Happy Anniversary to my dear husband of 3 years!

July 7th, 2007

To my husband who makes me laugh...

To my husband who stands strong when I am weak...

To my husband who is not afraid to have a little fun...

To my husband who shows me new places...

 To my husband who is great with children...

 

To my husband who encourages me to soar...

To my husband who cooks, cleans,and does laundry...

I love you! Even though I may not say it often enough thank you for all that you do and all that you are!

Here is to 100 years more!

Grandpa

I am really happy how this layout came out. I wanted to display bits and pieces of my Grandfather's house. I took a lot of photos while I was there. My mother and Aunts are slowly going through the house and I wanted to capture the little things before the house is sold. 

 

 While at my Grandparent's house Michael was looking through a very old family album. He came across a photograph of someone who is the spitting image of me. There was no name on that back to identify the people in the photo. Growing up I never felt like I looked like my family. It was always assumed that I must look like someone from my father's biological family. It was so neat to see that I bear an uncanny resemblance to someone on my mother's side! 

Home, Books, Pictures, and this weeks dinner menu!

We are back in Kentucky after driving most of the afternoon and evening and into the early morning today. Michael did most of the driving and let me sleep!Thank goodness!Riding in the car for so long is just so draining. Sitting on your behind is exhausting.Michael had to work today.He came home and went straight to bed!Bless his heart it has been a rough week for both of us.

Between all the driving and waiting around I was able to read two books, finish one book, and continue another.Sitting down with a good book is so comfortable.Love the way an actual books feels in my hands. I doubt I could ever use a ebook reader. Don't quote me on that one because who know what will happen in the future. So here is what I read.

1. One Simple Act by Debbie Macomber

I read all by the last two chapters in one weekend. It flows very well and leaves  you yearning to read more. She discusses generosity not just in the form of financial giving, but also in terms of giving time. I loved the idea that listening is a gift. A gift that I desperately want to work more on. She also goes into hospitality and giving the gift of prayer.  

2. Free Range Kids

Loved Loved Loved this book! I laughed my way through this one. Very entertaining! I found myself shouting many times,"Thats Exactly Right!" 

Basically her whole idea is to back away from the "helicopter" style of parenting and allow your children to actually do things for themselves. Hallelujah! Glad to finally hear a sane voice amongst all the other parenting books out there that thrive on scaring you to death!

Here is her blog:Free Range Kids

3. The Creative Family

This books was written by Mommy Blogger Amanda Blake Soule. I greatly enjoyed this book and am planning to get a copy of it for keeps(I get most of my stuff from the library). 

This book is full of ways to encourage/cultivate imagination and creativity in your children. Very Waldorf philosophyish Lots of project ideas. I especially enjoy the section about family celebrations. I totally want to make beautiful felt birthday crowns for my nieces and nephews.

Loved the book! Check out the Blog!

Soule Mamma

Finally to finish up this post I thought I'd share a few pics from the last week or so!

Our new niece Little Ms.NJ! We were so excited to finally meet her! She liked Michael so much that she fell asleep in his arms! I also got to hold her quite a bit. I'm a little hesitant while holding infants. I'm so worried about their little heads bobbing about. Miss NJ is a real doll!

 

Here is my little ray of sunshine, Lexi! She is so 3 years old. She asks tons of questions! She is super duper active but also loves to cuddle! Its really very funny how much she looks like my brother!

The world's longest candy counter! I love this place! Michael and I filled up a bag full of treats! We ate some of them and then we tossed them in the back seat. While cleaning out the car today,I found them in the back all melty! What a waste! Serves me right! Never put off eating candy till tomorrow! 

A star from my parent's front porch. I took a ton of photos of my childhood home. My parents are in the process of selling the house. I'm a tad bit upset,it has been their home for over 40 years. I understand that they need a house that is easier for my Dad to get around it, but it still hurts a little. 

 My Mom and Lexi! Lexi has my mother wrapped around her little fingers! My Mom is physically unable to go into THE CHILDREN'S PLACE without buying an outfit for her! My Mom lets Lexi play in her makeup and drink as much chocolate milk as her little heart desires. Lucky!

We went to Franklin Roosevelt's House. It was on the way back to PA from Vermont.

 Bitty pig tails!

 Another niece is giving me back a taste of my medicine by sticking the camera in my face! 

One more thing!
Here is my dinner menu for the week!

Sunday: Pesto Chicken on Angel Hair Pasta  

Peach Crisp for Dessert

Monday: Grandma R's Pancakes and Sweet Sausage

Tuesday: Coke Crock Pot Roast

Wednesday: Bubble Pizza Casserole

Thursday: Sausage and Peppers Hoagies


Goodnight everyone!!!

Pondering

Sitting in my parent's living room in Vermont. I am filled with mixed emotions. I am very happy to be in Vermont. I am happy to be near family. I am happy that the sun is shinning. Yet, the reason for being in Vermont is very unhappy. My Grandfather died on Thursday morning. The circumstances behind his death are quite upsetting. I am still trying to understand and come to grips with everything!

I am feeling somewhat guilty for not keeping in better contact with my Grandfather. A couple of weeks ago Michael suggested that I write him a letter and send some pictures. We had just sent some to his Aunt and Uncle in Minnesota and they loved them. How I wish I would have taken the time to send him that letter. Oh how I wish I did! 


I was also planning to do some video interviews with my Grandfather to record all those family stories. Stories of my Grandfather's time in the Pacific during the war.Stories of their Courtship. Stories of their first year of marriage. Stories about my Mom and Aunts growing up years. So many stories!!

This is myself and my Grandpa just over a year ago!

Here he is just over a year ago. I'm so glad I got a picture of his hands. Their is something about a person's hands. 

Grandpa's Hats

His shoes lined up!

The beautiful toaster cover! I love love love love the design.


My advice is to let your love ones know how much you love them. Tell them! Write them a letter. Don't wait for something to happen. I feel more of a resolve to document life through journals and scrapbooks. I don't want those life stories to be forgotten.

A Trip to the Zoo

We spent the late morning and the early afternoon at the Cincinnati Zoo! The weather was incredible and we were actually able to see the animals! Not crowded at all! Monday is a perfect day to visit the zoo!

An adorable sloth!

I

Isn't He adorable!!

Grrr...My Mom in front of the polar bears!

Miniature Cows!

I wanted to take one of this adorable little guys home!

My Weekend

My parents ventured out of snowy Vermont and are visiting us this week! Here is my Mom getting impaled by a plant! She is so funny!  We went to the Krohn Conservatory Butterfly Show! Lots of fun! Of course I had to bring my camera!

We went to Archivers and I didn't buy anything! That must be a record of something. I wanted EVERYTHING, but I didn't need anything. My mom did get a couple of odds and ends. Most of the stuff came from the $1.99 spot!

Home

A week ago Michael and I were visiting family and friends "up-north". While it was a very quick trip, I so needed it. Just needed a change from my looooooong commutes from Kentucky to the northern 'burbs of Cincinnati. To be honest all that driving has made me a bit "crazy". I know I talk about it a lot, but its a huge part of my life that I really dislike. So much wasted time.

Anyway, back to our trip, it was WONDERFUL! For once, I actually wasn't sick. I had a bit of a cough, but I actually felt really good. It is a joke with Michael and myself that I always get sick when we visit his family. I love his family! I got to take loads of pictures of the nieces and nephews. One of the best questions I've ever heard came from my 4 year old nephew. He asked me what I love like he loves trains. What a great question! That kid is a thinker! I told him that I love scrapbooking and taking pictures. Then I asked him if I could take his picture. He said that he would have to take a picture of me first. So he went and got his toy camera and took a picture of me. Then he let me take a picture of him! Look you can see the toy camera in his hand!On our trip we also went to New Jersey for the baptism of a friend's baby. Michael was asked to be the Godfather. Which Michael is really tickled about. He randomly says, "I'm the Godfather!" Then he laughs! My husband is too cute! The baby is also adorable. Little Anna is such a good baby. She has her Dad's layedback personality. Ben and Sara are really good parents and you can just tell they adore their little lady! They are coming to see us on Tuesday! Yay! Michael will get to play tons of video games and Sara and I will go to Babies R Us!

I am really struggling with the fact that I would love to move closer to our families. Michael's family is an eleven hour drive. My family is a seventeen hour drive. That is just too much. I feel like we miss out on a lot with our families. I'm not saying that we have to move to the same town that my family or his family live in. I just want to live closer. Michael's best friends live about an hour away from Michael's siblings and parents. Michael would love to be able to spend more time with them. I just don't understand why Michael does not want to move closer. I understand that he likes his job here. I LOVE my job here, but would not give it a second thought if we would move someplace like Carlise, PA. or Bennington, Vermont. Another plus is that we could get away from the horrible humid weather here in Kentucky. Its September, it is time for lovely sweaters, apples, and colored leaves. We should not have to use our AC at night. Blah! Can you tell I'm frustrated about this?

I love this photo of Michael and Nat. Look how happy Michael is! Case Photo #1 for moving closer to family. Nat is almost 1 and a half. She is never still. So this picture was really a miracle!

Here are all the kiddos! They are sooooooooo adorable. The little guy in the yellow shirt was yelling "CHEESE" at the top of his lungs. It was cute!

Michael's Mom has us get a family photo for her Christmas cards each year. This one was pretty good!

Here is Michael with his Mom!

Celebrating Marvin's birthday! Ha! It looks like he's on fire!

Michael and I will be heading back north at the end of October. My high school has a home coming weekend. We had a good time last year so we are going again! Plus I get to see more of this face!