Catching Up

So I haven’t fallen off the face of the earth. Since I last posted, we’ve bought two cars, sold two cars, applied for a mortgage, had company come into town, I’ve done approximately 20 loads of laundry and I’ve somehow also maintained a full-time job. So forgive me for not posting in so long – I’ve been busy!

I realized yesterday I am living the dream…I am a wife, mother of two and I now own a minivan. It's gorgeous. A 2008 Honda Odyssey in "Slate Green Metallic." I HAVE ARRIVED. I know for some of you, this scenario makes you want to break out in hives (Debbie), but if I’m being honest, it’s the life I’ve always wanted. I knew early on I was born to be a wife and mother. I love my life and I realized the other day that I’m proud of all those things. When I was in high school and college, I was always the girl that no one really wanted to date but the one someone wanted to marry someday. Well, I snagged myself an amazing husband and I am LIVING THE DREAM.

Anyway, I am just very content right now. I’m extremely busy as we’re preparing for our big move to Texas – we spend a lot of time looking at houses online, getting quotes for various projects, and wrapping up school for AC and Gary, but I’m in a happy place. My brother and sweet sister-in-law are visiting right now, and we’re heading out for a weekend of fun in Pennsylvania. I’m going to a concert with a treasured friend tonight. Next week is Mom’s birthday and Anna Claire’s birthday. The following week, my parents arrive. The fun is just beginning!!!

So, just wanted to let everyone know that I’m still living and breathing. I’ll post more frequently, I promise. We’ll post some great pics soon of our weekend in PA with Craig and Sho.

It’s Hard to Be Humble When You’re Perfect in Every Way (or not so much…)

This morning in the car on the way to school:

Anna Claire: Momma, do you remember the first time I had my hair done at Libby Lu? (it’s a store in the mall where they do little hair makeovers for girls. Libby Lu = serious amounts of glitter, so we don’t go in very often)

Me: Yes.

AC: Did my hairdo last more than a day?

Me: No, it was kind of messy after you woke up the next morning.

AC: How did you remember that?

Me: Cause I’m the mommy. It’s my job to remember everything.

AC: Then how come you forgot to feed me breakfast?

Thank heavens for McDonald’s drive-thru…

Anyone Have Some Dental Floss?

Can anyone explain to me how my 2 children could have reallocated all 4 containers of my dental floss? I know what happened to the one in my purse (Leah emptied it and triumphantly handed one big long string of it to me the other night) but seriously – where is the rest of it? I’ve been borrowing Gary’s but it’s only a matter of time before we’ll have to go buy a bunch more.

My kids are ADDICTED to dental floss. It would make my grandmother proud (she’s an avid flosser).

I cannot imagine what happened to the other 3 containers…it’s driving me crazy.

I’m off to Target to buy some more…and I'm gonna put a GPS chip on each one when I get them home.

Seven Year Itch

Today is Gary’s and my 7th wedding anniversary. My friend D asked me yesterday at lunch if I was itchy (“7-year itch”). I replied, “No, I took a Zyrtec this morning.” Ha ha.

I am married to the most phenomenal man. He chose ME out of all the women in the world. ME! Our courtship was a whirlwind – we met in March, went on our first date on May 27th, talked about getting married in July, looked at rings in August, got engaged in November, and were married the following April. But it was amazing, and it still is. Sure, it’s not all thunderclaps and clanging bells anymore…sometimes it’s a child wretching in the back seat, but there’s no one I’d rather “do life” with than him.

I think one of the moments that stands out the most in our marriage was the day that my hair started falling out from chemo. It was November 13, 2003. That night, I asked Gary to shave my head for me so I didn’t have to worry about shedding hair all over the house. I think it was the saddest I’d ever seen him. When he was done, I took a shower, and when I got out and put on my pajamas, he looked at me and said, “Honey, you are still so beautiful to me.” I never loved him more. He has been my cheerleader, my champion, my constant friend and during treatment, he was also my security blanket. I was frantic if he left my side.

We have now settled into a wonderful companionship together, and immensely enjoy being parents together. But we also still love spending time alone together. Date nights are our favorite - it's a chance to sit and just talk (without cutting anyone's meat, changing a diaper or telling one of the girls to stop talking long enough so we can get in a word edgewise). It's precious time.

Sweetheart, I'd marry you all over again if you asked. Thanks for seven wonderful years - and here's to the next seven years! I love you and am so proud to be your wife.

And, since you're a Texan, and I'm the wife of a dedicated Texan...Happy San Jacinto Day too. :)

Birthday!

Today was my birthday – we had such a great time, starting with last night…Anna Claire’s friend, Sarah, came to dinner with us (her mom gave birth to Sarah’s little sister yesterday – Rebeca Grace!) to one of our favorite restaurants, Coastal Flats…after dinner, the kids ran around the town center, then we went home and they had some ice cream. Sarah got to spend the night at our house and the girls had a fabulous time…at 10:00 pm, they were still snuggled in AC’s bed, giggling, talking, eating Goldfish, drinking water, and playing with their flashlights (and about 1300 pieces of Polly Pocket stuff was on the floor – I have no idea how they didn’t step on something!).

This morning, Gary, the girls, and I went to breakfast at a local joint here, then we ran a couple of errands on the way home (which included some new shoes for me – woo hoo!). And Gary carried the shoes – I love me a man who carries my packages so I can shop unencumbered! J We decided to make a quick stop at Target, but as soon as we pulled into the parking lot, Leah vomited all over herself in the car…Happy Birthday, Momma!

Sooo…we went home instead, gave Leah a bath (she was much happier), and played at the house. Then we all took naps (heavenly), then went to dinner at The Cheesecake Factory, where Leah threw a massive tantrum – she was SO cranky. I’m thinking she may be getting sick. Anyway, the food was great and we made it out of the restaurant without Leah throwing herself on the floor and screaming, so in my mind, it was a huge success.

I got some fabulous gifts – a couple of seasons of Frasier, my favorite Bath & Body Works lotion, a couple of CDs, Season 2 of The Closer, an offer from my brother and sister-in-law to treat us to dinner and babysitting when they arrive in 2 weeks (yay!), a beautiful necklace from my parents, and some other great things…but the best was just spending it with my amazing husband and two beautiful girls, and talking to the rest of my family on the phone…I am so blessed.

Tomorrow, I’m going to lunch with a couple of girlfriends to continue the celebrating – can’t wait!

It was a wonderful day, and I’m happy to say that for the first time since I was diagnosed with cancer, I was able to really enjoy my birthday and I wasn’t melancholy about it…in the past, it’s been an emotional day for me with very mixed feelings. Today it was just awesome and I enjoyed every minute…and it helped that it was 80 degrees and sunny!