It's a Surprise!

I decided last weekend at the last minute to drive up to Montreal. The main reason was because my good friend Sharon was going to be in town (she lives in Atlanta) to visit her parents. She was also actually planning a surprise birthday party for both her parents!

I guess Bob had found out about the party, but Linda was completely shocked! :) Sharon and Mike had managed to get their parents out for a couple of hours by encouraging them to take all the grandkids to a movie. That, of course, only gave them a couple of hours to prepare for the party. It was crazy trying to get all the food cooked and prepared in a couple of hours, but it all worked out great!

Mom and Linda...I thought this picture was fitting because if anyone knows our moms it's that they like to talk! A lot! They can just talk and talk and talk on the phone! Chatty bunch! :)

This is Sharon and Me...we don't see each other that often. So, that's why I made the trip to Montreal. We didn't get to see that much of each other b/c she was busy with visiting her family, but I'm glad I got to see her and meet her new addition to her family...Jacob.

Don't ask....i was just playing around.. :)

The whole weekend was really great. I didn't touch work and just relaxed. I even got my car A/C fixed. It was just a great weekend! :) But that all ended when I had to drive back to work on Monday....and work A LOT this week. (After September deadlines pass....i'm going to need one nice, long vacation. More than a weekends worth!)

Birthday Party

A couple of weeks ago I went to a b-day party for Paige and Jake....Paige turned 4 in July and Jake turned 6. Paige got this dress-up outfit from one of her friends for her birthday and apparently it is all she wants to wear! :)

The kids played slip & slide...The adults all sat around, talked and ate...fun was had by all! :)
This was present time....always the fun part for the kids. Paige had just opened her present from me...

And the cake of course....

Visit #2..

The good thing about where I live is that every once in a while a friend comes through the area...earlier this summer it was Myra and Amy. Then in July my good friend Sheldon was in town for a conference at Yale. Since he had never been to NY I took him into the city and we walked around...

I think he was pretty fascinated with Time Square...all the lights and people...and the fact that it almost feels like the middle of the day with all the action..even though it is actually the midlle the night.

We both served in Chicago...hence the Chicago picture. It was a lot of fun to hang out and show him around. The next day I took him to Yale for his conference...so it was a short visit, but it was good to see him.

Vacation??...I don't think so...

Back in early July I decided to take a trip to Madison, WI for probably the last time. Steve and Janet found out about a week before I went there that they were going to move to Austin, Texas. And because they had so much to do...get the house ready to sell, pack, clean, etc. I decided to go out there to help. So, I took a couple of days off work to go do another type of work...PAINT! :)

We spent all of Saturday painting the living room....which took us ALL day. A part of the living room's ceiling is high...it goes up to the second floor....So steve was up on the ladder trying to get all the high parts. I went up that ladder only once and it was so shaky...it wasn't something that particularly enjoyed!

I had never really painted that much before..in fact, I don't think I've ever really painted much before helping Steve and Janet. It was a lot more exhausting than I thought it would be. All the tapping and making sure you don't miss any spots....it takes a lot out of someone. I don't know how people do this for a living!!

So, all of Saturday we did the entire living room and the hallway upstairs. By the time we were finishing the hallway, Mom, Dad, Kathy and the kids all drove up the driveway from the roadtrip from Montreal. They also came to help out and try to keep the kids entertained while Steve and Janet worked all week.

Austin was soooo good most of the day. He just sat in his "exersaucer" and watched us paint! He's so cute. He did pretty good on Monday when we also painted all the bedrooms and bathroom upstairs.

On Sunday, I decided to drive to Gurnee, IL for church to see a lot of old friends from the mission. Someone came up to me at church and when I introduced my mom to him said, "Oh Sister Theriault...that must mean you are done with your mission?" I smiled and told him that I've been done for over 3 years now..and since it was my first area it's actually almost been 5 years since I was a missionary there! :) I'm glad they still think it was like yesterday that I was there.

My mom and I also got to visit with some old friends from Montreal that had since moved to Gurnee...

On Monday..back in Madison...after another long day of painting, we all got go go see my niece Emily play T-Ball. I was way excited because I started playing softball for the first time this summer...

Here she is...running into home! :)

Austin watching Emily play T-Ball...

So, it wasn't the most relaxing "vacation"...but it was a lot of fun to see all my family. I guess the next visit will be in Texas!