Nineteen Years!

This Wed. June 9th is our anniversary. Wow, nineteen years. Jay and I met in high school. He was a senior and I was a sophomore. Boy did I fall hard for him. I can still remember the dance that I first met him at. He was wearing an old worn out denim jacket, that I later claimed as my own just so I could smell it. Can you believe that!

I still love being with him. We did not celebrate too big this year. We ran away to a local hotel. I was so excited to go. Our little ones have been finding their way in to our room several times during the night. I was anxiously awaiting to be able to sleep with out being disturbed. Plus the room had a KING size bed. Oh, I want a new bed. Our bed has about had it. I'd love to get a king size, but I am afraid that we wouldn't be able to fit anything else into our room. As a matter a fact, we would probably have to just dive in from the door. Yep, the kids got the big rooms, you'd think they'd stay in their own beds.

Dinner at Ruby River was fabulous, well at least mine was. Steak toppers, never heard of it before, I usually don't even use steak sauce. I indulged in a spinach and artichoke cream sauce on a top sirloin, Oh to die for. Plus the jacketed yam with cinnamon butter, aren't you craving some now? No room for dessert.

On to the cine mark. We watched, "Angels and Demons". I had read the "DaVinci Code", but not this one. I am not a big reader. Probably won't read this one now that I've seen the flick. We enjoyed it. Plus I love holding hands at the movies. Oh, did I mention there were no kids with us! Got to LOVE those little nights away!

Baskin Robbins? What I don't think I've been there since high school. I didn't even know there was still one in town. Scoop of Jamocha fudge and one of pistascho almond. Weird, why didn't they use pistaschos? Doesn't really matter, ice cream at 11pm, no kids, king size bed I'll getover it.

Romantic night together, KING size bed!!!!!

Sleep in...... breakfast 10:45 at village inn.

I new it wouldn't last long. Laundry, shopping, movie with family, yard work, and more shopping. I am tired. Mac -n - cheese for the little ones. Shh, don't tell. I had a pint of ice cream for dinner.

Next year the big 20yr, I am going to plan for a cruise, we deserve it.

Jay is a wonderful husband, friend, best friend, and father. He still makes me laugh and smile. Often I still get goose bumps and chills when we kiss. Oh, a feeling that brings me love, security, amongst other things.

I love you Jay!!

Cakes "Pooh and Tigger"

February 21st!!

Our Tommy and his Aunt Brooke share the same birthday. I remember calling my sis and telling her I was sorry that I couldn't make to her 16th birthday celebration. This pic is two years down the road. These are the first sculptured cakes that I did. It was really fun. I hadn't planned on making the Tigger cake. When I found out that my mom didn't have a cake for my sis. I decided to make one for her too. I haven't made a birthday cake for her since. Maybe I ought to do that for her next year.

Our Graduate!

WOW! I can't believe our first born is graduating from high school. I love him so much. The teenage years were rough on us and him, but we have grown and learned so much. Now I hope I can remember it all, maybe I won't make so many mistakes. We have often told Riley that just as he was experiencing the teenage years we were learning to be parents. Riley is a wonderful young man I will continue to pray for him daily, and also feed him daily. Several months back he was quick to threaten to move out when he graduates. Some days we couldn't wait, Jay always says, "when they(the kids) turn 18, they get luggage plus 1st and lasts months rent, HA-HA. Well we'll see, Riley's attitude has changed and I think he'll be around for a little while longer. He has got to save up before heading on out.

Cake

This is the first girly cake I ever made. This was for Lilys' first birthday.

If you can't tell it is a lady BUG, so I guess it isn't that girly after all except for the cute colors.

I like to make the frosting really with bright colors. My 13yr old son informed me the other day that the frosting turns his poo weird colors, just thought your might want to know. Beware, the colored animal and colored goldfish crackers as well. Hopefully I haven't ruined your appetite.

I am getting old

I am so proud of him. Riley is growing up, he'll be 18yrs old in July and graduating this May. Crazy I can't believe how fast time goes. I am not the the first to admit, teenagers can be hard to raise. We've had our struggles, arguments, etc. yet we have endured.

Tonight was his senior prom. ( Ahh , I am getting old!) Before taking off to dinner the boys brought their dates by for a photo session. I was so excited. What a great group of boys. Handsome too!

Thank you Riley for inviting us up to take pictures it meant a lot to me to take part in this special night. I hope all the boutonniere's I pinned on and repaired lasted the night. I admit it I am proud, I think Riley and his wonderful date ( girl friend) are the CUTEST!

Springbreak or not springbreak

I usually try to get away during springbreak,

Hopes of playing in the sun with chalk were even dashes to pieces, or turned into a soggy mess.

We enjoyed an evening with have the "Boys R Us " clan, #'s 5 , 6, 7. Thank goodness for videos and popcorn. The next night we went skating at the local roller rink. Yeah, I forgot the camera. That is probably a good thing. After skating......

Swap kids again with "Boys R Us" , this time we got #'s 3, 4. I made them go to bed before mid night. They whined, but they crashed hard.

Well the snow melted and look what happens. The 3 teenagers from the previous picture found the chalk. What was left of it and .... well you can see. Some pretty good talent, but I am glad that it washes away. Boy mom suggested that we should convince the gangs to switch to sidewalk chalk for easy clean up.

Little Lil' needed a girly companion so we called up cousin Meg and enjoyed a long ride in the bike trailer after a day of playing together.

Now everyone back to their own homes a moment to plant "bunches of pansies", Milo is my gardening buddy. He does a great job. I just love these flowers.

Now if I can keepem' watered.

Hopefully spring will say for a few more weeks.

Seeing the new growth and planting flowers was the perfect ending to the cold beginings of the break.

What is under your couch?

I took a few days off to go and play and have fun with the kids. Yeah aren't you so excited for me? Darn that weather! No camping, no hiking, or playing outside unless I dig out the snow clothes that I packed away several weeks ago. I think it has snowed three times since. I pray for spring, please pray with me.





Anyhoo.... since I was stuck inside for spring break I decided to do a little spring cleaning. I rinsed and disinfected the humidifiers , cleaned storage buckets for the pantry, and cleaned under the couch!





Clean under the couch? Crazy I know! I usually try to tackle this task once a week. Due to the many other motherly tasks I attend to, I had not swept under the couch for a long while.

Are you amazed? I wasn't. We have a large sectional couch placed on hardwood floors. I always find such treasures under the couch, just unusually not this much.

I decided that this little pile reminded me of those search and find jars you can make with little trinkets and beans or rice in a glass jar. Fun stuff. What do you see? Is there anything worth saving? My husband would say, " Hell no, throw it all away!" Not me, there might be something important in that pile of dirt, dust and lint. Isn't that what moms do? Continually pick up all the lost items and put them back where they belong!

Same pile minus the dirt,dust and lint.

Good thing we also have a brush. Lil' obviously was the winner of most of the treasures I found. I have no idea which puzzle the 3 pink puzzle pieces go to. Lil' has 4 princess puzzles that came as a set and each set has the same lovely princess pink pieces. I guess I'll be putting together puzzles. The things we do.