Half Way to Thirty

 Today Emery turns 15. She likes to tell me I'm old, so I reminded her that today she is half way to 30, so who is old now? She opened her gifts early since the boys worked. I didn't feel like getting a bag just to have her take it right out, so she got a stapled up Albertson's bag instead.

I forgot to take chicken out for her b-day dinner, got that taken care of and remembered I didn't get broccoli for the meal as well. Brad fixed that one. We were going to get a Boba gift certificate and forgot to actually go an buy that. And to top it off, we didn't have candles, like I thought we did. So she blew out a kabob skewer.

For her party, she wanted to recreate her birthday back in 2015. We came to Boise and took her and Avery to a movie, dinner, build a bear and a hotel. She was able to re-do all but the hotel, (swimming was done plenty of other weekends, but no picture taken)

Movie was just watching movies here on the projector, which worked out better than the theater. 

Lunch was a Wingers.

Then the mall. Meet Greg the frog and Jaqueline Boo the ghost bear. 

To make you feel even older, this was the first party. We bought tickets to the 3D show not realizing it. 

No kids menu this time. But lots of laughs with both. I love the relationship they have developed since moving here. 

Emery is a mini me of both Brad and I. I hear she looks most like me. She jokes around like Brad, loves Rock Band and with that love to talk about 'old' bands, like Blink 182. They even got matching Blink shirts. They are Costco shopping buddies. Brad does the Costco shop and she always goes with him. It may also be to look for a new squishmallow and talk Brad into getting it, but they say it's not. She can be sassy and I hear from Brad that I am as well. Also, if were annoyed, just leave us alone because we don't want to talk. She is stone faced and I just clean the house. Knowing this does not stop me from trying to make her talk when I knows she's mad. For Brad's birthday I got him a mic stand as a semi joke, but both he and Emery have used it a lot. They like to play a song on guitar while they sing. I love how she lets loose and sings with Rock Band. She is growing up, which obviously, but she brushes her hair (5 year old Emery would think I was nuts), she is trying to find her style. She has been slowly changing things in her room. However her squishmallow collection is growing. All the kids dress comfy as they were in Jr High, but I love this change in High school where you try other things. She bought jeans! and a few shirts that were different cuts. She's beautiful no matter what, but its a fun change to see. My favorite thing to come downstairs to is her and Jackson playing games together. Emery is always up for a game, but her and Jacks play a few on the PS5 and laugh the whole time playing. As we get closer to kids leaving, those little things are what I love most and will miss the most. I however wont miss out bowl collection missing and finding all of them in Emery (and Cam's) room. She says it's not that bad, but it is. I love out shopping trips. I have figured out the ones that are most fun to me are the ones we look for decor or projects. We question a lot of weird and dumb decor, and like a lot of the same. Emery's favorite thing this past year has been getting to the same shoe size as me. Brad and her also share a love of shoes. Brad is the best husband and loves to spoil his wife with cook Nike shoes, that his daughter just happens to love and wears majority of the time. (Brad is really the best, and it is fun wearing the same shoe size). She is at Renaissance with Cam and loving it. She has started with the culinary classes there and is learning so much and really likes it so far. If she stays with it, one class they actually cook and serve lunch to the public. She has started to crochet with her cousin Payton this past year too. She's getting better and better. I have also loved being able to watch new shows with her, but ones that aren't Disney and too cheesy. We ended Pretty Little Liars mainly making fun of how horrible they got. She is now old enough to drive. She is waiting to see if she gets into the next class. I don't know how I like thinking that this time next year she could be driving herself to school! Her and Cam have a love hate relationship. They argue and fight the most but get along the best as well. It will be interesting how Emery reacts when Cam leaves. Jayson and I were the same. I was good until we turned a corner leaving Jayson at the MTC and I lost it. I love watching Emery with Cam's girlfriend Cailey. I remember being the only girl and Michelle came along and I loved having another girl there. She was so nice to me, we even wrote letters back and forth a few times. Cailey treats Emery so well and makes Emery happy and feel special. We went out to dinner as a family and Cailey came with us. Cam picked her up and met us there. When they walked in and she saw Emery's new outfit she said how much she loved it and while she maybe wouldn't admit it, I could tell it meant something to Emery. It was ages ago, but being a teen is so hard, so I loved seeing it.  Pretty sure last year she had the obsession, but Boba is her favorite drink and she likes to talk Brad into getting her one whenever she can. Emery's favorite food is Chicken Nuggets. Her favorite game or toy is Overcooked and her favorite subject is Culinary. In 5 years she sees herself "Gone. haha, No I don't know, College probably." I had to do Direct quote to catch Emery as a person. 

Few Happenings

 

Emery likes to bake and has found a few good fall treats. She made pumpkin cookies a few weeks ago and this week make PNB spider cookies. They didn't last too long, they were really good. 

We had a family Mario game day last week. Cam made some mocktails. Cailey beat us all, and not really close, but it was a lot of fun to play. 

A Much Needed Hug

This past week, for a few days, I was able to make a trip to North Carolina to see my parents. Last time I saw them was when we went to DC last June, and that is way too long to not have a hug from my parents. I was excited to go out, a little nervous to travel alone, but couldn't wait. I didn't realize just how much I needed a little work break and to see my parents. I've always been close with them, and over a year without seeing them was a lot. The flights were good and easy. Going to a two hour time difference is semi harder than I thought. I wasn't there long enough to get used to it, but the weird sleep schedule was totally worth it. I can't wait for January to see them again when they get home. 

This was at the Charlotte airport. It felt like the most Southern thing; white rocking chairs just looking out a window, and most were full of people. 

They had a meeting near-ish to the airport, so my flight worked perfectly. This isn't the day they got me but still good pictures. Mom and I stayed up until 11 or 12 their time talking. I love long talks with both of them. Dad and I talked the whole way from their house to my hotel the day I left. 

We went to Blue Ridge Mountains and Cone Manor. Boise is known to be the 'city of trees', but they are miss named. There were trees here with a few houses and building added where they could. I'd love to see the fall colors in person, but the green was SO perfect. Pictures don't do it justice at all. All of the look outs you can see for miles and miles. Unlike in Idaho, the trees go to the top and over. We have peaks here and they have rolling mountains filled with green trees. There were a few spots you could see houses, but until winter when the leaves are gone, you can't see most of the houses on the hills. My kind of living. 

This is Cone Manor. This guy had a lot to do with some of the development of Boone, and he did an amazing job. He created 3 or 4 ponds around his property too. Once he passed, he donated it to so everyone could enjoy it. 

This is the house he built. 

Right around his house are the Blue Ridge Mountains. They look blue when off in the distance. And again, pictures don't do it justice. I don't know how far you can see, but its a long distance.

It was cut out but elevation there was 4356.

A member of their ward carves these for a park near and for people to buy. He does it all with a chainsaw. How? I'm not sure, but they are all impressive. 

Their backyard, and front yard is just wilderness. Really everyone's yard is, and you see deer a lot. These were pretty much right outside their side door. 

This day we also went to Bolder Rock, a little town with a lot of fun shops. One was a jerky shop with some interesting and not appetizing types of jerky.

Mom and I had a girls pampering night. Snacks, movie and spa. Don't we look cute?

The next day we went to OZ. There is a sort of theme park that is based on the Wizard of OZ. The cast was really talented, the scenery was really nice and put together well, it was built with the mountain, but too many people going through at once made it hard to hear and see some of the acts. And it was a lot of walking, I didn't get a new knee 3 weeks ago and it was a lot. It was a fun experience but don't think I'd do it again. 

Even the shuttle drivers got into the spirit. 

You pretty much go through the movie on this walking path. 

This was added as a memorial to Judy Garland. 

Walking down hill on a new knee was not the best feeling for mom. It was nice to be able to help her a little, after all she's helped me my whole life. 

You start in Kansas and move through each place. 

Dorothy sang her song, talked to the Professor and then the storm started. You went through the house and then down some stairs to the tornado. It was really cool to walk through. Once out of that you walked back through the house but it was put through the storm. 

We look a little sideways, because the house was a little sideways. It was trippy to walk through. 

Right outside the door was the witch. And one thing I didn't notice were the legs under the house. 

You walk into munchkin land and meet the 3 friends she meets. The lion was my favorite. 

Walking through the forest, some of the trees had faces on them. Just some of those little attention to details that were there. 

The Winkie guards were my second favorite. They stayed in character so well. Mom had her own sword, they tried to recruit her, but she declined. 

After you made your way to Oz. When it was first opened, you could actually ride a balloon, but that no longer is there. 

Before you go to the final part,  you can go on an observation deck. It was 127 steps. Dad and I did that, save moms knee a little bit. It was beautiful, and again, you can see for miles. While not as bad as the steps of DC, it was still a decent climb.

I did not notice the wizard of Oz walking up behind us. So for me it was just me and mom, then I turn around and he is there. It startled me a bit, but was also funny. 

The end was good as well, she gets home if you didn't know. We were all tried after walking all afternoon, but it was still good. 

On the way back to Charlotte we stopped at Hwy 55 for dinner. Rosey brought out dinner out to us. It was pretty cool to see.

I wish I had more PTO to use and time there but really it was the best time. Lots of talking and seeing around what they are doing. I went to RS with mom and every ward member told me they are keeping them and not letting them leave. They loved all they are doing for the YSA group and the ward members too. Funny story to end it. The first morning I go to shower, turn the water on, get ready and get in, close the curtain and a spider, I'd say about the size of a 50 cent piece falls into the tub. I am not a spider fan at all, and can't help but freak a little and so I make a noise and get out of the tub, shower still going. I didn't know what to do and my body was not going near the bath. Thankfully dad heard me and had mom check on me. She asked if I was okay and told her what it was. I put a towel on and went to another room while dad got a paper towel to kill the offender. It was one of the quickest wash and dries I have done in a while. The next day, before locking the door, I checked for another friend. Thankfully none were there. I for one can't wait to see them again in January when they get home.