Dearest Brother,
The other night we pulled out the old slides and sat down to a picture show. And ran across this. We guffawed for quite awhile, and I just couldn’t resist showing the world. You really were the cutest thing many birthdays ago, even in those cutoff jeans.
Good thing you turned into such a handsome scudder…
But I’m still glad you can get your goof on.
Love you more than words, and happy quarter century!!
My husband was peeking over my shoulder at the computer the other day, looking at my last blog, when he brought to my attention that DYI makes no sense. “What does DYI mean?” he asks. (I’m thinking, DUH, honey). “Do it Yourself!” I exclaim……oh. Hehe. I seem to have had a bit of dyslexia when I first posted my chalkboard project. Funny thing is that I’m positive I commented on someone else’s blog using DYI. I’m such a nerd.
…………………………………
Yesterday was my lovely mother’s birthday! Hooray! You know how pictures go with kids…Ryan was way too intrigued by the noisemaker, and Jack? He was not content to sit. He wanted a cupcake, as evidenced by the second picture.
(little goober!)
If you want something yummy to eat, I did a little guest blog over at Today’s Homemaker. Thanks for including me, girlfriend. 
Happy Monday!
In case you don’t have toddlers, the title is part of the theme song from Super Why! on PBS, and it’s been running through my head all morning long. But it is incredibly APT for my blog today, which is dedicated to my beloved.
Yesterday was SUCH a good day. It was fantastic from top to bottom, the best part being that it was Erick’s 28th birthday. Our church service was spirit-filled. One of those inspiring, goose-bump mornings. Our pastor started out by showing us the video below, and even though I know you are busy and 5 minutes seems like an eternity, you won’t regret watching this! The boys and I have watched it 3 times today, and they clap and clap and smile and it melts my heart!
After church, I asked Erick what his heart’s desire was for the Big Day. He thought and pondered and said “I want to see my kids have fun”. What he said next struck fear in my heart. Struck FEAR! “Let’s go to Chuck E. Cheese!” He exclaims.
I reluctantly gave in. (It was his birthday, after all).
CC is in Portland, so we drove to the big city (I will go any chance I get-one reason I was willing to go along with this insane plan). We walked in the doors, and after 30 seconds I looked at Erick and told him this would only, from here on out, be a ONCE a year thing. The boys were momentarily stunned with wide-eyed wonder then hit the ground running. It was all we could do to keep up with them. Jack wanted a piece of it all. Once Ry discovered Skeeball he was in love, although standing next to him while he tried to launch the ball was a mite dangerous. I was worn out, I was ragged, I was frazzled…
I had a BLAST!
My parents came along for the fun, and it truly was wonderful. We took this picture in one of the little booths at the end of our time there, and even though it’s goofy, I’ll treasure it forever.
What kind of husband would wish for a birthday celebrated at Chuck E Cheese? All in the name of it would be fun for the kids? My Erick, that’s who! I love him so!
After CC’s, we went to the mall, and I was blown away with the new look at Pottery Barn. PB sometimes delights me, sometimes lets me down, but it’s all good this time around. I think I’m going to try my hand at Polyvore and come up with some inspiration boards. Because I was inspired from my head to my toes yesterday.
We made a stop at Whole Foods and grabbed a chocolate cake, which we dug into on the ride home. YUM. As soon as we walked in the door E and I had to hand the kids off to Nonnie and Papa so we could scoot across the street to our Alpha Course. Perfect end to a perfect day.
And perfect end to this blog because I have things to do. A million things on my plate, and as soon as Erick gets home we get to go see a house! Wahoo! I’ll report our findings tomorrow…
Be Blessed. 
Yesterday was my birthday, and it was fantastic. We were included in the nasty Northeast snowstorm, which actually worked out to my advantage because the guys were able to stay home from school. Big silver lining.
Erick is so creative-during most of our celebrations he has led me on a little treasure hunts. He comes up with witty little poems that are clues to small gifts, which ended up bringing forth a Frappucino, Mac’s Kettle Corn, Junior Mints, and a Gift card yesterday. (Is he trying to fatten me up?) The BIG HUGE surprise from Erick, the boys, and his mom was an IPod Nano. An IPod! I feel so…hip, now. I can’t wait to save up for a docking station of some sort so I can fill the house with music. I love that we can have a tiny stereo that won’t be surrounded by a plethora of cds!
Mom and Dad gave me some spending money (Etsy, here I come!) and Jan Karon’s brand new book, Home to Holly Springs. I can’t tell you how blessed I felt yesterday. It was perfection.
I was also treated to tacos and sopapillas, (a favorite), and a delicious Deep Chocolate Almond Cake made by my lovely parents. Ack! Could I ask for anything more? I don’t think so!
To top things off, I sold some fabric on Etsy and am on a roll coming up with items to sell. Hold me to it, people…I’m opening up a new shop come Sunday. I can’t WAIT!
I had to mark the day with some pictures-we spent a good portion of the evening in front of the photobooth on Erick’s Mac. These are the only two E mailed to me last night-they sure are cute, though.
Happy Valentine’s Day, friends!
Saturday mom and dad whisked me away early in the morning on a birthday trip; it’s not until Wednesday (the bday) but the forecast looked decent so we decided to take advantage. My darling Erick watched the boys-I was ready to cover a good portion of the state, which would probably have driven the boys bonkers!
It was cold. After we hopped in the car we figured it was around 15 degrees, only to drive by the bank and realize it was a whoppin’ 3 Fahrenheit! It was beautiful though. These are a couple of pictures mom took out of the window on the interstate:
I have to say, though…I’m tired of the snow. It has been a lovely winter-the snowstorms have actually been beautiful, and it tends to hover above freezing quite a bit, so we don’t have piles and piles of the white stuff like we would if it were colder. Methinks, though, that I’m ready for warmer weather.
First stop was Dunkin Donuts, then onto Freeport. We browsed LLBean and hit up a fabric shop then shot on up to Bath. I have come to love Bath. They have a great downtown; good shopping and fantastic eats. I purchased a pair of earrings and a little bird figurine at Tintypes (a must stop), and we decided to eat at Beale Street BBQ, which was one of the most fantastic decisions of the day. I had the shredded chicken on jalapeño cornbread with fries. If I hadn’t of had my scruples about me I would have licked the plate. Seriously. It was that good. I tasted some of mom and dad’s beans and coleslaw, and I’m telling you-I’ve never been a coleslaw fan until last Saturday. And the beans…Oh! Serious kudos to Beale Street. I can’t wait to go back.
If that weren’t enough, we made a stop at Marnee’s and partook in some award-winning cookies. They are going to be featured on Rachel Ray this week; very cool. I had the chocolate chip and toffee cookie. Out of this world, people.
All in all, a culinary delight of a day!
Oh, but we did make a final stop in Wiscassett and visited Smitten and Rock, Paper, Scissors, another two must-stops of mine. And then ate Nacho Cheese Doritos on the way home. Hehe. Too full for anything else.
Well, there ya go. Another Plop…in goes a hairbrush, hand salve, and toothbrush holder. To the toilet. Compliments of Jack. Time to go!
