Perfection

Couldn't have happened to two more beautiful people...inside and out.
Congratulations, Thompson and Jen... and thanks again for giving us a wonderful excuse to get out of town for a few days!

Ellie's Birthday

For Ellie's 6th birthday, we had a rock star party. That's right. I had a bunch of Hannah Montanas running around my house shooting music videos and putting tattoos on their faces and arms. We had a great time!

The guitar "shape" was as far as I got for the cake. Considering the fact that I started baking 45 minutes before her party started,

I'm pretty impressd with myself!

Happy Birthday, Dad

Happy Birthday to a man whom I have always been proud to call my Dad. Thinking of you and hugging you a little tighter on your special day this year, even all the way from Virginia. XOXO

Carpenters in Virginia

Pictures now, story later!

The Decline....

I realized the other night that something I value has become non-existent. I was in the bathroom at 1am the other morning uh- using the bathroom- when the door creaks open (we live in an old house.) From the darkness I see two eyes and a bink (pacifier) staring back at me. In walks my 18 month old, summoned from a deep sleep by who knows what. He stands expectantly in front of the toilet, demanding my full and immediate attention. I...finish...and take him back to bed. My bed. Because once he is up, his bed becomes toxic to him for some reason. Is he a good guest? No, he is not. He hogs my pillow, kicks off my covers and gloms onto me like a monkey backpack.

While lying in bed with said chimp firmly attached to my back, I realize that I have lost any privacy or right to it. If I'm in the bathroom, I might as well hand out printed invitations to my kids that say, "COME ON IN!" If I'm on the phone, the kids either need a snack right that minute, or Ellie thinks I am talking about her which leads her to say, "Who are you talking to and what are they saying?" I can keep going, but I won't. I'll just chalk this up to another thing I'll miss when my kids are older and out of the house....and I get my privacy back. (Cue "Slipping Through My Fingers" on my playlist.)

For those of you who get to go into the bathroom alone, enjoy it and consider yourself lucky!

February into March.....A Retrospective

Isn't that a fancy way for saying "I've been a slacker and haven't posted anything new in quite awhile?" Here goes....


Our friend David Bonds invited us to his Naval re-enlistment ceremony down in Yorktown. I sure felt fortunate to be able to witness it and I'm so thankful to men like him who put their lives on the line for all of us. Not to mention his wife and family who make monumental sacrifices of their own for our freedoms.

This is a bubba in training if I EVER saw one!

He is wearing is "Troy Boyton" shirt a la High School Musical.

Our annual Virginia snowstorm. It only snows for a day, although this year the snow actually stuck around for a few days, which is unusual.

This is Stosh, our neighbor from down the road. He couldn't wait for the snowplows so he plowed the road himself! Yep, that's our post office in the back. Cute, huh?

Walnut trees in the back yard

PTA Snow Boogie at Ellie's school

Trouble. Definite trouble.

Ellie (in tie-dye) and her crew

First lost tooth!


My mom. She'll kill me for posting this, but I love this picture.
I have the best Mom in the world.

Ellie eating seaweed down at the cottage. Again.

Huddy assuming his usual position. Pouncing.

My little wonderboy.

Ellie and Connor, jellyfish wrangling.

Beautiful day down at the cottage.