TEN YEARS!!!

Ten years ago today, I married my best friend.
I don't say that lightly either.
I am a stronger person because of him.
We are stronger because of each other.

Last night...I sat, like I do so many nights, and starred at this man who made my life so amazing, while he slept. He didn't even know he was making my life better as we trucked along together...but over the years he has.

(He proposed to me in Stanley Park in Vancouver BC, 1999.)

(And this, is the peacock that chased us right afterward.)

Looking back, we were just kids. (no really, look at us). We are so different now. Our cores are the same of course...the things that made us fall in love...but we are so much stronger...so much better now. We have grown so much, matured so much.
(June 25, 2000)

Ten years seems like nothing now. I have noticed that as we have gotten older, the distance of time has changed. What used to seem like a lifetime, now feels like the blink of an eye. Seriously...

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So Kevin and I met in high school...doing drama. I fell for him, as it didn't take long for me to realize that he was reliable and trustworthy, smart and very hard working.

(This is us in 1995)

We started dating when I was just a junior.

We have been together now, for 16 years.

I am 33...so we have almost been together for as long as we weren't.

Yet it feels like it was all just yesterday! I mean it really does.

Our vows were 10 years ago...but it feels like it all just happened. And yet, at the same time, it feels as though we have been together forever. Does that make any sense???

I sometimes don't know, how we have gotten from point A to point B.

There have been so many obstacles...some that at the time, seemed so unsurmountable...but we persevered...we will always perseverve.

We went through the typical youthful relationship issues.

Not having enough money...trying so hard to make ends meet...

In the end, looking back...it made us better. All of it. It was hard, but it made us the people...the couple that we are today.

I know people say all of the time that their spouse is their best friend...

Mine truly is.

I honestly do not know what I would be without him.
I just adore him.

I love that we have come to the point where things are just not so serious anymore. There is an unspoken trust and bond.

I am proud we are married...that we communicate and touch, laugh and smile, disagree and work through those disagreements...that at the end of the day, I can still say he is my favorite person to talk to, to laugh with, to watch tv with...anything.

I know a lot of people who are not so fortunate.

He just gets me.

I get him.

He is my safe place.

Happy Tenth Babe...can't wait for the next!

A Ballerina...

Makylie just loved doing Ballet.

She loves to dance.

She dances all of the time...and sings. She is always singing or humming and spinning around.

Even during dinner she hums...IF she isn't rambling away!

I can tell you....having a child that didn't speak almost at all until she was THREE sure does leave for a child with A LOT TO SAY!

I think she spent the first three years, just soaking in everything that she heard.

Now, she may still have a speech impedament, but oh lord...can the girl talk!

Anyway,

She enjoyed ballet.

It was very light-hearted...and simply taught the basic moves without a lot of rules. They ARE, infact, only 4.

She had her recital on Saturday, and it was REALLY REALLY cute!

They got to wear whatever pretty outfit they wanted to...

It was chaotic...

They were completely all over the place...

and had no idea what they were doing...

but it was DARLING!

She was so proud.

I think we may try doing some jazz or tap or something else next time...because while she really enjoyed dancing...I think she would really like to move more. She just shakes her hips to music, and has really really good rhythm...so I think she would like a little faster pace.

We are so proud of her...

She is just such a cool little girl.

Seriously...

She really is.

I am honored to be her mommy!

Tylers Birthday Party

This year, for Tyler's 7th birthday, he decided to have an ALL-STAR sports party!

He is so into sports.
He loves them ALL. He plays baseball, basketball, soccer...football with anyone who will play with him...and he LOVES to run and swim as well!
He is just all around, all about sports.
SO...the party was very fitting!

We invited all of his friends.
For the first time ever he got to have his party on his ACTUAL birthday.
He was SO excited!
I made the sign for a ball toss game, and for the pictures.
I took a picture of each of the kids behind it to give to them after the party!

Here are his goodie bags.
They were filled with ALL things, sports.
From Baby Ruth bars to game "clappers" and soccer whistles.
There were a lot of fun things inside, and the kids loved them!

We did dinner, as the party was from 3-6.
We BBQ'd hot dogs...had all the fixin's and lots of yummy sides.
This was the FIRST year that I didn't make his cake...but it just got to the point where there was so much to do...I needed to have one thing that wasn't on me to complete...so we broke down and bought a Costco cake.

The day was cloudy, windy and it just screamed rain ALL DAY!!!
It was designed to be an outdoor party...and I just prayed all day that it would hold out for us!

So, in our front yard, the kids came and started on the art project...
We had them decorating pennats.
I had all of the supplies out and the kids had a good time. It was just a little windy and chilly at that point.
We decorated with all of Ty's trophies, and pennats from his room.
One of my favorite things that I don't have a picture of, is that we hung a "clothes line" out along the top of the fence...so when the kids were done decorating we hung their masterpiece to dry...but they also became a decoration!
It was fun.
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We also did a "egg" hunt. Back at Easter I bought a TON of sports eggs to fill up and use at his party. So some got filled with candy and some got money.
After the craft, I opened the gate, gave the kids empty lunch sacks, and they went on their hunt.
It was a HIT...the kids loved it. It occupied a lot of time, because we knew there were more out there that weren't found...so the kids would just keep searching.
After they were done...they all counted their balls and shared accordingly, so that everyone had close to equal amounts.
They did that WITHOUT being asked.
I love these kids! We just had such a great group of friends!
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We played with balloons.
The kids had to try to keep their balloon from hitting the ground.
Proved a challenge in the wind!

There was "Target Practice"....whiffle balls were to be thrown through the hole...

"Basketball"

This was actually foxtail little footballs. The kids had to stand behind a line and try to get as many as they could in the bucket.

"Frisbee Toss"

They had to toss the frisbees through the hula hoop.

"Goal-Stop"

Of course we did an obstacle-course soccer game. They ran through the cones and had to make goals. -----------------------------------------------

After we had played all of the games, the kids could go back on their own and play whatever games that they enjoyed. They ended up doing a lot of challenges with each other.

Eventually they wound down on the swing set.

I decided NOT to do prizes this year.

I just didn't know how to keep it fair..and plus they had their bags full of scavenger hunt finds.

They didn't even notice.

Here we openend presents.

I always take pictures of my kids and the "gift-giver" together to give out with the thank you cards.

While the kids were winding down and presents were being opened, Kevin BBQ'd the hotdogs.

Then they all had dinner.

During dinner, they played "telephone". It was pretty cute listening to 6/7 year olds play that game. :)

Then it was cake and ice cream time.

As usual, I pre-scooped the ice cream into muffin tins for easy distribution.

I can never say enough times, what a time saver that is!

It was a great day.

Tyler had so much fun...

and I just soak in every minute of the people these kids are becoming. Not just my own either...I have watched all of these kids grow since the first day of Kindergarten.

I truly enjoy seeing them play and interact with one another.

Our teachers have said many times that this is a "very special" group of kids.

Tyler's first grade teacher, Mrs. Pratt, who has taught for over 30 years, told me that "a group like this, MAYBE, comes around once every 10 years."

She wasn't kidding...there is something special about them.

I hope they all stay friends...and that when they are seniors in high school, they are able to sit around and say to one another...."remember Kindergarten" or "remember that one birthday party..."

Happy Birthday Tyler.

We love you!

Been a while.....

I have been stretched so thin lately.

Pulled in so many different directions.

I a lot of catching up to do because a lot of things have come and gone...

The end of the school year, for me, brings SO many things that need to get done. So many projects for each of the kids...end of the year gifts...commitments at the schools...a certain persons birthday--which then means PARTY...our anniversary...plannning and getting a grip on the reality of having the kiddos home for summer....

I could go on.

But I won't.

Anyway....like I said....

I have a lot of catching up to do. :)

I will start with the fact that school ended yesterday.

It was quite emotional for me.

More then I thought it would be.

I am just not a person that does well with a change in routine. I like things to be the same. I like my people, and my day-to-day...and it is hard when what I know comes to a close.

Especially when it menas so many changes at one time...

Number one, I now have a senior in high school.

I have a senior who is SO not ready to be a senior.

Sometimes I wish we could decide where our kids should be...because although she is very smart, and has had a good year this year...mentally, emotionally...she is not ready to be where she is. She had a hard year freshman year, and then tried to come out of it Sophomore year, but went to the other extreme...so essentially...I feel like she just skipped those two years. Like she should REALLY be going into her sophomore year this coming year.

She is just now starting to learn accountability, and responsibility...and unfortunately, in the world...she is certainly expected to already know those skills.

I am super proud of the strides she has made this year, don't get me wrong...but I fear for what is to come too.

Number two, I have a second grader. HOW DID THAT HAPPEN? How did my first born finish first grade.

I am kind of in love with our little "family" at our elementary school.

It makes me sad to have it come to an end.

We had an incredible year this year (again) with an incredible teacher (again)...well, group of teachers, really and I am so honored to be a part of it!

Funny though...that school- life becomes your normal day-to-day. The friendships, the interaction, the volunteering. It is hard to have it come to a close. I kind ofdon't quite know what to do now.

Number three, I have a friend at school who is leaving...moving away. Of course, that makes me sad too.

Anyway....all of that, coupled with the fact that I stayed up VERY VERY VERY late for 4 nights before yesterday to finish everything for Ty's birthday party (post to come) and end of the year gifts...made me kind of a wreck yesterday.

This was one of the teacher gifts....

This is another...

This is the book that I compiled from all of the kids. They did a thank you letter, a drawing and there is a portrait of each one of them.

Today, I am back to normal...kind of. :)

There is still a lot on my mind. We are having a garage sale this weekend, coupled with our 10 year anniversary...and dropping the oldest of my kids off at camp this weekend, then a little ocean trip at the same time. Finally my sister comes into town on the 3rd.

Seems like there is just always something!