This was taken a couple of months before Steve and I were married. I just found this picture amongst my 50 million other pictures and it reminded me of how long ago this really was. Quite frankly I don't feel much older but I do feel more calm and a little wiser. :) Being married to Steve has changed me for the better. He is so balanced, reasonable and rational. The only time I have seen him get angry is if someone does or says something truly offensive or complelety out of line. He is the farthest thing from a pushover (which I love, I don't want to be one of those ladies who boss their husband around) and he is not afraid to stand up for what he believes. I love him to death and so glad he married me. :)
I have been spring cleaning lately and with my energy level get about one room done a day, which isn't too bad. Granted I don't have a dress, cute apron and a smile on my face (quite the opposite actually) I feel good and my home feels cleaner. I have taken huge bags full of things to the dumpster and the DI and I feel cleansed. :) So to all of you moms, wives, single fabulous ladies and domestic goddesses....Happy Spring cleaning.
For Steve's birthday I made him this "Firsts" scrapbook. I wanted to make it a lot longer and more elaborate but once again as my usual complaint goes...time, energy and creativity is lacking these days. :) The pages I did were, first dance, first time as husband and wife. First apartment, first car, first Christmas, first New Years, first V-day, first baby etc...
It was fun and I enjoy looking at it and how young Steve and I once were (and how skinny I once was hee-hee) .
Easter this year was so much fun, we had the great opportunity to be with so many family members on both sides. Rozlynn flew in from Alabama for Easter and Kent, Kathy, Hilary and Dave came to stay with us on Steve's b-day (April 10th). We missed the other family members we didn't have a chance to see and hope to be with them soon!
We decided to go to Wheeler farms for the Easter Egg hunt. We were absolutely amazed at the amount of people there. max waited patiently for 45 minutes outside the 4-7 year old egg hunt area. He had spotted the golden egg and was waiting to go snatch it.
Finally his moment came and they yelled GO! Max ran out and just as he was about to pick up the golden egg was pushed over by a kid who then walked over him and grabbed it. Max stood up mortified and started to cry. He walked over saying "mom, he pushed me and I didn't get the egg". I didn't know what to say, I just said that happens sometimes and that I was sorry.
Just then a guy who worked there saw what happened, pulled a golden egg out of his pocket and dropped it on the ground right behind Max. Max turned around and got it! He was extatic! He won 4 passes to the Living Aquarium. Here is his proud picture with his tickets.
So is it survival of the fittest? Max followed the rules, waited patiently and never crossed the line...and even after the "fit" kid pushed him over and got the egg, Max was rewarded for his good behavior....hmmm. :)
From Max & Mimi
(...brooke, steve and little bean)
So irregardless of how bizarrely tired I am these days, I was bound and determined to take Easter pictures of my kiddos and send out my traditional homemade Easter cards. It was really hard mustering up the energy, creativity and time to do this...but I did! And I feel a tremendous sense of accomplishment with this small task. The kids did a great job smiling for me considering it was raining and cold outside, luckily we were on the porch so the stayed dry. We wish all a wonderful Easter Sunday! xoxox The Barties
I really want to create this, I love these natural easter egg trees that Martha comes out with every year. Will I have the time and most of all energy to try this? Hmmm...time will tell.
"Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that they have been robbed.
The fact is that most putts don't drop; most beef is tough; most children just grow up to be people; most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration and most jobs are often dull than otherwise.
Life is like an old-time rail journey...delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride."
- Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley
August 1995
This is a picture of the necklace I made for my mother-in-law for her birthday. It took a lot longer than I thought and we left so quickly to go to ID that I never took a picture of the finished product. Next time I go up there I'll take one for posterity sake (?). hee-hee
It is made of sterling silver, pewter, African opals and mother-of-pearl pendant.
So we have had our 10th cold of the season make it's way through our home. I am really tired of colds...they are the worst mostly because the snotty yucky stuff seems to linger forever. We went up to Idaho last weekend and all the cousins had runny noses and coughs and I knew that we would pick it up, and we did. I had a fever, chills and aches last night, it was miserable. Especially knowing I had two little ones to entertain the next morning (today).
Max has been so sweet. I get up to get something for the kids and Max tells me to go lay down he can take care of it! Ha! What would I do without him? Love those little guys.
So Steve and I have worked really hard to buy our first home and here it is...it is 3900 square feet and on a half an acre here in the Avenues. You can't find land like that too often and if you think I'm serious then I GOT YOU! April fools, no Steve and I are not buying this $999,000 home in the Avenues and quite frankly if I had that much money I probably wouldn't buy this house even though it is beautiful. ;)