What We've Been Up To

We gave our cabinet the face lift that it has needed for so very, very long.Before

After.

Matt and I did this together one weekend and we both love the final result!

Now the next project, well, it took longer than a weekend. Matt worked his buttocks off doing the kitchen. So many late, late nights mixed with a little blood, lots of sweat and just a few tears ;)

Before.

After.

We still have little odds and ends to finish up but it's come a long way! We were so anxious to get rid of the blue Formica. WOW the people who built this house LOVED blue. We've redone every surface in this house now except for the laundry room floor. That's coming up pretty quick towards the top of the Honey-Do list.

Thanks Mattie, it looks GREAT!

Happy Birthday Mason!!!

Hey Mase,

Eleven. Seriously? I wish there was a way to slow time down a bit or at least rewind and pause here and there. I don’t know how you’re 11 but 11 you are and I’m trying to face the fact. You’re at such a great age. I love how you told me the other day that all the boys in your class except you and one other have girlfriends and I asked if you were feeling the pressure to snag one up for yourself. You said no but there are a couple of gals you have your eye on. Just remember to treat them nicely and always act like a gentleman. Take it from this old lady, girls love to feel taken care of.
I love how you’re not afraid to tell me the things you hear and see other’s do around you. It gives me a chance to help you filter what’s ok and what’s completely inappropriate (sadly there’s more of the later). It makes me feel like you trust me enough to share and I love that!
You’re great at so many things and perfect in all the right ways. You’re such a great reader and it makes me happy to see you enjoy a good book. You’re creative and smart. Oh so smart!! Wise beyond you’re years really. Sometimes I think you’re poor little body has to house that huge soul and it’s busting at the seams to get out. It’s fun to see it emerge into the great person you are becoming.
I love you so much! You make me laugh on a regular basis and put a smile on so many people’s faces! I feel so fortunate to be part of your life.

Happy Birthday, Buddy. I LOVE YOU!

ps: I added your playlist to our blog for your big day! Enjoy!

After All These Years

15 years ago today found me marrying my best friend. Since then we've moved 6 times, earned 2 college degrees, added 3 amazing kids, moved jobs a few times and gained a few wrinkles and gray hairs along the way (shhh don't tell). If I had to do it again I'd do it all EXACTLY the same. All the ups, all the downs. They put us where we are today and I wouldn't change it for the world.

I love you Matt. Thank you for making me laugh regularly and not take myself too seriously. I married the perfect man for me.

Happy Anniversary!

20 Year Reunion

Matt was in charge of his 20 year Bear Rive High reunion this past August. It took weeks, who am I kidding, MONTHS to plan. He did such a great job organizing and making sure he found as many people from his class as he could. It was held at Maddox Ranch House in Perry. The food was great and so was the company. It was fun for me to meet some of the people he grew up with that I haven't had a chance to meet yet. And of course it's always great to see those you haven't seen in a while.
As you can tell, it didn't take long for everyone to feel comfortable and get back to where they were 20 years ago.

Tiffany Summers was so great to step up and help Matt where she could. What a lifesaver! Thanks Tiffany for all your help, Matt was so appreciative!

It was so much fun for Matt (and myself) to see Ryan and Andrew again. These best friends haven't been together in the same room in 14 years (I think it was our wedding to tell you the truth). We've seen them both in the meantime but never together. It was so fun!!

Here we are with our "significant others". As long as Andrew doesn't skip the country again we hope to see these guys again soon!

Great job on the reunion Mattie. It was such a huge success. Your hard work REALLY paid off!

Mia's Surgery

At the end of October Mia had eye surgery to keep her eyes from crossing. She was extremely nervous on the drive up to Primary's and in the waiting room. She cried a bit and who can blame her? Going under the knife is never a fun experience. But she was brave! She was still a little apprehensive in the exam room before we took her to pre-op. But once they gave her that sweet nectar that makes you feel good..she was a happy camper!
They strapped her in the wheelchair to get her to the waiting room since she soon lost all ability to stand or even talk. But she could still smile and she did a lot of that. She must have been feeling GROOVY.

Here's Daddy and Mia waiting to head down to the operating room. By now her nerves were completely gone and she was happy (and a bit drowsy).

The surgery was a huge success and Matt and I raced back as soon as we could to see her. They warned us that she would be a little irritable and she definitely fit that bill. That's one of the worst feelings to me, being under anesthesia and having to come to. You feel so tired and all you want is to keep sleeping. BUT NOOOO, every one's talking to you and asking you to wake up, and don't touch the part of your body that is killing you!

We went home after a couple of hours in recovery.

We've had a few check ups since then with her eye doctor and he is very pleased with the results. We are starting to lower her prescription on her glasses and hope to have her out of them sometime soon. Yay!!!

Projects

Mason has a mind that stays in constant motion. He's always thinking at a very quick pace and sometimes it leaves me a little in the dust. I've randomly taken pictures lately of some of his little projects he's done to fill his time.These are his Mario creations from his Lego's. Some of them fell apart before I thought to get a picture but you get the point.

These are his Mario creations he did out of Fun Fusion (you know those little plastic beads that you iron to melt them together). He also made a bunch of Club Penguin stuff and Pokemon with these too but I don't have a picture.

These are from his stint with yarn projects. Last winter his teacher taught them how to make scarfs which they worked on at home and at school. He made these with the leftover yarn.

Then my Mom taught him how to crochet and he went crazy making necklaces, bracelets and rings for all the women in his life. He even made a set for his new little cousin Isla who lives in NH.

He draws like crazy too. Someday soon I will scan in some of his pictures. Right now he's into drawing Diary of a Wimpy Kid characters and I have to admit, he's pretty dang good. He also took to writing the first chapter of what he thinks should happen next in that series. Take it from me, IT'S PRETTY IMPRESSIVE!!

Kiddie Kollege Indians

These were just too cute not to share (better late than never, right?). Madden and Eliza made these Indian digs at Kiddie Kollege. Most of the girls made Pilgrim girl hats and collars but in true Liza fashion, she chose the Indian boy. Oh I love this tom-girl and her raspy smokers voice!While Eliza was very proud of hers and was happy to participate in the photo op, Madden wanted nothing to do with it. I finally got him to put his stuff back on so I could get a picture. You'd never know he wasn't completely into it.
I hope these two stay the best of friends their whole lives! They're so fun to watch when they're together.