To be continued part 2

So when I left you yesterday I had just learned my husband had something up his sleeve for our anniversary.....

Since we were married for 13 years he planned to go to 13 different significant locations that played a key part in our lives together. I know what your thinking...how sweet not many men think of doing something so meaningful. I could not believe my husband thought of it either.
stop #1 Mike's high school where we met at a basketball game. I was cheering and he was playing for the opposing team.

stop #2 was my old high school. Mike came here to a wrestling tournament the day after we first met each other.

stop #3 my child hood home.

stop #4 Mikes child hood home.
stop #5 was Winsteads restaurant. This is where we ate on our first date.

stop #6 was a hang out of ours in high school. Mike worked here and I would hang out and wait for him to get off work.

stop #7 was a place called "Leaps and Bounds" Mike and I worked here together after High School.
stop #8 was Mike's Aunt and Uncles house. Mike asked me to marry him during Thanksgiving dinner with all our family around.
stop #9 was the first house we bought together a few months before our wedding. And where our 1st child was conceived.
stop #10 was the church we were married at.
stop #11 is where the first of our 3 children were born.
stop #12 was our second house we bought and where our 2nd child was conceived.
stop #13 is our present house we live in and where our 3rd child was conceived.
At the end our journey down Memory Lane. It was a lot of fun and one of the best anniversaries so far.

To be continued...

Since it is our anniversary today and money is tight in our household, I really did not anticipate anything. My husband just came to me and said "We were leaving the house at 4:00 and to take my camera". "What"? I have no idea what he has planned. I have been told over and over again that it is nothing special, but just the fact that he has something planned it special enough to me. I have asked so many questions hoping to get a clue... "Are we leaving our town"? "Do I need to dress up"? "Are we going to be outside"? "Why do I need my camera"? "Are we driving a long way"? "Will we be back late"? All I get is " We are driving a ways" "No you do not need to dress up" "I hope we will get there before dark" "Don't get your hopes up, it is nothing special". So to be continued tomorrow..........

I Heart Faces

This week on I heart faces the photo challenge is Blue. I decided to post a picture I took at a motorcycle run benefiting babies.

The year was 1996

13 years ago at this very minute I was walking down the aisle in a white gown meeting my groom at the alter. I can remember the day like it was yesterday, the weather was in the 70's and the sun was shining bright. My mom was a single mom so my wedding was done on a budget. We used artificial flowers and made the bouquets ourselves, my dress was only $500.00 and the cake was not over the top. Wherever she could save money she did. Looking back I loved my wedding and would not have changed a thing.

I woke up early with butterflies in my stomach, this was the day I was to be married. My bridesmaids were off at the salon getting their hair done, meanwhile I was at home getting everything ready to take to the church. Later in the day I would realize I left behind the petticoat for underneath my dress.

Once at the church my bridesmaids showed up with their hair done and we all started to get dressed and beautified. I had many visitors peeking their heads in to say "hi" and give hugs of congratulations. Now from the beginning I always said "No wedding ever starts on time" and sure enough when I went to put my dress on, my petticoat was not there. I remembered exactly where I left it at home, having the wonderful family I was marrying into, they graciously rushed to my mom's house to retrieve the petticoat. Needless to say the priest was not happy about the delay, but I was not about to walk down the aisle with a non- puffy dress. Once the petticoat was retrieved I walked down the aisle 30 minutes late.

One hour later we were finally husband and wife. Looking back on our 13 years of marriage I realize I love my husband more now than I did 13 years ago. We have had our share of ups and downs but it has made us stronger. We have made so many wonderful memories in the past 13 years and I look forward to making more memories in the next 13 years.

Not me Monday

I have to admit last week I was the perfect Mommy.

My son did not throw up 1 sec before we were leaving for volleyball practice. And I did not let him wear the clothes he threw up in (they weren't covered in puke, just smelled a little) to the volleyball practice. No not me!

I did not make my husband a baked potato for dinner when he specifically asked for mashed, just because the baked potato was easier for me to make. No not me!

I did not let my son scream himself to sleep at night because I get tired of picking up his blankies he throws out of his crib one hundred times a night. No not me!

I did not indulge in two bowls of ice cream once my kids were in bed for the night, knowing very well they would have loved to have two bowls also. No not me!

I did not say under my breathe that my kids were driving me crazy. No not me!

I did not erase my daughters shows on the DVR just to make more room for my shows. No not me!

So like I told you I was a perfect Mom last week, and I am sure I will be perfect this week as well. If you are also a perfect parent head over to My Charming Kids and tell us about it.

Bikers for Babies

Every September the March of Dimes holds a ride called "Bikers for Babies".The top March of Dimes motorcycle ride in the nation and largest charity run in the Midwest . Proceeds support the March of Dimes mission to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. This year I made it a point to sit and watch all the Bikers in the March of Dimes "Bikers for Babies" ride.

Every September I catch the tale end of the ride as we are getting out of church. But this year I made it a point to miss church (I think God will understand) and watch the ride. It was so awe-inspiring to see 6,000-8,000 (yes there were this many) motorcycle riders as far as the eye could see. They waved at my 2 year old son, honked their horns, gave peace signs and my favorite rock-on fingers. This went on for 2 hours straight. I loved seeing all the different types of bikes and different colors. It sent chills up my spine to watch so many bikers supporting a wonderful cause.

A stranger from my past

Earlier today I got onto my facebook page and I had a message from my long lost brother. I should clarify that he is my step brother, my father was married before he married my mom, and he was married several times after my mom as well. I have not spoken to or seen my step brothers or sister since I was in grade school.

So to start from the beginning. My parents divorced when I was only 3 years old. My father moved out and never really had a relationship with me. No, I never grew up being "Daddy's Girl", I did however grow up being "Mommies Girl". I had a wonderful child hood, my mom never remarried after my father cheated and then left her. It was the two of us my entire life, and I would not have it any other way.

When I was younger my father never, and I mean never celebrated holidays with me or my birthday. I have always wondered why he spent holidays with his "other" children but never me. He would rarely call me, I almost always had to call him. If I wanted to come see him he was usually busy. I remember only a few memories of times with him and only two with my brothers and sister. My favorite memory is from when I was 5 years old and my father picked me up for the afternoon, we went and had pictures taken together. Sure I shed a lot of tears and I was hurt about it but after so many years I learned to live with and to move on with my life. I always figured if he wanted a relationship he would call, I guess my father thinks the same of me. He has met my two girls several several years ago, but he has no clue that I have a 2 year old son. My father sold his house a few years ago without telling me. I only found out when I drove to his house and there was a sold sign in the yard. He has never given me his new phone number or his new address.

So to fast forward to today... my brother (step) found me on facebook. He said "I am looking for Erin my step sister, you look kind of like her, if this is the right Erin please accept me as a friend on facebook". My heart skipped a beat, not in my wildest dreams did I think my siblings would ever search for me. Of course I accepted him as a friend on FB, I did leave him a short message. But what do you say to someone you have not seen in 27 years? I had so many questions I would love to ask him...why didn't anyone ever want to keep in touch with me? Why is our father a jerk? Why did he not want to make time for me when I was growing up? Why did he have so much time for you and the other kids, but not me? Why did he move away and not bother to tell me? Why didn't anyone bother to call me when our brother died a few years ago? Don't you think I wanted to grieve along with you? And the most important question of all...Why didn't he love me?

I knew these were questions for my father and not my brother. Maybe one day when I get up enough nerve I will ask my father these questions and so many others that I have for him. So for now I look forward to reconnecting with my brother on Facebook, I do not think I could handle a face to face reconnection.

Oh the Drama part 2

So the other day I posted how there was so much drama in our house, well the drama found us again this morning. My daughter AGAIN could not get up this morning and she was running late. While putting on her black lace legging (yes, she finally found them) poked a hole through them with her finger. She thought it would be ok to wear them since her jean skirt was covering the hole. Wrong....I had to be the bearer of of bad news and tell her the hole would only get bigger as the day went on. Was she mad that she had to go back upstairs and change her clothes? Oh yeah she was mad, she couldn't just change the tights, or better yet just take them off, she had to change the entire outfit. With 5 minutes till we had to leave for school she barrels down the stairs with HOT PINK jeans, a white t-shirt under a neon green tank top, and vans tennis shoes. I immediately had to be the bearer of really bad news again, and tell her she had to lose the neon green tank. Was she mad? Oh you bet your sweet cheeks she was MAD!! And you guessed it the water works started coming. This time she had to change her entire outfit again, but this one was really cute. After I somewhat stopped the water works we headed off to school with just a few tears. Now I am sitting at home wondering if she is doing ok and if she is having a great day at school. I sure hope so.

My 11yr old is great with fashion, never has a problem putting an outfit together, but this one was a dud. When she grows up I just know she will do something in the fashion industry, it is her passion.

And so enters my 8yr old dressed in the same shorts she wore to volleyball last night and slept in last night. Can you believe she really thought she could wear these to school? I also had to give her the bad news of changing her clothes. She came down the second time dressed for the middle of summer, I just gave up and let her wear what ever she wanted, I was exhausted by this time. I am so ready to get this week over with.

Nightly Rituals

My nightly ritual is one that I have done for 11 years now. No matter how late it is I always go to each of my children's rooms and kiss them good night. First of all I want to make sure they are safe, second cover them up with blankets they have kicked off and third watch them while they sleep and kiss them goodnight. My children do not now that I love to sit beside them at night, stroke their hands that used to be so small and reminisce of days long ago. I tell each one "I love you" and kiss them gently goodnight. No matter their age this is a nightly ritual that will continue.

Party in the U.S.A.

I have to admit having girls we have a lot of Miley Cyrus music playing in our house. My 11yr old went thru a stage where she could not stand Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montanna, but she has started listening to her again. We love to listen to music in our house, the louder the better, every room has some sort of music coming from it. Whether it comes from a radio, i pod, i phone, i touch, computer, t.v., (you get the picture) we love music. One of my favorite songs lately has been Party in the U.S.A. by Miley Cyrus. I have added to my playlist here on my blog, when I hear it I want to start dancing around the room, of course my kids look at me like I am the biggest dork!! But I know when they grow up to be parents they too will dance their A__ off in front of their children.

Rush Rush Rush

Lately I feel as if our lives are Rush Rush Rush!!!! With both girls being in volleyball, soccer, Girl Scouts and Religion Classes we are always rushing out the door to go to an activity. With my husband working nights and us only having 1 car things are difficult. Thank goodness my mom is around to lend us her car and help me take the girls to different activities.

This week I have been horrible in the dinner department...dinners were not done in time to eat before going to activities. I am sure you are wondering "Well, how is she finding time to blog right"? The answer is simple, "I am waiting for dinner to get done cooking". Right after dinner we are rushing out the door to go to volleyball. I will be ready for the weekend, we can take some time out and just relax. Next week I am going to utilize my time more wisely and prepare as much of dinner ahead of time that I can.

OH the Drama!!!

I know by being a girl/woman that it is hard, but raising two girls is twice as hard. The morning started off with my oldest daughter being tired and having a stomach ache. She was so difficult to wake up she started to run late for school, she could not put an outfit together that she liked, her black lace leggings were missing (I know what your thinking, black lace leggings? find something else to wear) and before I know it she was crying uncontrollably. I did not want to send my daughter to school upset, cause then she would have a bad day. I let her stay home an extra 30 min until she found an outfit she liked, ate a good breakfast, got her hair fixed and stopped crying.

As if our house hold did not have enough drama in it already, enters my younger daughter. She put on an outfit that looked like she literally rolled out of bed. I tried to explain to her that she has an entire closet of very nice clothes and she is not going to wear ratty clothes to school. Also I believe that the way my children dress is a reflection on me and our family, I do not want teachers at school to think that my children/me do not take an interest in their looks and appearance. I know that sounds kind of vain but that is how I feel. After making her change her clothes and putting up with a lot and I mean a lot of tears she was off to school as well.

So our house was full of sooooo much DRAMA this morning and I am sure the DRAMA will come again sooner or later. Because when you are a girl, especially a growing girl DRAMA is just a part of your life. Like it or not!!!

For the Joy it!

This year our town put together a 5k, 10k walk and run that went along with our annual town celebration. My oldest daughter (11 yr) loves, loves to run and she has completed a few 5k's. My younger daughter (8yr) however is not a big runner, but she really wanted to run with me in the race. I was leery letting her run ( I knew she would complain half way thru) since she had never run this far before. I had prepared my self for complaining but I did not prepare myself for soooooo much complaining.

As the gun shot went off my daughters took off running FAST! I tried to tell my 8yr old that she was starting off too quickly and she would crash and burn half way thru, but did she listen to me? NOOOOOO. She got so far ahead of me I could not her for awhile, but then came the first of many hills......and she suddenly hit a wall, a BIG wall. From that point on she whined, cried and complained that her body hurt and she had to get up so early.

When he headed up the final hill and the finish line was insight I told my 8yr old to keep running and don't stop, what did she do? She stopped!! I had to grab her hand and literally pull her up the hill and across the finish line. I was not going to cross before her, I wanted us to run across
together. Mean while my 11yr old had crossed the finish line way before us at a mere 30 minutes. I just have to say I am so extremely proud of my daughters for giving all they got and running not only for the exercise but for the pure joy of it.

Before our Race

About to begin

After (notice my 8yr old is not smiling)

Everyone loves a Parade

Last weekend we took our kids to a parade. Once we finally found a parking spot and joined our family we had a great time. Sam loved the Horses, Firetrucks and the Marching Band. We collected so much gum, suckers and candy my kids didn't know what to do with it all (they have never been to a parade that threw so much candy). The weather was gorgeous and it was such a terrrific day spent with family. Great times and Great Memories!

Rain Rain Go Away

A few weeks ago we were outside gardening and it started to rain, it didn't look like it was going to last long so we hung out in the garage till it stopped. Well my kids thought it would be funny to get the umbrellas out. Sam had so much fun playing in the rain, usually I would not let them get so wet but I wanted to get some great pictures and I think I accomplished that. I learned how to make these fun story boards on Photo Shop Elements.