Happy Birthday, Mom

Friday, October 19th was mom's birthday. Here are a few things I've learned from my mom, and maybe some facts you didn't know:

1. "Don't walk across the grass - "they" spend a lot of time and money to make it look that nice. Use the sidewalk." this is for neighbor's houses, public parks, grass, I guess, is not to be walked on.

2. The greatest cassarole ever: HOTDISH

3. How to make roast, mashed potatoes, and peas. Not to mention gravy from scratch. You can not serve roast any other way, only with mashed potatoes and peas

4. Her singing voice is incredible

5. She can paint her nails better than any nail shop anywhere. And she never smudges them...

6. Spend the money for a good pair of shoes. "If your feet aren't happy, you won't be happy."

7. She has RARELY shampooed and fixed her hair herself. She has a standing appointment at the Beauty Palor every week. When I was at home it was on Wednesdays. But for over 15 years it's been on Thursdays. I have known by name most of her hair dressers and I'm sure her hair dresser knows way too much about me & my family.

8. Mom keeps a SPOTLESS house. In the whole house there are only two spots that would be remotely considered 'cluttered'. There's a small stack of mail and important papers she needs next to the kitchen table. And another sea shell full of odds and ends on her nightstand. This is the kind of house where you dust weekly undusty furniture. And it's not called dusting it's called "polishing the furniture."

9. She totally believed in her kids and thought we could do anything we put our minds to.

10. She's really smart.

11. Every morning she "puts her face on"

12. Every night she "takes her face off."

13. Four children; 11 grandchildren; 6 great-granchildren

14. Mom kept detailed baby books for each of us.

15. I think she is flawless in remembering holidays and especially birthdays. Everyone gets a card and a present in the mail.

16. Don't leave her a voice message on her cell phone, she doesn't know how to retrieve her messages. (she is not alone in this handicap, I could name several - and my own daughters don't even LISTEN to their messages)

17. She reads a lot.

18. She does crossword puzzles.

19. I pretty much consider her Emily Post in disguise.

20. She's creative

21. She taught me not to run in the house, not to yell in the house, don't bounce the ball in the house, and stay out of grandma's livingroom

22. She watches the news every night - used to watch Johnny Carson. I guess I don't know her well enough, because I don't know if she's a Jay or a Dave watcher now.

23. She's beautiful.

24. All the way from Texas she keeps close tabs on what all my kids are doing, their activities, how they're doing in school, work, who they're dating.

25. I think it totally rocks that she's 70 and still has red hair. (does she dye it? only her hairdresser knows for sure...)

I did not inherit her birthday gene (see #15). As you can tell, the Birthday Blog is two days late, and the CD I was really excited to buy her is still in the front seat of my car, unmailed. UGGGHHHHH. I know it's so rude (see #19), I'd say I'll improve as a new year's resolution or something like that (BTW - thanks to my mom I know that you're supposed to eat black-eyed peas on new years day for good luck that year), but I keep trying to be better at mailing and fail miserably each year. Maybe it's because I'm not combining the resolution with the eating of the peas.

Happy Birthday, Mom. I love you.

Hallie's Blessing

On a sad note

I guess to be an honest blogger, you must include the sad with the good. Kaia, the 4-month old infant of our niece Zan is in the hospital in critical condition. These emergency situations are always difficult but it is compounded by the fact that Zan's husband, Jason, is stationed in the military in Germany. We are so sorry we could not be closer. Our thoughts and prayers are with you guys in Kaiserslautern.

Happy Birthday, David

We'll sing a song that we all know - Happy Birthday, to you!! Congrats on the new job, nice birthday present. It's great to have you in our family.

Driving Frustrations

I try not to be a complainer, to go with the flow, to accept and embrace change in my life.....but whomever redesigned the speghetti bowl (how long ago, 6 years? and I'm still griping about this?) I'm upset with.

Basically the problem is we lived on the southwest side of town for over 15 years. That meant for years I drove north on I-15 and the vast majority of the time I went west on: 1. The Expressway, then it was called 2. 95 westbound, now it's referred to as 3. 515 (already see my confusion on this?). Sometimes I needed to go downtown or towards Henderson so I would take the east exit. Life was so simple - wanted to go downtown or Henderson and you're going north on I-15 - those areas are to your right, and so was the exit, far right lane. Want to go to the west, which was your left, be in the 2nd right hand land. No brainer.

This was great until someone decided the speghetti bowl couldn't handle our traffic and needed to be redesigned and obviously this important task was turned over to an engineer in some office on the east coast who doesn't even say 'Nevada' correctly. His/her bright idea was to reverse the ramps. And take one lane and expand it to two.

Now, switching freeways comes with a lot of brain power on my part. What once used to be done in my sleep, becomes a private conversation of lightening fast silent questions all asked to myself while I'm wizzing down the freeway trying to merge. Where am I going? Oh, yeah, I need to go left -- but the sign doesn't say 95 Left or 95 Right, it says West or East. So then my brain has to picture a map to so I can visualize left is .....west. O.k. I'm going west, which lane is that....geez I can't see around that truck.....holla hannah, if you're going to live in the United States, you should drive the speed limit on the freeway....o.k. Here I am ready to go left-uh, west. wait - does this lane go west, does it expand for two lane for the other direction?

From Charleston in the space of 3/4 of a mile my brain is going crazy trying to figure out where I need to be. I can't answer my phone, listen to the radio....good thing I don't cart kids around anymore to distract me.

So then it happened yesterday. I was at LVBS between Sahara and Flamingo. Needed to go to Henderson city complex, stop off at the printers on Sunset. A no brainer drive, get on I-15 at Flaming-O, north on I-15, loop around the city on 95 exit Sunset, printers, then follow Boulder Hwy to Lake Mead. Fun drive, start some good music.

But at Flamingo on-ramp my phone rang, another no brainer - I've entered at this point for the same above-mentioned two decades. I'm driving along trying to answer Jenn's questions about how to blog, how to make a new post, "click on the B at the top, you're looking for the dashboard, you know, I haven't done this in two years, if I could look at the screen I could answer these questions and help you better....can this wait until I get home...?" Then it happened, I came back into driving reality just as I was in the far-right lane, which my brain on auto-pilot still thinks will take me to Henderson, only to find myself on the flyover heading left...uh, west.

Dang engineers, why did they have to mess with tradition?

Sunday Birthday Dinner

This year we celebrated Jordan's earlier, so Drew got the whole night to himself. I'm really glad everyone could be here. Some brought quieter gifts than others...thanks Jordan & Jenn...

Watching Drew get so excited was very entertaining. He's at a great age.

Ashley thought the drum set would be a great new toy for Grandma's house....Drew wouldn't hear of it. Ashely even had quite a conversation explaining the drums were going to stay at Grandma's until they moved into their new house, then you can bring the drums to your new room. When all was said and done, Drew personally carried the drums out to the car "My house." He's a funny kid. Charlie just sat around observing all night. It would be interesting to know what's going on behind those big blue eyes of hers.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DREW

Time for Something NEW

I'm getting tired of celebrating the life of Scotty, so it's definately time for something new on this page. Nothing has really been happening. Well, in the unusual category, in the last two days I've had visits from DHL (400 miniture chinese take-out boxes), UPS (cute black flat shoes with woven ribbons in a huge size 11 from Nordstroms), FedEx (replacement phone for Brian who blames Jennifer for dropping and breaking his old phone), and finally USPS (3 boxes of checks). Not bad for a house at the very edge of town.

Two weeks ago Ron & I decided to go out to dinner on a Saturday night. So I said, "Hey, call Bekah. David's working tonight, maybe she wants to go with us." Bekah says she was going to 'hang with Jenn' but Jenn always ditches me so let me call and make sure she's ditching me so I can go with you guys. Two phone calls later, now Rebekah, Jenn, and Jordan are going to dinner with us. Then we showed up at On The Border, and sitting with the kids was Brian - such a squatter move to find out we were going to dinner and join in. Rush to judgement there - he was meeting up with his own group of friends, we just happened to arrive at the same time. Just so you know, Brian, squatters are always welcome at dinner with us. Brian came very close to losing house priviledges though by informing the waiters that it was my birthday. The more people find out I don't like this, the more they think it's funny to have me humiliated in public all days of the year. Grrrrrrr.

And as I finish this up - can you believe it - here's FedEx AGAIN (contract from a general contractor up in Utah) If shipping rates go up in the next week, it's because all these guys had to drive to the edge of town to get to my house, and even though $21.00 for overnight is high, I know it doesn't cover the several gallons it takes for one of those trucks to make the trek out here :)

Timbaland - The Way I Are OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO

IT'S ALL ABOUT SCOTTY

The Way I Are is Scott's song for summer '07. Scotty's not feeling the love in the blog lately - so here's something to remind him of his summer and his financial status. The Stallion should be repaired and on the road again next week...but until then just bounce with me and enjoy the pictures.
(you might need to scroll down and turn off the music on the engagement slide show)
WE LOVE YOU SCOTTY!!!!!

For Lisa, who didn't think I'd answer (the rest of you can read along...)

1. What time did you get up this morning? weekdays, 5:00 a.m. Today, a Saturday, 5:30 a.m. because someone decided to clean their room and do laundry in the middle of the night and it woke me up.
2. Diamonds or pearls? Diamonds
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? ummm it was 8/10 because that's the night Scott got in an accident, but I can't remember the name of the movie. Oh, the Bourne Ultimatum
4. What is your favorite TV show? It's been Grey's Anatomy, but that's getting pretty trendy and we'll have to see where they're going to go with the new season, the show that's Addison's spin-off, I might like that. News junkie, but I don't like all the cable news shows - I feel like those people are yelling at us.
5. What do you usually have for breakfast? glass of milk, whatever's around
6. What is your middle name? Marie
7. What food do you dislike? Ham & beans
9. What kind of car do you drive? 04 Lexus RX330 But I miss the Suburban, I might go back to one
10. Favorite sandwich? peanut butter & honey or turkey lunchmeat
11. What characteristic do you despise? This week - ungratitude
12. Favorite item of clothing? jeans
13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would it be? hmmm, Sweden. but there is a lot of places I'd like to see in the U.S. And I'm pretty much up to vacationing where ever. Wait - no eco challenge vacations please, no camping. I like a bathroom and bed.
14. What color is your bathroom? Sage green and brown
15. Favorite brand of clothing? Brand??? whatever fits
16. Where would you retire to? where my children are
17. What was your most memorable birthday? 25th. I was 9 months pregnant with twins and my whole goal was to make it to 25 so I could say I was 25 with 4 kids, somehow that sounded better than being 24 with four kids. I think we ate at a fast food place and I was too big to fit in the booth and the chairs were the kind that were connected to the table and just swung out to sit in - yeah, I couldn't fit there either. That's the most memorable -- But January 5th is a family national holiday and if my kids know what's good for them, they make a big deal about it.
18. Favorite sport to watch? my own kids playing baseball/softball
19. Farthest place you are sending this? this is going out into cyberspace - the sky is the limit
20. Who do you least expect to send this back to you? Hmmm...my sister - Lisa, you're right, I rarely do these - but here you go.
21. Person you expect to send it back first?
22. Favorite saying? I really don't know -- what do my kids think I say the most?
23. When is your birthday? January 5th
24. Are you a morning person or a night person? Night
25. What is your shoe size? 11
26. Pets? some fish - although I watched Drew play with a cat last night and I am so tempted to get one because he had such a good time chasing the cat around.
27. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with us? Um, Jenn's engaged but that's not really new news anymore - the whole empty nest thing is hard to deal with - Ron and I are going out of town conference weekend.
28. What did you want to be when you were little? A secretary in one of those really high-rise buildings in downtown LA
29. What are you today? Head janitor
30. What is your favorite candy? tie - dark chocolate milky way or chocolate with carmel in the middle
31. What is your favorite flower? I know they're cheap and cheesy but I still love massive amounts of carnations. Any bulb flower - tulip, daffodils...
32. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to? I think Jenn's wedding will be a great day 11/17, then 12/24, then 1/5
33. What is your favorite month? October/November The whole fall season
34. What is your full name? Kimberly Marie Mitchell Marx
35. What are you listening to right now? Keystrokes on the keyboard
36. What was the last thing you ate? Mexican food at On The Border
38. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? periwinkle
39. How is the weather right now? Getting cooler - Yeah!!!!
40. Last person you spoke to on the phone? Today I have not talked on the phone at all
41. Do you like the person who sent this to you? Yes, I love her - she should come visit me
42. Favorite soft drink? Dr. Pepper
43. Favorite restaurant? Outback Steakhouse
44. Hair color? chemically induced brown with blonde and copper highlights
45. Siblings? Lisa, Laurie, Malcolm
46. Favorite day of the year? Wouldn't this be the same as #32?? The older I get the more I like December 24th
47. What was your favorite toy as a child? tie - hot wheels race track and a bunch of Mary Poppins stuff, then there was the humpty dumpty with the pull string that said "Want to hear the latest yoke..ha ha..."
48. Summer or winter? mild summer
49. Hugs or kisses? Kisses
50. Chocolate or Vanilla? chocolate
51. Do you want your friends to email you back? Yes!
52. When was the last time you cried? Today, I'm really freaking out over stupid stuff lately
53. What is under your bed? dust
54. Who is the friend you have had the longest? Leslie
56. Favorite smell? Brewing coffee (I would have to guess this is the answer that will throw most people off - those childhood smells die hard. But I would never buy a coffee smelling candle, I think you need the perculating sound going with the smell. I also love when you're driving south in I-15 and you get just below Victorville. California has a distinct smell, I always breath it in and think I'm home)
55. What did you do last night? Met the Shields family - Jennifer is going to be in good hands.
57. What are you afraid of? Burning in a fire
58. Plain, buttered, or salted Popcorn? Buttered -extra butter
59. How many keys on your key ring? 2 - Car and Mailbox
60. How many years at your current job? 27
61. Favorite day of the week? Friday
62. How many towns have you lived in? Fort Worth(9 years), Glendora (9 years), Las Vegas, Euless (9 mos.), Denver (3 mos.), Azusa (3 years), Las Vegas, Goodyear (18 mos.), Las Vegas (22 years total). Las Vegas is my favorite
63. Do you make friends easily? No.
64. How many people will you be sending this to? See #19

What - no mention of favorite music??? lame

Happy Birthday, Jordan

I searched long and hard to find a picture of you alone-- You look better with a companion:

We hope you have a great day.

Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

ENGAGED!!!

Jennifer is engaged to Jordan Shields.

The date is set for November 17th

in the Las Vegas Temple.

Jenn met Jordan in the Northstar singles ward. He won her over this summer with his easy going style, love of baseball (what girl ever says "I picture myself marrying someone that loves to watch SportsCenter"?), and dedicated service in the church.

Jordan grew up in North Las Vegas and served in the Iowa DesMoines Mission. They will both juggle working and going to college for a few more years.

We're excited to have Jordan join our family.

Justin Timberlake Concert!

Jenn bought us tickets to go see JT Saturday night. 'I'm bringing sexy back, yeah.' We had a ton of fun - and the people sitting behind us were just as entertaining as the show. I've never laughed so hard at a concert (o.k. I wasn't laughing when the drunk lady poured half of her $7 beer down my back..)

The opening act was Good Charlotte - and I knew I had heard that name a lot and Jenn liked them, but I really couldn't place any songs. Just as we sat down they started up, "Girls don't like boys, girls like cars and money." Ohhhhh, that's who they are.

The other ah-ha moment was when Justin took the stage. I'm watching him dance and all of a sudden I realize I've sat next to Jenn and watched these moves before. About 9 years ago NSync came to the Thomas & Mack the week of the girls' 12th birthday. For one of their birthday presents I let them each bring a friend and I took them to the concert. It was the most miserable experience. (so miserable that when they wanted to go see the Spice Girls, I was ready with my answer, "if you can get your dad to take you." My way of saying no, without having to say no.) The Thomas & Mack full of SCREAMING pre-teens. My head rang for weeks. He still has the signature dance moves, and the place was full of the same pre-teens that were now grown, but the noise level was more tolerable.

We had fun, thanks Jenn.

Lake Powell 2007, Trip Two

I'm hott 'cause I'm fly,
You ain't 'cause you not...


It's happening already. Only 2 1/2 months after Scotty graduating high school, my 'coolness quotient' is sinking fast. I'm trying to hold on but it's obvious I'm going to have a hard time doing it on my own.

All summer long I thought it was: "Hey, baby" No. It's "A Bay Bay." What the?

And what does it mean to be fly? I'm thinking it's a synonym for 'cool' but it might just mean something that I shouldn't be repeating.

Finally - how do cholos lean?

Party like a rockstar...

August Birthdays Dinner

We missed Brad and Hallie at the August birthdays dinner, maybe next year.

Drew was so excited to help his mom blow out the candles - we didn't even get the song finished.

Triple bonus points: Ashley, Bekah, and Brian the Squatter all in one shot.

Jenn holding our little senorita

(As I post this picture I notice Scott sitting next to Jenn. We were so busy last night giving Scott a hard time about his Friday night that none of us noticed what he was wearing --- basketball shorts, o.k. But the blue striped polo shirt with it, and black church socks on his feet??? How did this EVER escape commentary by Jenn?)

More Pictures - I can't wait to go meet Hallie next week. Here are some extra pictures Brad sent to show how small she is.

This grandmother is thankful for cell phones that take pictures! Technology is great. Everything is o.k. with little Hallie, but the doctors are still monitoring Kara's blood pressure. Hopefully they'll be released today - I know Kara would feel much better (and her blood pressure would be lower) if she could get to her own home, hospitals are stressful!

We're looking forward to a new family photo and your updated blog later this week. She's a cutie.

Hallie Elizabeth Marx

August 8, 2007

9:41 p.m.

5 pounds 1 ounce

19 inches long

dark hair

Congratulations Brad and Kara

Happy Birthday, Ashley

Happy Birthday! You've had quite a year, and managed it all with your quiet calmness that makes it all look so easy. Thanks for all you do for our family.

I now officially know I have pictures of EVERYBODY else in the family holding your kids, except you! Thanks for sharing...

Brad Celebrates a Quarter Century

Happy Birthday, Brad.

Brad's celebrating his birthday this morning from the hospital. Will he or will he not share his birthday with his daughter? Stay tuned....