Only in Arizona...

We had a fun and busy week planning and preparing for Braden's two birthday parties. We have always had family over on his birthday but decided that since he finally is at the age to have friends, we would have a party just for them. We have tried having everyone over at the same time, but we are those lucky ones who have a huge extended family all in the same area code, so parties get huge without trying. Thursday, Braden got to take the snack to preschool where they did a celebration of life. Basically, he walks around a candle (the Sun) to signify becoming a year older and then they show photos of him that I sent in. He always loves it. He is one of the oldest, if not THE oldest at school so he thinks it is very cool to be 5.

After school, and after I was sick of him begging to open presents, I decided it was time to go get his cake from Target. Normally, I use Sam's or Basha's but this year he was VERY specific on the kind of cake he wanted, so off to Target we went. Unfortunately for me, Target and I are not friends right now. They had not made the cake. Not only that, it took about 10 employees, none of whom worked in the bakery, almost an hour to finally realize this mistake. We ended up picking a cake out of the display case- and couldn't even have it written on, and the cake wasn't labeled with the flavor... I am tellin' ya, worst trip to Target ever; or so I thought. Berk, who is normally a gem at stores was on one. I figured out later in the evening (thanks to Dr. Pops) that he had a fever and an ear infection... (and yes that is the fourth one in so many months, but that is another story).


Fast forward to party time. Braden chose one of our favorites for his Bday dinner, Boston's. My parents, nieces and nephews as well as the Beck's joined us there. (It was really not my day because their service was so SLOW!) But the food was good and we had a good time. Berk is obsessed with cups of ice and water, and Pops got a lap full, twice. Oops... Braden loved the free (HUGE) ice cream sundae he got so much he didn't even have any of his own cake! (I know right, after all that)He got a lot of great gifts from the family, and as always, his Halloween costume but for once Rusty and I got him the best one. Braden is officially a pet owner. Several pets in fact... and no I haven't got crazy... Please meet his new fish: Larry, Tom & Jerry, and Scooby & Shaggy (there was a Freddie but we lost him already).

SO a very tired Braden went to school on Friday and spent some time with his Auntie Kelcie who was home for a few days from the Y. In her honor, we went to BJ's for dinner. Again with the great food and SLOW service-- but the yumm-o Pizzookie made it all okay in the end for me.

Saturday we spent the morning listening to Conference and getting the pool and house ready for his 'friend' party. I then had another Target bakery fiasco - the cake was there this time, but his name was spelled wrong. And of course there wasn't anyone there to fix it for me and the manager's option, pick a new cake...PICK A NEW CAKE?!@!*&#! He clearly does not have a child who would flip out and think the world is over if he didn't get THE cake he wanted...Target and I are really NOT friends! But I digress...Sooooo, Yep, you heard me. Pool. Mr. Braden wanted a Pirate Pool Party. So of course we are having beautiful weather here, finally, so the pool was cool enough we turned on the heater. It was a brilliant 84 outside and 92 in the pool. If you ever wonder why people live in AZ, it's reasons like that. Thanks to everyone who came, thanks even more for understanding my child is so sorry for hitting, punching and or ....... fill in the blank (wish I were kidding) to your child. But his Mom is sorrier. I am glad we only had 5 friends over, since adding a pool into the equation bring the stress level way up.

SO needless to say, I was so grateful to look forward to a Sunday where I didn't have to get all done up, with a diaper bag, and church bag, two tired and one sick boys and drag them to church at the worst time of day ever...1pm. I needed Conference today. Weird how one of the talks is sticking in my mind- the one about using your time wisely and not wasting hours on the Internet. I can't wait to re read it once it comes out in the Ensign. What talk did you like best? Oh, and PLEASE don' use SuperTarget for your cakes-this is my new mission in life!