How Come They Insist on Growing Up?

Last week my sweet Hailey "graduated" from 8th grade. I can't believe she's going to be starting High School! Matt and I are so proud of the beautiful young lady she is becoming. She is so capable, talented, and beautiful. Next year brings a lot of changes with seminary and High School. We are excited and a little scared for her new adventures! We love you Hailey.

Call Me "Princess Birthday"...

A few years ago, I lovingly named my sister Hillary "Princess Christmas", but I've definitely earned the title of "Princess Birthday". Matt laughs that my birthday lasts AT LEAST a week. What can I say? I LOVE to celebrate! A few of my good friends and I share close birthdays, so the celebration started with a yummy dinner at Il Forniao in Del Mar. Unfortunately, I didn't bring my camera, so there are no pics of that night. I loved celebrating with my good friends. I told my mom that this year all I wanted for my birthday was a "sister weekend". We've talked about it so many times, but with lots of pregnancies, nursing babies, and jobs...it just never worked out. Well this year, NOTHING was going to stand in our way! Mom booked a fabulous weekend getaway at the CopperWynd Resort and Spa in Scottsdale, AZ. The weather was wonderfully warm and we had THE BEST time! We shopped, ate, had hot-stone massages, ate, played games, ATE. It was great! We HAD to start the weekend off with a trip to Sprinkles. Nothing says "sister weekend" like cupcakes! Goofing off...

Hanky Panky joined us 'cause he's still "on tap". Is he a cutie or what?

The "Gardner Girls"

Dinner under the stars

A rare picture of Mom smiling!

Me and FuzzyWuzzy

Me and MoMo

Thanks Mom for planning such a fun, memorable weekend! Let's start planning the next trip!

On my actual birthday, Mom took Amanda and I shopping. Every year Mom takes us shopping for our birthdays (LOVE that tradition!) Amanda surprised me with a dozen Sprinkles and a Sprinkles t-shirt! Thanks Mo! My waistline thanks you. We hit a fun boutique in O.C. called Blue-eyed Girl and then off to Tiffany! I got a beautiful charm bracelet with a present charm (for my birthday), a charm with my kid's names, and Amanda got me a cupcake charm! Here Amanda and I are toasting our purchases in the private room at Tiffany!

Afterwards, we met up with the guys for a fabulous dinner at Cedar Creek Inn in San Juan, one of my favorites!

My amazing Mom and Dad

The next day, Matt and Rachel surprised Rob and I with tickets to see "Wicked" in L.A. We met the Hazens up there and of COURSE we headed to... Sprinkles!

Then dinner at Lawry's

Making a wish (although REALLY...what more could I wish for?)

Waiting for the play...

Do we look full?

After the play, Matt insisted we get a "late-night snack" at the famous Pinks in L.A. Apparently, this place has been open since the 1940's or something. We waited in line for AN HOUR. Let me tell you...it was SO not worth the wait! Fun to say we did it though.

We got home at 2:30 that morning and I'm STILL recovering from all my birthday fun. What can I say? I AM "Princess Birthday"!

Don't Be a Weenie...Vote for, well, uh, WEENIE!

My dearest Matt entered his company idea in a contest for Fast Company Magazine and HE'S A FINALIST! Good job honey. Let's help him win by voting. Each computer can only vote one time so feel free to forward this to any/all email addresses you might have! Wouldn't it be cool to have a Mo win? Click on the following and vote for CityTunes-Matt Weenig. It IS a fabulous idea! Vote Here!

She's got Gardner Blood for Sure!!!

So....this video makes it quite obvious that my niece Frelly (her really name is Faith, but nobody calls her that!) comes directly from my gene pool. This kid cracks me up! Hailey took this video at Thanksgiving dinner and I just found it. Hilarious!!!

Weenig Week in Review...

A Memorial Day with yucky weather was the perfect chance to take the kiddos and join some of our fabulous friends to see "Indiana Jones" and eat yummy Lampost Pizza. The day turned into "moviepalooza" for me with an opportunity to sneak away later in the day to see a couple "chick flicks" while Matt finished installing the girl's bathroom flooring (good job by the way honey!)

Lovin' Mr. Jones

Our fabulous friends the Taotafas, Cliffords, and Hazens!

Giggly Girlies

Hey now...he's a track star! On Thursday night, Jake got to compete in his first ever track meet. Every year, San Marcos School District holds a track meet for the 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. Jakey was so excited to be picked for this fun event! He did REALLY well competing in the relay race. He ran the 3rd leg of the race and during the first heat, brought his team from 6th to 3rd place! Go Jake!

My tiny guy in orange

Adoring fans!

Spencer and Sammy trying to keep themselves entertained while waiting 3 hours at a track meet.

On Friday morning, I had the wonderful honor of seeing sweet Ellen Berry (one of my all-time favorite Young Women) become Ellen Switzer. Ellen was beautiful and had the happiest, cutest smile on her face all day! The sealing was very touching and the sealer did a great job explaining the sanctity of marriage. Friday night, the Berrys threw a fabulous party complete with yummy food (of course!), a bag-piper, beautiful flowers, and decadent chocolate to take home.

Saturday I got to help these three beautiful girls get ready for their 8th grade party and dance. We went shopping, to lunch, and then back to our house to pluck eyebrows, curl hair, put on make-up and decide on the "perfect" outfits. I'm so grateful Hailey has such sweet friends. I had so much fun hanging out with them for the day!

Saturday night I got to be Rachel's sister wife when I joined Rob and Rachel for date night. Thanks guys! The weekend was topped off with a great morning in church. Spencer bore his testimony. He did a great job and talked about the first time he recognized the spirit. I was so touched to see Spencer, Brayden, and RJ all up on the stand waiting to bear their testimonies. I had just been reading in my scriptures about the Stripling Warriors and was thinking about what I needed to do so that my children would have strong testimonies, "because their mother knew it". Seeing those three sweet young men on the stand made me think of how those boys all have mothers who are doing everything they can to teach their children the gospel and raise righteous "warriors" who will be worthy and strong enough to fight the battles in their lives. I am so grateful for the gospel and the guidance it gives me as a mother. It is comforting to me to know that through Christ I will be able to be the mother my children need me to be if I continue to follow his path and seek his guidance daily. Well, I survived the long weekend without my love and I'm off to the airport to bring him home! Life is good.