When our tasks were done, we headed to a local restaurant for a late afternoon supper. My co-workers kicked off my birthday with a lovely tune of Happy Birthday to You and a piece of coconut cream pie! When I got home Friday night some friends brought over a chocolate chip cookie cake for the celebration. That was yummy.
For three months, I've been trying to coordinate with our friend and neighbor Marie, who also happens to be a photographer, to take 1-year pictures of the girls and pictures of all three kids. Marie is the mother of two sets of twins that are 15 months apart (now sophomores in college and seniors in high school) so she understands the word busy! Well, we finally found an hour on Saturday morning to try and take pictures. And, try, would be the important word here. After it was all done, Marie sent this picture that she took of Jeff and I trying to get all of the kids in or near the wheelbarrow. It was overcast but it was so humid and hot and it was 8 a.m. in the morning. I was just sweating trying to corral the kids! I can't wait to see what photos she got.
My mother came for the day so she and I could work on stuff for next weekend's retreat. I can't tell you about all of that until after my guests see them next weekend! But, I can tell you my mom and dad treated me to a delicious birthday cake. I love frosting and I love cakes. I had to show you a detail of the flowers on this cake. They looked pretty and tasted just good after our supper at Zeno's (my favorite pizza).
But if that wasn't enough fun, today was just as busy. Our morning started out with a pancake breakfast before church. We filled our tummies mighty full. Luckily the minister made us stand up three times during his sermon so we wouldn't fall asleep. After we got home from church we had to start getting ready for this evening activities--the church golf outing and BBQ. Jeff smokes pork loins and ribs, so we had offered to bring that for supper. I took Henry up to golf (i.e., ride in the cart with Aunt Janet and cousin Ann) while I came home to finish helping Jeff get everything done. When the meat was ready we packed the girls and meat up and headed back to the golf course. We happened to arrive just about the time several of the groups were coming around the club house.
In past blogs I've mentioned our friends Doc Lloyd and Jo Bates. (The Rose in Virginia Rose comes from Jo's full name Rosa.) Well, Jo is a giving person and volunteers in our community in so many ways. One of those roles that Jo loves to do and does so well is to take pictures and post them on either the church website or the town website. Tonight I couldn't resist taking a picture of Jo taking a picture.
Now the day is coming to a close and I'm going to turn in. Turning 40 is quite tiring.
Congrats on the 40th! I remember hitting that one...and a few more since hahaha.
Reply to this
Happy 40th birthday! Coconut cream pie sounds like a great way to start the celebration.
Teri
Reply to this
Heidi, it was fun reading about your meal and being where the tornado touched down. Living where I do, the only contact I have with tornados is a movie Sally Field stared in "Where the Heart is" and I cannot imagine living where I might be taken up in a gust of wind...hey, there a story quilt for you!
I wanted to comment on the cake you pictured. It was beautiful and should be in a quilt. Your kids are getting big and cuter every photo.
I enjoy visiting your lovely blog when I want a nice smile and a good story.
Mary Lou
Reply to this