Small and Big Birthdays

I think I was more excited last night to celebrate Nate not working until ten or eleven o'clock than the fact that it was his birthday. And, we got to eat dinner together. That doesn't happen much these days (um, pretty much never), at least not during the week. So we stopped in at our favorite Folsom restaurant, Chicago Fire and filled ourselves with pizza. Yum!
For my birthday I got a little something in this oh, so cute little box from Nate. He really is the best gift giver, and I love this latest one as a treasure to add to my jewelry box (which he also gave me a few Christmases ago).
I didn't look very hard, but I think gift bags large enough to hold Nate's present are hard to come by. I didn't even try to wrap it. A cute bow was all he got. It didn't matter though, because the contents of the box were definitely well received. Nate's got a new gadget! Photo editing just got a lot more detailed and clearer, that's for sure.
It's been a good birthday week for the two of us. Thanks to all for the emails, phone calls and gifts. If this is what the thirties are like...we'll take it. Life is good!

a lot of hot air!

Yesterday we celebrated my birthday (the big 3-0!) with my family. For some reason I totally craved a summer meal: grilled kabobs for dinner and ice cream roll for dessert. Barbecuing in that stormy, blustery weather wasn't ideal, but the finished product was oh, so delicious. Thanks Mom. You went all out, and it definitely made for a memorable 30th birthday.
Since Nate's birthday is just a few days away (the 19th, to be exact!) my mom made 2 cakes so we could celebrate his big day too. Keeping with her tradition of covering a cake with the number of candles of your age, Nate got 31 and I got 30. Those cakes literally lit up the room. I'm pleased to report that both Nate and I discovered we have fabulous lung capacities as we managed to blow out every last candle. And the ice cream cake...well, just like EVERYTHING else my mom bakes it was awesome. The perfect sweet birthday treat! It's birthday week at the Boyces!

What's your love?

So, today instead of writing some sappy entry about loving Nate (which of course I do, but I’ve teamed up with Hallmark and it’s taken care of), I thought instead I’d share a few of my other ‘loves’ that also, right along with my sweet husband, make life happy, easier or just more fun:

* Google Reader. This is my newest love. I’m not exaggerating when I say it’s changed my life, or at least the way I read blogs on the internet. No more mindless Internet surfing (well, that’s not entirely true) to check up on your blogs to see if there’s an update. Google Reader tells me!
* Breville Juice Fountain. Don’t you just love the name? This was actually one of Martha Stewart’s ‘Must Haves’ a few weeks ago, but, I’m one step ahead of you Martha -- I’ve had it for years. Just the other day I made apple/orange/carrot/lemon/pear juice. YUM!
* TABACON. Go there. At least once in your life. I’m hoping for another visit, even if it’s after I’m officially old and gray.
* Gap’s Essential Perfect Pants. The name pretty much sums it up. If I could wear these every day I would. I love, LOVE them! The perfect combination of comfort, sporty and fashionable – if you consider yoga pants fashionable at all.
*The Women’s Murder Club books by James Patterson. There was a show on ABC based on these books last season starring Angie Harmon that fell victim to that nasty writer’s strike. I discovered the books over the summer and they’re a fun (if you call solving murders fun I guess), fairly quick read. I just finished 7th Heaven, Patterson’s latest in the series last night!
* Fresh baked bread with honey. Who says you can’t live on bread alone? My mom made all, and I mean ALL, of our bread growing up so this is a long time love of mine. The smell, heat of the bread and sweetness of the honey are a heavenly combination and perfect comfort food. And, now that I'm over my fear of killing yeast, I think I like making bread too. Bread alone (well, with honey) is fine with me!
* You Need A Budget. I resisted it at first, but I LOVE this budgeting program. You can create all kinds of categories and assign your dollars wherever you want (as long as you HAVE the dollars, that is). Want to start saving for Christmas so December’s finances aren’t such a train wreck? Well, put aside a little of your income each month into that category. The program tracks it. I know, lots of programs do that. So, the BEST part is that it’s based on living off the previous month’s income. That way you’re no longer living month to month (if you currently are). You’ve always got a month’s income set aside. Oh, and it was created by a BYU accounting grad.
* Health Insurance. Thank you PacifiCare.
*Eat This Not That. I saw this little book at Costco, and I’m so glad I bought it. It gives you all kinds of information about what to eat (that’s the ‘Eat This’ part obviously) and what to avoid at pretty much every restaurant. Here’s an example: Did you know at Chipotle, you can cut 570 calories out of your Chicken Burrito just by ordering it as a bowl (without the tortilla) and asking them to hold the rice?
Might I also recommend Eat This Not That For Kids and Eat This Not That Supermarket Survival Guide?
* Ironed clothes. Let me be clear. I don't love the act of ironing, at all, but the finished prodct is another matter. I have a huge disdain for wrinkled clothes, especially men’s dress shirts. But sometimes the starch I use to get those nice creases really makes my iron gross. Thank goodness for Faultless Hot Iron Cleaner. This stuff cleans all of that ‘drag’ off, and my iron is like new every time -- ready for ironing more shirts! I can only find it at Bed Bath & Beyond, but that’s good enough.

I'm always looking to add a new love! If you've got one...don't be shy. Share!

How did I know?

So, my students' Valentine's exchange was of course a hit and, wouldn't you know it, but I was right on in yesterday's blog entry about the most popular picks for this year. These are just two of the many 'love notes' I received today. Is it because I'm not ten years old that I just don't think Hannah Montana is anything special?

How can Hallmark compete with these? Have a love-filled day tomorrow!

I'm a little early...

So, Valentine's Day is still a couple days off, but I love holiday baking and couldn't wait! Of course, it has nothing to do with Nate working until at least nine every night this week, and I'm really annoyed by most of what's on t.v. these days. Aren't these darling? I can't wait to make deliveries and share a little Valentine's love. And Sistas, I know our baking blog is practically extinct, but I'm bringing it back and posting the recipe here.
You might not have realized it, but tonight's a big night for kids, practically like Christmas Eve. Well, that's probably a stretch. You see, tomorrow, unless a kid's got a real Scrooge for a teacher, is the Valentine's card exchange at school. You can bet every one of my twenty kiddos tonight is admiring their card choice, be it some Hannah Montana or Star Wars, or whatever, and filling out one for every friend (we're ALL friends in room 9!).
Every year they're so funny to watch as they deliver and then excitedly open up all of the cards they received. You know how it is: there's no sweet, heart-felt message. In fact, there's nothing personal besides a name, but they LOVE it. And, you know what? When I was a kid I did too. In fact, that's one of the reasons I love my job. I get to experience some of the things I loved as a kid all over again and have almost as much fun! Can't wait for tomorrow!

Another mom of mine...

I have been blessed to interact with and learn from some pretty remarkable women over the years. Nate's mom, Shauna, is no exception. And, it just wouldn't seem right to let her birthday go by without saying at least a little something.
You know, I just sit back and listen when I'm with a group of girlfriends and the topic turns to crazy interactions with their mothers-in-law. O.k., not entirely true. I might laugh, gasp or roll my eyes, but you get the point. The truth is, I simply don't have anything to contribute. That's because, next to my own mom and family, I have rarely felt more comfortable, more loved and more apart of something than I do as a Boyce. It's just awesome, and Shauna is a big part of that. There's no drama or difficulty, just a whole lot of love like I was always a part of the family.
One of the greatest reasons I love Shauna (and my father-in-law, Dave, of course!) is because of who Nate is: organized, fun, thoughtful, spiritual, dedicated and strong. He has a great concern for others and is truly creative, just like his mom. Oh, and they both happen to be great gift-givers!
Simply put, I love having another mom, especially this one.

Happy birthday Shauna!

What's in a name?

‘Mom’ is one of those little words with lots of meaning: love, dedication, work, fun, support, organization, multi-tasking, counselor, chef, cheerleader, disciplinarian, teacher, triage nurse…the list could be longer, but you get the point.
I’m not a mom yet, but I certainly have a great one. Today is her birthday and, thus, a great opportunity to editorialize a little about her. My mom is so private and modest that she won’t let us tell the server at a restaurant or mention to people at church, or anywhere really, that it’s her birthday. Mom, is it o.k. to blog about it on the internet?
I just have to say that my mom is the epitome of support and dedication to family. She was born to be a mom. It’s her greatest joy and job. She’s had to share that most favorite job all of these years with elementary kids in her employment as a truly dedicated teacher, but never at the expense of her family.
Somehow during all of those growing up years my mom managed to always (and I mean always) make homemade bread and cookies, made sure we sat down to eat for dinner and breakfast as a family every day (including high school seminary days), and kept up with the ‘mom’ things like grocery shopping, yard work, laundry and cleaning. In fact, I have to confess that it wasn’t until college when I saw my roommate making burritos for dinner that I learned you could buy refried beans in a can. My mom always made them!
Little did my mom know when I brought that flier home in second grade about park and rec soccer that saying ‘yes’ to letting me play committed she and my dad to ten years of uniforms, cleats, year round practice, summer camps, tournaments, out of town travel and way too many rainy, miserable games to cheer at. But you know what? She did it and, not just for soccer. I should also mention stints of basketball, swimming, softball, volleyball, and years of piano and dance lessons. She was always there. Even if I was playing at Nevada Union, (and you locals know what kind of a drive that is) she was there.
That’s kind of the theme of my mom, I guess: she’s always there to support and cheer on our family. I see that still as a married grown up. My mom is interested in the details of our lives because she wants to help, offer prayers and support us in any way that she can. What a remarkable example she is.
I could go on, but I don’t want this to ramble too much or sound like a eulogy. More than anything, I’m grateful that today I get to celebrate my mom. I can’t wait to be a mom and be even more like her in so many ways! Happy birthday Mom!