{11 years ago...}

...we were so in love. Betcha can't tell from this little photo montage I threw together.

...yep. That was Todd in feety pajamas. And I'm kicking his trash. Noogie, anyone? (Feel free to scroll back up and get better look... I'm not going anywhere. **whistling** Hilarious, eh? OK, moving on...)

The good news is I'm still just as crazy about him. Crazy in love. So here's to many more years of taking pictures of us kissing then laughing our heads off.

Happy Anniversary, babe! Lovin' you...

{10 Things I love about my new house...}

Thing I love about my new house #10:
Fancy ceilings (I have one in my master bedroom too!) What a view!
P.S. That vase in the window = the total extent of my (feel free to use finger quotes here) "decorating" so far.



Thing I love about my new house #9:
Meet my brand new washer and dryer! Not just brand new to me, but actual factual branspankin' new. They're Maytag (and yes, I do give them a loving thump thump every now and then). I'm taking suggestions for names.



Thing I love about my new house #8:
Can you say hardwood floors?!?



Thing I love about my new house #7:
My kids have their own bathroom. It's huge. It even has double sinks. And this lovely window. A very nice room. Which I'm grateful for because we're potty training Lou and I've probably spent more time in this particular room than any other in my whole house combined. I'm not above using bribery -- don't judge me.



Thing I love about my new house #6:
This is my front porch. This is the tile compass my amazing husband laid on my front porch. He's a genius -- he's like a tile whisperer. He's also for hire! (Insert shameless plug for husband's remodeling business here. Call Todd @ 208.346.1556!)



Thing I love about my new house #5:
Knotty alder cabinets (oh, and there's so many that half are honestly still empty) + my birthday rug = one faboo kitchen



Thing I love about my new house #4:
While we're on the subject of my kitchen, let us not forget the granite counter tops and under cabinet lighting. *sigh* I must be dreaming.



Thing I love about my new house #3:
My. front. door. is. red.
(Hmmm... I foresee a little landscaping in our future.)



Thing I love about my new house #2:
These toilet paper thingies. They just make me happy. And yes, I did fold my toilet paper into a little triangle just for you.

Thing I love about my new house #1:

I TOLD you my shoes were crying because they are so happy.

Todd just pointed out that I posted a bunch of pictures and you all still have no idea what the house really looks like. Alrighty -- I'll post pictures of each room as I get them decorated. Happy now?

{Ride Baby Ride!}

A few weeks ago Grandma, Grandpa, and Paige came up for a little "see your new house/Happy Birthday/Happy Mother's Day" visit... and Paige taught Caroline how to ride her bike! No one is happier than Todd, who has spent countless hours running behind sweet Caroline and her ladybug bike!
Three cheers for Caroline, and three cheers for Paige!
(Wow, that's six cheers...)
HIP-HIP-HOORAY! HIP-HIP-HOORAY! HIP-HIP-HOORAY! HIP-HIP-HOORAY! HIP-HIP-HOORAY! HIP-HIP-HOORAY!

{The Big 3-0!}

It's true.
I'm thhhh....
I turned thirrr...
I'm, ahem, thirmmermm...
I had my second 29th birthday!
Happy Birthday to me!
...and even if I don't like the number, the days of partying were so worth it!

Everyone needs a sister like Laura. The kind of sister that even though you planned a lunch/shopping day the after your birthday with the momandsisters she refuses to let you sit a home staring at either A) towers of boxes or B) snow falling outside. In May. On your birthday. So said amazing sister kidnapped me away for lunch at "The Black Bean Store" aka Bajio, and shopping for the perfect new outfit for my hot date later that night. She even talked me out of the funk I talked myself into about how horrible 30 had the potential of being. Laura, you officially saved my birthday. That's why everyone needs a big sister like mine. Best phycologist/personal shopper ever. Love you!

My girls decided to make me birthday cupcakes. We are firm believers around these parts that no one should have to make their own birthday cake. Besides, who can say no to this face?!?



Not me, that's for sure.
The girls put in tons of extra love, which I'm hoping counteracted all of this:


Elizabeth, you are so busted.
Oh, the mess...

...was so worth it!

Smoke cloud. Cough, cough, sputter, sputter.

Somehow the girls talked Todd into taking them to do a little surprise birthday shopping for me at the dollar store. Now Todd is an amazing dad, and he would do almost anything to make those kids happy. BUT (with a capital "B"!) I think he would have rather had his toenails pulled off with pliers than go to the dollar store with three kids. (Can you blame him?!)

But he did it anyway.

That's how much he loves me.

Or them.

Lots of love going around.

And since Mother's day was just 3 days after my birthday he helped them pick out two presents.

My hero.

You should hear him tell the story.

Anywho, after a full hour, they finally made their extremely thoughtful purchases and escaped the store.

Caroline got me the super blingy-ist fingernail file ever. I. love. it. And for Mother's Day she picked out a set of pink pens. Again, I'm. in. love.

Elizabeth got me apple body body wash, which smells surprising good considering it came from a dollar store. For M day she got me air fresheners that clip onto the vents of your car. Those smell a little more like where they came from. I wondering if she thinks I'm a stinky mom...? hmmm....

She also wrote me a beautiful poem.

Louis was talked out of everything on the bottom two feet of the store and into a pair of new scissors (which I was ecstatic about since mine were lost in the move), and a giant fingernail scrubber. Something I have a feeling both of us will be using a lot this summer.

Super shoutout to the best babysitter ever -- Katey braved two days of babysitting so Mama could go out and par-tay!

We pay her in cupcakes.

As much as I would have loved to to something creative and involved for the big 3-0, Todd and I were a little worn out with the whole moving thing so we opted for the classic dinnerandamovie date. We went to eat my favorite lobster ravioli (...hold on a sec while I wipe the drool off of my keyboard.... alrighty...!) and we had a few minutes to kill before the movie started. Just enough time to run to the store right next to the theatre -- Sportsman's Wear house.

I know what you're thinking -- sarcastically -- soooo romantic.

Au contraire mon frere.

Sportmans has it going on with the camo nighty.

Super. hawt. ya'll.

Here we are rockin' the aviator.

But Todd really does look his best with the 3D movie glasses on, don't you agree?

Love this man.

He's not even the least bit ashamed to be married to a 30-year-old woman.

{We Have Arrived!}

I cannot describe my outer joy
(which is nothing compaired to my inner joy!)
I. love. this. house.
LOVE!
Oh, the elbow room.
Sweet, sweet, elbow room.
*sigh*
I know you'll want pictures.
As my mama says,
patience is a virtue.
I'll try to make it worth the wait.
Here's a teaser:
My shoes are crying right now because they are so happy.
Until then, know that I, too, am happy
(and still surrounded by stacks and stacks of boxes).