Happy Birthday Dara!

Today is my friend Dara's birthday. Although I haven't known her all that long, she has become a good friend and now I can't imagine my life without her (and her family!) Dara is definitely someone who always has a smile on her face and is so caring, probably one of the reasons her kids are so sweet too.
Happy Birthday Dara, I'm so glad we got to spend some time together today, the food was delicious, the desert even better (thanks Becky) and the company was phenomenal.
I'm sure we will be celebrating many more years of each others birthdays, if our kids have anything to say about it.....HAPPY BIRTHDAY GIRLFRIEND!

Flip Flop

I had to share a picture of the cake I made to celebrate Amy's birthday. It turned out pretty cute if I don't say so myself. I receive three or four emails monthly that have cute or easy recipe ideas, when this email recipe came I was dying to give it a try, and what better excuse than to celebrate a great friend. I took it to Alpha last night and I got a ton of compliments, so I thought I would share the link.

Happy Birthday Amy!

Today is my friend Amy's birthday and while we tried to work it so we could get together to celebrate it just didn't work out. I think maybe she knew we were up to something. I'm sure she had a great day.

I met Amy at Mom's group for JCFC we were at Chuck E Cheese, and she just cracked me up with some of her stories. She is a wonderful mother to two of the cutest girlies I have ever seen. We have grown closer over the summer since we get to sit together at Alpha, and have found we have soooooo much in common. Amy is somebody that you can always count on to have a smiling face, especially when she is talking about her "cutie husband". So to Amy I hope you enjoyed your birthday, thanks for always being there to listen and help me realize there are other people in the same boat as I am. HAPPY BIRTHDAY GIRLFRIEND!

On July 23 1995...

How funny that when I read my friend Amy's blog yesterday she was blogging about her first date with her husband, yesterday was the anniversary of the first date for Shawn and I. Twelve years ago yesterday is when it all started and what a wonderful ride it has been.

Shawn and I actually met in January of 1995, I began working as office manager for a company where he was in sales. The gal that was training me told me you are going to have some problems with that one, he never does his paperwork. So that is how it all began, and I tell you I despised the man, he was unorganized, untimely, and so darn cute. By the time July came around I was no longer working there and one thing lead to another and here we are and I love him more everyday.

Happy Birthday Cale!

Today is Cale's Birthday. It is so hard to believe my baby is 3 already. He tells me that he is not a baby but of course he is my baby. So here are some things about my youngest boy.

• He loves to eat, especially meat-bacon, tacos, steak, hot dogs, turkey, chicken, definitely not a candidate for vegetarianism.
• His main love right now is baseball, its funny that I say now since as far back as I can remember it has been baseball. One of his first sentences was Go Cubs! Even before he could talk if you said Chicago White Sox, he would plug his nose--now that's funny I don't care who you are!
• Cale loves to copy everything Colby does, true big brother envy.
• Best description I can give is Mommas Boy, sometimes it gets a little frustrating, but I guess I should enjoy the clinging now because we all now it won't last long.
• Cale looks just like Shawn's Dad, Papa Shorty. Totally a mini-me!
• He says the funniest things, and has a wonderful personality.

We love you very much Cale Jeffrey!

Happy 3rd Birthday!

10 Random Things About Myself

I have been tagged by Jenn Mumm to write 10 things about myself. This should be interesting.

1. I consider PEPSI to be a food group, my favorite one. If it is morning and I haven't had a PEPSI you should consider staying away from me.
2. My graduating class of High School had eighteen kids, three of which were foreign exchange students.
3. I love to read-books, magazines, newspapers. I hope that my kids will love it as much as I do.
4. Patience is definitely not a strong trait of mine, but at least I realize it and I'm working on it.
5. My husband and I will celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary in October and we have been together for 12 years. I never dreamed it could be this wonderful!
6. I always dreamed of becoming a teacher.
7. I am a recovering EBAYAHOLIC....I'm not sure that is a word but its the truth.
8. My dog is my third child, and she thinks she is a person...
9. I am pretty sure I would like to have another child, human though. :)
10. Motherhood is definitely my proudest accomplishment.

There you have it 10 totally random things, I'm not even sure I knew about me - I hereby tag -

• Becky Hansen
• Amy Main
• Pastor Lori
• Lisa Little
• The Roberts'

You cut how many ears of corn off?

60, Mr. President! (this picture cracks me up, even after all the corn)

This afternoon we went to meet my in Winterset, she had picked up some sweet corn for me. Winterset is about half way for both of us. I asked her to pick up 4 dozen, but lucky me it was buy 4 get 1 dozen FREE!

It is all cleaned, cut off, and in the freezer for us to enjoy this winter. I can't think of many things that are better than sweet corn especially in the dead of winter. Definitely worth all the work. MMMMMM......

"God, I Can't Believe I Get To Live This Life"

Two weeks ago at Alpha, Mark Mark Main gave everyone at our table a copy of the book Velvet Elvis on CD. Since I can listen to whatever I want while the boys are enjoying a movie in the van I have been listening to this. It is a great book, I am just trying to soak it in, I am one that actually does better with a book in my hands. The narrator/author said the above quote and I loved it. That is truly the way I feel. When the world is hard and I start to feel down I can stop and count my blessings. I have two wonderful boys (most of the time) and a husband who is my rock. I have really come to a place in my life that this quote totally fits, and I thank you God for letting me live this wonderful life.

Behind The Times

It seems that I have been a little behind with my blogging, my friend told me today she went to my blog to see what we've been up to and decided we haven't been up to anything since we have no new posts. Sorry time just keeps slipping away! Here is a quick update-

• July 3- Colby marched in the West Des Moines 4th of July parade with his Taekwondo group
• July 4-We went to Lake Ahquabi State Park for a picnic. We met up with Shawn's Dad and his girlfriend. She has 4 daughters and 8 grand kids. We had a lot of fun in the sun!
• July 5-We hit the pavement posting fliers around our neighborhood for SUPER SATURDAY
• July 7-SUPER SATURDAY we had a great time, it was waaaay hot out but nobody seemed to mind, the boys both won prizes so that was a bonus!
• July 10-Mom's Group we had a picnic lunch and played at the park and wading pool. The kids had a lot of fun, and the mom's too. :)

My baby is not a baby anymore....

This morning Cale came downstairs and proclaimed that he no longer wears diapers. So all day long he wore underwear, the same pair, with no accidents and now he is asleep, one day down....we'll see what tomorrow brings.

The Neverending Smore

These pictures of Cale are from Saturday night, he was sitting in his lawn chair by the fire, dozing off while eating a smore. It was too cute, messy, but cute.

More....

look at me go
Dad trying to relax, Cale wants to play baseball
Maggie May wondering if we are going back to the air conditioner soon
Shawn & Brian playing horseshoes, Cale and Katy helping...
Shawn and Cale celebrating the big win!

Camping Pictures!

Cheese!
Home Sweet Home...kinda
the boys cooking dinner
Our dining room and living room
a beautiful wildflower Colby brought me