10 YEARS

Today is our 10th Anniversary so to the man who has put up with me (and I him) for 10 years this post is for you:  

Darrell thank you for 10 years of laughs, hugs, good times and tough.  You are supportive, hardworking, loving, adventurous and challenging.  The next 10 years will take us into the land of teenagers and I expect it will be just as exciting as the first.  Love you more than dark chocolate, pretty coffee, trips to New York and matching underwear!

Darrell planned a trip to NYC to celebrate and my major request was that I wouldn't have to plan ANYTHING or navigate ANYWHERE.  I told him that I make about 2023 decisions everyday and I just wanted to go and someone else decide.  He did.

Our first stop was to 2 Thai restaurants.  The first one took one look at us and told us to leave (not kidding) so we went 2 blocks over and feasted on this:

We headed to Wall Street so Darrell could pose with the bull.

One of my favorite parts of the trip was the 9/11 memorial.  It was very touching and beautiful and reading the names was tough.  The new WTC building is behind Darrell.

We ate at 2 pizza places: one in Brooklyn and one in Greenwich.  I am not sure which is my favorite.  I pretty much love pizza any way I can get it.

We took the ferry to the Statue of Liberty:  Mistake No. 1 was getting me on that boat.  I was no fun after 30 seconds on the ferry.  I was sick the rest of the time and didn't enjoy it one bit.

Saw a pirate ship:

We got last minute tickets to a Yankees game.  This was so fun.  IT was rainy and chilly and my cheap shoes fell apart, but we had a blast-and got to go to a different part of town.

Why does pretty coffee taste so much better?  Linley asked me before I left if I would get pretty coffee and I did.

There are 2 ghostbuster pictures: The library

The Highline was very fun.

Darrell's favorite dinner was where some famous mob boss got killed and it was old school New York and very delicious.

Central Park

 The Big Piano

Ghostbuster #2

Best Friends at the Lake

I can't believe this was our first lake weekend of the year.  Jackson took along his best friend, Carli, and they made quite a kneeboarding pair.

 This girl has gotten much braver this year and was swimming alone and trying new things.  Everytime she got on the intertube she wanted to go "faster".

They kneeboarded many, many, many times!

Linley got up on the kneeboard for the first time.  I bribed her with M&M's.  She is an easy bribe, but it worked:)

These two took a little nap in the front and were so precious.  I hope they stay friends for a long time!

One more first for the weekend:  Carli learned how to ski!

Spring Break

A great week with Great Grandparents, sand, water and hushpuppies can make you feel like this:



There was a lake a few houses down from us that washed a channel straight to the ocean after a storm. The result was lots of wildlife : The kids caught this flounder and 3 others, tons of crabs, minnows and a bass.
Both kids made friends which made it awfully nice for the adults to sit on the edge of the lake and take a break from burying in sand and jumping waves.



Surprisingly, LInley was our ocean baby and wanted to be in the water constantly. Jackson knows what lives and stings in the ocean and is a little more tentative. This girl, however, does not care what lives in there or that she can't swim well.


Of course a highlight of the trip was hanging out with the Great Grands, riding John Deere's and Jackson helping to lead music at the small country church-truly precious.

It was a very picturesque and perfect week, but no worries as soon as we arrived back in Tennessee the bickering resumed:)

What my son taught me last night

I know that I am a selfish person and I give my kids a hard time for being selfish and spoiled, but I love it when God teaches me a lesson through them.

Last night our family helped to feed a group of homeless men. The men ate with us and we talked, Linley hugged and gave them pictures and commented on how young they were. It was a great meal.

When we got home and I climbed on top of Jackson's bed to read the most depressing book ever I asked him why his pillow was at the foot of the bed. He said to me, "mom I want to see what it feels like to have to sleep at night with no pillow."

I called Darrell later, who was still visiting with the men and told him what Jackson was doing and we both commented that at 30 something years old neither of us have ever wondered that.

I love this guy for the things he teaches me.

I love...

...fancy FREE dinners!

Smelly Good Food

In an effort to keep Darrell and I on track with our new nutrition plan I have been experimenting with new foods. Most of them have turned out yummy.

Take for instance Kale chips: they are quick, easy and are gone before I get them off the cookie sheet. Even Linley loved them:


On the other hand there was last night's dinner. It had nothing unusual in it. Just onions, zucchini, peppers, garlic and some other things, but pretty typical ingredients. It even tasted good as I ate it. But all night I woke up still smelling it, then Darrell called this morning and said his coat smelled like it, but here is the best part:

I get this text from Linley's teacher- "I don't know what Linley ate for dinner but she is sweating onions. haha"

I immediately start laughing and respond to the teacher and then get this message:
"That is too funny. You should have seen me looking all over my room for an onion"


Anyway, I will be opening all the windows and doors and febreezing the whole house today. Anyone want the recipe or leftovers?

and one last picture just because I love him and his best friend.

102 Things to do with a Bridesmaid dress

#102 thing to do with a bridesmaid dress: Teepee Covers!

Aren't they cute?