Not to brag or anything, but Der and I have the best kids!
I love them so.
Through thick and thin.
Insert cliche about how they grow too damn fast.
I love catching him smile!
I’m one lucky gal!
Tag Archives: love
Crazy Daisies
My “get well” crazy daisies are still hanging tough, over a week after my sister took the boys to pick them out for me.
I love them. They are so bright and happy!
Filed under Everything else
Fun Father’s Day Craft 2012
For Father’s day the boys and I made Derek a handprint mobile. It turned out really cute.
At the beginning of the week I asked Der if I could trace his hand. Der happily obliged and never even asked me why. I guess he’s just used to me always creating something. At the time I wasn’t exactly sure what the finished idea was, all I knew was it had something to do with hands.
Der’s hand is on top, followed by mine, Jeremia’s, Conrad’s and finally Ami’s.
The boys and I each wrote our 5 favorite things about Der. One favorite thing on each finger.
That was harder for Conrad and Ami to do, since they still have chunky writing and small hands, so their favorite things spilled out onto their palms. It kind of made it look like a patched quilt, which I love.
After we each wrote our 5 favorite things, we colored the hands in. Then, I glued them each onto different colored card stock and cut them out so there would be a small colored border. I hole punched the top of the middle fingers and the bottom of the palms and connected them with ribbon.
I meant to take close-up photos of each hand, but Derek whisked it away to work, to hang in his office, before I got a chance.
On the back I simply wrote #1 DAD.
He absolutely loved it and the boys were proud of the finished product.
Filed under Celebrate, Feeling Fartsy, With Gratitude
And He’s Off
Our eldest son, Keegan, is off to the army!
We had a sendoff party for him. I didn’t take as many photos as I had planned. I somehow forgot to get a photo with Keegan and his granddad and twoshooze (grandma). I don’t know how that happened. I will have to make sure to get some when he comes home for a visit.
I don’t think I will be able to bare him in his uniform. I will be a blubbering mess, I am certain of it.
Here’s Keeg with me, Der, his great-grandma Chris, aunt Cami, uncle Craig, and cousin Cassie.
Keegan and his brothers. Taking photos of the 4 of them together is tough. They are all jokesters. When I would get 3 of them to make nice faces, inevitably one would have to be a goofball and make a funny face. I was literally begging them to cooperate. I think they secretly loved having me at their mercy.
As you can see, I did manage to get some sweet ones. They are all so handsome. I am so grateful for them. I have immeasurable love for them and appreciate how very different, yet similar they each are. For all of their bickering and fighting, it’s clear that they have mad love for each other and that warms my heart to the max.
After behaving for the camera, they let loose.
Our little boy, isn’t so little.
I love this one! His expression is perfect!
Never too old for mama’s love!
I don’t have words that adequately express my excitement and pride, with just a scoach of fear thrown in for our beautiful boy.
He is off to become a man. He is about to learn valuable skills that will serve him well throughout his life. He will travel and see the world and will make amazing memories. He will meet new people and forge bonds that will bear lifelong friendships. He will be pushed to grow mentally and physically and will tap into strengths he never knew he had.
I hope he comes back a stronger, wiser version of his already wonderful self. I hope he knows how much we love him and believe in him.
It will not be easy, but the best lessons in life never are.
We love you forever and always, Keegan, and can’t wait for your safe return!
Filed under Adventures, Celebrate, Family, Making Memories, Rodents aka kids, With Gratitude
Low-key
Saturday was what would have been Benny’s 11th Birthday.
We kept it low-key. Derek baked strawberry cupcakes and I decorated them with hearts, B’s, and piggies. My cake decorating skills could use some help, but I think Benny would have liked them just the same.
Please forgive the bad photos.
We visited my mom. She has a pond in her retirement community and there are tons of baby ducks right now. The boys caught some and we all got a chance to hold one. I had to use serious self-control not to put one or twelve in my purse.
Jeremia was there too, but he wasn’t up for having his picture taken.
Nothing makes me happy like holding baby animals.
Derek found a nest that had blown out of a tree. I now have 3.
Then we spent some time with my sister and her family. The boys LOVE their house and not just because they have a pool.
Uncle Craig launched Conrad into the air. C-rad kept saying “again, again”.
Kersplash!
We’re lucky enough to have Piper for a visit again. I love the look on her face.
Not a day goes by that the boys don’t make me laugh one way or another.
It would have been easy to lay around and feel sorry for myself, because Benny should be here. He’s not and there’s not a damn thing I can do about it. Instead of wallowing, we had adventures, did family stuff and had fun. I think it’s how Benny would want it.
Never forget-Boy that Benny sure is cute!
Filed under Adventures, Family, Making Memories, Natural Happenings, Rodents aka kids
New and Improved Bugtopi-O
Remember the old Bugtopi-O?
This one is cooler.
It has a jungle and cars and rock houses. The only problem is the bugs keep escaping.
My favorite thing about it wasn’t the island itself, but sitting around and talking about it, and watching Jeremia and Der joke around about it.
I am so grateful the boys have a father they can be proud of-one that spends quality time with them, provides for them and loves them unconditionally! They have no idea how lucky they are. They think all kids have doting dads. Cheers to all of the amazing fathers out there!
Filed under Family, Making Memories, With Gratitude
Mother’s Day 2012
Another great Mother’s Day from my lovely guys!
Oh-so-sweet Der made me breakfast in bed.
He went to the store before I woke up and picked up enough breakfast food to feed an army. He made me eggs, turkey bacon, a bagel with cream cheese and a half cantaloupe full of berries, grapes and melons. Luckily the boys helped me eat it, because that was a TON of food!
The boys picked out these gorgeous flowers for me. I love, love, love orange!
They also got me a cool iPhone case and basket to go on the bicycle I got for my birthday! Pictures of that to come…eventually.
I am spoiled rotten and couldn’t ask for a better family!
Filed under Celebrate, With Gratitude
Moonie
My happy little Moon cacti.
They sit right outside my kitchen window. I loved them already, but when I googled them to see what they were called, I fell deeper.
We used to call Benny “Moonie”, Der always called him “Moonman” and I sometimes called him “Mooniebird”. Truthfully he had a ton of nicknames, but this one stuck because his head was perfectly round and reminded Der of the moon.
Now whenever I stand at the kitchen sink and see these beauties, I will think of our beautiful Mr. Moon.
Oh how I miss rubbing that gorgeous noggin.
Filed under Amazeballs, Brain Stew, Kids, Let's make things pretty., Natural Happenings
Pity Party Complete
I slept super late. Hid from the world. Cried periodically through the day. Held a mini pity party. Let myself feel what I needed to feel without scolding or judging. Stayed under my rock for a little bit and then came out to enjoy a nice evening with my family and our dear friend Greb, who took us out to dinner. Thanks Greb!
I received tons of sweet birthday wishes, with words of warmth and kindness, from friends and family and feel accepted and loved.
Thanks to Der and the boys for my awesome new bicycle!
Der made me a delicious carrot cake and amused me with his creativity. I just love creative minds!
I love the banner. It’s simple and sweet and I know it was made with lots of love. It’s a piece of card stock taped to a drinking straw and stuck in the cake. I think that’s brilliant!
I am a very lucky girl!
Filed under Everything else
Congratulations Burr And Andy
Last weekend Der and I were lucky enough to attend our dear friends Amber and Andy‘s wedding. Everything about this wedding was gorgeous! The bride, the groom, the food, the flowers, the people, the dancing were all amazing. We had the most grown up fun we’ve had in a long time.
I snapped some shots on my iPhone to share with you all.
Here’s Der and I all dressed up with someplace to go. Thanks Keegan for watching your brothers and for taking this photo.
This picture does not even come close to doing justice to Burr or her divine dress.
Photos were taken of Burr, Andy, Derek and I together, but not with my phone so I don’t have any to share….yet.
Amber said what these flowers are called, but I cannot remember. They were so pretty and perfect.
I would like to draw your attention to the number of glasses. There was more alcohol served with dinner than I usually drink in a decade. Not included in this picture are the margaritas served at cocktail hour after the ceremony or the shot of tequila (yikes) I took with Andy. Needless to say I was pretty snockered by the end of the night. I may or may not have still been a touch drunk the next morning.
The food! Andy and Burr both have exquisite taste, also Andy is a chef so we knew the food would be “smack your mama” good. We weren’t disappointed.
That right there is caviar served in the top of an eggshell. The bottom of the shell is full of butter and hollandaise. It was almost too beautiful to eat…almost. I have had caviar before, but it was nothing like this. This was a party in my mouth. Adding to the party was that giant shot of vodka. I think it was pretty clear that Burr and Andy had every intention of spoiling us AND getting us drunk.
The second course was a divine salad that I inhaled before I remembered to take a picture. What I can tell you is that is was beautiful and delicious.
We chose beef for our main course. It was oxtail, cauliflower mousseline, crispy cauliflower crowned with asparagus tips and reduction sauce-as read off of the menu. All I can say is that I died, went to heaven and came back for more, after the first bite, and it only got better.
And then came dessert, as if I had any room in my belly.
I don’t know what any of the four desserts was called, but they were fantastic.
On top of all that there was a gorgeous wedding cake that I was too stuffed to taste. I think if I had attempted to eat another crumb, I would have burst right then and there, no lie.
It was a spectacular evening full of beauty, grace, poignancy, and love. I am grateful for having such wonderful souls in our lives. Thank you Burr and Andy for allowing us to share in such a special day. We love you to the max!
Filed under Amazeballs, Celebrate, Everything else, Get In My Belly, Making Memories, With Gratitude
Bennylove follow journals of our greatest struggle
Bennylove the aftermath follow journals of how we coped with our deepest loss
