Mom's Day.

   Mother's day this year had some perks to it.  Charlotte was dedicated this morning at church and my Mom and Dad were able to be here to see it.  I told a friend at church that Dad and Mom hadn't even known about the dedication when they planned their trip (none of us had, it wasn't planned yet) and it just all worked out so well.  That's when she said, "God goes before us" and I think she's right.  I hadn't really about that...that God would care about a small detail in my life like that and work it out in a way that is such a blessing. 

   So it has been so great to be spending lots of family time all together with our little crew that has transplanted out here to the West Coast.  For those of you that don't know, I was lucky enough to have a sister marry someone out here before me, and so when I married Randy and moved out here, I was not alone.  So now whenever Mom and Dad come to visit I guess you could say they can kill two birds with one stone, if their daughters were birds, and they were killing them, I suppose.  So bad analogy there.  But anyways, we had to snatch some family pictures in the few minutes after church and before lunch (while the Papa Murphy's was baking. Ha) and here are the results of that shoot. 

Konrad and Shannon with their children, (L to R) Elissa, Benson, Carita, Carson and Annika. 

 

  It was a little ironic (or poetic justice?) that on Mother's day I would feel so frazzled in my motherly duties.  As I mentioned, Charlotte had her dedication that morning, so of course that meant lots of rushing around to get myself and two littles all dressed up for church, and the rushing left no time for breakfast for Jocelyn, which resulted in giving her a granola bar to eat on the way, which resulted in chocolate smeared all over her pretty matching cardigan, which she then didn't get to wear at church at all, because I quickly rinsed it out in the sink and promptly left it in the bathroom, rather than taking it with me into church, but at least she got to wear it for the pictures.  O.k. that run-on sentence made no sense, but I'm rushing with this blog post and am going to take very little/no time to edit.  So I guess hang on and enjoy the ride here.

 

 

   Then there was Sunday school which is always a bit of a challenge with Randy off teaching the youth class, and me trying to keep two littles from disrupting our adult class the entire time.  But before you award me any medals, I usually have someone help with one of them almost every Sunday, so that I don't have to do it alone.  Otherwise I would probably just skip Sunday school.  Although do you ever find yourself thinking that skipping something that may seem like a lot of work will only mean that you will be alone at home for the same amount of time and have to load up all the kids alone to go out later, and that would feel like even MORE work, so you just end up going to the thing you were going to skip in the first place?  Am I the only one that does that?  Anyway, then it was lunch and naps (which Charlotte woke me up early from) and family time and snacks and bedtime stories, and I was just feeling sort of mothered-out from the whole day. 

 

   But then I watch my sister with her (count them!) 5, and I think, "How wimpy AM I?!"  She does a fabulous job.  Gardening and canning up a storm, home-schooling and teaching them about Jesus and whipping up tasty meals on a moment's notice and stretching dollars, and a 1,000 other things every day.  I view her as a wealthy source of information and consult her with my questions on natural childbirth, healthy recipes, home remedies and much, much MUCH in between.  Her parenting trademarks (if one has such a thing) are patience and selflessness. Honestly, this woman is so selfless when it comes to parenting it almost WORRIES me.  She puts her kids first, no questions about it.  She will deny herself over and over again for them, long after I've gotten a babsitter and gone out for coffee ALONE. :)

 

 

   So needless to say,  (I mean, really needless because who doesn't know this?)  Moms do a lot.  Especially my mom.   A lot that goes unnoticed, a lot that goes unthanked, a lot that goes unappreciated, a lot that goes uncelebrated and a lot that goes undeserved.  Every time she comes out to visit me, I am able to accomplish about 50x more things than I can on my own.  She will always be able to work circles around any woman, any time, and where.  She will always be able to accomplish things with twice the speed, 3x the efficiency, and 1/2 of the resources as anyone else.  She is a woman of little fanfare....she doesn't need big fancy gifts or extravagant displays of affection.  I asked her how she feels loved most, and she replied with, "Quality time.  And when people let me do things for them."  So even a language that speaks love TO her is really just another form of service....her serving others actually makes her feel loved.  Amazing.

 

   I have much, much, much to learn from her.  I am a selfish person.  Motherhood has made me realize (and realize all over again each day) how selfish I truly am.  I feel that as a mother I need to constantly, daily die to myself, and to my desires and put another before myself.  And it is Not. Easy.  But it is what mothers do.  And for some like my mom, it is their entire mission in life. 

 

   Me?  I get a kick out of finding fabulous vintage shoes at second-hand stores, like the ones I wore on Mother's day.  My mom? She gets a kick out of washing people's windows.   We are very different creatures, my mother and I.  But we are both moms, who love their children more than they know, and I am constantly reminded of what my mom had to sacrifice each and every day, as I make some of those sacrifices myself.

 

Thanks for everything, Mom.  I love you.

Heavenly sunshine.

*Sung to the tune of Blessed Assurance* 

"Heavenly sunshine, joyous am I!  Oh what a foretaste of the 4th of July!  Oh the salvation, of sunshine above! 'From-winter' mercy, the seasons I love.  This is my happy place, this is my song!  Praising my Saviour, all the day long!  Yes this is my happy place, this is my song.  Thankful for sunshine, all the day long."



(Yes, that is the hat making yet another appearance.  I may or may not over-wear it.) 

 I have a resolution that I hold to pretty firmly since moving out here to the Northwest.  And that resolution is, I do not complain about the weather being too hot, for the duration of the entire spring/summer.  I think I actually accomplished it last year (correct me if I'm wrong, people) and am planning to again this year.  I'm sure most of you are thinking, "Well we shouldn't ever complain about the weather because that is complaining to God and so why don't you just go ahead and do that for all other 3 seasons?"  And to that my only reply is....I am a work in progress.  Baby steps people, baby steps. 

 

    So I will just take this moment to delcare that I am SO GRATEFUL TO JESUS for this weather we have been having lately!!  Charlotte is thankful too, even though it looks like she's not enjoying herself at all in the picture above.  She had just woken up from a nap and was wondering where she was, and why everything was so stinkin' bright.

 

  Every winter it is the same old story. I know I am a summer child, I know that I am made for the sun, but in my focus and determination to hunker down and survive the winter doldrums, I forget. I FORGET how alive the sun causes me to become. I forget how much I thrive on the feeling of it warming my skin, the tickle of sweat, the flushing of your cheeks in the sun..... If people are designed for geographical places, then I was surely designed for the south. But I have made my home here, and I guess one plus to that is that it will forever keep me grateful and APPRECIATIVE of warm weather. I don't think I'll take it for granted another day in my life. Because boy howdy by the time it finally rolls around, I am good and ready to do a song and a dance about it.

  So Mr. Sun, we're all pretty jazzed about you around here, and I sure hope you're planning on sticking around for a while. 

Home for now.

Sometimes I find myself in dire need of an attitude adjustment.

Sometimes it's my daughters (namely my eldest) that need one.

    But in any case, (and whomever it is that is needing one) it is beneficial to ALL to get one.  And something I've found that works like magic is just taking time to notice things, like we did a few days ago.

   Noticing things?  How would that bring about an attitude adjustment?  Well, I don't know about you, but  on my darkest days, sometimes it seems completely overwhelming to even think about trying to be grateful.   I don't want to try and count my blessings.  
    But that's when I discovered the remedy of "noticing things".  Because even to your grumpiest self, giving yourself a direct order to get outside and just notice some details doesn't seem to overwhelming or Pollyanna-strangle-me-nowish.  It feels...doable. Like something your sad little spirit can handle.  And the funny thing is?  When you get yourself to just at least LOOK at some details in nature, or take a bucket outside and see what "treasures" you can find, you just can't help but start to feel thankful.  I'm not sure what it is exactly....but there is joy to be found in detail.

 Ann Voskamp writes about this very thing in her book, 1,000 Gifts, and you will find her in her kitchen, waxing poetic about the curve of bubbles breaking in the sink or the shavings of grated cheese piling up on a plate.  It may sound silly, but just TRY IT.  Just literally try noticing details and you will end up giving thanks.  It just may catch you by surprise.

At least it does me.

 We found a few toys buried deep, all crusted over with time long gone by since they were last played with.  It made me wonder about who it was that played in this yard before us, and what their lives might have been like.  And whether those children are grown now, with jobs and suits and maybe even beards, and it all sort of made me rather wistful.   I wonder if someday, a long time from now, when someone is living in this house, if they will still find cheerios in the nooks and crannies and tiny little pink hair bands buried deep into the carpet and wonder about our little girls.  And I wonder if just that fast, my girls will be grown and living their own lives with homes and cars and husbands and babies.......

 I'm not sure how I haven't owned a trucker hat before now, but I'm going to go on record to say that it should be a wardrobe staple.  Even more so if it has your husband's business name on it. It goes with everything, you don't have to do your hair.....do I even need to mention any more things?

     We are so grateful to live in this breathtakingly beautiful place.  A place with fruit trees and the juiciest, biggest berries you've ever seen, a place for a garden, HUGE yards to play in, and a view of the foothills and  sheep pastures all around.  We are renting and currently house hunting, so obviously, this won't last forever.  I will be so sad to leave, and I will cherish so many memories from this beautiful home.

 Occasionally, a sheep gets across the fence and isn't sure how to get back.  There was a poor little lost lamb the other day, and Jocelyn and I chased and chased it, trying to get it back over to its mama.

    I just could not stop thinking about how like sheep, we go astray.  And how it must absolutely pain the Father to watch us, bleating and crying and frantically running in circles, throwing ourselves over and over into barbed wire in an attempt to be free.  I kept thinking if that poor little lamb would just let me help!  It would be so simple and painless and quick and easy and.......well, life is rarely that way is it?  And even less so when we run from the Good Shepherd.

     I am so thankful for this place that we call home.  It is an old house, with lots of character and memories etched into each wall.  It has a large front porch and deck out back that are just begging to be remodeled and decorated and used.  But for now, they most often sit empty.

    As the story goes, the lady that lived here a long, long time ago, stuck some saplings from the California redwoods in her purse and transported them here.  So we have these magnificent trees in our front yard that drop the biggest, most beautiful pine cones. I want to put these trees in my purse when we leave.

  And these flowering bushes.  

  And this little balcony off of our master bedroom, where sometimes, when the weather's right and I have the time, I lay out in the sun when the girls are napping.

   Don't get me wrong, I am excited about what the future holds, but isn't it always difficult to close a chapter?  Well, I guess not always.  Especially when you're eager for a chapter to end because maybe it's been pretty rotten.  And so I guess that is yet another thing I can be thankful for....if a chapter is hard to see end, it means it was a good one.  

   Thank-you, Jesus for whatever lies ahead, and whatever we may have to say good-bye to along the way.  

Catching up.

Well, believe it or not, we're still alive over here at the Smucker household.

    Things have been busy, as you have probably have been able to guess by the lack of posting.  It's strange, you would think it would work the other way...when I am busy there would be lots of things to post about and when I'm not, there would be a lull.  But the lulls definitely abound on the blog when it is the opposite in the real world, and I find myself too caught up in the whirlwind of life to think much about blogging.  Plus, when Blogger decides to go on strike and make posting photos next-to-impossible that doesn't help the "hiatus" situation any.

Moving on we are BEHIND on updates, (and everything else, I know) and so here goes.

Charlotte is of course growing like a weed and is over 10 months old by now.  Did I miss the 9 month update???!  Ug, I hope not....I'm too lazy to go back and check right now.  In any case, here she is at a whopping 10 and 1/2 months old.  And boy is she ever CUTE. It's o.k. for me to say that because it's common knowledge that all moms think their babies are darling, so.....moving on. Her most recent developments are two more teeth (making 6!!!) and her first word, "mama" (sweet victory, since Jocelyn's were "dada") and playing peek-a-boo, all by herself.    She has been growing more and more active, pulling herself up and standing, and mastering the art of climbing stairs, making no place safe anymore with our stairs all over the place.  She is still a charmer, generally happy except for when she's working on teeth, and still a good nurser.  She loves her daddy and always give a nice reaction when he comes home from work.  She eats a little bit of anything these days, and usually just eats bits of whatever we're having for dinner.  I am already starting to think about her big birthday coming up in June, and I can't wait to celebrate her dedication to the Lord on Mother's Day.  

   Charlotte, you are just as sweet as you could be.  I love when you wake up from a nap and your hair is all fuzzy and your cheeks so flushed and pink.  I have enjoyed these past 10 months with you so much and I am excited to see how much you will grow and change this summer!  Hopefully you will start walking before your big sister did so we can enjoy that while the weather is nice. You are so dear to me.  I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as I'm living, my baby you'll be.  

 So funny to me how Big sister has no desire to smile for pictures when she's the primary subject, but as soon as I'm taking them of baby sis, suddenly she can't resist getting into every shot and cheesing for all she's worth.  Little stinker. Just ignore the wild hair/random hair clips too.  It's hard enough to prepare one child for pictures!

 This 10-month photo shoot just slayed me.  After dressing her I found myself already fighting tears. I'm not sure if it's the corduroy jumper, the tights, or the Mary Janes, but this outfit just said "First day of school" to me.  And Charli-babes, I am SO not ready for that. You need many, many moons and summers with your mama before you go skipping off to school without me, thank-you very much.

   Then we have our sweet Jocelyn.  Oh my, she has been changing too.  She is in that stage of life where it seems nearly each day she is a little bit taller, stronger, bigger.  She is putting words together more and more, and the other day she got her purse and her baby and told me all about how she was going off to town to get groceries, and she was planning to get cheese, an apple, and other things.  It was precious.

   The three of us are all battling nasty colds, so we couldn't go to the weekly play date today.  I missed seeing the other moms and felt the need to get out so we headed to the park and spread our germs there.  Plus I hear that fresh air can help with colds? Myth? Truth? Help me out here.

    The playground is certainly one of her favorite things in life right now, and I'm still not sure if I go there totally for her pleasure, or for mine.  Not only is it relaxing and good to be out in the fresh air, but I always have a good, healthy dose of the "Good-Mom drug" by the time I leave.  You other moms know what I'm talking about.  We berate ourselves daily for a million different little things that make us feel like "bad moms". Things we forget, things we don't do and should, or do and shouldn't....things we say, things that annoy us, and times we show it.....the list goes on and on.  But every once in a while, there is that craft, or activity, or thing you do that just instantly gives you a shot in the arm of "Good Mom" feeling.  And taking my kids to the park does that for me.  They have fun, I feel like a Good Mom, it truly is a win-win.  And after all, we need it don't we?  Us moms are so HARD on ourselves 99.9% of the time.

    Let's see, what else is she doing lately.....  She is starting to put together where places are, and can guess sometimes where we are going.  This is of course a cause of great sorrow if I turn the opposite direction of a place she thinks we should be going to.  She also has people she is getting quite attached to, and asks to pray for them BY NAME every, single day. It is precious, but makes for lengthy prayers sometimes, even when I'm just trying to bless her food, but that is a good thing, and I never want to discourage her from praying for the people she loves.  It's something I want to develop more in my life, and so this is a daily (multiple times!) reminder to do just that.  So if you're on her list, you're getting lots of prayers sent your way these days!!

    She  is very into her uncle Shelby, and lucky for her, he has been around quite a bit for the past year.  Did I ever mention on my blog that my younger brother has been living with us for over a year?  That's really weird if I haven't....anyways, he has been serving with Gospel Echoes and is living with us until the end of this year. He has been so wonderful with our girls, helping out with occasional babysitting and they both love him.    I'll have to get some pictures of him sometime on here.

 
   I love how lately everything is a "time" for her.  She wakes up and says, "Breakfast time! Breakfast time!" Over and over until I move in that direction.  Then it's "jammies time" "bath time" and "dishes time"  and anything else she deems it "time" for.  Kinda cute, kinda annoying.  Mostly cute though.

  It's so strange that for as much as she hates/fears animals, they make a big impression on her.  We saw a baby calf on a walk one day and she asks for the baby cow, without fail, every time we go on a walk.  And it's been a long time.  She also comments on the baby sheep, and how they're nursing, and the chickens with daddy at work (he has them over there as he's been making the hutch for them), etc.etc.  I am hopeful she is developing a tolerance for animals, and will soon be over her fears.

 Speaking of getting over fears...it happened almost before I even realized it.... she went down the big slide without me!  She's been going down the smaller ones for a long time now, but hadn't tackled the big one yet, and today she did.  No fanfare, no me chanting "You can do it!", nothing.  She just climbed up there and went.  And another teeny tiny piece of me died.  In a good way, of course.  Much like when they take their first step or stop nursing.  It's growth and change, and those are very good things, but some day she won't need me anymore, and each little baby step of independence is a reminder of that, and I can't seem to make myself not think about it.

   My precious Jocelyn, what a big girl you are growing up to be!  You are sleeping every night now in your big girl bed, and you seem so small in it.  I love your love for praying and for stories from the Bible.  I think it's safe to say your favorite is the one about Mary and baby Jesus, you ask for it every day.  You are starting to sing (finally!) and that thrills mama.  You are my big helper, getting diapers and wipes for me, helping wash dishes and putting your toys away.  I am thrilled to see how you have been growing and learning and changing.  You are a good sister, and I can't wait to see how the two of you girls are just going to be the BEST of friends.  I love you to the moon and back.

   And then there's us....well I have no pictures of us, but I suppose I can share a few random ones of what we've been up to lately.  We've had the weirdest weather lately.  Not too long ago it was gorgeous, luring me outside and my summer clothes out of hiding, and then....boom.  Cold and rainy again.  Today it was sunny and cold, and so you bundled up in layers and would nearly sweat in your car and then get out and freeze.  And I never have any idea how to dress for that weather. 

  

   To the ladies who told me about the audio feature on my Bible app....thank-you!  How perfect!  I was able to "read" some Psalms while watching my daughter play and kick back in the bright sun that makes actual reading on an iPhone very difficult.  Perfect.

   And just for fun, here's what our fridge looks like these days.  We are busy.  And I am a list-maker.  I am a list maker because I am unorganized, and lists make me feel like I can at least pretend there is a reason and rhyme to the thing, and it's not all threatening to swallow me whole at any given moment.  Lists give me a sense of calm, like "Oh hey, no big deal that the next 8 weekends are full, because it's on the calendar."  Or "Hey, no big deal that I have to make those desserts and food and snacks and etc. because it's on the list".  That sort of thing.  And even if it's a false sense of security I like it and I need it and don'tyoutakeitawayfromme.  

And here's the aforementioned chicken coop that my husband made for me.  Isn't it perfect?!

   A group of us ladies had the honor and privilege of attending the Living Proof Live Beth Moore conference this past weekend, and let me tell you...It. Was. Awesome.  If you've never been to one, you need to do yourself a big fat favor and GO.  Like, yesterday.  I was not even remotely prepared for how moving it would be.  The worship was so powerful, I wished it would have gone for hours.  The sessions spoke to many things I have been facing in my life RIGHT NOW and Beth Moore never once made it all about her.  It was all about Him.  It was such an uplifting, encouraging time, and I was so grateful to get to be a part of it all.  

   

    Well, I'm sure I could go on and on.  I guess that's what happens when you don't blog in forever and a day, but I'll wrap it up.  It's good to be back.

Comparison, and the real culprits.

There is topic that has been trending among blogs these days, and it's all about comparison.

  I think it's because it is so universal....whether we want to admit it or not, it is something each and every one of us has either struggled with in the past, or is struggling with still.  And it is a potent, consuming thing, sneaking up in unexpected places and stealing our joy, robbing us of our contentment, and wreaking havoc on our previously peaceful lives.  I could go on and on.   But I won't.  You can read an excellent post on it here, which is maybe the best one I've read yet.

   I think it's my favorite because although she briefly mentions a few things that can encourage comparison (friends, blogs, Instagram, etc) she doesn't name them as the sole culprits.  And that, right there, is the problem I have with this whole new trend in blogland.   It seems we are all willing and ready to admit that we have a problem with comparison:  that is has permeated every aspect of our lives, and we are all worse off because of it.  But something we're NOT willing to address, is where all this comparison is coming from.  I have noticed many people blaming specific sources, like Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, etc. often in the form of blog posts like this.  While this author had a lot of very valid, and good points to make, I just can't say that I entirely agree.  And this is why.

Instagram is not the enemy.  Facebook is not the enemy.  Pinterest is not the enemy.

   They can't make us envy, covet, compare, or be jealous.  Those are things that all come from within.  And the truth is, long before there was ever any of these social media outlets, there was jealousy.  There was covetousness.  Just think of those movies like Pride and Prejudice when no one could have imagined the access to technology we would one day have, but all of those people still swept into the grand hall, eying all their peers up and down, sneering at someone's dress and drooling over someone's else's, gossiping in the corners about the latest "status updates" of those present and quietly ignoring (blocking??)  the ones they'd rather not talk to.  Do we really honestly think that if we would have lived in Laura Ingalls Wilder's day we wouldn't compare ourselves to other people?  I highly doubt that would be the case.

   Certainly, the accessibility into people's homes and lives because of the internet can make comparison easier.  But it doesn't make it happen.  It happens when we think it, embrace it, and make an agreement with it.  It happens when we make a choice to internalize that, instead of what God says about us. 

   Technology is not the enemy here.  These vices have been around for as long as humanity has.  And it's not going away by itself.  I think we need to stop focusing on the wrong culprits, and own up to our own role that we play. I know for myself, I often fall prey to comparison.  And I am trying to identify the pitfalls in my own heart, and begin my changes there.  Because if I don't, things will never really change.

Just my thoughts on this late, Saturday night, long after I should have been in bed.

And I would love to hear yours! What do you think about this whole thing?

Anniversary getaway.

So I've been thinking....

   And I suppose my posts lately have been a little glum.  So I want to give a disclaimer.  Not in the sense that "I didn't really mean the things I said" way because I did, and not in the "I shouldn't have said them" way because I think I should have.   I don't think it's ever right or beneficial to only ever write about the bubbles and fireflies, and not the nitty-gritty of life.

HOWEVER.

   My whole purpose of this blog, this creative outlet, this avenue of venting I guess, is to in some way uplift, encourage, inspire, etc.   So if to any extent my posts lately have been detracting that from your lives, I'm sorry.  If not, great!  Than just skip this disclaimer because you and I are on the same page, and I assume you have a sense of humor. 

Moving on....this is a story about the city of Portland, and why you should go there. 

   Reason #1.  You get to walk the streets and stumble upon all kinds of interesting things like their lovely Farmer's Market.  They sell lots of fresh produce, leafy greens and gluten-free baked goods and it all makes you feel oh-so-very earthy and hip just by walking past.  See? Hand-churned?  What did I tell you.

   (The above picture to the right is for anyone who thinks our current society is all about dressing seductively and immodestly.  I assure you, there is modest fashion in abundance these days that can be found almost anywhere you look.  I won't branch off onto that, because that is an entire blog post in itself....but isn't it just so refreshing to see?) 

   Reason #2.  There is a Starbucks on practically every corner, and that is only a slight exaggeration.  We took full advantage of that over the weekend and saw probably 3 or 4 different ones before we left.  Note to java-drinking parents everywhere...if you are anywhere near a coffee shop without your kids and you DON'T take advantage of that opportunity, a little fairie dies.

    My favorite Starbucks though, was probably this one, with all glass walls and in the middle of the square, and you could just sit, talk, and people-watch to your heart's content.  And there's no one I'd rather talk and people-watch with, than this guy.  And we saw all kinds of interesting things.  A real-live adult Batman showed up, zooming up and down the sidewalks apparently on a mission of some kind to save the world.  And then there was the cop who seemed to be just walking around and around the same block, while coming into the Starbucks several times.  Did he like a barista?  Was there a convicted felon inside?  Was he sitting next to us? Oh, the intrigue.   The only downside to the lovely establishment?  No bathroom. But it's all glass walls, can you blame them?

 

 

 

   Reason #3.  The shopping!  How lucky am I that I landed a man who doesn't mind a little shopping every now and then?  Pretty lucky I'd say.  And the shopping in Portland is great, so it doesn't get much better than that. 

 



  We walked, we shopped, we ate, we browsed, and we got our fill of adult conversation in a time of our lives when there are two littles ones demanding quite a bit of attention.  It was the perfect, not-to-far-away getaway celebrating 4 years of being hitched, and I absolutely loved it.  We often go to the coast for these little trips, and although I always love the coast, we have a coast trip with friends (Yay!!) planned for next month, and so we decided to do something different this time around.  Did I mention I loved it?  And you would too.  So go there sometime.  The End. 

 

   (Typical blurry, self-timer shot that doesn't turn out but is the only one of the whole time of the two of you together so......)

 

   I am so thankful to be married to someone who prioritizes quality time together.  I feel like I have said that about 264 times on this blog, and I will probably continue to say it until the day I die.  It's just true, and I hope I never take it for granted.  At a time in our lives when it probably would be easiest to "just stay home", he still makes an effort for us to be able to get away every now and does all the planning and lining up babysitting and other things that I am pretty lousy at.  What a guy. 

Thanks babe for another weekend I'll never forget. Here's to many more.

 

  P.S. I am also thankful for grandparents who babysit their grandbabies.  What would we do without you??