Did "Eye" go overboard???

I love my {future} Optometrist. I really do. And I am so proud of him. He deserved a big fat party after hours of tireless studying and 2 full days of testing...

He would like me to think he was embarrassed by the sign (but I know he likes it because he asked me to take his picture with it which he never does). He is HOT. Eyeball orderves...

And and Eye Ball cake...

and Eyeball cupcakes and cookies... too much???

and I am not quite sure what this is called... it has no name- it's just pure genius. Spectacle bread. That's what I'll call it.

Shirley Temples with floating Eyeballs...

That's how I say Eye am so proud of you!!! With a CHEESY themed-out party. We also had real food. Stuffed Shells and Meat {EYE} balls. yum.

Thanks Bekah for all your help and your culinary brilliance. I love that we pulled this off. It was a great day with you and one more memory here that is so good, it makes me forget the bad. You are the greatest friend.

And honey, I love you so much that I let you name this Post. Look at you, you little blogger!

Trust me. I'm Irish

Happy St. Patricks Day!

True love...

isn't what Walt said it was.



But it is true.



So I have these keys. They are VERY IMPROTANT in my life. They open the cabinet where I keep the rent. The file cabinet where I keep the petty cash. The Safe that the petty cash is in. They open just about everyting in the office that needs to be locked, but also opened on a daily basis. They are inportant. got it?



Well, Derek has been studying his brain out. Preparing for National boards... have to link you here: http://rayfamilycharm.blogspot.com/2009/03/dear-national-board-exams.html Couldn't say it better myself. Well, needless to say he didn't need more stress.



But I lost my keys. And I really needed his help so we scoured the house all the while the commentary went something like this:



Derek: "Did you do laundry today?"

Char: "Yes, they could have gotten put through the wash (I check) no. not there."



Derek: "Did you drive anywhere in the car?"

Char: "Yes, I ran to the school, prechool, store, bank. (he checks) no. not there."



Derek: "Did you put food away"

Char "yes, I'll check the fridge." nope. no there



Derek:"Did Easton paly with them?"

Char: goes into Eastons room and wakes him up. He's groggy, but no, he didn't play with them.



Derek: "Did you play in Eastons room?"

Char: "yes, (getting tired of questions at this point) I did everything today. Every stinking thing. I worked in the office. Did laundry. Cleaned. Went to the library, ran errands. Cooked. I was very productive. Oh, crap. I took out a TON of garbage."



Derek: "Was that before or after the trucks came?"

char: "After. It's at the very bottom of the dumpster."



well, we then proceeded in the dark of night to the dumptser, where Derek climbs inside and starts sifting through the garbage. We went through many bags. It stunk. The keys weren't there.



And you know what? Derek never got mad or frustrated. Not once. In fact on the way back to the apartment he put his stinky arm around me and laughed. I just love his laugh. it was then that I realized that this is true love. He's the perfect one for me and I am so lucky to have a man who is so patient and loving. Even when he's stressed and tired and this is the last thing he needed. I said a little parayer of thanks, and also one to help us find the keys and just as I walked in the house I remembered that I put them in my apron pocket.



He just laughed.

My Bosch is Posch

Sweet story:

As anyone who really knows me knows... I have in the past not thoroughly enjoyed the long hours in the kitchen that are required to attain domestic perfection. Many hours have been spent in the kitchen uttering {under my breath of course} choice words that I am not proud of.

Since I got married I have refused to buy into the kitchen aide trend. I have heard they come in dreamy colors such as Empire Red, Majestic Yellow, Pistachio, Citron, Tangerine and Imperial Grey. No I do not want one. I didn't want one on my wedding gift registry and I didn't want one for any anniversary or birthday or holiday in between. No thanks. The big bulky thin on top get in the way and, to be honest, I have no clue how to work the thing.

I grew up using a Bosch.

So... I was holding out. The only thing I wanted when we graduated from school was a brand new shiny white Bosch. And I was willing to wait 6+ years in order to have what a REALLY wanted. I have burned through 3 hand mixers in the process...

So much to my surprise on Christmas morning I opened my eyes to see that Santa had brought me {ever so secretly and thoughtfully} a brand new Bosch. Of my very own. With cookie paddles.
I was so surprised and it was such a magical morning. I had been secretly saving my own money to buy Derek a new Riffle. He really deserved it this year. He had worked to hard and sacrifices so much for us. I planned and concocted with his parents in order to get the right one {hell0- do I know what riffle to buy? No. that is what father- in -laws are for} and all the while Derek was secretly saving and plotting at the same time to get me my Bosch and Christmas because he thought I deserved it for working hard and sacrificing. It was really such a magical moment in our marriage. How do I explain how that felt? To be at this stage of life- so poor, so tired of school, and then each of us gave our own money and {with help from the parents} were able to get each other something the other always wanted but never expected. It was wonderful.

Now... part II of the story goes like this:
My mother had no clue. She wasn't in on the secret. But for Christmas she sewed her little heart out. My sisters and I all got a fabulous apron of our own and a family cookbook with all the recipes I call her for over and over again. Mine was so special. because I have taken up sewing of late, and even made a new Christmas Apron, mine is made of the very same fabric pattern that my mom used to make her first apron in Home Ec. Green lToile. It's so retro, so cute. And has rick rack too.

So now when I go in the kitchen I am reminded of all the people who love me. Want me to succeed at this stay-at-home-and-be-domestic stuff and I am happy to be there. In the kitchen. TRYING.

There are even times I succeed.

This

+ this

= this

See? Sweet Success.

sunshine & gravity

he was ready.

we had practiced at home since we found Mr. Skateboard at a garage sale last summer for 50 cents ...and I was about 99% sure we could make it without broken limbs.

he was confident.


but as soon as we got to the skate park and he climbed the concrete mountains he decided that a little "bum sliding" might be a better idea. he is cautious by nature.

ok- so now he gets the nerves.
I try my best to coach him. {insert loud, raucous laughter here}Not being a proficient skateboarding aficionado.. I fake my way through. "Bend your knees, lean forward, put your arms out..." is that right???

no. no it is not.
hmph. pout. no tears. aaaaand back to bum sliding.

Mr. Skateboard will have to wait for another round of confidence to come around.

On a beautiful side note, I got to bask in the warmth of the sunshine. It really felt grand. I swear I could feel the absorption of happiness as the sun warmed my bear feet.

and I digress... I think I have a little budding photographer ion my hands. He snapped this on V-day, I think it's lovely.