A few things

This is what happens when one learns how to climb out of

their crib during naptime, destroy the bedroom and then become

so tired they can't quite make it back to bed.

Okay so I have been going through vacuum cleaner withdrawals! Last week

my new vacuum quit. Didn't make any noises, just shut off and

wouldn't go back on. I took it to a repair place because it's still

under warranty and apparently there was an electrical malfunction

and some parts got melted on the inside and it needs a new cord and

all this other jazz.

Well anyway, it's going to take two weeks to get the parts in! I vacuum

my house (okay, just the downstairs) every single day. My two friends,

Stacie and Emily, have graciously let me bother their vacuums, but

I always feel guilty asking. And then to add insult to injury- some older child

of mine left the pantry door open while I was upstairs yesterday and Joel

got a container of cracked wheat out and dumped the whole thing on the floor!

When the wheat is cracked it's not easy to pick up. Hence I had to use Stacie's vacuum again!

I feel like I have lost my best friend! Ha.ha.

My wild girl

Does this child look like she has an attitude? This was
Jessica when she was three and showing her displeasure
in having to pose for a picture. She is definitely our
little stubborn girl. She's also pretty tough too. The other
day she got in trouble at school for telling a boy she was
going to kick him "where it counts" (not her exact words)
if he didn't leave her alone.
On one hand I was proud of her for standing up for herself,
on the other hand she could probably have gone about it differently.
Infact, I had to bite my tongue to keep from laughing as I tried to
explain how we don't talk about what we are going to do to other
people's private areas.
Technically if she is being bothered by a boy she has more
than my permission to give him a swift kick. But it's probably better at her
young age to encourage her to go get a teacher instead.

Then and Now

Then - May 1997




Now - (okay 6 months ago)

Our 12 year anniversary is on Wednesday so I thought

it would be fun to post the "then and now" pictures of us.

I am always reminded of that quote, "today I marry

the one I will laugh with, live for; love."

Because I married the best possible person on earth.

He couldn't have been more perfect than if I had

created him myself.

34 years young

HAPPY 34th BIRTHDAY PAUL!

(He looks really tired here, but that is because he had just
gotten off work. Plus everyone thinks their children have swine flu and have
been inundating his office, but no one has tested positive yet.)