Happy 3rd Birthday!

Today is Adam's 3rd birthday! Unfortunately he had a grumpy start to his day, but hopefully he will be a bundle of joy when he gets home :) We brought cupcakes to daycare, so about snack time he should cheer up! lol Tonight is pizza, cake and presents at home as a family.

Happy Birthday Adam!

We love you!

Wordless Wednesday: Ice Cream Mustache & Gotee!

Scout Party & Hayride

On Sunday Brendan had a Scout Fall Party & Hayride to go to. It was at the Pack leader's farm, and the boys had a blast!

The big barn had a loft that was set up with tables & chairs, basketball hoop, magnetic darts, and strings of lights all over. Out one of the top windows of the barn was a slide! How fun!

They picked corn to feed the horses. They thought it was a fun activity, even though they were doing work on the farm to help their leader ;)

After the meal, as it started to get dark they played a few games. The favorite game by far was the flour fight! Each kid (and adult) had a panty hose filled with flour and they ran around whacking each other with it.

Then they went on a hayride around the farm.

It was a great time. Brendan and Adam both had so much fun!

Menu Plan Monday (on Tuesday, Oops!)

Oops! Forgot to post this yesterday. Here's our menu plan for this week:

MONDAY: Goulash (I think different people called different things goulash, in our case this is macaroni or rotini noodles, ground hamburger and tomato soup/sauce mixed).

TUESDAY: Was going to be a chicken dish, but now we have parent-teacher conferences right at dinner time, so we'll probably just eat leftovers.

WEDNESDAY: Old Bay Pork Chops (we didn't end up doing these last week)

THURSDAY: leftovers

FRIDAY: Pizza & Birthday cupcakes (Adam's 3rd b-day!)

SATURDAY & SUNDAY: On your own (I will be gone at a Scrapbook retreat, woohoo!)

School Picture

Brendan's school pictures came back today, just thought I'd share real quick. I think they turned out pretty good! The fact that he cut a chunk out of his bangs and we had to take him to get his hair buzzed the night before school pictures actually turned out fine! lol

Cats & Rainbows

Last Tuesday my mom's cat, Neko, died. We got that cat while I was still living at home, my sister and I had to beg and plead to get him. At the time, my mom hated cats. She wanted nothing to do with them. She would jokingly say "I love cats...dead ones". (Be careful what you wish for, huh?). But eventually she agreed to let us bring this cat home. (we were older by then and had powers of persuasion. lol) It was actually a kitten from Joe's cat at his parents' house. She made us promise that "the last one out takes the cat". Anyway, over the next couple years my mom fell completely in love with Neko. We all did. He was so funny and cute and loving. My sister moved out and got married, I moved out and got married, and by then she was saying "the cat stays with me". My dad moved out and got married (long story). Through all of that she had Neko by her side. I'm sure that he was a huge factor in her getting through the divorce. He has been her buddy, her "child", her best friend, and her roommate for so many years now. But recently he was getting very sick, not eating, not drinking, not going to the litter box, and had fluid building up in his belly. They drained a liter of fluid, and it was back a few days later. He was diagnosed with FIP and the vet strongly encouraged my mom to have Neko put to sleep. She struggled with that decision, as she didn't want to "kill" him, but didn't want him in pain either. And the vet said he would die soon on his own anyway. So, after many tears she went ahead and followed the vet's advice. That was last Tuesday. I am somewhat sad about him being dead, but I am much more sad knowing how much she loved him and misses him and all the ways it affects my mom. I think to her, this is like losing a child. Goodbye Neko, we will miss you.

On a happier note, I went with her to the Humane Society on Sunday, and she picked out two new kittens. They won't replace Neko, but hopefully they will help fill the void in some ways.

While I was there, I asked about the other 2 kittens that we are supposed to be getting (see earlier post for that story) and the lady said they are doing fine, but still not big enough to neuter yet, so we will have to wait awhile longer to bring them home. The boys are sure anxious to see them.

One last tidbit to share...this morning when I pulled into the parking lot at work, there was a huge, beautiful double rainbow in the sky- it went a full arch. I could only get a small fraction of it in the photo, but it went all the way across the sky. The photo doesn't even come close to doing it justice (it was still kinda dark outside too), but thought I'd share anyway...

Menu Plan Monday

Here's our menu plan for this week:

MONDAY: Chili

TUESDAY: Chicken & Veggie Casserole

WEDNESDAY: Chicken Quesedillas

THURSDAY: leftovers

FRIDAY: Pizza/Family night

SATURDAY: Old Bay Pork Chops

SUNDAY: Skillet Fajitas

We're Back!

Well, we are back from our weekend celebration for our 10 year anniversary. Things started out a little crazy...Brendan got sick earlier in the week, with a high temperature. He ended up home from school Wed & Thursday. Joe took him to the doctor Thursday morning, because we were supposed to be taking the boys to my mom's house that night. They tested for strep, ear infection, etc and finally said it was just a virus and we'd have to wait it out. So, since my mom insisted that we still bring the boys and still go on our trip, we did. The next morning as we were heading out the door for our trip, the doctor's office called. Turns out they let the culture sit overnight, and by morning his strep test was actually positive. At this point he had already been at my mom's all night! So, the nurse called the prescription into a pharmacy near my mom's house, and we called Mom to let her know what had happened. She agreed to go pick up his prescription. I just hope my mom doesn't catch the strep...she has MS and doesn't need anything like that to wear her down! I feel so terrible :( She didn't have the boys the whole time, but she did for a day and a half before my dad & his wife took them. By then he had been on antibiotics and wasn't contagious anymore.

But, that aside, Joe and I had a very nice little trip together. The hotel we stayed in was nice, and we had a jacuzzi, kitchen, deck, etc. The first evening we went to an amusement park that is lit up after dark. We rode a few rollercoasters and such that we normally cannot ride when the boys are with us. We played mini golf in the amusement park too, and ate at a 50's themed diner. Then, just before the park closes they do a fireworks & lazer light show (which is the real reason we were there).

The next day we went out to breakfast at a pancake house, and then stopped by the Winery for the free tour and wine tasting. We ended up buying a few bottles, and a bottle of sparkling raspberry juice for the boys.

We hung out in our hotel room for a little while, watched some home improvement shows on HGTV (we love those, and we don't have cable at home), sat out on our deck, and relaxed for a little bit.

That evening we ate at a fairly fancy Italian restaurant, and the food was SO YUMMY!!! We are very casual people, and I don't think we've ever eaten at a fancy restaurant, so we were clueless when the waitress brought out a scoop of butter after the appetizer. We're both looking at it thinking, what do we need a scoop of butter for? Then we saw that there was a little spoon and we're thinking, okay, maybe this is not butter, why is there a spoon? So finally Joe gets up the nerve to taste it, and it was sorbet to cleanse our pallette before the main dish! LOL! We felt really stupid. So, we ate it, and it was yummy! Shows how much we know about being "fancy", huh? LMAO. The waitress was nice enough to take our picture before we left.

After dinner, we headed down by the lake. We were on our way to the landing when we saw a scenic area and the sun setting, so we stopped and walked by the water and took a couple pictures.

Then we headed on to the landing area, to go to a dueling piano bar. It was fun, and the guys playing/singing were really good.

After hanging out and having a few drinks, we then walked along the boardwalk down by the water. There was a really neat fountain that shot up water in a neat pattern, and had different colored lights and such. We watched that for a few minutes, and enjoyed a night walk along the boardwalk before heading back to the hotel.

All in all we had a wonderful time celebrating together! I'm so glad we took the time out for the two of us to relax and enjoy.

10 Years Ago Today

Today is our 10 year wedding anniversary! We've actually been together for 15 years, but married for 10 of those years.

How we met:

We both worked at a Ponderosa Steakhouse together when I was in high school. Joe was a waiter and I worked the buffet. We worked a lot of the same nights, and eventually we started talking a little after work. Sometimes he even rubbed my feet while we waited for the managers to check our sections so we could leave. We have a LOT of fun memories from ours days at Ponderosa. There was just something about that place...many couples got together working there and many of them are still together today!

Our first date:
I was 16, about to turn 17, and he was 3 years older than me. One night after work he asked me if I wanted to go get some soup from Denny's with him. He said, "I'll buy if you drive". So, we went to Denny's together. I was so quiet and didn't really know what to talk about, and he kept joking with me about how quiet I was. But he thought it was cute the way I ordered chocolate milk (which became kind-of an inside joke for awhile). We both agreed that we didn't want to get into a long term relationship, and we'd just go out sometimes. But fate had something else in mind, because that was 15 years ago and we've been together ever since!

(Us at one of the many football games at my high school- I was on the poms squad and had to perform at half-time every home game. That's why I have sequins all over me, I don't normally make a habit of wearing sequins! LOL)



How he proposed:


In the summer of 1994, we took a trip to Jamaica. It was a beautiful place and a wonderful trip! There were several activities during the day, and beach parties in the evenings. One night while we were at one of the resort evening parties, Joe and I wandered off to the edge of the water. We sat on some rocks that jutted out into the water to talk and watch the sunset. Just as the sun was setting, Joe turned around, got on his knee and proposed! Of course I said yes! We didn't tell anyone right away, because we knew we would wait a few years before actually having the wedding, but we did ask my sister to take a couple pictures of us by where he asked me. She didn't know the significance of the photos, but we did!

(The scanned image above makes my eye look really funky for some reason, but you get the general idea! lol)

(snorkling in Jamaica, 1994)


Our wedding day:

Our wedding took place on October 4, 1997 in a park. I wore my mother's wedding dress, and my sister's veil. We were blessed with a beautiful, sunny, seventy-degree day for our outdoor ceremony. We did have a few little "mishaps", such as...


* the photographer showing up WAY early when my hair was still wet and we were still setting up and getting ready.


* Then while I was getting ready, someone had put my veil on the halogen lamp so it wouldn't get wrinkled. Forgetting it was there, my sister walked in and turned on the light. Within minutes the veil was smoking, but luckily only the underside was burnt, so it didn't show.


* And then at the beginning of the ceremony, the music was our cue to walk down the aisle, so we waited...and waited...and waited. It was then we realized the stereo system wasn't working. Our guests, also realizing what had happened began to giggle. So, we walked down the aisle in silence, and still had a wonderful wedding.


These are all just a few unique memories to add to our special day, and give us something to look back on and laugh!


The reception was held in a building there at the park. We had a BLAST! It was SO much fun with so many of our family members and friends. Both the wedding and reception were simple and modest, nothing too over the top or fancy...just the way we like it.


The "honeymoon":


We decided not to take a honeymoon. Instead, we stayed overnight at a nearby Bed & Breakfast, and used the money we would have spent on a honeymoon to put a down payment on buying our first house.


After the wedding recap:


late 1997/early 1998: We bought our first house.


2000: Our 1st son was born


2003: We sold the house and bought our current house on 10 wooded acres. We both have always wanted some property, so this was so exciting for us.


2004: Our 2nd son was born


2007: We celebrate 10 married years together (and the additional 5 years leading up to marriage too!)

(early 2006)

(Summer 2007)

What a great adventure it has been so far. I am excited to see what the next 60 or so years holds for us!

I will end for now with the poem that was read by my good friend at our wedding.


The Tapestry of Marriage


Marriage is a weaving together of two lives


A creation of passion, artistry and soul


Never imagine that the tapestry of marriage is complete


For as long as you live and breathe


It will continue to evolve into patterns more intricate and more marvelous than either of you could render by yourself


And so this work, this weaving, this marriage


Should never be taken for granted, but should be honored, nurtured and embraced


May your marriage be an ever-growing, ever-changing work of art


That weaves together and apart that which is true and alive in both of you.


-author unknown

This weekend, we shall celebrate! Be back soon...don't wait up for us ;)

(Watch for a new updated photo soon- we hope to get our picture taken as a couple for our 10 year anniversary within the next week.)

And if you happen to read this, Joe, Happy 10th Anniversary! I love you!

Happy Birthday to Hubby!

Wednesday is my husband's 35th birthday!

Happy Birthday Joe! I love you!

Menu Plan Monday & Pizza Casserole Recipe (for Carolyn)

Here's our menu plan for this week. It's a short/easy one because we will be doing lots of celebrating this week:

Monday= Beef & macaroni skillet dish (or wings & beer at Joe's co-worker's house if we stop by to see her pics from her 2-month backpacking trip in Europe)

Tuesday= Garlic Lime Chicken

Wednesday= Joe's birthday! Eat out at a steakhouse.

Thursday= Our 10 year wedding anniversary! We will be eating at Joe's work's fall picnic at the park (potluck)

Friday, Saturday, Sunday= Whatever the heck we feel like, we will be on a little trip (without the boys) celebrating our 10-year wedding anniversary, woohoo! Maybe a nice dinner out, maybe a nice dessert in *wink* LOL. Champagne, strawberries, chocolate, jacuzzi, candles...oh, getting off track here, sorry. heehee

And here's the Pizza Casserole recipe from a couple weeks ago that Carolyn asked for...

PIZZA CASSEROLE

1/2 lb. ground beef or sausage

1/2 c. chopped onion

1 8oz package macaroni

1 15oz can/jar pizza sauce

1/4 c. water

1 8oz can tomato sauce

1/2 tsp. garlic salt

1 pkg. pepperoni

2 c. mozzarella cheese, shredded

1 can mushrooms

Brown ground beef or sausage, drain. Add onions & sauce.Cook macaroni until tender, drain. Combine macaroni with ground beef or sausage, pizza sauce, water, tomato sauce, & garlic salt. Place in 9x13 pan, layering macaroni mixture with pepperoni, cheese, & mushrooms until all is used. Bake in 375 degree oven for 1/2 hour.