LOVE YOU

I just wanted to tell you all how awesome of a Mom I have!!! She's my best friend and confidant. She always knows what to say to make me feel better in any situation. She's just awesome!

I love her to pieces and am SO happy I was sent to this family!!

I Love You Mom!

-From Lu Lu

Winter, Winter, Go Away!!!

I don't like saying this, but I HATE winter!! I don't think I like anything about it. I start getting anxiety about it starting in October and then I stress over it until the threat of no more snow and cold temperatures are gone. I don't like being cold. I don't like having to wear so many layers of cumbersome clothes, I don't like being cooped up in the house day in and day out. I don't like looking at all the doggy doodoo that is deposited on my patio and driveway because I have a dog who can't find any grass to do his duty on.....it's like a land mine out there! Of course, I could clean it up, but have you ever tried cleaning up doo that has been covered in snow or been rained on.....not an easy task.....messy. Will wait until it dries out and then I'll use the heavy duty doodoo scraper to pry it off the concrete...Sigh. Winter is dark and grey, uninviting. Where has Mr. Sun been hiding? I think he has only reared his beautiful bright face a handful of times for months now. BooHoo! I don't like that the deer have been devouring my euonymous bush again this winter....I don't know how many more beatings it can take before it gives up the ghost! Ho Hum. I am so excited about Spring.....even temperatures in the mid to upper 50's will have me jumping for joy. Spring come soon! I've missed you so!

Bug

I am frustrated! Why do my posts on my blog add spaces where I didn't add spaces? It totally messes up the fluidity of what is being said.....grrrrr! Can I edit posts already posted? Please, somebody help!

Oh, tantrum over. Lindsay showed me how....I feel so much better!

Spencer The Great

Holy Cow! The baby of the family is 21 years old! It's a weird feeling to know that your youngest kid is a man, yet in my eyes will always be my child. How does one process that concept? I'm glad when he shows independence and still elated when he asks for my help...like tonight when he asked me to help him pack his suitcase for his trip to San Francisco. Spence is unique. He always has been and I don't think that will ever change. I like that he is not a cookie-cutter variety. I love his creative thinking and out-of-the box personality. He's different.......he likes that he is different. I like that he is different. Skinny jeans and shirts that are too small. His stick-like figure. Hair that is a throwback to the 60's. His shabby beard and mustache. Truly eclectic. Music rings in his soul....molds his character. Music defines him. Spence is a teacher.....he's taught me to be patient and accepting.....of him.....of others. Spencer....son, brother, uncle, friend, nephew, cousin.....we all love him. Life wouldn't be the same without him. He makes us smile with his sense of humor. He makes us proud with his many accomplishments. We are so glad he chose to come to our family.

Happy Birthday, Bud!

Happy Birthday, Roxy!

Yesterday was Roxy's birthday. She is now a double-digit kid! That is so cool and hard to believe at the same time. I was reminiscing about Roxy yesterday and the very first time we met her.

She was only 3 years old at the time. Angel came over to our house with Jake so he could help her with a paper she was writing for school. We were asked to keep an eye on Roxy while they worked on the paper......we were so happy to.....Roxy was such an adorable 3 year old! Dave and I took her outside to jump on the trampoline. Now keep in mind that we didn't really know where Jake and Angel's relationship was or where it was going. Jake always kept us in the dark about his girlfriends. Anyway, while we were out jumping on the trampoline (me and Roxy jumping together holding hands), amid our conversation of many things, Roxy blurts out while looking at us with her big brown eyes, sporting the cutest little Princess Leia buns we had ever seen, "My mom fell in love with your kid.".......it flowed out of her mouth like it was the most natural thing in the world to say. Dave and I just looked at each other and smiled.

It was at that very moment we fell in love with Roxy. She has been a joy and a delight to our family from the very beginning. She is mature, kind, happy, loving, beautiful, fashionable, patient, helpful, compassionate, and so much more.

Happy Birthday, Roxy!

We Love You!

Thanks For Your Service, Jake

It may seem weird to post something so patriotic in February.....well, maybe not. I just thought of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln....both fine patriots in their own right and we celebrate their birthdays this month!

But the patriot I'm thinking of today is Jake. He leaves for the Persian Gulf today for a few weeks. I just want him to know that we love him and we know it is with great sacrifice that he leaves to serve this nation.

I love America and I love a man in uniform (well, except maybe for the Navy....I've never been real fond of the sailor suit)!! Let's always remember because of our men and women of the armed forces that we have the many freedoms we enjoy every day.

Love You, Jake!

Sad Super Bowl Sunday

We didn't know it was going to be sad until it was over.....poor Colts! As sad as we feel, I always feel sadder for the football players who put their heart and soul into doing what they love. Unfortunately there can only be one winner and as sure as the sun sets in the western skies, you can count on one thing, there will be another season!!! So Good Luck next year!

The family came, we ate, and played, then ate some more. We watched the game, visited, laughed at funny kids, compared babies. It was a great day!

Laughing

On Lindsay's Birthday we were walking through the Gateway Mall. There was a dad carrying a little girl on his shoulders...she was laughing. Laughing uncontrollably. It put a smile on my face and just in general made me feel great all over. We couldn't stop watching these two strangers having the time of their lives. It was amazing. I've thought a lot about this dad and daughter, laughter and smiling ever since and have come to the conclusion it's a powerful response to that which makes us happy. I guess you could say it's an outward manifestation of what's going on in the inside.

When we took road trips when our children were small and lively, I would get frustrated when they would fight and equally frustrated when they started to giggle and tease each other in the confined area of the car. I would ask them to stop and be quiet. I remember Dave saying to me, "Leave them alone, they're having fun and at least they aren't fighting"..........I wish I would have listened and enjoyed the laughter more! I realize now his advice was priceless! It's interesting how age gives us wisdom!

Quotes on laughter to ponder today:

"When you laugh the whole world laughs with you, when you cry, you cry alone."

"Laughter is a tranquilizer with no side effects."

"Laugh often, Dream big, Reach for the Stars."

"I am thankful for laughter, except when milk comes out my nose." Woody Allen

"The most wasted of all days is one without laughter." E. E. Cummings

"What soap is to the body, laughter is to the soul. Yiddish Proverb

"Laughter gives us distance. It allows us to step back from an event, deal with it and then move on." Bob Newhart

"Nothing shows a man's character more than what he laughs at."

KEEP LAUGHING AND SMILING!

Our LuLu

Our sweet Lindsay (LuLu) was born 27 years ago today!

We couldn't have asked for a more perfect baby, child, adult (at least she thinks she's perfect...we'll play along for now. HeeHee!)

She was born on a winters day in 1983, 8 lbs. 8 oz., 21 inches long.

Lindsay never cried upon arriving in this world,

rather she chose to silently observe everything around her.

She has been a delight to our family, a ray of sunshine, a loving example,

a great friend, sister, daughter!

She's beautiful, kind, smart, savvy...a real fashionista!

She loves all kinds of movies, Lost, 24, Lord of the Rings,

TWILIGHT, Jane Austen novels.

She's a romantic through and through.

She had very blonde hair as a child and cheeks that

tempted every cheek-squeezer alive....she was irresistable...

Still is.

We love you, Linds....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

May all your dreams for 2010 come true!