Justin turned 30 and we tried to smoke out the neighborhood

Justin turned 30 on May 29th.

He wasn't too happy about it. I can't imagine anyone really is when it comes down to it. He was a good sport, though, and took it like a champ. Well, until I hung the "Celebrating 30" sign (pictured above) on the front door. He asked that I take it down until later in the afternoon.

As we have a backyard now, I decided to have a s'mores party for Justin's birthday. With [surprise] fire pit in hand, I checked the forecast and sent out e-invites for a supposedly rain-free S'mores Smorgasbord at the Thompsons.

My friend, Heather, helped come up with a few snazzy s'mores suggestions, as did our friend Google.com, and we went to work on the line-up:

The menu. Click the picture to get a better view. Layout and drawing by the talented Heather Brackett. If I'd tried to draw marshmallows, they'd be stick marshmallows, and that wouldn't look good. 

We decorated the back yard and I also stocked up on Duraflame logs, only to find out later that those logs aren't meant for cooking, but we'll get to that in a bit.

Heather came over early to help get the s'mores smorgasbord set up. By that time, bigger, dark clouds were rolling in and looking ominous. I shrugged them off, remembering my weather.com app had shown no warning of rain. Heather's hubs and daughter came over for pre-s'mores hotdogs...

Clouds, smhouds. Those couldn't possibly have rain in them, right Bracketts?

 ...and as we were eating, it started to rain.

We shrugged it off and tried to pretend it wasn't really raining...because the weather.com app told us it wouldn't.

Then it started to rain more. Then folks started calling to see if we were still going to have a s'mores party.

I was determined to have that party...afterall, it's not every day your husband turns 30!

So, Heather and I stood watch over the s'mores spread while we waited for the rain to pass. It finally did and peeps started coming over for roasting and toasting.

It was also around this time we learned Duraflame logs aren't meant for cooking food. Thank goodness for Dan who ran to the store to get real wood. The last thing I wanted to do was poison my guests...more than we'd already poisoned ourselves by eating hotdogs cooked over Duraflames...oops.

But that's when the real fun began. We took out the flaming Duraflames and tried to get them to stop burning. Those suckers burn, I'll tell ya. I also thought I'd help by sprinkling them with my watering can.

But then they called in the big guns.

And we tried to smoke out the neighborhood. I'm surprised the fire department didn't show up! Here's a video of all the excitement:

The rest of the night was great fun. Eventually some worked up the courage to try the Elvis s'more, bacon and all.

If you learn anything from this post, aside from not using Duraflame logs to cook food, know this: the Elvis s'more ain't that bad! If have bacon in your freezer, I'll forgive you for abandoning the rest of this post to go make yourself an Elvis.

Justin was also a good sport and wore the silly "Celebrating 30" hat I got him to wear for all the pictures with our guests. It really is a silly hat, isn't it? Sorry, dear, but thank you for going along with my birthday excitement!

Top left: Justin, Rich, Jen; (top right): Matt, Justin, his dip, Amanda; (bottom left): Justin, his dip, Dan, Laura; (bottom right): Christine, Justin, Mike, Liz (& soon-to-be baby Olivia)

Sunday, Justin's actual birthday, was exciting again. We opened gifts in the morning, went out for donuts with the Bracketts in the afternoon and headed out to a secret location for dinner in the evening.

Click the picture for a bigger image.

 Justin was so excited about his new shirt, he couldn't keep his eyes open!

Now...I'd heard of this secret location from ads on the radio. It's called Grill 'Em -- a steakhouse where you can grill your own steak. Now, if there is anyone who loves a steak prepared a certain way (rare...well, raw), it's my husband. I thought it'd be the perfect place.

We walked up the restaurant only to hear "Pour some sugar on me!" coming from behind the doors. Not quietly, either. From the sound and the smell of the place, I thought I was going into Shakers (or the Crazy Squirrel or whatever Shakers is called now. We'll just call it Shakers, ok?). There was indeed a big grill, but no one was using it.

The next song that came blaring, and I mean blaring, through the speakers was "Living Dead Girl." While this place would be awesome with a group of friends while watching a football game or something, it wasn't what I thought it would be and felt bad...see...I'd made a big deal about this place, expecting it to be a nice place for a nice steak dinner for my dearest. I started laughing. Almost uncontrollably. I looked at him, he started laughing. We couldn't hear over the music to speak to each other. They brought us the beers we ordered, we gulped them down and then both pulled out our phones to look for a new venue.

We ended up at what I suspect was the most expensive restaurant on Santana Row and kept chuckling about the events of the day well into the night.

Here's to another great 30(+) years!

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to our papas!

We are both blessed to have you as loving & supportive dads and fathers-in-law. We love and miss you both so very much. Can't wait to see you in July!

30 years!

Happy 30th anniversary to my parents!

They've had an adventurous 30 years, and this last weekend was one of the more thrilling/terrifying ones yet, I'm sure. The motorhome's towcar had a blowout on the road coming back from Pomeroy (for my dad's 45th high school reunion!). They stopped on a hill to access the situation when they saw smoke rising from a wheat field about a quarter mile back...then they realized the sparks from the wheels STARTED A FIRE! They couldn't get a hold of 911 (still a mystery) but, thanks to smartphone technology, they were able to Google a nearby police/fire department and get that fire OUT. Whew!

Never a dull moment with those two. I'm happy to report though that the motorhome/our first home in California is safe. The towcar, however, didn't fair as well and needs some repair. I'm just happy mom and dad are ok and didn't start "the great Palouse fire of 2011."

Happy 30th, you two. You're an inspiration and a great example of a loving, dedicated and faithful couple.

10 years

My 10 year reunion is this weekend.

Pictured: Season, me, Jeff, Erin, Liz

I'm not going...not for any reason really besides that it's tough when you live in California. I hope everyone has a great time at the various BBQs and, of course, at RC's...where everyone will inevitably end up at some point over the weekend, I'm sure.

Rock on, GHS class of 2011.

A Royal Affair

I forgot to mention this, you know, a month or more ago.

I got up early...super early...to watch the wedding. THE Royal Wedding. My friend Heather and came over for tea and scones -- proper English wedding fare, I'm sure -- and enjoyed the festivities. I brought out my cream and sugar set as well as some of the doilies and fun coffee/tea-time dishes Justin and I received as a wedding gifts.

I've always had a little crush on Prince William...ok, ok, it hasn't always been so little, especially when I was about 14. Every time I'd come home from somewhere and ask if anyone had called, my dad would always tease me by saying Prince William had called.

I'm glad I got up to watch -- and I'm also glad I had the company of friends who wanted to watch with me, whether it be on my couch or on their own -- we exchanged a few calls and texts with others watching elsewhere to comment on various happenings and the dress unveiling. The couple looked so happy, as most do on their wedding day, and who doesn't love the idea of a prince marrying his princess!

Plus, I love the moments I get to think about my trip to London with my friend Jen to visit her sister, Carla!

I was so happy to be in London, I couldn't keep my eyes open!

Jen and me after our tour of the Tower of London. Not a good day to wear fancy shoes. That's another story for another time.

 

Me in front of Buckingham Palace. That balcony right behind me is where the Duke and Dutchess of Cambridge locked lips in front of a roaring crowd of wedding celebrators.