October Birthday Party

October is a busy month for birthdays in our family. My sister thought it would be fun to get together with our brothers at my dads since we rarely all get together.

We really don't see each other enough in my opinion. But I may feel that way because I am old and a little sentimental. I made everyone pose for a picture because who knows when we'll be together again.

No, I don't know what is up with my hair so don't ask!

 

All the way home Ian kept asking "Where's grandpa?" and we would tell him, "he's home". Then he would tell us "he's in the big house!" I thought it was interesting that he referenced the fact my dad is back in his house and not the little one he was sharing with Jamie. Sometimes Ian is very observant.

Purple Pig Pizza Grand opening

Here is the article from The Daily Herald:

LEHI -- The Purple Pig Pizza Parlor has returned to Lehi after a seven-year hiatus. When pizzeria owners Jerry and Annette Harris decided to go on a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1999, they left their business on 180 E. State Street, the Purple Pig Pizza Parlor, in the care of their children. The Harrises liked their first mission so well, they served two more, working in the San Jose California Mission, the Brisbane Australia Mission and the Phoenix Arizona Navajo Mission. The Purple Pig Pizza Parlor closed in 2003, and the building was leased out. "I'm excited because, after 27 years, it's a tradition that needed to be picked up again," said Annette Harris. "He [son Nate Harris] will keep the tradition. We have many, many customers who are waiting for them to open." Nate and his wife Brandi Harris reopened the new Purple Pig Pizza on Friday afternoon on 400 S. Millpond Drive (1000 East), Lehi. An icon for 25 years on Lehi's State Street, the Purple Pig Pizza is remembered by several of Lehi's residents, then children during the restaurant's heyday and now with children of their own. "No one could make it like they did," said Johnny Revill, of the Purple Pig's Luau Sow and All. "That was my favorite. My family went there once a week." Nate Harris has been employed at the Utah State Prison for seven years and decided to open a Purple Pig Pizza in his hometown. "I just want to come back and try it again," he said and grinned. He said he remembers as a child working at his family's business; he made a good income for his age."Minimum wage was $4, and I was making $8 and hour," he said. "My mother said she would pay me 20 cents a box to fold them, and I could fold 200 in an hour. She didn't know that." "A pizzeria with real staying power is the Purple Pig Pizza Parlor," reads Richard Van Wagoner's Lehi history book, "Lehi, Portraits of a Utah Town." In the '80s, customers could order a Plain Cheese Piggy, a Luau Sow and All or a Stuffed Piglet Combo."The best pizza ever," said DeAnn Phillips. "I'm super thrilled that they opened back up."

I had to throw this picture in too. I think both Nate and Brandi would agree that Annette was a great help to getting this thing going.

The night of the Grand opening (the night of my birthday) I took the kids over to see the ribbon cutting and to grab a pizza before we headed out. The shop was a little busier then they thought they would be so I worked about an hour and half so they could stay caught up. It was fun but I never did get to try the pizza! By time I was done helping my kids had devoured our! I am anxious to go get another one just for old times sake!

35

Here I am at the great 35, wrinkles and all

I have to admit...I was not looking forward to this birthday. I don't what it is. I didn't freak out about 30; but, 35, that is a different story. I really think it's because for years I believed I would be where I wanted to be by 35. Not so. The day itself was great. Nothing spectacular happened but I felt very loved the whole day and I just felt happy. The night before I had gone to dinner with my dad and brothers (my brother Gehrhart's birthday is the 7th) and I had so much fun being with them. I hardly ever see them and I'm so much older than them so we don't hang out very often. The day of my birthday I did a little shopping and took the kids to the Purple Pig grand opening and Adam and I went to The Old Spaghetti Factory for dinner. Adam gave me the wheat grinder I had asked for so I also had to spend some of the day trying that out! This year I can honestly say I am so much happier than I was last year at this time. Things feel so much better and they continue to get better. I guess I just thought 35 should be the magic number in which I might somehow feel in control finally. Still working on that. I'm just grateful for another year and another chance.

The rebirth of the Purple Pig Pizza

For several months Nate and Brandi have been working on re-opening the Purple Pig. They have put a lot of time, effort and money into it. On October first they were finally ready for a dry run with the family. The pizza wasn't quite right but they continued to work on it before they're grand opening the next week.

It  was fun and very reminiscent of when I use to work the Pizza shop. I was *almost* a little jealous about not being more involved! I had some great times making pizza. And, I always say my claim to fame was serving Wilford Brimley there!

Cousin Reunion

The Atkinsons (Adam's mom's side of the family) threw together a last minute cousins reunion to help show our support for Adam's cousin who's son committed suicide a few weeks ago. It was short notice so not all were able to attend but it was fun to see family we don't see very often. Ian was so good and just sat there most of the time so I was actually able to mingle. Adam had a soccer game so he made a brief appearance at the beginning and the end.

Millie's Parent teacher conference

The one thing great this year is that all the children's schools did parent/teacher conference on different nights. This hasn't happened for me in several years and it felt good to not feel rushed. Millie's teacher says she is "practically perfect in every way. Always quiet when she needs to be and a good example to her class. Great writer." She needs to "work on speaking up and sharing ideas." Feels wonderful to have such great kids!

Matthais's Parent teacher Conference

Over the years going to Parent/teacher Conferences always felt like such a waste of time. They always went like this...

Teacher: Matthais is great. Everything is turned in, He's already testing where he should be, His work is always done.
Mom/Dad: Is there anything he needs to work on?
Teacher: Nope
Mom/Dad: Really? Nothing.
Teacher: Nope
Mom/Dad: Surely there is something
Teacher: Well, maybe his handwriting.

Year after year, this is how they went. I was pretty excited to go to them this year. Jr. High is such a different experience and I was interested to see the teachers take on Matthais. We heard things like "gifted" "smart" "creative" "responsible". One teacher even told us he'd be surprised if he didn't become a neurosurgeon. Every one of his teachers was impressed by him and thought he was a really great kid. As a parent, you know you're kids are great but it's so nice to hear that others think the same thing,. What a joy it is to know that you can send your child off to school and know that he is being kind and respectable and using his brain! We've always know Matthais was a bright child but it's nice to have that confirmed. And he's not smart in a nerdy way. He's confident with his knowledge but he's not one of those kids that know it all and have to prove it! He truly is a great kid and people tell us that all the time.I feel very blessed to be his mother!