First Tooth!...

 E lost his very first tooth on Father's Day this year!

That little guy worked on that tooth for a couple days...

wiggling it...pushing it back and forth...and showing us about a thousand times

how loose it was!

It was so cute!

I totally remember those days...

So, on Father's Day we were all outside playing and E just pulled and pulled

and OUT came that little tooth right in the backyard!!

He handled it so bravely!

I remember thinking how much it was going to hurt if I pulled it out...

but boy, he never blinked an eye!

That night I pulled up the story of the Tooth Fairy on our IPad and we sat down

(baby tooth in a container) and read the story...

it was so cute!

They have a section where the Tooth Fairy answers questions from kids like

 "How old are you?"..."What do you do with the teeth?"..."Where do you live?" 

It was really fabulous to be able to answer all those questions straight from the tooth fairy herself!!!

What a magical time losing your first tooth...

Congratulations baby...you are growing up fast my love...

10 Things...

So...

life can be rocky...right?

it can be frustrating..rewarding...crazy...life is a whirlwind of emotions that can define you...

if you let them...

So...

today, I am going to focus on what I am thankful for...

1.  My belief in God...that I know even though he may not answer me right away...I still am completely unable to give up on Him.  I know without a doubt in my heart that he hears me...and is there for me...even on the days I think he forgot...

2.  My beautiful son...and my wonderful husband (I can't imagine a life without you...) and my really really sweet doggie Harlow (we have come to just adore you...).  I know...I know...I say it all the time...(take a break lady!)...but, it's true.  I say a little prayer EVERY day for these two people in my life.  I couldn't be more blessed.

3.   Lipgloss (took a turn huh...!) honestly...just PERKS me up! 

My hubby was wonderful and bought me 3 tubes of Victoria Secret gloss for Christmas and I am almost out!  AHHHH!

4.  Sunday's...at home with my fam.  I used to not appreciate Sunday...I thought, crap, the weekend is almost over.  Drats.  I like Saturday.  But...now (maybe I am just getting older)..I ADORE Sundays.  There is just something about that day...running errands...cleaning...taking walks...going to the park...grilling in the backyard...sipping some wine.  Nothing compares.

5. Pandora  (nuf said)

6.  Watching Ethan's flag football games with my dear friend...the excitement of the kids playing...the Dad's on the sidelines...and me and my girlfriend Christa sitting in the bleachers with a hot cup of coffee watching our little peanuts "try" to play football!!  LOVE IT!

7.  A freshly mowed lawn...

8.  Homemade Pizza...(I NEVER get sick of it)

9.  That my husband kisses me and tells me he loves me EVERY single night before we go to sleep...and means it.  The comfort in that is something I can't even explain.

10.  That Ethan still let's me hold him...and cuddle him...and smother him with kisses...no matter where or when.  (Heaven...)

What are your favorite things...?    

Birthday Dinner...

So...

My wonderful husband just turned 35 yesterday...(yay)!

and 

we couldn't celebrate, because he had a softball game...(boo...)

So...

My wonderful sister in law is taking our son for the evening...

so we can spend some quality time together...(yay)!

I am off work and busy getting our dinner together for tonight...

(& doing some school supply shopping too)!

(cause if you don't go now...Target's supplies get pretty thin...)

So...

Here is the menu!!!!

Cupcake Merlot

Ina Garten's Cape Cod Chopped Salad

Pan Fried Scallops

French Bread w/ Spicy Olive Oil Dipping Sauce

Yumm...

Ina Gartens Cape Cod Chopped Salad

Serves 4 to 5

8 slices (8 ounces) thick-cut bacon, such as Niman Ranch


8 ounces baby arugula

1 large Granny Smith apple, peeled and diced

1/2 cup toasted walnut halves, coarsely chopped

1/2 cup dried cranberries

6 ounces blue cheese, such as Roquefort, crumbled

For the Dressing:

3 tablespoons good apple-cider vinegar

1 teaspoon grated orange zest

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice

2 1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

2 tablespoons pure maple syrup

Kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

2/3 cup good olive oil

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

2. Place a baking rack on a sheet pan and lay the bacon slices on the rack. Roast the bacon for about 20 minutes, until nicely browned. Allow to cool.

3. In a large bowl, toss together the arugula, apple, walnuts, cranberries, and blue cheese. For the dressing, whisk together the vinegar, orange zest, orange juice, mustard, maple syrup, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and the pepper in a bowl. Slowly whisk in the olive oil.

4. Chop the bacon into large pieces and add it to the salad. Toss the salad with just enough dressing to moisten. Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt and toss well. Serve immediately.

Happy Birthday my Love...

thankful...

I am a generally happy woman...

I have my days...

but, basically...thankful for what I have...

& whenever I want more...or just forget...or am reminded...

I try to remind myself...

I am thankful for...

1.)  My husband...we have been through a lot together...we have grown together...side by side...we are still deeply in love with each other...I still look at him and am filled with such emotion...thankful that this man was given to me...{I am far from perfect...but, he loves me anyway}...we still laugh...flirt...touch feet under the blankets...snuggle...and support each other...I consistently remind myself to put him first...to never forget our marriage...to grow stronger together.  We have arguments...& I storm off mad sometimes...but, in my heart...I can honestly say that, I KNOW we will be together forever...I KNOW we will continue to grow more in love with each other...I don't know how or why...but, for this...I am thankful...

2.)  My beautiful son...God has allowed me to experience a life filled with a kind of love that I could never DREAM was possible...to love someone without expecting anything in return...to love with everything that you have...to give up your life for this person without hesitation...I have no doubt that God knew exactly what I needed and wrapped it up in this gift...to feel a child grow and move inside you is indescribable...this little person that hugs me...and kisses me...and tells me that he loves me...each and every day...and who crawls in bed with me...wraps his arms around me and kisses each part of my face...who touches me when I am upset...who laughs with me until we are both crying from happiness...who is the closest thing to God on earth that I could ever imagine...for him I am thankful...

3.)  My friends...we somehow all found each other at an early age...we learned to trust...to share our thoughts...dreams...hopes...wants...desires...to have FUN!...some of these people have shown me the kind of person I want to be...they are beautiful people...inside and out...loving mothers and fathers...honest...kind...and there for you...really there for you...without hesitation...I am blessed to have each and every one of them in my life...they are my family...& for them I am thankful...

4.)  For God...I am so thankful to know God...to truly and honestly believe...to trust in Him...to know that His plan is greater than anything that I can design for my own...to understand that He only gives me what I need...not what I want...to have someone to talk to...to cry to...to beg to...to get angry at...and know...deep in my soul that He understands my emotions and listens without judgement...for faith I am thankful...

5.)  For family...I was loved...really and truly loved...brought up with good words...and even better actions...I had role models...shown empathy...sympathy...caring...kindness...generosity...I was held accountable for my actions...but never left alone...I was and still am shown by example...I know that I am loved...and for that I am thankful...

my cup overfloweth...

I have a good life...a beautiful life...a blessed life... I know that God looks after me and carefully chooses what I need...not what I want.

I have a wonderful husband, no seriously, the one that rides in on the white horse, picks you up and takes care of you always...he is strong, supportive, patient, kind, humble, generous, smart, caring, and if I do say so myself...extremely handsome...(I could go on and on, but you get the point!) 

He lives for his family and each and every action is filled with genuine care and concern for us.  He somehow knows how to keep himself balanced, while holding us up at the same time...I believe deep down in my heart that he was hand picked from God...just for me.

 

I also have the most incredible son in the world...he has a ton of energy, is sweet, empathetic, smart, patient, giving, and FULL of Love...  Every morning he says "good morning mama...good morning daddy"...every day I come home he asks me "how was your day mama?"  He tells me he loves me EVERY DAY...at least 3 times throughout the day...and it melts my heart every time...he rubs my back and lays his head on my shoulder and tells me that I am his best friend...

he absolutely HAS to figure out how to do things all on his own (Mr. Independent;), he never takes credit for something he didn't do & gives props and praise to someone if it is deserved...(even if it is a kid on the playground that did a cool flip and he doesn't even know who he is...).  He is a really, really good (deep down good...) & happy boy.  I am blown away each and every day by this wonderful gift that God has given me and even in my darkest hours this little boy brings joy to my heart...