'Twas the Night Before Christmas....

....and all through the house were these cute creatures who I happen to call my family. I know time is passing faster than I think it should, but for now I am so blessed to have the pitter patter of these feet among me. For they will grow, and they will go, but for today they are still mine.

Are You Ready for Some Football?

DPJ started tackle football this year. He now has full garb.....

.....And a full set of bruises to match!

1st Day of School 2008

Aren't they adorable:Yeah pictures are fine on your front porch. I barely had to threaten them for this shot:But all that changed when we pulled up to the school.

Not that this ritual is anything new, we've only done it every year since kindergarten, but this year I got the full, "MOM!" including (but not limited to) arms crossed in defiance, eyes rolling and huffs galore, when I pulled over and hopped out to take this shot:
You'd think I was dressed in a Hawaiian mu mu with curlers in my hair insisting on a big fat kiss right in front of their classroom! (OK, no mu mu, but surely a kiss for your mama!) Notice the ready to bolt stance DQ has taken. If this shot has not worked too bad the next one would have been her backside running away.....

I'm sure DQ thinks that I lay awake at night dreaming up new ways to completely embarrass her! (no..... but sometimes on the way home in the car my mind does wander..... tee hee)

Fell in Love with a Boy

A funny thing happened on the way to my friend's wedding. I met a boy and fell in love.

It's been a long four years. And I won't lie, it's not been the happily ever after ending I thought it would be.

He's not perfect - he says "What?" more often than not when responding to something I've said. He remembers things I wish he'd forget and forgets just about everything else. He's dirty. And I don't mean in a fun, deep husky voice "What are you wearing ?" kind of way. I mean he works hard for a living and he comes home filthy and spreads his love on everything he touches. But he makes me laugh and looks into my eyes and doesn't look away. He is truly the most patient man when it comes to dealing with me. It is the right combination of persistence and patience that he has with me that just works. Which is a feat. After all, I am a piece of work.

He's curious. Which means he tries things. I like that. Sometimes he fails, but other times he succeeds. Sometimes he takes my advice (although begrudgingly) and then sometimes he doesn't. But on a Saturday afternoon when I pull in the drive way and spy a beautiful new gate to the backyard staring back at me, one I said we didn't need, but never the less looks so beautiful I cannot find the words to complain, I am so grateful he doesn't always listen.

He tries, and he gets it wrong (A LOT) but then again, when I least expect it he gets it right. Wrapping his arms around me answering me, "Why? Because I love you and I need you. That's why." I'm just so thankful he never gives up.

Uplifting

*** So yes, I've been a very BAD blogger lately. So much to post..... hopefully in the next few weeks I will be posting a bunch of stuff, but I plan to back date it, so it won't show up in the latest..... yeah I'm kind of weird that way... sorry!

What a weekend! zoom-zoom broke down which killed the trip to Seattle (sorry auntie!). Figured we had one car in the shop, might we as well tear apart the other one right? I know great logic. Chris had ordered a lift kit, new shocks and new tires for the jeep and he could wait no longer so he said.....It took him and Seth two days under the Jeep (literally!) to install....









And now..... It's so high my chubby butt can barely get in and out of it..... but as you can see, Chris is VERY happy with how it turned out........ and also has to jump in and out! tee hee!

Too Sexy!

I'm too sexy for my shirt - too sexy for my shoes.... too sexy... yeah!

Chris can so rock the after eye appointment shades, don't you think? Originally he put the little rolled up film over his glasses and as he was rocking out in the optical shop lobby (singing My Future's so Bright with some air guitar thrown in for good measure) the assistant gently advised him that these were actually suppose to go BEHIND his glasses. Who would have known? So properly affixed he took this picture as confirmation of just how cool he is! Maybe his eyes were so dilated that he couldn't see what these shades *really* looked like! Hard to tell.

Doncha wish your Monkey Bread was HOT like mine? Doncha?

Now when Chris woke up to find me in the kitchen pulling this out of the oven he says,

"That is a one sweet hot piece of Love...." with a growl in his voice and a look in his eyes.....

......and here I thought he was talking about me.