Good things come in threes

Three years ago today I woke up a single lady and went to bed a married woman. It was the best day of my life.

N, you have walked by my side these last three years through military trials, learning to live with each other, two moves and the house that just won't sell.

You kissed my cheek as they whisked me off to an emergency c-section. You paced the halls alone in prayer as you learned my situation was near fatal. You held my hand in the darkness of the ICU as I lay on a ventilator. You held Zoe's hand as she lay on a ventilator. You assured me she was okay. You arranged for me to be the first person to hold her. You walked the halls with me to the NICU to see her day in and day out.

You work extra to support our family. You run out of the house at 6:30 in the morning when I've forgotten to put the trash out. You let me win at the Wii. You straighten up the house before company comes over because you know if you didn't I would be stressed out.

You love me inspite of all my quirks.

I can't wait to see what God has in store for us. It's been great so far. I'm so blessed that I get to walk this life with you as your best friend. You are the answer to all my prayers. Thank you for being a spiritual leader, encourager, excellent father, and my love.

I love you heaps and hords.

Verklempt

I've been friends with Amber since we were 5. Our friendship has crossed the line of friend into family.

Amber is many things: genuine friend, baker extraordinare, has the memory of an elephant. The one quality that makes me totally go speechless is her artistic ability. This girl can create. I'm always amazed at how she can take a blank canvas and turn it into something beautiful.

Imagine my excitement and honor when she offered me this:

Isn't it beautiful? She drew it. Without a pattern! I'm beyond honored that she would offer this piece to me. I'm not lying when I say I was verklempt and a little teary.

I cannot wait to hang it in my home.

Thank you Am. It means so much that you would be willing to share your art with me.

This is her Everest

I was doing laundry this morning. Zoe was quiet, but Mickey Mouse was on so I didn't think too much of it.

Then I saw this.

Five Friday Faves - vol. 11 - The Birthday Edition

Autumn is one of my favorite times of year. Granted I love having all four season. At the start of everyone I declare that it's my favorite.

Although, while I like longer days and sunshine, summer isn't my favorite because of the heat. I actually think I look forward to autumn more than any other season because it means jeans and sweatshirts (and college football). I'm all about the layered, yet comfortable look.

It also starts the biggest birthday month on my calendar. In September, I have at least one birthday every week. There are 9 birthdays in September (we know what A LOT of people were doing for Christmas and New Years) and our anniversary. Or you can read that as, 10 presents in September. Which I love because I love finding the perfect, knock-their-socks-off gift.

Not only is giving presents totally fun, you get to spend time with the birthday person. That's actually my favorite part. Sometimes in the busy part of life, you either don't have or don't make enough time to spend with those people.

I thought, in honor of all the birthdays, I would do a top 5 x 2 - 1 (I like throwing in math equations once and awhile) to mention my favorite things about all the birthday people.

1) Becca - She is the sweetest, most sincere girl you'll ever meet. She's someone who makes you feel like you've known her forever. She accepts you just as you are. I'm truly honored to be her friend (and now neighbor).

2) Aunt Dee Dee - She is a true example of faith. Not to mention sarcastic and down-right hilarious. Two things I value in my friends and family. I'm so glad we got to celebrate her birthday early, in person.

3) Piper - She's sweet, charming and all girl. I can't believe she's already starting school this year. She's growing up so fast.

4) Kendall - He makes my best friend Steph happy. He's given her a peace and contentment that I've wished for her. He's going to make a great dad to Findley. Now if someone in the greater Portland area would hire him, I could spend more time visiting with him & Steph. Anyone got any leads?

5) Steph - She's one of the few people I can let my crazy side out with and know she'll accept me for me. She introduced me to The Beatles and how to enjoy life, one moment at a time. I can't wait to see her on the 20th.

6) Staci - We've known each other since childhood. I'm so glad we've reconnected. She is wise, kind and knows how to connect with anyone we may have gone to school with since kindergarten. I'm so glad I get to spend time with her once a month. If we hadn't moved away, we'd probably never have lost touch.

7) T-Dog - My only nephew to smile at me the very first time I held him. I think he was tooting on me and he hasn't stopped laughing about that since. He is genuine, thoughtful and incredibly brave. Plus, he can tell a joke like no one else. Whatta blessing he is.

8) Linette - She is like a friend I've known my whole life and she brings out my youthful side. She's witty, a good mother, fearless and left-handed. Not to mention, she has great hair. I could learn a few things from her.

9) Chris - He can play drums like nobody's business. Most importantly, I love watching him with his new son. He's a fabulous father, husband and brother-in-law. I'm so glad he's part of our family.

Happy birthday fellow September babies. This is the best month for a birthday. Or anniversay.

Or college football. If you're not the Cougs.

Maybe they'll lessen the margin against Baylor. Afterall, they'll have Ike as a tailwind.

It was 612 different kinds of fabulous

Last night was an official date with mommy. We had an evening of fun and adventure planned. Because she's only 19 months and I keep her very sheltered, she had no idea what I was talking about when I mention the festivities in store.

You can tell from the official "start of the date" photo, she has absolutely no clue what I'm saying. Or she's getting a call on her Disney Princess phone that she can't ignore. She's in high demand.

Because of my Type A personality, I did have the whole evening planned. I also have some belief that a toddler will follow my plans to a "T".

First stop of the evening was Subway. I thought if we were going to have a night of adventure, we may as well start by eating fresh.

We even got a little fancy, by putting the olives on our fingers. Not our fingers. Zoe's finger. She's more "hands on" when eating than I am.

Then we loaded up in the car for the next stop. I got a look that said, "where else are you taking me now?" She was happy to see grass, trees and lots of open space to run. We were at the park!

As we were walking toward the play equipment, we met a puppy named Oscar. The owners were very sweet in letting Zoe get close to Oscar, but she was having none of it. Afterall, there were dead pine needles on the ground that she had to pick up. Puppies cannot compare to dead pine needles.

A swing totally can though.

So can a slide. Especially one she can do all by herself.

In park hierarchy, a big stick beats out playground equipment.

After 2 trips around the cool area with all the sticks, pine needles and pine cones, it was time to go home. The sun was starting to set and the breeze was getting chilly. Not to mention it's bath night. The adventures weren't over.

She couldn't hear me though. Because she was doing this.

I guess a date with mommy isn't meant to end.

Or maybe she wasn't ready to get rid of the dead pine needle and large stick.

I know which one I choose to believe.

The Colonel in the Popemobile

I was reading the news today and was totally impressed by a story I read. KFC is doing something totally unfounded. The are moving the secret recipe, written by the Colonel himself, to another location temporarily.

They've beefed up security for the move. The head of security will be in an armored car with the briefcase containing the recipe handcuffed to him.

Then they're installing new security measures inside corporate headquarters so the recipe will be even safer.

It isn't enough that it's already inside a vault inside another vault. Or that they don't order more than a couple ingredients from the same supplier.

Oh, my goodness, no.

You can't mess with Original Recipe perfection. They will take you down. They are taking the same precautions as say the Vatican with the Popemobile.

Perhaps Pam Anderson and her PETA campaign should stop going up against the Colonel. You don't mess with the mobile or 11 herbs and spices. You just don't.

They would call me an athlete.

For the first two years of our marriage, I would give N a hard time for playing his XBox all the livelong day. His idea of a date night was playing some XBox game, while I sat next to him on the couch. Watching him beat the bad guys. Swooning over his mad skills.

And making snide comments about the "honeymoon period."

Fast forward to this month. We now have a little bit of gaming brilliance, more popularly known as a Wii, in our home. I'm slightly addicted.

I try to play for a bit every night after Zoe goes to bed. I'm getting really good. I did take the gold in archery and curling this weekend. I don't want to brag, but if bowling were an Olympic sport, I would've taken the gold last night.

With a score of 180.

Apparently I'm an athlete in the gaming world. In real life, you'd never use that adjective to describe me. Not. At. All. I must take advantage of my athletic abilities while I can. I need to fine tune my skills. You never know when it might come in handy.

London 2012 is right around the corner.

You see, this is what Noah Webster would call irony.

I can quit anytime I want. Really.