A Year in Review

Cindy at My Romantic Home is doing A Year in Review. This blog is very new, so I don't have many pictures yet but I still wanted to join the party, so here is my mosaic.


I hope this link to her blog works.

Happy Anniversary, John

It's been fifteen years since this picture was taken at the World Famous Chapel of the Bells in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Our physical appearances may have changed, but our relationship hasn't. You are still my knight in shining armor. You come to my rescue if you are down the street or if you are in Haiti.
Your faith in me is enormous and completely unwarranted. You have put up with all my crazy ideas and supported all of my many failures. From selling Mary Kay to writing children’s books to getting a nursing license to selling real estate, you always said that one day I would hit it. Whether I do or not is unimportant. The beauty is in the hope, faith, and effort. I hope the kids have learned this. I would rather see them try one hundred times and fail than never to try one thing at all.
You have given me enough love and support that it no longer matters what anyone else thinks.
We are the stupidest people on earth with regards to our finances. We could make Suze Orman go bald and Dave Ramsey curse. And I don’t even care. We are old and in debt. But gosh, we have had fun and seen some great things. I hope to see a lot more and meet a lot more interesting people. Remember that lady in New Mexico? She was great.
You run out for milk any time, day or night.
You help with the dishes.
But, what really epitomizes the kind of person you are and how you treat me, when we are laying in bed late at night, watching television, and I say, "I don't want my gum anymore", you hold out your hand.

Sweetie Pie

We recently got to spend the evening with some close friends, Mike and Tonya. They have a precious four year old daughter, Monafia. Spending time with a little one makes you aware of things that you took for granted when yours were that age.


They not only let you take their picture, they will hold a "cheeeeeese" for as long as necessary.
They will let you put shiny black patent leather shoes on their feet and dress them in black velvet dresses with matching tights.
They will let you put sparkly barretts in their hair.
They will let you pick them up and you can!
They will let you kiss that incredibly soft little neck that smells like heaven.

So, if you have a child going through the "terrible twos" or "terrible threes", get out a camera and pick them up and bury your face in that neck and take a big, long, sniff.

I like this picture better

We always crack ourselves up over nothing.

How to Get Your Scrapbook Made For You

Step 1: When your relatives walk through the door, nonchalantly take each one of their pictures with your digital camera.

Step 2: Quickly print each picture with your cheap, little photo printer, being very careful not to tell them why you are doing this, lest they try to escape.

Step 3: Feed them well so that they are too full to run.

Step 4: Quietly clean the dinner mess off of the kitchen table.

Step 5: Wake them all up from their after-dinner naps and drag them kicking and screaming back to the kitchen table.

Step 6: Get out all your scrapbooking stuff.

Step 7: Force them to make their own pages.

Step 8: Enjoy your completed scrapbook.

Mom Made Me a Quilt

I know your mother making you a quilt does not seem very postworthy. Those of you who know my mother, however, fell out of your computer chairs as soon as you read the title of this post. My mother is not a very crafty person to begin with, plus she works an 8-12 hour swing shift at P&G. So you can understand my surprise when I opened it and the sentimental value it holds. Also, it's really cute isn't it?

Another Bad Idea

Don't you love it when they groan at "another one of mom's ideas" and then it turns out this adorable? What could be more precious than matching jammies on Christmas day?

No Cookies This Year

Every year, I proclaim that this is the year that I am not making a bunch of Christmas cookies. We don't need them and it is a lot of work. This is what inevitably happens. It starts out innocent enough, maybe I'll just make a few of those kiss cookies that Heath likes. Then, just one batch of the cut-out cookies that my brother likes. While I'm at it, those Italian wedding cookies are Granny Grump and Kristen's favorite (mine, too) and it will only take a few minutes longer. By the end of the day, this is what I have. Oh, and I found an Italian cheesecake recipe on the internet I've been wanting to try out...and since there will be some discriminating cheesecake tasters here tomorrow...

One of the many things I love about my husband, he sees how busy I am baking and offers to wash the dishes in between batches so that I don't have to. There is something about seeing a man do the dishes. Doesn't it make your hearts sing ladies?

Snowmen are HOT!

I just got this sweet fellow. I had to have him. He is all sparkly, with little jewels all over him that reflect his multi-colored twinkle lights. This picture doesn't do him justice. He looks better from a distance. It's okay little guy, I look better from a distance too.

I've had this big guy for a long time. We go way back. He has spent every Christmas in my foyer for several years. I purchased him at the big craft show Lakota East puts on every year. The twinkle lights in his wreath finally gave out, so I tried to re-string it, but I made the mistake of using white instead of green. I'll pick up a strand of green next time I go out. I know you're not worried, big fella, you're secure enough in your manhood.

Aren't They Gorgeous?

Aren't they gorgeous? I mean really a handsome couple. This is my son Heath and his wife Kristen. They have been married a little over 2 years. Everyone at the wedding said they were going to make some beautiful babies and I agree. And I can't wait, which is no secret. No pressure though. They are really good, together people, too. I am so proud of them. Merry Christmas, I love you guys.

The "Twilight" Series

If you have a daughter between the ages of 10 and 30, you have undoubtedly heard of the "Twilight" movie. It is a modern day vampire/love story. My daughters, ages 17 and 23 have been to see it 3 times. I went to see it once and I just didn't "get it". Meaning, I didn't understand the draw, the attraction, what makes a person pay $9.75 x 3. What the "Twilight" movie did do for me, however, was the joy of watching my daughters get into reading again and, let me tell you, that is worth the price of admission. Stephenie Meyer is the author of "Twilight" and she has also written 3 other books, sequels to it. My daughters have both purchased all 3 of these books and have finished 2 of them! This is saying a lot since my oldest daughter does not enjoy, nor seems to have the time to read. These are not little books either. Breaking Dawn is 754 pages. So, Stephenie Meyer, here is a jumping high five to you, "uhh"!

This sign makes me smile

This is an intersection that is about a half mile or so up the street from me. Wouldn't it be great to live on the corner of Grinn and Barret? You would have to laugh every time you told someone. I hope this picture makes you smile too.

Happy Birthday Popsicle

When Emily was little, I used to call her Popsicle because she was really sweet and kinda cool. Now it's reversed, she's really cool and kinda sweet. Happy 17th Birthday, Baby!

Reverse Buyer's Remorse

I love this necklace. I bought it at Kohl's for $21.oo. It's a sparkly little cubic zirconia snowman with a silver hat and scarf. I like it more every day. I wear it all the time. I'll be sad when winter is over and I have to stop wearing it. I told my daughter this and she said, "Don't you just love reverse buyer's remorse?" Yeah, I really do!

What I love about Christmas

candles on the mantle

the tree in the living room

Santa in the hallway

and scarves to hide my waddle.