Amanda came to Boise!!!

Friday::
Amanda arrived in Boise at 7:00 am on Friday! KG picked her up on his way home from work. That's really early for us around here so she went and did a temple session. Once the girls and I were awake and ready we just awaited her call to come and get her. We were so excited to see her! She doesn't get to eat out much and doesn't' have any variety in China so we planned to show her all the yumminess we have here the entire weekend! We took her out to lunch at our favorite Mexican restaurant, Amigos. After that we all needed naps. Later, while I worked, KG took the girls swimming and Amanda joined us after she woke. She watched Flower swim and Flower loved that! That evening we took her to Texas Roadhouse.
When we were leaving their was this cool motorcycle in the parking lot. Amanda stuck Flower on and I snapped a quick picture. :)
After dinner we were all beat. My boss was so generous in allowing Amanda to stay in our fully furnished executive suite. She said she slept better here than any point on her vacation. That made me happy and I was glad to give her some space and alone time. She said she enjoyed watching HGTV and TLC, things she doesn't get to watch in China.
Saturday::
Amanda came over around 11:00. She and Flower had some girl time. They ate yogurt, which Amanda doesn't get in China and was very excited about, and did their nails.
Amanda brought a very pretty pink color and some flower stickers.
Flower was in heaven!!!


Flower was so excited to show EVERYONE! She was constantly admiring them.
After that they watched Flower's current favorite Princess movie that she's borrowing from Buffalo.
Eventually we were all starving for lunch! We took her to Bangkok Thai. It was yummy as usual.
Pretty nails for some pretty cute girls.
While we ate our food, River had a bottle. I swear she loses more down her chin and neck then makes it into her mouth!

After lunch we took her to our favorite snow shak for a shaved ice. When we got home we were all ready for naps!
I decided I'd take advantage of everyone being asleep and take a bath and read. After my bath I blow dry my hair. Every time I do that River sits in the doorway and just stares!
Saturday evening we had a big BBQ for everyone to come meet Amanda. We were excited to introduce her to people that are in Flower's life. We had a great time and I'm excited about the conversation Kris and I had with her about getting help for the babies and working on some prospective contacts!























Sunday::
Sunday morning we took her to Jim's Coffee shop for breakfast. I really wanted her to meet Joni! We enjoyed ourselves and Joni was hyper as ever. :) After that we went to church. It was so nice to have her at church with us and be able to introduce her to everyone.
After church we made a visit to Brenda who gave her one of her famous blown glass necklaces! It was so pretty and I love that she'll have one to wear just like the rest of the women in our ward.
Then we took her to Fanci Freez. We had to show her the best milk shakes in town. My other friend Amanda, from church, met us there as well. We enjoyed lunch and milkshakes there and had a nice visit.
We came home for some much needed naps!
That evening, because Jerry had been out of town, he and Kris came over for a visit so he could meet her.
I love this photo of Riv cuddling up to Jer.
We talked for a couple of hours and then decided we were hungry so we headed for Delsa's. More yummy ice cream!
As if that wasn't enough for one day we then went to my older brothers house to celebrate Lomad and Zach's birthdays. We had a nice visit there as well.
This is the point in the evening when she should have been getting on the bus for a long ride back to Salt Lake. But Kris and Jer so generously arranged for her to fly on Southwest instead! She didn't have to catch the flight until the next day at 1:30 pm so that gave us more time with her! I was so touched and so grateful for that. My love for them just continues to grow deeper. She was also very grateful!
After saying our goodnights Flower got to work making Amanda a blanket. She loved being able to do it by herself, with a tiny bit of help and was very proud of it.

We hope as she cuddles up with it in China that it will be like a nice hug from Flower!
KG and Flower took her to the airport at 12:30
We can't wait to see her again, which incidentally isn't going to be too long. We are so thankful she made the time to spend with us!
She is an amazing lady and we are so blessed to have her in our lives!

Wrap it up!

Here is my week wrapped up in a pretty little package.

Monday and Tuesday I worked long days at work. That is usual for Monday, Tuesday was so that I could have Wednesday off.
Wednesday the girls and I were out the door by 9:30! Not an easy task for us.
First we went to my doc to get materials for a spit test.
They are testing my adrenal and pituitary glands. It has been an impossible task keeping my thyroid level and they are baffled so they are testing other things. Although I don't 'want' anything to be wrong...it would kind of be nice if there was so we have an explanation for things. I was a little shocked at what the spit test required. I had to chew on a piece of hard, salty cotton the size of a tampon! Blech. Two nights in a row. That was big fun.
From there we went to Jim's Coffee for breakfast. We went to see Joni. Kris and Matt also met us there which made it more fun.

After that we went to Kris' house to see the progress on stripping the wallpaper. It already looks so different! I can hardly wait to see all the new paint. It will be a whole new house! We also played in the backyard. A couple of years ago Flower and I spent a lot of time back there and I miss it. It was really fun.
She has never sat up like this before! I love it. I guess I should have included sitting up in her 7 month update.
She just sat and watched Flower on the swing.


We also went home with fresh lettuce and bazil from her garden. We had a big salad for dinner and it was delicious!
We left there to deliver my 'orange package'.
Finally after going home for naps we all went to Flower's karate. Because of work I have never been able to go. I really enjoyed it. She is really good!


Thursday started a 4 day weekend for KG. Yay! While I was at work KG took the kids to the park for a play date with Shannon, Jane and Oliver. Flower had a blast with Jane. That evening we went to my parents to celebrate Father's Day along with the birthdays of Amanda, Sandee and Kas. We also played a game of Picturika. Flower and Kas spent the night there as well and they had lots of fun, also spending all day there on Friday.

Friday morning KG went to a kick boxing class at 6:00 am that kicked his trash! Later I went back to the doc to turn in the spit samples and get blood drawn. That evening we went out with John and Lisa. It's been so long since we went out with just the two of them and without children that I can't even remember when it was. It was so fun. We went to a new restaurant, Ono. It's VERY good! Delicious. After that we came back to our house and played Killer Bunnies. It's been too long with that game and we love it. We also played Kooki Kalookie Rummy. It was a really nice evening.

Saturday afternoon KG helped someone in the ward move. The girls and I went to the clubhouse to help Sandee with Kas' friend party. When KG returned home the girls and I took him out for Father's Day dinner. We went to Asiago's. I forgot how much we love their cheese! Flower was licking it out of the bowl. The waiter was cracking up. Awesome meal. After that we went over to Record Exchange to do River's 7 month photo shoot. I was pleased with how they turned out, especially with all the commotion around us. When we got home I made a lemon cake for the next day. I have been on a quest to find my favorite.
I decided to add a layer of fresh raspberries in the middle.
And some on top. I couldn't wait to eat it!

Sunday...HAPPY FATHER'S DAY. We woke up and made KG his requested omelet with olives, mushrooms and cheese. We also gave him toast with homemade strawberry jam and served him in bed. Church was very nice. All the men were served homemade pie. I may or may not have snuck a piece of deliscious lemon cheesecake that was delicious. Flower also escaped with a yummy chocolate pie. That evening we went to KG's grandparents to celebrate with the family. We also celebrated Uncle Steven's birthday. I think I may have found my favorite in that lemon cake! It was so good. I think the fruit made all the difference. We enjoyed the BBQ and lots of laughs.

That brings us to today, Monday. KG is still paying for his kick boxing in the form of back pain. I work a long day and he'll be heading to the chiropractor.