Had to celebrate with an iced cookie - of course!
Vera Bradley Java Blue ~ I love the vibrant combination!
Troy shocked me with these! What a nice surprise!
What a special birthday it was! For a "celebration," I asked Troy to take the night off work, and all four of us be together. (He usually does not get home until 9 or 10.) My greatest gift in life is a loving family, and I especially wanted to be with them. Troy picked up a favorite - pizza & breadsticks, topped off with a colossal cookie. (Healthy way to begin a new decade! :-) It was fun to finally open all the cards and gifts that had been tempting me. We ended the evening by playing some games.
Thanks to all three of my men for a wonderful evening!
"Hello. Hello. Testing. Testing." Pardon me as I test my thirty year old voice! As of 11:10 last night, it is official. Aren't you impressed with the thirty year maturity you are now sensing?! (Cough. Cough.) Notice how hard I am working and not posting or reading blogs or commenting. Especially not commenting. I even wrote it on my calendar to remind myself of the new found maturity I possess. I am diligently working on bills, correspondence, homeschool grading, needed phone calls, but most of all, I am not posting or blogging or reading blogs or commenting. Especially not commenting. I desperately want to post a picture of my Vera Bradley tote, but I am not. I am not even writing about it. See? Not even about the excitement and fun from last night. Not even the dozen roses I received. Nope. I am too busy working like a mature thirty year old would. Aren't you impressed with me? No more sarcasm, funny jokes, silly comments. All maturity and seriousness. Not even mentioning the Vera Bradley bag! Nope. Too busy. Not even posting a picture of the beautiful teal and brown colors! Nope. Too busy. Oh, where did I place my camera?!
Today, January 29, is the day I actually turn 30.
I am not sure what to think. . .
That is probably due to the fact I have a cold, and my mind is a little foggy.
Thank you for all the kind wishes.
and they mean a lot to me.
To all of you - - - best wishes for a happy Monday!
6 mo - Look at those chubby cheeks!
My little (?) 9 lb 13 oz baby turns seven years old today! I never imagined my heart could love someone so much! Seth is my "cuddle bug" who is always ready for a hug but gives them just as quickly. He is all boy with his love for rocks, sticks, snakes, bugs, basketball. . . He is very strong willed but has a soft heart underneath that will. We are always finding the sweetest letters and compliments from him, and he really knows how to brighten our day. He is my knight and can't wait to protect me from some "bad guy." :-) He is a good student in school and is excelling on the piano. I am so proud of you, Seth!
I love you very much, Buddy, and I am so happy to be your Mommy. Have a happy birthday!
Poor guy was not feeling well, so we cancelled the party.
chicken, baked mac/cheese, green beans, bread and strawberries.
Seth was excited and proud to match his Daddy!
"Why does you have yours window hanging on the wall?"
"Well. . .I thought it looked neat that way."
"I don't." The conversation continued in this direction, and I had to chuckle at his brutal honesty. Do you recall some of your childhood opinions? I certainly do - all too well! Ha.
Well, another birthday party tomorrow (Seth's), so I am off to start preparing.
Have a relaxing Friday evening.
Okay, Sarah, I get your point!
You are correct! Here is my early morning table.
My little "knight" was happy to have more companions today.
I believe he was pretending to be "Peter" from the Chronicles of Narnia.
I consumed far too many in the first hour!
New friend, Shannon Webb, visited for a couple of hours.
And all the other tasks involved with running a house. . . It's just us today.
The difference is that today happens to be our 100th day of school, so I am attempting to have a special time with Seth. As soon as the baby goes to sleep. . .
Pictured is the cute little group that found themselves at my table - - - early this morning. Busy, busy Monday. . . My "quiver" is doubled until five o'clock this evening, and the kids are having a great time.
Fact - Can sometimes be seen in a group called a "Parliament." Um. . .not sure, but I do have 100 choices in front of me!
Fact - Has eyes at the end of its arms. Hmmm. . .I think we can safely eliminate the whales, sharks, snakes. . .
Fact - Was sacred to the ancient Egyptians. Let's see, it's definitely not the polar bear!
2. An octopus has three hearts.
3. The mosquito has been responsible for more human deaths than any other animal after man.
4. The archer fish shoots prey with a squirt of water.
5. The peregrine falcon is one of the world's fastest animals and can swoop at up to 217 MPH.
1. A 10 ft komodo dragon?
2. A giant salamander which can grow up to 5 ft 11 in long?
3. The world's longest snake, reticulated python, with one specimen growing up to 32 ft?
This piece was purchased as a "going away" gift by our Ohio church. The room in which it is found is the master bath. To the left is the garden tub, and the mirror on the right is reflecting the opposite brown wall. I love brown/blue together!
This frame happens to be a yard sale treasure. I placed a wallpaper scrap that matches the dresser in the background of the photo. I always like to "connect" things in my own way.
Current project involves photo frames and buttons.
It should be posted it in a few days. Until then. . .
The "bad guys" are safely in jail!
Love the beard on this guy.
The "king and queen" in their simple castle.
This is called Middle Ages Meets Old West.
Yes, Angie, Ethan has you to thank for the latest Playmobil-Brio-train play land. (I even had the buzzards sitting on the carcass in the desert!) The poor child has been consistently asking for another castle, and I have not been in the mood to play Bob the Builder. Even the simplest of castles can take thirty minutes to assemble. Well, after reading Angie's Lincoln Log account, I was feeling rather guilty. So, Ethan ended up the recipient of a two hour full scale production from his mother. This one was so elaborate that I grabbed the video camera to record the reaction!
1 1/2 year old goofy boy watching a DVD.
Ethan has always liked construction hats, and he loved wearing these play goggles that were so big for his little face. I love the intense look.
Wow! It is hard to believe that my little (Well, he wasn't very little! :-) baby is now four years old! Thought you might enjoy some younger pictures of him.
Ethan has definitely been my "grace tester," but I cannot imagine life without him. He is very sweet and friendly in the morning and is always telling me how much he "wuvs" me. His personality is outgoing and friendly, and he consistently smiles and says, "hello" to people in public. He laughs easily and loves to be tickled. He will pick every dandelion, weed and flower in sight and present it to me accompanied with a smile. If I get hurt, he is always ready with a kiss and, "I am sorry, Mommy." Almost every time he receives something, I am grabbed in a huge hug, and he yells, "Thanks, Mom!!!!" Ethan loves to work and is very willing to do any job I give him. He has no fear, and I am sure he will break a few bones in his life. He is always climbing, jumping, sliding, rolling. . . He loves to have books read to him and thrives on playing "construction" - especially in the dirt. He has an incredible sense of timing, and will tap or "direct" any song right in rhythm. Best of all, he is my little man, and I know he loves me. He probably is the reason I am popping a few gray hairs, but I wouldn't trade him.
Another cookie! You know your mother-in-law loves you when she helps you indulge!
"Office/homeschool room" and now "guest room" = very little blogging. You will find yourself in this spot when you visit. I crept in here for a few minutes while everyone is in another part of the house. I have had so little time to even look at all of your blogs, and I did not get to check the news until now. I have been a bad girl and mainly scrolled through your pictures, and I am so glad Angie has a digital camera! :-) (Thanks, Santa Gene.) I will have to "catch up" on the reading. Between all the activities, dates, enjoying a "Girls Night Out" with my friend/neighbor (Kim Russo), Ethan's birthday celebration, working on getting a customized blog, and company in my computer room, I am afraid blogging will be off for a few more days.