10 years

When Tim and I began dating I was 19 yrs. old and still living at home. One day my dad walked in the room to see me trying to program a phone number in the cordless phone. We had just started dating, and my dad made an ugly comment something to the effect of he didn't understand why I was programming his number in the phone, he's only temporary. This infuriated me, and to just irritate me more, my dad and brothers began to call him "temporary Tim".....

.....Well Dad, if you're reading this, we've made it 10 years (12 yrs. since that incident)--so, I'm thinking you were wrong with the whole temporary thing! Ten years! I can't believe it.

When I was a little girl, I used to dream about getting married and having a family of my own. I'm living that dream (only sometimes it's a little LESS dream like than I had envisioned :)...and I can't imagine sharing my life with anyone else!!! I feel like we have kinda "grown up" together. You are the best thing that's ever happened to me. You are the most patient, loving, and kind husband and father a girl could ask for. Thank you. I'm looking forward to spending the next 10 50 years together. Now we're off on a little getaway to take a break from the kiddos and enjoy some alone time together. Thanks mom and grammie for watching the kids!!!!!!

Oh, and mom, I'm expecting a picture of Tim and I in the Sunday paper. ha ha! (I always said that I was gonna put our picture in the paper if we made it 10 years)

Mother's Day

I can't imagine my life without these children it it. So much of who I am is defined by being "mom". This Mother's Day I feel so blessed to have such beautiful, happy, and healthy children. I love you Caroline, Will, and Jack!

Happy Rainy Easter!

Rain can't spoil our Easter fun! This year the Easter bunny hid eggs on our screened in porch because of the rain. So....when we got up, we headed out to hunt for eggs. Then we went inside to check out our treasures. Later in the morning, Tim looked outside and saw eggs in the front yard too!!!! We have no idea how they got there, because we were just sure that the Easter bunny only hid eggs on the porch. Hmm.....such a mystery. Of course we collected those eggs in the rain--and had a blast!

Spring Break, and we're sick already

I was so pumped about today being my last day of work before spring break.....Then I picked up my kids. The boys BOTH have fever. Ugh! What a way to start our break. I guess we'll be headed to the clinic in the morning. I'm guessing they probably both have strep throat because Caroline had it last week. The story of my life!!

Thank goodness for Monday!

Thank you Martin Luther King Jr......Not just for being a civil rights activist, but for having a National Holiday in your honor--meaning no work for me!!! Yay!

Not only am I off work tomorrow, but I have cafeteria duty on Mondays. Meaning only duty ONE day for me this week.....even better!

Merry Christmas

We had such a fabulous Christmas! Thank you to all of our family for all of the fun stuff. The kids are still as happy as can be playing with all of their new things! I'll take pictures soon of them playing with all of thier new stuff.

Traditions...

What a fun year to start some new Christmas Traditions. The kids are at the perfect age to understand the joy and excitement of Christmas.
This is Paco, our Elf on the Shelf. If you don't know about this cute little tradition, check out the link. We had such a great time with him this year! The kids were obsessed with him. Every morning the kids would jump out of bed to see where Paco had moved to. They did lots of "confessing" to Paco and asking him to ask Santa to forgive them. So funny!We also figured the kids were big enough this year to start the yearly viewing of Rudolf and the Island of the Misfit Toys. Tim wanted to start this each year. He has fond memories as a child of gathering with his family and watching this Christmas Classic. I had idealistic expectations......We would drink hot cocoa and snuggle in front of the TV. WRONG!!! Everyone spilled their cocoa, and were sticky from head to toe. Then they all fought and cried about who was gonna sit on mommy's lap. Too bad I don't have Three knees! It was pretty chaotic, but we finally settled down for the movie.......when there was only 14 minutes left!!! Maybe next year.

We made cookies for Santa, and the kids decorated them. Notice Will didn't have time to sprinkle sugar on them, he was too busy eating them as fast as he could!!!

Tinker Bells

Today we put up the small tree in the playroom and all their stockings. Let's just say that it got them in the holiday spirit. Check out the video below. They are all "on their stage" holding bell ornaments and SCREAMING the song, "Tinker Bells." It was so funny. It ended up just being a shouting match between the three of them--well, mostly Jack and Caroline. Too funny. Oh, and don't pay too much attention to their eclectic Sunday attire. Ha ha!

'Tis the Season

Tim and I braved the crowd and went shopping the day after Thanksgiving. We went later in the morning, so it wasn't as crazy as I was expecting. We did get a few good deals on some gifts for the kids. The highlight of the adventure was lunch together......alone. Doesn't happen very often.

Then Friday night we put up the tree and I took some pics. of the kids in their Christmas pj's for our Christmas cards. Quite the eventful night.

The kids were really interested in the tree and ornaments this year. They intently watched as I unwrapped each ornament and wanted to know where I got it and who gave it to us. Every unbreakable ornament we own is on the bottom of the tree, placed carefully with love by one of these three little monkeys. Needless to say, the finished product is VERY bottom heavy.

This is an out-take from our little photo shoot.

Thankful

This Thanksgiving I had so much to be thankful for.......and my family happens to be at the top of that list!

Trick or Treat!