Birthday Paul

I was really excited about Paul's birthday this year! Probably because I felt very on top of things this year. I purchased his gift in August while we were in New York secretly, which I was especially excited for. It was something I knew he wanted, needed, and would be totally shocked. Back in New York when he was veggin' in the hotel and I was out shopping, I ran 10 blocks to Uniqlo which was this awesome Japanese clothing store we had discovered earlier that day. They have these amazing ultra light down coats that are super comfy and warm. So anyway, I was excited that I had a good gift this year!

That night I had very little sleep (I just found out the evening before that I was going to be the Primary President of a brand new ward, more on that to come), I had a pounding head ache, was so sick to my stomach, and my mind was racing. So I finally just got up at 6 a.m. and ran to Harmon's to grab a few of Paul's favorite morning foods - orange juice, raspberries, and challah. The kids had a great morning with Daddy.

Every year I always feel a little guilty that I don't do anything special on Paul's birthday. The last time I really planned anything semi-big for his birthday was eight years ago. And really he secretly planned that whole thing leading me on to think that I planned it. It was the night he proposed to me and we had our families waiting at the cabin for his "surprise" birthday party.

I have always figured I would plan some party for his thirtieth. But a week ago I decided it was time to really celebrate him, he deserved it! And number 28 seemed like a good time. So I messaged all of his friends about a surprise birthday party at his parents home. Even though he wasn't overly surprised due to a conversation he had with my Dad where he spilled that we were having a party, it was still a success in my book. We had all our good friends come, I made 10 homemade Jamaican jerk and margarita pizzas, there was a little volleyball action, and ended with homemade oreo ice-cream cake. I tried to have all of Paul's "favorites" present at the party.

We had a blast celebrating Paul. I love him with all of my heart and I am so proud of him. He is such a hard worker and I know he does it all for us, his family. I am one lucky girl to be his..forever!

2nd Annual Salts Boating Party

We had our annual Salt of the Earth boating party at the cabin. Friday after work we all headed up to Eden. We were sadly missing Shairstin, our Lead Salesthetican, but were glad that the rest of the team made it up for some boatin' fun. While there was some major competitive juices flowing on the tube among the Salts team, the babes and I enjoyed a nice easy ride, complete with a face full of freezing water from the spray of the rope! I was so proud of Lil and Stew for being brave enough to ride the tube after watching the "big kids" getting hammered back there. And there is something funky going on with Pineview this year, the water is outrageously cold... and it's JULY!!

Back at the cabin we unthawed in the hot tub and just relaxed. Just what we all needed. Nic was awesome enough to make my newest favorite fruit dessert - Mango Sticky Rice. So delicious!

 In the morning we headed back out to the lake, this time wakeboarding and surfing making sure to not waste the good water. And because this was a work party, we had to get in some good product shots with the beautiful scenery.

A Tea Party

We had a tea party for the Heslop girls (so sad that Holland couldn't make it) and we all had so much fun. It is nice to celebrate just being a girl sometimes with some cutsie decor, frilly pom-pons, adorable miniature foods, and of course a no-boys-allowed kind of policy.

Jeff and Jessica will be moving next month to Illinois for FOUR years!! It is so sad and crazy to think that little Genevieve will be Lily's age when they are done with Jeff's work there. To celebrate and help maintain the little cousin relationships that Lily, Annie, and Hazel have, Joan put together the sweetest gift to each of the girls. They all got a "friendship" necklace that will help them think of each other every time they wear it. They also got some cute stationary with the letter of their name so that once Hazel moves, they can write letters to each other to help them remember each other. At this point all of us girls almost broke down right there. It was one of the most thoughtful gifts I have ever seen and it really put into perspective how much is going to change in the next four years and how much we will miss Jeff, Jessica, Hazel, and Genevieve!

We all had so much fun and I truly hope it becomes a tradition among the Heslop girls! Joan did an amazingly beautiful job with everything. I know that all the little girls were in Heaven.