This is what Daddy and Viv did while Mom was gone. It was a great father/daughter day. Vivian asks to ride the pony and daddy does what she asks. Sucker.

He also lets her climb up to the hay loft. Umm....good idea, Dad????

Argh- lets get rid of the binky, shall we?????

Ally's birthday present!!

Al decided awhile back that she wanted to "redo'" her room for her birthday. I was all for it, since her room was a little dated. When I asked her what color she wanted to paint it, she said, "HOT PINK!". I asked, "Hot pink like bright and bold, or hot pink like soft and elegant". (There was no leading in that question, right??) She said she wanted it bright and bold. I told her that that color was hard to pull off, so we would have to see just how bold we could get it. We, then, went to visit Al's cousin over Christmas break, and she had a hot pink room!! It could be done without blinding whoever dared to enter!! So, we picked a color called, tropical smoothie, and went to town......

LOVE IT!!!!!

When I was checking out at Home Depot, the cashier asked me, "Are you painting ALL the walls that color?" I took that to mean it was too bright and overwhelming, in her opinion. I did get a little nervous at that point, but there was no turning back. I was so pleased with the outcome! And, yes, that IS the desk I refurbished. I finally got those "after" photos posted - only 5 months later......

I think I have a picture of Al's bedroom, before the transition. Our digital photos are a freaking mess, all unorganized on two different computers. (Anyone as unorganized as me????) If I find some, I will post before and after.

I will NEVER say that my husband is not romantic, ever again. (Well, at least for awhile :) For Valentine's Day, he took all the old, dusty disposable cameras we've had in our basement, from our wedding 12 years ago, and had them developed. I had long given up on those cameras. It was popular, then, to put these cameras on the tables - to let the guests help document the reception. We had some of them developed, but had quickly moved on from "honeymoon stage", to "new parents" very soon after the wedding. They got lost in the shuffle of life's transitions. We moved those cameras to 5 different houses since then. Imagine my surprise when Eric shows up with 13 packets of photos, last night!

As we were looking through some of the pictures, laughing at how young we all were, and remembering some of the people that we haven't seen in years, we came across photos that brought tears to our eyes. We've lost several people in the last 12 years, and there were their smiling faces in those photos!

I will share some of them, just because I want to. Very, very happy memories of the people we love so!




Here is a great picture of my beautiful sister in law! I love this picture of her.

This is McKenzi. She became my "mother's little helper" once I had the kids and Eric was off to Marine training. Her dad was also a Marine(you all know Jeff :), so she would come stay with me and help me. She is now driving and will be graduating from high school soon. WHAT?! But, wasn't it only yesterday, that she was dancing around at my wedding reception, wearing my veil????

Here is another they-grow-up-too-fast, baby. Payton is a toddler, here, but is now getting his learners permit and dating girls(sort of). Really?! Not even a little bit cool, him growing up like that. How dare he???? ;)

This is my friend, Katie, and her mom. MaryAnn is one we lost way too soon. My heart caught in my throat when I saw this picture.

Grandma and Grandpa. I was lucky enough to have them around, still, when I got married. Sure, there are photos in my wedding album, of the whole family. But here, they are dancing!! :) This is a very sweet picture - what a gift!

Thank you, my love, for not listening to me when I said, "Geez, I'm sure those cameras aren't even salvageable, anymore. Just throw them away." There is nothing money can buy that would be more special than these memories.

* But, don't let that stop you from surprising me with a Jeep Wrangler one day. Ha Ha!