A Little More September Catching Up

We found out September 6 was National Hummingbird Day. How did we not have that on our calendar before now? It has since been added. First Saturday in September.

To celebrate, Nichole created this picture. I do a lot of celebrating with food. She does a lot of celebrating with art. I love it.

September 7 was the anniversary of when the first fully electric TV set was achieved by Philo T. Farnsworth. Now Philo T. Farnsworth was my grandma's cousin so he's kind of a big deal in my family. I have a friend in our ward with the last name of Farnsworth so I finally asked him if he was related to Philo T. Farnsworth. Yes! Me, too. When he found out we were both related he asked if we as kids also all wrote reports about Philo T. Farnsworth for school. Yes! It was funny to find out that my family (including cousins) isn't the only family who did this. Someone I didn't know I was related to did it, too. 

Anyway so this year for the anniversary, I sat down with my friend and we figured out how we were each related to Philo T. Farnsworth and so how we were related to each other. That and Jeremy made a card for him. 

I can't find the card on the computer and I didn't take a picture before I gave it to my friend. Oh well.

 

September 7 was also Grandparents Day. I wished my mom and my sister Happy Grandparents Day.

 

September 8 was the anniversary of the original Star Trek. I wished that happy anniversary to a friend who likes Star Trek.

 

It was also Tim Bergling's birthday so I went around singing an Avicii song.

 

September 9 was Ants on a Log Day. 

 

It was also President Nelson's 101st birthday. I decided not to try to put 101 candles on a cake so we just put one in the middle and Jet got to blow it out. 

Jr. Jr.'s Birthday

Remember that one time we couldn't find enough birthday candles for my birthday (see post from July 21, 2019)? I didn't want that to happen again so sometimes when I'm out shopping I'll pick up birthday candles just to make sure we have enough for the next person's birthday.

I got the candles out of the cupboard for Jr. Jr.'s birthday. We have enough. We have enough for the next couple birthdays. We even have enough if we did a candle for each of Jeremy's and my years.

My kitchen helper wanted to put the candles on the cake. What a sweetie. 

He also wanted to blow out the candles. Sigh. We were finally able to sing to Jr. Jr. and he blew out the candles himself. By the time he did, some of the candles had melted together thanks to their proximity, which is fine. Thanks, Jet. You did a good job placing the candles. 

Lucky is only pretending in this picture. Jet actually tried.

I think Jr. Jr. had a good time.

Jr. Jr.'s Birthday

Back to catching up on October.

I don't know how it came up but Jr. Jr. decided to tell people he was turning 14 on his birthday. He turned 13. He had 13 candles on his cake in the shape of a '14.' That kid.

When he opened his present he said, "Thanks, Dad. Finally. Physical proof that the world is full of candy."

There was a "world box" filled with candy and a note to tell him where he could find his actual present (besides the candy).

Beauty and the Beast

Recently, Nichole and Jr. had the opportunity to be in a pit orchestra for the play, "Beauty and the Beast." The orchestra was made up of students from two high schools since the conductor was the orchestra teacher for both high schools and invited students from both to be in it.

It was wonderful. Everybody did such a good job- actors, orchestra, behind the scenes people. Jeremy took Lucky one night to watch it and I took Jr. Jr. one afternoon to watch it.

While Jr. Jr. and I had our bonding time, we had some good discussions.

 

Jr. Jr.: It shows Lumiere's candles wax melting and he has been a candelabra for many many years so this is him when the curse was first initiated.

I laughed so much. I love that kid.

 

I'm proud of Nichole and Jr. That is a lot of playing each night and twice on Saturday for most of a week (besides all the rehearsals) because besides accompaniment to the musical numbers (which there were a lot, more than I've heard in the movies), they also played background music (and overture, entr'acte, curtain call, exit music). It really added a lot having live music. I loved it and I'm glad Nichole and Jr. had that experience.

One of Nichole's friends gave her a rose and both she and Jr. were given candygrams as well. Note the silk rose in Jr.'s pocket. Something else he was given.

Superb Owl Sunday

It's Superb Owl Sunday! There was something called the Super Bowl happening today but I don't actually care about football so I don't even know who won. Wait, let me check.

Ah, the Rams won. The only reason I knew the Rams were playing against the Bengals was because of a food blog that mentioned it. Hey, food and snacks are a big part of a Super Bowl party, right?

Actually, one of the players for the Bengals used to go to the high school that my daughter goes to so that was a big thing from the high school wishing him well as well as the city wishing him well. Too bad it didn't work out so well for him and his team this time. They did make it to the Super Bowl, though.

But you know me. I'd rather celebrate Superb Owl Sunday.

It of course started with Jeremy drawing a picture during church. This is a spider owl. 

Yeah, that's what I thought, too.

 

Jeremy and I went out for a nice relaxing drive and a nice relaxing walk. We saw a great horned owl, 

a black-crowned night heron that was in such a position it kind of looked like an owl, 

and a Northern harrier that has an owl like face.

We enjoyed seeing other birds, too.

I'd say it was a good Superb Owl Sunday. 

 

Since tomorrow is Valentine's Day, we decided to celebrate it today at home. Like last year, when we got home from our drive, the kids brought us in to have a candlelit dinner for two. Jr. Jr. and Lucky greeted us at our vehicle and led us in. 

There was a table set up, this time with a giant Valentine's card I had made for Jeremy. It had a message with different kinds of candy taped to it, you know that kind of note. The boys were so happy to have been a part of helping with that, having it there for Dad to see. Jr. Jr. and Lucky had also written a bunch of sweet notes for us.

The kids provided dinner and entertainment. I love that besides the candle, Jr. brought out the flower he made for me last Valentine's as a centerpiece.

I'd say it was a successful Superb Owl Sunday and Valentine's Day (observed).

Jeremy's Birthday!

We celebrated Jeremy's birthday in February. The kids insisted on having ALL the candles on the cake. Some of them were very short by the time he blew them out.. all in one breath, I might add.

 

Jeremy got his requested dinner and the couple that ministers to us even brought us some pan fried potatoes to go with it. We love those. Mmmmmm.

Both Lucky and Jr. Jr. created LEGO sculptures for Jeremy. Jr. Jr. made a stone talus (see Breath of the Wild) and Lucky made a pink flamingo. They are so sweet.

Jeremy had a pretty good birthday and it was relaxing for at least some of it. He got to sleep in and that's always nice.

Happy Birthday, Jr. Jr.

We recently celebrated Jr. Jr.'s birthday.  He brought balloon animals to the kids (and teacher) in his school class and brought home some treats himself, including a pair of huge sunglasses.

After the learning experience with the candles on Jr.'s birthday cake, I went out and bought a bunch of candles.  I was so proud of myself for being prepared for Jr. Jr.'s birthday.  I even used a variety of colors among the five birthday candles on his cake.  Did you catch that?  The FIVE birthday candles on his cake.  I think I may have even lit them and was about to take the cake to him to blow out the candles when I realized... Jr. Jr. wasn't turning 5, he was turning 7.  Sigh.  We'll just say I'm cute again.

I added the right number of candles and everyone was happy.

The End

Happy Birthday, Jr.

We recently celebrated Jr.'s birthday.  We got the cake and ice cream all ready and then realized we didn't have a box of candles.  Sigh.  I guess that should be part of the normal preparation for someone's birthday- make sure there are enough candles.
We did manage to scrounge up enough candles... we got a little creative and a few days later, I bought three boxes of 24-count candles so we're set for a while.  Yay.

Jr. enjoyed his cake and ice cream as well as his presents.  He was thrilled when he got a "certificate" from Dad inviting him to go fishing.  He's been wanting to go fishing for a while since they learned about fishing in scouts.

Jr. and Dad went fishing the Saturday after his birthday and had a great time together.  Patience paid off and Jr. did catch a fish- a blue gill.  Congrats, Jr.

Ah, bonding time with Dad.  How great is that?