Friday, February 14, 2014

My Mother

Today I would like to send a very special Valentine to my very special Valentine mother.  She celebrates 60 years of fabulousness today!

I did not know my mother as a small child in the 50s.  I did not know her in her adolescent years or when she married my father in 1975.



I did however know her in my childhood and she was one of the dankest 80s mothers of all time!




As the years past, I got to know her more and more everyday. She has always been loving and supportive of her family. She is quite selfless and doesn't require much attention of her own. She was a wonderful mother that went out of her way to teach me right from wrong as a child. However, we didn't always see eye to eye. For example, she was never the type to plan a big, fancy birthday party for me. Heck, I was lucky if my birthday present was even wrapped.

She can always see the positive in every situation and never lets life worry her too much. When my life was ending in high school after my first big heartbreak, I thought her Pollyanna attitude was super annoying, however looking back she was setting an amazing example for me. She is also on an entirely different level of organization. I admit I may be on the OCD end of the spectrum, but she lives in a world I will never understand.

As I have grown into adulthood and become a mother myself, my mother has grown into the best grandmother. Watching her now makes me appreciate that she never spoiled me with crazy, over the top, birthday parties or agreed with me that my life was over because of a boy. I have also learned to appreciate that her grandkids love going to grandma's because they can make a huge mess and never have to clean it up. OK, so maybe I haven't gotten to the point were I can fully appreciate that one yet but like every other flaw I used to see in my mother, I haven't a doubt that in time I will continue to learn from her every example.


























  Happy 60th Birthday, mom!


We love you more and more everyday.

Thursday, February 13, 2014

Out of This World

Jentry had a snow day last week, so we spent the afternoon making Valentines for her classmates.




She is beyond excited for the party tomorrow. She even set out her outfit a few days in advance.  


Nathan and I are planning a very romantic dinner tomorrow night with a wild five-year-old and a very kind father-in-law, as his sweetheart will be out of town. Happy Heart Day All!

Monday, February 10, 2014

Oh Boy!

Friday night some very dear friends of ours hosted a diapers and wipes party for Baby Mack. We had a wonderful night celebrating with friends and family. My mom and dad arrived in Sutton in time to take Nathan and me out to dinner at the Legion along with our friends Craig and Amy Nelson. After supper, we headed to the Fox Hollow Golf Course for the shower.

The hostesses were Becky and Andy Unterseher, Julie Douglas, and Blake and Monica Smith. Unfortunately due to the weather earlier in the week, Monica was unable to attend as she was busy coaching the Sutton Fillies basketball team.


There were approximately fifty, fabulous people there to help us celebrate the much anticipated arrival of Baby Mack. We enjoyed yummy appetizers, cupcakes and of course cocktails. Becky made an adorable chocolate football cake that was scrumptious.  


For fun they made the new dad carry around a bag of wine until his family and friends helped him drink it all. It didn't take as long as I had hoped.  We had so much fun and are very grateful for such amazing friends and family.


Altogether, we received 2,726 wipes and 4,173 diapers so we should be set for awhile! The Mckenzie family also went together to purchase the carseat/stroller set we had been wanting and the Bose family gave us a Pack-n-Play for the basement. We could not be more thankful and are blessed to have everything we need and more.



Now if "the day" would just hurry up and get here! We can not wait to meet our precious baby boy.

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

A Place to Park

Nathan and I first began discussions about building a garage before I ever even moved to Sutton. Last summer we got serious about it and requested some bids. In June, the contractor assured me that it would be done before the first snowfall. Well he lied, but never the less we are very grateful to be able to park out of the elements today as they are forecasting 3 to 6 inches of blowing snow.

It was really interesting to watch the entire process of the building each day. First there was the removal of three trees. Next the old falling porch was torn down and hauled away. Then the main electrical line had to be moved and finally they could mark out the lines for the new garage.



The trench for the footings

Jentry playing on her InnoTab, eating peanuts and watching the workers build.

New patio and garage floor

Looking west at the new garage floor

Walls going up!


Finally, a roof to shelter my poor car from bird poo!


Siding going up.


Nathan painting the ceiling, per my request. He wasn't any too thrilled but agreed that the finished product looked much better.

Inside walls are insulated and going up! 

In Nathan's mind the garage is far from finished, however it has every feature I was desiring...a roof, four walls, an overhead door with auto-lift and a freezer. Nathan also talked me into purchasing a refrigerator and because it matched the freezer I really couldn't say no. 

Back yard before

Back yard after

Before

After

Next project...new deck and some much needed landscaping.