The great birthday surprised that fizzled with the wind

Dear sweet Devin decided to surprise Aliza with one of her bucket list adventures for her 20th birthday. I thought it was a very generous gift- a Ride in a Hot Air Balloon.

We (me, Matt, Jan & Lindsey) got up really early to drive with Devin & Aliza to the Hart gas station in Washington for the surprise. Then we followed the balloon guy to pick up his crew (really weird, just one guy!) and then headed for the empty field they use for the ride.

Come to find out that the kids and Matt are expected to help with the balloon prep (hence only 1 guy,) for the fee Devin was paying. I still think it is weird…

The Balloon man, thought the astrophere was a little windy so a black balloon was sent into the stratosphere and made a dramatic right turn when it hit an fiesty air current.  We waited a while and he did it again. Still the air current was fiesty so the ride got bagged… I felt so bad for Devin!  He was so excited to do this for Aliza. We ended up going to the Bear Claw for Breakfast. Matt’s treat! Then went to visit Bill at PF where I got a delicious Snickerdoodle and a lesson on how to make a proper PF breadstick!

But, funny enough. Devin goes on to tell us when Aliza went to give him his 20th birthday present,Sky Diving, it didn’t work out either that day it rained. I guess maybe those kids aren’t meant to have “big” celebrations. That just means that they will both get to do their Bucket list items another day. What an excitement to look forward to.

Here are the pictures of that day:

6:30 A.M. where are we going Devin?

SURPRISE~~~

A cute Ms. Aliza Randall

the balloon crew man pointing out the black balloon which I couldn’t get a picture of it was too far away.

reminds me of Top Gun only this time the mission was NOT successful.

Jan and her sad expression for Aliza’s birthday present fizzle.

The pony at Ancestor Square- I guess I was meant to live in another town that would have Pony Statues right?

Sick Saturday but everyone else is being productive!

 

So, I feel like crap!  I had a few allergies (I thought,) in Utah, but seems to me that maybe it really was a cold!  Because, my throat feels like there are hundreds of razors sliding down, my nose is running like a faucet and I am so utterly drained of energy. So, here I sit in bed nursing herbal tea, and a veggie/fruit smoothie and updating our blogs.

The kids think it looks gross and it does, but I love the taste.

 

This is what Sammie and Kenna did with their early afternoon- they washed my car just in time for it to rain (notice the sunniness of the shots? they were going to vacuum the inside and clean the leather and such but it is still raining!)

I guess it was the neighborhood thing to do. That is our super sweet next door neighbor washing his car also. He had the best tools!

sneek shots

When it started raining, they already had their swimsuits so they decided to jump in the pool and swim. I ended up wishing that I had tape in my camcorder, because they were having so much fun dancing, singing and diving. But ended up doing these shots instead!

oops they noticed me!

Singing in the rain!

check out the rain in that shot!

Sammie and Kenna singing and dancing…

If you go really fast down this page on these pics you can see Kenna’s dance. Too bad, you can’t hear her singing though.

• my nose is like the rain now… drip, drip,d r i p … can anyone make it stop?!

Graduation day #2 for Devin

Well, Devin has accomplished another Milestone in his life. Graduation #2.  He has graduated with his AA and we were so fortunate to watch him walk down the aisle. I guess all his graduations so far have been a vacation for us- we fly from Tampa and spend a few days and then fly back. I am thankful that we can afford to do that.  I don’t know what I would do if we couldn’t!!!

President Monson was the Commemoration speaker for the day and he did a great job with a  fun story about a cheating college student who go his just returns on the final day of his college career.

The local newspaper (the Spectrum) had said that people were going to protest having an LDS person speak at a clearly public institution, but I didn’t see a single protester there!  Ah, newspapers and their hope of stirring pots…

Devin and Aliza were so cute sitting next to each other. I realized while watching them that they have been dating for longer than Matt and I had before we got married. I wonder what will be in the card for the both of them. They both want to continue on to get their bachelors- both want to go to SUU, but Devin was also accepted to the University of Utah and Aliza to Utah Valley University. Which will they choose?  I am as curious as the next on that one!

Another realization: Devin’s friend Jasmine was been with him every step of the way from 3rd grade until today. They are part of the original 3 muskateer and muskateerettes and I was so pleased as punch that they could celebrate the day together. It helps that Jasmine is also Aliza’s best friend (well, besides A’s sister Lindsey that is.!)

Diana and her friend Alyssa got to come down to St. George to visit with us, unfortunately we don’t have any pictures…

Sweet Bill and Jan Randall threw a Seis di Mayo graduation dinner with delicious shredded beef tacos!  Thanks Jan you are a great cook!