Sami's World

What an awesome birthday!   The celebrations have continued for two day’s straight.   I think I’m getting partied out.

Yesterday we had big birthday breakfast of Biscuits and Gravy – ummmm, my favorite.   The day was just kinda’ relaxed.   Sami took the older three kids to a stake primary activity, Afton slept and Niah and I watched movies.

In the afternoon, Sami took me out bowling (I actually bowled over 100 for the first time in my life).   After a couple of games, we headed out to dinner.   We went to Cattlemens.   It’s a steak house.   Funny, neither of us felt like eating steak, but ordered it any way because we where at a stake house and felt like we should.   My 20oz Rib-eye was pretty good.   Sami’s dinner was blah, so she sent it back and got salmon.   That was really good we both left the resturant feeling fat and happy.

Just before dinner, Sami gave me my present.   A weekend fishing on the Sacramento River with a professional tour guide.   I’m going up next week end with my good friend Joey Derting.   Should be good times.   I can hardly wait.

We got home and took the baby sitter home.   After that, we opened presents as a family.   Jaime gave me a liter of Dad’s Rootbeer.   Alix gve me some Peeps.   Milo gave me some “power tools” (more for him than for me, I think).   From Niah I recieved a bird-house – the kind you have to put together.   All in all, a very successful day.

Today (my actual birthday), we had the sister missionaries over for dinner.   That was fun and they joined us for cake and ice cream.   One of the sisters is from the Fiji Islands.   She is leaving this week on transfers.   She is a cool missionary.   She bore her testimony to our family in Hindi.   Our family really felt the spirit, and the kids enjoyed it.

My birthday cakes where German Chocolate brownies and Pumkin Pie.   I got two cakes because I couldn’t decide which I wanted.   Both where excellent.

I think that about sums up the birthday experience.   Thanks to all who called.   Thanks, Dean for singing to me.   I’m surprised you know all the words to that song.

A special thankst o Sami.   She is awesome and really worked to make my birthday a special one.   I love you Sami.

Well, we’ve had the van for a week now. The old van sold, so the new one now takes its rightful spot in the driveway. We still absolutely love it. Here are the top three reasons why I love our van.

1. Power. This van makes every other car we have ever owned feel like a gutless wonder. Sami drove up the Sunol grade the other day, and the van didn’t even notice.

2. Height. When driving the van, you sit 2 feet above every other driver on the road. It’s a very commanding view.

3. Size. I walked out of Wal-Mart the other day and knew exactly where I parked.

We are very anxious to take this thing on a road trip. Summer should be fun. A week camping and two weeks in Utah. We’ll be traveling in style.