Valentine's Day Love

Big Daddy and I decided that instead of the typical gift giving on Valentine's Day.....we would simply eat dinner by a candle after Xbox's game. Simple and sweet. He knows I would not want any other Valentine than him....and I'm pretty darn sure the feeling is mutual.

About 2am as I waking up from a fitful dream (as I have said before...no one dies peaceful in their sleep....some boogie is about to get them and their heart is beating 200 bpm just like mine was that night). Anyway I got up to get a glass of water to try and get the spookywebs out of my head before I tried to go back to sleep. On the way to the kitchen...I spied the girl's candy that I had bought to mail for them.....but didn't...such a bad mama! In that bag was a box of these.....Charms Blow Pops in a cute valentine box....all 3.00 worth of a gift!

Big Daddy loves these suckers and I had bought them prior to our deciding to only exchange love and not gifts. So I just decided to put them out on the counter beside the coffee pot.



When I got up.....he had that..."I thought we had a deal" look. I told him I had bought those weeks ago....and couldn't stand NOT to give them to him. So he quickly opens the box....and hand me the first one and said.... "I'll give you the first one because those are always the best one....and I'll give you the last one when I've finished the others.... since you always save the best things for last". That is in true Big Daddy style....always giving to me...the best part of anything he has.

Before we left for Xbox's basketball game..... he had made me this....It was actually bright pink like the outline all over..not sure what happened when I uploaded the picture.

As simple as this day was.....I truly felt loved and had be best Valentine Day ever! From now on....simple candle lit dinners and hand made cards!

Big Daddy want to contribute to the blog!

Big Daddy has decided to think of a weekly song for me to blog. The songs will be the ones that make him stop and think of our kids. Music is the universal love language....and he has taught his 'babies' to love this language.

Today is the first song....and an early Valentine's Day song for his girls!

You have my heart!

Love you girls!
Dad

Wormie's Day

Today is her birthday.....my first born....one of the loves of my life. Enjoy your day wormie...you are in a whole new world ...with a world of opportunites just for you. We are so proud of everything you've accomplished! We love you!

The best laid plans of mice and men...........

.....often go astray!

That happens to be one of my Dad's favorite and often used quotes of all time. Tonight..it was my turn to use it!



Before dinner, Big Daddy and Xbox were carrying on about who was gonna take the tickets to the Wake vs. Duke game on Saturday afternoon. It turned into a playful tussle.......with Big Daddy telling Xbox that he was taking me....and Ryan begging to go. They were wrestling around.....and talking about who was going with who....making big plans. You see....even as bad as Wake is this year....they are still big Wake fans. So yes...they are true fans...even in the lean years. I'm still struggling with the thoughts of how much the season tickets were.....even though Big Daddy knew it would be a bad year. He just wants us to be able keep the seats that we've worked up to get over the past 10 years.....for when we have an empty nest and have time to enjoy the games when it's just him....and me. As they were 'arguing' about who was going to the game....Xbox's school mom (one of my truest friends who works at the school) called to tell me that their game scheduled for Friday night had been moved until ....you guessed it..... Saturday afternoon.

Xbox was not happy about missing the game...and just said... 'noooooooooooo'. Big Daddy said...that's ok...I have a better game to watch now. Spoken like a true Xbox fan! :)

Big Daddy pipes up 'I guess I can sell these tickets' to which I replied....To WHO...no Wake fan will pay money to see that slaughter. He said...well maybe plenty of Dukies would like to buy them. This might be the first time the Joel is packed with more Duke fans than Wake fans.

Best laid plans of Xbox and Big Daddy often go astray!

I love THIS kid

Can you find him? Look closely. He's the 8th from the left.........

Now that you counted....it might have been easier saying 4th from the right....but he's sooo worth the extra work!

THIS kid has a great outlook on life, family, friends and FOOD (and lots of it). He is also a Jesus Freak like 2Shaye! She got him hooked up w/ Younglife. And to think of it...Wormie turned 2Shaye onto Younglife...so it really is a handed-down kind of love.

THIS kid....has the greatest friends of all time. Seriously...they have been very close for so many years. The sad part....for THIS kid.... they are all seniors...and he's a junior...so they will all leave him this fall as they take off for college. Most of them are going to NCSU..... and with 2Shaye there...Im thinking my house will be very empty on the weekends in the coming year as he spends time with them. His friends are unbelievably supportive of each other. They are each other's biggest fans. And when they arent playing sports...they are there being the BEST student section that the Cardinals have EVER had! They go all out in find garb to match their personalities. It was this group ..... that create and gave life to 'The Red Men'.

These are the original Red Men. They all bought these spiritsuits before a Younglife Camp and instantly became legendary. Many have tried to imitiate them but they will never be duplicated. Seen here with a Teacher. They are typically at all sporting events for the ones not playing. They run out the football teams...they show up at basketball games...have been asked to go to the Middle School.....they are loved by all that know them. They are famous!

This happens to be one of my favorite pix of all time. The Red Men are so far in the distance but they stand out to the point of almost glowing.

Only their personalities could pull off this look! Big Daddy didn't even recognize Xbox dressed like this.

The best part of tonight..... these boys will be making landfall into our home again. I love them all! They know how to have fun.....and enjoy the best things in life. They typically spend one night a week together.....making memories that will forever be burned into their memories. Our home is always happy when it's our turn to host 'the gang'! They know what true friendship means.....and will always be brothers to each other.

A challenge....and I accepted!

Inspired by Nonny..... I will do my best to accept this challenge. 52 letters in 52 weeks. I have several people in my life that would love to get a piece of real mail....and for some....it would make their week. I will do my best to keep this up. Thanks Nonny for being an inspiration.

On a cold winter's evening...........

Nothing says home....like a comforting, rustic meal. Big Daddy offered to cook up one of his favorites over the fire.....Loaded hotdogs!

Stretch it out....

Easy killer...at least make it look like work! AND can you get that recliner any closer to the fire..somehow the fire marshall's would not be happy with this. Kids do not try this at home. Only professionals should attempt this.

And I fixed a pound cake in a funky little bundt pan.... PS thanks to a dear friend, Ms. A, who fixed us a pound cake for Christmas and now has Big Daddy on a pound cake kick.