A simple gift.

My parents recently celebrated
their 44 year wedding anniversary.
They were so young and sweet
on their wedding day.


My mom was only 16 years old when they met
and my dad was 19.

They went on a double blind date with another couple.
They each were to be set up with the other people
but sparks flew between them.
They were smitten with each other, right away.

So, they went to a church dance
as a first date and fell in love.

They've been together ever since.

Years later, after they had been married for 10 years,
my Dad asked my grandmother
what she had thought
about her 16 year old daughter
dating a 19 year old college boy.

Her reply was
"You had short hair,
you went to college,
and you had a job!"

That's a winner in my book too.

That is a very wonderfully happy thing!
Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad.

I've learned how to love
by watching how perfectly you two love each other!
Through thick and thin,
we can always count on y'all
to be together forever!

Thank you for that.

52 Weeks of Happiness :: Week 14

The lazy days of summer.

I remember so vividly
the feeling of summer
from my childhood.

With no place to be
and nothing special planned,
the days seemed so open and free.

I love watching my children
soak in that awesome feeling
as Griffin says
"Ah...this is the life."
at least once a day.

The backyard is the perfect place
to pull out the hose and have some
fun in the cold cold water
in the heat of the day.

Particularly, Nana and Poppy's
backyard transforms so easily

into a water park and I think
that we will be found there often,
floating the day away.



How could so much fun be waiting
in the shade of the
tall Pine trees
that stand proudly
in their yard?

Ah...the freedom
of Summer!

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Want to join me in my quest
to scout out happiness for a whole year?
Simply post a photo of something that
makes you wildly happy and tell us all about it.
Then, steal my button and include it in your post.
Don't forget to link up to Mr. Linky.

Friday Night Dates :: 2

To drink:

Gallo Family Vinyards
Sweet Chardonnay

There is just something so good
about a cheap bottle of wine.
We like to keep it classy around here.
I found the biggest bottle of Chardonnay
for $6.99 at the grocery store.
It was sweet and made me feel all fuzzy...
mission accomplished.

The menu:

We decided to make up a little plate of bite sized yummies.
Truffles from a local bakery,
strawberries dipped in whipped cream,
Manchego Cheese,
and Grapes Rolled in Almonds and Ginger.
Here is the recipe for the grapes,
they were just so dreamy...

Grapes Rolled in Almonds and Ginger

{from the cookbook Intercourses}

1 3-oz. package cream cheese, softened
1 Tbs. finely chopped crystallized ginger
15 to 20 seedless grapes, washed and thoroughly dried
1/2 cups ground almonds, toasted

Blend the cream cheese and ginger in a bowl with an electric mixer. Stir the grapes into the cream cheese mixture to coat. Roll the grapes in the almonds. Place on a wax-paper lined plate. Chill until firm.

The film:
The Green Hornet

Just as I lucked out because my husband
loves watching Jane Austin films,
he lucked out because I
enjoy watching
action/superhero/dude movies.

It was as if we were born
to watch movies together.

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Why not invite a little romance into your life?
Just leave your link with a post about
your fantastic Date Night.
It doesn't have to be a Friday night date...
any time is a good time to reconnect.
Be sure to include that sweet little button in your post!

Winner : Sexy Mama Edition

We have a winner for this week's installment of Freakshow Friday. Please take note that my super hilarious and non biased best friend was the judge. Here are the top three in no particular order.

UBERMOUTH
The scenery is here,wish you were beautiful.

The Knitty Gritty Homestead
Ashley always suspected that she was the less favoured child,
and her placement in this family photo confirmed her fears...
as usual, she was stuck bearing the full weight of her mother's ass,
while Brandon, "The Golden Boy",
got away with holding her feet.
The years of therapy stretched out ahead of her,
like an ocean view.

metsuke
The newlyweds would never forget
that one swinging couple that wouldn't take "NO" for an answer.

The winner is...
The Knitty Gritty Homestead

Ashley always suspected that she was the less favoured child,
and her placement in this family photo confirmed her fears...
as usual, she was stuck bearing the full weight of her mother's ass,
while Brandon, "The Golden Boy",
got away with holding her feet.
The years of therapy stretched out ahead of her,
like an ocean view.

The Knitty Gritty Homestead
is the funniest blogger in all the land.
Now head on over to her blog

and marvel at this fantastic award she just earned
to proudly display forever.

Thanks to all the people who played.

Tune in this Friday for another instalment of Freakshow Friday!

Freakshow Friday : Sexy Mama Edition

It's time for another installment of Freakshow Friday. Where I ask my readers to come up with a caption or story for a funny photo found on Awkward Family Photos. My best friend will be the judge and she's one hilarious freakaziod. So, bring it! Here is this week's photo, I'm not so sure about this family.

This is what happens when mom
has one too many Bahama Mama cocktails.

You got a better one for me?

If so, you may just when this awesome award

and have bragging rights forever.
Oh...do I ever have an award for you!
You will win this brand spankin' new award!!

If you win then I'll link up to your
Blog and make a big deal
about how funny you are.
Simply leave your funny caption or story
in my comments section.

The winner will be announced on Monday.

You Capture : Games

The assignment over at You Capture was Games.
School is out so we have been playing tons of games.
By far...the most awesome retro inspired game is Zathura.

I mean...how fantastic is that robot?
Just look at that tiny little spacecraft,
I feel like a 6 year old boy living in the year 1956
whenever we sit down to play it,
all wide eyed and full of wonder.

That is always the best feeling and
I just love the innocence
that can be discovered when
I get a glimpse of childhood again.

Even if I am the
epitome of a
housewife.

It may sound strange,
but sometimes a lady just has
to let herself feel
like a little boy.

Wait...don't go yet.
If you are stopping by for the
first time from You Capture
I just have to tell you about some projects going
on here on my little ol' blog.

Click on the buttons to read all about them!

A Public Service Announcement Involving Washing Machines.

I am doing you all a favor by telling you
that it is a bad idea to crawl on top
of your washing machine to see
if your favorite shrug that has been missing
for months happened to fall behind it.

Your washing machine frame will crack
and bend without your knowledge
and then your machine will sound like
an old woman is trapped inside
beating the lid with a cane whenever you run it.

Then, if your husband takes it apart
and uses a hammer to reshape the frame,
don't overfill the machine
because the basket will get off balance
and break the frame again
and then it won't spin and
eventually blow the motor of your machine.

Trust me...
I've doing laundry by hand for months.
The water would fill up
and I would grab a hanger and beat the clothes
while they soaked.
Then wring them out
and force my poor dryer to cough them dry.
My laundry pile
became obese and stinky.

Until my Dad found out about it recently.
He promptly took pity upon me
and washed load after load of my clothes
at his house and then helped me fold them.
Sweet daddy!

Then, he promptly paid a visit to Lowe's
and sent a big ol' truck over to my house.
It was very exciting!

Now, I have a shiny new washer
that I have named Genie
because she is magical!
Look at how sexy she is!
Doesn't it look like she's winking at me?

Thank you Dad!
You just made my battle with laundry so much easier!