SS Blog Challenge: Short and Stout...Ugh.

Brought to you by Joanie! So this will be a wordless challenge this week. Find a picture that speaks for you. Use google image or one of your own images.

Wordless Wednesday: I miss you already...

Wordless Wednesday: Animal Cells?

Almost as good as fireworks...

Saw this on Brynn's blog and had to snag it for my friends. Thanks, Brynn! =]
Watch it with your kids!

Chance Encounter...

Hannah was outside feeding Oso. She came in and told me that there was a beautiful yellow butterfly by our Bogenvilia plant. I didn't think much of it, but then she repeated it and said that it was "really big". Okay, this must be something cool, so I asked if I should take my camera with me. "Um, yeah." she says as if to say "Uh, hello...that is what I am trying to tell you..." LOL

So, I went outside and there it was. Beautiful. Most of you are probably thinking 'big deal', but we rarely see anything like this here in our backyard. Seriously. I couldn't get really close, because it was up high on the bush. Thank goodness for zoom.

I am pretty sure that this is a Male Eastern Tiger Swallowtail.

On the edge of your seats?

Is that where you were since my last post? I am sure you were! Well, I don't want to disappoint you...my faithful blog readers (all 3 of you) that have been wondering where my dear husband whisked me off to this year. I honestly thought that it was going to be a nice dinner at Olive Garden or some great sushi and seafood buffet or something! As usual, my sweet Marco has something else up his sleeve.

He called me from work and said that he already arranged for a sitter to come and stay with the kids. He wanted me to be ready by 5 p.m. and dressed in casual dressy. What? Is that an oxymoron? So, I picked up the girls from their Thursday electives class (which has been great, thankyouverymuch), and hurried home to get ready. I decided to go for my nice, but faded clam digger type capris (can you tell I don't know what they're called?) and my colorful hippy shirt with my black wedge slides.

He gets home and gives me the once over.

"Hmmm....you look nice, but maybe your black knee pants or something (can you tell he doesn't know what these are either?).

So, I change into my black capris.

"Oh, you meant dressy casual? Not casual dressy?" I say.

Anyway, we hustle out of the house and head out. This is when he tells me that we are on our way to Los Angeles (easily an hour away with no traffic). Okaaaaaaaaaaayyyy...what does that mean???, I wonder.

He hands me a gift bag and a card while. I read the card first (Isn't that the polite thing to do - rather than dive right into the gift?)...of course it makes me cry. He filled up the whole left side of the card with sentiment, recollections and promises for our future. He's the best...*sigh*

OH! You're still waiting! I'm sorry... I got caught up in the moment. He told me to look in the bag - so I did.

It was this:

What? What does this mean? Are we...? Could it be?... We haven't been to a "show" since I was pregnant with my first (she will be 13 soon...)

I look over at him and he has a big grin on his face.

We were going to go see Wicked the Musical.

Oh.my.word.

So, we did. It was awesome. I loved all of it. The music, the drama, the humor - oh, my goodness the humor. You all know I like a good laugh and I did laugh. Many times. Out LOUD.

The best part of the evening? Being with my best friend. Leaning in to him during the show, laughing hard together, looking at each other with knowing looks when some of the lines in the show reminded us of recent events (other people) in our lives.

Once again, he really surprised me. That's 15 years straight. I didn't expect anything big, I never do, but he also knows that I love the fact that he has thought ahead to plan something special for me.

I love you Oso!...no that's not my dog...I mean that's his name, but oh, nevermind!

15 Years Ago...

I said, "I do" to my best friend. Now, here we are with 4 beautiful children and more in love than ever. I am the luckiest girl on this planet to have found the perfect man! I wouldn't trade him for anything.
We usually go away for our anniversary. He has always "whisked" me away to some place that he secretly planned. Sometimes, we went all out and others, when things were kind of "tight", we stayed local. We've gone on trips to La Jolla, San Clemente, New York/D.C., Long Beach, Ventura, Big Bear...
This year, because of different circumstances, we won't be going out of town...well, we will - but not for this... ANYWAY, what I wanted to say is - I am okay with staying here. I am happy with him no matter where we are. Seriously. We've gotten to the point where we are just glad to be in each others company.
I will be sure to update you with a photo, because I am sure that we will be going out to dinner. I just wanted to take this time to tell him that I love him and I am thankful that he is in my life. I could not ask for more. Love you!