15 Years

15 Years ago... look how young we were......

And look at the mess we've made!

Happy Anniversary my Love. 

Ten

I'm definitely a few days late posting on Ethan's Birthday....but then a again his presents (thanks to the lovely Post Office) were late to the party as well!

Ethan turned Ten years old on Monday. Another child to join the double digits club. I don't like that club. Soon after follows the "Teenage club" the "I can drive club" the "I'm a legal adult club" and the dreaded "I'm outta here club"....ok, that may be a little dramatic, but it feels like it comes that quickly.

Ethan asked for a Turkey cake for his Birthday. I guess he wanted to share his Birthday this year with the other great holiday in November. And quite fitting for his first decade birthday since he was actually due on Thanksgiving day!

Now that Ethan is 10, I'm no longer allowed to hug or kiss him before he runs on the bus--you know---that's like wayyyyy too embarrassing! BUT, he does still says he loves me and often asks for hugs on a regular basis. I really hope he keeps doing this. (I have to blackmail his older brother for any kind of affection!) Ethan is smart as a whip. I love his independence and self motivation to get things done. (except housework that is) He still loves to read like mad....and gets really mad if you make him stop reading. He is kind and considerate most of the time and would really like everyone to know that he no longer wears a size 8 in clothing. (But he really does---shhhhhh don't tell anyone I told you. We once had to spend 15 mins at Costco convincing him that the size 10 jacket was way too big. I told him he could tell everyone it was a size 10 if he wanted to!)

Opening his presents. He always the jokester at our house!

My only really bad picture of his spanking line!

Happy Birthday Ethan. We love you so much...and Mom especially loves your hugs!

Mama came to visit

Took my beautiful Mama to the Atlantic Ocean before she left for home today. It was only her second trip to the Atlantic--first trip courtesy of me as well. She said I'm her wild child who left home too young and never came back...I say I'm her vacation ticket to every corner of the country....or that's what I tell myself to feel better when she guilt trips me!

Halloween 2015

Cowboys and Indians!

We had a rip roarin' good time!

Crazy Hair Day

I was enjoying crazy air day at school......we'll see if they actually did when they get home!

And speaking of crazy....Colonel Mustard was asked to bring a "Halloween dessert" to work for their pot luck today. He asked for monster cupcakes.....maybe a little too crazy for adults...

Shenandoah

I know I failed to ever post about our summer road trip this year (I'll try and get to that), but I thought I'd post about our camping trip to Shenandoah National Park.

Last week, we took the kids to Virginia to do some fall camping and see some mountain leaves while they were on break from school. It was our first trip to Shenandoah and we loved it. It's very similar to Great Smoky Mountain National Park which we have always loved.

It was a tad bit chilly for camping, but we survived. Colonel Mustard however, didn't fare so well. He had the unfortunate experience of being stung by bees--a couple of times. I am apparently allergic to bees. I've only been stung one time, but it was not a fun experience--and Colonel Mustard has enjoyed making fun of me because of it. Well---Karma bites back apparently. It appears he is allergic as well. As much as I wanted to make fun of him, I felt really bad he had to experience such an awful thing.

On the way home, we made a quick stop in at the temple. Always beautiful!

Oh, and we are privileged to have a 4th grader in our midst who got us into the park for free!

Looking forward to next summer when we can hopefully put that card to more use!

Deep Thoughts....

Read an article just after Andrew got home from school, and told him that the University of Delaware just started offering an undergraduate program in meteorology and climatology. (he thinks he wants to be an engineer, but he is intensly interested in weather--so I'm happy to encourage either) He looked at me and said, "Mom....I'm twelve."
And my deep thought for the day I gave him.

It is never to early to plan for your future. Don't let it happen, Make it happen.

Andrew nods his head in agreement.

"Okay Mom...I have to poop."

Yeah, for a minute there I thought he recognized I said something profound....better luck next time.