Adventures with Watermelon

Cinderella and the watermelon...And G too!
The others were not interested... Maybe next time!

More than Special

Both being in the education profession, there are lots of kids that come into our lives. Many have touched our hearts and will be forever remembered, but every once in a blue moon there is that "more than special" one...the one that you consider somewhat of your own...and you assuredly love them like they are.

This evening we were honored to be able to spend some"quality" time with one of those that is more than special to us. He has been away at school this past year (playing football), and with our crazy hectic schedules we have not been able to get together much in recent months. (We will assuredly be traveling to his games this fall now that Eric has more time!)

He is an amazing young man and has so much going for him; however, what I admire the most about Frog is his heart...he truly has a heart of gold!

Frog, we are more than proud of you...and we will will see you for Chinese next week! :)
To see another "more than special" one to me, visit here...this is one of my students from my VERY FIRST year teaching. It delights me to see not just how this how this young lady has grown, but I am in admiration of her unwavering faith and constant determination! Love you Nat!

I would like to address our lack of parenting skills...We were all talking after dinner tonight when I looked up to see that Ballerina was eating chicken on a bone. Yea...quality parenting. Of course, we did not stop her. In fact, we gave her some corn-on-the-cob to go with her chicken!

Fishing for what?

For the second time in less than a week Cinderella as created some floating fishies in her bath water! Both times I have heard the bubbles forewarning me of the impending incident; however, each time her face has been to innocent for me to presume that she would ever do such a dirty deed in my perfectly clean bathtub!

Yea, well, both times I have been wrong.

And, as a result, I have had to rescue her from the endangered waters she created while Eric (because I am too chicken for such activities) has had to go fishin' for the little fishies she left floating in the tub!

Oh, Ballerina...

Our 3rd year in less than a week!

Becky was the last to celebrate her "additional" year this week!
In honor of her birthday, I asked each of the kids to tell me their favorite thing about their Grandma Becky,

Cannon: "My favorite thing is that we tell stories and get to play."

Gunnar: "Pretty much my favorite thing is the good food she cooks."

G: "Uhhh....that she has chocolate milk and lets me spend the night..." (Remember, he has never spent the night, so I do not know what he is talking about! I am sure this is a part of his manipulation into getting to!)

Ballerina: When I asked her, she simply smiled the sweetest smile ever and giggled! How perfect is that?

Finally Getting Away

In celebration of our anniversary, Eric and I decided that we wanted a night to ourselves...the entire night...

I know I have talked before about the lack of things we do for ourselves; however, it may surprise some to learn that the ONLY time both Eric and I have spent away from G is the night Ballerina was born...and, we have never been away from her.

At first it was because they were feeding and waking up during the night and what not; however, as the months and years progressed, it became less about their sleeping habits and more about Mommy and Daddy not being willing or ready to let them go...Yet, we always said that as soon as G asked and understood, we would let him go.

Yea, well, he recently came to understand, and boy, as he been asking...Every time he sees any of his grandparents, he hits them up to spend the night!

Believing this was a special anniversary and deciding that time for just the two of us IS good, Eric and I relented to G's wishes and finally let him spend the night.

So, while we were doing this...(Why the Pizza Hut and wine...This is our anniversary tradition. Each year we have a bottle of wine from the winery where we were married. And, on our wedding night when we got to our hotel after the wedding we were STARVING, so we ordered pizza and sat in bed eating it...therefore, we do it again each year in honor...They are our traditions! )

They were having the time of their lives with their Gigi and K-Dan...



Watch out Grandma Becky and Papa Randy...he thinks he is coming to your house TONIGHT!

5 Years!

5 years ago tomorrow we were married. It many ways it seems like yesterday, and in others, it strangely seems like so much longer. I can say, these 5 years have by far been greater than I ever could have dreamed, and I sincerely look forward to what I hope is at least 5 times 10 years to come. I thought 5 years ago I could never love someone the way we did...and I think now of how much that love has grown...man, I cannot wait for what the years to come have in store!

Happy 5th Anniversary! My favorite...Eric's favorite...and the picture that I wear in the locket from our first Christmas!I recall our wedding day with such clarity. It is by far one of the best days of my life. Not only was I blessed to marry the man of my dreams, and I also had the greatest time doing it...We had such a good time!

I have so many perfectly precious memories of that day...And, while I do not have many pictures digitally, the ones I do have make me smile...and I thought I would share!

This innocence turned ugly in a few minutes...

This is a result of the picture above...Daddy and Gunnar...A sweet picture...But, you must know that just moments prior he and his brother had been in a fight on the floor over the "pool balls" that were on the grooms cake

This one needs commentary -- I was not there; however, I am told that this is when the boys both decide to throw their flowers in the pond! He!

I love this one for two reasons...one, it is when I am saying my vows (that is sentimental), and two, because Gunnar repeating the vows word-for-word after me...see him in the corner? That is pretty darn funny!

He pronounced us husband and wife...and the first thing we say to each other... "That was fun...what now?" That is kind-of the story of our lives! That was fun, now what?

This one would be much sweeter if one did not know that I am screaming "I am too fat for this crap...put me down!"

Me and Cannon...I love this picture. I have it on my little bath stand to this day...However, what makes is funny to me is that he is very upset...My dad had just put the penny in my shoe. He did not understand why I had to put it there and why I could not put it in his pocket. I am explaining to him...

My sisters! Nothing really funny about this picture...I just like it. I think it is the only one I have of all of us.

Cannon and Gunnar...notice the missing flowers...now in the lake!

Me, Cambrey and Ragan...the pose from our three weddings! Who knew then that my parents would give away three daughters in three years! This picture repeats with a different one in the middle each time! However, I like this one the best...

Eric and his pimpin' groomsmen! I do think that it is a good picture, but it makes me laugh because they think it is too. One of them said after looking at all of the pictures of the wedding, "I think this is by far the best...worthy of blowing up...BIG!" Again, this would be humorous if he was joking, but I do not really know that he was!

I LOVE this picture... I like it because it captures a great deal about Linds and me, but I mostly like it because it makes me laugh. I cannot reveal the details behind it. They are slightly incriminating... I can just say that we are talking about how much we cherish the relationships we have made throughout our years...:)

A special crew...Eric and I met at the school where we worked, and these are those with which we worked! Granted, I could not stand him (and the feeling was mutual) for years prior to us getting together. In fact, he did not just get on my nerves...he created them...and these people probably know this story best!

His face is hilarious! Ha! My dad is something else...

Some of the memories of the beginning...and they were perfect...If I had only known then that there was even greater to come!

Three More Years In Less Than a Week

Randy's birthday always marks the beginning of three more years in less than a week...

Perhaps I should explain...

His birthday is on the 24th, our anniversary is the 26th and Becky's birthday is the 27th! Like I said, we add three years in less than a week! :)

So, we began the celebrations tonight with the traditional dinner, cake and gifts!I feel the need to comment on the cake. Now, I LOVE strawberry cake with pink icing (yes, I am 12), but this cake...it beats it! And, the best part...it is good for you!

This picture just made me laugh...I like the posing taking place.

However, this is the best...G thinks EVERY birthday is his! His parents need to take care of that!

I am sure there will be more of the three more years is less than a week in the coming days! :)