Nifty Being Fifty???

One of my October sweets had nothing to do with Halloween and everything to do with family. Howard had a milestone birthday, 50 and I was lucky enough to celebrate this NIFTY event with Howard and his family. Grandpa and Grandma opened their temporary but very NIFTY suite to very NIFTY company, Jordan and Liz, Mallory and Dave, Stephen, Lisa, Howard, Noah and myself and later Madeline and Andrew. It was the University of Utah "Blackout" game but when I saw Howard, he was glowing. How NIFTY of the University of Utah to secure a win on his number 50. Hard to believe...Howard is 50!!!! Lisa had family members send things we love about Howard and placed them in a plastic bubble for him to open. One by one, we heard how everyone felt about Howie. I thought it was an absolutely NIFTY idea. Grandma did the next NIFTY thing and that was cake from Baakers. JOY was a taste of chocolate with raspberry filling and white cake with pineapple frosting. It was more than NIFTY, it was downright NUMMY. But NIFTIEST of all was my brother Howard. He is all a sister could hope for in a big brother and being there tonight was pure JOY.

JOurneY on...

Jordan, Cotton Candy, Shampoo, Conditioner and Brown Eyed Susan

October 29, 2011 Noah and I headed to the Marriott for a dual Birthday Celebration. Jordan was born on October 20. How fortunate we were to be able to share in his wit and humor. Oh there were many great lines, but the best caught us all by surprise. Mallory handed him a gift bag. It appeared to be heavy. He jokingly said, "This better not be shampoo and conditioner!" One by one out came packages of Cotton Candy...blue...sour apple. I had no idea Jordan loved Cotton Candy, but Mallory knew. We laughed as Stephen and Jordan bantered back and forth over Jordan's earlier splurge on Cotton Candy at the University of Utah Football Game. Then one classic moment...Jordan reached in and pulled out two large bottles...Shampoo and Conditioner!!! His eyes wide, he replied "NOOO!!!" and then graciously thanked Mallory. It took me back to a Christmas when Jordan was just a little boy hoping for more little boy toys. Grandma had given him a gift. He knew what Grandma liked to put on the Grandchildren--adorable clothes from the Brown Eyed Susan. These clothes came in a classic red box that could be easily recognized. As the gift was placed in his hands, he knew the shape, "This better not be clothes..." He unwrapped the gift and saw the oh too familiar box from the Brown Eyed Susan and tossed the gift across the room...wouldn't even open it. I could hardly contain myself, I was laughing so hard. The years have come and gone. Jordan demonstrated greater maturity :) in receiving this gift from the "HART," the Mallory Hart. Where was the JOY? Being able to let go and just laugh.

Noah was on camera duty...

JOurneY on...