from anniversary to birthday

I'm still trying to figure out how I let my hubby talk me into getting married two days before my wedding.  I wonder if he had an angle? In theory it is probably easier to remember the anniversary & birthday when they are so close together.  At the very least they take up enough room on the calendar so they are bound to draw his attention.  Well, whatever the motivation, it is my birthday today. I'm not sure I want to admit to how fast the years are passing, but let's just say I was born in the 60's *eek*



I love this picture, I was a flower girl for my big sister's wedding. I was 5 years old and at the time I think I felt like a princess in this dress. My sister even saved the dress for me and I put it away for the day I would possibly have a daughter so she could see how funky the 70's were.

So how will I be spending the day? I think I just want this day to pass like any other, with not too much celebratory fussing and instead plenty of time with the kids. My two sons have been at their cousin's house for the past two nights so having them back is wonderful. They and their sisters' will bring a very steady dose of reality to my day starting with "what's for breakfast mum?..."  Off I go.

happy birthday to me...
happy birthday to me...

for Paul

Today is my 14th Wedding Anniversary.



(Oy! We look so young!)

Lots has happened in the past 14 years; lots of laughter & good times, lots of challenges & hard work. Quite a few new things have joined our two-some: four kids & a mini-van (it's impossible to separate them), our home, a dog, fish & hamster (the latter occasionally renewed when the situation arose); and still so many dreams unrealized.

Did we have any idea what the future held for us on this day way back then? I don't think so. Yesterday I was feeling a bit in the dumps and got to being all too reflective about the past 14 years. At the best of times such reflection needs to be done in a careful light remembering that marriage is a marathon not a sprint. 

Today I celebrate:
14 years of marriage experience & understanding
14 years of knowing my husband,



14 years of committed loving,
14 years of growing as an individual,
14 years of friendship,
14 years of intimacy, 
Thank you for loving me these past 14 years. 

withdrawal...

Some friendships just pick up no matter the distance or where you leave off.   Even adding more children to the mix doesn't seem to phase things too much.   The conversations may get louder out of necessity, but there remain those quiet moments when all the wee ones have worn out with activity.      
We've just finished up a week of holidays with friends, visiting from Chicago.  It was a wonderful time of catching up over good food and family fun.  We even managed a couple of evenings out courtesy of my mum who babysat a brood of 6 children.  What a trooper! 
The children, all so much bigger had countless hours of playtime, whether we stayed close to home or wandered off to the parks and other places.

Yesterday we were sad to see our dear friends go, but after extending their trip already for an extra day and the ever looming jobs calling the men-folk to work on Monday morning, it was inevitable that our fun was going to end.  I fear we may all be in withdrawl this week.

super swapper

Rachael of Tinkerblue is the Super Swapper.  Quite awhile back we were partners in the Potholder Swap.  We were supposed to make a potholder and include a recipe.  Rachael forgot to put the recipe in her package so went ahead and sent it about a month back with another slew of goodies.  Her bunnies are way too cute along with the other items she included in the package.  Rachael: thank you, thank you, thank you.  You are the best swapper ever.